The Drip: Behind the Scenes at WaterTower Theatre

Parade Production Shots

2007-04-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some production shots from WTT's current running show Parade. Photos courtesy of Mark Oristano Photography.

Jennifer Pasion and Theo Wischhusen

Jennifer Pasion, Donald Fowler, Mark Oristano, and Megan Kelly

Donald Fowler with cast

Eleanor Threatt, Matthew Johnson, Wilbur Penn, and Walter Cunningham.

Scenes from a Gala...

2007-02-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, WTT held its annual fundraiser Spotlight 2007 - A Grand Night for Singing! From 6:15 until 10:30, almost 300 guests enjoyed food from six fantastic restaurants, bid on silent auction items and heard the best music from legendary composers Rodgers and Hammerstein.

During the night, our good friend Mike Wang (husband of our Resident Stage Manager Heidi Shen) snuck his camera in to document the festivities.

Here are some highlights of the evening!

Views from inside our transformed Main Stage...

Mayor of Addison and Owner of May Dragon, Joe Chow.

Additional event photos courtesy of Mark Oristano.

Event Co-chairs Nicholas Even and Anita Braun.

Buddy Frazer, Terry Martin, and Glynda Turner.

Terry Martin (center) with (from left to right) John Dunne, Karol Omlor (WTT Board of Director), Jane Dunne (Past-President of TACA), and Jennifer Houser.

A Grand Night for Singing cast (from left to right) Dara Whitehead-Allen, Donald Fowler, Stacey Oristano, Jennifer Green, and Shane Peterman.

WTT Board of Director Alexa Kapioltas (center) and table guests.

Trailer Park Preview

2007-02-16T20:33:00.000-08:00

We've put together a preview of The Great American Trailer Park! Remember that it starts March 1 during the Out of the Loop Festival!

A Valentines Offer From WaterTower Theatre...

2007-02-06T09:23:00.000-08:00

Celebrate Valentine's Day a little early this year with a special treat from WaterTower Theatre and Kenny's Wood Fired Grill. In a special colaboration, we are able to offer you a special dinner theatre package. This package includes two tickets to any remaining performance of Humble Boy and a $50 gift certificate to Kenny's Wood Fired Grill. So treat your special somebody to a fantastic night on the town. Our dinner theatre packages are limited, so call the box office today at 972.450.6232 to guarantee your package today!

The Great American Trailer Park Musical Press Photos

2007-02-01T14:42:00.000-08:00

Now Playing: Humble Boy

2007-01-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

Photos by Mark Oristano.

Humble Boy Director's Notes

2007-01-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

On one level, this very English comedy is a modern telling of "Hamlet." On another, and perhaps more importantly, it is a stunning study of a mother-son relationship. Ms. Jones has written a play that buzzes with ideas – superstring theory, beekeeping, and, most notably, the challenge of the parent/adult child relationship. What struck me most was the play’s use of Astrophysics as a metaphor, and how this young man’s search to understand the “physics” of his parents meeting, and long marriage mirrors his passionate search for the “quantum theory of gravity.”

Never very good at math, all of the physics references were way over my head. It took quite a bit of research to get my head around what terms like "quantum mechanics," “string theory,” “chaos theory” and “M-theory” mean. I am proud to say I understand theoretical physics a bit more now, and interestingly, I found it all opened my mind even further to this family's very funny and moving story.

The parent-adult child struggle is explored beautifully in this play. When we reach adulthood and begin to relate to our parents as fellow adults, the stories of their youth, the way they met and fell in love, become more and more important to us. Yet the more we learn, the less we in fact understand. As Felix Humble discovers, the parents we know are not necessarily the same people we hear described in our parent’s memories. The challenge of reconciling who our parents are with whom they were seems daunting at best. Nevertheless, if we are lucky and look hard enough, it can be “like pointing a telescope at a blank piece of sky and seeing a star that (we) have never seen before.”

There is a sort of game that the Humble Family plays with “collective nouns.” “Collective nouns” are nouns that denote a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit, such “a herd of antelope” or “a flock of birds.” After his father’s death, Felix searches for comfort by playing this game. During my research, I found some very interesting collective nouns. Here are some fun ones: (these are not made up – they are real!)

An abomination of monks

An ambush of widows

A kaleidoscope of butterflies

A tower of giraffes

A troubling of goldfish

A murder of crows

A den of thieves

A charm of finches

A clutch of eggs

It has been a privilege to work on this wonderful play with such a gifted company of actors.

WTT Announces Out of the Loop Headliner...

2007-01-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

Headlining the 2007 Out of the Loop Festival will be WaterTower Theatre’s production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical, written by Betsy Kelso and David Nehls.

There's a new tenant in Armadillo Acres, and she's wreaking havoc all over Florida's most exclusive trailer park! The double-wide divas of this fine housing establishment have survived everything from kidnapping to no-good men to bad perms. But when Pippi, a “stripper on the run,” comes between agoraphobic housewife Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband, a storm begins to brew that will shake these manufactured homes right down to their mobile foundations. Please note: This musical contains tacky outfits, bad wigs, crude language, adultery, road kill, electrocution and spray cheese.

A 10-day celebration of theatre, dance, music and art, the Out of the Loop Festival features performances by WaterTower Theatre as well as other arts organizations from the local area and the region. The festival will run March 1 – 11, 2007. Performances will be held at the Addison Theatre Centre, which contains three performance venues: the Festival Main Stage (seating approximately 100), the Studio Theatre (seating approximately 70), and the Stone Cottage (seating approximately 50).

In 2002, the Out of the Loop Festival was named “Best Inaugural Festival” by D Magazine in its “Best of Big D” issue. The 2004 Dallas/Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum awarded the festival with a special citation for providing performance opportunities to new works and new production companies. In 2005, festival attendance increased by 25% from the previous year to more than 4,000 patrons over the 10-day period. The 2007 Out of the Loop Festival will take place March 1 – 11.

Tickets to The Great American Trailer Park Musical are $15 each and go onsale February 20. Festival Passes, which include one admission to each festival event and an advance reservation option, are currently available now for $50 by calling the WaterTower Theatre Box Office at 972.450.6232 or www.watertowertheatre.org/outoftheloop.asp

Parade Cast

2007-01-08T08:39:00.000-08:00

Another year, another show in pre-production.

We just completed casting for our upcoming production of Parade. With a cast of 29, it will be the largest show we have ever done. Actors are already trying to make sure they have dressing room space.

We are just beginning the pre-production process, so details will be forthcoming. But here's a sneak peek at who you'll see treading the boards at WTT come April.

Old Confederate Soldier/Judge Roan	R Bruce Elliott
Luther Rosser	Mark Oristano
Tom Watson	Gary Moody
Mr. Peavy	Michael Serrecchia
Hugh Dorsey	Stan Graner
Gov. John Slaton	Paul Taylor
Det. J.N. Starnes	Clay Yocum
Floyd MacDaniel	Ryan Roach
Off. Ivey	Jack Birdwell
Leo Frank	Donald Fowler
Jim Conley	Walter Cunningham
Britt Craig	Christopher J. Deaton
Riley	Matthew Johnson
Aid	John Garcia
Policeman/Prison Guard	Stephen Bates
Young Soldier/Fiddlin' John	Trevor Wright
Frankie Epps	Ryan Appleby
Sally Slaton	Cara Statham Serber
Mrs. Phagan	Jennifer Green
Lizzie Phagan	Julie Painter
Angela	Natalie King
Lucille Frank	Jennifer Pasion
Nurse/Assistant	Sara Shelby-Martin
Ensemble	Kristi Rowan
Iola Stover	Megan Kelly
Monteen	Kimberly Whalen
Essie	Katelyn Branson
Mary Phagan	Elizabeth Judd

Holiday Cheer from WaterTower

2006-12-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

It's not often that everyone on staff has the same night off from work. But this past Monday was an exception to that rule. So we decided to ring in the holidays in style - with a dinner together at Kenny's Wood Fired Grill. Our unofficial staff historian Mike Wang helped us out by documenting the event with some great photos. And a special thank you goes to Kenny's for sponsoring our staff holiday party. Be sure to visit there the next time you want a special night out (and be sure to try the Tenderloin Crostini... it's absolutely unbelievable)!

