Today was our 4th rehearsal. We finished blocking the whole show today and did a quick photo call.
We started off our first long day with some acting exercises....the first was hysterical! The three of us did a mirror exercise--one of us would be the leader and the other two would follow...the leader would then somehow pass on "leadership" to someone else. We all moved a little too fast for each other--this was so much harder than it was in college! At one point, Paul stuck his hands under his legs and made strange antenna finger movements for us to follow. Another time he was off doing his own movements, unaware of Bob and I following each other:) Bob enjoyed putting his leg up in the air quickly and then leaving it there! I couldn't stop giggling. When we were instructed to find an ending that would make sense for our characters, we formed some sort of circle and I hid behind a chair to hide my laughter....I swear I wasn't the only one laughing.
Of course, we all found significance to these exercises--not only did we bond during the process, but we gained more awareness of one another. We did another exercise after this which was much more serious and brought about new ideas for our characters.
A discussion followed. An hour lunch came after. And then we blocked.
At the end of the day, we ran through all our new blocking for the second half of the show. Although it was chaotic at times, we did not stop and the rhythm of the show added a great sense of reality to what we were doing. So much of this show is props and imagination. While we were blocking, my situations on stage were harder to believe with all the starts and stops. But when you have to go through things non-stop, it's almost like you're following the clock of the characters, not the actors...and your character's life becomes real.
It was a tiring but worth it day.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
New Rep on Tour's First Blog
Hello! My name is Becca and this is my first blog:) I was honored to be asked to write about my experience with New Rep playing Roxane in Cyrano! I've been in other Equity shows before, but this is my first tour.
It's just three of us--Paul Melendy, Robert Kropf and myself acting under the direction of Doug Lockwood. We only have two weeks to put the show up and today was the third day of rehearsal.
On the first day, I nearly cried tears of joy when I saw the huge box of props for us to dig into. The pile of props included fake bloody heads and hands, blankets and napkins, a large assortment of dinner table equipment, flowers and hats. So far we have done many creative acting exercises which involved a great deal of prop playing. In the show, we will be using many of these props, which can become anything our imagination comes up with.
Because of the limited amount of rehearsal time, we all tried to be off-book for the first rehearsal. Being off-book means I am a little harder on myself. On the second day, when we were going through scenes and blocking everything, I expected myself to be emotionally available for all the situations I go through as Roxane. (this is typical) I went home slightly disgruntled with myself. "Why didn't Cyrano's speech bring me to tears?!" "Why do I feel awkward in this scene or that?" etc...etc... But I talked with Paul about this and he reminded me it was only the second day!:)
It's the end of the third rehearsal today and I can look back at yesterday and know I was being way too hard on myself. At the end of today, I know a million times more what I am doing in my scenes and I have many experiences in the show now to relish and work with. More importantly I realized I need to give the play time to sink in before I can...jump in it.
Finally, I need to say what a joy Robert and Paul are to work with. They are both wonderfully open actors. I feel very comfortable with them.
Tomorrow we have rehearsal starting at 10am....Tonight I'll be going over my scenes and putting myself right to bed. Can't wait for tomorrow.
It's just three of us--Paul Melendy, Robert Kropf and myself acting under the direction of Doug Lockwood. We only have two weeks to put the show up and today was the third day of rehearsal.
On the first day, I nearly cried tears of joy when I saw the huge box of props for us to dig into. The pile of props included fake bloody heads and hands, blankets and napkins, a large assortment of dinner table equipment, flowers and hats. So far we have done many creative acting exercises which involved a great deal of prop playing. In the show, we will be using many of these props, which can become anything our imagination comes up with.
Because of the limited amount of rehearsal time, we all tried to be off-book for the first rehearsal. Being off-book means I am a little harder on myself. On the second day, when we were going through scenes and blocking everything, I expected myself to be emotionally available for all the situations I go through as Roxane. (this is typical) I went home slightly disgruntled with myself. "Why didn't Cyrano's speech bring me to tears?!" "Why do I feel awkward in this scene or that?" etc...etc... But I talked with Paul about this and he reminded me it was only the second day!:)
It's the end of the third rehearsal today and I can look back at yesterday and know I was being way too hard on myself. At the end of today, I know a million times more what I am doing in my scenes and I have many experiences in the show now to relish and work with. More importantly I realized I need to give the play time to sink in before I can...jump in it.
Finally, I need to say what a joy Robert and Paul are to work with. They are both wonderfully open actors. I feel very comfortable with them.
Tomorrow we have rehearsal starting at 10am....Tonight I'll be going over my scenes and putting myself right to bed. Can't wait for tomorrow.
