Nearly a week has passed since we took our final bows at FlynnSpace, and what a run we had! Nearly a thousand people saw our play, we were able to donate $1200 to The Burlington Schools Food Project, and (since many of you have asked) financially speaking, it looks as though we broke even! ... Whew! A big sigh of relief at the Lantz household, that's for sure!
A super-big THANK YOU to all of our sponsors, advertisers, volunteers and everybody who came to our show! We couldn't have done it without you!
-----------------------
WHAT SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING
We've been warmed with e-mails from folks like Margaret Gundersen who called our play, '...one of the finest pieces of acting and theatre we've seen in a long, long time.'
And from poet and playwright, David Budbill, who called our play, "Important, courageous and deep..." Mr. Budbill goes on to say that "American Machine is not an All-American, gooey, feel-good theatre piece; it is, rather, an honest look at the lives of six invisible, forgotten, ignored and neglected working class people who are the servants of All-American, self-indulgent privilege. The power of the writing and the acting pulled me deeply and irretrievably into the lives of these workers. Over the course of this 90-minute play, I came to love and identify with all six people. How many writers these days pay this kind of loving attention to the invisible and forgotten in our land?"
Thank you Mr. Budbill and Ms. Gundersen!
-----------------------
STATS FROM OUR SHOW
Number of cans of grease used on the machine: 4
Number of producer's dress shirts that now have grease stains: 3
Pizzas devoured by cast and crew: 35
Vegetarian to meat ratio: 2 in 5
Number of show sponsors who sell or serve pizza: 6
Total number of shows: 14
Number in which former IBM'ers attended: 3
Number of performances that got standing ovations: 7
Number with an announcement to, 'Please turn off all cell phones': 14
Number of shows where somebody's cell phone went off: 3
Number of those phones that used a song instead of a ring: 2
Day of show when GM workers were on strike citing 'job security': 1
Number of days later when Chrysler did the same thing: 15
Number of times that the word 'Jeep' is mentioned in the script: 4
Number of Jeeps previously owned by the playwright: 3
-----------------------
Well, that's about it. Once again, thank you SO MUCH for your support. We hope to see you next year with a new play.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Update/More Reviews
SEVEN MORE SHOWS - TICKETS AVAILABLE!
That's right, tickets are still available for our seven remaining shows!
So what're you waiting for? Come see the show that's been called "compelling" "powerful" and "poignant" by the local press. Some nights are filling up quickly - so give FlynnTix a call and support local indie theatre! Our remaining shows:
Wednesday 10/3 - 7:30pm
Thursday 10/4 - 7:30pm
Friday 10/5 - 7:30pm
Saturday 10/6 - 2:00pm
Saturday 10/6 - 7:30pm
Sunday 10/7 - 2:00pm
Sunday 10/7 - 6:30pm
------------------------
MORE REVIEWS!
SEVENDAYS: In this week's issue of SevenDays Erik Esckilsen says of American Machine:
"... the play has an immense heart," "... compelling working-class agitprop drama," "... a mighty swing at a formidable topic."
He goes on to say that Seth Jarvis' portrayal of Ipsy is "touching" and one that shows us, "... that a single character, deeply explored and well-portrayed can speak movingly about the general 'us' by confronting the particularities of his individual condition."
Read the full review in this week's SevenDays.
VERMONT TIMES/SENTINEL: In an article about 'American Machine' actress Bridget Butler, Bill Wargo says she "... turns in a powerful performance as a Mrs-Robinson-like woman searching for love..." "Like Judi Dench and Susan Sarandon (two actresses whom she admires) Butler dominates the stage with her strong, direct attitude."
Read the full article in The Vermont Times/Sentinel
------------------------
DON'T FORGET YOUR FRONT PORCH FORUM!
If you've seen our play, one way you can help our production is to place a free notice on your local Front Porch Forum telling your neighbors about our play. Be sure to include our web address: www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com
Not a member of your neighborhood Front Porch Forum? Go to www.FrontPorchForum.com, take a tour, and join. ... It's free!
------------------------
LOAD OUT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Now this is fun. Really. ... Our show ends Sunday night, probably around 8:00pm. I SO need a group of super volunteers at FlynnSpace to help take our set apart, load it on a truck, and then put it in storage. ... And that's it!
The last great effort of putting on a play is taking it all apart and making way for the next play. Can you imagine what would happen if the taking apart part didn't happen? Why there'd be pieces of play all over the stage, all the time, and wouldn't that be a mess!?
So e-back and let me know if you can volunteer some hours of your time Sunday night - we could sure use your help!
Come on, it'll be fun!
------------------------
MEET ACTRESS TERESA LORENCO
Some folks have asked me, 'Who was that incredible actress in American Machine portraying a thirty-something single Latina mom?' ... Meet local actress Teresa Lorenco, a thirty-something single Latina mother of two who somehow finds time to sing, act, perform in Spielpalast Cabaret, record her own CD, and also be a mom to two great sons: Dylan and Forest (happy 10th birthday, Forest!) We were sure glad to find Teresa to portray 'Lona' in American Machine. ... Welcome Teresa!
That's right, tickets are still available for our seven remaining shows!
