Thoughts - Exciting & New

Charlotte here.

You may have noticed a dearth of posts from our first week through opening. Sorry. Apparently, putting up a show is quite time consuming. I knew this intellectually but in actual practice, it really did take up a lot of time.

But what a time. Last week was one of the most memorable in my career. And I say this from two very different standpoints.

As an actor, to be able to dive into this world, to be the Duchess, to experience her joy, her fear, her betrayal, her lust and her death has been an honor I could not have fathomed. It has been immensely surprising how some of her scenes just leapt to life for me - I didn't have to agonize over choices and intentions - they were crystal clear. One frustrating thing is that sometimes, I, Charlotte, stood in her way. I was distracted or hungry or tired or thinking about programs or lights in the dressing rooms or other such things at a time when I should have been in her world. I'm not going to pretend every scene, every line, every moment is a home-run, but I feel connected to her in a very organic way and that will always remain one of the highlights of this experience.

As a producer, I feel a happy exhaustion. Producing, at least at this stage, is all about hauling and carrying. A producer must make sure that things that are needed are delivered. So, if you are a first-time producer, you have to do the hauling and carrying (someday, we might be able to pay others to do it!) You need lights? Ok. Cable? Ok. Mirrors? Sure thing. Programs ? Got em. Food for the gala? Sho nuff. Risers built? Let me rent a truck. I have never moved, dragged, fire-man lifted or hauled by sheer will so many things in my life. Only moving house could produce that same bone-deep fatigue.

But here's the payoff: when I sit backstage waiting for an entrance and I look around at the dressing tables littered with water bottles, combs, ties, cups, newspapers and all the other detritus of a show in progress, I realize: we've made this happen. People are here. The tell-tale signs of a show being performed are here - in the very nature of the objects that surround it. The mirrors, the hangers, the clothing racks, the clip lights - all are here (dragged and hauled and otherwise purloined by the weary producers) to this very space and time to bring this world into being. If exhaustion is the price, it is one I will gladly take and wouldn't trade any of it for a minute.

And the benefits of all this? A terrific opening. A cast that not only delivers on stage depsite heat and Phillies games and all the other distractions in an actor's life but expresses their passion and professionalism backstage as well. A crew that is inspiring, loving and kind.

And a kick-ass show. I am allowed to say it, I think. This show is good. As good as anything I've seen. We deliver. I know we do. You feel the audience is with you. And we a review to prove it. Say what you will about reviews (and we all do), this show deserves the write-up it got and we hope for more. But more than that, it's the encouragement we receive from our peers that helps us. This show excites people. It is story-telling in a simple form and it is thrilling to see theatre so simple, especially in this day and age of apps and blockbuster movies and the like. Simplicity - today - is actually a novel idea.

And now the conundrum. Where are the hordes of people breaking down the doors for tickets? I don't know. I wish I did. We have people coming to see the show, yes, but if you figure if theatre were like a math equation, it would read like this: Good Show + Great Review = Full House. Well, artists are not known for their math skills and so it stands to reason that it doesn't quite compute like that. We are picking up in terms of sales but not at the rate we would like. There are two parts to every venture: critical success and financial success and rarely the twain shall meet.

And so I encourage anyone reading this to "lead Fortune by the hand" unto our merry show. It's a memorable night.

P.S. Anyone notice how listy I've become? Being a producer will do that to you. Loves me some lists.....

Dan here.
We're nearing the end of our second week, and things still seem to be humming along pretty well. We've had the incomparable J. Alex Cordaro with us for three consecutive days working out the combat, and it's all looking pretty sharp. There's a fair amount of mayhem in the latter half of this piece, and it's nice to be able to put it into the hands of somebody you can trust. We have a few more scenes to power thru in order to get this whole thing on its feet, but everything still feels under control. I meet with the musicians Sunday to work through some sounds - then next week they join us and start helping us fill the room. So many incredible things are happening. Martin Campos has been leading his workshops - and last night he brought a group in and they watched a pretty good chunk of rehearsal. Even after his group left, Martin hung around and kept his eyes open for us. Really an incredible guy to have in the room and very generous with us. I'm very excited to see how people respond to his work. Incidentally, he did the painting we've used for the Life is a Dream poster and materials. Gorgeous piece, and he'll be lending it to us to hang during the reading.
Every day I spend in the room working on this project I feel more blessed. I've had this play in my head for nearly ten years, and to see how strong it can be in the hands of a thoroughly capable cast is deeply warming. It's criminal how Webster is overlooked - or worse - remembered only as the bloodthirsty kid in Shakespeare in Love. There is such vitality, humor, and humanity in this play to balance the horrors. It takes a room full of thoughtful and generous people to bring it all across. That said - the more you feel for these folks, the harder it is to watch when awful things start happening...

First week wrap-up

My, oh my. Charlotte here.

We got through our first week. And actually, the words 'got through' imply that it was a slog or difficult in some way. Quite the contrary. It was pretty amazing. We have blocked/worked through a large chunk of the show and are even sewing in the seeds of all the interesting layers that we have yet to find...

And here's the interesting part, the energy never lagged. Sometimes, I've been in a rehearsal process where you can tell the energy is dipping...not here. Aside from one night when I was just zonked by the end (but in a good way ya?), we kept up a terrific pace. Everyone was so willing to jump right in and go there....

And when Martin's group of artists came into the room to observe us, it really became real. What are they seeing? What do they think? How does what we do translate into art in their hands? Can't wait to see what happens....