Pieces
The following are excerpts from what I call "Picking up Pieces." Pieces was first written and performed in NYC on 2000. These excepts attempt to document the process of re-engaging with the play for the upcoming production at New Rep (in conjunction with "My Name is Rachel Corrie"), and as a result, re-engaging with a very different Middle East.
Director Suzana Berger, and I in the midst of our last New York workshop before we go up to New Rep on Monday. Over the last months we've had a long process of working on the play both in New York and in San Francisco. It has been fascinating process. At first, the thought of delving into a play I wrote eight years ago was utterly intimidating, not to mention performing in it. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what to say, and how to take a story about 94' and make it meaningful today, after all that has happened in Israel/Palestine since.
We're finding our way, some things are not resolved yet, and other parts we feel confident about. We're hoping everything will come into a sharper focus once we're in our official rehearsals at New Rep.
Pieces
The following are excerpts from what I call: Picking Up Pieces. Pieces was first written and performed in NYC in 2000. These excerpts attempt to document the process of re-engaging with the play for the upcoming production at New Rep (in conjunction with My Name is Rachel Corrie), and as a result, re-engaging with a very different Middle East.
Director Suzana Berger and I are in the midst of our last New York workshop before we go up to New Rep on Monday. Over the last months we've had a long process of working on the play both in New York and in San Francisco. It's been fascinating. At first, the thought of delving into a play I wrote eight years ago was utterly intimidating, not to mention performing in it. I wracked my brain trying to figure out what to say, and how to take a story about 1994 and make it meaningful today, after all that has happened in Israel/Palestine since.
The more we work, the less scared I feel. We're finding our way, a couple parts are not resolved yet, while we feel more confident about others. We're hoping everything will come into a sharper focus once we're officially rehearsing at New Rep.
More on all of that soon. I'm looking forward to the drive up and to meeting everyone at the theatre. My wish is that we will all create a true theatrical exchange together. A dialogue.
Peace,
Zohar.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
2008-2009 Season
New Rep's 2008-2009 Season will be announced this Friday!
Check it out at www.newrep.org
(Subscriptions on sale immediately, single tickets on sale August 1, 2008)
Check it out at www.newrep.org
(Subscriptions on sale immediately, single tickets on sale August 1, 2008)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
New Rep earns 20 Nominations
Orson’s Shadow
Jason Marr - Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
The Wild Party
Best Lighting Design - Franklin Meissner, Jr
Best Costume Design - Frances Nelson McSherry
Best Choreography - Kelli Edwards
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical - Leigh Barrett
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical - Sarah Corey
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical - Jeremy Amasa Towle
Best Ensemble
Best Music Director - Todd C. Gordon
Best Director of a Musical - Rick Lombardo
Best Production of a Musical
A Streetcar Named Desire
Best Scenic Design - Janie E. Howland
Best Lighting Design – John R. Malinowski
Best Sound Design - Haddon Kime
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama - Bates Wilder
Best Actress - Rachel Harker
Best Director of a Drama - Rick Lombardo
Best Production of a Drama
tick, tick… BOOM!
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical - Brian R. Robinson
Best Music Director - Joshua Finstein
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Misanthrope - Rehearsals
I can't believe its been over a week since my first post! Rehearsals have been intense - we're getting a lot accomplished and it is fun to see the play take shape and the characters come to life. I love Adam's directing style. He is super smart and has a wonderful way of communicating his ideas and incorporating them with the actors' impulses, making it a wonderfully collaborative effort. I often sit in to watch scenes I'm not in to observe the work in progress. I'm getting to know the cast, and every one of them brings such talent and joy to their roles. We're still at the point in the process where new bits come in to a scene, and I find it so funny, I have to laugh! It was particularly difficult to tame my giggles yesterday - there's some funny stuff going on!
So far, we've just had one day off - New Years Day. I spent the morning relaxing with a book, and then took myself out to lunch at Grafton Street in Harvard Square, taking my time watching the falling snow and learning my lines. Then I walked over to Church Street to see Sweeney Todd. Tomorrow we get a much deserved day off. I look forward to sleeping in a little, and then going out to hear some music - my castmate Zilah (who plays Eliante) is taking me out to hear one of her favorite bands. I look forward to some down time and seeing a little bit of Boston while I'm here!
Until soon,
Amy
So far, we've just had one day off - New Years Day. I spent the morning relaxing with a book, and then took myself out to lunch at Grafton Street in Harvard Square, taking my time watching the falling snow and learning my lines. Then I walked over to Church Street to see Sweeney Todd. Tomorrow we get a much deserved day off. I look forward to sleeping in a little, and then going out to hear some music - my castmate Zilah (who plays Eliante) is taking me out to hear one of her favorite bands. I look forward to some down time and seeing a little bit of Boston while I'm here!
Until soon,
Amy
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