more pics...

Hello from Honolulu

Another Openin' Another Show!

Oh, by the way, you have a show tonight... this was what I heard upon getting on board.

Thankfully, the show was only the Welcome Aboard show, so it was a whole six minutes of my life, but it went well, and the cast is very friendly and very talented.

So now we are in rehearsals for tomorrow night's show, Save The Last Dance. It is going well, though my leading lady is a bit green, but she'll do fine. She has an awesome voice, and is absolutely beautiful to look at. Kind of a cross between Anne Hathaway and some Silent movie star vixen who sizzles on the screen.

So far, the only downside has been the fact that all of my clothes have had to be let out. I guess those three months off did more for my waistline than I had expected. No more HoHo's for me next time. I will lose the weight, though, and then all those clothes that were let out will then have to be let back in. I hope so, anyway.

So we are en route to Honolulu, Hawaii, where we will have a late sailaway, apparently. I am looking forward to it. The box I spent 60 bucks on to arrive on time in LA didn't arrive... well, it did make it, just not to the ship. So much for my soap, deodorant and peanut butter. They don't have Jif in Australia, just in case you are wondering.

It is supposed to be forwarded to Honolulu, so we'll see if it actually makes it there. Odd, since there were so many people from the home office, you would think that one of them could have easily just brought it aboard. More later...

Annie Junior, day 10: Opening Night

I can't believe I found myself getting choked up over Annie Junior. There was a moment in the beginning of the show where Annie sings "Maybe" while the other orphans gather around her, and I actually got va klempt! I don't know what it was, maybe I am just hormonal about leaving the country for another six months, but I was definitely tearing up at this simple moment onstage done by a group of pre-adolescents!

I was proud today. Very. That I was able to pull off a totally "bare bones" version of this musical, and have it actually work! It didn't matter that we had no set. It didn't matter that the theatre wouldn't let us use lights, so there I was calling "Blackout" as I started to move blocks around to represent Warbucks Mansion, or Hannigan's Office, or the NBC Radio studio. It worked.

Then I got pissed off. Of course it worked. Mary Kathryn and I put our hearts into this to make it work without the help of the "powers that be." And that has now set a precedence that it can be done, and these kids after us will again be cheated of the chance to do a show with any sort of technical elements. I made the props. I did the costumes. I got help from an outside source so the kids could have something to use as set pieces. And I was working AT A THEATRE!

I'm not going to dwell on this. The show was good because of the kids. All that technical stuff didn't matter in the long run. The kids pulled it off. Their voices filled the stage, and the audience was enraptured from the downbeat of the Overture. My idea of making it an ensemble show really worked. It was an ensemble show. And Annie was awesome, too.

I feel good leaving the country now, knowing that I was able to affect someone's life today. Hopefully tomorrow will be a similar experience, though from my own experience, I find that the second performance never reaches that first night excitement or polish. I hope they prove me wrong.

I'll let you know.

Annie Junior, day 9

Hello everyone!  The day has arrived!  Tomorrow is our opening!  All are very 

excited, and though we had a rough couple of run throughs, we did get a lot done 

today and we all learned a lot about what it takes to be a performer! 

 

We had two special guests to watch today.  First was Kathleen Rudolph from RLT, 

who was very enthusiastic about the performance.  Second was Paul Orsett of the 

Wakefield Theatre Company, who will not be able to come to a show because of 

prior commitments.  He also was very positive about the work the kids have done.  

His and Kathleen's main comments were that the kids cannot be heard.  Not to 

worry.  We are working on this! 

 

I was a little dismayed today to find out how many actors wore their costumes to 

the dress rehearsal, when yesterday's email asked that they specifically NOT do 

this.  I know I sent the email late last night, and for that I apologize.  

Tomorrow, please do not make the same mistake.  Please have your actors bring 

their costumes with them so they can be kept at the theatre until Saturday.  I 

don't want anyone to forget their costumes and then have to sit on the sidelines 

watching their other actors do their work. 

 

Once again, for those of you who didn't get the info... 

 

Doors open tomorrow at 5:00pm.  Please do not try to sneak in and watch what 

happens beforehand.  We will be working right up until showtime, so please do 

not add to your actor's stress level by trying to get a quick look. 

 

The show starts at 5:15, and should be over within an hour to an hour and 

fifteen minutes.  

 

Saturday's show starts at 1:00pm, and all actors should be at the theatre no 

later than 12:00 Noon.  Doors will open at 12:45. 

 

At this point in the game, we have everything we need.  Costumes, props, the 

works.  Please do not add anything to your actor's costume, thinking "This would 

look real good..."  It won't.  We have worked on all our changes and anything 

else will now be a hindrance.  If you would like to help, please remind your 

actors about their blocking, dance steps, and that they need to PROJECT so that 

their deaf grandma in the last row can hear them!  That would be most helpful. 

 

Parking again is available in the large lot by the mainstage theatre, adjacent 

to the amphitheatre.  The show itself is in the Goodwin Gaddy Teaching Theatre, 

which is the smaller black box where you have been picking your kids up this 

past week. 

 

Thank you, parents, for being so supportive these past two weeks, and I know you 

will be pleased with the final product.  

 

Please have your camp evaluations filled out and ready to turn in tomorrow when 

you get to the theatre. 

 

I think that's everything.  I am in the process of finishing up some last minute 

props that needed to be wrapped or fixed, and then I am off to bed to try and 

get a good night's sleep.  We will see you all tomorrow! 

 

Thanks so much, 

J. Michael Beech

Annie Junior, day 8

Okay folks, here we go!  Tomorrow is dress rehearsal!  This means that all

actors should BRING WITH THEM (NOT WEAR) their jeans and plain white t-shirt. 

