Another Opening! The Weir at Walterdale

I am off tonight to see The Weir at Walterdale.  It is my first official show of the season in terms on ones I have worked on.  I am quite pleased with how it looks and it feels worth all the time I put into it.  You can get a good look at it in the photo in this Gateway Preview Article and you catch a few nice glimpses in the media photos. I caught a rehearsal (Q2Q) but I am really looking forward to seeing the completed show tonight.  I love the atmosphere of Opening Nights.  I am taking Mom along and I think we shall have a lovely time! 

Last night I worked a casino for my sons' school so I am a bit tired. I tried to sleep in but a half dozen phone calls really interfered with the quality of that sleep. The Weir, though, is pretty engaging and only 100 minutes long so I think I will be fine tonight! I look forward to raising a glass with everyone after the show!

Finding Out How It All Works...

I'm a bit tired this morning.  I drove to Calgary Saturday afternoon and drove back late last night.  I was there for my second Theatre Alberta Board meeting.  The first meeting was immediately following the AGM this past summer and it was a wee introduction, but this longer meeting was a much better introduction and orientation to what I will be doing on the Board.  I am now Chair of the Governance Committee and I think that will be a good fit for me.  This is the committee that checks in on how we are doing with our very comprehensive 3 Year Plan.  The foresight and scope of the Board and Organization as a whole was very impressive to me.  I have been a fan and member of Theatre Alberta for a long time, but seeing behind the scenes made me more fully realize why the programs and services are so good. The Quality was linked to the amount of work put in to make it that good.

I enjoyed meeting and talking with the rest of the Board Members.  Everyone seems very invested in Theatre and both passionate and sensible.  There were lots of great ideas and sharings going on around the table.  I think this is going to be a great experience for me and I hope that I will be able to contribute in a valuable way!

After the meeting I squeezed in a quick bite to eat with my friend Wanda.  Always good to see and visit with but too short.  I wish I got to Calgary more often so I could see her more.  It was a quick and dirty share about kids and life and all that.  I am hoping that we get a longer visit in November and that we can share some wine (we didn't last night as we both had some driving to do!).

Poof! There is is!

A few years ago I was lucky enough to be in a 20th Street Production (Fort Edmonton Park) called On the Wire.  It was directed by Amanda Bergen and written by Nick Green and I had a blast working on it.  Last night, I returned to the Park for Nick and Amanda's production of Poof! The Musical.  It was my first time in Capitol Theatre which was only a plan when I performed in the Park.  The Theatre is lovely - a nice vintage inspired space that looks perfect in it's location and which also really suited the production.  There are some special features to the space that were used very well - I loved how they created a complete world using the projections and when the seats literally shook I was giddy with glee!  I often get worried about the reliance on projections in productions, but T. Erin Gruber's design worked delightfully so much so that you often forget those weren't real walls and paintings behind the action.

The show itself was a fun, spooky, campy piece which was performed and sung excellently by the three actors onstage. Green's script is tight and sassy.  The script merged well with the actors onstage, and Bergen's direction creates some wonderful moments including a side-busting chase sequence. Garrett Ross as Awanda Brumschtic (complete with 3 inch heels and mini-skirt) attacked his role with such finesse that it almost felt like he was improvising, but the banter was so sharp I am pretty sure it is exactly what was on the page.  Eric Wigston and Madelaine Knight hold their own in the comedy and singing department and it was an excellently balanced show - no weak links!  It's a very silly play, but filled with fun, clever jokes, biting sarcasm and well-sung, well-written songs.  It's got a nice spooky element (the 'ladies' are witches after all) for this time of year.  It's not really for kids, but I would say that it would have been perfect for my 11 year old.  He would have been howling. 

I also wanted to note that it was really great to see an original musical on an Edmonton stage.  I love all the Broadway shows that people do, but there is something cool about seeing something brand new and to see a company take a risk like that.  To also have it tuneful, well-written and well-performed is a testament to our local talent. As well, this company has worked hard to make the show affordable, with tickets starting at $20.00 for students/seniors to $28.00 for adults.  A pretty sweet deal for a great gut-busting night of entertainment!

*#46 in my Theatre Goal for the Year.  BBoyism was #45 and A Few Good Men was #44.

Be The First to Hear These Plays...

Happy Birthday Me!

It's my birthday today.  I got to sleep in a little bit... Now I will be heading off to a Production Meeting for The Weir.  This afternoon I have plans to go to Hotel Transylvania with the boys and then I am angling for a nice steak supper (yes, in spite of the beef recall... I want steak).  First World Birthdays are kind of silly.  I don't need anything and most things I want I tend to get myself.  I would like an iPad, but might just save up for that in a few months.  I love birthdays now that FB is in the world as I woke up to many, many, many greetings and it feels good to read all the wishes from my friends.  I have never been one to hide a birthday. I like to celebrate them!

My birthday wish for you all is that I hope you have a lovely day and maybe get some cake!  Have a good one!

Booking Tickets... Giving Some Away... Filling Up the Calendar...

As some of you know, I won a FABULOUS ticket prize this summer from Vue Weekly that meant that I would get to see a lot of great shows this year.  However, I was also unable to use all of them, because of conflicts and being away. I spent a bit of time figuring out the Fall and yesterday gave away 3 pairs of tickets for various events (gotta love FB).  I love that everyone asked if they could pay me, and I loved even more to say "Free for me - Free for you!". It was a nice way to share the prize.  I am sure that in the new year there will be more that I will be giving away, but I only figured out my tickets up to the end of November.

I do get to use some of them myself.  I am looking forward to seeing Poof! The Musical at Capitol Theatre in Fort Edmonton Park and Typhoon Judy at Theatre Network.  I'll also be seeing The Weir at Walterdale Theatre this month. If I can squeeze it in, I will also be going to Ragtime at La Cite - it's going to be a tight fit!  I'm away for two weekends and in rehearsal and working a casino so fitting these events in has actually taken some juggling. I also really, really, really want to go to the Susan Gilmour Cabaret at The Citadel (I Dreamed a Dream), but I am worried I won't be able to get to it.  Too many wonderful things to see, not enough days in the month!

Done for now... Approaching Birthday Weekend!

This weekend is my birthday.  Gibson just had his.  It is also Thanksgiving.  I am not sure what will happen.  I don't know what I want (other than an iPad) or what I'd like to do (a movie - I haven't seen one in a long time that wasn't rated G).  I want to feel celebrated and thought of.   The next few weeks are jam-packed so I would love a little rest before I hit them.  I wish it were as easy to please me as it is Gibson.  All he needed was Lego and a DS game... oh, and cake. I don't even need the cake.

Today I finished the paint job on the set... well, I finished all I can do until I see it under the lights.  I am only worried about one wall (whether I need to do more breakdown on it) so I feel pretty relaxed right now.  I was touched to receive a phone call this morning from Joan Hawkins, who I consider my painting mentor.  She had been out of town until this week and had popped in for some other theatre business and peeked at the set.  She called me just to tell me how great it looked!  This is kind of what Walterdale can be about.  People will take the time to give you a pat on the back when you do good stuff! The only thing she 'mentioned' to me was the wall I had come in that morning to finish.  I will regard myself as a good student in that her checklist was the same as mine.  I am feeling pleased that she approved - she'd tell me if there were issues that I missed. When they do the Media Photos I will link any pictures that give you a good look at the set.  I tend to have a bad colour balance when I try to take a picture in the space.