thank you and thank you and thank you...

the previews are done and i have had a few days to rest and consider this last little excursion into the Craft. all in all i am content, amazed and inspired. content with my own work, amazed at what can be done when people are grown-ups and professionals, and inspired by those i have been working with.

that said, some thank yous are in order.

m...thank you for envisioning such a wonderful story, for writing hunter, and for trusting me with birthing him. the simplicity, grace and elegance you bring to the process is a lesson for us all...and the beer ain't bad either! with only ten rehearsals under our belts, we are ready to perform. most shows are still fumbling their way through blocking. when i least expect it, a new teacher appears. thank you.

s...you have been a dream to work with. your energy, willingness to explore, openness to new ideas, and dedication to bettering yourself as an actor are refreshing to say the least. they are everything anyone could want in a scene partner. i was there at your beginning and i cannot wait to see what your future holds. thank you.

sms...if this is what you're like 15 years out of the biz, i can only imagine how you'll rock once you get your groove back... you are a consumate professional, and a hell of a good guy to kick it with to boot. thank you.

our preview audiences...the honesty and sincerity of your feedback has been invaluable. equally, if not more, invaluable, has been the opportunity to make and develop new relationships (as well as deepen some already established.) thank you.

finally...but by no means least...l and mgirl and jboy...you are the reason for anything i do that is worthwhile and beautiful...and no mere thank you can ever begin to encompass that.

soon...rogue...a muse of fire...this flattering glass....

and the future?

something wonderful...

etonne-moi
g

Plans are underway to tour...

from Marcel
... the show in the Summer of 2008. It's too late to apply for any of the fringe festivals this year. (We missed applications to the SF Fringe by about a week.) Still, a year and a half will give us time to fund raise for it. At the moment, Toronto and San Francisco are on the talking boards between the cast, crew and I.

Premiering at the Rogue would also provide more opportunity to tweak it even more. The dynamics of playing in a garage and a theater space can vary vastly... and that too has to be taken into account. Though I do prefer an intimate venue for this particular one. Logistically it is a pretty simple show to tour. 3 lighting and 4 sound cues. If need be... just the actours can go out on tour with it.

I am confident with the talent and demenor of the cast and crack crew to at least get the show notice at these proposed festivals. No rush now but the stages of planning has to begin.

Stand-by

The previews went so unbelievably well... I am completely over whelmed by the response. For those of you that took time out of your schedules to come see this, I am forever grateful! Thank you! For those that couldn't make it, do not let the Rogue pass you by...

H, M & ST... you guys have been such a great support I cannot begin to place words on how much I appreciate the support and the atmosphere you all have provided to allow me to explore and grow. You all helped me do what I am able to do on stage and there is nothing that can compare to the gifts you all have given me.

In this down time I am prepared to focus on the details. The precise emotions, motions and reactions that will tighten up this piece and help find the beauty it can truly become. I love this work and I love working on this piece! I love how it has challenged me and that is the standard that is now set for any role I go after from this point on. To be challenged as an actor and as a person and to be able to portray a character as a real life human being is the ultimate experience.

Thank you to all who have supported us along the way, and thank you to those who will come and support us at the Rogue!

Ciao!

Ms. Snow

Tale End Preview - Jan. 27, 2007

from Marcel
Not sure if we have pictures of this one... I don't recall taking any. Anyway, we've got that under our belt and it's done.

We had an appreciative audience on both nights. Their verbal response as well as what was not said was duly noted. (Sometimes silence says it all.) All in all, this provides us with information that will be useful in tweaking the piece. The bottom line is that they were all taken for a ride the last 2 nights... but we can always refine a better product.

Sure, there were flubs, etc. And yes. there is some tightening and tinkering to do before the Rogue in a month. The point is that the piece played (thank you S, H & ST) despite those flubs. And it played grandly at that! There was was never a point that the audience could be snapped out or zone out on the piece. That is a testament to the talent and focus of the actors and our crack one man crew. Great big, fat KUDOS on a job very well done.

Now the trick is to tweak. It will be important for all concerned to read the script almost daily. Not so much to refresh line memorization but just as a piece of reading matter. Often I have found that when you are in the picture... a step back out makes the bigger vista a lot crisper and clearer.

To those who graced us with your presence... Thank You. For those of you who missed it... eh!

Tale End Preview - Jan. 26, 2007

One down... one to go. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

T-Minus 3 1/2 Hours...

...and I am counting.

There comes a time in every show that you are just in need of an audience. Mind you, this usually comes after weeks and weeks of rehearsals, but this has been a speed through so to speak. Last night was rehearsal #10, our final rehearsal before the Previews tonight and tomorrow night. We are ready for an audience.