They should have their clothes labeled, so that they can leave them at the

theatre.  Not that I don't trust you, but I have seen too many shows where the

day of, someone shows up saying "I forgot my shirt... or I forgot this or

that..." This will not be the case if they have their clothes with them tomorrow

and they are left at the theatre, right?



Okay.  Nuff said about costumes.  Jeans and plain white t-shirt.  Done.  Just

for your own clarification, so there is no confusion, a "plain white t-shirt"

consists of just that.  A white crew neck t-shirt without any printing, no

pockets, etc.  Just a plain white t-shirt.  Thanks.



CALL TIMES FOR THE SHOW: 



Friday is without saying... 12:30 pm.  We will be having camp and doing last

minute cleanings of numbers, etc.  The show starts at 5:15pm.  DOORS OPEN AT

5:00.  They will not open earlier, so please don't try to sneak in.  We will be

working up until showtime to get ready for you.



SATURDAY CALL TIME IS 12:00 NOON.

SATURDAY SHOW TIME IS 1:00PM.   DOORS WILL OPEN AT 12:45.



PARKING IS AVAILABLE FOR BOTH SHOWTIMES IN THE LARGE LOT OPPOSITE THE MAIN

THEATRE.  (BY THE AMPHITHEATRE)  YOU WILL NOT BE TOWED, EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE

SIGNS THERE TO INTIMIDATE YOU.  YOU ARE HERE TO SEE A SHOW.







Your kids today were given a camp evaluation.  Please take the time to fill it

out.  It is part of the life line of the theatre, and an addition to their grant

program.  If you would like to continue to see quality theatre starting at your

actors level and age, please fill out an evaluation form.  If not, fill it out

anyway, please.



Okay.  Next thing.  Today. 



Today was a step backward.  Not a huge one, but just a small one.  Big enough to

set things back nonetheless.  I think in everyone's concern and excitement to

make sure everyone else was doing what they were supposed to do, the actors

forgot their own jobs, and therefore we had more than a few hiccups.  It was

disappointing, but I think we learned a lot about what to expect come Friday. 



We all ended up taking a big deep breath and then got back to work and then

things seemed to iron themselves out.  This is normal, actually.  Kind of a day

7 slump thing.  Happens to all casts for all shows, professional or "junior." 

Trust me.  I've seen it happen.  I've been there PLENTY of times.  Things will

be better tomorrow.



Each time we run things they do get better.  Unfortunately, an actor only gets

ONE chance to do it right for that performance.  I think that reality hit today

when they realized that we can't necessarily go back and re-do things during the

middle of a performance.



Even with the hiccups, things went well, and we were able to finish the run

through from yesterday, and do a complete run through from the top.  Every

number is choreographed, and we have most of the props... (I will be finishing

those tonight.) and things look pretty darn good if you ask me.  I am very

excited for you to see the finished product. 



I think that's about all I have to say for tonight.  I have props to fix, and I

should try to get started on my packing for my six months in Australia.



Just as a side note... I DID take some time for myself tonight and go see the

new movie The Help.  My brother is the Art Director for it, and it was really

good.  I know that was a SHAMELESS plug for it, but it is a good funny,

heartwarming story of life in the 60's.  Go Curt!



Okay, I've said too much.  I will see everyone tomorrow, where I am hoping to

get at least two run-throughs of the show in.  One starting at 1, the other at

3:30.  If there is any confusion, please re-read the first paragraph of this

email.  Thanks!



J. Michael Beech

Annie Junior, day 7

I'll be honest. There are days I dread going to work. So far I have not dreaded ANY of the days I go to "play" with your actors. It has been exciting, new, fresh, eye-opening, funny, and thrilling to see the growth and potential of these young people. I think they will blow you away with their production of Annie Junior.

With that said, there were some bumps in the road today. Mostly due to lack of focus and simply having some "brain farts" and forgetting stuff we blocked or some of the dance moves. There does seem to be an overall lack of (believe it or not) SINGING!!! I can't reinforce enough to your kids that they need to sing out! There were times today where there were supposed to be 20 people singing, and it sounded like only 2. This is a musical, folks!!!

With that aside, we did manage to finish all the blocking, work on some of the musical numbers, take a break, and then start a run-through form the top of the show. We didn't get to finish, but we did bite off a major chunk of the show, ending with Scene 7, where Annie is on the radio. We will pick up here tomorrow where we left off, and then start another run shortly thereafter.

I may have mentioned it before, but when the kids are ON, they are ON! It is so exciting! But when they are off... well, not so much. I've tried to make this an ensemble experience, and I think you will be pleased with the amount of stage time your actors have. It is truly an ensemble piece.

Please remind the kids that since they are onstage the whole time, there is always someone watching them. They should try to focus on the scene going on onstage, not on their texting or on their neighbor's fingernail polish.

I hope everyone got the last email about costumes, and finding a plain white t-shirt and jeans is not too difficult. Please let me know if you are having difficulty so I can start to put a contingency plan in place.

OH!!! Today was their day to be off book! They did FANTASTIC!!! They stayed in character during the run and called for their lines like any pro in the business. Man, they learn quick! There were hardly any missed lines, by the way. Again a first in my book.

Props are coming along, and there are just a few more that I forgot today but will hopefully remember to put in my car tomorrow morning. Thanks to you parents who brought in costume pieces. Some will work, other might not, but we are working to make this as good a show as we can, and so far, I am really pleased, obviously form these gushing emails.

Attached is another picture or two from rehearsal today, and NOT cover art from the world's worst musical flop in history. Enjoy!

Thanks,

J. Michael Beech