Freeport Shakespeare Festival's Blog

Rehearsal Prep/Musical Bench-Tables

Preparation for Twelfth Night rehearsal is officially underway at Freeport Middle School. Schedules are coming together, and everyone in production is excited for the first rehearsal on July 5th. We have been working all afternoon to get the rehearsal hall ready for next week. I never thought I'd claim to be an expert in moving and reconfiguring "cafeterium" tables...but here we are. Sitting here sorting through paperwork is a relief after spending the first half of the afternoon becoming one with the tables.

Myles has been regaling me with stories from last summer, and he insists that I write about how excited we are to get started with rehearsals next week. This it true - we ARE very excited to meet everyone...all I'm saying is, everyone is gonna love what we've done with the tables.

Elise (and Myles)

The Script.

Today we are deep into script analysis (or table work as we like to call it). It's deconstructing the text to get to the heart of each character's intentions. The more we study Shakespeare the more we learn that he wrote everything the actor needs to know within the text from stage directions, to relationships, and emotions, Shakespeare never ceases to put us in a state of wonderment.

Tomorrow...Viewpoints!

Your Illustrious Stage Management Team,

Myles and Sarah

In the Park.

Insects seem to be a reoccurring theme in the lives of the Stage Management. Today it was a June bug that had snuck in at some point. This creature was much easier to wrangle than the dragonfly. We are both asking ourselves, "what will tomorrow's bug be?"

After the June bug was safely back in the wild, Sarah struggled to spike small circles on the floor, a skill Myles explained, was one that came with time and practice. Yes, wise grasshopper.

Later on we had our first rehearsal outside at Discovery Park in the center of the L.L.Bean facility. As the prologue "processed" we were struck by the magnificence and natural surroundings that stood before us.

We look forward to an exciting run in the open air with all of you on your blankets and lawn chairs!

Your Illustrious Stage Management Team,

Myles and Sarah

The Calm Before The Storm!

Today marked the exciting first rehearsal of The Tempest. We began the day with a read-through which truly brought the play to life. The chemistry between the actors sitting at the table was electrifying and we were thrilled at the potential for what is yet to come.

Later on in the evening we had a full company meet-and-greet with everyone involved with the production. It was wonderful to finally put names to faces.

As we prepare the room for rehearsal tomorrow, we are once again looking before us at the empty space, that only a few hours before was filled with the vibrancy of actors, designers, and board members alike. We once again are feeling the calm before the storm as we chase dragon flies out of the room! No really! The doors to the outside were open all day and they flew in. But now they are safely back in the wild. We strive to care for all creatures big and small.

Your Illustrious Stage Management Team,

Myles and Sarah

Puppets, Puppets, and more Puppets!

*In a loud announcers voice*

TODAY'S BLOG FEATURING:

Carol and John Farrell and their:

PUPPETS OF THE TEMPEST!

Today we were given a tour of the Figures of Speech facility. Our tour began in the hard good section, John's work space, where we viewed the unveiling of Sycorax's face, a work-in-progress. We were in awe of the wide variety of tools throughout the room, many a tool we dreamed of using ourselves one day.

Next we were taken to the rehearsal space, a room in the back with a large mirror and high ceiling. We enjoyed a demonstration of how the puppets will work and found it very inspirational. They are going to be a fun and exciting element of the play!

Then we entered into the world of the soft goods where all the fabrics are added, Carol's workspace. Here we viewed the magnificent Ceres puppet....a truly regal and beautiful puppet!

Check out the Figures of Speech website for more information on Carol and John Farrell and the wonderful world of puppets they inhabit at:

www.figures.org

These puppest are "as far as the mind can see." You won't want to miss their debut!

Your illustrious Stage Management Team,

Myles and Sarah

The management of the stage....has begun...

Highlighters are purchased and pencils are sharpened. The letters, calendars and schedules are nearing completion. Pages are stapled and hole-punched, eagerly awaiting their delivery into the hands of actors, designers and production team members in the upcoming week. Sarah is staring into the hp officejet all-in-one printer as the calendar page is inching its way out of the printer and Myles is doing his favorite activity of making PDF's of every document.

As we sit here in the Freeport Middle School Auditoria...(or Cafetorium)...an empty space lies before us, just waiting to be filled with people. It is the quiet before the storm...just like...THE TEMPEST!

We are super busy, so short but sweet blog entries are most likely what you will see!

Your Illustrious Stage Management Team,

Myles and Sarah