Administratively, we are also on a fast and furious clip. After getting our swag in the mail, we are spreading the word on every conceivable surface...I think Damon tried every piece of metal at the Fringe Bar to affix the 'Life is A Dream' magnet. The most successful spot? Bathroom stall. Because we are that classy. Hey, everyone needs to read sometimes....in the oddest of places. But press releases, meetings, emails, licking envelopes and lists, lists, lists abound.

Speaking of 'Dream' it goes into rehearsals tonight....the PAC officially launches a two-sided offensive...I believe in military terms it might be termed a panzer....or not, I just thought it sounded cool.

Ok. This gal has to learn some lines. My revelation this week? The more I dive into this world, the more I love this gal. The Duchess is so much more than just a classical character hidden in some dusty book.....

Be well.

Dan here -
Great, fascinating, terrifying first night of rehearsals. It was the first time we actually had all of the cast in the same room at the same time. At the end of last week we met to do three days of table work and called people in smaller chunks to parse this beast out. Those days were fulfilling and ecouraging - but last night was something else all together. Many of the cast and guests had never been in BSM's space before and it's wonderful to see people react. We sat at tables right in the middle and everybody huddled around. And not just the cast - designers (naturally), and Martin came to hear the play, some interested third parties - it seemed like tons of folks. The read went relatively briskly and we chatted about characters and why we are even here in the first place. Katherine Fritz's costume designs were a hit. It's always wonderful to see folks getting the first glimpse of how their character might look. Jokes and ideas and additions whirred around as the whole room crowded around a Mac to get a peek.
I'm spending most of the evening trying not to let folks see how hard I'm sweating. It's been a few years before I've directed anything, let alone a project of this scope. We started at the top of the play, and it became an exercise in trying to make ten people in an opening scene not look like just a bunch of folks standing around. Not as easy as it looks, even with a game plan. Still, much cheered by the work and the commitment folks seem to be bringing. Tonight it's just me and three or four others to sort out scenes between the Cardinal and his randy lady. Should be fun.
Also - huge box of goodies came yesterday: Posters, postcards, business cards (with individutal character shots like Tops trading cards), magnets - oh my. Gotta get these sprinkled around so people can see what we're up to. And huge thanks to Aaron Oster for the gorgeous photos you'll see on all of this stuff, and his design expertise to make it all come together.
I'm starting to feel like a commercial or something. I'm out.

Strange but helpful???

Charlotte here.

I may come to cringe at this analogy but here we are the night before we go into some serious workshops leading up to rehearsal and since I have spent a portion of each evening with the script now, I find I am thinking about this world more and more and realized that I needed a modern parallel.

And I just found it...and like I said, I may cringe at this in hindsight but that is what this blog is for - to chart the progress from beginning to whatever conclusions we come to at some point in the future...

Maybe it's because I have been watching too much tv thanks to the damn Instant button on my wii (Netflix) but I found a modern parallel that only just clicked into place. I just finished the third season of 'Weeds.' Think what you want about the show - the central character, Nancy Botwin, is living a 21st century version of the Duchess's life. A widow, on her own, forced into a man's world and doing whatever she can to survive. This means lying, it means cheating, it means dealing and weaving and ducking and getting dirty in the process. She will do what she needs to do...and yet, you love her. You love watching her and root for her - yes, the drug dealer, to survive.

I have read some commentary about the Duchess being a martyr. She isn't. She's trying to survive. And she will lie to do get and do what she wants and she will deceive. Would she rather not? Sure. Would Nancy Botwin rather not deal with gangsters and shady cops? Of course...but that is not the world they are living in and it forces them to get creative. And do they have another choice? Perhaps. Nancy could get a job. The Duchess could remain single and bow to the wishes of her brothers. But they would be killing something inside themselves to do that and it is that touchstone of life and passion that drives them to make the choices they do....

Ok. Big breath. Let's do this.

First timer.

Hello,
This is Dan, and I've never blogged before.
It's invigorating and more than a little terrifying gearing up for this beast. I've just finished slugging through the first two weeks of rehearsal working around folks' schedules and trying to create something that makes sense. At present, I'm pretty happy with it. Had a great meeting yesterday with our costume designer Katherine Fritz and feel quite confident with the direction that is heading. I was in Ohio last weekend and spent a great deal of time just re-reading the play and trying to see how it looks and moves in the space. The images are becoming startlingly clear, but I don't want to get so firm in my ideas that I can't let folks surprise me in the room.
Katherine had never read the play before and I asked her for her initial reactions to the text. She remarked how unexpectedly fresh it is, and the unpredictable nature descending into pretty shocking violence in the later part. I agree that this is part of the appeal, but am also very keen to thread bits of that threat of violence earlier in the play. It has an amazing volatility, and I think we can embrace that without sliding into Grand Guignol or Melodrama. A great challenge. And the language is just so goddamn rich it's humbling.
So, that's what's going on in my head -
Dan

Getting near the Go....

Hello again -

This is Charlotte.

We are very busy with all things PAC related. Damon is busy setting up space, rehearsals, bands, food and all other sundry details for our upcoming reading of 'Life is A Dream.'

Krista is busy with all the PR and making sure the word is out there about us!

Dan is busy thinking deep thoughts about Duchess and setting up our rehearsal schedule.

We start our three workshops at the end of this month. It's strange to actually think we'll be doing this soon. After all the planning and what if's and wishes and dreams to actually see the whole cast sitting at a table and finding out just what this world is going to be is quite daunting but incredibly exciting too....

And what about me? I'm procrastinating, if you want the honest. I should be poring over the Duchess trying to figure out just who she is....but I've been putting it off....I'm not sure why - humbled and terrified I suppose.....but I do hope to put that nonsense away soon (perhaps tomorrow) and actually start digging into what this gal really wants and needs....what makes her tick.

If it sounds like we're busy....we are.