Archive for July, 2009
We had our first read through of “Chrysalis” last night.
It was interesting to see the chemistry between the actors, who up until this point, had only one chance to meet, briefly.
Each brought his or her own take of the play to the table.
And then we all had our own takes to add.
Seven of us sat around in a circle, talking about the work, and the real people we know who are living similar experiences.
Beyond talking about the work, the real life experiences that everyone brings to the table is my favorite part.
Like Millie, who kept her passion for painting, and the paintings themselves a secret in the attic for so many years… someone’s grandmother was doing puzzles in the basement for years, amassing a huge collection, which she had shellacked and everything… Her grandmother now does her puzzles upstairs on the coffee table.
Someone else spoke of a marriage where he barely said more than a handful of words to his wife on a daily basis, and they lived that way for eighteen years.
Someone else mentioned how her mother is finally embracing her inner artist, after years of denying herself and her talent, just because someone told her she wasn’t good enough — and how liberated her mom feels sharing what’s been in her heart all these years.
I love hearing all these “real” stories because it’s a reminder that I’m on the right track… I could come up with crazy stories with spectacle coming out of your ears… but that’s not what I’m really interested in for the most part… I want real stories about real people to touch the real people in the audience. With just a basic reading last night, I saw I’ve already done that.
I think this show might have a bigger impact than I initially realized… This is gonna be good.
–Sue
July 31st, 2009
Yesterday’s post got some readers very excited.
I am not pregnant. And even if I was, this blog would not be the way I shared that news.
I am surrounded by pregnant women, but have chosen to wait a bit… to give my work, and our new company a bit of a running start before I jump on the baby band wagon myself.
While looking at possible gifts for my sister and sister in-law, I realized that I’m in a similar place like they are…
Bringing a PLAY into the world, a new creation that has never “walked” and “talked” yet, is an amazing and beautiful process.
And that’s the COMPARISON I was making.
I hope any confusion has been cleared up.
–Sue
July 30th, 2009
I spent the last hour or so surfing on-line for baby gifts.
It could be because both my sister and sister-in-law are expecting.
But I suspect it’s because of my own new arrival on the way.
By the last performance of “Disillusioned”, I could really say we were like a family…
We’re about to start rehearsals of “Chrysalis”, and it seems we like have to start all over again. Not all the players are the same, and it will take a while for everyone to feel comfortable enough to take creative risks.
I’m looking at the phrase “getting a play up on it’s feet” in a whole new light.
–Sue
July 29th, 2009
Back in 1997, when I was studying abroad in London, I saw a production of “Oliver” where Fagin drops his toast. He dropped it on the floor, then picked it up with a poker and ate it. The audience went wild clapping for him.
Honestly, toast, or anything off the floor is nasty, and I didn’t see what the fuss was all about… until this past Sunday afternoon.
We have a live bunny rabbit on stage for “Disillusioned.” His name in the play is Max, his real name is Hans.
He’s adorable, no doubt about it… Rehearsals were not as focused when he was there, and I couldn’t blame the actors… they just wanted to snuggle with him.
When Max came out on stage last Wednesday night, he sat in the Magician’s top hat the whole time, barely moved. He was on for three scenes. After the congratulations, everyone asked how he could be so well behaved.
Saturday, he was still very well behaved, but he kept popping out of the hat, standing on his hind legs… still, he stayed in one spot.
Sunday, Max/Hans jumped out of the hat, went sniffing around furrowing in the cape, and then almost jumped into the cut-out on the lid of the coffin he was perched on… Then he jumped back in to the top hat.
People lost it… absolutely lost it. (I must admit, Sunday’s audience was the most vocal and happy… they clapped for a scene in the middle of the play just because they liked it… and I didn’t mind.)
Scott’s been jokingly calling him a scene-stealing bunny… I’m calling it live theatre!
–Sue
July 28th, 2009
We had our last performance of “Disillusioned” as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival. It was a great show. The audience was great. They actually clapped at the end of a scene just because they liked the scene so much. They went GAGA over our bunny, Max (Hans), who did a hat trick of his own, jumping out of, and then back into the magician’s hat.
Today, I haven’t been feeling like myself. I wasn’t sure why, and then one of my actors sent out a heart-felt email saying he felt sad too…
I get it so much now… When you’re doing a show, you really feel like a family. (My specialty is writing about families, so I’m pretty comfortable with spotting the dynamics of one.)
