Talking of...the Light at the End of the Tunnel

Yes, there is in fact a light at the end of the tunnel I so gladly stepped into on January 5th, 2009 at our first Company rehearsal! Tomorrow night (Wednesday, October 28th) marks the first of the final five performances of Fight Boy Theatre's production of Talking of Michelangelo. Which also means I'm just that much closer to taking a break from theatre for a while. Yes, I have agreed to help out DCT's production of A Tuna Christmas, but that will be in the role of Assistant Stage Manager, and my duties will not begin until November 30th. I will have four whole weeks off! Amazing. I honestly think that will have been my longest break since the beginning of the year.

And what a great experience it all has been! Every director has been different and amazing in his or her own way, each cast has taught me something new about myself as a person and as a performer, and each script and/or score has been a challenge in its own way.

I've also started and - for the most part - maintained this blog and become a theatre critic for The Column. All in all, I'd say a VERY artistically successful 11 months once it's all said and done. No wonder I'm exhausted, though!

So, back to the current production. I have to say, I definitely had reservations and trepidation about stepping outside my comfort zone and into the world of guerilla theatre. However, this experience has been no less rewarding than any other I have had this year! The cast, the script, the director, the...ahem...weather we have had to deal with...all have been amazing. Plus, I've discovered a new love for Art Six Coffee House, the venue at which we perform each night. The space is absolutely beautiful (a restored house with a spooooooky story attached), the coffee is delicious (I need to set up an IV of the toasted coconut blend), and the staff is amazing. Imagine my surprise when I realized that two figures from my brief foray into the UNT Theatre Dept., Olivia and Tommy, run the place!

It has truly been my pleasure to encourage people to support both an indie theatre group as well as my friends' establishment. In case you'd like to check us out (bring weather-appropriate items, dress in layers, etc....some nights are chilly!), we have five more performances: Weds (Oct 28th) through Sun (Nov 1st) all at 8pm! Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students, and Halloween night (Sat) is a pay-what-you-can.

Enjoy some photos below that I took at one of our dress rehearsals! Pictured: the muy caliente Kristina Lujan and the man your mother warned you about: Kevin Wickersham.

Hope to see you there!

Indoor/Outdoor

Jessica Wiggers as Samantha and Regan Adair as Shuman. Photo by Mark Oristano, originally found at WaterTower Theatre.

Last night, my husband and I ventured out of Denton and into Addison to see Kenny Finkle's charming play Indoor/Outdoor at WaterTower Theatre.

When I first proposed the idea of going to my husband, and told him that the main character was a cat, he gave me the stink-eye. Finally I coerced him with $0.49 drinks at QT on the way there, and he conceded.

As theatre enthusiasts ourselves, we really enjoyed the production. As recent pet-owners? Fagettaboutit. Loved it.

At one point I found myself laughing until tears came to my eyes because I've been in situations with my puppy similar to the situation onstage. This is a really great, light-hearted and charming script, and the cast of four (Jessica Cavanagh Wiggers, Regan Adair, Joey Folsom and Renee Krapff) is stellar.

I know that finances don't always allow us to see all the things that we'd like to, but I highly encourage anyone who is able to find a way to go see this production.

Pertinent Info from the WaterTower web site:

Indoor/Outdoor will run May 21 - June 7, 2009 at the Addison Theatre Centre, which is located at 15650 Addison Road in Addison, Texas. Performance times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 PM (no matinee May 23) & 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Seating is reserved with NO late seating. Ticket prices range from $25 - $40* and can be purchased by calling the WTT Box Office at 972.450.6232 or online. Group rates are also available.

*psssst -- too expensive? Are you a Column subscriber? CHECK YOUR EMAIL!

FREE show!

Pictured: Keith Warren as Billy Bigelow; Sarah Geist as Julie Jordan. (Photo by Phillip Lamb)

That's right, kids! Donations are encouraged (by me as well, support the arts, folks!), but not required.

Here are the deets:

What: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, presented by Denton Community Theatre

Where: The Campus Theatre, located in Historic Downtown Denton, TX
214 W. Hickory Street
Denton, Texas

When: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 (this is no April Fool's joke, I promise!)