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

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

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

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