BTG Week 11

I can't believe that I'm at my final post about my experience at Berkshire Theatre Group.  This summer went by so fast, I can't believe it is already over.  On to my last week!

Monday August 17, 2015

Today we focused on rehearsal for the final showcase.  I had the first part of the morning off because they were working on a number that I was not in.  Then the whole apprentice company was called and we worked on the choreography for "Turn it off" and "On My Way".  After lunch, we rehearsed our solo/duet numbers.

After rehearsal, I took Allison out to coffee to talk about the Artist in Residency job.  I spent a long time thinking about it, consulted my parents, close friends, and trusted industry professionals.  I wanted to make a sound, well thought out decision, because this offer would be a big change in my life.

I decided not to take the position.  It is something that I would love to do (teaching theatre to kids is a passion of mine), but I am just not ready to move to the east coast.  I have this feeling that once I make the move out here, I won't be returning to California for a very long time. And at this point, that is something I'm just not ready for yet.  Also, financially it would not be a smart idea to move to the east coast right now.   I told Allison that I would love to do it in the future, but the timing is just not right for me.

But the job offer really got me thinking about my future.  I know that my end goal is to be an actor, but how am I going to get myself there?  I also want to go to graduate school, but how am I going to get myself there?  I have decided to take the next year to really focus on me.  Figure out who I am, and what I am about.  I want to travel, and take classes to make me a stronger performer.  I want to work on materials for grad school auditions.  I want to audition for professional jobs in LA.  I can't spend my time dilly dallying about like I did last year.  I chose a hard profession, and it is time that I jump start myself into starting a life in the acting world.

Tuesday August 18, 2015

Today we had rehearsal for the showcase from 10am-4pm.  We spent it doing a work through of the whole show, (aka putting all the pieces together), and then after lunch we did a full run through.  We also did work on the transitions between each piece.  Days like this are rough, you spend a lot of time working on tiny details, and a lot of time sitting around waiting.  It feels like you do not get a  lot accomplished, but in reality a lot of necessary work gets done.  Its just really boring.

Wednesday August 19, 2015

Today's the day!  Our showcase is here!  We started the morning off with our last Yoga class of the summer.  After yoga, we had our last masterclass with Kate Maguire.   We spoke with her for about a half an hour, she let us ask her questions, and she gave us great advice for everything we asked her.

Team Oxblood after the showcase

After Kate's class, we had our final rehearsal for the showcase. It was a dress rehearsal, and we finalized our transitions and finished some last minute blocking.  When we were released, I went home to wait for my Mom and Grandma to pick me up for dinner.

Before I knew it, it was time for the show! It went amazing.  Where I had messed up at the two Musical Monday's, I didn't mess up once here.  It was so much fun performing with all of my friends, in the last performance of the summer.  It was over all too soon.

They had a toast for us when it was over (with wine for Team Oxblood!) and then something very special happened.  A woman named "The Countess" (not her actual name) who is a big donor, and quite frankly, a BTG legend, knighted us.  Apparently, she used to throw many parties for the company, and one year decided to knight people who had done wonderful things for her.  It had become mine and Christian's goal to be knighted by The Countess.  And.  It.  Happened.

When the toast had happened, she took the stage and announced that we had been a wonderful group of apprentices, and that she was going to knight us.  She said that she normally wore her crown and used her scepter when knighting, but didn't have them with her.  So she used the next best thing.....a beer tap handle! It was the best way to end the night.

The Countess knighting the Apprentices.

 But the night wasn't over yet!  Ilana had us all over to her house for an end of the summer party!  It was a beautiful home built in the colonial time period.  It was the second best way (after the knighting) to end the evening.

 Thursday August 20, 2015

Today was a very special day.  I was supposed to have class with Eric Hill, but I was excused from it.  Why you might ask?  nothing big, only that I was having coffee with the HEAD OF ACTING AT THE YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA!!!!!!!!!!!

Only the main guy, and the top school.  The school of my dreams.  Literally.  I actually dream about Yale.

The meeting went great.  I was over the moon, I mean, come on!  Head of Yale!  I had to hold my chill.    He talked with me for an hour, and confirmed that I was on track on my quest for grad school.  He also made me fall in love with Yale even more, I didn't think that was even possible!

After the meeting, I had my last class of the summer.  We had a film auditioning class with David Adkins (who was in Thoreau, at the beginning of the summer).  It was a good class, but we were all out of it.  Our brains are just so full and checked out at this point.

After class was over (last time at the horrible Laurin Publishing!) we had dinner and went to car parking (working us till the last day).


Friday August 21, 2015 

The lookout on Mt. Greylock.

Today we had a free morning!  So Eleanor, Christian, Maggie and I decided to go to breakfast (of course we found an awesome breakfast place on one of our last days) and drive up to Mt. Greylock.  Christian and Eleanor had not been to Greylock yet!  We drove up, discovered that it cost $5 to park, so we drove back down again.  We were not about to pay $5 to take a couple of pictures.  But we did stop at a lookout slightly down from the top and took pictures.

After, we had to rush over to Kimball Farms, a local retirement center, because the Mary Poppin's cast was performing to the retirement folks.

Last shift together! 

We then had a free afternoon, which was spent at Starbucks, and being our normal silly selves.  Then we had to get ready to go to car parking.  It was our very last shift working together!  A little bittersweet.


After car parking, Ilana had invited us to go to Tanglewood with her to see the Boston Pops play.  It was wonderful to see a concert at Tanglewood, it is such a beautiful venue.










