Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Spinning Plates

When I was younger we used to watch The Ed Sullivan Show. There was one performer who used to spin plates on top of thin bamboo poles. He would get about 10 plates spinning and then run from one end of a table to the other keeping them in motion. That is sort of what it is like in The Rep’s education department these days.

WiseWrite, a writing literacy program The Rep does in conjunction with Springboard, starts in the schools this week. Fifth grade students from Hudson Elementary and Wyland Elementary will learn to write their own plays over the course of the school year. And I have to say YEAH! for our dedicated volunteers who put together 115 resource notebooks in an hour and a half! The really exciting part of it all is that at the end of the program each young playwright will get a published copy of his or her play, which is pretty cool. If you want to help celebrate all of their hard work, come to our WiseWrite festival on April 8 and see some of the plays on the Mainstage.

Kids ArtStart has its first free event on Saturday, October 2 which will be the Imaginary Theatre Company’s Birthday Bash. You remember those old fashion Halloween carnivals where you went from activity to activity doing crafts and dressing up? That is what the birthday bash is like. In the course of the next week and a half, my office will become a storage place for boxes, spin art machines, tissue paper, dress-up costumes, musical instruments, ribbons, glue, tissue paper and other crafty stuff. However, for those of you who know me, be assured there will not be glitter. Everything will be ready to go by 10:00 on the Saturday, October 2. Again, YEAH! for all of the volunteers who help get it all put together.

Oh, did I forget to mention that The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company (yes, it’s 35th birthday is being celebrated at the bash) is getting ready to go into first rehearsal on October 4? And the two Shakespeare residencies we are going to do this season—have we talked about them??

Did anybody hear a plate crashing?

Marsha Coplon
Director of Education

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

What is ITC?

I’m writing a new musical. Actually, it’s my third musical, and I’m writing along with composer Neal Richardson, who is sort of amazing. Neal and I have written together two other times with great success, but I think I might be the most excited about our new project—The Nutcracker. As a person who starts purchasing Christmas gifts in June and arranges her living room based on the placement of a December Christmas tree, I am absolutely thrilled to be writing a holiday play.

We’re writing this children’s musical for The Rep’s touring children’s ensemble, Imaginary Theatre Company. If you don’t know about ITC—it’s a pretty cool concept. Four actors and a stage manager, all professionals, pack a whole show in a van and take it to schools, community centers, libraries, etc, all over the Midwest. And just because ITC is for kids does not mean it is a secondary thought to the folks at The Rep. Just like all the other high-quality work The Rep turns out, ITC shows are directed, designed and built by the same pros who put work on the Mainstage.

Also, ITC brings their shows to the public a few times a year. The Nutcracker will be on The Rep’s Mainstage on December 18, 20 and 21, and is a pretty great way to entertain the kids for an afternoon. Especially since the ticket price is only $6—less than a movie.

See you at the theatre!
Sarah Brandt
Playwright & Rep Publications Manager

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

But It’s Not Even Halloween Yet!

Tonight was the very first rehearsal for the Imaginary Theatre Company’s holiday play, The Nutcracker.  It’s so exciting to be working on brand new work!  Commissioned by The Rep to write a new children’s play, playwright Sarah Brandt has constructed her own interpretation of Tchiakovsky’s famous ballet with original music and lyrics by composer Neal Richardson, and we are the lucky bunch that gets to bring it to life.

As a stage manager, I look forward to the first read-though of the play—the first time the actors dive into the script as a cast.  Everyone around the table made interesting character choices, including some very funny voices.  Our playwright, director, and set designer also explained their vision for the piece.  Witnessing my company members strut around like zany roosters and chickens during our first week on tour with Chanticleer! was one thing.  Now Ann, Lakeetha, Jordan, and Christian transform themselves into loving parents and godfather, a curious young girl, a nutcracker, and even a menacing mouse king!

Not only did we read though the script, but our musical director taught the cast all the songs and our choreographer had them on up their feet, teaching them the steps to the opening song.  I bet you the cast will sleep well tonight!

We will now spend the rest of our two-week rehearsal period staging the rest of the show, perfecting the songs, and reviewing the dance numbers.  Meanwhile, our costume, scene, and prop shops continue their hard work creating our very own “Kingdom of Sweets”.  Based on tonight’s presentations of the set/props design and the costume design, I can already tell you that audiences of all ages are in for a real treat!

Danny Maly
ITC Stage Manager

Rendering by Costume Designer Dorothy Marshall Englis

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Meet The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC)!

What’s going on as we start a new season at The Rep? Lots! New faces will be joining us for each Mainstage and Studio show of the year, as well as for our touring Imaginary Theatre Company. We love having all the actors come and go, getting to know new friends with each production, but our ITC group is a little different. Since they are here for the entire season, these four actors really become part of the family. Let us introduce you:

Lakeetha Blakeney

Favorite ITC moment: When Jordan (a member of last year’s company) accidentally put on my costume during a show. OMG!
If I wasn’t acting, I’d be: A college professor or a zookeeper.
My favorite hobby: Coloring in a coloring book.
Pet’s name: I don’t have a pet, but if I had one it would be a dog and his name would be Dog.
Favorite indulgence: Cranberry juice!!!

Alan Knoll

Why I joined ITC: I joined ITC because I missed it;  I was lucky enough to be a company member for 10 years and I am thrilled to be back.  What a great job it is to help create audiences of the future!
If I wasn’t acting, I’d be: looking for a job.
My favorite hobby: fixing up our old house.
Pet’s name: Sally, a little beagle/border collie/basset mix .
Favorite indulgence: Watching any of the following shows: Dexter, Breaking Bad, Mad Men or 30 Rock.

Jerome Lowe

Why I joined ITC: Because I really believe in the power of theatre in the lives of young people. THEATRE ROCKS!
If I wasn’t acting, I’d be: A famous singer :)
My favorite hobby: Cooking. I love eating, therefore I cook A LOT.
Pet’s name: My dog’s name is Quiane; he is a 10-year-old shih tzu.
Favorite indulgence: I LOVE television, the more obscure the better.

Cara Myler

Why I joined ITC: I joined ITC to share my love of story telling through musical theatre.
If I wasn’t acting, I’d be: a director/choreographer.
My favorite hobby: dancing.
Pet’s name: Pebbles.
Favorite indulgence: fried chicken.

Tickets on sale now. Click here to learn more about ITC!