SPRING FORUM 2009- PRODUCTION BLOGS

FORUM BLOGSSPRING 2009 WRITER/DIRECTOR FORUM
A semi-annual festival of new works featuring women playwrights and directors
JUNE 4 -28

Another set of blogs about our upcoming Forum:

NOTES FROM WEEK THREE, June 18-21

Please Remove this Stuffed Animal From My Head by Crystal Jackson, directed by Rebecca Lewis-Whitson
Featuring Andrew Hargrove, Sergio LoDolce, Jack Payne and Rosanna Plasencia

Casina by Plautus, adapted & directed by Jacquelyn Honeybourne
Featuring Katherine Booze-Mooney, Lindy Flowers, Laura Harrison, Sarah Pullman, Hanlon Smith-Dorsey and Audrey Yeoman

WEEK THREE AD: Elizabeth Carlson

Casina rehearsals have been going splendidly! The actors are well off book, with some paraphrasing/ad-libbing exceptions that actually work better than some of the true lines (thank you Lysidamus). The show has been a collaboration between myself and our actors, so when these ad-libs work, we're all more than willing to make them permanent. Looking Glass acting intern Katie Booze-Mooney, who plays Olympio, has come up with several good moments of improv herself which are now integrated into the script. We're now in the home stretch and making smaller, perfectionist adjustments most of which have to do with cranking that “character amp” up to 11. We're finding slight and specific ways to hone in and fine tune. Chalinus has developed a habitual manly scratch which is hilarious and Pardalisca is developing an inappropriate laugh that's cracking everyone up. Also, together with the actress playing Cleostrata, we've perfected the quick switch from jealous /harpy/mad woman to loving/hurt wife. All in all it's wonderful and we laugh until it hurts. I hope we get an audience, or as our Player calls them "Good spectators, men and women," ready to chuckle.

- Jacquelyn Honeybourne, Director of CASINA


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SPRING FORUM 2009- PRODUCTION BLOGS

FORUM BLOGS
SPRING 2009 WRITER/DIRECTOR FORUM
A semi-annual festival of new works featuring women playwrights and directorsJUNE 4 -28

Another set of blogs about our upcoming Forum:

NOTES FROM WEEK TWO, June 11-14

Canned Deux by Siobhan Antonioli, directed by Sara Moncivais
Featuring Cristina Lombardi and Laura Sorensen

The Reason Why I Lie by Chelsea Sutton, directed by Cristina Knustson
Featuring Ramesh Ganeshran, James Luster, Michelle Silvani and Kate Weinberg

Chasing Pavement written & directed by Krystal Osborne
Featuring Max Feist, Karen Green, Jeffery Howson, Lucia Mazzola, Victoria Scott and Brandon Wood

WEEK TWO AD: Alicia Mangelsdorf

I am a part of the upcoming production of Chasing Pavement. Up to this point, the rehearsal process has been very invigorating for me. The director is very encouraging of each actor making his/her own choices. In return, this experience has made me grow as an artist. It has taught me to trust my own instincts and those of my ensemble. I'm havinga wonderful time and am already dreading the close of the play. Not to mention; it has been one of the most welcoming cast of actors I've had the pleasure of working with!

-Victoria Scott, Ann in Chasing Pavement

For more info and tickets go to our website; www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com
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SPRING FORUM 2009- PRODUCTION BLOGS

FORUM BLOGS

SPRING 2009 WRITER/DIRECTOR FORUM
A semi-annual festival of new works featuring women playwrights and directors
JUNE 4 -28

Another set of blogs about our upcoming Forum:

NOTES FROM WEEK FOUR, June 25-28

Potato Girl by Christine Rusch , directed by Amanda Thompson
Featuring Amie Lytle, Jim Staudt & Danielle Trzcinski

The Things She Kept by Aoise Stratford, directed by Fran Acuna
Featuring Emily Fortunato, Ashley Lovell & Meghan Powe

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Being in week four, we have really been able to take our time and experiment with different ideas during the beginning of our rehearsal process. We’ve been playing with a very stylized version of acting, and using music to underscore the entire piece, making it more dynamic.

