After a few days of dancing and movement for Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s beach-themed Comedy of Errors, cast member Rebecca Whitehurst put together this set of pictures of other similarly acrobatic beach goers.
Thanks, Rebecca!
Learning the First Phrase, originally uploaded by rpmaxwell.
Hello, and welcome to Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s 2009 production of The Comedy of Errors!
The first week of our incredibly fast and fun rehearsal process has just come to a close and there are so many pictures and stories to post. So let’s get right to it:
Artistic Director Steve Maler has set this production in South Beach Miami of the 1930s: in the boardwalk world of Latin jazz clubs and boutique Art Deco hotels.
The cast has been hard at work with choreographer Yo-El Cassell on the “dumbshows,” (brief, fun, wordless vignettes that will occur around Shakespeare’s acts) that will set the stage and tell the story of the South Beach world in which the play takes place. The dumbshows are awash in the characters, colors, and energy of that world: Lifeguards and dogwalkers, band members and young lovers. All moving and dancing to sound designer David Wilson’s amazing, energetic, expressive music.
Two dozen actors spent three days dancing through five dumbshows, and there’s still more to come!
Jitters and nerves were flowing back-stage as the actors and actresses waiting to take their turn to show they have what it takes this summer.
One confident actress, Hannah Jane McMurray, stated, “I auditioned the first time hoping for a call-back, not for the role.” She took a unique approach, taking it one step at a time. It made her less nervous this time around, rather than pacing every few minutes, as others were doing.
While others who were more nervous, were so because the call-backs entailed a piece from Henry IV Act 5, Scene 2, which was chosen for them. As Jeremy Browne stated, “it was like a curveball being thrown for the scene and song selection.” A curveball or not - these actors and actresses were very talented, even if they were beginners such as Ashley Gramdini who is still a Junior at Wellesley College.
My favorite part of the auditions was the female song selection, which entailed the females ranting and raving of how and why they “hate men.” The best was when a gentleman also had to sing that for his song selection. Lets just say, the individuals critiquing their performances were having a hard time not laughing throughout the song, especially during the lyric, “He may have hair upon his chest but, sister, so has Lassie.”
Ladies n’ Gentlemen - no matter who is chosen for the upcoming play - it shall be a performance not to be missed, as seen just from these auditions.
Firsthand thoughts and comments from the actors/actresses who stepped on stage to audition for this summer’s play “Comedy of Errors”:
“I felt good going in, competent. But then, as you’re performing your monologue you find yourself in a surreal moment of flappy arms. For those not familiar, this is when you notice your hands and arms making all manner of unnatural gestures, you feel as if you’re waving about like a Bacardi-smashed Canadian goose. Half your brain is the character whose words your saying and the other half notices if the nice person behind the table writes something on what you’re sure is your audition form…something like “drunk bird school of acting.”" - Maria Mogavero
“The story goes that Dustin Hoffman got a bit flustered on the set of Marathon Man upon meeting Lawrence Olivier for the first time. Dustin Hoffman was a follower of the philosophy of Method acting back then, and in the big dentist’s chair scene he was feeling a little off his game. He had to act scared to death by Olivier’s character, a former Nazi dentist. At some point, Olivier decided to lighten Hoffman’s mood. He went up to the young Hoffman and said: “My boy, why not just try acting?” This is a great piece of advice for anyone. And I got to know the feeling first hand..” - Joshua Rosenschein
“It’s funny how different the waiting room feels once your audition is over. That audition after-glow seems to carry you through it unscathed. And if you’re lucky, it’ll stick around for a while after you leave the building too.” - Allison Smith
Stay tuned for more from behind-the-scenes of Comedy of Errors…
After a couple of rain delays, tonight’s finally the official opening night performance of As You Like It!
We hope you get a chance to come visit us on the Common before August 3rd. All of the work that we’ve done is for you and we want to share it with as many people as possible.
See you soon!
-Karl
Photos by T. Charles Erickson
Well, maybe more like a pond. Backstage on Tuesday, July 22nd. After two canceled performances, the sun is out today and we are looking forward to a hyper-energetic night!
Director Steve Maler and Production Manager Thom Kaufman taking a dip.
Somebody really likes them some Fred Weller.
Check it out:
http://wellergasm.blogspot.com
So yes, we’ve dealt with some rain, but other than that it’s been a phenomenally productive week of work on the Common. The whole show is teched and now we’re getting picky again about some minor design and acting choices. It’s a good spot to be. We’ve had some great runs and extremely enthusiastic and intelligent dress rehearsal and preview audiences. Tomorrow afternoon we’ll have what will probably be our last full company rehearsal before we open officially on Wednesday. Almost time to let it go!
Earlier this week I took some behind the scenes (literally) photos of the set. Enjoy your super exclusive backstage pass!
-Karl
Here is how our costume designer protected her new shoes ….
(and thank you to all the wonderful audience members who stuck around in the rain and cheered the actors on. Please come back another night to see the second half of As You Like It!)
We started technical rehearsals on the common on Saturday afternoon! It’s going well. Takes a long time to figure everything out, but we’re being super productive and are right on schedule.
Linda O’Brien and her team of electricians has been working crazy hard into the early morning to ensure that she can get her lighting work done while it’s dark out.
We added costumes last night for the first time and they’re beautiful. Emily Pepper and everyone from Costume Works has done some really great work. It’s so satisfying to see everything coming together for the first time. The set, costumes and lights all compliment each other well.
We’ve worked up through Shakespeare’s Act 4 Scene 1, meaning that tomorrow night we need to push ahead through the end of the play so that we can do a dress rehearsal run-thru on Wednesday night.
It’s hard work, but a lot of fun. The weather has been nice so it’s great to be outside. I’m enjoying being part of the team.
Tuesday’s another long one: 12pm - 12am rehearsal with a production meeting ’til about 1:30.
-Karl
