Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Working with Children

Four months of exhaustion and trying to remember every bit of choreography/dance I ever learned as well as every theatre game I could think of...it's all coming to an end tonight. Joliet Public Schools "Children for Peace Musical Extravaganza" is tonight. I am so proud of these kiddos. On Friday and Monday, we had dress rehearsals for other schools in the district to come see the show as well as give the kids an audience. Tonight, they are up on the "big stage" as we've been calling it, at the absolutely stunning Rialto Square Theatre. Seriously, I grew up going to this place and it still strikes me every time:

Just wish I could have found a bigger picture...oh well! Anyone in the Joliet and/or Chicago area is welcome to come on out tonight! 7pm, $3 for a ticket! You can't really beat that.


Monday, April 4, 2011

Monday, Gonna Get Down On Monday

Alright, so maybe I'm not that enthusiastic about Mondays, but you have to take what comes your way! Spring break has come and gone, and it's time to catch up on the work I intended to accomplish during that week but through the miracle of procrastination did not.

Chief among these tasks is getting the final rehearsal plans together for the Peace Program. It floors me that the show is only 15 days away (eep!). The kids in the cast are fantastic, incredibly flexible, and wicked fast learners. Tuesday and Wednesday will be the final "teaching" days to finish up the couple songs that got pushed to the back burner. Should all go well, I'm hoping to get at least two runs of the show in on Thursday night, and from here on out. I have learned a heckuva lot from this experience.

I'm looking forward to getting more info from Ben this week or next about Bacchus, I'm itching to get started on another run! Knowing Jamie, I am extremely excited to see how she has interpreted the original. Here's hoping there will be another spot for me to make more fake blood...it was a major element in BLOOD WEDDING, and I even lent my recipe to WOYZECK. I say third time's a charm for delicious, chocolate blood.

I do want to give a shout out to Bryan, who you may remember from HORRIBLE (Mr. Hunt) and REGULARS (Simon). Boy rocked the house filling in for regular karaoke host Luis at both Halsted Harp and Four Farthings this weekend. Both places were packed and the rotations were full just about the whole night. Many thanks also to Connor and Garrett at the Harp for being awesome as always. There is no way you can go wrong with an Irish pub that supports the Hawkeyes!

With that, I leave you to enjoy your Monday night, hoping that tomorrow brings sunshine, a Butler national championship, and my show completely choreographed.