Getting Ready for Fringe! Double Double and Shout! Twice the Fun!

Fringe is almost upon us!  It's my favorite time of the year and I feel kind of bad that I have let my blogging slip (missing posting on the Mayfield's The Long Weekend - a fun show and a great date night with the husband!), but the fact is I have two shows on the go and I am onstage in both of them. Not only am I onstage, but they are both ensemble musicals so it's not like I'm popping in for a cameo. I am singing and dancing in both and while it is terrific fun, it has been taking up a lot of my time!

What am I doing? you ask... Let me tell you!

The first show is familiar, because it is a remount of Shout! The Mod Musical, which I directed and was in earlier this year.  We had a 4 show run in January at C103 with wonderful houses.  We were thrilled to get a Fringe spot because it meant we could re-visit and tighten the show and we've even added more choreography and changed up a few costumes!  It was a really solid show in January and I am pleased to say it's even stronger now.  It's funny how learning choreography over again is actually a lot easier.  I don't even dread putting on the white go-go boots!  It's also been fun getting back together with the girls onstage and backstage, and the music is so great to sing.  For me, being able to sing these iconic songs, with 4 other women who can really handle the 4 and 5 parts, is something that I have truly missed. 

Featuring: Leslie Caffaro, Nicole English, Kristen Finlay, Erin Foster-O'Riordan, & Monica Roberts
Directed by Kristen Finlay
Music Direction by Sally Hunt

Choreography by Kelly Webber

The second show I am involved in is Double Double: The Musical. I am wearing many hats on this production as I am co-writer, co-director, co-producer and I am onstage performing in it.  It's been amazing to see and hear my second musical come together.  We are blessed with a terrific cast and team and that has made it all the better.  It really is a ridiculous little show - in a good way!  The songs are varied in style and are tuneful ear-worms.  I am so thrilled with the work our arranger, Matt Graham, has done to help bring our musical vision to life. I don't even think you need to like Tim Horton's to have fun at this show - if you have a favourite, you understand the addiction and brand loyalty, and whether you recognize yourself or other people in the characters of the show, I think there will be some connection. 

Featuring: Owen Bishop, Justin Deveau, Kristen M. Finlay, and Nadine Veroba
Written and Directed by Kristen Finlay & Anne Marie Szucs
Music Arrangement by Matt Graham
Music Direction by Arielle Ballance
Choreography by Leah Paterson
Sound Design by Erin Foster-O'Riordan
Stage Managed by Kirsten Jensen

Sharing the Space! This is Who is in Walterdale with Us this Fringe!

I couldn't wait to get my artist's package so I went and spent the $10 for the Fringe Program.  It's beautiful this year!  A real souvenir of the festival and very pretty!  What I flipped to first, of course, were the pages for our venue, Walterdale Playhouse. I wanted to see if I knew any of the companies that we were sharing the space with.  Having 2 shows we are going to be in the building every day of the festival and sometimes we have two shows in one day.  I was excited to see some familiar faces from the local arts scene and am looking forward to meeting those out-of-town performers!

Here's who's in the neighborhood:

From Near:

One sick puppy theatricals presents Scrap Paper written and directed by Gerald Osborn. The ultimate stage mother, her reluctant playwright son, sparkling repartee, head-cracking slapstick, and a finale of EXPLOSIVE proportions! Fringe favourite Ruby Swekla reprises the role she created 25 years ago. I'm looking forward to seeing Ruby in and around the building.  She was in the original production of my play Pieces in 2007 at Walterdale and she always entertains when she's onstage! What It is Productions presents Ligature Marks by Mac Rogers, directed by Taylor Chadwick. Terry is an ex-con. Jill is his ex-girlfriend. To get through this level in their lives they are going to need each other. A twisted romance about love, video games and getting away with murder. I'm really looking forward to seeing Morgan Smith onstage in this.  She always has an incredible intensity onstage that brings the humour to a sharp and gritty edge! DuckRabbit Theatre presents Beware Beware by David Walker, directed by Joe Perry.  A makeshift confessional. A bottle of rum. Sam just wants to feel better. Lauren just wants to help. Set in the Edmonton river valley, Beware Beware is a play about the anxieties of youth, the limits of friendship, and what we talk about when we talk about God. The wonderful Erin Valentine is stage managing this piece that is chock full of young talent.