I am nervous. I don't think I've been nervous like this in a long time. It's a giddy nervousness and I know that's because I really enjoy performing this show AND I can't wait for people to see the hard work we all have been doing.

Yay! I'm excited!!!

M, H and our mysterious SM... thank you guys for letting me be me and encouraging the growth! You're my boys, man! Thank you for working and being patient with me!

Break a Leg!

Ciao!

Promotions... ya gotta do it!

from Marcel
Yeah, we got an article on Fresno Famous today. (Thank You, Josh!) Though (if you haven't noticed already) we have been blatant and shameless about pushing the show from the start.

This is something that many in the arts often shy away from. They put in all their effort into creating their product that their box-office suffers.

Here is some logic that spurs us on.

1. If there is no audience... your art does not exist.
2. Show Business is 2 words and attention needs to be paid to both equally.
3. What is more embarrassing? Being shameless or empty seats in the house?
4. The difference between selling out your art and selling your show is the difference between giving an audience what they want and giving an audience what they WILL want.
5. If they don't know... they won't come.
   

Oh, there will be more shameless and blatant promotions from us in the weeks to come. Count on it! We may actually add brazen to the mix as well. Probably a couple more videos too before thew premiere.

Now to Nail this Sucker.

from Marcel
Over the past 9 rehearsals we played. We tried this and that. We exercised our creative muscles in ways we may not have thought possible. It yielded results... a bounty spectacular that would make a pirate's eye gleam. We even stumbled on Monday. Strangly, it provided more meat to what started off as a skeleton which was the blueprint of the script. The hiccups proved that ploughing through was possible... even if elements were misplaced.

We've recovered and regrouped from Mr Murphy's visit on Monday. Last night's rehearsal was a little languid but good. We meet again tomorrow to squeeze some air out of it and on Friday and Saturday the piece gets bounced off an audience.

During rehearsal last night I did see some places that may need a little trimming. Just ideas that perhaps were a little over stated that can be nipped and sharpened. Though that work will come after the previews when we release the playwright from his exile in the gulag for a furlough.

The show is fallible if played without a certain focused intent. Definitely not a show that can be pulled off by just going through the motions. It will crumble if that tact is taken. Yet its structure does still provide for a spectrum of interpretations in the playing... but only if supported with the required investment of focus.

well, hell...

yeah, so ok, it was kinda like that...you know...pretty wickedly fucked.

but the wonderful thing about coming back from something that's pretty wickedly fucked is...fucking it pretty wickedly...if you get my drift.

so that's the plan for tonight.

and i never did really figure out what kablooied us last night. all i know for certain is that S was right there with me and that, together, we played the show. blood, sweat, and all we rode the beast...and it was still pretty damned motherfuckerly!

'nuff said
H

A Plague on You Murphy!

I think I APJ passed along Murphy to the Turtle Dove Theater for last night's rehearsal.

Dialogue?? Ah, the playwright's a whack with all his wordy lines and pesky adjectives! Let's cut 5 pages is one quick motion! Whack! Ooops, sorry dude!

Yeah it was one of THOSE rehearsals. This is not a bad sign though. In every show I have done, there has been one completely horrible rehearsal and that's it. It's like the actors go through so much pain in how they are brutalizing the script that they fix the mistakes with a night of sleep and it never happens again.

I condensed two lines that caused the 5 page skip and yet H and I (we couldn't call line for the first time last night) pushed through it and actually got all the ideas across. H totally bailed me out on stage and for that I am forever grateful! Zonather showed up to rehearsal and wasn't completely mortified, actually he knew what these types of rehearsals are and I appreciate his humor.

We also shot some stuff for the next video. Yes we haven't forgotten about those and I can tell you one is coming for your viewing pleasure very soon! ;-)

Here's to the next step in the rehearsal process and to kicking Murphy in the butt!

Ciao!

TALE END - Preview Roulette!

We are previewing our new show TALE END that will premier at Rogue 2007... somewhere in Fresno!

Dates & Times:
Option 1: 6 PM - January 26th, 2007 (including a 20 minute preview of Jag Bennet's new show)
Option 2: 5 PM - January 27th, 2007 (including a 25 minute preview of Suicide Lounge)

TALE END will be performed in it's entirety *just under an hour). So, you get to see the whole thing before it actually premiers... and for FREE! This will provide us with an opportunity to bounce it off an audience and perhaps tweak if need be before it officially opens.

SEATING IS LIMITED... really the max we can fit in the space is 16-20. Plus, we are inviting some others... so, possible seats just got fewer.

