A Midsummer Night's Dream

Hello!  It has been a hectic summer, what with two shows, working full time and trying to carve out hours to spend with friends and family.  I finished up Scapin and King Lear on August 11, and on August 12 started rehearsals for my next show, A Midsummer Night's Dream (I feel tired just typing that!). The show will be at the outdoor- and newly renovated- Columbus Commons.  Autumn seems to be nudging in already, so the nights should be cool and comfortable.  I wanted to share some inspirational pictures I found: they are so ethereal and full of life:) Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Couldn't you see these beautiful women playing Hermia and Helena?  Love their dance costumes.

 

 Plus, check out this belt buckle from Penelope's Cauldron!  It has a monologue from Puck on it.

I can picture one of the fairies wearing this dress by Colorada.

 

1. Reilly 2001  2. Or What You Will  3. The Untended Garden  4.  SiLive  
5. and 7. Oberon's Grove  6. Wikipedia's definition for Helena

(Pause)

Tonight, Will and I are going to see the incomparable Jonathan Pryce in Harold Pinter's The Caretaker playing at The Southern Theatre.  The Caretaker is a limited engagement, playing tonight through Sunday only!  And the amazing thing is, it's only playing at two other theatre's in the whole country: BAM in NYC and The Curran Theatre in San Fransisco.  How did Columbus get so lucky?  Connections:)  I first saw Mr. Pryce in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on Broadway, so it will be interesting to see the differences in the characters.  Not to mention that Pinter is an absolute favorite of mine so I'm truly looking forward to this chance.

Tomorrow, we are going to see my sister in Columbus Civic Theatre's The House of Bernarda Alba.  She is playing Adela, Bernarda's youngest daughter.  I'm so proud of all the work she has done for this play, and I'm extremely excited to see it!  Alba runs April 26- May 20.

(1. Broadway World  2. Columbus Civic Theatre- Lindsey is top right:) )

Hello Friends!

It's been over a month since I last posted, and I'm looking forward to sharing with you all again!  I took a bit of an online break (my Etsy account still needs a rest!) but it's good to be back in the blogosphere.

Next Monday I start rehearsals for Scapin with New Player's Theatre.  I'll be spending the summer playing Zerbinette and also Regan in King Lear as the two plays are being presented in rep.

Bill Irwin and company in his adaptation of Moliere's Scapin.

While I am extremely excited to be playing both roles, I have to admit I'm a bit nervous for my first foray into repertory theatre.  Luckily the plays are being helmed by two lovely directors whom I trust, and I couldn't be happier that they are trusting me as well.

 

Trever Nunn's King Lear featuring Sir Ian McKellen, Romola Garai, Frances Barber and Monica Dolan.

So now comes the digging.  Research is one of my favorite parts about theatre, and I love to dissect my characters to find out what makes them tick (Nerd Alert: I sound like Sylar, don't I?).  It's such an amazing feeling when your character sparks on stage fueled by the months of hard work and personalization you've put into making her.  I sincerely hope that I'll be able to do these characters justice, and that you will come see the results!

Scapin runs June 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and July 8, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22.

King Lear runs July 6, 7, 14, 15, 19, 26, 27, 28, 29 and August 2, 3, 4, 5.

All performances are at 8 pm at Mill Run Amphitheatre, 3455 Mill Run Dr., Hilliard, OH 43026.  Every show is pay what you will!  Watch for more information coming soon on Facebook and New Player's blog.

(1. Stark Insider  2. Movie Mail)

Ready for the Storm

We just had one of the most amazing storms here in central Ohio.  The tornado sirens were blaring, and at one point lightening struck so close to us, it made a huge cracking sound that was deafening.  We had to get the cats into carriers and take cover, it was all so close.  My sister was over, and the three of us had to jam in a closet when a huge gush of wind swept by, making me think there was a tornado in our back yard.  It may have been a dramatic response, but I was in a better safe than sorry mood.

It's amazing that the sky can be so light and so dark at the same time.

