We had the final performance of "The Christmas Schooner" yesterday. This was a wonderful experience for everyone involved. It appears as though, due to popular demand, we will be bringing this show back to our theatre in 2011. I don't know if I will be directing that production but I'm sure that it will be another hit! Merry Christmas everyone!
Chuck
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Sheldon Harnick!
Sheldon Harnick is in the audience tonight. We have produced 3 of his shows in the past 5 or 6 years. It was great to meet him, I hope he likes the show! Speaking of liking the show, this website has gathered many of the glowing reviews of the show all in one place! http://www.theatreinchicago.com/playdetail.php?playID=3709
Thursday, November 26, 2009
WGN-TV from today's parade
Here's a link to the parade video. For some reason the commentator says at the end that Theatre at the Center is in Hammond, but we are really in Munster! Thanksgiving Day Parade on WGN-TV
Parade Rehearsal Video
Thought this might be interesting for a different view of today's parade.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxhP9qDAtSA
Parade Pictures
We performed in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade this morning. Here are some pictures from the wet morning!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
WLS TV segment
Here's a link to today's tv appearance http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/entertainment&id=7138665
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Upcoming Television Appearances
We will be performing the title song on TV twice in the coming days. Wednesday, November 25, 2009 we are scheduled to perform on the WLS-TV ABC 7 News in Chicago. They have us scheduled to perform at 11:45 AM but since it's a news show if there is snow, breaking world news or some local event, we may get bumped!
Thursday, November 26 we will be performing in the 2009 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade. We will be performing at around 8:20 AM Central time. This parade will be televised on WGN-TV, so everyone should get to see it if you wake up early!
Thursday, November 26 we will be performing in the 2009 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade. We will be performing at around 8:20 AM Central time. This parade will be televised on WGN-TV, so everyone should get to see it if you wake up early!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Final Day of Previews
Well I watched today's performance. We really have an amazing cast, crew and orchestra. The audience gave the show a standing ovation! And it was deserved but so far the best performance that I have watched has been the first (last Thursday). Today's show had some rough choral elements as well as some performances that I think were effected by report cards at school! Technically the stage manager and stage crew have the tech elements well in hand. I only had one note each for props, set and costumes.
There was a strange noise during the second act that I was unable to determine if it was 1.) a squeaky ventilation fan, 2.) a hearing aid feeding back, 3.) a personal ventilating device being used by the old man in front of me, 4.) a feedback issue from the reeds section. My sound guy heard it too so it probably wasn't number 3!
Tomorrow is our press opening. Our artistic director is already thinking about bringing this show back for our 2011 season and I think that's only because we are already contracted to do a different show in 2010! So 24 hours from now the house will open and the fun will begin!
There was a strange noise during the second act that I was unable to determine if it was 1.) a squeaky ventilation fan, 2.) a hearing aid feeding back, 3.) a personal ventilating device being used by the old man in front of me, 4.) a feedback issue from the reeds section. My sound guy heard it too so it probably wasn't number 3!
Tomorrow is our press opening. Our artistic director is already thinking about bringing this show back for our 2011 season and I think that's only because we are already contracted to do a different show in 2010! So 24 hours from now the house will open and the fun will begin!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Pictures
Here are some pictures from the final dress rehearsal that were taken by our lighting designer - Guy Rhodes http://www.guyrhodes.com/blog/
Thursday, November 12, 2009
First Performance
Our first performance was today. The cast, crew and musicians all did a great job. The audience gave the show a standing ovation. John Reeger and Julie Shannon were both at the show and they told me that this is the best production of their show that they have seen. Wow!!! We had a few technical issues with today's performance which hopefully we will address tomorrow. After the performance we audio recorded a couple of the songs for some upcoming promotional appearances and also shot promotional videos of the production numbers "The Christmas Schooner" and "That's America" We also had a full house today, which was a great way to begin the run!