From the desk of the set designer... Happy Holi-divas!

2006-11-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

When I began discussions about Holidivas with James, he instinctively knew that he wanted the audience to feel connected to the performers in a way that a standard proscenium style configuration might not emphasize. We had discussed the allure of the British Dance Hall or Operatic Musical Revue stage and how it projected the action of the play directly into the audiences’ laps. In essence, the spectator enjoys an intimate relationship to the performer and, thereby, the thrill of participating in the spectacle.

I had some experience designing cabaret stages with a catwalk that runs down the center of an audience arrayed at cocktail tables with candles. I was very excited about the possibilities of combining this sort of time-worn thrust configuration with the archetypal Diva character and iconic imagery associated with Christmas.

I began researching opera houses and traditional wing-and-drop scenery while trying to settle on an image that I felt would encompass everything I wanted to say about the holidays as they relate to sexy sassy women who can belt out a tune. I kept coming back to this idea of Christmas trees adorned with stars, diamonds and pearls. This led to the incorporation of simple, festive shapes in silver, gold, and jewel-tone colors that reflect the idea of extravagant decadence and female beauty.

The result is more overt and whimsical than anything I have designed to date. The configuration has also worked out particularly well. Apparently, the seating has never been quite arranged in the way we have chosen for this show. It should provide for a unique encounter of audience and actor.

I am looking forward to several memorable and sophisticated evenings listening to lovely ladies sing stellar holiday standards. What a way to get in the spirit. I love my job.

~Scott Osborne
Scenic Designer
www.scottosbornedesign.com

Second Thought Theatre presents Free Commedia Workshop

2006-11-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

We got this in an email from our friends at Second Thought Theatre and wanted to pass it along. Sounds like a great opportunity. If you go, tell 'em you learned about it on WTT's Blog!

"If anyone is interested, Second Thought has hired the fabulous Sara
Romersberger to administer a free commedia workshop this Saturday from
12:30 to 4:30 at the first Presbyterian Church Downtown.

Please come if you are interested. We would love to have you there! And also, forward this along to anyone you think might be interested in attending. The workshop will be geared towards Second Thought's production of Scapino but will be a great learning experience for all involved!

Please don't hesitate to call if you have any questions ot concerns!

Read below for more information!

In the basement of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas located in
Downtown on the corner of Park and Young.

The address is below:

408 Park Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75201

Please park in the back. Go into the parking garage and take the
elevator downstairs. There will be Second Thought Theatre reps there
to show you the way.

Steven Walters
Resident Playwright
Second Thought Theatre
817-319-6842"

Santaland Diaries Press Photos

2006-11-28T15:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Holi-divas! Press Photos...

2006-11-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

WTT Wins Big at the Rabins

2006-11-20T13:59:00.000-08:00

Last Monday, WTT was honored to receive 7 Leon Rabin Awards from the Dallas Theatre League! The winners inluded Urinetown the Musical (Outstanding Production of a Musical), James Paul Lemons (Outstanding Director of a Musical), Sheilah V. Walker (Outstanding Musical Direction), Clare Floyd DeVries (Outstanding Set Design of a Musical), Paul Taylor (Outstanding Supporting Actor, Musical), Ted Wold (Outstanding Supporting Actor, Play), and Joshua Doss (Outstanding Lead Actor, Musical). WTT Business Manager Landire Bock took her handy camera with her to the ceremony, but she must have either been really excited we had such a good night OR enjoyed the pre-show bar a little much. The pictures are a little blurry, but perhaps that helps add to the excitement of the evening! Enjoy!

WTT was well represented. Here is James Paul Lemons, Terry Martin
& Clare Floyd DeVries

Here is WTT Business Manager Landrie Bock & WTT Resident Stage Manager Heidi Shen
(notice how Landrie's pic came out the best. hmm....)

Meet the new Crumptet.

2006-11-15T16:02:00.000-08:00

This year, WTT welcomes Ted Wold to the role of Crumpet in our holiday production of The Santaland Diaries. Audiences will remember Ted from his performances in WTTs Into the Woods, Noises Off, The Spitfire Grill and his Leon Rabin Award winning performance in Take Me Out.

We snuck into the Studio today to take some press photos. As a special bonus treat, I'd thought we give you a preview of the New Crumpet.

PS - If you are missing Nye Cooper, who has played the role for the past five years, he is starring in this holiday season's Dim the Lights at the Bath House Cultural Center.

WTT in STAGE DIRECTIONS Magazine...

2006-11-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

For our production of Into the Woods this past July/August, WTT experimented with a new type of scenery - projected images. And it seems that a few people took notice!

The November issue of Stage Directions Magazine is running an article on projected scenery. The article features WTT and Into the Woods scenic designer Clare Floyd DeVries.

Congratulations to Clare and the entire Woods design team for making this article.

Click here to read the article!

Kimberly Whalen: Then and Now...

2006-10-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

One of the most exciting aspects of producing shows at WaterTower is being able to showcase new talent on our Main Stage. With Man of La Mancha, five actors will be making the WTT debut! And while we count actress Kimberly Whalen as one of those five, Kimberly is certainly no stranger to WTT.

Kimberly is a former student of our Summer Musical Theatre Camp who is now studying acting and voice at University of Texas at Arlington. During the 2003 camp, Kimberly played Laurie in Oklahoma! We thought it would be fun to compare a bit of her performance from 2003 with her recent Symphonic Saturday appearance. Click here for "People Will Say We're in Love" from 2006's Symphonic Saturday and 2003's Oklahoma!

And be sure to check out Kimberly's increadible voice in Man of La Mancha - onstage now!

Dinner with WTT's Producing Artistic Director...

2006-10-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

Every year at WTT’s annual fundraising gala, one of the most talked about and desired auction items is a dinner with WTT’s Artistic Director, Terry Martin. The Gala, which is held each February, is an elegant evening of food and entertainment and includes many exciting auction items with all proceeds benefiting the arts and education programs of WTT. This year one of Addison’s best-known restaurant/night spots, Samabuca, sponsored the dinner. Long time patrons, Steve and Ruth Trudeau purchased the dinner at the 2006 gala. They invited friends, Anne and Tom Kleefisch, Kim Kelly and Deborah Caldwell to join them. Also attending was Chris Miller of Rainmaker Advertising, another longtime WTT sponsor. The evening proved to be full of marvelous food, stimulating conversation and numerous laughs. Many thanks to the Trudeau’s for their continued support and friendship and to Sambuca who sponsored this fabulous evening.

Man of La Mancha Preview Photos

2006-10-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

During dress rehearsal last evening, our friend Mark Oristano of Mark Oristano Photography came to take some pictures of during the run of the show. As a special feature to our blog readers, we're happy to post some of his work. A special thanks to Mark for sharing his photos with us!

Strike One... Strike Two...

2006-09-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday, staff members from WTT teamed with the Addison North Dallas Business Guide to participate in the First Annual Charity Bowl sponsored by the new lavish 300 Dallas Bowling Center. During the tournament, non-profits competed for a grand prize of $3,000 awarded to the team with the highest score. While we didn't win the grand prize, we did receive an award for the Most Strikes and made $300 for the theatre! Congratulations to our team: WTT Staff members Stephen Cano, Andy Gosnell and Callie Kilgore with Sharla DeFrancisco from the Addison North Dallas Business Guide! And a very special thank you to both the Guide for choosing WTT to participate in the event and to 300 Dallas for hosting the First Annual Charity Bowl.

WTT team members Andy Gosnell, Callie Kilgore and Sharla DeFrancisco prepare for battle!

Andy concentrates on not getting a gutter ball!

And while we may not have won the grand prize, we certainly had the best cheering section thanks to Heidi Shen, Elizabeth Kaminski and Landrie Bock (who was much more enthuastic during the rest of the game)!