I couldn't help from seeing the beauty in the storm, even in the midst of a sort of chaos.  I had trouble tearing myself away from the window at first, even though it is not a safe place to be.  I watched a sheet of rain blow in from our upstairs window, and the lightning was so thick and bright.  There was a moment when we were all in the closet that I felt completely surrounded by, and at the mercy of, nature.  I recalled a dream I had when I was younger that has stuck with me for over 20 years.  In the dream, we were living in our old house in Springfield, IL.  There was a tornado, and we all sat on the stairs going from the kitchen to the basement as the tornado swirled around us.  It completely enveloped the house, and I could see the swirling wind from where I sat.  The tornado was talking to us in it's own way, snarling almost.  And yet I wasn't scared of it.  It was almost as if we were all in it together; us, the tornado, the house.  I'm not sure how else to describe the feeling.

Proof that good comes with the bad.

I left the windows open at first: 1. because I like them open during storms so I can see and smell everything, and 2. because that's what we always did growing up when there was a tornado, and so I thought it was the right thing to do.  My sister, however, informed me this time around that you are actually supposed to close the windows:

To get to the very center of a mature tornado (where the pressure may be low enough to cause some explosive effects), the windows would have to endure 100-200 mph winds in the walls of the vortex. Those winds would be laden with boards, stones, cars, trees, telephone poles, and the neighbor's roof shingles as well as wind pressure of more than 100 pounds per square foot. This barrage would blow more than enough ventilation holes in the building to allow any pressure difference to be equalized.  Even with the windows closed, most houses and commercial buildings have enough openings to vent the pressure difference in the time that it takes for a tornado to pass.

                        ~Tornado Project

If you would like to learn more about Tornado Safety, visit FEMA.

My thoughts are with those who have not been as fortunate as us.

1. By horrormove on Deviant Art   2. By Eric Nguyen on picbitz

What to See in February

I'm a little late on this month's post of theatre shows, but there is a lot out there, so I'm sure you'll find something worth seeing!  Our own company is putting up our first musical: I'm shamelessly plugging it first:)

~The Irish...and How They Got That Way, by Frank McCourt.  Presented by Solstice Theatre Company and directed by C. Austin Hill. Runs Feb 16-Mar 3 at our own Knock Theatre:

Solstice Theatre Company presents the OHIO PREMIER of this hit musical written by Frank McCourt (the award-winning author of Angela's Ashes). This funny, poignant, and moving musical traces the history of the Irish through the 19th and 20th, and 21st centuries—featuring music ranging from traditional folk songs to hits by U2.

 ~Sleeper, by David Ian Lee. Presented by Available Light Theatre and directed by Matt Slaybaugh. Runs Feb 16-25 at The Columbus Performing Arts Center, Van Fleet Theatre:

This epic political thriller ranges from an intimate portrait of two failing marriages to an abduction in Afghanistan before exploding on the set of an extreme right wing television talk show.  Never looking away from the wreckage, this smartly chilling drama takes you straight to the front line of the fraught battleground where political discourse, personal apathy, and professional ambition are at their most dangerous.

~The Rubenstein Kiss, by James Phillips. Presented by CATCO-Phoenix and directed by Steven C. Anderson. Runs Feb 1-19 at The Riffe Center Studio Two:

A combination of the Cold War and the McCarthy hearings sets the tone for betrayal in the United States.  Inspired by the true story of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, this powerful American premiere winds through mysterious corridors of histroy to reveal the anguish of a family and their yearning for justice.  When Jackob and Esther Rubenstein are punished for an act of industrial espionage, we are left to decide if they are guilty or victims of zealots.

~Getting Near to Baby by Y. York. Presented by Columbus Children's Theatre. Runs Feb 9-12 at Columbus Children's Theatre:

In the North Carolina summer of 1967, tragedy strikes their family, so Willa Jo and Little Sister are sent to stay with their Aunt Patty and Uncle Hob while their mother tries to come to terms with their family’s loss. Aunt Patty has more of a way with her garden gnomes than little girls. Always concerned with the order and the rightness of a thing, she has a million rules about everything. This especially doesn’t sit well with Little Sister, who hasn’t said a word since her baby sister died, and plain refuses to let go of the drawing she carries with her everywhere. Luckily, Uncle Hob has a sweet, understanding way about him, and the neighbor kids, Lizzie and Isaac Fingers, are as nice as can be. Adapted from a Newbery Honor book, this poignant play traces a family’s journey of acceptance and understanding in the face of loss.
 
 ~A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee.  Presented by Columbus Civic Theatre. Runs Feb 16-Mar 11 at Columbus Civic theatre:

American playwright Edward Albee won the 1967 Pulitzer Prize for this caustic and taught drama about marriage, family and friendship. 