There was a preview article about the show in today's SOUTHTOWNSTAR Newspaper by Don Snider. http://www.southtownstar.com/entertainment/52weekends/1875988,111209Schooner.article
Tomorrow's TIMES has an article as well! http://nwitimes.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/article_7b7b9feb-f98b-5b37-acc4-41daafd6207c.html
There was a preview article about the show in today's SOUTHTOWNSTAR Newspaper by Don Snider. http://www.southtownstar.com/entertainment/52weekends/1875988,111209Schooner.article
Tomorrow's TIMES has an article as well! http://nwitimes.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/article_7b7b9feb-f98b-5b37-acc4-41daafd6207c.html
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tech Rehearsal
Yesterday we had our technical rehearsal and though it was a long day I felt so energized when we were through. The show is in really good shape. The day began at the theatre at 8 AM for me, I had my production manager hat on and set up the video monitoring system for the conductor and the lift operator (this involved only one run to radio shack!) I also hauled the chairs and music stands for the orchestra to the stage.
The actors were called at 11:30 AM and by noon the mic checks had begun. We had a minor emergency just before we were to start - the lift stopped working. Ann called in the elevator repairman (I think his name is Carl or St. Saves the Day) and he had the lift working in no time. By 4:30 PM we had teched through the first act. We had added in microphones, costumes, lights, and Christmas trees all at the same time and the cast handled all of the additions with aplomb.
After dinner break we added the orchestra and started back at the top of the show. We were able to run the first act straight through with Barry (Sound Designer) mixing the orchestra, voices and sound effects on the fly. That left us 3 1/2 hours to tech the second act which we did with 15 minutes to spare!
The composer, Julie Shannon, was at the rehearsal last night. Her husband Bill brought a bunch of microphones that he is loaning to us for miking the orchestra and that made a huge difference! Julie seemed overjoyed at the production. I think the audiences will love it too!
The actors were called at 11:30 AM and by noon the mic checks had begun. We had a minor emergency just before we were to start - the lift stopped working. Ann called in the elevator repairman (I think his name is Carl or St. Saves the Day) and he had the lift working in no time. By 4:30 PM we had teched through the first act. We had added in microphones, costumes, lights, and Christmas trees all at the same time and the cast handled all of the additions with aplomb.
After dinner break we added the orchestra and started back at the top of the show. We were able to run the first act straight through with Barry (Sound Designer) mixing the orchestra, voices and sound effects on the fly. That left us 3 1/2 hours to tech the second act which we did with 15 minutes to spare!
The composer, Julie Shannon, was at the rehearsal last night. Her husband Bill brought a bunch of microphones that he is loaning to us for miking the orchestra and that made a huge difference! Julie seemed overjoyed at the production. I think the audiences will love it too!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Orchestra Rehearsal Photos
Music Director/Conductor - Bill Underwood
John Blane, Bill Geller, Julie Shannon
Kara Bershad
Randy Glancy
Ethan Deppe
What a day!
I am sitting in the theatre right now. I arrived here at 7:30 this morning and worked on some contracts and budgets for future shows. We had Schooner rehearsal from 10 am - 6 pm where we were able to clean up and restage the parts of the show that needed the most attention. The author, John Reeger showed up at rehearsal at 2 PM and thoroughly enjoyed what he saw.
We are having our first orchestra tonight and that is taking place in our green room. Some new faces that it was nice to meet as well as our talented core players.Julie Shannon - the composer/lyricist, her husband -Bill, and John Blane just arrived to sit in on the music rehearsal. They are downstairs because on stage right now they are about 9 hours into the light focus. I should really take a picture of the genie lift on the boat!
All in all a blessed day that will end in about 5 hours with my setting the building alarm and going home!
We are having our first orchestra tonight and that is taking place in our green room. Some new faces that it was nice to meet as well as our talented core players.Julie Shannon - the composer/lyricist, her husband -Bill, and John Blane just arrived to sit in on the music rehearsal. They are downstairs because on stage right now they are about 9 hours into the light focus. I should really take a picture of the genie lift on the boat!
