Brick Street Theatre Company Playwright Workshop 1

Today I workshopped two plays - "Fly Loft" (Full Length) & "Blood & Water in Topeka" (1 Act). I was able to get good criticism and feedback to move the plays to the next stages of rewrites. 

I am writing two one act plays for the 365 women a year: a Playwriting project. I am creating a one act about Henrietta Lacks and a one act about Michelle Obama. 

It's great to hear your writing spoken, to finally hear the critiques move down to more nitpicking changes than large adjustments. "Blood & Water in Topeka" will most likely be a fringe festival submission. 

More next week. 

365 Women a Year is gaining momentum and press. Follow us on our Facebook page, or at:

Twitter: @365womenayear

http://365womenayear.wordpress.com

Our Town at KC REP

I normally don't review KC REP since I like to keep reviews to the smaller venues, but I have to talk about this one. 

I lost it while ushering, before it started. I overheard two parents tell their kids "I played the organist in my high school production" and another said "I wanted to play Emily but my friend Susie got the role." This play is a United States cultural phenomenon. Everyone has had to read it or act in it. (Myself included, I was the milk man.) 

This production brings it into modern dialogue, modern dress, and lighting just like what you'd see in a high school gym. The actors are wearing street clothes. This is exactly what our high school productions of Our Town felt like. Simple. No costumes. No accents. Horrible canned lighting. You can see the audience because it's in a gym. Absolutely nostalgic in the most insane way possible. 

Being able to see the audience across the stage was brilliant and also a killer. Couples, parents and kids, friends were all leaning into each other, whispering, and pointing out different parts of the play. This play is familiar to everyone in the audience and they are reminiscing with the show. I could hear a woman next to me whisper to her girlfriend "this is my favorite scene" when Emily and George started talking to each other through the windows. Then, she started to cry. An older gentleman right in the front row on the floor aisle had to take out a handkerchief to wipe his eyes. We were all absolutely losing it. 

The ending I can't reveal to you without ruining the surprise. They've done something amazing with it. You have to see this show. This is an event. The audience is 110% with the production, everyone is a mess because they love it, and the ending will absolutely slay you. 

Kcrep.org

Unicorn Theatre Season 41 : Opening Night Amazing

They have a new roof, the newly christened Levine stage, and they are incredibly gracious and giving to their patrons. There was a snack meet and greet after the show. Cynthia Levin is amazing and I definitely want to be as brave and amazing as her when I grow up. 

What an opening night to Hands on a Hardbody. Sold out show, rocking music, champagne toast. 

Here's to the local KC theatre that now OWNS their own space. 

Here's to new improvements, including a new roof!

Here's to more new plays by new playwrights. 

Here's to 41 more amazing seasons!

My review is as simple as my Facebook update "omg I wanna make out with this show."

Www.unicorntheatre.org

See this. Get season tickets. Go!

Spinning Tree Theatre : Ghost Writer

The night after Ghost Writer (Thursday) I was so wound up I couldn't sleep until 2am. It was a great show and my dates, Lorraine and Katie, were fantastic fun. I've had the privilege of seeing great theatre lately, and I am amazed at everything in Kansas City. I've got to be careful to balance my theatre events, my family, and my school work. There is just so much going on! So many Kansas City premieres!

After watching "Hope and Gravity" a couple of weeks ago at Creede Repertory Theatre, I was extremely interested in how Michael Hollinger's writing would differ in this production. This playwright is a writer. He deals in the same wheelhouse as David Mamet: simple, heartbreak, missed chances, tragedy, and almost-could-have-beens. Words, not flash, are his medium. 

Both productions I've seen discuss writing and its pains; the waiting for inspiration, the rapid flow of words, the re-writes, the discussion about writing of others, critiques. Writing, the art and work; teaching about life itself. 

As Myra Babbage, (Katie Kalahurka) explains, you wait for the words. They can come quickly like rain, or not at all for long periods. 

Franklin Woolsey (Robert Gibby Brand), and wife Vivian (Jeannie Blau), bring nuance to the pain of loss, of pining for someone you cannot have, and losing someone's love, even before they've passed away. 

This production, however, showcases Katie Kalahurka* in all the range and delivery that this production requires. Hers is a dangerous performance; too weepy or melancholy, it would've dipped into something ridiculous, not funny in the right places, the pain wouldn't have been sharp enough. She delivers with humor, and heartache, and it is perfection. 

