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!