So what're you waiting for? Come see the show that's been called "compelling" "powerful" and "poignant" by the local press. Some nights are filling up quickly - so give FlynnTix a call and support local indie theatre! Our remaining shows:
Wednesday 10/3 - 7:30pm
Thursday 10/4 - 7:30pm
Friday 10/5 - 7:30pm
Saturday 10/6 - 2:00pm
Saturday 10/6 - 7:30pm
Sunday 10/7 - 2:00pm
Sunday 10/7 - 6:30pm
------------------------
MORE REVIEWS!
SEVENDAYS: In this week's issue of SevenDays Erik Esckilsen says of American Machine:
"... the play has an immense heart," "... compelling working-class agitprop drama," "... a mighty swing at a formidable topic."
He goes on to say that Seth Jarvis' portrayal of Ipsy is "touching" and one that shows us, "... that a single character, deeply explored and well-portrayed can speak movingly about the general 'us' by confronting the particularities of his individual condition."
Read the full review in this week's SevenDays.
VERMONT TIMES/SENTINEL: In an article about 'American Machine' actress Bridget Butler, Bill Wargo says she "... turns in a powerful performance as a Mrs-Robinson-like woman searching for love..." "Like Judi Dench and Susan Sarandon (two actresses whom she admires) Butler dominates the stage with her strong, direct attitude."
Read the full article in The Vermont Times/Sentinel
------------------------
DON'T FORGET YOUR FRONT PORCH FORUM!
If you've seen our play, one way you can help our production is to place a free notice on your local Front Porch Forum telling your neighbors about our play. Be sure to include our web address: www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com
Not a member of your neighborhood Front Porch Forum? Go to www.FrontPorchForum.com, take a tour, and join. ... It's free!
------------------------
LOAD OUT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Now this is fun. Really. ... Our show ends Sunday night, probably around 8:00pm. I SO need a group of super volunteers at FlynnSpace to help take our set apart, load it on a truck, and then put it in storage. ... And that's it!
The last great effort of putting on a play is taking it all apart and making way for the next play. Can you imagine what would happen if the taking apart part didn't happen? Why there'd be pieces of play all over the stage, all the time, and wouldn't that be a mess!?
So e-back and let me know if you can volunteer some hours of your time Sunday night - we could sure use your help!
Come on, it'll be fun!
------------------------
MEET ACTRESS TERESA LORENCO
Some folks have asked me, 'Who was that incredible actress in American Machine portraying a thirty-something single Latina mom?' ... Meet local actress Teresa Lorenco, a thirty-something single Latina mother of two who somehow finds time to sing, act, perform in Spielpalast Cabaret, record her own CD, and also be a mom to two great sons: Dylan and Forest (happy 10th birthday, Forest!) We were sure glad to find Teresa to portray 'Lona' in American Machine. ... Welcome Teresa!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Tickets Available!
Rumors are afloat out there that our show is sold out for the entire run. While that would be very, very cool - it's simply not true. There are lots of tickets available for this week's shows - especially for Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights. ... So, what're you waiting for? Go buy some tickets to American Machine, the show that The Burlington Free Press called, "...powerful," and "...poignant." Call FlynnTix or go to FlynnTix.org.
Hope to see you at the show!
Hope to see you at the show!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Opening Night/Our First Review!
OPENING NIGHT
Our opening night has come and gone and what a night it was! A full house and our cast and crew did an incredible job. I'm so proud of everybody! Of course I would say that but, gosh ... you should'a seen it. I feel like a proud parent!
Of course a couple of days ago I was in panic mode as our machine (which you'll see if you come to the show) stopped working completely. And I'm talking frozen solid. Nothing. DOA. ... The machine is supposed to, well, work during the whole show - moving constantly and making parts. But late last week it just stopped. Like that.
Thanks to a really smart electrical engineer, Tim Ambrose, who came to our rescue and performed an electrical operation. I have to tell you, I was a little nervous seeing all those wires coming out of our machine. But Tim fixed it and now it's moving and working as we speak.
-----------------------
THE FREE PRESS REVIEW
Brent Hallenbeck of The Burlington Free Press calls our show "powerful," and "poignant," and our set, "...a marvel."
He goes on to say...
"Humor carries much of "American Machine." ... Most of the play is built around that uneasy camaraderie that develops when people have been together for a long time and either grow to love each other or at least to need each other. Only occasionally during these lighter moments does "American Machine" pull the curtain back to reveal what its real message is. But once it does, it's powerful."
Read the full review... go to www.BurlingtonFreePress.com, scroll down to 'Living' and there's our show!
-----------------------
WHICH CHILDREN?
American Machine is set in a factory and the humor and language can be crude. It's not appropriate for children under the age of 15, depending on the maturity level of the child. If it were a movie, it would probably be rated 'R' ... or PG-15 if there was such a rating.
------------------------
REMEMBER DENNIS AND COLIN?
If you saw 'The Bus' then you might recognize two of the actors - Dennis McSorley and Colin Cramer. Dennis played the gas station owner, 'Harry', and Colin played one of the two boys, 'Jordan.' In fact, the last two people you saw on stage in 'The Bus' were Dennis and Colin. How nice to have them re-united on stage at American Machine.
Welcome Dennis and Colin!
------------------------
Our opening night has come and gone and what a night it was! A full house and our cast and crew did an incredible job. I'm so proud of everybody! Of course I would say that but, gosh ... you should'a seen it. I feel like a proud parent!