HOW CAN YOU WIN AT PREVIEW ROULETTE? By playing. Click comment then copy and paste the following in the comment section. (Don't forget to fill in the info and click your choices.)

1. NAME:

2a. Me alone
2b. Me and a guest
(pick one between these choices by typing "Yep" next to it.)

3a. I am interested/available for Option 1
3b. I am interested/available for Option 2
(pick one between these choices by typing "Yep" next to it.)

4. Email address:
(This is important... if you win the opportunity to see the preview... we will email you with details... including where it is taking place. If not... we will email you our thanks for playing.)

IT'S FIRST COME FIRST SERVE. (and remember... limited spaces)
Go ahead! Leave your comment entry! Results will be emailed to you by Thursday, January 25th.

Good Luck and Cheers!

BTW... while you are here... check out the rest of the posts in the creation of this show. Start by clicking HERE to see all the posts and videos related to it starting with the most recent post.

To Rehearse or Not To Rehearse...

That was the question after last night's first run. You know, it's amazing to me that when H and I come into rehearsal each night, there is nothing lost from the night before. We've had our warm up runs, but there was something different about last night. It's a lot like when we leave the rehearsal space we leave our work and characters there. But, when we return it's like the favorite sweater or well worn hat, it's still there and just the way we left it. Ms. Snow stays on stage and when I return to her she and I meld instantly and there's a lot of room to build and grow. She's taking me on this ride and it's a lot of fun.

Last night was the wine rehearsal and the mood was focused. I kept in my mind the thought of being precise. There are so many twists and turns that if my actions and reactions are not crisp, there's something lost. Now, in saying that there is a line to be drawn. I cannot lock myself into looking a certain way, acting a certain way or even move in a certain way. That was a part of the discovery last night. The nice thing about NOT having blocking is that H and I aren't locked into a position on stage. There is the automatic atmosphere to play and really make it our own. I love that he still throws something new at me while in rehearsal!

I really feel like we have a show that is performance caliber and I am very excited to have the previews next weekend.

But for now... I'm celebrating this weekend!

Ciao!

Ms. Snow

The blessing and curse...

from Marcel
... in what I do and how I do it... is that I've never followed convention. I have never looked at it as good or bad... but merely as how I do it.

Weather it is in the writing or directing... the piece created is what I would pay to see onstage. Sure, I steal from a lot of sources. I would be a delusional idiot if I thought that everything that I do hasn't been done before. (Afterall, there are only 36 plots and subsets thereof that really exist in the entire world.) It's the spin now that makes it original. My peers may take umbrage to what I do and how it's done. But that's them and I'm me. I can only stay true to me... warts and all.

I value opinion... in as much as it is that. Though I have found that opinion in my field is almost always dictated by "conventional wisdom"... that only became convention from whence it was once radical and dared the same-old to be otherwise. This, I have found especially so with those who have known me (and my work) for a while. I love being challenged... though sometimes their regard (or disregard) of my work can be suspect. There are times I have to wonder about the motivations behind their opinions. I am never arrogant enough to think that an opinion given is totally moot.

Yet, there is a part of me that almost wants to disregard opinions given by peers who are practitioners in this craft. That in form, content or execution... the journey crafted took them to an unexpected country... and they rail simply because it's not what they would have done... or where they would have gone. But they did not create the path or the destination... we did. No, I'm not Neil Simon or Shakespeare... nor do I pretend to be. The paths and destinations they created are theirs... this is ours... and I'm quite happy of that being so.

We've Reached the Hump

as it's rehearsal #6 and there are only 4 rehearsals left. Eeep!

This show continues to surprise me in that there are new things to be discovered. New actions and reactions to be found. H and I are continuing to develop and there are a lot of discoveries along the way. This path has taken us down a journey that only we can define...

I love this show. I have never had a show where I can completely just be and not worry about the director telling me that I am wrong. That is so refreshing. Luckily I am not finding different paths, but instead finding depths in the path that I never knew could exist. I can over play, and then I can emote with control and that's the line I am finding now.

With these words and I finding new reactions with what H is throwing at me. I love the dynamic he is bringing and I am finding that I have the strength to rise to it, rise to the challenge he brings... I can only hope I am throwing as much back, and I think I am. It's definitely time to play!

For those that are going to be an audience member... get ready for a ride!

Happy Trails!

Ms. Snow

We had guests at rehearsals last night...

... and the show is beginning to cook. I dare say that many who practice this game in town would even say that last night's rehearsal was performance worthy. Those of us riding this particular beast are not willing to leave it at that. I'm confident enough (having worked with these stellar actors thus far) to say that we are collectively striving for more... much more.

