Grace Geller: Welcome to the Theatre

Hello again! If you’ve read Jess’s post you’ll know that I’m working with her in the Front of House. Our main goal is to make sure everything is set so the audience can enjoy the show!

Basically, I’ve been working in the lobby and answering any questions you have when you come to see the show. I get to the theater two hours early and set up the lobby with Jess. We work with the Boston Center for the Arts Box Office to check on ticket sales for that night and make sure there haven’t been any problems. By problems, I don’t mean disasters, I just mean that we look to make sure every patron will be happy. For example, a few nights ago a woman mistakenly bought tickets for the wrong night and so we worked with the Box Office to get her new seats in the best place possible.

After checking with the Box Office, we check in with Emily, the stage manager, to make sure there are no problems in the theater. One night we entered the theater and there was music blasting from the ceiling. It sounded like there was a radio playing – not quite ideal for watching a play. Jess and I worked with the producers to get the music (which was from another theater nearby) turned down so that it was only barely audible for our show. After talking with Emily, we do a ‘sweep’ of the seats. We don’t literally ‘sweep’ the theater every night, but we walk through to make sure there are no programs or anything left over from the previous night’s show.

Finally, the crowd arrives and we communicate with Emily (who’s talking with the actors and musicians) about when to open the house. Once the house is open, I usually help people find their seats. Jess keeps running back between the lobby and box office to see if everyone has picked up their tickets – we try not to start the show if there are many tickets waiting to be picked up, but we also can’t hold up the whole show for only a few people.

Once the show starts, Jess and I can breathe. We clean up the lobby and start doing paperwork. Over the past two weeks I have also been watching part of the show to see how it’s going. I thought the show was really great when we opened but it has grown so much over the past three weeks.

Before I go get ready for tonight’s show, I want to put a plug in for ushering. For every show we need two ushers – one to collect tickets and one to sell concessions. While they’re volunteers, they get a free ticket to the show! It’s a great way to see the play. If you’re interested e-mail Jess at comps@companyone.org.

Alright now I’m off to the theater. I hope to see you there! I can’t believe we only have two weeks left! Buy your tickets and come see “After the Quake!”

* Grace

Front of House

Hi again!

So for the past few weeks I’ve been wearing my House Manager hat, as opposed to my production assistant one and life has been hectic. I am in almost constant contact with the Box Office and I’m sure they’re getting a little annoyed with me, but that’s okay. Emily, the stage manager, and I have the task of opening the house and show on time. As far as the house is concerned, she is in charge of making sure the actors are backstage, musicians in place and that everything is set for the audience to join. My job is getting the house open as close to fifteen minutes before curtain as possible. Once the house is open it’s her job to make sure we start as close to our scheduled time as possible, and my job to make sure that everyone gets into the theater. It’s like we have these goals that we come at from two different directions, and when everything goes according to plan we stay on schedule.

There’s also the fine dance of seating latecomers. You don’t want to interrupt the show, but at the same time you want your patron to be able to see what truly is an amazing show. When we decide to seat them, I usually let Grace take charge of that. More often than not she had helped the audience find their seats and knows the best place to put the patrons without disturbing everyone.

With Grace’s help we’ve been keeping records of how many people are coming to see each show and what type of tickets we’re selling. It’s really interesting to see when you get an older theater-going crowd as opposed to a curious younger one. And each night is certainly different. The paperwork and counting of tickets isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but it is interesting to see the big picture at the end of the day.

I’m also in charge of hiring volunteer ushers. People who want to lend a hand and see the show for free. It’s a really great way to get involved even for just a few hours. You should consider it and email me at comps@companyone.org.

Well, I’m off. If you haven’t seen After the Quake yet, you should. If you have, you should tell your friends to see it. No harm in a little free advertising right?

Have a wonderful day!
Jessica

Frog becomes frog...

Opening! Hurray!

The opening night performance was fantastical! The audience seemed very pleased and the actors were definitely in the zone. The Frog makeup turned out looking FABULOUS. We spray both his feet and his hair with green makeup so that he matches his green leather jacket and pants and whatnot. I must say that when spraying his hair green every night I appreciate the fact that I learned how to do it spraying my own hair weird colors in middle school and high school, otherwise I would probably screw it up.

