Monday, Jan. 31

Good afternoon!

Calls for tonight:

7 PM for the Hunter and Hampton
7:30 PM for Christy and Earl
8:15 PM for Gretchen, Lucina, and Tresa


We will be at the Good Beans.

Friday, Jan. 28: Liz's Apartment

Today's rehearsal is at Liz's apartment, 318 W Second. Look at your contact sheet for apartment number and call if you need directions.

Call times:

7 PM for Christy and Hampton
7:30: add Earl
8:00: add Shana

Thursday, Jan. 27

No rehearsal!

Wednesday, Jan. 26

Tonight's calls:

7 PM for Vanreugen and Hampton
8 PM for Bills and Sharp

Tuesday, Jan. 25

Calls tonight:

7 PM for the Family (Earl, Shana, Ethan, Hampton, Danny)
8 PM for the Girls (Gretchen, Tresa, Lucina)

We will be at the Good Beans tonight. See you there!

Up Next: Earl The Vampire

Hi, everyone!

Now entering rehearsal: Sean Michael Welch's Earl the Vampire. Neato!

First read is Monday, Jan. 24.

Accomplice Theatre Company

Guess what, everyone?

The Accomplice Theatre Company (made up of Bob, Megan, and Liz) will be taking Forest for the Trees to the London Fringe Festival in about a week. Wish us luck, follow our blog, and prepare yourself for our return to Flint!

Forest for the Trees, written by Megan Donahue and Bob Gerics, is a drama in which there are puppets. According to the ACT blog, "Love, lust, and family relationships collide in this drama. Step-siblings Ben and Mia must confront truth, lies, and new boundaries as their relationship changes in ways they didn't anticipate."

We'll be remounting the show in the Anteroom in September as part of Flint City Theatre's regular season; watch here or check the FCT website for more details. Please note: Despite the puppets, this show is not for children.

HEAD SHOTS

Who wants to get ten professional head shots for only $25?

You bet you do!

June 5, 10 AM - 3 PM, by appointment only.

Sign up by emailing Liz or commenting on this post.

FCT's 10-11 season

The FCT Variety Show
fundraising event
May 21, 22

Forest For The Trees
By Megan Donahue
and Bob Gerics
Sept 23-Oct 2

Flint Zombie Walk
fundraising event
Oct 16

Scream Theatre
Created by Dan Gerics
Oct 29, 30

Misdirected
By Bob Gerics
Dec 2-11

Earl The Vampire
By Sean Michael Welch
Mar 3-12, 2011

Shakespeare TBA
Jun 2-11, 2011

www.flintcitytheatre.com

Final show!

Sunday is our final show of Romeo and Juliet!

Call is 12:30 for fighters and 1:00 for everyone else.

Strike will be immediately after the show; we'll give you time to say hello to friends/family and to change out of costume, then we'll meet in the house to form crews.

If anyone else wants to order a picture, let me know as soon as possible.

Friday and Saturday

Fantastic opening night, everyone!

Call for Friday and Saturday will be 6:30 for everyone. Enjoy yourselves out there!

OPENING NIGHT!

Romeo and Juliet opens tonight. Call is 6:30 for everyone.

Notes From Second Dress

ALL

Cheat out. Not just your body but angle of scenes.

If two are onstage together, the U.S. person should favor a position closer to C.

If you turn to speak to another character, turn toward the audience.

If you are facing someone in an aggressive or flirtations manner with one foot toward that person, make sure it is the U.S. foot. That is, show the audience your front, not your back.

Project over the sound of your shoes.

Ad libs before Benv/Tyb fight need to be in the right mode. Louder, more pissed, more sarcastic.

Dance: Small steps.

Don’t bounce.

Much better sex last night.

Ad lib before and during Tyb/Merc fight.

During Merch and Ferrel’s business, hold adlibs until Merc’s last cross up to her. “Ere the morrow.” “Milking of the cow.” Etc.

Gregory Sampson

Montague Joke. Funny. When you enter, Greg, step further on so Samp doesn't bury you from view.

Jon E

Spit sound. Not “PAH!”

Step toward Greg/Samp with your U.S. (left) foot when you spit.

