What a bizarre experience! In a good way. I wrote the play in 6 days. We landed a cast in record time. Rehearsals completely shot by. And now we've just gotten through our opening weekend. Time has gone sooo fast on this production, it's like I don't quite know how to process it. Opening night went GREAT. Good thing too. We had the press there, so we were being reviewed. Review comes out Thursday, so I'll keep you posted.
But regardless of the review, I am just thankful for an awesome cast that did everything possible to bring my story to life. It's amazing to me to see something that was just in my head only a few short months ago actually be presented on stage and make sense! With exception of a few minor technical constraints, and some opening night jitters, the pacing flowed, the acting was superb and the story seemed to be compelling. Trista (who plays Gigi) had her husband, Josh, in the audience. He said after the play was over, we took our bows and walked off stage. The audience (about 30), just sat there talking about it. To hear that as a writer does wonders to boost your confidence!
The play kinda freaked me out too. I had written it about 3 months ago. Friday night as I was waiting to go on stage, I was listening to the news clips that play over the speakers at the begining (which I wrote). One clip talked about how the economy was spiraling out of control and the Fed Chairman was talking about the possibility of another Great Depression !!!! Again, I wrote that months ago. Housing was starting to take a nosedive at the time, but the economy was still okay. Only last week did I hear the word "depression" start being bandied about! I don't know about you, but that creeped me out. Mainly because in the play, there's been a huge earthquake in Chicago, and a potential war between China and India that could suck in the entire world. DOH!
Audience response has been incredible. Really enthusiastic. And I've already been approached twice by two different producers interested in turning the play into a movie! How bizarre is that???!! Anyway, we'll see. So allow me to plug for just a sec:
Doomsday is an intense, fast-paced story taking place in the near future after the economy has tanked and tensions abroad have escalated to the point of a possible world war. Taking place in an indescriminate metropolitan city experiencing a blackout and full scale riot, several individuals with very different backgrounds have taken refuge in a dive bar deep in the city. As they try to protect themselves from the chaos outside, they also find themselves dealing with their own private chaos in their search to find hope and meaning in their lives. There are a few laughs along the way and some twists and turns that will surprise you. It really is a rollercoaster of emotion and raw energy that, I believe, will leave you thinking about the state of the world and maybe the state of your own life.
Come on out and see the show! At the Actor's Workout Studio, 4735 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Next weekend: Friday, 10/3 and Saturday, 10/4 at 8 PM and Sunday, 10/5 at 7 PM. Tickets are $18 reserve and $25 at the door each. But if you respond to this blog, we'll knock $3 off the reserve price making it $15 each! Just tell me what night and how many!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Doomsday - Rehearsals #2
The horror! The horror!
Yep, it's that time in rehearsals where everyone is trying to get their lines down and, as the writer, you see the actors struggling with the lines and think "my god, this is gonna suck!" It happens with every show I've written. To watch some of the longer passages drag, to hear some dialogue not make sense, to be approached by an actor questioning if his character would say what you've written, to have the director pull you aside and ask you to cut down or change dialogue -- you really cannot have an ego during this process, otherwise you'll end up in a fetal position popping cocktails of Prosac and Xanax with chasers of Jack.
The thing is, it's all part of the process. This being the 6th play I've written for the First Light Players, the most important thing I've learned is how important the "team" factor is in making an enjoyable production. The director, the writer, the actors, the stage crew -- we're all there to make the show as good as it can be. So to stiffen up, to be inflexible, to not listen to or heed the advice of others -- can hurt an otherwise great production.
So rehearsals for the last week have been a lot of that. A brutal drag in some ways. Really inspiring in others. Until you get to the point of a breakthrough where, at last, you catch a glimpse of where the show will end up. And that's what happened last night. The rehearsal started out painful. Everybody, for the most part, is off book. But still struggling with their lines. So it was just a mess at first. However, little by little, Cathy started molding us into the picture of what you will see on stage. And there it was, right at the end of the night. A momentary glimpse of the real show. The intensity. The urgent pace. The danger. It started to click. And that's when I got excited. Yayyy!!! The show won't suck!