Our guests were impressed, entertained and totally sucked into the piece. Their reactions were sought right after and they gave them freely. One was blown away to find out that this was only rehearsal number 5. To our guests... a big hearty Thank You!

There is a thing of beauty within our grasp... and right now we are pointed in that direction. (Hey, the sick and wrong can be a thing of beauty...really.) Two more rehearsal nights this week. Then, we prep for previews with an invited audience on the 26th & the 27th.

Cheers!

WOW!!!

Wow! I have to say it again!

Tonight was amazing! Our first run through "off book" was a little rocky, but that's par for the course. Once lines become more fluid, movement becomes more natural and props/costumes added in allows for a batter rehearsal.

Our first audience tonight added that extra element to make the process that much more real! I am so happy to have the input and the laughs and the reaction to our show. This is such a good piece and I really love this show! Thank you to those that came to help us play!

H: You are amazing! I love watching you play and I am amazed by the layers you are bringing to this role!

M: You are my mentor and my inspiration! Thank you for writing this show and sitting through my butchering. I will get your words right!

I have found her passion, I have found her soul... now it's time for her to play!!!

XOXO,

Ms. Snow

Hunter's View

ahhhhhh....so sweet when it begins to thrum and hum and clickety-clack like a pandemonium carnival train running long after midnight. S is starting to have some fun now and play the play. the prophet seems pleased...he should be...his words are tasty.

it may just be...Wonderful.

and to everyone who was there tonight and gave of their thoughts: i thank you, i thank you, i thank you.

OK... the rewrites work.

from Marcel
I was pleased with the results. A flow has been re-established in the play. Cutting, rearranging and just plain rewriting the last 7 pages makes it a better show. Now that fucking playwright can just stay out of our way and allow us to breathe some life into this piece of shit that he hacked. From this point on... he is to be interned in the gulag while the real work goes on.

Rehearsals went well too. It was the first run off book and the troops handled it well despite the frigid temperatures in the rehearsal space. We really need to get another heater in there. Yeah, it was a little bumpy... but first runs are supposed to be. Bear in mind that we are also not working with a stage manager or even someone on book. This cheap ass, commie operation won't even spring for the basics. But we forged ahead undaunted by the limitations.

S even tried doing it with certain costume elements... as flimsy as they were. Got to hand it to that girl... she goes for the gusto. At one point... we had to insist she put some clothes back on as the little that she wore was shimmying with her shivers. H, too was throwing some new readings and nuances into the creative pool we were swimming in. Thus giving his character a bit more of a "journey" in the play. There are still miles to go before we sleep... but these travel companions are adventurous and that makes for a delightful ride.

My main computer is hiccuping at the moment... so accompanying pictures will have to wait.

Cheers!

Throw that bloody idiot hack out!

... from Marcel

A re-write now? Yes. It's only the first week of rehearsal... and the last seven pages needs one. It's klunky. I'm not proud... I'll admit that.

It took S & H romping on stage Wednesday night for it to be clear to me just how klunky. It wants to flow but there are barby hurdles in the way. I suspected it when I read it. But I wanted to see it up and moving to determine exactly how to proceed with it. Some of it will be compressed. Some rearranged . Some (probably 2 whole pages) just goes out the bloody window.

This is one of the reasons I never fall in love with my own work in development. You just have to be that way (brutal) when you decide to wear the different hats of playwright and director. And as a playwright let me tell you... if you are in a production and if anyone (especially the director) spurts the (pretentious) line about "... being true to the playwright" or "being true to the intent of the playwright"... know that the person is full of shit and know that you are in one boring ass production.

It's the work... the piece... the play that is paramount here. It HAS to come alive on stage and connect. Fuck the (so called) playwright's intention! That's only a big wanker guessing game... a lame excuse to show off in the area of Drama Lit, etc. Besides, any "intent" should already be in the structure of the play itself... it doesn't exist beyond what is on the page. Be true to the play! If the piece is any good it will stand up on it's own... jump off the page and (hopefully in rehearsal and production) explode on stage.

OK... enough. I promised my stellar cast re-writes before the next rehearsal (on Monday)... so, a hacking I will go. Then we can finally throw that bloody idiot hack out!

BTW... if you haven't been here lately or this is your first time... click the archives or the labels to catch up... espcially on the Skypecast of the rehearsal.

The Skypecast... HAS BEEN CANCELLED!

... but we are keeping the picture up because it looks so damn... er... suggestive.

UPDATE: 1/13/07
Due to too many glitches in the system we were going to use to webcast the rehearsal we have decided to cancel the event! We will however be posting a NEW Video soon!