Saturday August 22, 2015


Maggie, Christian and I went for bagels at a place in Lenox called Bagels & Brew.  Once again we found a good place on one of our last days in the Berkshires.  We ran into Ilana (we seem to always run into her in Lenox), and she sent us to  one of her favorite locations in all of the Berkshires.  It  was an open field, and it looked like the French Countryside.

I then had to go to my last car parking shift of the summer!  YAAAAS!  As you can see below, I can barely contain my excitement.

Maggie picked me up after, and we went to the Red Lion Inn.  At the beginning of the summer, the head of our program, Allison, told us to go there and sit on the porch with a glass of lemonade.  And that is exactly what we did.  It was so beautiful and relaxing, and the lemonade was SOOO GOOOD.


That evening I had to work concessions for Mary Poppins.  I made the record amount in tips $51.01.  Score!

I then went home and began packing up my belongings waiting for the Poppins kids to come home.  Eleanor was going to stay with her family in their hotel, so Christian was going to sleep in her bed, and have a sleep over in our room.

It was fun to have almost the whole crew in our room the last night.

Sunday August 23, 2105

We woke up and went to Breakfast at Ottos.  Maggie was leaving early, and we wanted to have one last meal together before she left.

It is so surreal that our time here is already over.  Saying goodbye to Maggie was really hard,  I actually cried in public a little bit.

After she departed, I went home and packed up the remaining of my belongings.  Then I checked out of my room and waited for my mom.  We went and saw the closing performance of Mary Poppins.  After the performance, they had a martinelli's toast to the cast.  Before I knew it, it was time to say goodbye to the rest of the crew.  We went back to Buel house, loaded up the car and said my final good byes.


I then took my mom to Stockbridge to see the main campus and the Red Lion Inn.  We then went to dinner in Lenox, and then hit the road to Connecticut.  Driving away from the Berkshires was hard.  But I know that I am off to bigger and better things.  I am so grateful to have had this opportunity, and to meet all these amazing people.  I just can't believe it is already over.

More to come.

XOXO,
Kate

BTG WEEK 10

I am so far behind.  Life is going by wayyyyy to fast to keep up with!


On to Week 10!

Monday August 10, 2015

Today is the day!!  The Even Stephen's Musical Monday is finally here.  And I am a nervous wreck (although I am keeping a calm exterior).  I am terrified that I am going to mess it.  Worst Pies is a hard song.  I wake up, do my hair, run to Starbucks (its that kind of morning).  Finally it is time to go to the theatre for the dress rehearsal.  The rehearsal goes ok, but I'm still convinced that I'm going to forget the words, or sing the wrong ones at the wrong part.  When the rehearsal is over, we run and grab sandwiches before heading home to finish getting dressed.  Finally it is time to go to the theatre.  I sit in the lobby, a bundle of nerves, just drilling the words of my song over and over and over again in my head.  I really do not know why I am so worked up about this song, I never get this way!  The show starts, the opening number (Bless the Lord) goes great.  I am then sitting there waiting for it to be my turn to sing.  I go to drill the words one last time and, oh shit!  I forgot the entire first verse!  So now I'm sitting there hyperventilating quietly to myself not being able to remember the very first part of my song.  Then I suddenly remember,  I have my phone with me.  So I slyly pull my phone out of its hiding spot and I quickly google the words.  I've got them down now.  I think I can do this.  It is finally my turn, and I nervously walk up to the stage and start the song.




And it goes well!  Better than well.  It is the best I have ever sung the song!  I did mess up at one point, but it got covered and no one noticed it.  I was connecting with the audience, and acting the song, and having a ton of fun!  And then it was over.  And I was sad.  But so happy that it went as well as it did!

The rest of the performance went by splendidly.

I had nothing else to do the rest of the afternoon, besides car parking.  Since the Club closed, I'm back to 4 shifts a week.  Great.



This is a video of the final rehearsal of worst pies:

Tuesday August 11, 2015

Today we start rehearsals for the Apprentice Show case!  Yay!  We have about a week to put on the show.  So we have rehearsal from 10am-4pm every day now.  Today we worked on learning the musical numbers (we have 3 group numbers, On My Way from Violet; Turn it Off from The Book of Mormon; and Traffic Island Song).


Wednesday August 12, 2015

We started the morning off with Yoga. Then went to musical rehearsal for the showcase.  In the afternoon, we worked on the scene component of the showcase.  My scene is called "I love you, I love you" and it has three other apprentices in it.  I think it is going to be good.

In the evening we finally got to see "I saw my Neighbor on the Train and I Didn't Even Smile".  It is a world premier and it is a fantastic piece of theatre.  There is talk that it is going to Broadway!   After the show, Maggie and I went to Patrick's with Zach, another one of the apprentices.

Thursday August 13, 2015 

Today we did dance and musical rehearsal.  The only big dance number is "Turn it Off", but we also blocked "On My Way" today.  My scene also got worked today.

Mary Poppins had its preview tonight!

In the evening I had car parking, but I actually worked the concessions stand and made $6 in tips :) .

Friday August 14, 2015

We spent the morning dancing, and we worked on "Turn it Off " the entire time!  After rehearsal, Ilana stayed to work with us if we needed extra help.  She ended up staying with us for an extra hour.  Let me tell you, tap dance is the most physical form (in my humble opinion).  It is a major cardiovascular work out, and by the end of the 3.5 hours I was sweating my little tushy off!