All in all I would say it was a very smooth, high spirited opening, and I am super excited to continue with the run, because the way the show changes just slightly each night, is what makes the whole experience fun, even if it doesn't go as well as you had hoped. Now all that's left to do is sit back and enjoy the quirks of live entertainment, and of course watch Superfrog save Tokyo.

Alycia

The arch takes flight!

Hello again!

Sorry for the absence, I know you all have been sitting on the edge of your seats to hear back from me and your waiting hasn’t been for nothing. In my absence we survived through tech week and opened the show to great success! Tech week was as stressful as it normally is but the good thing about a week long load-in was that it gave us time to really iron out all the little bugs on the set.

My project with the arch went…well. Differently than I originally planned, but with some creative problem solving and brain storming with Mark we managed to get it flying. Instead of using the rigging system I originally planned to use, we found out that safety cables worked much better and allowed us to adjust the height and placement a lot easier than rigging it with airline cable.

This was a fun production to work on, and I think we all did the best we possibly could and created something special and unique. When I watched the final dress I was taken aback by how far we came from the first production meeting. There were many ideas tossed around, some made it to the final product, some didn’t. But everything that did, came together beautifully and I don’t think the show would have been as powerful if it did not have all its pieces. I don’t want to give too much away about the story, set, or music, but I will say that every one of you should go see the show. I want you to see the world that we have created and to immerse your self into the story that is being told. I’m very proud of what we have produced here and I would like to thank Company One for giving me this opportunity as well as Mark for everything he has taught me as his assistant.

-Nick

Grace Geller: Opening Night Here We Come

“What you see with your eyes is not necessarily real.”

This line epitomizes “After the Quake.” Watching the many technical and dress rehearsals this week, I keep being reminded that this play is a world of fantasy and storytelling. In my past blogs I’ve talked about the many transformations and transitions in the play. Now though, with everything together – lights, set, and sound – I’ve come to see that the transitions between worlds are not as important as the merger of those worlds. “After the Quake” is about a man, Junpei, creating a superhero story for Sala, a little girl tormented by nightmares. As the play progresses, the line between Junpei’s reality and story blurs. His characters are as real as himself. When Frog, Junpei’s superhero, reaches down to grab Junpei’s hand and lift him out of the shock and depression of the earthquake, the audience is shown how Junpei’s story is not just for Sala. By the end of the play, Junpei is changed from his story. He learns his own moral: that everyone is important and no one should be controlled by fear.

I can’t stress how beautiful the play is. The set and lights were designed beautifully. There are so many breathtaking moments created by great poses and use of color. I’ve also recently been struck by the humor in the play. When I first read the play, I thought that it was a fun story; however, probably because I did so much research on earthquakes, the element of fear had really come to the forefront in my mind. Fortunately, for the last two weeks, the humor in the play has reemerged. Although the story is about fear, there is in no way a dark element to the play. The fear happens before the play starts, and the humor is, in a way, how Junpei deals with it. There are so many lines and movements where the audience can’t help but crack up. Watch for Frog’s disappointment when he learns Katagiri has never read “Anna Karenina!” This week, even though I know the actions (and most of the lines), I found myself laughing throughout our dress rehearsals.

As for what I’m doing now, I’ve been helping out during the day – painting and sweeping and taking notes on the rehearsals at night. One of my favorite jobs has been acting as a stand in for the actors. I’ve pretended to play all the different roles in the cast to help the director and designers light the show. I get to jump on the platforms as Frog, hide in the boxes, and lie in the beds. I run around, say the lines, and then am told to move a step to my left.

This will be my last post as Assistant to the Director and Dramaturg. I have loved working with Shawn and Liana and am very sad that this part of my experience is over. Opening night I begin my next post – Assistant House Manager. I’ll be the one helping you in the lobby if you have any questions. I can’t wait to see you all at the show! I’m so excited for the run to start!

See you soon!

Grace

Tech...Dress...Costumes...

So I just got home from rehearsal tonight and today's was the closest it's been to the final production. We've been doing tech all week but the second run today was with all the lights in the house out and everyone watched it as if they were just an audience. It was great!

Parts that were pretty funny in rehearsal were hilarious this time around and there were little bits here and there that the actors changed, like intonations and expressions, that were great! It really felt like it was coming together. Backstage, it definitely is. We added green to Frog yesterday and after the additions of some snaps, velcro, patches, and other little things, there's not too much left to do. The Big Bear hat might change before opening but really, everything is coming together. Even the bra trick is usually fast enough! Searching for the right top for Giselle was pretty tough and overall, I think most of the shopping time went to that but the top she has now is perfect and I'm glad the color works well for Sayoko, even if it wasn't what was originally planned.