A Working Weekend...

2006-09-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, WTT's Board of Directors spend time together at their annual Board Retreat. The purpose of this retreat is come together as a group to discuss the common goals for the theatre in the upcoming and years and brainstorm on how to make those goals a reality. Serving on the Board of Directors is a labor of love for members... and WTT is honored to have such distinguished board members!

WTT staff looks on as consultant Betty Richardson leads the retreat.

A very special thanks goes to Chamberlain's Steakhouse for hosting a wonderful dinner for our Board of Directors this past Friday and to Dusty Smith with Springhill Suites for providing our meeting place! And if you are interested in serving WTT as a member of our Board of Directors, contact Judy Schecter at 972.450.6227.

Scenes from an Open House...

2006-09-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

Last night, WaterTower celebrated the arrival of its upcoming 2006-2007 Season with an Open House! From 5 PM to 7 PM, we welcomed 300 guests who visited with the WTT staff, participated in backstage tours, and were treated to highlights from the upcoming season.

A very special thank you goes out to Blue Mesa Grill, Canary Cafe, Kenny's Wood Fired Grill, and May Dragon for providing a wonderful assortment of food for our guests. Be sure to check them out over the upcoming year - each makes the perfect pre or post-show dining experience. And be sure to tell them that you heard about them at WTT!

For everyone who wasn't able to join us last night, here is a sampling of what you missed:

Addison's Honorable Mayor Joe Chow chats with WTT Board Member Corky Pledger.

Chris Miller of Rainmaker Advertising, TACA Board Member Barbara Daseke, and WTT Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin pose for picture.

Highlights of the upcoming 2006-2007 Season were performed by Tom Parr, Denise Lee, Shane Peterman, Stacey Oristano, Terry Martin with Lee Harris on piano.

Audience applaud WTT's successes over the past year.

And a very special THANK YOU goes to Mark Oristano of Mark Oristano Photography for capturing the evening on film!

From the Desk of the Set Designer: Man of La Mancha

2006-08-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

It's kind of sad.

One minute the last audience for Into the Woods is clapping wildly, and the next, the trees of the set are piled up like a giant game of pick-up-sticks. Suddenly the auditorium is empty and echoing, waiting for the next show: Man of la Mancha.

That new setting starts to grow.

The first design sketches – the “pretty” drawings - were done a while ago. Their inspiration comes from some of Pirenesi’s engravings. (His hobby was designing imaginary prisons. Maybe he was nuts.) By a wild coincidence those engravings are now on display at SMU’s Meadows Museum – gorgeous things.

At the first Production Meeting, however, a few things were changed, a few surprises were added, so that the ink is barely dry on my construction drawings.

The Technical Director and carpenters study those construction drawings (muttering, “She’s got to be kidding!” under their breath). They ask questions. They order lumber and price scrim. And we all hunt for an elusive garden lattice we need – cheap, pre-fab sheets of garden arbor (roses grow up it), but not with the usual diamond pattern, we need square. (“If she’s not kidding, she’s nuts!”)

Saw dust starts to fly.

Over the next few weeks, the carpenters will build platforms and steps, raise walls, cut out arches, and create prison cells. (“Square lattice! She’s nuts.”)

As they build, the scenic painter will magic plywood and canvas into stone and – if we find it – square lattice into rusty steel cages.

Meanwhile, the prop designer and I gather junk. For a normal living room, set dressing would be cozy sofa pillows, a vase of flowers, books. But this is the home of the Spanish Inquisition, so… rusty chains, a few cozy implements of torture… Buckets of blood too over-the-top? (“Don’t go nuts,” I mutter.)

So right now a handful of hard-working people build a new world - one where you really can expect the Spanish Inquisition.

It’s kind of exciting.

(Got lattice? Seen lattice? Square lattice?)

-Clare Floyd DeVries

Symphonic Saturday a Spectacular Success!

2006-08-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, WTT joined forces with the Dallas Wind Symphony to present One Enchanted Evening in Post Addison Circle's Esplanade Park. The night featured WTT vocalists Donald Fowler, Shane Peterman, Kimberly Whalen and Melinda Wood-Allen performing some of the great numbers from Broadway under the Musical Direction of Sheilah Walker. For everyone who attended - a big thank you! And if you missed the show, be sure to check out these vocalists (and a few others) in WTT's upcoming production of Man of La Mancha!

From the Development Director...

2006-08-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

Did you know that ticket sales only cover 45% of what it cost to put on our shows? For those of you who have donated with your season renewals… Bravo… you have helped us raise over $21,000 to help pay our actors, build sets, and keep everyone’s ticket prices low. For those of you who have not donated… please consider a donation of any size… It does make a difference!

Speaking of donations… recently 500, Inc. donated over $5,800 to WaterTower Theatre. 500, Inc is volunteer group that raises funds for arts organizations. Over the last 40 years they have raised and distributed over 12 million to deserving non-profit performing, visual, and musical arts entities in Dallas County. You may be familiar with two of their largest fund raising events Artfest and Winefest. This organization is completely volunteer driven. Members get all sorts of wonderful perks to see the arts around Dallas and feel great while helping to support WaterTower Theatre and others. To learn more about 500, Inc. visit their website at www.500inc.org.

-Judy Schecter
WTT Development Director

2006-08-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

WTT Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin leads a class in the Meisner Technique for area actors. The Meisner Technique provides a step-by-step technical approach to the problems the actor faces in presenting the subtleties and delicate complexities of human emotional relationships and situations inherent in a playwright's text. The 12-week program meets once a week. Martin trained under both Sanford Meisner and Meisner protégé Fred Kareman before relocating to Dallas. A new session begins each fall. An interview is required for admittance to the class.

For information on the Fall 2006 semester, click here

For an application to the Fall 2006 semester, click here

Application deadline is August 31, 2006

Join us on MySpace...

2006-08-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

Over the years, WaterTower Theatre has made a lot of friends! And we love keeping up with them on myspace.com. So visit us online, sign up to become a friend, and even leave us a comment if you are so inclinded. We look forward to seeing you online!

Visit us at www.myspace.com/watertowertheatre

Before & After...

2006-07-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

One of the most difficult things about directing a show is visualizing what the final product will look like when you are in rehearsal. I'm constantly suprised by the depth and visual punch that the designers bring to the final product. To help illustrate this, we've put together a pair of shots (with help from the always fabulous Mark Oristano). The first is a scene in rehearsal. You can always tell these shots by the tennis shoes and casual wear on the actors. The second shot is the same scene in performance. Quite a difference, huh?

From the Desk of the Lighting Designer...

2006-07-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

The photos below were taken under actual stage lights! It is opening night and excitement is everywhere. It has been a difficult journey for me, because the lighting is very complex. Every time I turn a page it says, "another part of the forest". How big can these woods be? Big enough to hold a basket full of delightful and slightly fractured tales. The amazing thing about this production was the great comraderie and pleasant atmosphere in the midst of all the madness. The madness is due to the added complexity of having many video sequences, having an orchestra in "another part of the forest" (building), over 200 light cues in the first act alone, etc. The cast is amazing, and the crew couldn't be nicer. Let's hope the result tonight will be joyous! Good Show to all!

-Susan White
Lighting Designer for Into the Woods

Into the Woods Production Shots

2006-07-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

Christopher J. Deaton & Melissa Farmer

Stacey Oristano & M. Denise Lee

Beth Albright, Stacey Oristano & Rachel Robertson

Patrick Pevehouse & Margaret Shafer

Greg Allen & Christopher J. Deaton

From the Desk of the Music Director...

2006-07-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

Thursday, I arrived at the theatre in time to see some of the yet-to-be-revealed technical elements. Theatre is such an amazing environment. For all of the spectacular illusions available through film, and I do love film, there is absolutely nothing that compares with theatre. The designers for this production have created magic.