Sean Glass has created a lighting design that is its own character. Having to slip us between times, between Franklin Woolsey (Robert Gibby Brand) being alive and a ghost, was cued beautifully by the lighting. Harsh when Vivian (Jeannie Blau) was on set, softer when Franklin Woolsey and Myra Babbage were working, or dancing, I had to divide my attention between the beautiful design and the acting. I'll be sure to volunteer usher in the future so I get the chance to see Spinning Tree's future productions more than once. There is a lot to see, and much they should be proud of in their 2014-2015 season. 

Please note: support them by buying season tickets. Visit www.spinningtreetheatre.com

Some (professional) reviews that tell it like it is:

http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/performing-arts/article1287929.html

http://m.pitch.com/kansascity/ghost-writer-spinning-tree/Content?oid=4547687

*To the patron who decided to eat a bunch of candy and play with wrappers during Katie's last speech: if I find out who you are, I will drop a typewriter on your foot. 

Spinning Tree Theatre : You're silly if you don't get season tickets

Tonight (or, last night) I had the privilege of seeing my first Spinning Tree production: Ghost Writer.

I'll get you a more detailed review later, but keep your eyes on Michael Grayman and Andy Parkhurst. They're bringing Kansas City three regional premieres this season: Ghost Writer, Violet, Black Pearl Sings and classic musical Fiddler on the Roof. 

Get your tickets now for Ghost Writer at www.spinningtreetheatre.com and purchase season tickets. 

Tomorrow night is a Premiere night for Hands on a Hardbody at The Unicorn. 

Kansas City Theatre Season 2014-2015

This is a great article summing up the upcoming KC season:

http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/performing-arts/article1269746.html

Day 2 in Creede

Day 2 in Creede! Got to spend some time with Kate before her set of shows today. We are outside the Ruth theatre here. 

First show of the day at the Ruth theatre was 'Hope and Gravity' by Michael Hollinger. I'll be seeing Ghost-Writer by the same author in a couple of weeks at the Spinning Tree Theatre in Kansas City. 

There are shows that are created by actors for actors, or shows that highlight technical elements that cannot be divorced from the production.

'Hope and Gravity' is a writer's production. Two of the play's characters are writers, and the engine is the perspective of a writer. I appreciate and love large productions, but what I love about live theatre is the smaller dialogue exchanges that actors realistically volley back and forth. 

Hollinger and Mamet are similar in this way - heartbreaking, believable misses and choices that are wrapped up in small moments that are expanded to bigger themes. Can we take something small to be a sign, or a miracle, even if it's a catastrophe? 

As the author says himself, "Theatre dares to promise that we'll be more interested after sitting in our seats for two hours than we were when we first sat down. So we're all aspiring to engage an audience of fellow human beings, to thrill them, educate them, move them, then release them and send them home, hopefully with a little piece of ourselves inside." 

The set pieces, which had to change to go back and forth in time and place, were impeccably executed. Even though the scenes were cut out of order and referred back on others, it was able to be followed. Mandy Heath and Jacob Welch created a deep and gorgeous lighting design that helped drive realism when it was needed but created a beautiful back glow on the most gorgeous tree set piece. Original music, by Tina Watson and Jake Harbour, became its own character and set the tone the moment the audience entered the space. All of the actors were impeccable, but I was most impressed with John Arp. I didn't realize until afterwards that he played both roles of Marty and Douglas as his physical and vocal range were so varied. I wish I could watch this show at least one more time before we had to leave. 

In true repertory (whiplash style), the evening production, 'The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild,' was a prop and costume heavy production. At the pre-show talk with the dramaturg, she explained this show was from the "magical realism" genre; a woman uses movies to escape her mundane life. 

The stage manager, Leigh'Ann Andrews, has to be in top form during every show. There are phones ringing, flying rocks, a King Kong hand, a live phone conversation paired with TV background noise, and actors going in and out of trap doors. There were some hiccups in tonight's show - some missed phone ring cues, some forgotten song lyrics - but for the amount of insanity it was well executed. Christy Brandt, 40 year CRT legend, played Helen Wild in the 1976 production of Mildred Wild, and is now reprising her role. What longevity with one company, and how fun to reprise a role years later! 

The show was stolen by Zlatomir Moldovanski, who hammed it up in a fairy dancing girl outfit, a Mammy (Gone With the Wind) outfit, and a sleazy 1970s producer. I would have loved to see more of him in an improv capacity this weekend.

As our theatre weekend vacation comes to a close, we are so grateful we came. Creede Repertory Theatre has a rich history and a bright future; I am sure their 50th season will be a great celebration next year. 

Www.creederep.org

Www.spinningtreetheatre.com