The musicians have their costumes now too and they look great! The style is great on them and the color ties in well with the set without hiding them. Commuting to and from rehearsal every night this week has been a little tougher than I would have hoped but I've learned my way around Boston and the Mass Pike pretty well, which is an unexpected perk. I think my favorite part of this whole experience has been Sydney's comment about her pajamas. It's always nice to hear that a costume you worked on is an actor's "most favorite costume ever" (and she looks adorable in it). I'm really looking forward to hearing what my friends and family think of the show after it opens.

*Paige*

Grace Geller: Putting it all Together

Happy July 4th to everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. This was the first year I spent the 4th in Boston and it was beautiful! I got a spot with some friends on the Esplanade RIGHT in front of the barge. The fireworks (and Boston Pops) were amazing!

On Thursday I went to help ‘clean’ and add small touches to the set. I was under the impression this would mean sweeping (which it did), but was unaware I would also be given power tools – not my forte but I managed. I’ve been looking at the set model for weeks and enjoyed watching the elements come together. I don’t want to give anything away, but the set contains many surprises. As in “After the Quake,” where the story transitions from fantasy to reality, the set itself is full of magical transformations. Watch out for people and objects appearing out of nowhere!

As for rehearsals, we had a long break and are now in the theater! The set is mostly finished and so today we were able to play with all the different prop and set pieces. Unlike many plays where stagehands move elements of a set, such as chairs, in “After the Quake” the actors are the ones to change things. We spent a while today explaining all the transformative elements to the actors and working out kinks.

Besides using the set, tonight we also rehearsed a full run with music for the first time. We’ve added music to every section individually, but have never run through the whole play at once with all the music. Although we added a lot, the run went pretty well. It was also great to be able to hear the play – actors and musicians – and check the volume in the theater. The incorporation of music tonight went really well. The music feels very fluid and truly is a necessary character in the play.

This week we’re doing full run-throughs of the production leading in to tech next week. Because we’ve already worked in sound and set (which are normally two major components of tech week), hopefully tech will go pretty easily as we will mostly just have to work in lights.

I look forward to watching it for the next two weeks from every seat, every angle, to make sure every audience members gets the full experience. I’m so excited for the show to start! Buy your tickets! It’s going to be a great production.

See you there!

* Grace

The World Comes Together

First off, I just have to say that I forgot how much I absolutely adore walking through Boston at night in the summer. One of my favorite things to do. I was thinking about that as I walked to the T from rehearsal tonight and deciding exactly what I would write in this blog entry.

That being said, the show has grown so much it’s hard to believe we have so little time left before opening. I’ve spent the past week or so away from rehearsals. When I wasn’t off celebrating the fourth (hope you had a good one) I was helping Nick and Mark build the set. Now, I’ll be honest. When it comes to carpentry, I’m much better at building a quarter-inch scale model of a set than the “full scale model”, as one of my teachers fondly refers to it. I can work an X-Acto knife much better than a table saw. Still, it was nice to be back in a scene shop. I find the smell of sawdust oddly comforting. And it was nice to be able really feel progress coming along. I mean, watching the rehearsals you can see the actors get more and more into character each night. They truly are progressing, but for me I was really gearing to go. And it was great to be given a drill, some screws and wood and told to build a step, and then to have that step there. It’s a nice little ego boost.

Problem was, the scene shop was at the rehearsal space which is not near the theater. And so we had that day where we carried every piece of furniture into a uhaul, and then out of the uhaul and into the theater. I was reminded of carrying set from the stage of my high school to the back of the bomb shelter (yea we had one, it was creepy) where we stored things. But on load-in day, when I was doing my best to help carry the bed, I just kept thinking about those long walks with some obscure piece of set. I had a little nostalgic moment there. But once we had everything unloaded in the actual space I jumped immediately back to ATQ mode. Soon enough, this little world we’ve been talking about for months was actually taking shape. And once the painting started it just started to come together that much more. I helped a bit with the texture of the bamboo and Sean did a really great job making the floor actually look like bamboo. Props to him.

But now that I’m back in rehearsals I’m a bit baffled by how far they’ve come. It’s almost a completely different show, but in a great way. There was one moment tonight where Sydney screamed a scream of terror and I had completely forgot it was coming. I literally jumped. And though I’m only twenty, my innate maternal instincts went crazy. And then I was just impressed by the work they’re doing.

