TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012

"Passion"

by Karen Grim

“Passion: A powerful force that cannot be stopped.” -Moliere

You know what ,though? I’m tired. I’m going to be 100% honest right now and let you all know that I’m a little (ok, maybe a lot) tired…of acting. Gasp! I know…who would have thought that was even possible? It’s my biggest passion in life, it’s what I love to do, and it’s when I am working on a show that I’m happiest. But to tell you the truth, after this show, I’m ready for a break. And I’m ready to do something else. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, and I’ve decided to branch out. I’m going to…wait for it…direct!

Now, maybe for some of you that isn’t a huge shock. If you know anything about actors (or me personally), then you probably already know we’re extremely fickle and it’s very hard to satisfy us. We’re always trying to go further, push our creative limits, and really test ourselves. I should mention that I have directed before, not professionally or anything, but while I was in high school and college, I did try it out for a bit. I like it. And I think I’m pretty good at it. I think that directors who have acted before have unique insight into being able to help their actors really understand their characters and the overall vision of the play.

You’re probably reading this and thinking, “Great Karen, but where are you going to be having your professional directorial debut?” And the answer is the Colonial Players One-Act Festival. It’s a chance for new directors to get their feet wet without committing to a large production, and it allows them to learn the ins and outs of the process of putting on a show the CP way. My acting debut at Colonial Players was at the One-Act Festival two years ago, so it seems only fitting that that be where I make my directorial debut as well. I’m super pumped about it, but I’m also a little nervous too. This is uncharted territory for me. I’ve never done a professional show before, and there’s a chance I’ll be in way over my head -- but that’s the exciting part.

Acting and directing are very different, and I don’t want to make light of the hard work that goes into it. I know I have to do my homework. So here’s what I’m going to do: I want to take you guys with me, every step of the way. This is blog is acting as my declaration or my mission statement. I declare that I will do everything in my power to make sure that my show is a success. I’m going to run head first into this new pursuit of mine, and I want you to learn along with me!

So this blog really is the beginning of a series of blogs that will be about my becoming a director. I’m going to learn everything I can, and then I’m going to teach you everything I know about being a director at CP; that way if you decide you’d like to direct, you’ve got a leg up on the competition. Next month, if you can wait that long, I’m going to interview a playwright. I feel like being a good director starts with understanding the show you have, your vision for the show, and your knowledge of the script. What better way to try to decipher the script than with a playwright giving you insight into the writer’s psyche?

So there you have it. I’m a little burned-out right now on acting, and I feel like this is a natural progression for me. I will still be able to continue working in theatre, but now I’ll get to work behind the scenes for a change. Don’t worry, I’ll be back onstage, I’ll never give that up, but who knows? Maybe this could be my new passion. What about you? Anything you’ve been dying to try?

~Karen Grim
(still not famous :), but I’m working on it)

SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2012

"I can't, I have rehearsal..."

by Karen Grim

I can’t tell you how many times I have uttered that phrase. Inevitably, whenever I would start a show is when all my friends or family would want to get together for drinks or dinner; there would be tons of parties; someone would get married; someone would have a baby; the list of events I’ve missed is endless. As much fun as it seems I’m missing, the cast, crew, and production team have a really good time together and, generally, it’s worth it to miss those things because you love what you’re doing. Not to mention we do have multiple cast parties, opening and closing night parties, and the occasional “Hey, it’s Thursday let’s get a beer” parties.

So, I get to satisfy my creative passions and make new friends, and I still get to have fun. But most importantly, I get to be there as the show is being built from the ground up, and that is an amazing thing to witness and be a part of.

In this month’s blog, I’d like to take you behind the scenes and show you the process of putting up a show, via a photo blog. I’d like for you to get an idea of everything that goes into it from start to finish. Now since I am an actor by trade, I don’t have knowledge of the inner workings of the show. I was not there for the pre-production or design meetings, but I can at least give you a little visual insight into the process from my perspective.

After I was cast, I immediately got to work. I read the script a few hundred times to get a feel for the flow of it. As you can see below, it fell apart; I literally had to tape it together!!

Then the cast met for a table reading, which basically is self-explanatory – it means we sat at a table and read it aloud. Then rehearsals began. We started with music rehearsals with our Music Director, Anita O’Conner.

She helped us plod through as we learned the basic rhythms and notes for each song. Then we started the more traditional rehearsals with our director, Joan Townshend (below, right).

We went over blocking, and as a cast, we started to get to know each other as we began to bring our characters to life. Throw in a dance rehearsal here and there and basically the show was sketched out.

Once you get the basics finished, then you can get down to the “meat” of the script and really build your character. Joan had us do some character-building exercises where we compared ourselves to our characters to find similarities and to start to build connections not only with our characters but with one another as well. She also asked us to write biographies for our characters. My character, Percy, is originally from West Virginia and so am I. And though I lived there for about 18 years, I don’t actually have an Appalachian accent, but Percy does. You’d be surprised how hard it is to try to develop an accent you’ve spent your entire life trying not to have!! So I spent a lot of time listening to family members (who all have accents), watching movies like “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (though Loretta Lynn is actually from Kentucky, I figured, hey it’s the same region so that’s ok, right?), and listening to videos on youtube. I really wanted it to be authentic and not just a generic, stereotypical “southern” accent. I hope I get it right! Every little bit of history you add to your character helps you have insight into how your character reacts to different people and different situations, which in turn helps you add depth and “believe-ability” to your character.

On March 11, we moved into the theatre.

The designer and construction crew have been hard at work creating an amazing set for us to perform on. It really helps us visualize the world our characters live in, and allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the lives they lead.

On March 14, we met and sang with the entire band for the first time.

It was rough at times, but at the end of the night, I felt really great about all we had accomplished.

The show is really starting to come together, and even though we open in a little over one week, we still have a long way to go.

By the time you read this blog, the show will have opened and hopefully you will have been smart enough to get your tickets early. If not, try not to panic, I’m sure there is still a chance for you to see it. And trust me, this is not a show you’ll want to miss. Also if the show does sell out, there’s usually a stand-by ticket or two available.

Yes, I’m biased a little since I’m in it, but this isn’t about me. A lot of people have put their blood, sweat, and tears into making this show a success, and you owe it to them to come out and see it. Because it’s good! This is a talented group: designers, actors, and techies included.

Each actor has developed a character that I know you’ll be able to watch and say “hey, that’s how I feel!” or “she reminds me so much of this person I know.” Of course, I know every person is unique; that’s what makes life interesting, but it’s our connections to one another that make life worthwhile. The Spitfire Grill is a show that allows you to reflect on yourself and the things you’re searching for in your life, and who doesn’t understand that?

I hope this month’s blog has provided you with more insight and knowledge about the process of creating a show. Sometimes it may seem like a lot to give up to be a part of a play, because yes, it is time consuming and sometimes all you want is a nap, but “Rome wasn’t built in a day!”

So, if you’d like to be a part of our next show either by volunteering to build sets, hang lights, help with costumes, be in the band for a musical, or even audition, click here!

Thanks for reading and I’ll see you after the show!!

~Karen Grim
(still not famous ☺, but I’m working on it)