Our wonderful actors are tired, which is typical for this stage of rehearsal, but you would never know it. They work very hard. As is typical with a Stephen Sondheim opus, there are a lot of words, spoken and sung very quickly, within rhythms that repeat but not exactly. I’m a stickler for articulation and rhythms. In anticipation of a cast-plot to steal and destroy my metronome, I carry 3 with me …. Just in case. These are nice people, but I’ve seen the way they look at my metronome.

Saturday, I work with the musicians for the first time as a group. Whee! The percussionist is in a little booth big enough for a Hobbit. You should see all of the instruments in there. He has timpani (both of them), xylophone, chimes, a bass drum, full drum set, and a host of other toys. We will have 3 keyboards plus acoustic piano, double bass, flute and clarinet.

So. At this point in the process, the theatre space is a-buzz and a-twitter with hammering, painting, hanging and focusing, vocalizing, and cow maneuvering. (Don’t ask.) For all of the hard work involved, ITW is really a fun show to do. Perhaps that’s why there is so much laughter in the theatre as we work. There are few things more satisfying than working with people that love what they do. The end result is almost always a high quality product. That is what audiences will receive when they see this show. My sincere thanks to everyone involved, especially the cast.

-Janice Franklin
Music Director for Into the Woods

Sneak Peek: Into the Woods

2006-07-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

We spent the majority of last night learning the Act 2 finale and reviewing the finale of Act 1. We were able to grab a sneak peek at the Act 1 finale for you. Enjoy!

Click here for your sneak peek...
(the file is a little big so either be patient or right click and do a save as)

Rehearsal Update: July 19

2006-07-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

So, here we are, roughly a week out from performing for our first audience, and we find ourselves at that crucial point of determining whether or not we have a show. Actors are struggling to rid themselves of their rehearsal scripts while juggling lines, lyrics, and staging (with an occasional waltz step thrown in here and there). Trees of the forest are beginning to look less like cardboard tubing and 2" x 4"s. Certain show props are beginning to replace rehearsal props; however, the afore mentioned golden hippo seems to find ways to make it back onto the stage even though the real "Milky White" has taken shape and is in workable condition - that is, until she blew a wheel last night, oddly enough. Coincidence? Hmmm. . . and we still can't get rid of the glitter.

With all of this being said, we still see how steep the climb is to reach our intended goals for this production. The entire show has been laid out, structurally speaking. The music has been learned, the staging has been given, and most of the scene shifts have been assigned, and so begins the real work - the fine tuning. The time when you take the story off of the page and truly place it on its feet. Rehearsals are long and end late into the evening, which, for many of us, comes after a full day's work already. Patience is an absolute virtue at this point with having to repeat scene work over and over in order to meet the expectations of the director and music director. This is also the time in our rehearsal schedule when we will often revisit many of the things that were learned early in rehearsal - for instance, the music. We do this with the intent to protect the integrity of the body of work - so that moments aren't lost or forgotten while paying attention to other elements, especially when dealing with the technical demands of a show of this caliber. . . let's just say that I'm afraid for Sunday to get here when we tech the entire show. . . will have to make at least two trips to Starbucks that day. Off to rehearsal now. Be sure to check back later to see who survives tech weekend.

-Andy Gosnell
Assistant Director

2006-07-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Mark Oristano snuck a camera in rehearsal last night to share some shots of how things are coming along. We've reached the toughest part... done with initital blocking and down to repeatedly going over sections to smooth out the details.

On to the photos:

Randy Pearlman & R Bruce Elliott

Stage Manager Heidi Shen keeps a tight reign.

Director James Paul Lemons and Music Director Janice Franklin conspire together.

Cara Serber Statham, Beth Albright and Rachel Robertson
resort to voilence when things do not go well.

Rehearsal Update: Stacey Oristano

2006-07-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

So, let’s begin by explaining the monster. It’s “rehearsal Milky-White.” Yes, we know it looks like a golden hippo but sometimes in rehearsal we make do with what we have. In the picture Patrick (who is playing Jack) was forced by Denise (who is playing the Witch) to give it a hug. This was difficult for Patrick because what he wants to do is throw the cow-hippo across the room. As all 6 foot 6 inches of him stood up after the hug, he was coved in gold glitter. (Some even managed to sneak their way up his nose, and the step-sisters nose’s as well.) Now, everywhere that Patrick walks a trail of gold follows him.

So, we have disco-cow and my golden slipper that is too small for my foot, but again, we make do. Randy (who plays the Baker) tried to put on a hunting jacket that didn’t fit over his manly shoulders, again, he made do.

Complaining aside (and before we get comments, I am completely kidding! Except about the monster-cow!) rehearsals are going very well. We breezed through our music (Sondheim, none the less) and now we are into blocking Act 1. My biggest dilemma now is trying to remember all of the words at the end of The Opening, The end of Act 1, and the end of Act 2. (To see, to sell, to make, to buy, to run…. I don’t know!!!) Hopefully soon, I can put the script down, and stop running into people. (Especially Patrick, because then a cloud of gold bursts everywhere.) None-the-less, things are going swimmingly in the Woods! More to come!

-Stacey Oristano
Cinderella in Into the Woods

Rehearsal Report: Into the Woods

2006-07-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

Last night was our first rehearsal for Into the Woods. First rehearsals are always a strange night. It takes some time for most casts to get to know each other, especially a cast a large as this show (19 actors!). It is very similar to going on a first date... everyone's a little nervous, a little shy and everyone wants to make a good impression to all the artistic staff and fellow actors.

For rehearsal last night, we did our first sing through of the entire show. Then our music director, Janice Franklin, starting working number by number through the opening number. As a director, it's amazing to hear everyone together for the first time! What amazing voices!
We have a long road ahead. We'll spend the rest of the week learning music before moving on to blocking next Monday evening. I'll try and sneak a camera into rehearsal soon to get some candid "behind-the-scenes" shots.

-James Paul Lemons

Camper Profile: Traci Lee

2006-06-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

This past Friday was Technical Fun Friday. This is always so much fun especially for the younger campers. It gives us the opportunity to see what the crew does backstage from lighting and constructing the set to make up. We get to draw our own set designs, play with the light board and learn what make up is best for the stage lights. The kids really look forward to it every year and they learn so much. We, as performers, usually take what the crew does for us for granted. Without them we wouldn't have a set or lights and now the kids know that. Camp is a really good way to keep kids off of the couch watching television all day. Its fun, and you meet so many people during the process. Thats what keeps us coming back.

-Traci Lee
Second from left in picture

An Early Look: Into the Woods

2006-06-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Last week, Mark Oristano of Mark Oristano Photography took press photos for our upcoming production of Into the Woods. As a special treat for The Drip readers, I thought I would give you an early sneak peak at the photos. (And don't forget the show begins performances on July 26 - get your tickets today!).

Stacey Oristano & Mary Gilbreath

Margaret Shafer & Patrick Pevehouse

Denise Lee & Stacey Oristano

Randy Pearlman & Mary Gilbreath

Camper Profile: Shayna Hill

2006-06-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

By the time I was three I knew exactly how to pop in videos in the VCR. I grew up watching and loving Disney, Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins and all the other classics. I've always loved film, stage, singing and acting. But it was 2002 when I caught the virus. The Broadway bug. I was a first time camper, only 14 years old, in WTT's Summer Musical Camp. That summer we produced Fiddler on the Roof, Jr., and by the next year, I was a Junior Intern and casted as Ado Annie's understudy for our version of Oklahoma. The experience of growing up in a theatre is indescribable. My exposure to all the aspects of theatre, such as performing, producing, designing, directing, etc, captivates me. The classes are educational and helpful and the guidance of professionals is inspiring and motivational. I've learned to be an artist, worker and professional. The teamwork and dedication to make art is a beautiful thing that I know I want to be apart of for the rest of my life.

I am now 18 and about to head out to UT to chase my dream, and this summer marks my fifth and last year in Addison. School House Rock, Live! is just another fun and exciting show here at WTT. Already the show is coming together and looking great. The kids are amazing little boogers that I absolutely adore. I can't believe it's already been two weeks (including intern week). In another two weeks, we will be on that stage, which is my last time, and it's going to feel great. I've had the opportunity to mentor and grow right beside these campers, including my little sister, and its going to be sad to leave. But I can't wait to see them in the following years take up the duties of internship and produce the art that they love.