You’ll just have to see for yourselves what I’m talking about. I’m really glad I’ve gotten to see this show transform so much.

Have a good one!

Jessica

Alycia Marucci, a frog?

Hello again everyone!

Another week down, and I am happy to report that we have made great progress since I last posted. This week has been subject to run-thru's and long work lists of very specific moments. Its working out very well though, the scene between Sayoko and Junpei in college changed a lot this week, and now the moments in that scene are clearer than ever.

I got to play Frog this week! Well, sort of. Mike was not in rehearsal on Monday, so we worked around most of the Frog and Narrator moments, but we had to work a couple of transitions with music, so it was necessary to know the specific timing of the onstage frog to narrator quick change, which means of course that I was asked to put on an overly large mens green jacket, white gloves and the narrator hat. It was pretty hilarious I think, the jacket pretty much swallowed me. I also always feel badly when I have to stand in during scenes, because usually all of the actors are forced to adjust to the fact that I am much shorter than their usual scene partner. If I could I would remedy the situation by wearing super awesome platform shoes, or boots or something, but alas, I am not equipped with such luxuries.

We have the weekend off of rehearsal for the fourth of July, so we will be 4 days away from the show after Wednesday night's run-thru. Usually something falls apart when you take that many days off from a show, so we will see what happens. I am hoping though, that enough has solidified in the last couple of days, and we worked moments specifically enough so that everyone will be able to fall back into it when we come back from the break...and before we know it we will be in tech! I love tech, its my favorite part of the rehearsal process because it moves both the fastest and slowest of all the rehearsals throughout the whole production process. More to come next week!

Alycia

Russ likes Japanese food...

The show is getting closer!! That means a lot of running around for me. In the last few weeks I’ve made some follow up e-mails and phone calls to businesses and clubs in the Boston area that expressed interest in either coming to the show, or buying advertising. Most restaurants that I called were really fun to contact for a couple reasons. First, the people even if they couldn’t make a commitment on the phone seemed genuinely interested in the show. Secondly, I came to realize just how many family- owned Japanese restaurants there are in Boston. Sometimes there was a bit of a language barrier and it was cool to be able to get our message out there despite temporary obstacles! It makes you realize how many small, family-owned companies make an imprint in our city. Third, it reminded me of just how much I love Japanese food.

This week however I start postering and leaving postcards at businesses all around Boston. That way, when someone is waiting to get their hair cut wondering what to do on July 17 there is a poster/postcard right there. This is also great because the owners of the establishments ask about the show, any of their customers also ask, and the word is spread!

So hopefully by Wednesday there will be a green poster with a frog on it saying AFTER THE QUAKE everywhere you go.

-Russ

Paige Warren: Holding Down the Fort

So while Miranda is away on a vacation this week, she left me with a couple assignments to work on. I'm currently in the middle of working on Sala's (Sydney's character's) pajamas and trying to think of more ways to make the illusive 'bra trick' work as well as researching different potential narrator hats.

Last week she asked me to look up "too cool for school" hairdos for Sala which was great! I'm a huge fan of Harajuku fashions (particularly Decora and EGL) so I realized a lot of those styles, which are based on little girl hairstyles, would work really well on Sala. I happen to have the Fruits and Fresh Fruits books which I went through, marking the styles that would work for Sydney, and passed the research off to Miranda.

This process has already been really rewarding and I'm eager to get back to work on the pj's. I am a little anxious since I'll be speaking in Miranda's place for her at this Sunday's production meeting but I know I don't have too much to be worried about since everyone's always been really nice and welcoming at the meetings. Next week we're really gonna dive right into building, shopping for, and painting more of the pieces as we get closer to tech week.

*Paige*

Nick Tosches: The Technical Side

Hello once again everyone out in internet land. A lot has happened since my last blog and since there is no sense in beating around the bush with pleasantries, so I shall get right down to business.

