By Tom Zohar. Posted on 02/16/09
It’s my day off. It’s raining outside. I feel cozy and happy and really excited for the week ahead– we’ve just finished teching The History Boys and I don’t think any of us could be happier with it.
Generally the whole rehearsal period seems now to have gone by so quickly… There was so much to learn and discover and figure out, and of course there still is, but as I look back on everything, I’ve been having so much fun I completely forgot how much work has gone into it. Through the French and the History of WWI and the songs and dances and subtext and blocking it really did all feel like playing… Playing with building blocks or clay and kinda just creating something along the way. I know that’s a very general way to describe a rehearsal process but it doesn’t always feel like that. This one did.
As for me, I love Posner. This isn’t a comment on my performance– there’s still so much to discover and figure out, and I’m incapable of observing myself like that even if I wanted to. No, I just love the words I’m given to say and the actions I’m given to do. Who else gets to sing Edith Piaf, quote Shakespeare, define words AND be utterly in love, all in the same play? And within moments of each other? And being in love in this play is incredibly easy. With this cast, you’re constantly surrounded with vitality and good energy, and you know you can’t fail because they’re all there to catch you, and you’re there to catch them. There really is a lot of love on that stage. Every time we run the show I feel us becoming more and more cohesive, and also more and more confident in our individuality. It’s awesome. This weekend especially we’ve gotten to a point where I find myself onstage so completely drawn in to what’s going on that I forget there’s any lines or acting involved. The actions and words just tumble out naturally. And I know the others would agree. This is an incredible ensemble Sean Murray has put together. I feel so lucky to be part of it.
Best of all, it’s FUN. This is a fun, fun, fun show to be in. Every moment is a treat. I don’t think there’s a single person in the ensemble who doesn’t enjoy every single moment they have on stage.
I think that, whatever happens, we have something very special in the works here.
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By Sean Murray. Posted on 02/12/09
I am full of anticipation today. We begin tech tonight for our upcoming production of The History Boys. It’s one of my favorite times in rehearsal: when the show that is being put together in a rehearsal room begins to actually look like a play! This is where the production begins to develop it’s “look” in the lighting and sound designs. I always love working with Eric Lotze and can’t wait to see what we come up with.
Matt Lescault-Wood is designing the sound for the show. Full of atmospheric environments that will help create the school grounds of these boys. Shirley Pierson, one of our SDSU Lipinkski Fellowship Designers, is creating the 1980′s school wear. Bonnie Durben our props. And Andy Hull, also a SDSU Lipinski Fellowship Designer, has created a sort of deconstructed school, not really literal, but definitely evokes that environment. With Stanley Cohen as my stage manager, rather the captain of the show, I am so happy to be working with all of them.
Oh, and those boys…there’s a lot of talent up there and a lot of energy. Go get ‘em guys.
Bon Voyage, History Boys!
An update:
We’ve finished teching the show and had the great luxury of doing a run thru on Sunday. I couldn’t be happier or more proud of the work that the boys and their faculty are doing. It’s just such a treat to get to work with them. They are dedicated, fun, energetic (o God, are they energetic!) and thoroughly talented.
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By Sean Murray. Posted on 02/11/09
I am really excited about beginning work on our upcoming musical, Bed and Sofa, by Polly Pen and Laurence Klavan. We did this show as part of our very first season, before many people had even heard about our work. It turned out to be a wonderful success and helped introduce our theatre to a new range of people. I’ve wanted to work on it again because it was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had in the theatre.
It’s based on the 1926 Russian silent-film by Abram Room. The movie, which is available on Amazon in beautiful restoration DVD, was a breakthrough film that is startlingly contemporary in it’s acting style and cinematic directing.
As we begin work bringing this musical-adapted-from-a-silent-film-for-the-stage we’re trying to capture the essence of a silent movie. As in our first production, we are creating a world onstage that is completely engulfed in glorious black and white! Every detail of the set from the bedding to the fried egg is presented in shades of grey. Even the actors are in grey scale creating the total illusion of the silver tones of the silent era. Andy Hull, our SDSU Fellowship Designer who designed The History Boys, is working with me on the set design. We are having a great time taking the cramped apartment set from the film and adapting it for the stage. The set from our original production in 2004 is being re-imagined in a slightly bigger version for the Old Town Theatre.
What’s exciting for us is that the new production isn’t a remount at all. It will feature a entirely new cast, as our original Kolya, Eric Anderson is currently on Broadway in the revival of South Pacific, and Julie (Jacobs) Ludlum now resides in Northern California with her husband and two babies and Michael Elliott now lives in Texas. They were wonderful and were recognized for their work with awards from the San Diego Critic’s Circle. But the new cast that is being assembled consists of some of San Diego’s favorite musical performers and I am thrilled and excited to see what they bring to the roles. When I am finished casting I’ll share who they are and maybe they can be convinced to add to this blog as we begin rehearsals.
The production team is top notch. The talented G. Scott Lacy will be music directing and a designer I’ve loved and worked with several years ago, Corey Johnston, will be designing the costumes. Our resident artist lighting designer Eric Lotze is given the challenge of creating a live version of a black and white film and  Sam Lerner will be creating a soundscape that evokes the world of Stalin’s Moscow. And the many black and white props, including grey eggs and real black bread, will be created, as always, by Bonnie Durben.
It’s getting exciting. More to come…
Posted in Bed and Sofa | 5 Comments »
By Sean Murray. Posted on 02/11/09
Welcome to the Cygnet Theatre’s Official Blog.  We’re always trying to find new ways to connect and engage with our audience and we’re hoping that this blog will become a fun and informative place to share behind-the-scenes looks at our productions, insights into the rehearsal and design process, musings from the artists and staff, announcements of upcoming events, and whatever else we think you may find interesting. The postings will also be made available through our pages on Facebook and MySpace.  If you haven’t already visited them, they are both great opportunities to get acquainted and become a fan.
Over the years, our Friday Night Forums have been so successful because of the interaction between our artists and our audience. These evenings have been fun and vigorous discussions about the productions, their themes, the performances etc. We are just expanding that conversation. Perhaps a thought or observation occurs to you days later or on the drive home after you have seen a production and you want to share it with the artists or your fellow audience members. Perhaps you’ll find the insight of another audience member on this blog that adds to or revises your interpretation of what you saw. It is our hope that you will find the discussion interesting and that it enhances your enjoyment of the productions you see on our stage.
You will have the opportunity to respond with your own comments, as well as read and respond to the comments of other Cygnet audience members. We encourage all kinds of feedback to our posts, but please refrain from the use of excessive profanity and inappropriate subject matter or personal attacks. We may remove comments with unsuitable content. Our wish is to initiate a conversation, one in which you have access to both the artistic decision-making process of the theater, and, to one another in your responses to the work.
So here is your first opportunity to make your creativity heard. We are still trying to decide on an official name for this blog. Give us your suggestions by posting them below and we’ll decide on one giving the person with the selected name two free tickets to an upcoming show!
This is new for us and are are excited about seeing where this virtual conversation leads us. We’ll, no doubt, develop it as we go. We hope you join us frequently and stay in touch. Whether you’re a lurker, just reading what others say, or a full-on participant, we welcome you to Cygnet’s new adventure!
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