This camp is special for it is the strings that tie me to Meredith Cook. We both live in Mesquite but attend different high schools and WTT reunites us every summer. She is like my twin and we've been right with each other all these years. Mark Mullino, our director, has given us the privilege this year of singing a duet in the famous song "We the People." Together we will sit on stools, side by side and sing our farewells to WTT, our directors, our peers and each other. Camp has been a big part of my life; it was there that I began to believe that my dreams weren't silly and can come true.

2006-06-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

Camp has started, and our summer camp production is always an interesting one to work on.

First of all, it’s a larger group of people on the production side than we usually have during rehearsals for our mainstage productions. We’ve got Landrie and myself, 3 college-age interns, whose internships are sponsored by TCA (Texas Commission on the Arts – the same organization who sponsored my own apprenticeship here 5 years ago!), 4 high school-age production interns, the director, the musical director, the choreographer, the costume designer, the set designer, the lighting designer, the sound designer, the costume assistant… basically a lot of people who are here to get this production of Schoolhouse Rock Live! going strong.

Secondly, design-wise, we’re taking the camp show and putting it on a pre-existing set with a pre-existing light design – it’s not being created from scratch as all of our other productions are. That does make it a different process than usual, but in the end, it’s really fun to see how a production design like that of our mainstage Take Me Out will be turned into a schoolhouse complete with a tree house and playground equipment (courtesy of camp set designer Clare Floyd DeVries and her assistant, TCA Design Intern Paul Arebalo Jr.). But hey, last year we took a set that represented two Los Angeles apartments and turned it into the magical world of Whos and a Jungle of Nool, so that just proves what we’ve all known - anything can happen in the magical world of theatre…

-Heidi Shen

WTT's Resident Stage Manager

2006-06-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

CAMP HAS BEGUN!!

As the Education Administrator, it is my job to oversee the camp and make sure that each child’s experience is educational and fulfilling. The first day of camp each year is always an exciting day for the campers to start finding their curiosity for the theatre and making new friends. While each camper is always a bit nervous on the first day, the new campers that come to play are inevitably a bit more nervous than the others. However, my experience with these campers has always been that they quickly dissolve their nerves and step out of their shell to make their new friends and learn about the theatre. Our hope is that the kids will find and explore new areas of theatre every year.

It is always a pleasure to see the familiar faces come back year after year. And to see how much they have grown over the past year is nothing short of amazing!

Today, the campers started classes in music, acting, and dance. We welcome Shane Peterman and Jennifer Laws to the team this year. Returning from last year is Vonda Bowling and Mark Mullino.

The campers concluded the day by auditioning for specific roles in SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE! Everyone in the camp will be cast in the show, but the audition serves as the deciding factor for casting the entire show with specific roles and ensemble numbers. We are very excited with this year's cast! Hope you can join us! See you at theatre!

-Landrie Bock
WTT's Education Administrator

Camp Update...

2006-06-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

Today I had the privilege of teaching a workshop for our interns during our Summer Camp. Entitled, How to Audition For Musical Theatre, we looked at the sometimes scary, but ever-necessary beast of singing at an audition. Each intern had the opportunity to get up in front of their peers and I, and with Vonda Bowling sight reading for them, they sang their audition piece. We then broke it down as a group. Looking at who exactly they are telling this story to, why are they telling it, and making it as personal to themselves as possible. I talked about the importance of going into the audition room with a need and desire to tell this story (sing the song.) And while, yes, the musicality of it is very important, what makes you stand out above the masses is acting your song. If you are really telling me something about yourself and not just singing pretty notes, I am immediately invested in what you have to say.

I can not say enough about how amazing these kids were. They each trusted me and each other enough to get up and share a piece of themselves. Each of them had to audition to get a spot as an intern for our camp, so I knew they would be talented, but I had no idea the level would be that high. They are dynamic and talented and so dedicated to their art. And, MAN, can they sing!!! I feel closer to each of the interns for letting me into their world and trusting me to help. I went into this class knowing that I wanted to teach them but, in truth they taught me. I came away from class inspired by their bravery and heart. So I am sending out a HUGE thank you to all of my interns for everything that they do!! I love you guys!

-Stacey Oristano

Take Me Out Added Performances...

2006-06-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Due to audience demand, we have added two additional performances of Take Me Out on Sunday, June 11 at 18 at 7:30 PM.

The decision to add performances is never an easy one. We have to make a best guess determination if the additional cost of producing those performances (which means overtime pay for everyone involved) is worth what we would potentially make in box office sales. You never figure on selling a 100% on an added show. You simply don't have as much publicity going into those performances as you do your regularly scheduled ones. If you can sell 75% of those seats, you are doing well.

And sometimes the expenses aren't just monetary. Six shows a week is hard on the actors. Especially if you are doing two shows on any given day. It takes a very special effort from them to make sure that Sunday evening performance is of the same caliber as the Friday or Saturday night performance. Luckily, all the actors in Take Me Out are pros, so for us that was not an issue.

By the way, if you still haven't seen the show, we hope you do. The Box Office number is 972.450.6232. You can get great seats at those added performances!

Inter Week Begins...

2006-06-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

Each summer, WTT hosts our annual Summer Musical Theatre Camp - which begins today!

Over the next four weeks, we will have approximately 80 students, teachers, designers and interns learning about what it takes to mount a full production of School House Rock, Live!

We've asked Patrick Pevehouse, a former inter and the camp's current Texas Comission on the Arts Administrative Apprentice to keep up updated on all the camp happenings! Patrick writes: "Intern Week has started! Each summer, WaterTower holds an educational summer musical theatre camp for kids and teens ages 9-18. The camp includes a small, select group of older performance and production interns. These interns range from ages 15-18, and they start work at WaterTower a full week before the camp's starting date. This week consists of the usual: preparation for the campers, training, and tying up all the loose ends before the campers start classes on Monday. However, intern week is especially beneficial for the interns because of everything they learn that week. The interns go through several challenging master classes each day that increase and push their knowledge and passion for their craft. Jennifer Green, an acclaimed actress in DFW, works with the performance interns on different acting methods to explore. Paula Morelan, one of the top choreographers in the area, comes in to give the performance interns a mock dance audition. The production interns work with some of the best designers in town including Paul Arebalo, Clare DeVries, and Ashley Willeby to create a design for the camp show, School House Rock Live! The purpose of Intern Week is not only to prepare for the camp and learn about their craft, but also to learn about each other and form a bond as a strong ensemble. Intern week is often described by the interns as their favorite week. "

Fun Friday...

2006-06-02T10:39:00.002-07:00

Sometimes we get accused of all play and no work - especially during the 9 AM to 5 PM work day. While this statement is mostly false, there has been the rare occasion where we have been able to have a little fun during the day.

In honor of the end of the week, we share with you this rare footage of what goes on in the hallway of the WTT offices during one of these rare "fun" moments. Names have been changed to protect the innocent...

Click here to view (at your own risk)...

Wedding Bells are Ringing...

2006-06-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, the staff of WTT celebrated the wedding of our Resident Stage Manager Heidi Shen to Mike Wang at the lovely Addison Quorum Park.

Heidi has been with WTT for the past two years stage managing and assisting with the Summer Musical Theatre Camp. And during that time, we have also had the honor of having Mike as an "unofficial" staff member.

Best wishes from everyone at WTT for a long and joyous marriage!

From the Desk of the Sound Designer, Part 2

2006-05-31T11:01:00.000-07:00

The sound designer for Take Me Out, Curtis Craig, had originally sent some samples of music for the show to be posted with his comments on yesterday's blog entry. But due to some minor technical difficulties, we weren't able to get them posted.

But rest assured, we have all those pesky difficulties worked out and are able to offer you two samples of original music from the show...

