Theatre Show Choices

Since I seem to be having a wealth of downtime here at work today, I suppose I'll write about local area theatres and their show choices (or lack of).

I was just checking the upcoming show calendars on some of the local theatre websites and, I gotta tell ya, it's slim pickins out there. I realize that the ultimate goal is to get butts in the seats and make money, but c'mon people. What new and exciting things can be brought to overdone shows like Guys and Dolls, Oliver!, and Bye Bye Birdie? Nothing. Would you want to pay $20+ bucks to watch the same show done the same way by the same actors? (Because, as anyone in local theatre can tell ya, the circles are extremely incestuous.)

It's so bad out there that at least two of the local theatres I researched are doing musical SEQUELS (I never knew there was such a thing): Alladin, Jr. and Cabaret II. WTF??

It doesn't stop at musicals, either. I think I saw at least three theatres listing Love Letters and two listing Doubt in their 2009-2010 seasons. Sad, sad, sad.

People in local theatre seem to only want to perform the tried-and-true shows, whether they're classics or "new classic" contemporary pieces. Admittedly, I can't stand most classic plays. Their subject matter, manner of speaking, and overall themes are outdated and irrelevant to me, and many actors these days (present company included) don't know how or can't pull off the very stylized movement and dialogue in such plays. And generally speaking, much of the subject matter is pretty fluffy. In one of the last shows I designed, the main "problem" in the story was that the father hadn't been baptized.

*blink*

*blink*

*cricket chirp*

Exactly. Like, who cares? I suppose it helped to enhance the jolly-good, clean fun of the play-- a play which is touted as, "...the longest-running play in Broadway history..." It's a good family show. But I like my entertainment with a hefty portion of meat (and a little grit don't hurt).

The most recent show I have had the pleasure of designing is far from fluffy. In fact, one of the cast members asked me last night if I liked the show (performances aside), and I honestly couldn't answer. Like? The show is based on the true story of a New York Jew living in Atlanta in 1913 who was accused of raping and killing a 13-year old girl, was tried and sent to life in prison, and was subsequently kidnapped and lynched. And it's a musical. It's uncomfortable and racial and sad. The music is haunting. There is no happy ending. Do I like the play? You know, I do. I can say with confidence that I do. It has SOUL, and showcases the very-relevant subject of racism and prejudice in this country. And it was written in 1998, so even though it takes place almost 100 years ago I can understand what the characters are talking about because it doesn't feature the slangs and colloquialisms of a forgotten time. It's real to me. It's gritty and meaty.

More local theatres should take a cue from this theatre and throw caution to the wind in favor of artistic substance. Art doesn't take talent; it takes balls.

Theatre Hair

Between now and May 9th, my attention will involve little else but the show I'm working on, Parade. I'm actually a bit behind. I just bought some costume grey mutton chops today, and there is still so much I have to do to prepare hair accessories and instruct the actors and actresses on how to style their hair. I plan to attend tomorrow night's rehearsal (provided that I'm not coming down with a stomach bug), as well as Saturday's all-day rehearsal. I will also be attending many, if not all, of next week's rehearsals leading up to opening night. However, if the actors and actresses are fairly self-sufficient, then I probably won't have to be there as much.

After this show closes, I am cutting back on my involvement with designing shows until next year when I'll be designing hair and makeup for Scapino!, which I think is a commedia d'ell arte play. I don't know much about that one yet. Auditions for it won't be until November and curtain is in January 2010.

I'm still planning to audition to the theatre-show-that-shall-remain-nameless (for now) if that theatre produces it. I've increased my walking routine, haven't done any weight training at all, but I've modified my diet a little bit and I'm not snacking at work anymore. There's one more thing I need to cut back on/quit: smoking. YES, I am a closet smoker. It increases with stress (which there is a lot of these days), but I rarely exceed a 2-smoke-a-day habit. (Not two packs a day, two cigarettes a day.) Still bad, I know. But not as bad as it could be (yes, I'm rationalizing, okay?).

