Back to Routine

DAY FOUR

After an exhausting yet incredibly fun intensive, we were excited to return to routine today. For the cast and crew today was the first day back to classes since rehearsal began. We will all admit that a lot of worthwhile procrastination went on this weekend but now it is time to get back to school. While rehearsal was much sorter today it was clear everyone was glad to be back in the theatre working on our production. 

The actors had to take a huge step tonight: picking a mask. While no decision is final, it's time for the actors to start heading in a specific direction in terms of selecting a character. This decision process had no real time constraint, actors could explore their favorite mask or masks for as much time as needed to settle on one.  

The criteria explored for mask selection was as follows:

• Practicality
• Fit and comfort of the mask on the actor
• Head
• What mask do you think would be a strong choice?
• Heart
• What mask do you love?
• Gut
• What mask do you feel is right for you?
• Challenge
• What character choice would be a challenge for you to explore but one that you can accomplish in less than six weeks?

Sometimes its good to just fall on the floor and laugh for no reason.

Character Phrases

Check out some of our initial character work! For this exercise each actor has chosen one mask, one costume piece, and one phrase to play with. They were asked to focus on how these components affected their body and movement. The final product is shown here:

Intensive Part III

Day Three

Despite the fact that everyone is sore and tired, all cast and crew arrived today ready to work once again. Prof. Paula Davis arrived with a stock of costumes for the actors to explore. They started to discover the role costuming can play during character development.

Our character work helped us explore the many layers that must be considered for an effective masked character. It was interesting to see how quickly power dynamics were developed and helped actors interact with each other in character. 

Based on their mask choices for the day, the actors divided themselves into three groups: suit jackets, overalls, and green rags. Our discussion revolved around how similar characters unknowingly grouped themselves in the same costume categories. The interactions of the three groups were quite interesting and helped the actors explore our reoccurring theme of power. 

Click photos for a better view!

~~

Later in the day Prof. Elaine Williams stopped by to further discuss set design possibilities. Two of the strongest components currently being considered is the use of scaffolding and suitcases. The actors had a chance to interact and explore these props, asked to create three different imgaes within their groups. Plenty of new ideas were discovered during this process!

Intensive Part II

 DAY TWO

Our second day of the rehearsal intensive brought much parter and movement work. Playing both with and without masks, actors were asked to explore how movement could be dictated by sound and space.

Costume designer Prof. Paula Davis and Set Designer Elaine Williams visited the cast to discuss some of their initial ideas heading into this process.  Just like the performance, their designs will be devised as rehearsal goes on. 

The day ended with some detailed mask work, explore space, sound and relationship all at once. Everyone is exhausted but excited for tomorrow, the last day of the intensive.

Post-Its, Post-Its, Post-Its Everywhere

When devising a show from the ground up, organization is key. Not only does everything rehearsed and discovered have to be documented, it must somehow be tangible for the cast and crew to process. Not everything we discover can be included in the finished product but running themes and concepts can be better identified if discoveries are available for everyone to refer to. Our method is beginning to take shape as Post-It note groupings all throughout the space. Some portray exercises we have performed, others are important words we would like to highlight, thoughts evoked from viewing our  masks for the first time, and sounds that we want to further explore. Check out some of these Post-It notes below:

 Click for a larger view!

What words or questions do these masks evoke?

Contrasts are always important to consider, here are some of the contrasts we've discovered during our word. 

It has to start somewhere!

DAY ONE

Today, March 1st, began not only our weekend intensive but our rehearsal process! The cast and crew could not have brought better energy to the space, everyone was clearly ready to work. The evening consisted of introductions, physical exercises, discussions, and (of course) mask work. Below are some photos from the evening!

Click photos for a better view!

Rules of the Road

With so many distractions in today's world, not to mention on a college campus, it's nice to enter a rehearsal space with set ground rules, expectations, and rehearsal components. An important part of our first rehearsal is to discuss and establish these things. Here's what we have so far:

• Cell phones off and never on stage.
• Leave homework, laptops, and belongings outside of the space
• Showing up ready with potential and being present
• When you're in the space, really be in the space
• Leave your ego's at the door but don't leave your sense of self
• Be aware of how much energy and what kind of energy you're bring to rehearsal
• Be early to warm up and start up the creative process
• We will start each evening with music 10 minutes before rehearsal to individually warm-up/stretch, bringing ourselves to a starting point for the evening
• Know that a devised process means somethings stay and some things go
• Establish personal, partner and ensemble rituals and traditions
• You might have to let go of some of your ideas and that's okay - they could be for the next play!
• Take risks!
• Prioritizing play
• Continually find the balance and connections between work and play.
• BE COOL!
• RESPECT THE SPACE
• We are all coming to work here as a privilege and an opportunity
• RESPECT EACH OTHER & YOURSELF