We started set build this week and things have been going awesomely. Mark asked me what project I would like to take on with the set, and after some thought I decided to work on the archway (it’s going to be a floating Japanese style pagoda roof/arch thing). I chose this project because I wanted to learn how to rig and hang something large that isn’t just a flat piece of scenery. So most of the job will be done during load in, but I succeeded in finishing building the frame work and 3 sides of the facing in only two days. Besides the set building, Mark has been teaching me the nuances of being a tech director from scheduling to what pieces of scenery are a priority and such. He has taken the time to discuss how to deal with designers and directors and how you can make their vision come true while doing your other duties, and this week’s lesson was that something should not fail simply from a lack of trying. Even though your first instinct may be to say no because what is designed or asked for seems impossible, impractical, or over budget, there is almost always a way to execute it.

So next week is looking to be just as fun and tiring as this week was, as we finish the set build and begin our load in. I am also looking forward to the designer run this weekend and hopefully we’ll be able to keep up this awesome pace that we have set for ourselves. See you all later around the blogosphere!

-Nick

ATQ: Jess Strikes Again...

Hello again from your friendly PA. After the Quake is going swimmingly (I like adjectives). But honestly, as each week passes the show gets better and better. Now with the rough blocking done, the actors are starting to really delve into their characters and why they do the things they do. It’s part of what I personally love about theater, watching a play grow and transform from the first read-through to opening night. You see ‘characters’ become people and a whole be created in front of you. It’s really something and this cast is really growing with their characters.

The set is now being started as well and I’m excited to see this world literally come into being. I have a soft spot for scenic design, specifically painting, and I can’t wait to finish the building and get to work on painting it. I think the model and designs fit the concepts for this show so well, that I really just want it to be opening night so everything falls into place. I won’t give too many details; I couldn’t do it justice, so you’ll just have to come see it for yourself (:. But I just love that everything is starting to take shape. We’ve been talking about this deadline of sorts, opening night being in the middle of july, but as it gets closer and closer everything sort of starts coming together. It’s exciting and I’m so happy to be a part of it.

I really am ready to get into House Manager mode. The stage management crew and I have all been joking, we all wear glasses, but when I trade my PA hat for my house manager hat I’ll start donning my contacts. Just a little anecdote to make you chuckle. Speaking of stage management, I told Alycia I’d mention her fantastic drawings that are decorating my folder. My particular favorite is the wood that says “Hey. We’re Norwegian.” But thanks to this show Norwegian Wood is slowly climbing its way up my list of favorite Beatles songs. The music is really bringing this show together. The cast was doing such a good job, but me saying music when the script calls for it just isn’t the same as hearing the violin and bass clarinet come in with their haunting melodies. It was like the missing piece to the puzzle and it fits so organically that it’s no wonder why the script calls for so many specific music cues. I’m really just excited to see it all finished and come together.

Happy Theatering!
Jessica

P.S. If you haven’t checked out the video trailer, you should. It’s pretty baller: http://www.companyone.org/theatre_show_2008_quake/photos_videos.shtml

Grace Geller: Take Two

What’s scary about boiling Brussels sprouts? I have no idea, but there’s something creepy when Frog compares inflicting ‘physiological terror’ on Big Bear Trading to boiling Brussels sprouts. This is one of my many favorite moments in “After the Quake.” Murakami is a beautiful author. His words paint an elegant story that has been masterfully translated into a play by Frank Galati.

Despite the shudders Brussels sprouts now give me, “After the Quake” is not about terror. As we’ve been working through the production process there have been many discussions about the element of ‘fear’ in the play. The play hinges on nightmares surrounding the 1995 Kobe earthquake. But, as the title states, it is a play about what happens ‘after the quake.’ It is a play about how people deal with fear – from widespread death and destruction to personal insecurities. The play depicts universal problems and showcases the best of people. There is hope for every character, from the lonely honey bear Masakichi to the central character Junpei. There is hope that everyone can face their fears.

We have a little under a month left and we’ve already started doing runs of the show. Last week we incorporated the musicians into some scenes. Music is a HUGE element to “After the Quake.” The musicians will constantly be on stage and act almost like another character, helping to drive the show. Music is also vital to help the audience understand the progression of the play, as it switches between time, place, and character rapidly. Although I knew all this from reading the play (and seeing all the music cues), it was a shock to hear the musicians actually there working with us in rehearsals. I had grown accustomed to all those awkward moments. But now, music really brings the show together; it fills in pauses and creates charming moments.

Working on the show so far has been a truly rewarding experience. I am able to talk with Shawn (the director) and Liana (the dramaturg) during each rehearsal and then watch my comments effect the scene. I’ve also been working individually with some of the actors before each rehearsal, helping them with character work and their objectives for long monologues. I feel like I’m really a part of the rehearsal process.