Of course a couple of days ago I was in panic mode as our machine (which you'll see if you come to the show) stopped working completely. And I'm talking frozen solid. Nothing. DOA. ... The machine is supposed to, well, work during the whole show - moving constantly and making parts. But late last week it just stopped. Like that.
Thanks to a really smart electrical engineer, Tim Ambrose, who came to our rescue and performed an electrical operation. I have to tell you, I was a little nervous seeing all those wires coming out of our machine. But Tim fixed it and now it's moving and working as we speak.
-----------------------
THE FREE PRESS REVIEW
Brent Hallenbeck of The Burlington Free Press calls our show "powerful," and "poignant," and our set, "...a marvel."
He goes on to say...
"Humor carries much of "American Machine." ... Most of the play is built around that uneasy camaraderie that develops when people have been together for a long time and either grow to love each other or at least to need each other. Only occasionally during these lighter moments does "American Machine" pull the curtain back to reveal what its real message is. But once it does, it's powerful."
Read the full review... go to www.BurlingtonFreePress.com, scroll down to 'Living' and there's our show!
-----------------------
WHICH CHILDREN?
American Machine is set in a factory and the humor and language can be crude. It's not appropriate for children under the age of 15, depending on the maturity level of the child. If it were a movie, it would probably be rated 'R' ... or PG-15 if there was such a rating.
------------------------
REMEMBER DENNIS AND COLIN?
If you saw 'The Bus' then you might recognize two of the actors - Dennis McSorley and Colin Cramer. Dennis played the gas station owner, 'Harry', and Colin played one of the two boys, 'Jordan.' In fact, the last two people you saw on stage in 'The Bus' were Dennis and Colin. How nice to have them re-united on stage at American Machine.
Welcome Dennis and Colin!
------------------------
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Two weeks and counting!
We go up at FlynnSpace in less than 2 weeks!
Hard to believe it's less than two weeks 'til opening night. Here's what's happening now...
Sound F/X - we're honored that Jim Wolvington, the man with a couple Emmys (okay, six) on his wall for sound design and sound f/x editing for shows like 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and 'Max Headroom' has starting adding the 'Ker-chunks' and 'Pshhhs!' that will make up the factory soundscape for American Machine. Some cool sounds coming from his studio. ... Thank you, Jim!
Moving into FlynnSpace - Maria McGrath, our stage manager, has had a tape measure in her hands a lot these days planning how our set, temporarily imagined at The Soda Plant, will fit onto the stage at FlynnSpace.
Postcards - the Lantz family sat around the kitchen table the other night, peeling, labeling and stamping LOTS of postcards that hit the mail today. If you don't get one (and you'd like one) shoot down to Waterfront Video, pick up a cool flick, and one of our postcards on the counter.
Final rehearsals next week - at the moment, we're breaking scenes down, and running them over and over so the actors can get just the right feel for their characters. Next week, before we move into FlynnSpace, we'll be running the entire show from start to finish.
------------------------
MEET NEW YORK ACTOR BILL TOSCANO
So we didn't know what it would be like to hire our first NY actor - and more to the point, we couldn't imagine what life for a NY actor would be like in Vermont - after all, the actor would have to uproot their life in the city, move to Burlington for six weeks, and work with a first-time director.
But after running several ads in a NY stage paper, receiving hundreds of head shots, and auditioning a bunch of possible actors, we're glad to have found Equity actor Bill Toscano to play the role of 'Winkie' - a challenging and humorous role in our play.
In addition to being a NY actor, Bill is also a director and playwright - and a practitioner of QiGong - a breathing and meditative exercise that's similar to tai chi or yoga. In NY Bill practices QiGong in his apartment close to the theatre district, or in Central Park with joggers running past him, taxis honking in the distance.
But here in Vermont, most mornings, Bill can be found amidst the quiet of Red Rocks beach, doing QiGong at the edge of Lake Champlain. A few trees turning color, low fog over the lake, a cool breeze.
Life for a NY actor on the road isn't all bad. ... Welcome, Bill!
------------------------
BENEFIT TICKETS SELLING BRISKLY
Tickets to all shows are on sale now through FlynnTix, but tickets to the opening night benefit for The Burlington Schools Food Project ($15 in advance/$20 at the door) are available only at City Market.
Last word was the benefit tickets were selling briskly (three college classes and one High School group will be in attendance). I'm glad tickets are selling, but if you're planning on going to the opening night benefit to support Burlington schools, then make your list: milk, bread, organic green tea - then get to City Market and purchase tickets to American Machine - soon!
Hard to believe it's less than two weeks 'til opening night. Here's what's happening now...
Sound F/X - we're honored that Jim Wolvington, the man with a couple Emmys (okay, six) on his wall for sound design and sound f/x editing for shows like 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and 'Max Headroom' has starting adding the 'Ker-chunks' and 'Pshhhs!' that will make up the factory soundscape for American Machine. Some cool sounds coming from his studio. ... Thank you, Jim!
Moving into FlynnSpace - Maria McGrath, our stage manager, has had a tape measure in her hands a lot these days planning how our set, temporarily imagined at The Soda Plant, will fit onto the stage at FlynnSpace.
