Opening night was AMAZING.
Our afternoon (final preview) audience was brilliant, so I was a bit afraid that the evening wouldn't be as strong. But they were OUTSTANDING. There were two sustained laughs of more than 12 seconds (usually, a sustained, rolling laugh will last for 5 or 7 seconds)! And they were right there with the characters, getting the wit, not just laughing at the slapstick. The actors fed off that energy, so it was a wonderful show all around.
I'll actually be sad to leave these guys, as much as I'm looking forward to Triumph.
Gaaaaa! I love my job and I love my life!
/broken record
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Maybe the sleepiness is why I can't stop giggling!
I keep planning blog posts about this crazy sense of unearned good luck that seems to be following me around (not complaining, universe!) and how theatre has shifted my understanding of concepts like "normal," especially "day off." Neither of those posts has written itself, clearly.
Instead, I've thrown myself head first into two shows. Start work at 10am, finish around 11:30pm, grab an hour for dinner in there somewhere. Not a bad thing, not by any means. Da had its first proper audience tonight, and man I'm proud of this show. I do pretty much nothing other than smile pretty at the actors and occasionally lend a hand, but it's a damn good show and the audience tonight agreed. Today also happened to be first rehearsal for Triumph, a show that (if the world continues to turn in my favour) will be one gigantic quick change. Aaand of course fittings for Triumph will be starting soon, which means me hanging about in the shop for even longer.
I'm not complaining, by any means. I know these hours won't last forever, and I'm gonna squeeze every waking moment of awesome out of my life.
Speaking of awesome, a story
I've just had an idea that tickeled me so much that I giggle every time I think about it.
The background: Triumph is an exceedingly whimsical show, and the costume shop gals have collectively decided to have dress up themes for the next 3 weeks while we work to get the show up. We wrote down ideas, folded them up, stuck them in a cup, and plan to draw one each day. Today's theme was Glitter (and sparkles and sequins and the like). A pretty straightforward theme. I'm generally glitter-less, so I borrowed a heavily sequined teal tank from my roommate, and paired it with a black hoodie, teal sparkly earrings, dark jeans, and grey clogs.
The theme for Wednesday (tomorrow) is Song Titles. At a loss for ideas, I thumbed through my iTunes library until struck by inspiration.
I'll be wearing a heavily sequined teal tank from my roommate, and pairing it with a black hoodie, teal sparkly earrings, dark jeans, and grey clogs.
My song? "Yesterday" by The Beatles.
Instead, I've thrown myself head first into two shows. Start work at 10am, finish around 11:30pm, grab an hour for dinner in there somewhere. Not a bad thing, not by any means. Da had its first proper audience tonight, and man I'm proud of this show. I do pretty much nothing other than smile pretty at the actors and occasionally lend a hand, but it's a damn good show and the audience tonight agreed. Today also happened to be first rehearsal for Triumph, a show that (if the world continues to turn in my favour) will be one gigantic quick change. Aaand of course fittings for Triumph will be starting soon, which means me hanging about in the shop for even longer.
I'm not complaining, by any means. I know these hours won't last forever, and I'm gonna squeeze every waking moment of awesome out of my life.
Speaking of awesome, a story
I've just had an idea that tickeled me so much that I giggle every time I think about it.
The background: Triumph is an exceedingly whimsical show, and the costume shop gals have collectively decided to have dress up themes for the next 3 weeks while we work to get the show up. We wrote down ideas, folded them up, stuck them in a cup, and plan to draw one each day. Today's theme was Glitter (and sparkles and sequins and the like). A pretty straightforward theme. I'm generally glitter-less, so I borrowed a heavily sequined teal tank from my roommate, and paired it with a black hoodie, teal sparkly earrings, dark jeans, and grey clogs.
The theme for Wednesday (tomorrow) is Song Titles. At a loss for ideas, I thumbed through my iTunes library until struck by inspiration.
I'll be wearing a heavily sequined teal tank from my roommate, and pairing it with a black hoodie, teal sparkly earrings, dark jeans, and grey clogs.
My song? "Yesterday" by The Beatles.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Should Be Asleep. Am Not Asleep.
I just made the mistake at properly looking at my calendar. WHOA.
I had today off (well, Sunday. It's technically Monday by now), and that's my last day off until APRIL. In the intervening time, I have:
Da design run
Bus Stop strike
Da tech week
Da opening
Triumph first rehearsal
Triumph pre pubs
Toss in there a small handful of meetings and basics like laundry and grocery shopping.
Oh yeah. Also, working in the costume shop 6 days a week when not on a show and running Da once it opens.
Let the insanity begin!
ETA: No, wait. I have one more day off this month. That makes 3 whole days off in March!
I had today off (well, Sunday. It's technically Monday by now), and that's my last day off until APRIL. In the intervening time, I have:
Da design run
Bus Stop strike
Da tech week
Da opening
Triumph first rehearsal
Triumph pre pubs
Toss in there a small handful of meetings and basics like laundry and grocery shopping.
Oh yeah. Also, working in the costume shop 6 days a week when not on a show and running Da once it opens.
Let the insanity begin!