All in all a blessed day that will end in about 5 hours with my setting the building alarm and going home!
Rehearsal footage from November 4th
Check out this rehearsal footage from rehearsal yesterday - November 4th. The show is really coming along & how 'bout that set?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Great News!
Our PR people have secure the opportunity for the cast to perform on WLS-TV on Wednesday, November 25 on their 11 AM News program. Make way for the Molly!!!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Beginning Week 2 of rehearsals
We had a very productive day of cleaning up and working on most of the major choreography in the show. Matt also brilliantly re-staged "What is it about the Water". It was a number that the two of us had intended to collaborate on and in the end that was what happened, it just took a circuitous route but by the end of the afternoon the number looked great!
Both Matt and Bill are very effective communicators and I so appreciate that about them.
So as of today, the show is pretty well put together. We still need the real table and counter unit along with the chairs in order to finish some of the scene change choreography. I feel we have a real good base of the show established. We will be able to do a good deal of detail work this week as the scripts in actors' hands get replaced by hand props and proper gestures. Tomorrow we will be working on Act 2 in the morning and then make our first attempt at a run-through of the entire show in the afternoon.
I also had a very nice interview today with Don Snider of the Daily Southtown. He was very complimentary of out past productions and is looking forward to seeing Schooner. I will post a link to his article when it comes out.
Both Matt and Bill are very effective communicators and I so appreciate that about them.
So as of today, the show is pretty well put together. We still need the real table and counter unit along with the chairs in order to finish some of the scene change choreography. I feel we have a real good base of the show established. We will be able to do a good deal of detail work this week as the scripts in actors' hands get replaced by hand props and proper gestures. Tomorrow we will be working on Act 2 in the morning and then make our first attempt at a run-through of the entire show in the afternoon.
I also had a very nice interview today with Don Snider of the Daily Southtown. He was very complimentary of out past productions and is looking forward to seeing Schooner. I will post a link to his article when it comes out.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Rehearsal Day 4
Bill Underwood has amazed me everyday this week. He is my music director and he works so well with the vocalists. He knows what he wants and how to get it too. Truly a gifted musician!
Matt staged the opening of Act 2 and "Hardwater Sailors" today and I have to admit that he took "Sailors" in a direction that I did not see in the number and it is brilliant! I feel so in sync with both Matt and Bill that it makes it so much fun to be working with them.
I will need more tissue at rehearsal because Brandon, Cory and Peter make tears flow with how beautifully they deliver their songs. We staged "Questions" and "When I Look At You (Reprise)" today and Cory and Peter are just so powerful. *note to self - set up a kleenex concession at the performances, lol!
Tomorrow we should just about finish blocking the show. I had a funny comment from one of the actors today that I will share with you. He asked, "Are we going to have any movement in the opening number, because you just have us standing around singing?" We Matt was called away for another engagement for our first day of rehearsals so I got the number staged and Matt will make it look like $40! (Well probably a million but tickets are only $40!)
Matt staged the opening of Act 2 and "Hardwater Sailors" today and I have to admit that he took "Sailors" in a direction that I did not see in the number and it is brilliant! I feel so in sync with both Matt and Bill that it makes it so much fun to be working with them.
I will need more tissue at rehearsal because Brandon, Cory and Peter make tears flow with how beautifully they deliver their songs. We staged "Questions" and "When I Look At You (Reprise)" today and Cory and Peter are just so powerful. *note to self - set up a kleenex concession at the performances, lol!
Tomorrow we should just about finish blocking the show. I had a funny comment from one of the actors today that I will share with you. He asked, "Are we going to have any movement in the opening number, because you just have us standing around singing?" We Matt was called away for another engagement for our first day of rehearsals so I got the number staged and Matt will make it look like $40! (Well probably a million but tickets are only $40!)
Rehearsal Day 3 Highlights
What a super-productive day we had! We had a staggered start time so that Bill could spend some individual time with Cory, Brandon and Peter K. on their songs. Some of the songs in this show are so beautifully moving that Cory and I had several tearful, choke-up moments. At least I didn't have to sing!
