Back at it! Wanna help? or buy tickets?

It's not quite New Year's yet but I woke up on my last day of vacation over Christmas and had a sizeable panic attack about the fact that rehearsals start in about 8 weeks!!! And I still have much to do before we get to the fun part!

So I'll start with the "wanna help?" part....
1) The time to call churches is just around the corner. I am hoping to have group sales for every performance and could use some assistance with the phoning. If you've been watching this journey unfold but didn't know how to help, I will take your time and phone minutes - gratefully. No. Seriously. I will have a script ready by January 2, 2013 and would be so appreciative you were up to making phone calls for an hour or seven.

2) Time to start assembling a crew. We are in need of crew members to commit to the entire run of the show including tech week. That's most of the week (read: every night but Monday) beginning on March 12 and then for performances the second week, March 20-23. The show will run under an hour and a half. We need crew for Box Office, House Management, Run crew (props/set moving) and Wardrobe crew for fast changes and applying blood and such.

3) Unbelieveably, I need a non-union stage manager. I had a great girl lined up and she is following her dream west, to LA. Good for her. Not so great for me. This person will need experience.

In other news, I am still looking for about 4 ensemble cast members who will play disciples and various other roles. Actors need to be physically strong with a great sense of spatial relationship and need to sing well.

The business of show business is business. With that in mind, I am contacting payroll paymasters, looking into insurance and getting contract information for Actor's Equity. And did I mention tickets are on sale?? They are!!! Here's the link:

https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=98cc63fd0daf21abb68e3412dd1b5b49

 A lot is going to happen quickly in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!!!






 

Casting of PASSION

Casting any play is a lesson in puzzles - and I don't particularly like puzzles. However, this puzzle of PASSION has been occupying my mind for quite a while so I am happy to start putting faces with character names. I still have a bit of casting to do because what I'm looking for seems now, to be a bit unusual. There are characters who must be very strong physically - they carry a body. There are characters who must have great body control because of the stylized movement. There are those who don't say much, but are in huge chunks of the show. Pretty much everyone needs to sing well. Then there's the whole union/non-union issue. Oy.

However, I am happy to announce the cast thus far:

Jesus:     Blane Pressler*
John:      Lori Pagano
Mary:    Michele Burdette Elmore*
Magdalen:   Bess Moynihan
Peter:     Kimberly Weller
Judas:    Rachel Fenton
Woman:  Adrienne Gleeson
Observer:  Pamela Reckamp*
Caiaphas:  Robert A. Mitchell
Joseph of Arimathea:   Eugene Neal
Disciple/Soldier: Jeanitta Perkins

I still need to fill some roles, mostly soldiers/disciples but am on the hunt for Pilate and Barabbas, too.

 

The 3rd edition of the Spotlight Theatre PASSION newsletter was sent out this morning. Some of the topics covered thus far include the production details (what, where, when, etc), the sybolism of the white cloth, the text, the musical arc, the structure of the play, with links to the Skip Viragh Center, to this blog, and to Scribd, which has a powerpoint presentation.

This just in: PASSION received a very generous donation last night which will essentially pay for 8 actors. Sooooo, nine more actors to pay + the music director + the lighting designer + the stage manager + sets and costumes + venue rental. There are two fundraising ideas knocking around my head so have no fear, I'll get those details out ASAP.

Auditions are this coming Sunday, November 18 at the Skip. My prep for this is making copies of the script, getting the music for Greg Schweizer, Sunday's accompanist and PASSION's Music Director. Also trying to figure out the best way to assess someone's physical ability which is key to certain roles. I'm playing around with "how much can you benchpress?" and "how long can you hold the chair pose, balance on one foot, keep your arms outstretched?" and "think you can carry me across the room if I'm not holding on to you?" Aaaah, decisions, decisions.

But once casting is complete, I can adjust the pictures in my head by adding the faces and bodies of those cast. And that will be awesome.

I've been looking at my set and seating arrangement a lot too. Lucky for me, I am currently directing Chaminade's middle school play at the Skip and our set is one and the same, with a few minor adjustments. I so desire to have one scene played from the lighting catwalk but as I walked it yesterday, I might be cutting off 15 seats in terms of view. Blech. Waiting for inspiration on that one.

Next blog post will be about casting - fo' sho'






 

I'm not drunk, I'm talking about PASSION

Friday night I attended a soiree for a prominent theatre company in St. Louis where I have worked on and off for over 20 years. It's fun to glam up and hang with your homies outside of the theatre or rehearsal hall.

And once again, I was kind of overwhelmed at the number of people who came up to me and asked about PASSION. "Tell me about your project,"" I heard you're doing something this spring," "what's up next for you?" (Okay that last one just allowed me to launch into talking about PASSION.) And here's the thing, while I did have a drink in my hand most of the night, I start nearly tripping over myself anyway when talking about the project. As I talk about it, I realize how many layers it has, how fully every aspect has been considered and reconsidered to make it a truly theatrical experience. So I get a little flushed, start babbling and mayhaps, one would think I was tipsy. But no. It just psyches me up to talk about this project and its imminent birth. And thankfully, I get responses like, "I just got goosebumps," or "that sounds amazing." These seem to me more genuine and excited responses than, great, wow, or uh-huh.

And might I say, it never hurts to have the big players on your side. Seeing you as something more than, let's say an actor, in my case. When those people express an interest, it legitimizes the project even more.

