Back in Action...

Well tonight was the first night of rehearsal that I've been to in awhile where I didn't think I was going to pass out. I'm feeling much much better than last week. I'm stronger now and it felt great to get back in there and be actively involved in the staging. We went over 2 strong scenes in the play tonight and all the actors are really doing good so far. I told them that they'll have to be getting rid of there scripts soon though. We are taking Halloween off but will be working Friday and Saturday to catch up for lost time. We're not that far behind but with the premiere date looming I want to be ahead more than behind.

I briefly got to talk with our costumer and she's going to do fittings on Tuesday before rehearsal. So that'll get the costumes started. Still looking for a stage manager. Jeff said he's going to look for one for me. Well...that's the update for now. I'm feeling better and more determined to see this all the way to the end.

Chronicles of an "ILL" Director

I'm amazed that I can sit here for this short amount of time and type this up. I felt my friends and family needed to be updated on what was going on around here. First off I'm sick and it's no fun. I rarely get sick but it just had to happen before the 2nd "day" of rehearsals. Our first rehearsal back on the 18th went very well and I was looking forward to seeing everyone again on Sunday. Well when I woke up Friday I hardly could get up. My throat was paining, and I was sweating from what I later found out to be a 102 fever! So on the days off we had I was stuck in bed not able to do anything. It got so bad that I had to call off rehearsal for Sunday night because my fever hadn't broke.

Tonight my fever did break and I was able to go on with rehearsal but it wasn't easy. I wore a mask as heaven forbid anyone else should get this! When I direct I really like to get involved but I just had to slow it down and speak softly with people. I'm so lucky to have this great cast as everyone was very generous and took there time with me. The more I talk the more my throat hurts. My Mom (who's been apart of my film crew) came along tonight to help me out. It was great to have here there to talk for me some of the time. But I still found myself standing most of the time and talking to much for my own good. But I'm paying for that now. I hope to get a good night's rest tonight and be better tomorrow.

I hope this made sense to everyone reading. Just wanted to give a small update since I hadn't been on here in a few days. Till next time...

Your Sick Director

Back from read through...

Back from the read through and it really went well. I'm pleased with everyone I've chosen for the cast. Tomorrow will be the first day of rehearsal. So now all the motions will start to come into play. I can tell the cast is very excited about getting into this and just working to do the best they can for this play. :) More updates soon!

Calls Backs and First Read Through

Hi everyone! Well let me update you all with what's going on. We had call backs last night and I'm happy to say that now we have our cast! It was tough making the choices as everyone I saw was really good and talented. I feel we have the best people for the roles! Tonight is our first read through of the script and I'll report back after that.

Below is the first video(I'm sure of many) from the audition nights. This shows off the inside of the Missouri Theater we'll be preforming in. They didn't have it all 'lite' up inside but this will give you a general idea how big it is. Enjoy!

Auditions Day 2

Day 2 of the auditions were tonight. I saw different actors & actress than from the first night. A few from the first night were there too. I think everything went more 'smoothly' tonight as I had already been through it once before. Charla, my sister, was off of work so she came out and helped me. She was a big help to me and it was good to have someone there I knew and had worked with before. My assistance from last night, Jennifer, was there and asked if she could do anything tonight. I got to thank her personally for helping me the other night with everything.

The auditions went good tonight and now it's time for me to let them all soak in and look at the tape again. I have a pretty good idea for the actress that I want for the main female lead. About 85% sure. Tomorrow is 'call-backs' where I'll call in my picks and they'll come and play off each other. This way I can get to know them a bit better at this stage as well. Then by tomorrow night I should have my cast pretty much set with rehearsals starting on Wednesday.

Auditions Day 1

Well I got back from auditions a few hours ago. The auditions were from 7pm-9pm. All in all it went good. I got there around 6pm. There were a few actors already ready to audition! Jeff had them 'sing in' with an audition sheet and put a number on them so I could match the number with the person/sheet. I mingled around for awhile as more and more people started to file in. I'm sure at this point they thought I was just another actor waiting around as I hadn't been introduced to them as a director. Was talking to a few of the people that were auditioning and getting some history on them and how they came into the "arts."

So once everyone got there the auditions started at 7pm and Jeff introduced Connie Willis(The Christmas Story director who was auditioning the same time I was) and myself to the group of actors/actress that had shown up. We had most of the people wait in the rehearsal hall while we called them down in groups to audition in the Missouri Theater. That's right we got to do the auditions on the stage we'll be preforming on!