Tybalt

Wait half a beat more before “WHAT! Art thou drawn…” We should hear: “know now what you do.” TING. “What!” The “ting” is their swords.

Give Peter your mask “Fetch me my rapier.”

All stuff to and about Romeo (party scene) plant yourself. Don’t shuffle. Put all that frustration in your voice and body, but not feet.

Add a prop. Hanky to wipe dead Tybalt’s face. This if for you as well as for the drama.

Benvolio

Facing off with Tyb, ignore everyone else as they egg you on or mock you. Focus strictly on Tyb. He gunna cut yo ass.

Keep sword quiet during speeches, as much as possible.

“Not to his father’s” good pull-up. Just enough struggle. After pull-up, look at Merc, and ad “What!” as if, “What are you looking at?”

With Romoe, Merc, Nurse etc.

All three of you, move, then plant. Don’t wander.

“Why dost thou stay!?” Push Romeo off, turn him down stage.

Up the pace of the speech to the prince. Slow down the words but shorten/take out the pauses.

Prince

Stay on the upper most platform until after “…weapons to the ground.” Then step down to the stage level.

Office scene: “Your lives.” Not “lifes.”

On that line, “Your lives shall pay…” point with your sword.

Rail at them, even if you flub the line.

End “All are punished” let Cap cross in before you step down for final bit.

Romeo

Have FUN with Benv and with Peter. Enjoy messing with their heads. Don’t be mean to Peter. Romeo’s not a dick. He’s just emo.

First conversation with Jul, SMILE at her.

Is the climb down ok? “Can I go forward?” Take your time.

“He jests at scars.” Not big. Say as if, “That poor, dumb son of a bitch.”

And sneak out before you say it. Don’t lunge out.

Move bench D.S. to climb.

Balcony scene, very nice.

Too long before “Hence will I to my ghostly father’s.” One beat less.

First Friar scene. Slow it down! Make sure he understands your plan. But keep the excitement.

Enter into Benv Merc scene as you did, just hang out and watch them. Then step right in on Merc’s “Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!”

With Benv, Merc, Nurse etc.

All three of you, move, then plant. Don’t wander.

Get into Tyb Merc fight more.

“Hurt cannot be much.” Don’t stand U.S. of Merc.

“This but begins the woe…” bring the energy down. Don’t shout. Just state it.

Banished. Don’t shout all of it. Remember the levels and the different states of mind.

Too many pauses.

INSANITY! “Tell me Friar. In what vile part…”

“Juliet wills it so.” Lie length-wise, not ass to audience.

Take vest off right away.

If Nurse is late, start kissing.

We lost the fun in this scene.

“And therefore came I hither.” Not “So came I”

Tomb, take out pauses.

“Tybalt.” Not “Tybalt?” Not as if, “Tybalt? Is that you?”

Don’t wander. Walk.

“Eyes – comma – look your last.”

“Arms – comma – take your last embrace.”

Good death!

Servant 1

Cross on “…liberty unto thine eyes.”

Wait two more seconds before entering “Where’s Potpan?”

Project over music.

Peter

Speak while opening letter. “Find those persons out…”

“In good time!” means “Yea! I’m saved!”

Project over music in party scene.

Take Tybalt’s mask “Fetch me my rapier.”

Project.

Juliet and girls

:]

Nurse

Don’t rush first speech. Just enjoy the memories of Juliet as a child.

How are we with the patch?

No sigh of relief until you hear “…gone to Laurence’ cell to make confession.

Lady Capulet

“The valiant Paris” Really enjoy saying those words to your daughter for the first time.

Turn left to guests, “Well said, my hearts.” Etc.

“Justice” speech. With Guard, good at second column, U.S. of Tyb. Them step down to Gregory after Guard releases you.

Add a prop. Hanky to wipe dead Tybalt’s face. This if for Marwan as well as for the drama.

Entrance into “Wilt thou be gone.” :]

Counter L. when Cap pushed Juliet and Nurse off “We’ll to church tomorrow.”

Queen Mab Scene

All ad lib, laugh, excitement about dancing, the feast, into which we shall sneak.