And Far:

From Vancouver we will be joined by Ryan Gladstone Productions with No Tweed too Tight: Another Grant Canyon Mystery.  The name Ryan Gladstone should be very familiar to Fringe audiences as his 2012 run was sold out. From Toronto, Operation Snatch presents Neon Nightz. From it's description it looks like it will appeal to those who like shows that cross the line - an edgier choice. From Brooklyn, NY, Pair of Animals... wants to marry YOU! Every night a new couple from the audience will meet, fall in love and marry! From Chicago, Smoke and Ask Theatre presents Hospital - which is all about travelling through that part of the healthcare system. And finally From Sunnyside, NY, Peter Aguero presents Daddy Issues, a storytelling show tackling the hardships of not being able to choose your own family.

And of course, FinallySauces is presenting Little Monsters and Crack.  It looks like there is a real variety in Walterdale this year.  It's my favorite venue and I am so glad we are there and I'm excited to meet all these other artists!

Up to My Waist in Theatre!

I was lucky enough to catch three shows last weekend.  This week is proving to be equally theatre-steeped, but in a different way.  I started rehearsals for both of my FinallySauces Fringe shows on Monday and Tuesday night. CRACK by Anne Marie Szucs lifted off on Monday and I started my own script, LITTLE MONSTERS, tonight.  Both rehearsals felt good and it was great to stretch those directing muscles.  Just like riding a bike!

The rest of the week is quite saturated with arts - just the way I like it.  Wednesday I will be experiencing Oliver's Grade 7 Band Concert.  I am very excited to see and hear this. It has been very fun for me to watch him apply himself to the Trombone.  He likes it! He really likes it!  All the arts-brainwashing I have done over his life has paid off! Woo hoo!  Thursday is the Opening Night of Make Mine Love at the Citadel.  I feel so much anticipation about finally seeing this show.  I couldn't go to the dress rehearsal because I had the Yeggies that same night, so I find myself quite anxious to see it!  When I read the script I was blown away by the requirements and I am so curious to see how our amazing production team has achieved the special effects.  I got a peek of a little bit of the show today at the Media Call and it has only whetted my appetite for more.

Friday will see me at Shadow Theatre for Mistakes Were Made.  I have heard great things, but I will admit I am most thrilled to see Erika Conway onstage!  She's a Walterdale alumnus and proof that there are very talented people coming from that pool!  Speaking of Walterdale, Saturday will see me at Closing Night of Starless, a new work by Eric Rice developed as part of the From Cradle to Stage program.  I painted the set so I am looking forward to finally seeing the show!  Better late than never!

All in all and tremendously arts-packed week! Good thing it's a long weekend... I will need the rest!

Fringe on the Horizon... The Far Horizon...

So in the midst of all my busy, the Fringe Lottery was held last week.  I couldn't attend because I was knee-deep in a tech rehearsal, but had my iPad on hand for updates and was overwhelmed to get word that Finally Sauces was drawn, not once, but twice.  Round Barn did not get pulled, so we will try again next year if everyone is still up for it. I had decided to let the Fringe gods decide which projects would be on the docket and would have been happy with one, or two and probably stressed with all three so this has worked out.  We (Finally Sauces) will be presenting one of my scripts and one of Anne Marie's.  After Proof gets up and running we will have to have a meeting to figure out roles and responsibilities and discuss possible casting, but it is exciting to know so far in advance that we will be in.  I have done the Wait List before and that is stressful - best when you get in and are ready, but very sad when you are working on being ready and you don't get off the list. Trust me, the stress level drops considerably when you know one way or another.

In any case, it is fuel to put my focus on my writing at this point.  I have a script, but it needs work.  I look forward to having a deadline to push me forward.

I'm On The Top of the World...

