Production Process -- Boom Technical Rehearsals
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 9/05/2009 02:12:00 PM
Greetings from the first technical rehearsal of BOOM. With the actors onstage and the lighting, sound, scenic designers, technicians and stage managers all sitting in the back of the theatre and facing a line of computer control consoles, we've begun the unbelievably complicated and detailed process of programming the lighting and sound cues.
I'd like to introduce to some of these talented individuals that Jason Southerland and I have assembled to do this work:
Production Stage Manager Nancy Staiger and Assistant Stage Manager Katie Eckert discussing cues before the tech began.
Lighting Designer Seth Reinick programming the lighting control console.
Composer/Sound Designer Nathan Leigh creating music and sound effects.
Sound Engineer Hilary Murray running the cues at the sound control computer.
Finally, and most importantly, the cast and crew gathered outside the theatre during our dinner break today for our own holiday weekend barbecue...
It's been a great first day... I'm holding off sharing photos of the show with you... Maybe tomorrow... stay tuned!
Stay tuned for more from the theatre as things develop.
Production Process - BOOM Designer Run Through
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 8/27/2009 10:21:00 PM
Greetings from the rehearsal hall! In just a little over two weeks the Jason Southerland and his cast have made amazing strides. Just yesterday the design team all gathered for the designer run of the show. This is the time that the people responsible for giving the play its world join the cast, stage managers and director in the rehearsal room to get an idea of the work they've done to date getting the show on its feet. The performers are really ready to get into the theatre and we have a bit of work to do before that can happen.
Pictured to the left are Costume Designer Chelsea Warren, Scenic Designer Andre LaSalle, Director Jason Southerlnd and Lighting Designer Seth E. Reinick.
After that Run through, we spent another couple of hours in a very detailed production meeting where we made final plans and decisions about the production elements and talked about the very complicated schedule for the days that the scenery, lighting, props, costumes and sound elements all move into the theatre, making sure that everything we've been planning for the past few months actually happens on-schedule!
Stay tuned for news from our scenery load-in, coming up in just a few days!
Rehearsals underway for 2009-10 Season opener, BOOM
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 8/15/2009 05:10:00 PM
The beginning of rehearsals for the first production of our 2009-10 Season can only mean one thing... summer has come to a close and it's time to get to work.
The creative team, production staff, board members and supporters gathered at our new rehearsal hall this week to get things rolling and to see us off for our production of BOOM by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb. It was an exciting evening... and we're ready to get to work.
The creative team has been hard at work since mid-June bringing this play to life for Jason's Southerland's Chicago directing debut. As a part of this first rehearsal, they presented their designs to the group.
(Click on images to see them full-sized) Scenic designer Andre LaSalle, who is making his Next Theatre Company debut, has created an amazing set, possibly one of the most detailed and intricate sets we've put on stage during my four seasons here at Next, complete with a few surprises (no, I'm not going to tell you what kind of surprises!)
Costume Designer Chelsea Warren (left), also making her Next debut, explained her concept for the clothes that the actors will wear. The creative team also includes Lighting Designer Seth Reinick and Sound Designer Nathan Leigh.
The production staff includes Production Stage Manager Nancy Staiger, Assistant Stage Manager Kathryn Eckert, Technical Director Caleb McAndrew, Properties Master Patrick Fries, Charge Scenic Artist Grant Sabin, Sound Engineer Hilary Murray, Master Electrician Mac Vaughey, and yours truly as your friendly neighborhood Production Manager.
You'll have the opportunity to meet these individuals here in the Blog as we move forward. Also, stay tuned for regular updates from the rehearsal room and as the set and other production elements move into the theatre and as technical rehearsals start.
I'm not recommending this as a "must see" I liked the main characters. Barbara was annoying. This would be a good short story on the level of Kurt Vonnegut. Doesn't work as a play.