ETA: No, wait. I have one more day off this month. That makes 3 whole days off in March!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
More Theatre. More Flailing. No Surprise!
I sat down to write this while listening to Mountain Goats (Sunset Tree, "Pale Green Things") but whoa, not the right music or brain place. Instead, a transition. Muse! The Resistance.
Yeah, that's better. For flailing about theatre, at least.
Theatre is awesome. I love seeing it, I love hearing about it, I love reading it, and most of all I love making it happen.
And I really, really love my job. As wardrobe crew, I have a few basic responsibilities:
1. Make sure the costumes/wigs stay clean and mended.
2. Make sure the actors look how they're supposed to on stage.
But my actual duties are rather more complex. They break down more like this:
1. Make sure the costumes/wigs stay clean and mended.
A. Do laundry every night
B. Brush/set/tend wigs however often is necessary
C. Keep dressing rooms supplied with whatever is needed-- cotton balls, bobby pins, and tissues are hot items.
D. Be prepared to fix anything and everything at all times
i. An actor rips his pants and has 45 seconds before he has to be on stage? Safety pins to the rescue!
ii. An actress pops the strand of beads on her dress? That's what the needle and thread are for. No need to take the dress off.
2. Make sure the actors look how they're supposed to on stage
A. Do everything possible to make the actors feel comfortable, confident, and attractive in their costumes.
i. Actors, as a general rule, have rather low self-esteem and are VERY critical of themselves. You would be too if it was your job to get stared at by hundreds of people 8 times a week and if your getting jobs was in no small part dependent on how you look.
B. Do pretty much whatever is necessary to keep the actors in the right brain-place
i. This covers everything from providing tissues to having a steady supply of hair pins, to being a shoulder to cry on as necessary.
ii. This task necessitates an ability to--for lack of better phrasing--read people accurately and quickly.
iii. Consider thinking beyond costumes for this task-- have a cup of water and a throat lozenge ready for the actor with a scratchy throat, a tissue for the actor who tears up on stage, and a sweat towel for the actor always wiping his forehead.
C. Perform all actions without playing the role of servant.
In short, as wardrobe crew, it's my job to keep the actors pretty while figuring out what everyone needs 5 minutes before they need it and then provide it, without looking like I'm fetching whatever people need.
And it's the coolest job EVER.
Yeah, that's better. For flailing about theatre, at least.
Theatre is awesome. I love seeing it, I love hearing about it, I love reading it, and most of all I love making it happen.
And I really, really love my job. As wardrobe crew, I have a few basic responsibilities:
1. Make sure the costumes/wigs stay clean and mended.
2. Make sure the actors look how they're supposed to on stage.
But my actual duties are rather more complex. They break down more like this:
1. Make sure the costumes/wigs stay clean and mended.
A. Do laundry every night
B. Brush/set/tend wigs however often is necessary
C. Keep dressing rooms supplied with whatever is needed-- cotton balls, bobby pins, and tissues are hot items.
D. Be prepared to fix anything and everything at all times
i. An actor rips his pants and has 45 seconds before he has to be on stage? Safety pins to the rescue!
ii. An actress pops the strand of beads on her dress? That's what the needle and thread are for. No need to take the dress off.
2. Make sure the actors look how they're supposed to on stage
A. Do everything possible to make the actors feel comfortable, confident, and attractive in their costumes.
i. Actors, as a general rule, have rather low self-esteem and are VERY critical of themselves. You would be too if it was your job to get stared at by hundreds of people 8 times a week and if your getting jobs was in no small part dependent on how you look.
B. Do pretty much whatever is necessary to keep the actors in the right brain-place
i. This covers everything from providing tissues to having a steady supply of hair pins, to being a shoulder to cry on as necessary.
ii. This task necessitates an ability to--for lack of better phrasing--read people accurately and quickly.
iii. Consider thinking beyond costumes for this task-- have a cup of water and a throat lozenge ready for the actor with a scratchy throat, a tissue for the actor who tears up on stage, and a sweat towel for the actor always wiping his forehead.
C. Perform all actions without playing the role of servant.
In short, as wardrobe crew, it's my job to keep the actors pretty while figuring out what everyone needs 5 minutes before they need it and then provide it, without looking like I'm fetching whatever people need.
And it's the coolest job EVER.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Signs I Know It's Tech Week: Camelot
Friday starts tech rehearsals for Camelot, which means this past week has been ASTOUNDINGLY busy. As such:
Indicators that Alina's Preping and Teching a Show (To Be Developed As Camelot Moves into Techs)
1. I've gotten in the shower with pencils still stuck in my hair.
2. I've eaten all three meals in the same room (the costume shop, of course).
3. All of my black clothes, jeans, and sweatshirts (is cold now!) have safety pins attached.
4. I don't know the time, day, or date.
4a. I can't hang on to any of that information either, and am likely to ask "is today Thursday?" repeatedly over the course of two or three days.
5. Pretzel with nutella is a perfectly acceptable breakfast, just as tea is lunch and cereal in milk is dinner. Midnight snack remains either tomato soup or ice cream.