Today we had a research focused rehearsal. We looked at images that related to our play to give us inspiration and ideas for movement and body shapes. We also read material that pertained to the play to give us an idea of how people in more rural areas of the country live.

I really love the group of people that I have been working with. They’re all eager to contribute during rehearsal and willing to try new and slightly more experimental things. We have been able to work very collaboratively, and I’m excited to see what comes out of this rehearsal process.

-Amanda Thompson, Director of Potato Girl
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So far we’ve had three rehearsals and the show has really changed since the first read -thru. We’ve played with music and creating pictures and have really explored the language and region in the play. For me the script was a bit hard to understand at first, but the more we go through it the more I learn and I love making discoveries with my fellow cast mates. I think the hardest part so far is scheduling because we all have such crazy lives. The solution: 9AM rehearsals!! It’s worth it though… :)

-Danielle Trzcinski, Spring 2009 Acting Intern, and Dorothy in Potato Girl
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Potato Girl has been a thrilling rehearsal process so far! It is amazing how much the story comes alive with every new exercise we have attempted under Amanda's guidance. We are working to depict the bleakness of the characters’ lives using music and montage while still pursuing honest connections between the characters. Everyone has been fabulous to work with and I am so grateful for the open dialogue between the director and actors in this project!

- Amie Lytle, Narcilla in Potato Girl
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As the AD/SM for Week Four, I am blessed to be stress free for the moment. It is nice to be able to take the time to iron out scheduling, find the perfect font for prop lists, and experiment with extreme styles in rehearsal. The directors, Fran and Amanda, are happy to answer my questions about their techniques and their motives for exercises. My focus is to extract as much knowledge from these two ladies as possible!

I’m realizing that I have responsibilities to the forum as well as to my productions. Helping out at the mailing party, house managing, and making connections to the other AD/SM’s are small ways to help out the festival as a whole. I’m going to try to keep working this aspect of the job, since my first instinct is usually to stay in my comfort zone, and NOT to volunteer! Maybe working with lots of people will force me to be a little more selfless.

- Ariel Francoeur, Assistant Director/Stage Manager for Potato Girl and The Things She Kept
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SPRING FORUM 2009- PRODUCTION BLOGS (The 1st of a series..)

FORUM BLOGS

SPRING 2009 WRITER/DIRECTOR FORUM
A semi-annual festival of new works featuring women playwrights and directors
JUNE 4 -28


Here is the first in our series of blogs about our upcoming Forum:

NOTES FROM WEEK ONE, June 4-7
Without by Laura Rohrman, directed by Melody Erfani
Featuring Michelle Burns, Joey Faranda & Matt Turzilli

All the Pretty Girls by Pia Wilson, directed by Naima Warden
Featuring Judianny Compres, Megan Doss, Megumi Haggerty, Brit Lower & Allison Ungar

It has been a fast and furious process so far! Saturday was our first stumble-through rehearsal in the theatre as well as the first day for the actors to be off-book. It was rough, but a lot of work was done and being in the space was a huge help. It takes very talented actors to keep up with the short time span we have. Joey and Michelle have great chemistry onstage which makes my job so much easier. We worked on their kiss the other day and I was never so thrilled as when my AD Karen Pobicki said that it made her want to go home and kiss her man like that. This is my first time working with an AD/SM that is completely on top of her game and it has made my life much easier. Tonight my goal is do a few runs of the show without stopping and hopefully with no one calling for line.
-Melody Efrani, Director of Without

Working on the Week 1 shows is a really exciting process to be involved in. The best part about it is getting to experience the different ways that both casts and directors work. It's so interesting to watch the play develop from a table reading to a fully-staged production. As the actors develop their characters, the cast and crew are developing a strong bond and some great friendships. I'm really thrilled to be working with such talented, creative people!
-Karen Pobicki, Assistant Director/Stage Manager for Without and All the Pretty Girls

For more info and tickets go to our website: www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com

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