Listen to sound clip #1

Listen to sound clip #2

From the Desk of the Sound Designer...

2006-05-30T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hmm, first of all, what exactly is a sound designer? My mom has been asking me that for years......I first got thru to her when I said “Think about Jaws -- that shark isn’t very scary when you see a picture is it? Now add the music and the sounds? Scary, huh.”

Simply, the sound designer is the person responsible for the entire aural environment of a show. Every single sound you hear in the theatre has been built by a sound designer, from the raw materials of musical instruments and sound effects. Chances are that if you glance in the theatre during technical rehearsals, there will be two people out in the house sitting behind the glow of monitors, the lighting and sound designers building their designs for the show.

So what about Take Me Out? Well, there are a couple of sound cues. Actually, a lot of sound cues; some are musical in nature, some are environmental, and some are purely practical. All of them were tremendously fun to design, build, and implement, each with its own challenges. In addition to all of the practical effects in the show (bats cracking, crowd cheering, etc) there is a considerable amount of underscoring to help clarify and intensify the dramatic moments of the show. Characters have their own individual styles and types of music associated with them; hopefully the sound design helps to clarify the non-linear style of this play. While I was writing the music for the play, I tried to help tell the story -- you’ll have to listen to the show to tell me if it was successful.

A show like Take Me Out the work is in the details of being at the ballpark -- think of how subtly different each crowd reaction is in a baseball game. Creating the environment of the ballpark has so many levels -- the crowd, the vendors, the players, the organ. Each is needed to fully realize the entire experience, and so designing a sequence means creating each of these layers, and then marking them sound as realistic as possible. Add these environments to the music of the show, and you have an idea of the job of a sound designer.

I love working for WaterTower, great directors, technicians, actors, and musicians make designing there an incredibly rewarding experience, and that keeps me coming back. Through the years I have watched WaterTower and seen the theater, its productions, and the production values steadily improve and grow. Great production values mean something, and Watertower and the city of Addison are consistently committed to pushing those values higher.

Even moving half way across the country hasn’t kept me from designing at WaterTower, I make the trip down to Addison as often as I can. Take Me Out is my 28th sound design for WaterTower, and I’m looking forward now to sound and media designing for an innovative new production of Into The Woods.

A designers work is never done, but, unfortunately, my work on Take Me Out is. I’m writing this note from a technical rehearsal for another production I’m designing in Pennsylvania, but my thoughts are still there with the Empires.

-Curtis

Curtis Craig (Sound Designer, Take Me Out) heads the sound design program in the School of Theatre at Penn State University.

Set the Stage & Light the Lights...

2006-05-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

It’s opening night! I can’t believe we started rehearsal just 2 ½ weeks ago.

During rehearsal, as a director, my job is to lead and inspire the actors, designers and technicians to bring to life the playwright’s words. By opening night, my work is done. It’s time for the production to stand on it’s own, without my support. It’s kind of like raising a child; you hope you do all the right things, say all the right things, but when it’s time for the child to stand on it’s own, you must let it go and hope that you’ve been a positive influence and that it leads a successful and productive life. So, as of today, the child is grown and it's time for it to go out there and be all it can be.

Tonight I turn the production over to the cast, crew, and most importantly, the audience. People are often surprised when they find out that the director is not part of the day-to-day running of a play after opening night. The stage manager is put in charge of running the show and making sure that all aspects of the production remain consistent through out the run. As much as I have enjoyed this process, I am really looking forward to some time away from the theatre at home with my son and my TiVo. =)

Many thanks to everyone who has worked so hard on this show; Michael S for a great set design, Susan W for her spectacularly beautiful lighting, Curtis C for the awesome sound design, Costumer Michael R for those awesome uniforms, Mark O for his guidance and insight into baseball, Scott, Jason and the build crew for ….everything, Stage Manager Jeff F and the backstage crew for keeping it all running so smoothly, and finally to my actors for their courage and talent. No show is possible without the dedication and support you have all brought to the process of putting Take Me Out together.

So, ready set, go! Let’s hope for a home run! We’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope that all the lights, the plumbing (for the showers), and the sound cues work on time and that the play works as well before an audience as it seemed to without one. All that work, and then after four short weeks it’s gone. It kind of makes me depressed. But not for long; in a month or so, we’ll be in pre-production for Man of La Mancha and we start all over again.

Ah, life in the theatre…gotta love it.

Terry Martin
WTT's Producing Artistic Director & Director of Take Me Out

Don't just read about the show, experience it live!

2006-05-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

Just a quick plug from the box office... tickets are still available for all performances of Take Me Out. I know that everyone who has contributed to the blog would love to see you at the theatre! To purchase tickets, just call our box office directly at 972.450.6232. Or you can purchase tickets through WTT's main website.

And to help sweeten the pot, we'll give a $5 discount on single tickets to readers who ask for The Drip Discount. All that, just for being a loyal reader of The Drip.

See you at the theatre!

Strike One, Strike Two...

2006-05-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

Most shows today require some sort of fight choreography. Sometimes a fight sequence is extensive (especially if you are needing swordplay, a fistfight, or anything involving knives), while other times it is relatively minor. Take Me Out contains one very brief sequence that would qualify as fight choreography. To help the actors and director, we brought in Stacey Oristano, who is a certified fight instructor, to take a look at the sequence to gauge safety and believability.

Stacey writes: "I received my Stage Combat License while in College in London. I am certified by the BADC (British Academy of Dramatic Combat.) Some people who choreograph in America are certified by the IFDG, but besides some basic language barriers, the principals are the same no matter where you are. In a stage fight the person who drives the action, and has the most control, is actually the person getting hurt, or taking the blow (punch, kick, slap…). Of course this means that the control can change indefinitely in the course of any fight.

The number one rule is safety, first of your partner and then of yourself. It is the actors job to protect each other and keep the action at a safe rhythm that will be set in the rehearsal process. We, as choreographers, are taught in school that a fight should not look completely real. We have to stay true to the story, but at the same time the audience should never REALLY fear for actors on stage. They may fear for the CHARACTER, but never for the actor himself. So if a true fight is at 100% a stage fight will lay somewhere between 75 and 80%.

What you see in the picture (at left) is just a minor scrapple between two ball players. Darren (played by Butch) grabs Shane (played by Clay) and they struggle for a bit. Clay really drives this sequence since the action is happening to him. He actually wraps Butch’s arms around himself, but has to make it seem that Butch is the aggressor. And Butch, while letting Clay grab his arms, has to act as though the action is physically his idea. A truly fantastic stage fight takes great actors who are in good physical shape. They should run the fight sequence twice before any performance, at fight call, and address any safety or staging issues they are having with the fight captain (who ideally should be someone who is trained, but not actually involved in the fight.)"

Sneak Peeks...

2006-05-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

At dress rehearsal last night, we took publicity shots of the show. Here's a first peek at what the show looks like visually.

The neverending cycle...

2006-05-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

Initial design concept for Into the Woods.

Even though we are opening Take Me Out in two days, we are already hard at work on the next show. We asked Clare Floyd DeVries, the scenic designer for Into the Woods, to fill us in on how the early stages of the design process are going.

Clare writes, "Shows start early. The director and other designers and I have been talking for months about the setting for Into the Woods. Our goal is projected scenery –more like video or animation than like a conventional “built” set.

The first step was to experiment with a powerful projector. An hour spent on the third story lighting bridge (as it swaaaayed!) taught us how big an image we could project. Next came creating images to project. This meant research, sketches, some changes, and snap-shots of bread. Once the design was approved, I made a starter set of images and storyboards. The computer wizards will tweak and add to these until it all ends up digitally projected. It’s a very collaborative effort.

But the show’s environment won’t end with projections. Some pieces must still be built. (“Real” tables work better than illusionary ones, for instance.) The lighting designer must create lighting for actors that dovetails with both real and projected scenery. The sound designer will add his part.

So - right this minute - the computer wizards are doing something wizardly, the lighting and sound designers are gathering ideas, and I’m doing construction drawings for built stuff like Rapunzel’s Tower, Cindy’s Mom’s Haunted Tree, and the Baker’s table… because the set carpenters start early too."