I would have been "lost" if I didn't have my assistant Jennifer helping me. She was so wonderful in going to get people to come down and audition and just anything I asked her. I missed her on the way out so I hope she comes back tomorrow as I really wanted to thank her for all the help she did for me. Plus I hope she'll help me the 2nd day of auditions.

The auditions themselves went good. We had 2 males, 4 females and about 12-15 kids try out for The Miracle Worker on this first night. More auditions will be held tomorrow night so hope to see more talented people in the area. Everyone I saw tonight does have talent! That's so great to see in a small town. All of them were very nice to me as well.

Here to a good first night of auditions...Keep that curtain open!
-CP

Quick update...

Just wanted to update everyone on what's been going on. I've been going through the script and "analyzing" it more but not to much. I want the actors to really make the characters jump off the page for me. Auditions are this coming weekend. 14th-15th(Sunday & Monday) with call backs on the 16th. This will be a very important step in the process as casting the right people in these roles is essential.

I took a few pics by the theater where the play will be preformed on Nov 16-18th. The Missouri Theater was built in 1927 and is gorgeous inside and out! Enjoy!

Set Design meeting

Just got back from my meeting with set and lighting designer Frank Polleck. Frank had some good ideas and is going to be making a great set for us. We looked at the set design layout in the back of the script book, but Frank thought changing a few things would help for the audience to see everything going on stage better. His ideas were good and I think they are going to help for the audience to see everything. He's going to draw it up for me to see it all together. Then I'll sign off on it and he'll get started. After we have auditions this weekend( 14th-15th), he's going to tape down the set on the rehearsal hall floor so we can block all the motions and not be running into walls.

After the meeting stopped by to talk with Jeff. We're still looking for light/sound operator and stage manager. Also I've got to get him pages from the script that we'll be using at auditions for the casting. Jeff has been promoting casting and getting the word out about it. He went on our local news this morning to talk about his upcoming production, but I guess got roped into talking about the auditions for this and the other play they'll be casting for at the same time. Sorry about that Jeff. :P

Till next time, don't raise the curtain, lower the seats...
-CP

Weekend update

Greetings all. Just wanted to give you a small update on what's been going on. I've be reading over the script and making notes about it. This is a highly dramatic play indeed. Casting will be very important. Speaking of casting, auditions will be held Oct 14-15th with the 16th a day for call backs. Then after that I'm sure we're going to have to go right into rehearsals due to the short time we have before performance time.

Tomorrow I meet with set designer Frank Polleck to talk more about sets and all that good stuff. Will give a report of how that goes tomorrow.

Till next time, keep the spotlights hot!
-CP

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog were I'll be writing about my experiences as a first time theater director. Am I a first time director? No. I have done film directing for over 14 years but this is my first time directing a stage play. So I thought it would be fun to chronicle the whole thing on here for my family and friends to follow. Plus when it's all over with it'll be neat to look back on this for myself too. I'm very excited and looking forward to doing it.
The play that I will be directing is "The Miracle Worker."

Let me back up just a bit and tell you(for those that don't know) how I came into this position...
I had an interview with our local community theater, Robidoux Resident Theater, in town on 10-9-2007. They were looking for a director for an upcoming play. I went and had the interview with Jeff Haney at 11am. We had a good hour long talk about everything. He even showed me the rehearsal/costume hall! Now that was neat. Felt like being in NY!

At about 2:30pm the same day Jeff(who was extremely nice) emailed me and said I HAD THE JOB! So now I'm a theater director! hahahaha Like I said before the play is "The Miracle Worker" based on the life of young Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan. Very dramatic play.
It's going to be preformed in the historic theater we have here the Missouri Theater on Nov 16th,17th 18th. I'll be taking pics/videos of to post on the blog. So very excited about that.

I think we'll be casting for it next week as they want to get started on it quick with just 4-5 weeks away from show time. Also I'll be meeting with with my technical director(sets/lights) in a few days to talk with him about the sets he'll be making for the production.

It's going to be a fun time with some hard work thrown in but I'm looking forward to it!
I'll keep this blog updated as much as I can. Things will really kick in once the cast is set and we're off and rolling.
Till next time, break a leg(just not mine)
-CP