I then had the rest of the afternoon off, and I decided to be a human.  I ate lunch and then watched a movie.  It was a wonderful relaxing afternoon!

Tonight was the official opening of "Mary Poppins".  So we went to support the Ox Blood family that is in the cast (Christian, Eleanor and Mollie).  The show was fantastic, especially the song "Step in Time".

After the show we went out for drinks before calling it a night.

Saturday August 15, 2015

Team Ox Blood after brunch.

Today I had the day off!  Whoooppppeeee!  The OX Blood family decided to go to brunch, so we all got dressed up in our best brunch outfits and we headed over to Lenox to go to Haven Cafe for breakfast.   After breakfast, I took a nap and hung out at home.    In the evening, I got assigned to work concessions for Mary Poppins.  The best part about it was that I made $50!  When you work concessions at the Colonial Theatre you automatically make $25, and then I made an additonal $25 in tips!  I feel like I'm rolling in the dough!

After, we went to dinner at an Asian Fusion place called Jae's.  It was sooo yummy.  I cannot believe why we never went before!

Sunday August 16, 2015

Today was another day off!  I slept in, did my laundry.  Had left overs from last night, and then introduced Maggie to the movie "Moulin Rouge!".  She had never seen it before (which is a scandal in my world)!  I love the film and was excited to share it with her.  After the movie, we worked on our pieces for the show case.

I can't believe that we only have a week left!!


More to come.

XOXO,
Kate

BTG WEEK 9

Hello loves.  Once again, sorry for the delay.  Life has been really crazy!

On to Week 9!

Monday August 3, 2015

Fixing the car!

We woke up early so we could make it back to Pittsfield in time for our 10AM Musical Monday rehearsal.  The ride was mostly quick and easy.  About 3/4 of the way home, we stopped for breakfast/ to fill up our gas tank.  Then we  hit the road again.  Just as we were pulling off the masspike, we heard a terrible scraping noise coming from the car.  The three of us (Christian, Maggie and myself) all thought we had a flat tire.  It was 9:45am!  This couldn't happen!  So we get through the toll center and we pull off to the side of the road.  Good news!  No flat!  But the plastic that covers the undercarriage of the car had popped off!  We had no string, and no sharp objects to fix it, so Maggie walks up to the toll center, and gets one of the guys who worked there to help us.  This huge, smelly man in a bright orange t shirt comes and checks out our car.  He then proceeds to go to his truck to find something to tie the plastic onto the car.  He returns with a bungee cord, and we bungee it on.  It is now 9:55, we are 10 min away from class. So we're driving, and then we hear the noise again!  So we pull over on the side of the road in front of the Cranwell (which is a super nice hotel/golf place), fix the bungee cord and get on our way.  It is now 10AM and we are driving as fast as we can.  Then we hear the noise again!!  So we pull over again and check, but this time it was a false alarm (thank god!).  We are  late to class, but we are giggling over our luck.  What a way to end such a relaxing weekend!

We had class, which went really well.  I got to sing Worst Pies for the first time in over a month.  Then we went home to have lunch.

After lunch we had our first class back with Ilana since she left!  She made us do The Chorus Line Warm Up and then she taught us the "Turkey Lurkey" dance from the show "Promises, Promises".  Ilana hopes to put this dance in the final show case.  It is really silly, and it involves flapping your arms around like a chicken.  Who doesn't like that?

After class, we ran home to get dressed, because we had a night at the theatre!  Deborah Grausman who is in "The Club" with us was producing "Broadway in the Berkshires", which is a fundraising event for Shakespeare and Company, and she got us comp tickets for us.  So we drove to Great Barrington to see the performance.  Dick Cavett was the MC of the evening.  What an interesting fellow.

Tuesday August 4, 2015

We started our day with class with Ilana, where we did the infamous warm-up and then we worked on "Turkey Lurkey" some more.

Then after lunch, the Club girls had a pick up rehearsal.  We spent three hours polishing the show one last time before our second performance.  We then had a show at 8pm.

Wednesday August 5, 2015 

Today started with Yoga at 9am followed by Musical Monday rehearsal.  We blocked the group numbers (Morning Glow, What is this Feeling, and Bless the Lord) today.

After lunch we had class with Ilana where we brought back a dance from the past, the tap dance from the Book of Mormon "Turn it Off".  It has been several weeks since we last worked on this dance, but we picked it up again fast.  This is another option for our final showcase!

We had our 3rd show of "The Club" in the evening.

Thursday August 6, 2015

Today was the first day "The Club" girls were able to attend Eric Hill's Suzuki class.  He spoke to us for about 45 min, and then worked us for another half an hour.  He had us to standing statues, then went in and out of neutral over slow 10s (which means a slow ten count; so we would either slowly squat into neutral (squatting on the floor, heels against the floor with you butt tucked under and chest up) or slowly rise from neutral into standing.  Most of the time we are reciting Shakespeare as we do this execise.   One time he was not happy with the speed in which we took the slow 10, so he made us do it again, but had us crouching in neutral for another 2 min while he talked to us.  I thought I was going to die.  My feet began to swell in my sneakers, it was very painful for me.

He then let us go from class early.  I ran over to the Colonial Theatre because I had a meeting with Allison, the head of our program.