Sure, you have your regular squabbles and disagreements… but on the whole, you’re a part of something so much bigger than yourself — and you’re doing it together. And when you drop the ball, you know someone else is just gonna pick it right up and keep going.
It’s really a beautiful thing, and it’s part of what makes the work so rich and worth while.
There’s a possibility of six more performances… but I won’t know that for a few weeks. Until then, keep your fingers crossed.
–Sue
July 27th, 2009
I’m not sure what to make of this, or what they’ll gain, but Hamas is now sponsoring the writing and performance of plays to show the world that their people are suffering in Gaza.
Yet I still wonder if they really “get” it, when it’s a big deal to have women on stage and singing, as there are in the new play The Women of Gaza and the Patience of Job.
I hope this will herald a new era for muslims, so women can keep singing, even when the world isn’t watching. And maybe they will find peace amongst themselves, which will then spread to peace with their neighbors.
–Sue
July 24th, 2009
It’s been about twenty four hours since opening night began and ended.
So much went into it… and it happened soooo fast.
At the end, everyone came rushing towards me to congratulate us, and I did my best to work the room.
We’ve been getting congratulations via email and Facebook, and even phone from those who are too far away or unable to make it for other reasons.
I wish I could detail each moment for you, but it’s exactly what the company manager on that panel said it would be like, a wedding.
It still hasn’t fully hit me yet, and it probably won’t until our next performance… But I will say that there were very distinct moments where I was able to step outside myself and see the performance, knowing that it all started with a small idea and turned into something so much bigger than me or anyone else in that room.
It was in those moments that I was most proud. It was in those moments when I realized this was only the beginning.
The best is yet to come…
–Sue
July 24th, 2009
Yesterday I decided to bake chocolate chip cookies for the cast and crew of “Disillusioned.” I made the dough and let it sit overnight. This morning, I baked them. (That’s one of the secrets… letting it sit in the fridge for 24 hours.)
I tried putting them in fancy star shaped molds and baking them. DISASTER… the chips stuck to the bottom. Luckily, I had plenty of dough left.
So I just made good old fashioned round ones… and, in my writer’s mind, I had the memory of the night I brought chocolate chip cookies to my short story class my first semester in grad school.
To be diplomatic, I was not happy in that class… The instructor actually made fun of my work, telling me it was too intellectual, and told me I would have a limited audience for it. And, as happened many times in academic situations, I intimidated the other students. Not purposely, I’m not that kind of person… but my drive, ambition, and opinions do scare some folks. (I’ve learned at this point in my life to take it with a grain of salt and consider the source.)
Anyway, there was one guy in the class, to be diplomatic, a real tool. The night I brought in cookies, he had to admit they were good. His friend next to him elbowed him to say it aloud to my face.
And a small voice in the back of my head said, “Well, if this writing thing doesn’t work out, you can go into baking.”
Well, the writing thing worked out. We premiere “Disillusioned” tonight.
This road has had a lot of twists and turns… but I made it. I’m here — still writing, and now producing too. And I have the cookies to prove it.
–Sue
July 22nd, 2009
- “Putting it Together” by J.D. Hillberry
There’s a beautiful Sondheim song called “Putting it Together” from “Sunday in the Park with George” that comes to mind today, as I get ready to head into the city for tech (technical rehearsal).
One of the most famous stanzas goes like this (you might remember it from a Xerox ad campaign years ago):
Bit by bit, Putting it together
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art
Every moment makes a contribution,
Every little detail plays a part.
Having just a vision’s no solution,
Everything depends on execution
Putting it together, that’s what counts!
Looking forward to having you all see the final product…
–Sue
July 21st, 2009
So, we’re about three days away from the premiere of “Disillusioned“. (No worries, you still have plenty of time to get your tickets.) And the biggest questions I’ve been getting are: 1.) Are you excited? 2.) Are you nervous?
I am excited, VERY excited… but right now, not so nervous… I’m sure it’ll kick in on Wednesday night right before the show, but at the moment, I’m okay.
I’ve seen this show evolve in rehearsals… I know how far we’ve all come to get here. So now, it’s just a matter of bringing it all together, and at this point, that’s the only thing left to do.
–Sue?
July 20th, 2009
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