Sure, I'm busy. But it's more the absurdity of what's happening and is going to happen over the next few days that has me so exhausted. Somehow, 21 actors, 10 interns, a handful of permanent staff, a smallish design team, a bunch of musicians, a few square acres worth of trees (in the form of a set), a positively epic number of costumes, enough lighting instruments to outshine the sun, and (if we do it right) lots of massive audiences are gonna combine to make theatre happen.
Indicators that Alina's Preping and Teching a Show (To Be Developed As Camelot Moves into Techs)
1. I've gotten in the shower with pencils still stuck in my hair.
2. I've eaten all three meals in the same room (the costume shop, of course).
3. All of my black clothes, jeans, and sweatshirts (is cold now!) have safety pins attached.
4. I don't know the time, day, or date.
4a. I can't hang on to any of that information either, and am likely to ask "is today Thursday?" repeatedly over the course of two or three days.
5. Pretzel with nutella is a perfectly acceptable breakfast, just as tea is lunch and cereal in milk is dinner. Midnight snack remains either tomato soup or ice cream.
Sure, I'm busy. But it's more the absurdity of what's happening and is going to happen over the next few days that has me so exhausted. Somehow, 21 actors, 10 interns, a handful of permanent staff, a smallish design team, a bunch of musicians, a few square acres worth of trees (in the form of a set), a positively epic number of costumes, enough lighting instruments to outshine the sun, and (if we do it right) lots of massive audiences are gonna combine to make theatre happen.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Let's Do This Thing
Lots of things in my head tonight. I saw a really good show at Round House with a bunch of other interns-- a modern-ish adaptation of Dorian Grey. Among other things, they had a BEAUTIFUL double turntable that was incredibly smooth. and they used it SO WELL. There were two moments in particular that earned seat-flailing from me and vocal appreciation from the audience. Just turntable movements, mind you! And the car ride back was filled with the bubbly sort of "Oh, and that moment was AWESOME!" "Yeah, but I'm not sure how I feel about this choice." "Oh, it worked for me once this one thing happened; then it clicked" conversation that I love. There's one point in the show where Dorian says something to the effect of "art doesn't make people do things; it merely reflects our potential for committing evil acts" only he says it with more grace and passion. The line falls flat, as it should, because not one character or audience member (and at that point, not even Dorian) believes it, given the events of the play. But as I suspect it was intended to do, the line made me think about a show's responsibility to its audience as well as an audience's responsibility to a show. Nothing new or profound on either front, but mah brainz are spinnin'. Oh theatre, I love you.
And then I came back and drank wine with one of the artistic directors and heard her stories of touring shows in Germany before the wall came down. Oh theatre, I love you.
Before all this happened, I got to walk through the Night Must Fall set for the first time. My first walk through is one of those silly magical moments that always makes me giddy and eager for techs to start. Suddenly, everything theoretical is real. There's a real window! And look at the texture on the floor! And oh, wow, here's how that wonky entrance will work! Sure, the set's not done, costumes aren't finished, and I haven't seen a hint of lights or sound. But set walk through means we might just have a show.
(Say it with me now.) Oh theatre, I love you.
And then I came back and drank wine with one of the artistic directors and heard her stories of touring shows in Germany before the wall came down. Oh theatre, I love you.
Before all this happened, I got to walk through the Night Must Fall set for the first time. My first walk through is one of those silly magical moments that always makes me giddy and eager for techs to start. Suddenly, everything theoretical is real. There's a real window! And look at the texture on the floor! And oh, wow, here's how that wonky entrance will work! Sure, the set's not done, costumes aren't finished, and I haven't seen a hint of lights or sound. But set walk through means we might just have a show.
(Say it with me now.) Oh theatre, I love you.
Monday, April 20, 2009
I See a River! -- Urinetown
I seem to pick up the odd jobs in the costume shop (make a 3 foot doll with a photo of my face on it! Take a wig with a 1950's updo and make it look like half the head has been shaved! Sew a dress with nearly 100 feet of ruffles!) but this show pretty much wins at crazy. In the last month or so, I have:
- made bloody body parts compete with gnaw marks
- made a recreation of a costume dress, then bloodied and shredded it
- beat costumes with rocks
- added blood stains on a shirt to mimic the look of someone who fell 30 feet into a gravel pit
- attacked costumes with straight razors, scissors, steak knives, and a litany of other sharp things
- dyed a whole bunch of fabric to get it juuuuust the right colour
- splashed bleach on lots of costumes
- kicked a rock wall while wearing costume shoes to distress them
- rolled down a hill in a costume, again to distress
- cut the toe off a shoe
- made bloody body parts compete with gnaw marks
- made a recreation of a costume dress, then bloodied and shredded it
- beat costumes with rocks
- added blood stains on a shirt to mimic the look of someone who fell 30 feet into a gravel pit
- attacked costumes with straight razors, scissors, steak knives, and a litany of other sharp things
- dyed a whole bunch of fabric to get it juuuuust the right colour
- splashed bleach on lots of costumes
- kicked a rock wall while wearing costume shoes to distress them
- rolled down a hill in a costume, again to distress
- cut the toe off a shoe
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