All, very nice.

Merc

Conjuring, head too high.

With Ro, Benv, Nurse etc.

All three of you, move, then plant. Don’t wander.

Quarreling speech “Didst” not “Didn’st”

Let “anger” at Benv build. Not just at the end.

Death scene. Nice.

When you sit on S.R. bench, angle out.

Juliet

Be aware that you are in a nighty and Romeo is below and can see up.

When you and Ro are both at top of balcony, cheat the angle, step D.S. of Ro.

When answering Nurse, turn D.S.

Balcony scene, very nice.

“Dreadful trumpet” not “general trumpet”

Articulate loud, angry parts. SLOW DOWN!

“Shall not make me a bride.”

Friar scene “with this knife”

“What if it be poison”

Tomb scene.

We lost the fun in the “Wilt thou be gone?” scene.

“FROM the reach of these…” not “with”

Friar’s potion speech, stay seated. Stand when you grab for vile.

“Pardon I beseech” Kneel but don’t sit on feet.

Ghosts speech. Fear, not screams. Build to “Stay Tybalt!”

Quicker into “What’s hear? A cup?”

“Thy lips are warm.” Needs to be a soft, desperate “Oh god, if only I’d been here a minute earlier.”

Slightly slower death.

Jon E, Drew, Liz, Friar John, Friar L

In Friar scene, both times students are answering the Friar:

All shout the answers, Jon E raise your hand.

Friar John call on Jon E

Jon E repeat the answer, smugly, as if “Ha ha, I got the right answer because I raised my hand.”

Friar John, finish it for him as you have been “With the heart.”

Friar L

“Wisely and slow!” Be stern with Ro.

“Get thee to thy love.” Not “lady.”

Cheat R. “Go before, Nurse.”

“I’ll find out your man…every good hap…” Cheer Ro up.

Wait a bit more before entering “On Thursday, sir.” Two more seconds of music.

“Wednesday is tomorrow” sit her back down and explain. Don’t kneel.

On quicker “Come, is the bride ready…” so you’re further on when you are speaking.

Cross inside curtain, “Sir go you in.”

Friar John

Articulate. But keep the intensity. “Going to find a bare foot brother.”

PATRICK

Street musician scene, hum lightly with guitar if you want. (Not in wedding sequence.)

Guard 2

Good, pushing Lady Cap back to second column. Keep it U.S. of Tybalt.

Paris

On balcony, cheat out of Capulet’s way. Step D.R.

Tomb, when Ro approaches you “Temp not…” threaten him. “Ha!”

Capulet

Don’t shout “Look to’t, think on’t, I do no use to jest.”

After “All are punished.” Step in to Lady C. Don’t wait for Prince to move.

Balthazar

Project ad libs and lines.

Mantua, cheat out.

Pause too long before, “Her body sleeps…”

W/ Friar “Here’s one…” into light quicker.

Guard 1

Push Tybalt into tomb IN THE DARK. Wait for light change.

“Seal up THE mouth of outrage.” Not “thy mouth.”

Guard 2

Ad lib outside tomb is good. But sounds like vaudeville voice. Serous sounding voice.

Romeo mushy lines

Words in ALL CAPS are those we lost.

THAT IS NOT what it is.

Devout RELIGION OF mine eye.

WITH NIMBLE souls

UNDER loves heavy bourdon

THE GAME WAS ne’er so fair

MISGIVES SOME CONSEQUENCE…VILE FORFEIT.”

RICH JEWEL IN AN ETHIOP’S EAR

SHE HANDS UPON the cheek of night

FORSWEAR IT sight

MAKE BLESSED MY RUDE HAND

THUS FROM thy lips

FORGETTING ANY OTHER home

WITHIN THY help and holy physic

ON THE FARE daughter or rich Cap

THE OTHER DID NOT so

NEVER WITH ME when thou wast not there for the goose.