~Comedy'Splosion, a stand-up comedy festival. Presented at MadLab Feb 17 and 18:

16 comics, 2 shows, 2 nights... COMEDY'SPLOSION returns to the MadLab Theatre for another amazing weekend of stand-up comedy!  In it's fifth year, COMEDY'SPLOSION is the longest running local stand-up comedy festival in Columbus.  While the line-ups for each night include staple local acts and national headliners, all of the comics on the shows are Columbus-based.  This not only makes COMEDY'SPLOSION one of the best, most dense line-ups of stand-up comedy you can see all year, but also showcases the tremendous talent that is available at shows throughout Columbus all through the year.

~Drunk in Love, a collection of Valentine's shorts. Presented by O.G. Productions. One night only- Feb 14 at 7:30- at St. James tavern:

Four shorts will be presented: Courting by Scott Tobin (I'm in this one!), Desperado by Amanda Bauer, It's Not Just a Number by Stephen Woosley and Never again, Well...Maybe... by Chris Lane.  Each short follows a couple on a date in a bar ranging from first to last. 

~V3, presented by Sketch by Number. Housed in our own Knock Theatre Feb 10 and 11:

SBN's annual February sketch comedy show celebrating (?) Valentine's Day. 

What are you planning to see? If you live outside of Ohio, what's going on in your area?

If you have a local production going up and I have missed it here, email me at helloerinfisher@gmail.com and I will add it to the post. Happy viewing! 
 

Can You Keep a Secret?

Today I took a half day from work to take my sister to an...ahem...event in Louisville, KY.  Tomorrow I'll let you know how it goes!  

Cold Winter's Night

Yesterday we had our first real snow here in Central Ohio!  I personally adore a winter flurry; don't you?  One of the best things to do is to cuddle up with the one(s) you love, be they friends, family or both.

We moved to an apartment next to the lovely Alum Creek this past August.  I have enjoyed discovering the river and its inhabitants and capturing our little piece of nature through the changing seasons. 

 

Stella enjoyed watching the flakes from her window seat.

I made pork stew to warm up, and had trouble keeping Napoleon away from the ingredients:)

How do you spend your chilly winter days?

What to See in January

The Columbus theatre scene has hit the ground running in 2012!  Here are some local productions that shouldn't be missed this month.

~33 Variations, by Moises Kaufman.  Presented by Available Light Theatre and directed by Eleni Papaleonardos.  Runs Jan 12-21 at The Columbus Performing Arts Center, Van Fleet Theatre:  

Ludwig van Beethoven fights through his failing health, his encroaching deafness, and his poverty to work with mystifying obsession on his Diabelli Variations.  Two centuries later, Katherine, a terminally ill musicologist, navigates a tenuous relationship with her daughter and the onslaught of her disease, even as she marches forward with determination to discover the true origins of Beethoven’s most confounding creation.  It's a beautiful and evocative story about the inspirations that get us through our darkest days, and family we find when we need it most.

~If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, adapted by Jody Davidson.  Presented by CATCO-Phoenix and directed by Joe Bishara.  Runs Jan 6-15 at the Riffe Center Studio One:

A small boy learns that giving a mouse a cookie has many implications that lead to madcap adventures as the house is turned upside down to please the mischievous mouse! A fast-paced script loaded with a ton of mouse-filled fun brings this best-selling children's book to life. 

~Arms and the Man, by George Bernard Shaw.  Presented by Columbus Civic Theatre and directed by Richard Albert.  Runs Jan 12-Feb 5 at the Columbus Civic Theatre:

"Shaw employs irony in the title of his play, taken from the opening line of the epic poem 'The Aeneid' written in 19 BC by  the Roman poet Virgil- 'Of arms and the man I sing...'- in which Virgil glorifies war.  Shaw's purpose in this play, however, is to attack the romantic idea of war." From the National Arts Centre English Theatre Programmes Study Guide for the play.

~Weekend Comedy, by Jeanne and Sam Bobrick.  Presented by Little Theatre Off Broadway and directed by Jim LeVally.  Runs Jan 13-Feb 5 at Little Theatre Off Broadway:

Two couples rent the same Catskills cabin for the same weekend by mistake. One couple is staid and middle aged; the other free wheeling and young. After too much rich food & way too much alcohol, they decide to share the cabin. Before the weekend is over, both couples learn valuable lessons from each other's relationships and what they ultimately want out of life.  