An Actor's Perspective: Ted Wold (Part 2)

2006-05-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

We've gotten to crunch time, with the show opening in three days. Last night was the first dress rehearsal--with costumes, lights and props added for the first time. It's still a little like mixing cement with my eyelashes--how can I get this by Friday. But the process is working, and more and more the product of the hard work becomes apparent. We are at the point of focusing on the scenes, blocking, tech points that need fixing/fine tuning. We have a rehearsal today to run those things. Then the dress rehearsal tonight. We will get there...

Your comments are welcome...

2006-05-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

One suprising thing about doing this blog is the very few comments we have received to particular posts. The purpose of this post is very simple. It's an invitation to everyone who reads to respond. Just click on the "comments" section to post your comment (remember to keep it clean and respectful). I do my best to check the comments regularly and respond back when possible.

We are five days away from opening night, so postings may be a bit scarce this week. But I will try to keep everyone involved and working on keeping you up-to-date.

More soon.

Here Comes Tech Rehearsal...

2006-05-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend we begin tech rehearsals for Take Me Out. For those who don’t know, tech rehearsals are where all the technical elements of a show – set (and, in this show’s case, plumbing), lighting, sound, props, and costumes – come together to build the finished product that the audiences see.

It sounds crazy to most non-theatre folks, but our tech week begins with a 10 of 12 rehearsal on the Sunday before we open – this means that everyone’s called for a 12 hour period (for us, it’s always 11am-11pm), with a 2 hour dinner break within those hours. It’s a loooong day, but so much gets accomplished to start the week off right. We begin the day with a cue to cue, where all the technical cues are plugged into the show. This is an exciting time for the actors, (she writes, with an edge of sarcasm), who get to stand around onstage in their places and jump through the script, only saying their lines that are the stage manager’s cues for taking the technical cues. More often than not, we’ll run a cue several times before moving on – a great chance to test the actors’ knowledge of their lines. (A stage manager’s main job, in case you don’t know, is to “call” the show – basically telling the board operators and crew what cues to take and when. It’s a great job, and I love it very much, but when you have a crew that’s as good as the one we’ve got, sometimes I feel like I could run out for a cup of coffee and the show wouldn’t miss a beat.)

After the cue to cue, if time permits, we go back and do a run-through of the show, where the actors finally get to work through the whole show with tech. Sometimes, if we’re feeling wild and crazy, we’ll even start adding costumes at this point. This tech run-through is our first chance to see the show start to come together into what you, the audience, end up seeing. Of course, many elements change and get tweaked throughout tech week, (sometimes all the way up until opening night), but as it stands, this is when the show really starts to come together…

Heidi Shen

WTT's Production Stage Manager

An Actor's Perspective: Christopher Illing

2006-05-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

After the first week in rehearsal, I am floored by two things. The first is how open Terry is in the rehearsal room. He has really allowed me the freedom to stink up the stage looking for Kippy while giving me really solid notes and ideas to use as guideposts in my time away from rehearsal. Having never worked with him before, his immediate trust and faith in me is inspiring and makes the terrifying process of leaving part of yourself behind to discover another part of you really comforting. The second thing I am floored by is the cast. A group of guys so brave, so talented, so easy to work with and so immediately like a team it makes me really believe that there is a major element to this show that is so necessary to theatre.

Christopher Illing
Kippy in Take Me Out

Progress Report: Take Me Out Set

2006-05-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

It's been about a week since we last checked in on how the set was coming along for Take Me Out. This picture is the set as of about 2:00 PM today.

A few of the changes to notice include:

The addition of a few extra feet onto the front of the platform.

The addition of the shower area in the center of the set.

The base coat of paint on the upper levels of the platform.

Lighting hang for the show began yesterday and will continue through today. I can't underestimate the difference in what a set looks like under stage lights compared with everyday work lights. The difference in increadible. I'll post some pictures of the set under stage lighting early next week.

An Actor's Perspective: Lanny Joon

2006-05-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

The experience here at WaterTower has been a tremendous week of great energy and great talent. The work that is brought to the table by the actors gives this play a unique quality, which shapes character into this fantastic play. Our director gives us the artistic freedom to explore all our realms, and yet still has his distinct, clear choices, which doesn't conflict with ours. Being an actor in NYC these past 4 years, I have come to realize that finding a group of people that work so well together, like this cast, is very difficult to come by now a days. We have been rehearsing for about a week now and I have never seen a rehearsal period move so quickly and efficiently ever in my career. I am just so happy and thankful that I have been allowed to join this great cast, because I am having one heck of a time.

Lanny Joon
Kawabata in Take Me Out

Rehearsal Report: From the Director

2006-05-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts — things have definitely been busy as we’re really in the full swing of things now. We just finished our first week of rehearsals and I can honestly say I’m more excited about this play than ever.

On Sunday evening, we ran the entire show on the set for our designers, and it went surprisingly well for the first time through.

I was initially concerned about how to approach the nudity required in the shower scene during the rehearsal process. When should we start the nudity? How do I ask for the nudity the first time? Should it be gradual or should we just go “full monty” all at once? Thankfully, my actors lead by Tim Davis decided to “go for it” in a blocking rehearsal early last week. With that out of the way, we were able to get over the uncomfortable part of the nudity and get down to really working on the shower scene. Thanks guys! I really appreciate your courage and spirit.

Now that the whole show is blocked, we can get down to working on the show. This week we’ll work on each act individually and then late in the week put the whole show together again for a final run through or two before we start technical rehearsals this weekend.

I spent some time on the phone today with Curtis Craig, our sound designer, discussing the sound aspect of the show. I was relieved to hear that we were already on the same page with regard to the tone of the show and that rock music and “stadium anthems” will definitely be a part of the final sound design. In addition, we discussed the challenge of creating through sound the many baseball game scenes in the show, from the sound effects of hits and pitches; to crowd cheers and jeers.

More later.

Terry Martin
WTT's Producing Artistic Director & Director of Take Me Out

Fun Outside of Rehearsal

2006-05-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, some cast members of Take Me Out decided to check out Taste Addison, the annual food festival that is sponsered by the Town of Addison's Special Events. They had a great time sampling the food, exploring the carnival and seeing everything the festival had to offer. It was especially fun for our out-of-town guests Timothy Davis, Christopher Illing and Lanny Joon to experience Taste Addison for the very first time. This year at Taste Addison, there was a rock climbing wall. The cast decided they just had to get to the top. Luckily, WTT Resident Stage Manager Heidi Shen was close by with her camera ready to get some shots of how the cast has fun outside of rehearsal.

Timothy Davis & Christopher Illing race to the top.

Cast members Clay Yocum, Adam Coggins & Lanny Joon watch from the ground.

Cast member & WTT carpenter Adam Coggins would rather swing than climb.

From the Desk of the Lighting Designer...

2006-05-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

After just one week of rehearsal, the cast performed a run-through for the designers on Sunday night. The light plot was completed yesterday and today (Tuesday, May 16) we begin to hang lights over the stage. On Friday we will focus them; on Saturday I write the preliminary cues; and Sunday we begin the week-long tech process. This is an exciting and challenging time for me. This script requires multiple locations, times of day, and even "limbo" spaces where actors deliver narrative monologs. The set and stage space itself have a big impact on my work. To create the "ball park" location for certain scenes, we are renting fixtures that are like actual stadium lights (on a slightly smaller scale). I hope that everyone will come out to see the product of all our efforts on this one. It stands to be quite an intellectually stimulating and amusingly entertaining evening in the theatre.

Susan A. White
Lighting Designer
Susan designed lights for WTT's productions of Dinner with Friends and It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues.

Baseball & Theatre

2006-05-15T16:54:00.000-07:00

Mark Oristano, whom you may remember as Senator Fipp in our production of Urinetown last January, is serving in an unusual position on the upcoming Take Me Out. He is listed as a Baseball Consultant, but what he is really doing is sharing his experiences and expertise from a 30 year career as a sportcaster in the region with the cast to help authenticate their performances.