Postcards - the Lantz family sat around the kitchen table the other night, peeling, labeling and stamping LOTS of postcards that hit the mail today. If you don't get one (and you'd like one) shoot down to Waterfront Video, pick up a cool flick, and one of our postcards on the counter.
Final rehearsals next week - at the moment, we're breaking scenes down, and running them over and over so the actors can get just the right feel for their characters. Next week, before we move into FlynnSpace, we'll be running the entire show from start to finish.
------------------------
MEET NEW YORK ACTOR BILL TOSCANO
So we didn't know what it would be like to hire our first NY actor - and more to the point, we couldn't imagine what life for a NY actor would be like in Vermont - after all, the actor would have to uproot their life in the city, move to Burlington for six weeks, and work with a first-time director.
But after running several ads in a NY stage paper, receiving hundreds of head shots, and auditioning a bunch of possible actors, we're glad to have found Equity actor Bill Toscano to play the role of 'Winkie' - a challenging and humorous role in our play.
In addition to being a NY actor, Bill is also a director and playwright - and a practitioner of QiGong - a breathing and meditative exercise that's similar to tai chi or yoga. In NY Bill practices QiGong in his apartment close to the theatre district, or in Central Park with joggers running past him, taxis honking in the distance.
But here in Vermont, most mornings, Bill can be found amidst the quiet of Red Rocks beach, doing QiGong at the edge of Lake Champlain. A few trees turning color, low fog over the lake, a cool breeze.
Life for a NY actor on the road isn't all bad. ... Welcome, Bill!
------------------------
BENEFIT TICKETS SELLING BRISKLY
Tickets to all shows are on sale now through FlynnTix, but tickets to the opening night benefit for The Burlington Schools Food Project ($15 in advance/$20 at the door) are available only at City Market.
Last word was the benefit tickets were selling briskly (three college classes and one High School group will be in attendance). I'm glad tickets are selling, but if you're planning on going to the opening night benefit to support Burlington schools, then make your list: milk, bread, organic green tea - then get to City Market and purchase tickets to American Machine - soon!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Three Weeks 'til Opening Night!
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Three short weeks to Opening Night! Here's what's happening...
Factory tour - Our actors are doing some character research this Thursday and taking a tour of Twincraft, a soap manufacturing plant in Winooski. We'll probably come back smelling quite aromatic! ... Special thanks to Michele Rose and Peter Asch, President of Twincraft, for making this happen!
Posters - We start hitting the streets with our posters this week. Got a place you think our poster would look nice and gets lots of attention? Shoot us an e-mail and we'll send a poster to you. They look pretty hot (thank you Lynn!)
Brett Hughes, our music making man, sat in on a rehearsal last week to get a feel for the show and begin the process of recording the old folk song made popular by Leadbelly (and CCR), 'Midnight Special.'
------------------------
MEET BRIDGET BUTLER - ACTRESS, OWL WHISPERER
So our cast is sitting around during a break and talking 'What did you do on vacation?' Bridget Butler, who plays 'Teena,' starts telling us about her trip to Maine. Picture this: a clear night in the Maine woods, Bridget's sitting around a fire with family and friends and, in the distance, she hears an owl. As a professional birder, Bridget calls to the owl. The owl calls back. Then others. A little while later all these owls are in the trees around the fire. Everybody's staring up at the night sky. Bridget keeps calling. The owls keep answering.
Now that's cool.
When she's not on stage playing Teena in 'American Machine,' or Connie in 'Midwives,' or one of the many other roles she's played, Bridget is a teacher/naturalist with Audubon, Vermont. You can hear her work, too - Bridget also hosts her own radio show called, 'BEEKS - A Birding Geeks Radio Delight' which is webcast weekly at www.vt.audubon.org.
I tell you, we've got the coolest cast.
------------------------
GOT TICKETS COMING TO YOU?
If you're a sponsor and you've got comp tickets coming your way, you'll be getting a phone call or e-mail starting in about a week or ten days. Sue Kavanaugh is our administrative assistant (and also my mother-in-law.) Sue's sweet on the phone, and even sweeter when telling me what needs to be fixed around the house. If you're a sponsor, thank you so much for your sponsorship - our play wouldn't be possible without you! ... Interested in being a sponsor? Drop us an e-mail.
------------------------
FRONT PORCH FORUM
One of Burlington's great gems is Front Porch Forum, an on-line neighborhood forum created by Michael Wood-Lewis. If you live in Chittenden County, chances are you live in one of the 130 forums that neighbors use for all sorts of communication - finding a lost cat, recommending a plumber, to ... letting people know about a new play!
One way you can help our production (and the Burlington Schools Food Project) is to place a free notice on your local FPF telling neighbors about our play and the opening night benefit for the Burlington Schools Food Project. Be sure to include our web address: www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com
Not a member of your neighborhood Front Porch Forum? Go to www.FrontPorchForum.com, take a tour, and join. ... It's free!
------------------------
BE A VOLUNTEER - HAVE FUN!
Our production could use a few extra hands...
Load-in/Load-out ... Got muscles? Our load-in is scheduled for Saturday night, September 22nd. We'll probably start loading out of our studio around 7pm, then start loading into the Flynn by around 10 or 11 that evening - anticipated wrap by 2am. Our entire set (including the machine) will move from The Soda Plant (at Recycle North) to FlynnSpace ... walls, machine, barrels and skids. If you're a night owl and want to hang with some punchy theatre folk, e-back and let us know - we'll provide the coffee and lots of appreciation!