She had mentioned to me over our breakfast that she had a full time position in mind for me.  So when I met with her she offered me an "Artist in Residency" position. With the position, I would live in the Berkshires from Mid September- Early June.  I would get paid a weekly stipend, and would be provided with housing.  I would be teaching theatre to at risk 4-6 graders around Berkshire County, and I would be acting in BTG's traveling children's show. I would also get to be in their annual production of "A Christmas Carol", and I would have a lot of opportunity to work on my graduate school audition materials with Eric and  Kate.  Apparently they ask one Acting Apprentice each year to be an Artist in Residency, and I was the one the chose!

So now I have a lot to think about.  As I walked home I pondered the idea of staying in Pittsfield through the winter and spring.  I became so overwhelmed with everything that had been thrown at me in the morning (painful feet, and then full time job offer) that when I got home I passed out and slept right through our next class.

I finally woke up, grabbed dinner and made my way to the 4th showing of "The Club".

Friday August 7, 2015

Today we started our morning off with another Musical Monday rehearsal.  Once again we worked the group numbers.  After class, we all had lunch, and then made our way over to the Stockbridge campus for a staged reading.  Jayne Adkinson directed a staged reading of a new play called "Awilda" and was presenting it at the Fitzpatrick Main Stage.  And Heather, the SM of the club, was stage managing it!  It was a wonderful new play, which I enjoyed very much.  After the reading, Deborah Lapidus took us out to coffee to chat.  She wanted to give us time to pick her brain about working professionally, and about grad schools.  It was a very informative session.

We then hustled back to Pittsfield to make it on time for call.  We at the 5th performance of "The Club".

Saturday August 9, 2015

We started the morning with another Musical Monday rehearsal.  Today we were actually in the space that the show will take place in.  We blocked all of the solo numbers.  I did my song about 3 times, and messed it up each and every time.  Now I am starting to freak out about Monday.

I then had the rest of the afternoon off (and I cannot remember what I did!) before the 6th performance of 'The Club' at 8pm.

Sunday August 10, 2015

The Cake!

Today is the day that "The Club" closes!  I am very sad to see this show go.  I finally love my character, and I love the cast.  I will miss it very much.

In the morning, Deb Grausman had us all over to her house for brunch.  We had mimosas, and she had a cake that was decorated with "The Club" poster.  It was a lovely  morning!  We then went home and relaxed until call in the evening.

The show was sold out, and it was our very best show.  What a way to go out on!

After the show, I went to Patrick's Pub with Ilana to talk to her about the Artist in Residency position.  I have been very confused as to what to do about it.  My brain tells me to say yes, but something is holding me back.  I don't know what to do.

More to come.

XOXO,
Kate

BTG WEEK 8

This week was very busy because it was the last week of rehearsals/tech for "The Club".  Nothing very interesting happened, but it felt like a long week.


Monday July 27, 2015

Today we had rehearsal at Laurin Publishing (because the other apprentices were in the 2nd Musical Monday in our rehearsal space).  It was a typical rehearsal, running blocking and the songs.

After rehearsal we went and did laundry (we literally had no clean clothes left!).  Today was pretty simple.


Tuesday July 28, 2015

We started the day cleaning up music and some blocking.  After lunch we did our first run through with costumes!  It was really cool to get into our coats, trousers, shirts and bow ties.  It is always remarkable how much your movements change once you get into costumes.  It is one of my favorite parts of character development.

After rehearsal we went grocery shopping and worked on the "Even Stephens" Musical Monday material.

Wednesday July 29, 2015 

Another day, another dress rehearsal.  At this point we are trying to clean up all the little "bits" in the show. It is a long a tedious process, but it is very necessary.  Our goal was to finish all the clean up and then run through the show.

At lunch time we went to Ottos with most of the cast members, which is always an enjoyable time.

After lunch we got into full costumes and then proceeded with the run throughs.

When we got home I worked on "The Worst Pies in London" and then proceeded to make a dish called "Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower"  which is exactly what it sounds like.  Cauliflower that is roasted with buffalo sauce on it.  It was amazeballs.  I highly recommend it!

I learned a valuable lesson today.  Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself.  It seems like a no brainer but when it comes down to it, its really hard to do.  Let me explain.

We hadn't had an official rehearsal for the "Even Stephens" Musical Monday in over a month (due to other projects taking precedent).  The other apprentices started rehearsals for it again while we were in rehearsal for "The Club".  Apparently while we were in rehearsal, the musical director gave "Worst Pies" away to another apprentice.  But no one told me about it.  So I continued practicing the song.  One of my friends decided to tell me about the change (because they did not want me to keep practicing it thinking I was going to perform it).  And it totally threw me off guard.  I thought they were joking.  But they were not.  And in that moment I just got so overwhelmed.  Worst Pies was the only thing I had been looking forward to all summer and it had been taken away.  So I did what most young people do when they're upset.  I called my mom.  She told me to call the Musical Director (MD)  and explain to him how much it meant to me, and how much I wanted to sing it.  I felt so embarrassed to do that.  I'm not a complainer and I didn't want to come across that way to the MD.  But I wanted to sing that song so badly.  So I asked my friends for the MD's phone number and I texted him how I was feeling.  And you know what?  He gave the song back to me.  Apparently he didn't thing anyone had actually practiced their songs during the month hiatus, and he totally understood where I was coming from.

So kids, sometimes it is OK to stand up for yourself and for what you want.

Thursday July 30, 2015

Ready in my Wig Cap.