Anyway, I need to stop that while I'm in training for this show. I really, really, really hope the theatre does this show. I'm listening to the soundtrack every day in the car on the way to work.

Thinspiration

Okay-- that entry title is a little misleading. It should say, "Healthspiration," or, "Strongspiration" or something like that, because I'm not just looking to get thin, but I'll leave it as-is. It just sounds catchier.

I caught wind recently that a certain-theatre-show-that-shall-remain-nameless (for now) might be produced at one of my most favoritist local theatres this year. The theatre's website still says "TBD" under its fall show heading, but I'm hopeful that whatever rights or fees required will go through in time to allow this show to be produced, because it's FABULOUS.

Although I received my BA in Theatre and English, I am no avid theatregoer by any stretch of the imagination. I kind of wish I was. Then, I would be privy to all the theatre inside jokes and one-liners that fly around dressing rooms of the shows I work on-- not to mention being able to join in when a spontaneous rendition of "Can You Hear the People Sing?" breaks out.

Alas, the only reason I majored in Theatre was because I wanted to be a television actress; more specifially, a TV actress on primetime sitcoms. Sitcoms were and still are my favorite TV show genre. My childhood is littered with memories of Three's Company, Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and on and on. Now that I'm obsessed with shows like 30 Rock and Arrested Development, I can do without the canned laughter of yesteryear in my sitcoms. But that same comedy--that same glee that comes after hearing a fantastic joke or cutting quip--still gets me going today.

Despite having worked on at least 20+ shows in my life, I'm still very green when it comes to theatre. Sometimes theatre is not very fun to me. I even grimace and whine when I have to read some of the plays that I'm designing. For me, seeing some plays is a snorefest; reading them is total bore! I guess it's just not my favorite medium, having grown up on a strict diet of ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox.

But this play--the certain-theatre-show-that-shall-remain-nameless--is an exception. I saw this show in NYC back in 1998 with Josh when we were first dating. It was a very emotional time for me, as I was falling in love with someone I was almost certain I wouldn't really see again after he would inevitably transfer to CSLBU the following year and I would move to LA to become a staaaaah. Watching this show with him, at that time, was so moving and beyond words. I bought the soundtrack on CD, we would sing the songs to each other in the months that followed. I was totally theatre-geeky about this show, even though I've only seen it that one time. It's the only show that would bring me out of my self-imposed performance retirement; that is, if I was able to get a part. If I was able to get the part I WANT-- now, that might just hook me back into performing for good. :)

So this show is the reason for my "thinspiration." I need to get healthy again, voice and body. I need to be able to comfortably dance and sing simultaneously without getting winded, I need to be able to belt and hold notes like I used to when I was performing regularly with the wedding band, and I'd like to be more flexible and limber. Losing a few pounds wouldn't make me cry in my soup, either. I'm looking into local gyms, as well as amping up my walking/running routines and being better about the foods I eat. I should track my progress on this thing. I think I will.

Some Pictures of Hair for Parade

Parade is one of the theatre shows I'm working on. It premiere's at St. Mark's Church in DC on May 9th, and it's a VERY large show that--believe it or not--is based on the true story of a girl who was raped and murdered in Atlanta in 1913, her accused murderer (a Jew in the racially-tense South), his relationship with his wife, and finally, his wrongful death by lynching after his death sentence was lifted. Google "Leo Frank" for all the details. It's extremely heavy, which is why this play (a musical, actually) is extremely unique. One usually thinks of musicals as fluffy, happy, fun things. Yeah. Not this one. But the story and music are extremely moving and profound, and I anticipate this cast will do a phenomenal job as they are all very talented.

So anyway, I'm designing hair which is somewhat nerve-wracking for me. I feel more comfortable doing makeup, honestly. But researching the periods and learning about how to do hairstyles is becoming really, really fun-- especially when I figure it out enough to feel like I did a kickass job.

Check out these pictures. I took them just now in my office garage. :)