Ushers... At each show we need 3 ushers to take tickets, show people to their seats and man (or woman) the door. If you can commit to ushering at least 2 shows, we'll spot you a comp ticket. Interested? Check out the show schedule at www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com then e-mail our house manager, Elizabeth Wilkins at ceowilkins@msn.com.
Three short weeks to Opening Night! Here's what's happening...
Factory tour - Our actors are doing some character research this Thursday and taking a tour of Twincraft, a soap manufacturing plant in Winooski. We'll probably come back smelling quite aromatic! ... Special thanks to Michele Rose and Peter Asch, President of Twincraft, for making this happen!
Posters - We start hitting the streets with our posters this week. Got a place you think our poster would look nice and gets lots of attention? Shoot us an e-mail and we'll send a poster to you. They look pretty hot (thank you Lynn!)
Brett Hughes, our music making man, sat in on a rehearsal last week to get a feel for the show and begin the process of recording the old folk song made popular by Leadbelly (and CCR), 'Midnight Special.'
------------------------
MEET BRIDGET BUTLER - ACTRESS, OWL WHISPERER
So our cast is sitting around during a break and talking 'What did you do on vacation?' Bridget Butler, who plays 'Teena,' starts telling us about her trip to Maine. Picture this: a clear night in the Maine woods, Bridget's sitting around a fire with family and friends and, in the distance, she hears an owl. As a professional birder, Bridget calls to the owl. The owl calls back. Then others. A little while later all these owls are in the trees around the fire. Everybody's staring up at the night sky. Bridget keeps calling. The owls keep answering.
Now that's cool.
When she's not on stage playing Teena in 'American Machine,' or Connie in 'Midwives,' or one of the many other roles she's played, Bridget is a teacher/naturalist with Audubon, Vermont. You can hear her work, too - Bridget also hosts her own radio show called, 'BEEKS - A Birding Geeks Radio Delight' which is webcast weekly at www.vt.audubon.org.
I tell you, we've got the coolest cast.
------------------------
GOT TICKETS COMING TO YOU?
If you're a sponsor and you've got comp tickets coming your way, you'll be getting a phone call or e-mail starting in about a week or ten days. Sue Kavanaugh is our administrative assistant (and also my mother-in-law.) Sue's sweet on the phone, and even sweeter when telling me what needs to be fixed around the house. If you're a sponsor, thank you so much for your sponsorship - our play wouldn't be possible without you! ... Interested in being a sponsor? Drop us an e-mail.
------------------------
FRONT PORCH FORUM
One of Burlington's great gems is Front Porch Forum, an on-line neighborhood forum created by Michael Wood-Lewis. If you live in Chittenden County, chances are you live in one of the 130 forums that neighbors use for all sorts of communication - finding a lost cat, recommending a plumber, to ... letting people know about a new play!
One way you can help our production (and the Burlington Schools Food Project) is to place a free notice on your local FPF telling neighbors about our play and the opening night benefit for the Burlington Schools Food Project. Be sure to include our web address: www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com
Not a member of your neighborhood Front Porch Forum? Go to www.FrontPorchForum.com, take a tour, and join. ... It's free!
------------------------
BE A VOLUNTEER - HAVE FUN!
Our production could use a few extra hands...
Load-in/Load-out ... Got muscles? Our load-in is scheduled for Saturday night, September 22nd. We'll probably start loading out of our studio around 7pm, then start loading into the Flynn by around 10 or 11 that evening - anticipated wrap by 2am. Our entire set (including the machine) will move from The Soda Plant (at Recycle North) to FlynnSpace ... walls, machine, barrels and skids. If you're a night owl and want to hang with some punchy theatre folk, e-back and let us know - we'll provide the coffee and lots of appreciation!
Ushers... At each show we need 3 ushers to take tickets, show people to their seats and man (or woman) the door. If you can commit to ushering at least 2 shows, we'll spot you a comp ticket. Interested? Check out the show schedule at www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com then e-mail our house manager, Elizabeth Wilkins at ceowilkins@msn.com.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Production Update
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Four weeks to go to Opening Night and lots of stuff is happening...
Off-book Rehearsals ... Tonight is our first rehearsal where actors are 'off-book' meaning that all the actors have memorized their lines and we can start rehearsing with details like props, set pieces and blocking (where an actor moves within the set). The show is coming together really well. I'm biased to say this, but our actors are so talented. I'm quite proud of our cast.
Seth Jarvis portrays 'Ipsy,' a man with a disability and a cleft palette. Seth has put a lot of hours into researching this role and it really shows. Everybody else is researching their characters, too ... reading books, talking to people similar to their characters. We have plans to tour a factory in a couple of weeks.
Sets... Sam Rudy has finished sculpting the sets and now Isaac Wasuck has begun painting them and, boy, do they look nice! Both of these guys are phenomenal artists - the old brick wall looks so true to form that you have to touch it to realize that it's really carved styrofoam.
Beer for Cola ... So we bought an old coke machine on e-bay that will be a key set piece. The man we bought it from kept it in his garage to keep beer cold (his wife made him sell it). When we told him that we were probably going to gut it and re-wire it, he got this sad look in his eye and said, 'Hell, I thought you were going to use it for beer, too.' (...in order to get a beer, you have to pay 35 cents). ... After the show, if anybody wants a beer cooler that could make money too, let us know.