Last blog, I told you about Liv, who plays Alice, Rollin who plays Ace, Brendan, who's Pete and Trista, our Gigi. Herve Ambwa, a first timer for the First Light Players is playing Jay. Jay's character reflects the streets. Those people whose circumstances and experience have been so detrimental, they can't see a light at the end of the tunnel. Herve's a quiet guy. He's not one to speak up or readily share his thoughts right off the bat. He was one of the first to be off book and get into character. I've mentioned what a powerful presence this guy has on stage -- and boy, he really does. I know Herve's going to stand out. Just the way he carries himself on stage is outstanding. He gets the character and, as a writer, it's exciting to see.
Kay Dease is playing Rose. Kay is such a great character actress. She has been with the FLP since the beginning and has had great success with characters such as Josephine the plummer, Fingers the pickpocket, Leviathan, the evil mob leader from the 6th Trumpet and whole host of other memorable roles. However, I believe this to be the first rather normal role she's gotten to play. I know she was struggling at first how to get ahold of Rose. Rose' character is that of a one time socialite who has experienced tremendous tragedy, yet survived. At first, she wanted to base Rose on the late Ann Richards, the governor of Texas. But the Texas accent seemed to much of a characiture. Now she has moved Rose into a more refined personality, and it works. She's got hold of Rose and you can tell. It's just real.
For the character of Tru, the female cop, seargent and squad leader of the riot squad, we needed an actress who could be a dude, yet convey a touch of femininity. Kayla Thames auditioned for the role and we knew right off, she was our Tru. Kayla is an amazing person. Very well-educated. She has worked in the entertainment industry both in front of the camera and behind as a location scout. She's also worked for the State of California in economic development and currently does so with the State of Oregon. Weird how she would end up as part of our cast, but we are really honored to have her. She is able to capture Tru's power as a leader, yet her vulnerability as a woman.
Ross Araujo, who plays Joe in the play, has worked with the FLP before as the lead in "O Little Town of (I forget what, buns, donuts ???)". He's a local dentist who works a lot of community theater. Hails from Brazil. A funny interesting guy. I thought his accent may be a detriment, because it is a bit heavy. But during the audition, Ross hit a note with the character of Joe that was extremely moving. Last night, he was really getting into character. The anger and sarcasm, that masks Joe's pain. He was nailing it! The accent seemed so minor in comparison. I realized, Ross is a really good actor. And he's a character just in and of himself.
Finally, Marisa Mlynarek plays Mo, the real estate tycoon heiress. Her first time on stage since high school. Marisa has a great presence. Such a powerful personality when she walks into a room. There's a lot of confidence there. Plus she's like a Rennaissance woman. A really gifted photographer (amazing!), and a writer -- she's written a pilot epsiode for a web series she created -- kind of an I Love Lucy for nowadays. It's really funny! In fact, once I read the script I was thinking she should take it further. It would make a great screenplay! Marisa is slowly getting her stride as the character of Mo.
I'm just amazed at how God puts together a cast! And I'm excited at the prospect of this show! This is going to be a good one! So you better get your tickets now!
Yep, it's that time in rehearsals where everyone is trying to get their lines down and, as the writer, you see the actors struggling with the lines and think "my god, this is gonna suck!" It happens with every show I've written. To watch some of the longer passages drag, to hear some dialogue not make sense, to be approached by an actor questioning if his character would say what you've written, to have the director pull you aside and ask you to cut down or change dialogue -- you really cannot have an ego during this process, otherwise you'll end up in a fetal position popping cocktails of Prosac and Xanax with chasers of Jack.