Two years ago Brandon played George Gipp (for which he received a Jeff Nomination) in our world-premiere production of "Knute Rockne All-American". In "The Christmas Schooner" he has a song that is similarly moving to his featured song in the previous show but in this show he doesn't have to deliver it from his death bed so he can use his entire body on "When I Look at You". You will love this song and Brandon's going to make Julie and John so proud!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Rehearsal Photos from 10/27/09
Jeff, Brandon, Kevin and Matt working on "The Christmas Schooner" number.
Cory and Danny rehearsing at Danny's insistance.
Amy and Kellie
Peter, Matt and Brandon along with our new favorite prop - the dancing Christmas tree!
Maestro Bill!
Audrey, Rita and Jason trying to figure out why Chuck just skipped Martha's big scene.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Rehearsals Day 2
What a great cast we have. Today Matt staged "The Christmas Schooner" number which involves unloading about 30,000 Christmas trees off of the ship and selling them at the Clark Street dock in Chicago. Yesterday we spent a couple of hours learning the music for this number and today it took about three hours to put the number together and Matt's choreography looks great! We have staged about 1/3 of the show so we are right on schedule. I took some pics today that hopefully I will have time to post them tomorrow. Also, I tried to get some tickets for the authors for the Thursday matinee performance the day of the press opening and found out that show is completely sold-out. So we will have to add some vip seats for our vips! A great problem to have!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Rehearsals begin today!
The entire company is called to our rehearsal space at Ridge United Methodist Church at 10 AM. We will focus on "We All Have Songs", "That's America", "What is it About the Water" and "The Mummers are Here" and hopefully have a fun and productive day!!!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
From our PR Department
Hello,
Great news! We have secured the following online placements for The Christmas Schooner.
Thank you!
Regards,
Nina
CHRISTMAS SCHOONER;
http://www.events.org/cpage.aspx?e=23389
http://chicago.metromix.com/theater/theater_event/the-christmas-schooner/788779/content
http://eventful.com/munster/events/the-christmas-schooner-/E0-001-025446942-1@2009111214
http://chicago.broadwayworld.com/article/Theatre_at_the_Center_Presents_THE_CHRISTMAS_SCHOONER_11121220_20091005
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/4595885/IN/Munster/The-Christmas-Schooner/
http://spotlightonlake.com/christmas-schooner
http://www.chicagopride.com/calendar/event.cfm/id/82390
http://www.triblocal.com/St._Charles/Detail_View/view.html?type=events&action=detail&sub_id=107945
http://www.chicagoparent.com/view_event_pop.asp?eventID=15113
Great news! We have secured the following online placements for The Christmas Schooner.
Thank you!
Regards,
Nina
CHRISTMAS SCHOONER;
http://www.events.org/cpage.aspx?e=23389
http://chicago.metromix.com/theater/theater_event/the-christmas-schooner/788779/content
http://eventful.com/munster/events/the-christmas-schooner-/E0-001-025446942-1@2009111214
http://chicago.broadwayworld.com/article/Theatre_at_the_Center_Presents_THE_CHRISTMAS_SCHOONER_11121220_20091005
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/4595885/IN/Munster/The-Christmas-Schooner/
http://spotlightonlake.com/christmas-schooner
http://www.chicagopride.com/calendar/event.cfm/id/82390
http://www.triblocal.com/St._Charles/Detail_View/view.html?type=events&action=detail&sub_id=107945
http://www.chicagoparent.com/view_event_pop.asp?eventID=15113
Monday, October 19, 2009
Songs from "The Christmas Schooner"
We will be selling cds of "Songs from The Christmas Schooner" at our box office for the next couple of months so be sure to pick-up some when you see the show!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Ship begins to take Shape!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Schooner Load-in Photos
Wednesday and Thursday our great crew did alot of heavy lifting and brought most of the superstructure of the set over from the duckpond. They began assembling the pieces today. I'm so excited!
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