Today was our official Tech day for the club.  We had the entire morning off (which we spent sleeping and then went to this somewhat decent Mexican restaurant in Lee) and had to report to rehearsal at 2pm.  We were starting with our Wigs and mustaches today! We spent about an hour and a half learning how to put up our hair so it would fit under the wigs, and putting the wigs, mustaches, and mutton chops on.  All of our transformations were AMAZING!  We all looked like men.

So we did a run through with the wigs and facial hair, and then we had a dinner break.  Tony bought us all Greek food so we all ate in the theatre in our wig caps.

After the dinner break we did a full run through in costumes and then we went home.

In Full Costume.

Looking Suave. 

Friday July 31, 2015

Deb Lapidus, Barbara Allen and the girls

Opening night!!!  We had a run through in the morning and then got to go home to relax for a bit.  We got to the theatre early to prep for opening, and then before we knew it, it was time for places.  The show went great!  What was really exciting was that Olympia Dukakis was in the audience (she's a close friend of our directors).  We socialized at the after party (which are wayyy more fun when you're actually in the show its for) and then went out to meet our friends.  We went to J.Allen's for drinks and then called it a night.  Overall it was an excellent day.

Maggie, me and Olympia Dukakis

Saturday August 1, 2015 

Today was a "relax" day.  Allison (the head of our program) took us out to breakfast as a "Thank You" for filling in last min car parking the week before.  She took us to Haven, a little place in Lennox, which has amazing breakfast.  I had the best blueberry pancakes I think I have ever had in my entire life.

After breakfast we had to do car parking.  Naturally.

But later in the afternoon we got to go to the beach!  My friend Mollie has a beach house in Old Saybrook, CT and her mom hosted us for the weekend.  So we did the two hour drive to the beach.  We were all super happy to break out of Buel house for a couple of days.





















Sunday August 2, 2015

We spent the day sitting on the beach.  We swam, jumped of rocks, went shell hunting.  It was a wonderful relaxing day, which went by way too fast.  Mollie's mom made us dinner, and then we had a bonfire on the beach and made S'mores.  Then we went to bed because we had to wake up early and drive back to Pittsfield.

XOXO,

KATE

BTG WEEK 7

WEEK 7

Fair Warning!  This is a long one! 

Please excuse my tardiness with posting. Between rehearsals, car parking and making memories with my Ox Blood crew I haven't had a lot of free time to write!  As I type this I am sitting in rehearsal (in my costume!) keeping one eye on the screen and the other looking at the stage following along.  Then my computer died and I didn't finish it for another week! Sorry!

So this post was very hard for me to write (not just time wise), I actually debated about writing what I did because I didn't want to seem that I was bitching or talking badly about people.  But I decided to be honest with myself, and my readers (if I have any) and write it anyway.  Hey, I might take it down in a minute, or in two days, or a month.  But for now, please don't judge me for how I was feeling this week. Just remember this post has no intent of malice, or bitchiness, it is just how I was feeling at the time. 

This week was tough for me.  I was a bit of an emotional wreck for a couple of days, and we had a crazy schedule, so I am so glad that week 7 is over!

Anyhoo here are the details of Week7:

Monday July 20, 2015

Today we had the Kern Musical Monday performance! The Club girls were excused from rehearsal for the morning because we had to be at the theatre at 9:30am to run through the show (since we had never done a full run through!).  We did the two runs and then broke for lunch, AKA grab something fast and get into costume and makeup as fast as you can and be back at the theatre in 30 min! 

The show itself went pretty well.  The highs were high but the lows were most definitely low.  And that was for everyone, not just myself.  I messed up on both of my solos.  The first was a quick line flub (which was not even that noticeable) and was not a big deal.  On my other solo, "Till The Clouds Roll By" I had made it through the entire song perfectly until the very last line.  For some reason I took one of the last notes low, when I was supposed to sing high, and I realized my mistake, then I started laughing at myself, realized I was laughing and then quickly took the note high.  That all happened in about .2 seconds, so I'm pretty sure I sounded like a demented donkey. Oh well! 

Even though the show was far from perfect the audience still loved it.  And when I say loved it I mean LOVED it! The average age in the theatre was probably 65 and they were all singing along in their seats.  When the show ended a bunch of the audience came up to us to tell us how much they enjoyed themselves and that they loved the show. 

We had to run because we had to go to rehearsal, so we quickly ran to the bathroom and change and then booked it to the car.  For some reason I was left behind in the theatre and on my out to the car a group of the audience members spotted me and stopped to tell me how the loved the show and they wanted to know all about me, where I am from, how I am liking the Berkshires, what our program is like.  They were such kind, supportive people and I wish I could have stayed and chatted with them, but I had to run!  On  my way to the car I realized that I had my first "Stage Door Experience".

Ever since I was a little kid when my family would go to a Broadway show, we would go to the stage door and meet the actors and chat with them.  And I have always thought to myself "How cool would it be to be on the other side of the conversation one day" and I finally had that experience!  I'm just sad I had to run from it so soon.

We made it to rehearsal with about 45 min left of it. Rocco did a Linklater vocal warm up with us, and then he worked some of the Limericks that are in the show. 

After rehearsal we spent the rest of the day cooking and relaxing. 

Tuesday July 21, 2015 

We had rehearsal starting at 9:30 am to start blocking.  When I got to rehearsal I was so excited because I was told that once we started blocking my character would be incorporated into the show more.  But when rehearsal started it became clear that was not the case.  I pretty much sat at rehearsal the entire day and did not do anything.   But me being me, I tried to stay positive about it and not worry.  They only worked part of the show today so perhaps I would be used more tomorrow. 