Hunter's View

well, we've finished the first week of rehearsal and i have to say that i'm very impressed. the script is tight and as full of yummies as i originally thought, the prophet is an absolute delight, and ms. snow is kicking some serious ass. and speaking thereof, i love an actor who does her homework!!!!

it's such a treat to share a space with people who are committed to the work, who are committed to creating an atmosphere conducive to the work, and who are committed to creating the best work that we can. we all blah blah blah talk about it...we're doing it. thank you, thank you, and a third time, thank you.

the soup is pretty damned good, too. and the absinthe...well...what can you really say?

i'm eager to see what the next week will bring. if we've started this strongly...well...let's just say that it feels...in a word...Wonderful.

etonne-moi
h

For the 4 of you who come here...

... chances are good that we will Skypecast a portion of a rehearsal next week. Details to come.

No Blocking???

We don't need no stinkin' blocking!!!!!

In all of the shows I have worked on, the director has had a specific idea of where each character should be and when. Usually in the first week of rehearsal I was scribbling down { X US chair } or { DS X to US couch } in the margins of my script. After looking back at my old scripts there are a lot of scribbles and notes on blocking or character and it looks very jumbled and messy.

I look at my script for "Tale End" and all I see are my notes on the lines or character. There is no blocking, and I love it!

Night 2 of rehearsals commenced and all the work we did on night 1 was still there (THANK GOD I DIDN'T FORGET!!!) and the mood was set to move on. We plowed through the next 20 pages of dialogue and covered some major ground (and I mean MAJOR!). The nice thing about not being stuck to a specific path is that we could allow the words to prompt out movement. The hard thing is standing still and playing the tough choices.

This show has some very obvious character choices, and then there's the temptation to play the obvious because it feels safer. This is not a safe show and I am challenged to stand my ground and play the tough choices. I am looking forward to the challenge!

Thank you M for a wonderful script and for holding the whip and cracking it at me when I want to play it safe.

H: Thank you for working with me again! I continue to learn so much from you and I love seeing the work you are bringing to this role! This is an awesome show and you are perfectly cast!

Ms. Snow

OK, last night's rehearsal...

... gave me a boner.

That's all I'm going to say about that.

...from Marcel

Rehearsal Night 1

from Marcel

Actors turning up on time... I like that. Just sets the right tone to things. Everyone is happy. Everyone is relaxed. Perfect conditions to create in.

A half hour before they arrived I spent clearing up the space. There was a table with lighting instruments sitting in the middle of the floor that just had to go... and the propane heater to fire up. Our rehearsal space (aka my garage) can be fucking cold on nights like these.

First rehearsals are always a little awkward and anxious affairs. It's natural and perfectly normal. Even for the director.

Noticed I said director? Yeah, a little of the playwright is still hanging around... only till the end of this week. Only until the rewrites that we are determining together are solidified. After that... we throw that hack out. Then it's time to really brutalize the piece... and I've been known to be a real bastard with my own work.

We started with the first 20 odd pages of the script. Ran through it about 4 times in the span of 2 hours... trying this and that along the way. By the second run... something was starting to show. Nothing to nail down yet... but I think we are discovering some material together that we can start to build on.

Night 2 tomorrow. I think we had a bloody good start though. Thanks R & G... you are certainly making this a fun ride on the beast.

Rehearsals begin today!

from Marcel...

It's finally here... the next leg to this journey. At 6 PM the actors will gather. The propane heater will be fired up and the piece will begin to be fleshed out.

The Schedule
The difference this time (from a normal show) is that I've elected to base rewrites on the actors input... for this week only. Besides, we only have a 3 week rehearsal period. That will be followed by a couple of previews for a small invited audience on the 26th and 27th. This will give the piece time to adjust and smooth out any rough spots before premiering at Rogue 2007.

On Working Fast
I like working fast even with a brand new piece. It provides the actors with enough time to become confident with what they are doing yet leaves enough room for spontaneous combustion in performance on stage. Being well rehearsed does not mean having the life of the piece being beaten out of the performers.

On Following This Journey
Also, from this point on, posts over here will not be as sparse as they have been. Expect a new post at least every other day. Yes, it will feature warts and all.

Cheers!

Total Recall...

...at least emotionally.

I am an actor that find emotions I have experienced already and used them to color the lines I am saying. I might not be experiencing the same emotions my character is, but I can find a way to play the emotion realistically.

Through memorizing the lines and working on the different layers to the character, assigning different emotions to each line is important. Be water, as an actor friend of mine says, and play what is going on at the time it is going on. You have to trust the character's reactions to be real.

I am thankful that M knows me well enough to be able to remind me of the emotions I should be recalling. This journey will be rough, but I'm not scared!

Lovingly,
Ms. Snow