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!)

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!

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.

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!

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!!!

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

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!

The Ship begins to take Shape!

Here are some pics that were forwarded to me from Friday. Looks like the crew worked their tails off to get the stage ready for church on Sunday.

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!

One Final Trip To Northern Michigan Before We Sail!

I will be going to Interlochen, Michigan tonight for the weekend. I am going to see my daughter but I also will be finishing my preparations for rehearsals for "Schooner". I am taking along a book to read that Julie Shannon and Bill Geller just gave me - "Lives and Legends of the Christmas Tree Ships" by Fred Neuschel. That should be a great read up in the woods of Northern Michigan!

Make Way For The Molly!

Strike began today on the beautiful "Man of LaMancha" set. By Wednesday the stage should be clear and load-in of "The Christmas Schooner" set will begin!

Communicating Props and Set (Designers)

Here is some productive communication between Libby (props designer) and Jack (scenic designer) as a result of our production meeting yesterday - cg


See responses below in ALL CAPS :)

Thanks,
Jack
-----Original Message-----
From: Libby Fandrei
Sent: Oct 5, 2009 6:58 PM
To: jkmagaw
Cc: Ann Davis
Subject: Flotsum
Hello Jack,
I finally received an estimate on the Christmas trees and presented it today at the meeting. Totals for 17 trees, including truck rental, are between $297.50 and $235.00 from the Duddles Tree Farm, North of Grand Rapids. A couple of people at the meeting said they might have other contacts for me to try in their area that would be closer, but the price for trees seems to be pretty standard for economy grade or lower.
OK
Chuck seems to prefer the dining set to be an older style that the family might have brought from Germany. Same with Alma's rocking chair. I'll look for some pictures to send to you and see if we're on the same page. Unless you have pictures for me, which would be lovely. We only have one rocking chair in stock at the moment. It's very large and a little beat up.
ATTACHED IS A ZIP FILE WITH SOME PICS OF TABLES, ETC. I THINK THE TABLE CAN BE NICE LOOKING BUT SHOULD ALSO BE SOMEWHAT SIMPLE. I THINK IT HAS FOUR LEGS AS OPPOSED TO A CENTER PEDESTAL AND I THINK IT IS RECTANGULAR RATHER THAN CIRCULAR. SEE THE PICS FOR MY IDEA FOR THE ROCKING CHAIR
I remember you saying that you had something particular in mind for the two benches in the quilt scene. If you would please elaborate I can get started on those this week.
A DRAWING FOR THESE BENCHES IS INCLUDED IN THE ZIP FILE
My understanding of the chopping table and the...shall we call it a buffet for now...is that the chopping table will be seen on the US platform and the "buffet" will be seen on the main deck. Obviously I have not yet received the final word on what this "buffet" piece will look like. If I see anything that jumps out at me I'll send you some pictures of that too.
PICS OF A BUFFET INCLUDED. IS THE "CHOPPING TABLE" AN ACTUAL CHOPPING BLOCK...LIKE A BUTCHER'S BLOCK? OR JUST A TABLE SHE CHOPS VEGETABLES ON??
It was decided that we will have two fixed lanterns on the front of the ship. These will be red and green. There will be three lanterns that fly in for the storm scene. Guy and Ann discussed the placement of these. Ann has this noted on her copy of the ground plan. Chuck chose a style at the meeting.
SOUNDS GOOD
There will be a chandelier flown in for the dining room scene and an industrial hospital lamp flown in for the hospital scene. I was out looking for these today and will be sending pictures soon.
OK
How tall will the Stossel family Christmas tree need to be?
ID SAY 6-8 FEET AND SKINNY.
It looks like we have 10 small barrels (keg sized), 3 medium sized barrels, and possibly 1 large barrel in stock. All of our crates are the size that can be easily carried or sat upon, which means about chair height in any given direction, or smaller. Let me know what other sizes you would like to have.
JUST GET THEM ALL AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE HAVE ROOM FOR AND SEE WHAT THEY NEED IN REHEARSAL.
Chuck has asked for all props to be complete by the 16th. Hope you're having a great evening!

Elizabeth Fandrei

Here are some of the pictures that Jack sent Libby:

Posting on BroadwayWorld.com

Great news! We secured the item below on THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER on BroadwayWorld.com. Thanks!
Regards,
Lianne

Theatre at the Center Presents THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER 11/12-12/20
by BWW News Desk

The Christmas Schooner brings holiday cheer to Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, from November 12 through December 20. The press opening will be on November 19. The whole family will enjoy this heart-warming story of a brave Michigan shipping captain who sails Christmas trees across Lake Michigan to the German immigrants in Chicago. The Christmas Schooner is a powerful, moving story with an exquisite score. Chuck Gessert will direct.