I’m off now to start “Norwegian Wood,” one of Murakami’s novels. You should watch the video trailer and get your tickets for this amazing play.

I’ll write again soon!

* Grace

Russ is busy!

Hello Again!

The last couple of weeks have really gotten the ball rolling. E-mails and phone calls have gone out to more businesses and clubs than I can count. Each message is spreading the word about After the Quake. I have gotten feedback from many of the companies that I have called and they sound genuinely interested in our upcoming show.

Giving out postcards continues as always, and posters will be going up around town this week. The posters look fantastic!

I am going in on Tuesday to map out an effective postering strategy, and to make more calls.

Short but sweet, as things get underway.

Also remember… the best way to spread the word about After the Quake is by word of mouth. So if you can think of anyone or any groups that would be interested, let them (and me) know! We want all of Boston talking about the show!

-Russ

Alycia Marucci, ASM, Round 2...Fight!

Hello again everyone!

This week has been quite productive in rehearsal. We managed to work on a lot of the dynamic between characters during scenes as well as add in music to some of the transitions. It is definitely a challenge working with live original music, but I think that the end result will be phenomenal, it already sounds really good when the chaos of adding the new element to the play subsides. We are doing our first run through on sunday, which should be super helpful for stage management to really understand the flow of the piece, as well as the specific timing for a lot of stuff that we haven't been able to work as a whole yet.

I have taken to spending my down time in rehearsal doodling on post-its and giving them to various people. Emily's and Eliza's production books are already littered with my periwinkle 2-dimensional masterpieces. So far I have successfully animated the following:

- the character of Katagiri as a cheerleader, jumping in support of Frog in the middle of his battle with worm.
- Sayoko hiding behind her japanese fan.
- the stage management team (with a caption stating that "Stage Managers are Coo.")
- the weather outside the rehearsal room on Sunday (mother nature thought it would be quite spectacular to allow the sun to show its face only during the hours of our rehearsal, and deemed the rest of the day rainy)
- a spy. (unrelated to the text of the play, it was however a secret-spy note regarding very important prop information...)

more next week once we start doing run-throughs!

Alycia

After The Quake: Paige Warren

I was beside myself nervous when I first met the Costume Designer, Miranda Giurleo, for whom I would be interning, and again when I met the rest of the cast and crew for After the Quake. I had no idea what to expect since this would be my first costuming position outside of an academic setting and it was the first time I would be working in Boston. Although I kept reminding myself that the three years I spent in high school working on costumes and the two I've spent so far in college at UVM had prepared me for the majority of my responsibilities as Assistant Costume Designer, I was nervous that I would fall short and let the designer, and myself, down.

When the time came I was relieved to find out that many of my responsibilities were just what I was eagerly anticipating and that the cast and crew have been very welcoming, supportive, and helpful. Since the company and the production are a smaller scale than I expected at first, I've found that I've been able to really focus on the business side of costuming (less of what goes on stage and more of how it got there to begin with). I can't begin to describe how amazingly helpful this process has been, especially at a professional company, and how much I've learned in just the first few weeks of working. Speaking of which, I actually need to update the Costume Bible for After the Quake now. I can already tell that this production is going to be enriching in many ways.

Paige

After The Quake: Nick Tosches

Greetings to you all in the blogosphere! I’m Nick and I am currently a upcoming Senior at Emerson College majoring in stage management. Yes, I know what your thinking; “What is a stage manager doing building things and not taking rehearsal notes?” Well that’s cause I also enjoy carpentry/propping/anything that requires a hammer to bang things into shape just as much as banging out paperwork. I first started working in theatre as a stagehand/carpenter at my high school. After my director asked me to be the school’s production manager my senior year, I learned that I also liked organizing and running rehearsal/tech/and the other general fiddly bits of management. So while I stage manage by night I usually spend my days as a carpenter.

This is, however, my first time as assistant technical director and I want to thank both the technical director Mark VanDerzee and production manager Sarah Cohan for giving me this great opportunity. Hopefully I just have to combine my skills as a stage manager and carpenter and everything should be fine right? So far I’ve learned that there is a lot of looking at the big picture as a TD that a stage manager does not necessarily have to do. For example, while a stage manager might have to think about the safety of an actor who has to stand up on a 5’ tall platform, a TD has to think about not only the safety of the actor, but how is that 5’ platform going to be built so that it is both safe/structurally sound/and aesthetically pleasing. It’s definitely a different way of thinking, but coming up with a solution to a problem is the fun part.