Our Ads ... Advertising for 'American Machine' starts just after Labor Day. Check out SevenDays, Front Porch Forum, and your local kiosk. Each of our ads contains a statistic or fact about the vanishing American dream...
------------------------
BE A SPONSOR - HAVE FUN!
Egads! We're still $5,000 shy of our fundraising goal. With only 4 weeks to go and a big hole in our budget, to be honest, we're getting a little nervous at American Machine.
We're making calls and hoping that we can still reach our goal. Did you know that for as little as $75 you can be an individual sponsor; for as little as $95 you can advertise in our program. Get great seats to the show with your complimentary tickets, advertise in the program, and see a really cool play about an important subject. Interested? E-back or give us a call.
If you're already a sponsor, THANK YOU! We're going to recognize you at the show in four short weeks. Of course, our play wouldn't be possible without you!
------------------------
BLOGGERS NIGHT
The Thursday night, September 27th show of 'American Machine' we're calling 'Bloggers Night.' This is how we hope it'll work. ... In addition to our paying audience and sponsors, we're going to invite about 20 of Burlington's bloggers to this show gratis. The only thing that we ask in return is that our bloggers do what they do best: blog about what they saw. What they say is up to them - what they see on Thursday, September 27th will be up to us.
So if you regularly read any bloggers in Burlington, let us know who they are and we'll be sure to invite them!
Well, that's all for now. E-back if you have any questions. As always thank you for your support - hope to see you at the show!
Four weeks to go to Opening Night and lots of stuff is happening...
Off-book Rehearsals ... Tonight is our first rehearsal where actors are 'off-book' meaning that all the actors have memorized their lines and we can start rehearsing with details like props, set pieces and blocking (where an actor moves within the set). The show is coming together really well. I'm biased to say this, but our actors are so talented. I'm quite proud of our cast.
Seth Jarvis portrays 'Ipsy,' a man with a disability and a cleft palette. Seth has put a lot of hours into researching this role and it really shows. Everybody else is researching their characters, too ... reading books, talking to people similar to their characters. We have plans to tour a factory in a couple of weeks.
Sets... Sam Rudy has finished sculpting the sets and now Isaac Wasuck has begun painting them and, boy, do they look nice! Both of these guys are phenomenal artists - the old brick wall looks so true to form that you have to touch it to realize that it's really carved styrofoam.
Beer for Cola ... So we bought an old coke machine on e-bay that will be a key set piece. The man we bought it from kept it in his garage to keep beer cold (his wife made him sell it). When we told him that we were probably going to gut it and re-wire it, he got this sad look in his eye and said, 'Hell, I thought you were going to use it for beer, too.' (...in order to get a beer, you have to pay 35 cents). ... After the show, if anybody wants a beer cooler that could make money too, let us know.
Our Ads ... Advertising for 'American Machine' starts just after Labor Day. Check out SevenDays, Front Porch Forum, and your local kiosk. Each of our ads contains a statistic or fact about the vanishing American dream...
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BE A SPONSOR - HAVE FUN!
Egads! We're still $5,000 shy of our fundraising goal. With only 4 weeks to go and a big hole in our budget, to be honest, we're getting a little nervous at American Machine.
We're making calls and hoping that we can still reach our goal. Did you know that for as little as $75 you can be an individual sponsor; for as little as $95 you can advertise in our program. Get great seats to the show with your complimentary tickets, advertise in the program, and see a really cool play about an important subject. Interested? E-back or give us a call.
If you're already a sponsor, THANK YOU! We're going to recognize you at the show in four short weeks. Of course, our play wouldn't be possible without you!
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BLOGGERS NIGHT
The Thursday night, September 27th show of 'American Machine' we're calling 'Bloggers Night.' This is how we hope it'll work. ... In addition to our paying audience and sponsors, we're going to invite about 20 of Burlington's bloggers to this show gratis. The only thing that we ask in return is that our bloggers do what they do best: blog about what they saw. What they say is up to them - what they see on Thursday, September 27th will be up to us.
So if you regularly read any bloggers in Burlington, let us know who they are and we'll be sure to invite them!
Well, that's all for now. E-back if you have any questions. As always thank you for your support - hope to see you at the show!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Press Release - Seth Jarvis to Lead Cast in American Machine
Local actor, playwright and director Seth Jarvis will lead a cast of six actors in a new play called, ‘American Machine,’ written and directed by James Lantz, playwright of ‘The Bus,’ that will premiere at Burlington’s FlynnSpace from September 25th to October 7th.
Jarvis will play the role of ‘Ipsy,’ a team leader at a plastics factory who speaks through a cleft palette and clings to a romantic vision of a company called, American Machine.
Rehearsals for the new play begin this week. Other cast members include local actors Dennis McSorley and Colin Cramer who also acted in ‘The Bus.’ Local actresses Bridget Butler and Teresa Lorenco have also joined the cast. The cast includes one out-of-town actor.
A parable on the current state of the American dream, ‘American Machine’ tells the tale of a factory that once made parts for classic cars. It is the story of a make-shift family of six friends who come together each night to work, and are soon faced with rumors that their employer is being sold. As they begin working on a new order – making buckets and mops for Wal-Mart ¬– the prospect of being split up looms before them, and their dedication to the once-proud factory is put to the test.