DOTH MUCH EXCUSE the appertaining

IS THOU KNOWST me not

BETTER THAN thou canst devise

TILL THOU SHALT KNOW the reason of my love

HURT CANNOT BE MUCH

MY REPUTATION stained

TYBALT THAT but an hour

THEY BEAUTY HATH MADE ME EFFEMINATE

FOR EXILE hath more terror

MUCH MORE than death

AND WORLD’S exile is death

SEIZE UPON the white wonder

NOW THAT I HAVE STAINED…BUT LITTLE FROM HER OWN.

FLIES may do this. The “F” was lost.

TAKING THE MEASURE of an unmade grave

THAT WILL CONVEY my greetings

GET ME ink and paper

DOING MORE MURDERS in this loathsome world

TO JULIET’S GRAVE FOR THERE MUST i use thee

CAME I HITHER

THAT ARE THY chamber maids

OH YOU THE DOORS of breath

Wednesday: Final Dress

We're almost there, everyone!

Call is 6:30 tonight for everyone. Keep checking back here for notes from last night. We'll set the curtain call after fight rehearsals, and we will run promptly at 8.

Notes from First Dress

ALL

Sight lines. If you can see them (the audience), they can see you. If you are back stage, stay out of sight. We’ll address this tonight.

Men, PULL YOUR PANTS UP! Romeo, Benvolio (sometimes), Jon E. If your pants don’t stay up, write it on the costume board.

Ad libs FULL VOICE. Party scene, Patrick jammin’ scene, all fencing scenes

Dance. Um…hmm…I need some sex. There’s no shoulder rubbing, no hungry eyes, no flirting, nothing but dancing. SEX PEOPLE!

When walking from one section to the next, don’t bounce. Smooth, sexy movements.

Slow dance, I need one couple on the S.R. upper platform and two couples on the S.L. upper platform.

At end of slow dance (after the Capulet Tybalt argument) slow dancers wait a beat and applaud. THEN we’ll take the music out.

All entrances to Juliet’s bedroom through R2.

Rosaline and Ladies

Good sonnets. Good adlibs with guys.

Rosaline

After throwing money, Mercutio kisses hand, turn, stop, see drew, let him be pissed, then shrug and go u.s. Don’t feel you have to rush before Benvolio speaks. It should happen at the same time so take your time.

Tim and Jon E

Enter quicker right after the end of Rosaline’s sonnet.

Apologize to Ferrel. “Apologies, my lady.” Or some shit like that. Then go back to fencing. FULL VOICE.

Cheat the angle when it’s just you on stage. Can’t see Tim. Ask me if you need clarification.

Jon E

Spit sound. Not, “Pah!”

Tim

After “Avaunt Sampson!” be looking back over your shoulder on your exit to make sure he’s not following you. That bastard has a weapon.

Sampson

Second mocking line, keep the mocking tone but let the hatred bubble up more so that the scene builds to “Draw if you be men!” Otherwise that the fury on that line comes out of nowhere.

Prince

First scene, nice.

Office scene, pauses are too long.

No break between grave-beseaming.

Tomb, “Heaven finds joy” not “HeavenS”

Ending, to audience, finish, stay facing audience.

Romeo

Reading list of guests, “Rosaline!” As if, “Hey, that’s the chick I want to tap!” Not as if, “Rosaline? Why the fuck is she coming?”

Get into it, the party etc on “On lusty gentlemen.” As if, “Let’s rock!”

Take a longer beat after lights before make your entrance onto platform “Can I go forward…”

Show off for Juliet, how brave you are, how much you do for her, “with loves wings” “proof against” “Night’s cloak to hide me”

Climb down from balcony, turn out (to you left) to kiss Jul.

Don’t peak around chalk board until your line, “Good morrow, father.”

“This gentleman” Shock. Just say it softly. Start there and build into the different beats.

W/ Tybalt, Stab, HOLD, then fall.

W/ Tybalt, Sword disarm MUST fall D.S. of the arch. Be aware of where it is.

“Banished” Good. More distinction between different beats, to Friar vs. Juliet’s hand vs. hast thou no poison.

When you fall to floor, sprawl. Not too comfortable.

Mantua Dream speech. As if “I had the weirdest dream.”

“Tempt not.” Step in to Paris.

“Mercutio’s kinsman.” Don’t shout. Say as if, “Aw fuck.”

Step toward Tybald when you address him.