So far it’s been a read through and production meetings with the occasional meeting with Mark about budgetary and technical elements, but I am really looking forward to the build for this show because this set is kick ass! I’ve always been a fan of combining the traditional with the modern, and the set designer, Sean Cote, has taken the elegance of traditional Japanese style and combined it with the boldness of modern design. I won't give too much away as I want all of you to come see this play for yourselves. This set along with everything else truly portrays the kind of magic you can only get in theatre. And I get to build it! I know you are all jealous, but you should have thought about that before reading my blog.

So thank you all for reading this and I will catch you all later in the continuation of this blog, And as Jessica said before me, I hope you all are getting excited for the show, because I certainly am.

-Nick

After The Quake: Jessica Hegarty

Hi all! I’m going to start with an introduction, which seems to be the trend. My name is Jessica and this coming fall I will be a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I’m majoring in theater and minoring in french out there in the valley and cannot express how excited I am to be back in the city and working with such a great company. Originally from the north shore, I’ve been doing theater since the age of nine and really just love everything about it. For this production I will be serving as the Production Assistant and also as the House Manager.

For me, I really just love theater. I knew I couldn’t spend another summer working in a tiny kitchen without air conditioning, pretending that I didn’t miss the stage. Well, let’s just say things seem to be working out better than I ever could have hoped. Being a production assistant is really the perfect way to just dive right in and get a great hands on experience. I change my mind every day about what career I want to pursue in theater and just being able to see all aspects, jobs I didn’t even know existed, is truly an amazing experience. So thanks Company One for making that happen :). But if you want the specifics, I
am in rehearsals, helping as much as I can. I tend to stick with the stage management team, assisting them primarily. I also work in the office at times helping with general company needs.

As far as House Managing goes, well I’ll be the one to answer your questions when you come and see this fabulous show :). I’ll be connecting with the stage managers and making sure the show starts when it’s supposed to and that you all find your seats. Front of house is going to be a new experience for me, but I’m excited to learn and try something new.

I hope you all are getting excited for this show; it’s really coming along and I think you’ll enjoy it. I look forward to blogging with y’all a bit more!

Happy theatering! <3
Jessica

After The Quake: Grace Geller

Did you know that at 5:46 A.M. on January 17, 1995, the Great Hanshin Earthquake hit near the city of Kobe, destroying the city and killing over 5,000 people? I didn’t, until I started working this summer as Assistant to the Director and Dramaturg for “After the Quake.” In the past month I have learned about this earthquake and many other facts about Japan.

A little about me – my name is Grace and I’m a rising senior at Wheaton College, a Classical Civilizations major and Theater minor. I am excited to be working with Company One this summer. I started work one month ago and I’ve met so many amazing people!

So what do I do as Assistant to the Director and Assistant to the Dramaturg (yes, I do both these jobs, there was some confusion about that as the assistant stage manager thought the Assistant to the Dramaturg was just never around for the first week)? For much of May, I was working with the Dramaturg to create the Dramaturgy Packet for the actors. For any who don’t know, a Dramaturgy Packet is researched information given to the actors to help explain different aspects of that show. For “After the Quake,” the packet consisted of information on Japan, earthquakes, and Murakami, as well as shorter definitions of people or places referenced in the play.

Now that rehearsals have started, I’m working as the Assistant to both the Director and Dramaturg. I’m getting the opportunity to watch and be a part of every rehearsal. As part of my job, the Director or Dramaturg will also ask me to look up something before the next rehearsal. For example, today I’m learning how to bow properly in Japan so I can teach one of the actors.

I love working for Company One. I also LOVE “After the Quake,” Murakami has such beautiful imagery that translates perfectly into the play. Anyone reading this really ought to go buy tickets for the show. I’ll write again in a few weeks! I’m excited to see how the play develops!

-Grace

After The Quake: Alycia Marucci

I suppose I should introduce myself since this is my first blog entry. I am Alycia, the second assistant stage manager for After the Quake. This is my first time blogging, so we will see how it goes. Ummm…

I am super excited to be working with Company One for the first time! I am having an amazing time in rehearsal, everyone who is here is fantastic, the attitude in rehearsal in incredibly low-key, and yet we still manage to focus and move forward really well.