Featuring many of the same artists from the creative team of ‘The Bus,’ ‘American Machine’ includes music by Brett Hughes, sound design by Jim Wolvington, lighting by John Devlin, set by Sam Rudy, and costumes by Jessie Owens.
**
‘American Machine,’ FlynnSpace, Sept. 25 - Oct. 7, 2007. For tickets: FlynnTix.org
The opening night performance will benefit The Burlington Schools Food Project. 100% of all proceeds from this show will go to the project to support healthy fruits and vegetables for students at Burlington schools and to support CSA farm shares for food service employees of Burlington school cafeterias.
For more info on the play go to www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com
Jarvis will play the role of ‘Ipsy,’ a team leader at a plastics factory who speaks through a cleft palette and clings to a romantic vision of a company called, American Machine.
Rehearsals for the new play begin this week. Other cast members include local actors Dennis McSorley and Colin Cramer who also acted in ‘The Bus.’ Local actresses Bridget Butler and Teresa Lorenco have also joined the cast. The cast includes one out-of-town actor.
A parable on the current state of the American dream, ‘American Machine’ tells the tale of a factory that once made parts for classic cars. It is the story of a make-shift family of six friends who come together each night to work, and are soon faced with rumors that their employer is being sold. As they begin working on a new order – making buckets and mops for Wal-Mart ¬– the prospect of being split up looms before them, and their dedication to the once-proud factory is put to the test.
Featuring many of the same artists from the creative team of ‘The Bus,’ ‘American Machine’ includes music by Brett Hughes, sound design by Jim Wolvington, lighting by John Devlin, set by Sam Rudy, and costumes by Jessie Owens.
**
‘American Machine,’ FlynnSpace, Sept. 25 - Oct. 7, 2007. For tickets: FlynnTix.org
The opening night performance will benefit The Burlington Schools Food Project. 100% of all proceeds from this show will go to the project to support healthy fruits and vegetables for students at Burlington schools and to support CSA farm shares for food service employees of Burlington school cafeterias.
For more info on the play go to www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Where are we now?
Here's our every-once-in-a-while update on what's going with our show...
CAST ... After months of auditions that have taken us from the far reaches of Vermont to Ellenville, New York (where the TV antennae was invented!) we're proud to announce five or our six cast members. We're glad to welcome back actors Dennis McSorley, Colin Cramer who were part of 'The Bus,' and two very talented actresses - Bridget Butler and Teresa Lorenco. Seth Jarvis, who directed 'The Bus,' is also a talented actor and has joined the cast, too. Over the next two months, we'll introduce you to these talented Vermont theatre artists. (ps. we'll also update you on our search for our last remaining actor.)
SETS ... We've started building our sets which includes part of a working injection molding machine. We plugged it in last night - and it works! Normally an injection molding machine is about the size of a Winnebego and weighs tons, but between a set animator at the Shakespeare Theatre in DC (thank you, St. Mike's grad Mark Prey), a plastics factory in Virginia (thank you Valley Industrial Plastics) and a talented student from Cooper Union (thank you Sam Rudy), our machine will be less imposing as we place it behind an open stage door to fit nicely onstage at FlynnSpace.
REHEARSALS ... It's hard to believe it's only 8 weeks to the opening of our play so rehearsing has already become part of our weekly ritual. We've moved to our permanent rehearsal home at The Soda Plant (thank you Steve Conant!).
FUNDRAISING ... By far the toughest part of putting on a play is raising our budget. We're lucky to live in a community where the arts are so generously supported (for instance, I can't imagine producing 'The Bus' in, say, Lubbock, Texas.) ... As an independent production we're not funded by any theatre or organization, so our budget comes completely from corporate and individual sponsorships. So far we've raised about half of our budget, but we've still got a long ways to go. If you'd like to become a sponsor 'American Machine,' shoot us an e-mail and we'll show you how!
CAST ... After months of auditions that have taken us from the far reaches of Vermont to Ellenville, New York (where the TV antennae was invented!) we're proud to announce five or our six cast members. We're glad to welcome back actors Dennis McSorley, Colin Cramer who were part of 'The Bus,' and two very talented actresses - Bridget Butler and Teresa Lorenco. Seth Jarvis, who directed 'The Bus,' is also a talented actor and has joined the cast, too. Over the next two months, we'll introduce you to these talented Vermont theatre artists. (ps. we'll also update you on our search for our last remaining actor.)
SETS ... We've started building our sets which includes part of a working injection molding machine. We plugged it in last night - and it works! Normally an injection molding machine is about the size of a Winnebego and weighs tons, but between a set animator at the Shakespeare Theatre in DC (thank you, St. Mike's grad Mark Prey), a plastics factory in Virginia (thank you Valley Industrial Plastics) and a talented student from Cooper Union (thank you Sam Rudy), our machine will be less imposing as we place it behind an open stage door to fit nicely onstage at FlynnSpace.
REHEARSALS ... It's hard to believe it's only 8 weeks to the opening of our play so rehearsing has already become part of our weekly ritual. We've moved to our permanent rehearsal home at The Soda Plant (thank you Steve Conant!).
