A CHRISTMAS CAROL blog 1: David Barker (Ghost of Christmas Present)

Can you believe that Kim Bennett, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and one of the most sensitive individuals in the cast, plays Scrooge?! Its true! And that is why I am completely confused that he does not have a Facebook account. Kim Bennett/Ebeneezer Scrooge is a perfect person/character for the number one social network in the world. He is afraid that no one will want to be his friend. I’M NOT MAKING THIS UP! So I implore all of you out there to post imploring invitations to Kim Bennett to start a Facebook account! Use gobs of creative, witty, funny angles. Come on cast, crew and fans of Christmas Carol. Since this is our last year, lets put into practice the central theme of this incredible classic: PEOPLE CAN CHANGE!

David Barker
Ghost of Christmas Present – 6th year

PS: I attach a photo of Kim and I in the dressing room my first year 2005

IN THE NEXT ROOM - post 5 - Angelica Howland (Catherine Givings)

Tonight while getting dressed for our first tech rehearsal in Stage West at the Herberger, I decided to use the bathroom before putting on my corset, butt pillow, petticoat and dress (always a wise thing to do) but could not find the dressing room bathroom light. Well, I went ahead and did it in the dark. As I was fumbling around for the toilet paper, a gecko (who had apparently found himself a cushy home atop the toilet paper roll) was rudely awakened. He jumped onto my hand, skittered across my bare thigh, then down the leg of my bloomers and onto my shoe. The toilet paper rolled out of reach as I jumped up and down, laughing and screaming bloody murder with my bottoms around my ankles. Lillie (my dressing roommate, YAY!) and Lois tried to help -- well, Lillie stayed safely in the dressing room calling for help while Lois came in and handed me the runaway toilet paper roll and looked for the overhead light. Now, I've got no problem with geckos. But I prefer to see them out of doors and definitely not down my pants, thanks.

For all you creature lovers out there, no, I did not inadvertently smash the little guy. The frightened little gecko scurried behind the toilet and is probably still there. I think both Lillie and I will be using the Ladies Room in the hall from now on.

And now -- new topic... My costumes are so gorgeous I can't stand it!

IN THE NEXT ROOM - post 4 - Francis Jue (Dr. Givings)

I’ve been naked on stage in many productions of M. BUTTERFLY. And so I thought I was prepared for today’s rehearsal of the final scene in THE VIBRATOR PLAY, in which my leading lady and I undress each other. But this morning I found myself shaking inside, so nervous that I couldn’t remember my lines. It wasn’t just undressing Angelica that intimidated me. It was much scarier being undressed by her. Much like my character Dr. Givings, I found myself terribly frightened of disappointing her, even of offending her. As Butterfly, taking off my clothes was meant to be a shocking act of aggression. In THE VIBRATOR PLAY, taking off our clothes becomes the most intimate form of emotional nakedness. After an hour of undressing, dressing and undressing again, I can’t say that my nerves subsided, but that shaky feeling felt more like the aching need to love and be loved.

IN THE NEXT ROOM - post 3 - Angelica Howland (Catherine Givings)

After having worn a corset on and off for the past 4 days I can say with complete and utter conviction that I am very thankful to be a woman firmly rooted in this century. My ribs are aching as they settle back into place after being firmly compressed for hours. And the tiny place where a bent piece of boning was poking me (April, our wonderful stage manager, removed it -- and today it was much better) is still feeling a little bruised. And while I quite enjoy the lovely boobage and hourglass shape the corset gives me -- I have realized that I am most definitely a creature of comfort. I shall now raise this lovely glass of wine and say 'CHEERS!' to tank tops with built in bras and to the freedoms I enjoy as a woman in the year of 2010!

And now -- new topic... I do enjoy great language. Now if I could just remember which language goes where...

IN THE NEXT ROOM - post 2 - Lillie Richardson (Elizabeth)

I love watching Matthew direct...his lips move with the scenes!
You can just see him immersed in the scene. And he finds every little nuance to bring the picture to life. What is so interesting is...even though he is mouthing the words, when he stops the scene to talk to the actors he says all your lines wrong...throwing in all kinds of crazy words...words I would actually have to look up!
He finally said, in rehearsal yesterday, "do not let me give you a line-read, I WILL mess you up."
It is only less than a week into rehearsal and he has already created some wonderfully funny moments.
Love it!

IN THE NEXT ROOM - post 1 - Angelica Howland (Catherine Givings)

The first couple of days of rehearsal are always a little hard for me. As excited as I am to start a new project, as fun as it is to sit around the table and finally fit all the other characters voices into the puzzle in my head -- I miss my family desperately. When I got home tonight I went into my little boy's room to take a peek. He sighed softly in his sleep as I ran my hand through his hair and kissed his cool forehead. 'Mommy...' My heart swelled with love *insert snore (he certainly is his father's son)* and I chuckled as I tiptoed out again. That tiny little moment just made everything totally worth it.

And now -- new topic... had a fitting today. My corset is tight.

Paroxysm!

Mark DeMichele - SECRET ORDER blog #2

Well we have now been through our Heisenburg rehearsals with the playwright, reworked sequences with his input (very odd to have the playwright involved in the middle of the process, my experience has been that the writer will typically join the process either early on for table work or last dress rehearsals into opening), stitched the sequences together into acts, added lights, sound, wardrobe and now audience.

Finally Chester and I were able to have some quality time walking around the ‘hood. For the past ten days I’ve only seen him when I would get home from rehearsal usually waking him from my side of the bed so I could get some sleep. I think that annoys him more than my working on my lines at the table. Anyway as we were walking we paused for a moment and he looked at me, leg lifted for other business, as if to ask where I’d been, did I miss him, was it worth it and why did my voice sound like ground glass? I scratched him behind the ear to let him know I did miss him, thought to myself that yes it was worth all the time away---the preview audience response was quite warm—and made a mental list of what I would need to do to restore my voice in time for opening nite.

We then turned the corner to head for home as the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got A Feeling” started on the ipod…so as our playwright often says, “enough said.”