The Christmas Schooner has quickly become a beloved Chicago holiday classic, a wonderful look at families and traditions. This holiday classic tells the story of Peter and Alma Stossel, whose pioneering spirit is full of the energy and dreams of America in the 19th century. With the help of Peter's young son Karl, and the companionship of his father, Gus, from the old country, Peter decides to take Christmas Trees from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan across the icy waters to post-fire Chicago.

Full of glorious music, charming dances, and the lively spirit of the sailing crew of The Molly Doone, The Christmas Schooner is a timely and stirring reminder of the value of family, the importance of tradition, and our obligation to celebrate the living while honoring our ancestors.

Author John Reeger and Lyricist Julie Shannon are both very familiar with Chicago Theater. They have collaborated on three musicals together, the best known being The Christmas Schooner. The musical has provided audiences entertainment throughout over 100 productions around the United States. This includes a twelve year run at Chicago's Bailiwick Theater. It received its European premiere at Theatreworx in Bristol, England. An award winning Chicago Actor, John Reeger has starred in dozens of productions at not only Theater at the Center (Hello, Dolly!, A Christmas Story), as well as at Drury Lane Oakbrook, Marriott Theatre, Court Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Northlight Theater and Steppenwolf Theater. Aside from her collaborations with John Reeger, Julie Shannon has written and recorded albums for children with storyteller Rives Collins. Their albums LET'S FILL UP THE HOUSE WITH STORIES AND SONGS garnered a Parents' Choice Award.

New orchestrations will also be provided to Theatre at the Center's production of The Christmas Schooner by Larry Blank, a composer, orchestrator and conductor based in Los Angeles, New York and London. His career has found him working with some of the more respected names in theatre, film, television and music. Additionally, he orchestrated 8 songs for the Tony Award winning orchestrations for the Broadway production of THE PRODUCERS. He also wrote the orchestrations for five songs for the film CHICAGO and additional orchestrations for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE on Broadway.

The cast of The Christmas Schooner features Brandon Dahlquist as "Peter Stossel", Cory Goodrich as "Alma Stossel", Peter Kevoian as "Gustav Stossel", Daniel Coonley as "Karl Stossel", Kevin Barthel as "Rudy", Ron Keaton as "Oskar", Jeff Diebold as "Steve", Mitchell Rose as "Young Karl", Audrey Billings as "Martha", Amy Brophy as "Kate", Katrina Kuntz as "Enid", Kellie Cundiff as "Olive", Livvie Goble as "Mary Claire Daugherty", Jennifer Buhrow as "Rose", Liam Byrnes as "Young Boy" and Peter Vamvakas, John Leen, Adrian Fontanilla, Peter Durkin and Michael Glazer as "the Sailors".

In addition to Chuck Gessert as Director, the Choreographer is Matt Raftery and the Music Director is Bill Underwood. The design team for The Christmas Schooner is Scenic Designer Jack Magaw, Costume Designer Sally Murray, Lighting Designer Guy Rhodes, Wig and Makeup Designer Kevin Barthel, Props Designer Libby Fandrei and Sound Designer Barry Funderburg. The Stage Manager is Rita Vreeland with ASM Jason Wroblewski. Technical Director is Ann Davis.

Founded in 1991, Theatre at the Center is a year-round professional, equity theater at its home, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Theatre at the Center is conveniently located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. ($36.00); Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ($40.00); Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. ($40.00); Sundays at 2:30 p.m. ($40.00) and select Thursdays at 7:30, and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. To purchase individual tickets, call the box office at 219.836.3255 or Tickets.com at 800.511.1552. For groups of 20 or more, call 219.836.3258. Gift certificates, perfect for all special occasions, and their 2010, 20th anniversary Season Subscriptions are also available by calling the Theatre at the Center box office at 219.836.3255. For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

Costume Renderings by Sally Murray

Production Meeting

We had our third production meeting for "Schooner" today. Matt Raftery (choreographer), Sally Murray (Costume Designer), Libby Fandrei (Props Designer), Barry Funderburg (Sound Designer), Ann Davis (Technical Director), Guy Rhodes (Lighting Designer) and myself were at the meeting. We discussed costumes and props in detail. Guy brought in his light plot for the Master Electrician to review. We discussed speaker placement on the set. We still have a few unaswered questions concerning the set, but construction is coming along on schedule. I scanned the costume renderings and hope to post them here, but my first attempt failed. lol. After the meeting Matt and I worked through the entire show as far as choreography and staging requirements and which one of us will be taking the lead on shaping each musical number.

A lighting designer question

I received a great question yesterday via e-mail from our lighting designer and thought I'd share it with you!

Chuck,

Quick question about the upstage platform in Schooner (I attached a photo of the model with the part of the set in question). Have you, or do you see yourself blocking anything underneath this platform? I'm wondering if I should plan on lighting under there.

Sincerely,
Guy Rhodes

The picture is one that the lighting designer took of the model of the set.