It's always good to feel like you've accomplished something with your weeks & months of effort and this was no exception. But it was different...not sure if I'm maturing (doubtful, I know!), or the experience was just that good (seriously John Arthur Lewis has mad skills, and he put together a group of actors & designers that are not only super-talented, but also genuinely lovely to be around!) but I found myself hesitant to offer my usual opening night toast. If you've worked with me before you may recall my usual opening night toast, where I've raised my glass and stated with finality: "This bitch is open." That sentiment just didn't feel right this time and I didn't have to look hard for a replacement, so I decided it was meant to be. Maybe it was Jack's constant reminders to us to "just talk" to each other, and just let the scenes "live on stage", or maybe it was the fact that I've read Dean Koontz's Frankenstein adaptations and seen 2 very cool (and very different) stage adaptations of Frankenstein in the past few years, but my first thought after the lights went down at the end of the show on Saturday:
The Lark opened this last weekend and it was a wonderful experience. Great people to work with, supportive audience, fun post-show party. It's always good to feel like you've accomplished something with your weeks & months of effort and this was no exception. But it was different...not sure if I'm maturing (doubtful, I know!), or the experience was just that good (seriously John Arthur Lewis has mad skills, and he put together a group of actors & designers that are not only super-talented, but also genuinely lovely to be around!) but I found myself hesitant to offer my usual opening night toast. If you've worked with me before you may recall my usual opening night toast, where I've raised my glass and stated with finality: "This bitch is open." That sentiment just didn't feel right this time and I didn't have to look hard for a replacement, so I decided it was meant to be. Maybe it was Jack's constant reminders to us to "just talk" to each other, and just let the scenes "live on stage", or maybe it was the fact that I've read Dean Koontz's Frankenstein adaptations and seen 2 very cool (and very different) stage adaptations of Frankenstein in the past few years, but my first thought after the lights went down at the end of the show on Saturday: It's Alive. And it is, and I can't wait to get back to it! Kimberly Logan (Mother) & Aila Peck (Joan) - photo by Tom McGrath
Tech of a show is often referred to as "Hell Week" and in some cases that couldn't be more true. Dealing with a whole new set of elements: new space (like adding 8 foot platforms when everything in rehearsal was on ground level!), costumes (floor length skirts), lights & shadows, sound effects (do I enter on the sound cue, or does my entrance cue the sound?) and more! Plus you are usually called for longer rehearsals so everyone's immune system kicks into overdrive. (If I've learned anything from the Babes, an effective tech is dependent on plenty of fabulous snacks. Trust me.)
Tech for The Lark was no picnic, but it was certainly one of the easier ones I can remember. Everyone was on their toes - costumes were hemmed & 'fixed' quickly, lights were pretty well set from the top, set construction was done before actors were even called - and there were plenty of Twizzlers, Kit Kats, almonds, oranges, apples, and Trail Mix for all! We also have a group with a great sense of humor - at one point, someone decided that the music for the show was great and all, but maybe the closing moment could use a modern flare (heh heh "flare"!). Why not have Joan come back on stage to Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire"? Too subtle? Not to worry - our intrepid lead posted to her facebook, asking friends to share any songs about fire or burning they could think of. With 99+ comments, I see an anthology in the works - some of my personal faves: Springsteen: I'm on Fire The Trammps: Disco Inferno Johnny Cash: Ring of Fire Blue Oyster Cult: Burnin' For You Bob Seger: Fire Lake Deep Purple: Smoke On The Water Jerry Lee Lewis: Great Balls of Fire Martha & The Vandellas: Heat Wave James Taylor: Fire & Rain Adele: Set Fire To The Rain Fun: We are young (so let's set the world on fire) Def Leppard: Pyromania Garth Brooks: Standing Outside The Fire Bon Jovi: Blaze of Glory Metallica: Fuel NIN/Johnny Cash: Burn Elvis: Burning Love So I've been blogging now for over 2 months - time for a retrospective, don't you think?
Seriously, though, it's the first day of a new year. I decided to take a moment to look back on the theatrical pursuits of last year and came up with some pretty good memories. First off, I started 2013 with my theatrical home, Babes With Blades Theatre Company, playing the role of Brutus in an all-female cast of Julius Caesar. Can you say, "wow"? I know I did, many, many times. Sometimes over the insanity of it, sometimes over the sheer effort it required of me, and sometimes out of respect for those around me and the work created. After my gender-bending Shakespeare experience, I was cast by InFusion Theatre in Fight Girl Battle World, in the equally gender-bent role of J'an Jah. I was a blue-haired, blue-skinned Ursalean; the male of my species, despite the 'let's make it as obvious as possible' presence of my womanly curves. My spaceship consisted of a "Bop-it" and an old Nintendo controller and the soundtrack for this visual masterpiece was beyond stellar. I was then cast by another company that's been on my "please let me work there!" list for a while. I had previously understudied at Redtwist Theatre, but the role of Beth in All-American was my first full-on acting experience and I had a blast. It wasn't my first time playing a Mom, but it was the most fun. From a great director and cast-mates, to a super-fun, and tightly-written 90 minute script, to the moment on stage where I downed a half-liter of water in one take (without choking in any performances, though I came super-close in one!) this was a delight for me. It's also the first show I've been a part of in Chicago that received a Jeff Recommendation - keep your eyes peeled for that list. In amongst the full productions of 2013, I also participated in various staged readings with BWBTC, Stage Left Theatre, Polarity Ensemble (a new one for me!), American Demi-Gods (also a new one!), and Chicago Dramatists and a presentation at Fight Night #4. I've also started rehearsals for The Lark with Promethean Theatre Ensemble and workshops for BWBTC's L'Imbecile, but I think I'll save those for listing as 2014 accomplishments! I've also been in the audience for 30+ shows (calendar says 32, but I'm not great at writing everything down!) and auditioned for countless companies (ok, I technically could count them, but I'm not gonna!). This with 2 out-of-town weddings, family & friend gatherings, birthday celebrations, movies and concerts, a going away party, theatre fund-raisers, entertaining out-of-town guests and, every so often, a lazy night at home. (Not to mention the full-time day job and 3 work trips, but this is more of a 'my heart's desire' retrospective) When you look at it like that, 2014 was pretty busy and fulfilling and since I'm not a huge fan of stating goals & declaring resolutions, I'll leave it at this: More, please. More fun, more smiles, more growth, more peace, more connection, more engagement, more success, more better! Thanks 2013. |
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September 2018
Kimberly Logan
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