This weekend I travelled to Jasper with AM for a lovely weekend of rest and wine and lots of talking about the stuff of life.  It was delightful.  AM had won a wonderful prize at last year's JTMF Artist's For Life fundraiser for 2 nights at the Jasper Park Lodge (along with some other perks - it was a really great prize and is available for winning this year!). I was fortunate to be able to join her on the adventure.  We had enough discussions on the ride and at the Lodge about FinallySauces to make our plans for the company for the next year. We saw Elk and Deer and Sheep and Coyotes and Canada Geese galore.  We took lots of pictures of the beautiful mountains. We sang along to the piano during dinner and were applauded by a table of Australians that we did not know were listening.  We drank wine and ate fabulous food.  We walked and shopped and napped and read. I got my hair cut and love it.  I drove there and back and we talked... lots.  It was wonderful.  There was something about the air, something about the mountains,  something about running into a pair of Elk on the way home after a gourmet dinner, something about the staff who addressed AM as milady as he brought in our luggage... there was something wonderful about the whole weekend...

Run Don't Walk... Otherwise you won't make it...

Last night I had the read-through for what will basically be the Rehearsal Draft of Pieces (Finally Sauces' 2011 Fringe show). I was very pleased with it and am excited to start working. We have a very tight, but spread out, rehearsal schedule and I won't be there next week as I have A Little Night Music Rehearsals all week, so AM will lead the initial text work. Tonight is Opening Night for From Cradle to Stage. I will be there to do my pre-show speech and watch the shows and enjoy the reception. Tomorrow I have a meeting with Ted, my builder for Village of Idiots. Alli got the drawings to me yesterday and I dropped them off to Linette, the Director - now I need to get them to Ted. I am looking forward to starting work on the set and have started painting props in my kitchen. I have also started collecting things that I think might work.

Today I woke up with a headache. I tried to sleep it off, but had to get up to medicate. It is starting to subside now that I ate something so whether it was food or the medication, I don't care. My head feels much better. I am still tired though, so I might take a wee nap this afternoon... so I can run later...

Feeling Artistically Full... In a Good Way...

Tonight I started learning my Mrs. Peachum music for The Threepenny Opera. It went fast and it's all recorded for practice in the car and it felt so very, very good to sing again. I felt like I was slipping on an old favorite coat that I had stuck in the closet but hadn't worn for a while. It felt good. It's just the learning stage - getting familiar with the notes and the words and the tempos and all that and I have by no means mastered the songs, but it still felt good.

All in all I am having a good week artistically. I am so pleased with Rabbit Hole and where we are at and what I am seeing. We were off book for Act one last night and it was really very good. A month out and off book and even though 'line' was called, it was all present and there was some really powerful emotional stuff happening. I am searching for the balance for my actors of making sure they have enough rehearsal to be ready while not over-working them so that they are emotionally exhausted. We have tread slowly through this script for a reason. It is a big journey for all of them and I have a cast of perfectionists who will beat themselves up. I don't want them to do that. I want to give them the time and the tools so they are ready to handle it. The script requires immense emotional commitment so I need to help them separate so they are not burnt out. I have ideas for that. But I am, for now, happy with where we are at and looking forward to next Monday when we are off book for Act Two and then we just massage this puppy.

This weekend I will be meeting with Anne Marie to discuss the Fringe spot. I need to put some time into seeing what I have to bring as options for us. I have a couple of pieces in progress and some ideas outside my own work and something I have written a lot of *in my head* that I need to get out. I have until Sunday. I should be feeling rushed on this, but I don't. I know that she has some things too, and between the two of us we will find something we want to do.

I just feel blessed to have so much filling me artistically right now. I am lucky.

We are In!

It pays to think positively. I just felt it. I knew it from the beginning when we were #12, then when we moved up to #9 and then #6, I was not worried. When we sat at #1 for over 3 weeks, I felt we were already there. Yesterday we got the call... We are in the Edmonton International Fringe. Our venue is great (The Westbury - Transalta Stage), our Times are great, we get 75 minutes and a 3 1/2 hour tech on a night we are in town.

Finally Sauces presents From Something
Stage #1 - Transalta/Westbury
Thurs, Aug 13 - 8:00 p.m.Sat, Aug 15 - 12:15 p.m.
Tues, Aug 18 - 2:45 p.m.
Thurs, Aug 20 - 6:15 p.m.
Fri, Aug 21 - 11:15 p.m.
Sun, Aug 23 - 4:15 p.m.