The thing is, it's all part of the process. This being the 6th play I've written for the First Light Players, the most important thing I've learned is how important the "team" factor is in making an enjoyable production. The director, the writer, the actors, the stage crew -- we're all there to make the show as good as it can be. So to stiffen up, to be inflexible, to not listen to or heed the advice of others -- can hurt an otherwise great production.
So rehearsals for the last week have been a lot of that. A brutal drag in some ways. Really inspiring in others. Until you get to the point of a breakthrough where, at last, you catch a glimpse of where the show will end up. And that's what happened last night. The rehearsal started out painful. Everybody, for the most part, is off book. But still struggling with their lines. So it was just a mess at first. However, little by little, Cathy started molding us into the picture of what you will see on stage. And there it was, right at the end of the night. A momentary glimpse of the real show. The intensity. The urgent pace. The danger. It started to click. And that's when I got excited. Yayyy!!! The show won't suck!
Last blog, I told you about Liv, who plays Alice, Rollin who plays Ace, Brendan, who's Pete and Trista, our Gigi. Herve Ambwa, a first timer for the First Light Players is playing Jay. Jay's character reflects the streets. Those people whose circumstances and experience have been so detrimental, they can't see a light at the end of the tunnel. Herve's a quiet guy. He's not one to speak up or readily share his thoughts right off the bat. He was one of the first to be off book and get into character. I've mentioned what a powerful presence this guy has on stage -- and boy, he really does. I know Herve's going to stand out. Just the way he carries himself on stage is outstanding. He gets the character and, as a writer, it's exciting to see.
Kay Dease is playing Rose. Kay is such a great character actress. She has been with the FLP since the beginning and has had great success with characters such as Josephine the plummer, Fingers the pickpocket, Leviathan, the evil mob leader from the 6th Trumpet and whole host of other memorable roles. However, I believe this to be the first rather normal role she's gotten to play. I know she was struggling at first how to get ahold of Rose. Rose' character is that of a one time socialite who has experienced tremendous tragedy, yet survived. At first, she wanted to base Rose on the late Ann Richards, the governor of Texas. But the Texas accent seemed to much of a characiture. Now she has moved Rose into a more refined personality, and it works. She's got hold of Rose and you can tell. It's just real.
For the character of Tru, the female cop, seargent and squad leader of the riot squad, we needed an actress who could be a dude, yet convey a touch of femininity. Kayla Thames auditioned for the role and we knew right off, she was our Tru. Kayla is an amazing person. Very well-educated. She has worked in the entertainment industry both in front of the camera and behind as a location scout. She's also worked for the State of California in economic development and currently does so with the State of Oregon. Weird how she would end up as part of our cast, but we are really honored to have her. She is able to capture Tru's power as a leader, yet her vulnerability as a woman.
Ross Araujo, who plays Joe in the play, has worked with the FLP before as the lead in "O Little Town of (I forget what, buns, donuts ???)". He's a local dentist who works a lot of community theater. Hails from Brazil. A funny interesting guy. I thought his accent may be a detriment, because it is a bit heavy. But during the audition, Ross hit a note with the character of Joe that was extremely moving. Last night, he was really getting into character. The anger and sarcasm, that masks Joe's pain. He was nailing it! The accent seemed so minor in comparison. I realized, Ross is a really good actor. And he's a character just in and of himself.
Finally, Marisa Mlynarek plays Mo, the real estate tycoon heiress. Her first time on stage since high school. Marisa has a great presence. Such a powerful personality when she walks into a room. There's a lot of confidence there. Plus she's like a Rennaissance woman. A really gifted photographer (amazing!), and a writer -- she's written a pilot epsiode for a web series she created -- kind of an I Love Lucy for nowadays. It's really funny! In fact, once I read the script I was thinking she should take it further. It would make a great screenplay! Marisa is slowly getting her stride as the character of Mo.
I'm just amazed at how God puts together a cast! And I'm excited at the prospect of this show! This is going to be a good one! So you better get your tickets now!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