Wednesday July 22, 2015

We had rehearsal scheduled from 10 am-6pm.  And it was another day of me just sitting and watching. Don't get me wrong, you still learn so much (if not more) from observing, but it  is just so hard for me to just sit and watch.  It has been over a year since my last show in college, so I was so excited to get back to rehearsal and work, so it is a bit of a disappointment for me to just sit and watch the entire time. I have been trying to keep a good face because my two roommates, Sophie and Maggie, have principle roles and are loving the experience.  And I am so happy for them and so excited for them, but I'm just having a hard time enjoying the experience.

The one good thing about today is that my big from Tri Delta called me, and I got to talk to her for over an hour on the phone.  I missed her so much and it was nice having a chat with her!

Thursday July 23, 2015

Today was the day that broke me. I'm not trying to be dramatic, and I do not mean to bitch or complain, but today is the day that it really got to me.  

We had a short rehearsal (10am-12pm) and we were working some of the bigger songs of the show.  Tony (our stage fighting teacher) has come in to help out while Rocco is out doing rehearsal for a show at another local theatre.  Tony came in today to work with both Barbara and Rocco, and he noticed that the apprentices were not doing much in the show.  So he has started trying to find more ways to incorporate us into the production.  I noticed this during rehearsal and I was really touched by it (because I've been doing everything I can to get myself in the show more).

When we got home after rehearsal, I went to my room and just got emotional.  I'm normally able to keep it in check, because I really hate crying--especially crying in front of other people, but I could not hold it in.  I sobbed my eyes out.  I was feeling so miserable and small and I just needed a good cry.  My friends came and saw me ( I think I freaked them out a little) but they helped me calm down and comforted me and listened to me babble.  They made me tea and laughed when I cried because I got mascara all over my bedding and then proceeded to scrub the stain with stain remover while bawling my eyes out.  But after I felt refreshed.  The situation is not perfect, but I'm still going to make the best of it, because thats what I do.

Later that afternoon we got to go to a rehearsal for "Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune".  We are technically understudying the part of Frankie for our EMC credits.  It was a nice change of environment.  We got to watch the actors work for two hours and we go to meet Karen Allen (of Indiana Jones fame) who is directing it! 

After that we had car parking.  Naturally.

Friday July 24, 2015

Today was another full day of rehearsals, and I was determined to make myself available as possible to get more things to do during the show. They cleaned some of the musical numbers and they changed some blocking, but the whole time I was there at the ready, just in case they needed someone to move something or take a prop off stage.  I am proud to say that it worked, and I am now doing some silly things like that, but I am trying to make the most of it!  I keep reminding myself that in the end, this is still a regional theatre credit on my resume, and that is all that matters. 

In the evening we had to do car parking, and then the Ox Blood crew went out for dinner/margaritas because it was National Tequila Day! 

Saturday July 25, 2015

Today was long.  Very long. 

It started off with rehearsal in the morning from 10am-12pm.  Then we had to run over to the Stockbridge campus to car park.  Then we went home to rest up because we had strike that evening (9:45pm-12am, then return at 8am).  Just as I went to take a nap  I got a call from the head of our program.  She never calls us so I got up and answered.  For some reason there was a mix up with the car parking schedule and they were short 3 people and there was no one else in the entire company who could help out.  She asked me if we (Maggie, Annika and I) could come in and park.  Every fiber of my being wanted to say no, but I knew it was the right thing to do.  So the three of us dragged our little booties back to Stockbridge to park the cars for the final showing of "Deathtrap".  

When we finished we ran to Lee and had dinner, and then returned at 9:30pm for strike.  We were assigned to props and carpentry.  So we had to clear the stage of all the props and then help take down the entire set.  We finished this around 12:30am, and then they released us to go home and get some sleep (half of the apprentice group had to stay overnight and work electrics).  

Sunday July 26, 2015

So we woke up around 6:30 am, packed lunches and left the house by 7:30 so we could get to strike on time.  It was pouring rain outside.  When we got there we were told that we had to dismantle all of the large wooden flats and put them in the dumpster.  Problem was that the wood had been out all night and it was now soaking wet.  So we spent about 4 hours tearing apart a giant pile of wood flats and throwing them in the dumpster.  We suddenly realized that the dumpster was full, and we still at 1/4 of the pile left to throw away.  So Mollie and I climbed into the dumpster and started organizing it to make the rest of the pile fit.  I am proud to say that that dumpster was the prettiest dumpster I have ever seen!  By the time were were done with it we had the entire pile of wood in it, and we still had half of the dumpster empty.  I am now adding dumpster organizer to mu resume.  Now that would be a conversation starter.

After we organized the dumpster we had to help organize the shop, put away a bunch of set pieces etc. etc.  we finally left around 4pm.

After we all had showered and had a cat-nap, we jumped into the car and drove to Williamstown.  Alison Fraser (who was in Deathtrap) was performing with the Skivvies and invited us to see it.  What a fun evening! I never thought watching people sing in their undies would be so much fun.  They are broadway actors who play instruments and sing in their underwear and invite other Broadway (and sometimes mega superstars) to come sing with them.  Alison was one of four guests that night and when she was done performing she came and sat with us and watched the rest of the show with us.

More to come.