Mark had his first rehearsal with the cast this past weekend, and we've asked him to share some of his observations from trying to make actors look like professional ball players.

Mark writes, "Actors and athletes have some things in common. We both perform in front of somewhat judgmental crowds. We both work to perfect physical moves, practicing them over and over until they look like second nature. And we both make huge amounts of money. (Well, two out of three ain't bad!)

The cast of TAKE ME OUT is, for the most part, a very physically fit bunch, with some good sports backgrounds. As I have a foot in both the sports and theatre worlds, (after 30 years as a sportscaster in Dallas and 22 years as a professional actor) it's my job to make the physicality of TAKE ME OUT at least resemble Major League Baseball.

Basic moves may seem subtle. But take pitching. I've to work with both Clay Yocum and Lanny Joon to get them to understand the way the arms have to rotate around the center of the chest like spokes in a wheel; how to use the leverage from the hips, through the chest, into the shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers to get every MPH you can out of your "pitch."

After my first two rehearsals with the "team" I can say they are well on their way toward creating the illusion they are after. And with a couple more weeks to go, I"m hoping that when you sit in your box seat for TAKE ME OUT, you'll completely lose yourself in the magic, and you'll hope that Clay's fastball isn't really headed toward you."

Jump Start on Season Renewal Campaign

2006-05-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

Our 2006-2007 Season Campaign is off to a great start! Season Subscribers have been filling our mail box with renewal orders on a daily basis since we announced our upcoming season last week at Lawry's, The Prime Rib. In case you don't know next year's lineup, just click back to our homepage and follow "The Season" link.

Season Renewal time always proves to be an interesting time of the year for us, front of house wise. It seems to provide the best opportunity for patrons to voice their opinions about the shows we have selected for the upcoming season while still critiquing shows from the current season. Many wonderful comments continue to come in about our most recent production of The Crucible (or as some folks say, "The Crooshible") - which is the kind of buzz you want leading into season renewal campaign. At the same time, another show still receiving much attention from our subscribers is our production of Urinetown, which closed over 3 months ago. With Urinetown having its Dallas premiere at WTT, most patrons were seeing it for the first time. By far it is our highest selling show of the season and has been the recipient of the widest spectrum of feedback. Many people are still calling it the best show WTT has ever put on, while others are writing in with their renewal forms that it was too offensive and obscene. Not often do you get to be apart of a show that is subject to such diverse criticism. But the fact that people are still talking about it means that we left an impression - made a lasting change in their lives - and that's why we do what we do. We want to impact lives, and when shows command this amout of response, it pushes us to produce works that continue to have an authentic connection with our audiences.

I look forward to seeing what our upcoming shows have in store for audiences next. And keep sending in those renewal forms - Elizabeth and I are standing by!

Andy Gosnell
Patron Services Manager

Progress Report: Take Me Out Set

2006-05-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

Often times, a set for any given production seems to pop up overnight. One day its a pile of raw wood, loose screws and paint buckets. The next, its a completed project with working doors, hidden traps and crazy secrets. But the process is far from an overnight project. Carpenters, electricians and scenic painters spend weeks putting all the finishing touches on the set.

We've included here a picture of where the set stands as of 2:30 PM today. As you can see, the basic skeleton of the set is almost completed. Next week will primarly be about painting the set, rigging the plumbing (working showers, pray they don't leak!), and hanging all the lights (and making sure they are pointed in the right direction). From today, it is exactly two weeks until opening night and the scene shop is beginning to feel the pressure to not only be completed on time but to be completed early.

An Actor's Perspective

2006-05-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

We asked returning WTT actor Ted Wold to write a bit from his perspective. Three days into the rehearsal process Ted sent us the following thoughts and ideas. We hope Ted will contibute to us again in the upcoming weeks to chronicle how an actor's viewpoint may change as rehearsals evolve and what happens to an actor as a particular characterization matures.

Ted writes, "After the third rehearsal I am left with a conflicting mix of emotions. Relief, that my fellow actors are all good guys, (I've never worked with any of them); and that they all seem to fit their roles so well. I can smell the making of a tremendous production. Conversely, I'm wracked with insecurities--I don't know my lines as well as I should at this point, I don't understand my character, (a nebbish accountant who falls in love with baseball), or what makes him tick: generally, that I'm not up to speed. But I must remember that this is a process and that we are still in the exploration stage. I am itching to get to rehearsal tomorrow night, we are blocking Act II--and that's my favorite act. I get to say such beautiful words. I just can't wait, and that's got to be a good thing, right? "

First Rehearsal Report

2006-05-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

So our journey begins. First rehearsals are always a challenge. It’s like a first date. Sometimes the chemistry is there right away, other times it takes a while. You’re bringing a disparate group of people together to collaborate on a work of art, the creating of a world if you will. Of the 11 actors in this show, I have only worked with two before. So it is indeed a whole new world for us all. We’ll see how this one plays out.

First rehearsals are usually the first time that particular group of actors read the play out loud together. It is a time for a lot of discoveries. Not much acting going on really– just a chance to explore the play. And for me, as the director to share my thoughts on the play and to share the set design, etc.

Last night was typical. We introduced our selves and the set model. Then we read the play and spent a lot of time talking about “baseball” as a metaphor – for democracy, for friendship; and how physicality plays into male friendships and teamwork. I am very excited to begin this project and am especially optimistic about the cast. Smart actors all. This should be fun!

Terry Martin
WTT Producing Artistic Director & Director of Take Me Out

Road Hazards!

2006-05-09T13:24:00.000-07:00

The past Sunday, Rainmaker Advertising (one of WTT's distinguished sponsors and the designers of our beautiful new brochure and website) invited WTT staff members Terry Martin, James Lemons & Landrie Bock to participate in the Code Red Caper benefiting Bryan's House of Dallas, an organization which provides support to kids affected by HIV/AIDS.

We had a fantastic time racing around the city in our Code Red Limosine following clues, competing in challenges and making all-around fools of ourselves. Here are a few pictures of the Rainmaker Sky Raiders in action. To learn more about Bryan's House (a fantastic organization) and the Code Red Caper, visit their website at here. To see how Rainmaker can benefit you and your business (and we can't brag on them enough), click here.

From the Desk of the Scenic Designer...

2006-05-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

Model of the set design for "Take Me Out"

Tonight is the first readthough of our upcoming production of Take Me Out. On a typical readthrough, actors get a chance to meet each other (sometimes for the first time), designs for the production are introduced, and the play is read for the first time by the actors who will be playing those roles. All of this leads to a general discussion, lead by the director, on the themes and messages of the play and what that particular production is trying to say.

Othen times, it is the first chance for the actors to see any kind of set design. As an exclusve for The Drip, we've browbeat our set designer Michael Sullivan into sending us a preview of the set design. I've included his notes about what he was thinking about as he was designing.

From scenic designer Michael Sullivan:
" I told Terry that this script was a challenge to design since it doesn’t lend itself to any obviously interesting visual solutions….Yankee stadium, locker rooms? All needing to be suggested but also “come and go” with fluidity. The end result(with little time to really allow a design to develop) was to focus on the necessary locales…lockers, showers….the rest of the places can be just about anywhere. We decided that the “room” where Mungit is confronted would be in the suggested ball field. Nothing literal about any of this, just a series of monologues held together(somehow) by the essence of a baseball environment….it is still evolving with collaborator Susan White designing lights…."

Welcome! We're Glad You're Here...

2006-05-06T08:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers:

Welcome to The Drip, WaterTower Theatre's official backstage blog. This is the place to find out all the "behind the scenes" happenings here at WaterTower Theatre. Over the course of the next season, we will be publishing posts written by everyone from the director of the current production to scenic designers to actors to folks in the box office. If you have ever wanted to know what it takes to get a production off the ground, this is the place to learn. So stay tuned to The Drip, and let us know if you like it!

James Lemons
Artistic Associate