We are a little over a week into rehearsal at this point. We finished blocking the show yesterday, and we are going to begin reworking scenes tomorrow morning. So far everything is going along smoothly, we are working with props and are partially off book so we are doing well.

We had to change rehearsal spaces because we had a morning rehearsal today, which meant we had to bring the props from our normal rehearsal space to the BCA studio in the south end. I must say I felt slightly ridiculous carrying 90’s cordless phone, an empty sprite can around in my bag all day.

I hope that was a good first blog entry! I would write more now except that my foot is falling asleep and I feel as though I should attend to the situation. More to come next week!

-Alycia

After The Quake: Russ Woron-Simons

Hi! I'm Russell Woron-Simons. I am a native of Brookline and a rising senior at Vassar College. My double majors of Classics and Drama, as well as membership in various student-run organizations, keep me pretty busy during the school year. This summer I am very excited to be the marketing Intern for Company One!

So far my efforts have focused on getting the word out about “After the Quake”. I’ve been drafting letters and emails reaching out to different communities in Boston. I’m really trying to get people excited about the show, and am hoping to help build Company One’s reputation as a source of theatrical inspiration and thought.

I have also been handing out postcards on the street. (My job is very glamorous!) Actually, I’ve found passing out the cards has been pretty rewarding! The massive stack of cards are quickly dispersed and people seem glad to get them! And they read them! And ask questions! It has been fun to talk with all sorts of people about the play and Company One -- and I've met some really unusual people in the process.

I just began my internship a week or so ago… looking forward to seeing how else I can help as the “After the Quake” grows closer.

Well Hello!

Who is this blogging you may ask? It’s time for another voice on the blog. For those of you who have not run into me at an audition or with a paint brush in hand, this is Alyssa McKeon, Asst. Production Manager. I want to meet you (yes, every last one of you), so I’ll let you on to a little secret. I’m working the door at The Superheroine Monologues, A Parody of Super Proportions (Check out the link if you missed the review in The Metro - http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/04/17/01/0811-77/index.xml )

What I’m trying to say, dear people reading my posting, is that if you want to meet me, get out, get to the theatre, and come see my smiling face (along with a fantastic show!)! I’ll be there tonight, and next week, but the rest of the cast and crew will be working their spandex off all weekend long!

(Let me give you a helping hand: https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/168/1238612400000)

I’m not here to promote The Metro, but let’s be serious, they write about things I care about (like the Boston Theatre Scene) and have been known to break news before CNN (I’ve seen it happen my soon to be friends, soon to be as soon as you get out, get to the monologues and meet me… I’m serious).

The point being, right now, the BCA, home to giants such as SpeakEasy, The Theatre Offensive, Public Theatre, Up You Mighty Race, and DRUM ROLL PLEASE...Company One, is up to grab some serious money in a grant contest. 25 historic sights are competing for a $100,000 grant.

Wow.

$100,000 to go towards the BCA! The only thing missing is your vote (not mine, I’ve voted 3 times today. Do not ask questions, and do not tell…).

Click it and make it a reality: http://www.partnersinpreservation.com/boston/index.php?sec=vot.

I’m going to digress a bit, since we touched on resident companies at the BCA… lets sound some congrats out to all the Companies for a great showing at the IRNE awards! In case you weren’t there (some of us like myself tend to forget what day of the week it is or what their own name is, so we can’t always remember to make it to events…), our own MASON SAND took home the IRNE for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his role in Company One’s Assassins this past summer. Yes, I am going to tell you to share the love with Mason on our facebook page. He deserves it.

Enough about other people, lets get back to me and my life. The past few weeks have been consumed with After The Quake casting and callbacks, and I have to say, we are proud to present the Cast (head shots and all) to you on our webpage! I’m assuming you know where that is, since you clearly found this blog by facebook or our homepage… unless there’s something you’re not telling me. We’ll talk about it after we become friends at The Superheroine Monologues. Either way, we’re heading into the final stretch of preparations before full scale rehearsal breaks out! Don’t worry, we’ll be keeping you titillated until opening night (mark your calendars) on July 17th with teasers such as production photos and the by now FAMOUS Company One Video Trailers.

Ok people. I am, frankly, simply out of exciting news to tell you, unless you want to chat about the hair cut I’m planning (look out Boston!). Check back soon, I’m sure to have more links for you to click, and more things you NEED to know.

-Alyssa