XOXO,

Kate 

BTG WEEK 6

Hello Friends!  I know I know!  I'm behind!  But I have been very busy so #sorrynotsorry
here is what I did during week 6!

Monday July 13, 2015

Today we started rehearsal for "The Club"!!!  Yay! Finally I get to be back in rehearsals!!  We started the morning off by having a "meet and greet" of the cast/crew/available company members.  The play is co-directed by Rocco Sisto and Barbara Allen, Musical Direction by Deborah Lapidus and it features Maureen O'Flynn, Annette Miller, Deborah Grausman, and Stephanie Hedges.  After the meet and greet (which included a bagel spread!) we did a read/sing through.  The principle actors received their parts prior to the first rehearsal so they came in with the songs learned and partly memorized.  My part is called "Little Henry" or "Henry 2" and it was created for our production.  I will be following the butler character, Henry, around and singing with him and dancing with him.  The apprentices didn't have much to do during the read through (except for Sophie who has a principle role) but it was amazing to watch the professional actors work.

After the read through we broke for lunch.  Then when we resumed rehearsal we got into learning/fine tuning the music.  Maggie and Annika got released a little early, but I had to stay because they were going to work some "Henry bits".  We did not end up working on the Henry stuff, so I was released early.  On my way home a sudden rain storm happened and I got drenched.  DRENCHED!  Please see the evidence below.

drenched.

so. much. water.

Tuesday July 14, 2015 

Today was full of learning music!  We were called at 11am and worked the most complicated song of the show until 1pm.  Then on our lunch hour we ran to Laurin Publishing (the apprentice classroom space, the awful cement room) for a Q& A session with David Adkins (the writer and star of Thoreau) and to rehearse for the Kern Musical Monday (which is next Monday).  We then ran back to the Garage at the Colonial for the rest of the Club rehearsal from 3pm to 5:30pm.  

then we collapsed into heaps on the floor because we were tired.

Wednesday July 15, 2015

Another day full of learning music!  We had rehearsal from 11:30-1pm working on two different songs, and then we worked from 2pm-4pm on two other songs.  At 4pm I had my costume fitting!  Woo!  I get to wear an edwardian era butler's tuxedo.  I laughed out when I saw myself in the mirror!  Pictures to come later!

Thursday July 16, 2015

Today we only had rehearsal from 10am-12pm because we have a 4 hour long rehearsal for the Kern Music Monday.  We had a bit of a shock at the beginning of the rehearsal because we found out that Stephanie was dropping out of the production, and that Maggie was going to be bumped up to a principle roll.  It was a shock, but I was so excited for Maggie!  We then sang through the play.  

When rehearsal ended we ran over to Laurin Publishing for the 4 hour Kern rehearsal.  We finished blocking the rest of the medley and ran through the bits of the show. 

We then had to car park.  As always.

Friday July 17, 2015

At the start of rehearsal the directors decided to cut bits of the show.  So we went through the cuts, and later in the afternoon we went over more music.  While I was on a break, I got called in to be fit with costumes again.  But this time I got to be a model for the Costume designer to show the directors!  

One of my "looks"

After rehearsal we actually collapsed on our beds and pasted out.  so exhausted.  But we got to wake up and go.......CAR PARKING! oh joy.

Saturday July 18, 2015

We had a short rehearsal today, 10-12pm!  And we ran through music again.  

After rehearsal we went to park cars again. What joy.  

Then we had the rest of the day off!  I took a two hour nap, and had a leisurely afternoon.

Later in the evening we went to the opening part of "I Saw My Neighbor on the Train and I Didn't Even Smile".  Then we went home and passed out again.

Sunday July 19, 2015

Day off!  Woooohooo!!

Maggie and Eleanor SwimmingWe slept in and went for bagel for breakfast.  In the afternoon, Maggie, Eleanor and I went to My Dad's friend, Lori Bernstein's house in West Stockbridge.  We spent a bit of the afternoon in her pool and petting her dog!  Then a HUGE thunderstorm (complete with  tornado and flash flood warnings) rolled in.  We sat the tornado warning out in her bedroom, and then she took us out to dinner (because the BBQ she had planned got rained out).  It was a wonderful afternoon and a great escape from Buel house! 

Enjoying the Pool.

Lori's beautiful house.

Beautiful West Stockbridge.

Sorry for the glob of pictures!

More to come.

XOXO,

Kate

BTG WEEK 5

Week 5 went by incredibly fast!  I can't believe we are almost half way done with the program!  Now for the good stuff:

Monday July 6, 2015

We started the week off by having stage fighting class with Tony Simotes.  We learned how to do a round house punch, and the reaction to it.  He also talked to us about why we do theatre, and our purpose for doing theatre.  We later had class with Tara Franklin and more Suzuki training.  Suzuki is kicking my butt.  It hurts my feet.  A lot.  So it is not my favorite thing.  But I am trying to stay positive!    We spent the afternoon doing laundry and food shopping, quite the productive afternoon.  

Tuesday July 7,2015 

Today we had our last Suzuki lesson.  And she kicked our butts.  My core is still hurting from it.  We then had class with Mark, and worked on Kern once again.  We once again had car parking, and I got eaten alive by Mosquitos.  

Sorry my posts are not as exciting!  We are in a routine now, and nothing very exciting is happening right now.  It is all training that would take too much to get into!  But I start rehearsal for "The Club" next week, so I should have some more exciting things to post.  