FUNDRAISING ... By far the toughest part of putting on a play is raising our budget. We're lucky to live in a community where the arts are so generously supported (for instance, I can't imagine producing 'The Bus' in, say, Lubbock, Texas.) ... As an independent production we're not funded by any theatre or organization, so our budget comes completely from corporate and individual sponsorships. So far we've raised about half of our budget, but we've still got a long ways to go. If you'd like to become a sponsor 'American Machine,' shoot us an e-mail and we'll show you how!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
First Press Release
James Lantz is proud to announce that he will be back at FlynnSpace in September where he will premiere his new play, ‘American Machine’ with many of the same artists that helped create last year’s play, ‘The Bus,’ including actors Seth Jarvis, Colin Cramer and Dennis McSorley.
‘American Machine' tells the tale of a factory that once made parts for classic American cars. It is the story of a make-shift family of six friends who come together each night to work, and are soon faced with rumors that their employer is being sold. As they begin working on a new order – making buckets and mops for Wal-Mart ¬– the prospect of being split up looms before them, and their dedication to the once-proud factory is put to the test.
“It’s a play about a lot of things that are deeply rooted in the American dream,” Lantz says of his new play. “In this country, we have an incredible heritage of building things, of manufacturing, of industry and work – and to be part of that was to be part of something great. But what happens when that goes away? That’s where our story begins.”
Lantz said that pre-production of his new play had been delayed a couple of weeks as a New York City theatre had expressed some interest in staging ‘The Bus’ after its premiere in Burlington last fall. However, after several meetings with the theatre, working up budgets and making some preliminary plans, to date, nothing has been scheduled.
“Someday it’d be great to take one of my plays to New York,” Lantz said, “but right now I’ve got a big job ahead of me here at home – producing ‘American Machine.’ We’re producing it the same way we produced ‘The Bus’ – a sort of grass-roots theatre effort. I love making a play this way because I get to work with lots of great volunteers who come from all over the community. But it takes a phenomenal amount of energy and effort to do it this way. We don’t have a staff, we don’t have a budget – it’s just us.”
It’s a challeging path for the Vermont playwright. Trying to fit the hundreds of hours it takes to produce a play into a life that also includes kids, jobs and other responsibilities can be difficult. Fundraising is another significant challenge; for ‘American Machine’ Lantz estimates that he’ll have to raise more than $15,000 – most of it, from individual supporters and advertisers.
However the biggest challenge facing Lantz may be building a replica of a twenty-ton plastics injection-molding machine that will become the central set piece on the FlynnSpace stage for ‘American Machine.’ When asked how he and his volunteers were going to do this, Lantz smiled and said, “Wish us luck.”
**
‘American Machine’ will play at Burlington’s FlynnSpace, September 25 - October 7, 2007.
The opening night performance will benefit The Burlington School Food Project. 100% of all proceeds from this show will go to the project to support healthy fruits and vegetables for students at Burlington schools and to support CSA farm shares for food service employees of Burlington school cafeterias.
American Machine will also be featured at this fall’s Burlington Book Festival in September.
‘American Machine' tells the tale of a factory that once made parts for classic American cars. It is the story of a make-shift family of six friends who come together each night to work, and are soon faced with rumors that their employer is being sold. As they begin working on a new order – making buckets and mops for Wal-Mart ¬– the prospect of being split up looms before them, and their dedication to the once-proud factory is put to the test.
“It’s a play about a lot of things that are deeply rooted in the American dream,” Lantz says of his new play. “In this country, we have an incredible heritage of building things, of manufacturing, of industry and work – and to be part of that was to be part of something great. But what happens when that goes away? That’s where our story begins.”
Lantz said that pre-production of his new play had been delayed a couple of weeks as a New York City theatre had expressed some interest in staging ‘The Bus’ after its premiere in Burlington last fall. However, after several meetings with the theatre, working up budgets and making some preliminary plans, to date, nothing has been scheduled.
“Someday it’d be great to take one of my plays to New York,” Lantz said, “but right now I’ve got a big job ahead of me here at home – producing ‘American Machine.’ We’re producing it the same way we produced ‘The Bus’ – a sort of grass-roots theatre effort. I love making a play this way because I get to work with lots of great volunteers who come from all over the community. But it takes a phenomenal amount of energy and effort to do it this way. We don’t have a staff, we don’t have a budget – it’s just us.”
It’s a challeging path for the Vermont playwright. Trying to fit the hundreds of hours it takes to produce a play into a life that also includes kids, jobs and other responsibilities can be difficult. Fundraising is another significant challenge; for ‘American Machine’ Lantz estimates that he’ll have to raise more than $15,000 – most of it, from individual supporters and advertisers.
However the biggest challenge facing Lantz may be building a replica of a twenty-ton plastics injection-molding machine that will become the central set piece on the FlynnSpace stage for ‘American Machine.’ When asked how he and his volunteers were going to do this, Lantz smiled and said, “Wish us luck.”
**
‘American Machine’ will play at Burlington’s FlynnSpace, September 25 - October 7, 2007.
The opening night performance will benefit The Burlington School Food Project. 100% of all proceeds from this show will go to the project to support healthy fruits and vegetables for students at Burlington schools and to support CSA farm shares for food service employees of Burlington school cafeterias.
American Machine will also be featured at this fall’s Burlington Book Festival in September.
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