Juliet

When you re-enter on the stage level come all the way D.S. to Romeo’s level.

“Clock struck nine” Enter one beat later after lights.

Angle the bench out for the Nurse. There is spike tape there to get the right angle.

“Dragon…cave” Get up and pace.

Too much pausing between beats.

“He shall NOT make me there a joyful bride!” We lost of fire. Get it back.

“Comfort Nurse” = Help me.

Lose dagger after Friar scene.

Poison scene, start seeing ghosts sooner. “…if I wake before Romeo come…” Nightmare fear.

Friar dragging you away from bier, reach for Romeo, don’t swim.

Servant 1

On S.R. upper platform, one half step D.S. will put you in light.

Servants 1, 2

“Where’s potpan.” Project over music!

Peter

Learn the dance steps AND THE COUNTS or I’ll have to take you out of it. Ask someone to help you with.

Lady C

Capulet Tybalt argument, when Cap takes Tybalt R., counter more L. so you are in full view of the audience.

Change: at Tybalt’s death enter right on your line, not with Capulet.

Friar Laurence

“Benedicite!” Drip with sarcasm, as if, “Wweeeeellll. Nice of you to join us!”

Tomb, w/ Blathazar, to platform quicker.

Benvolio

Sit with Mercutio “…enters the confines of a tavern.” Up on “And what to?”

Good speech, Tybalt’s death. Don’t rush.

Mercutio

Good death. Don’t rush the end. Become week, less able to shout as you get to the end. The last “you houses!” is too strong and healthy.

Tybalt and Romeo

Stab, HOLD, then fall.

Sword disarm MUST fall D.S. of the arch. Be aware of where it is.

Montague

“…the life of Tybalt!” Keep the energy and intensity up.

Nurse

“He’s dead” scene, enter L2, come in so that you are U.S. of the bed. House left couldn’t see you.

Capulet

In quicker on “How now, a conduit?” Come in and speak. Not waiting.

Was there an adlib on that line?

“God’s bread” speech, more down beats, quiet anger.

Don’t rush. Take the time to rail and to explain to her.

“We’ll have this know knit up tomorrow.” No pause to think.

End of scene, no attitude, just happy that “…this same wayward girl is so reclaimed.”

Friar John

Slow down, articulate.

Matt

Push Tybalt on with his body flat, and do so in the dark.

“Run to the Capulets, raise up the Montagues.” Step R so you can cheat out.

Blathazar

Lamp higher.

W/ Friar, to platform quicker.

Once you’re on the stage level, sit on D.L bench.

Paris

Romeo steps in to you on “Temp not…” Shout him back.

Stab, scream like Juliet does when she stabs herself.

Tuesday: Second Dress and Photo Call

Tonight is our second dress. We will be running a few sequences at 6; photo call starts at 7 PM. Check back here often this morning - notes will be posted shortly.

Call: 6 PM for Everybody

Monday: First Dress

Tonight is our first dress rehearsal. This means that you may want to show up a bit early to settle yourself into your costume. We will have an 8:00 curtain.

Call:

6:30 for swordsmen
7:00 for everyone else

Sunday: Tech

Today is tech, so bring things to eat and things to amuse you. We will be doing a fair amount of stopping, backing up, etc., so be prepared to sit around a lot. Seriously, bring books, cards, snacks, and board games.

After tech, we will do a full run-through.

Call is 5:00 for everyone at Bower Theatre. We will work until we're done - DO NOT come to me and ask if you can leave early.

Friday: At MCC

Tonight's full run will be over at Mott CC. We will be using the auditorium; if you are not sure how to get there, call me or Dan or go pick up a map from the Workshop (there is a pile under the call board).

Call tonight is 6 PM for Everybody except Lady Capulet and Tybalt (your calls are 8).

Be sure to look at the line script tonight if you haven't already!

Thursday: Full Run-Through

Today will be another full run-through; this will be an understudy run.

Call times:

6 PM for EVERYBODY except the following:

8 PM for Lady Capulet and Guard 1

9 PM for Abraham and Servant 2

Exempt from call: Romeo (but please give me a call when you're out of class)