Wednesday July 8, 2015

Today I was so excited!  Because.....drum roll......My Dad came to visit me!  He called me about a week before and said that he had some business in NYC and wanted to come up and see me. So I was in a very good mood today.  The day also started off with a wig fitting for "The Cub".  It was interesting because in the show all the women play men, so we were getting fitted for men's wigs.   It was very silly, and I now know for sure that I do not look good with a men's haircut from the Edwardian time period!  The funny thing was that even with the wig on, I still looked like a girl (damn you baby cheeks!) so they decided that I will get a mustache! (Yay baby cheeks!)  I think it will be funny to have a mustache. 

Dad and me in front of Buel House 

Anyway, after the wig fitting we had stage fighting class with Tony Simotes.  Today we learned the grappling hold ( I think that is what it is called).  It is when someone "attacks" you from behind, puts their arms around your trunk and hold/grabs the back of your neck.  Then we learned a combo with the stage punch, and grappling hold and then an elbow to the stomach.  His class is a work out, I was very sore the next day from "thrashing" about in the grappling hold.  After Tony's class we had Musical Monday rehearsal with our director Elyn Collier.  Elyn is a directing apprentice this season and has been assigned to director  the Kern Musical Monday.  We blocked several of the songs, and reviewed several others. 

After class I met up with my Dad and Marianne (my grandma!) and we went to dinner at a local Italian restaurant.  Then we hauled ourselves over to Stockbridge to see "Deathtrap" at the Main Campus.  After the show we drove back to Pittsfield and I stayed with them at their motel.  It was a sketchy place, but it was nice to have a private shower and a big bed all to myself!  Also air conditioning.  I forgot what a cool room was like!  And TV! So many things I didn't know I missed until I had them again! 

Thursday July 9, 2015

Dad woke me up early because he had to drive back to Newark,NJ to catch a plane.  So we had a quick breakfast at Ottos (a local breakfast joint) and then him and Marianne dropped me off at Buel house and they were off!  It was a quick visit but I had a great time with them and I was glad I got to share a bit of my life here with them.

7AM breakfast

When I got back to Buel I took a quick nap (yes, it was that early) and then we went off to Musical Monday rehearsal.  I was assigned another piece of music, "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" from Show Boat.  Basically I was given the song, ran through it once and then blocked it.  It was a whirlwind, but I really like the song! :)

We had the rest of the day off, and we spent it napping and relaxing, and practicing our music.  And in the evening we had, once again, car parking.  But we were parking cars in the pouring rain.  And by pouring rain I mean torrential down pour.  I'm starting to believe that after this summer I'll be prepared for anything.

Friday July 10, 2015

We started our morning with Stage Fighting with Tony Simotes.  And we learned the art of the hair pull.  We learned how to do it with two hands and then with one hand.  It was pretty interesting.

Let me direct you to your parking spot.

In the afternoon we had another Masterclass with Kate Maguire.  Since the Bells are Ringing kids were in tech it was just the Poppins and Club casts.  She decided that she wanted to work on Shakespeare monologues.  ( I was unprepared for this since the last time we did contemporary and only 2 people got to go). So when she told me to perform, the only monologue that came to me was Brutus' Oration from "Julius Caesar", a monologue which I have not touched in over a year.  So when I went up and started I got about three lines in and totally spaced.  Completely spaced.  I started again and once again spaced.  (I believe that I said something along the lines of "Romans, Countrymen, and Lovers.  Hear me for my Cause and be silent for what you oh SHUT UP"  I was so embarrassed!  Kate then had me grab my phone to look up the words, and worked with me to drop my breath in so I could drop my voice down. Once I did that, BAM! The speech came back to me!  It was like Magic!  And then I kicked butt! ;)  A little humiliation now and then is good for the soul, right?  This was the first day where we really got to see each other's acting abilities, and let me tell you, we are a talented group.

Later I had car parking again (not in the rain this time!) and then we met Christian, Eleanor and Mollie at Patricks Pub for dinner/ a drink.  It was a fun evening!

Saturday July 11, 2015

So Saturday was technically our day off, but we had to go to  Safety Training.  "Thoreau, or Return to Walden" closed on Saturday and we had to help with strike.  So this training session was about how to be safe.  And it lasted 5 min!  But it was stuff we all have done before so it was nothing new to us.

We had Car parking in the afternoon (naturally) and then went home to get dressed for the opening night of "Bells are Ringing".  The show was very cute and I think we all enjoyed it.  After the show was the opening night party. I left early because we had to be in Stockbridge at 8am!  Once home, Eleanor and I found ourselves home alone, so we ordered Pizza and watched the pilot episode of Hannibal.  Then we realized it was 2AM and had to rest up for the work day.

Sunday July 12, 2015

Dead after strike.

So we woke up very early so we could get to Stockbridge on time.  We had an 8 hour work day scheduled.  We first did two hours of striking the set of Thoreau, which involved throwing away bits of foam, lugging big rocks and bricks from the theatre to the scene shop, and sweeping the stage clear of debris.  Then the electrics crew came in and we helped them strike the lights from Thoreau, and helped them hang the new plot for the next show, "I saw my neighbor on the train and I didn't even smile".  And by helping hang lights I mean, move the ladder for the electricians, and bracing it so it doesn't fall, and grabbing various light fixtures and gels.  It was 6 hours of this very tedious work.  We were all exhausted at the end, and veged out for the rest of the afternoon.

Don't make me move anymore! 

More to come next week!

XOXO,
Kate