~MadLab's January offerings: The Twinight Zone, running Jan 5-14; Love@1stPlight, running Jan 19-21; FFN's Date Night, running Jan 26-Feb 18.  All presented at MadLab. Check out the new sign they got for their wonderful building!  Synopsis for their main show, FFN's Date Night, directed by Andy Batt:

This Valentine’s Day, Full Frontal Nudity will tell you a story of love … YOUR story of love! Based on the best and worst true-romantic stories you tell us, FFN will retell that story from a different point of view.  New characters!  New circumstances! Maybe an alien or two, who knows? You’ll have to come to the show to find out.

I'm also excited about some fantastic shows happening outside of Columbus.  I'm really hoping to finagle a trip to Chicago to see Elizabeth Rex!

~Elizabeth Rex, by Timothy Findley.  Presented by Chicago Shakespeare and directed by Barbara Gaines.  Runs through Jan 22.

~Penelope, by Enda Walsh.  Presented by Steppenwolf and directed by Amy Morton.  Runs through Feb 5.

~Richard III, by William Shakespeare.  Presented by the Brooklyn Academy of Music, more affectionately known as BAM, and directed by Sam Mendes.  Runs Jan 10-Mar 4.  Starring. Kevin. Spacey.

~Mathilda, The Musical, adapted by Tim Minchin from Roald Dahl's book.  Presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company's London branch, and directed by Matthew Warchus.  Runs through Mar 31.  I loved this book as a kid: what a treat it would be to see their production!

If you are outside of Ohio, what productions are going on in your area?

Those of you in the Columbus theatre community: is there a show I missed for January?  Let me know at helloerinfisher@gmail.com.  I'll make sure to update the post with your info.



 

Throwback Post #3

On this, the last day of the year, I am reminded of the wonderful times had with family and friends this past year.  It has also been a fantastic year of theatre for me, and I'd love to share pictures from the shows I was apart of in 2011.

References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot

Solstice Theatre Company 

Director

I love directing, but I only do it every so often because it takes so much out of you, since you are responsible for everything that happens on stage.  This was my Columbus directing debut, and we sold out the last two nights!

Death of a Salesman Stage Reading

CATCO-Phoenix

The Woman, Miss Forsyth

Playboy of the Western World Stage Reading

CATCO-Phoenix

Pegeen Mike

These two readings were a fantastic experience: CATCO had a live Twitter feed set up so people could tweet about the show as it was happening.  This picture is from Death of a Salesman, and you can see the large projected Twitter feed in the background.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead 
Solstice Theatre Company

The Player

This show was a lot of fun.  We did it in the Steampunk style and the costumes were amazing!  I got to really cut loose as my character was quite an eccentric.

Titus Andronicus

Shepherd Productions

Lavinia

Those of you who have read or seen this play know why this show was a challenge, and for those who haven't, I'll leave it to your imagination!

The Voice of the Prairie

Senior Rep of Ohio 

Frankie/Frances

This is quite possibly my favorite show ever.  The cast and crew were amazing, and I've never felt more invested in a role.  The play takes place in both 1895 and 1923 in the west and south of an agrarian America, and is a charming portrayal of the storytelling tradition.

Laughter and Light: A Celtic Holiday Celebration

Solstice Theatre Company

Stage Manager

The company I co-run, Solstice Theatre, performed a winter yule Celebration as a fundraiser this year.  It was lovingly crafted by one of our founding members, Allison Hill, and was a great success!

I am looking forward to working with some new friends and some old ones this upcoming year.  Hope to see you at a show, and have a Happy New Year!!!

Throwback Post #1

Since there are only T minus 5 days until the New Year, I thought I'd write about some amazing times we've had this past year.  Throwback Post #1 goes to: Hocking Hills!  We spent Halloween weekend In an amazing cabin with these people:
 

It also happened to be my golden birthday on the 29th.

(Will and I went as Wendy and Stan from South Park!)

There were some cool old abandoned sheds on the property...

 

Will and I also went to Hocking Hills for our anniversary:)  It was our first date two years ago, and we celebrated by staying in this fantastic retreat called Silver Wolf Cabin, complete with hot tub and Majestic Wolf decor!

It was a perfect few days...

I can't wait to go back next year.