Saturday night I dragged my husband to see Pilobolus at the Touhill. If you've never seen this modern dance troupe, remember the weird name and get to see them when they come your way. The company is so inspiring to a bodies-in-space/movement freak like myself. The weight-sharing and precision movement is just what I needed to see to rejuvenate myself for the stylization of PASSION. And, BONUS!!! They did something which I will mimic to have just three people carry the body of Jesus to the tomb. Yay!

FYI: Today's Gospel is the first bit of scripture in PASSION. Serendipitous.

 

Auditions November 18

Spotlight Theatre hold auditions for PASSION, an original adaptation of the Passion of Christ by Artistic Director, Pamela Reckamp. Appointments will be taken at 314-412-6848 beginning Thursday, November 8^th. Union and non-union talent will be seen.  Spotlight Theatre offers a SPT contract, tier 3. Auditions will be held Sunday, November 18 from 1:30 – 4:30 pm at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts Blackbox, located at 425 S. Lindbergh on the campus of Chaminade College Preparatory School.  Please prepare one spiritual song and one dramatic monologue.  Accompanist provided, please bring music in your key.

PASSION is a play with music and features stylized movement. Rehearsals begin Tuesday February 26. Production dates are March 14-23, 2013 with performances Thursday and Friday at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm. There is also the possibility of a student matinee on Friday, March 22. Some roles have been cast.

Looking for physically strong actors who sing well. Gender is not an important consideration for many roles and nearly all roles double in some way.  The following roles are available:

Judas:  excellent dramatic actor, sly, doubles as chorus

John:  girlish looking, physically very strong, tall, slim, good singer, doesn’t say much but is a constant presence

Mary: female to play 40-50’s, can carry a tune, a grounding presence even in the face of the horrific events

Magdalene: female, feisty, 30’s, must be a strong singer, very energetic

High Priest: any age, a hot head, loudmouth, behavior similar to a child

Pilate: any age, foreign in some way (voice or stance, etc), a big presence who becomes smaller. Doubles as Disciple Andrew

Disciples Matthew, Philip, James: either gender, any age, double as soldiers, good singers

Disciple Simon: man, good singer, doubles as Man with Jug, chorus  and Thief #2

Disciple Thaddeus: man, strong singer, young, doubles as Barrabas and Thief #1

 

 

Why did you do that?

It's been a few weeks since I've blogged but know that things are chugging along as well as they can. Two editions of Spotlight Theatre's PASSION newsletter have gone out to about 600 contacts. The lists keep growing and I am getting emails regarding the play. Yay!

On the list of not-so-fun but necessary things to do if producing, I have accomplished not only the two aforementioned newsletters, but have secured a music director, sent press releases, tracked down a couple more costumes and copied music. Mundane tasks abound but I'm all in.

By far, the most interested and challenging feat came from a friend of mine who read the script and called to offer his opinion - which I asked for, btw. His first question was why I wanted to write this and who was I writing it for? Who did I want my audience to be?

I may have said this before but bear with me: the idea to write a passion play came from listening to a rote reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday. Docile recitations of "crucify him, crucify him" triggered a creative shock in me and pictures started to click in my head. I knew how to make it relevant to people again - they needed to see it. And.. . it would be accessible not only to the large audience of Christians in St. Louis but to a theatre community.

His next point was that he'd gotten lost in the language. He was raised going to church, but although he stopped going decades ago, he could still remember and recite most of the scripture passages once he was a few words in. He found that to be comfortable in a way where he could stop thinking and just move ahead by rote memorization which, he argued, is not a way to make theatre. Theatre is supposed to challenge and make us think, and keep us intrigued. Why had I used those "oh-so-familiar" scriptures instead of creating something myself?

Again, my apologies if you've heard this, but there are several reasons I wanted to use the Bible and not create any text:
1. The Bible is accepted as the Word of God.
2. In Passion plays I've read and see, dialogue created for scenes tends to be deragatory, inflammatory and anti-Semitic. I didn't want to go in that direction.
3. Using the Bible, no one could tell me "that's not true." It is also free of doctrine that defines each religious denomination so it's actually less of a constriction.

There is supplemental text in PASSION but it comes from sacred music and Jewish prayers, not from the world of my imagination. What I came to realize (here's the interesting/challenging part I talked about 3 paragraphs ago) is that using those oh-so-familiar scriptures is EXACTLY what I want to do and that my task is to make them NEW again. When you have bodies creating pictures that accompany the rote text, it cannot be rote anymore because, unlike language, bodies are never rote, can never be in the exact same position twice. There will always be something new. My friend got lost in the language becuase that's all he could see. He couldn't see the pictures that will take PASSION from the realm of the comfortable and familiar, to the realm of the exciting and unexpected.

Of course, that doesn't mean I'm changing the end of the story - it will end the way it has for centuries: Jesus dies, then comes back. But my plan is, anyone one who sees PASSION will never again be able to just listen to the words without seeing the pictures we created playing in their head. So what he thought was a criticism for me was really an affirmation that I did the exact right thing!

Up next: auditions!!






 

Not the "sexy" issues, but the must-be-dones.

We are LIVE!

Yes, in the past week, several things have happened which make me use the term “LIVE. ” First, we moved beyond a trial membership with Constant Contacts and sent out over 600 email newsletters. The newsletters are to area churches and the database is still growing. Next, the Facebook page for PASSION is public and invitations have gone out to “like” our page. Additionally, we have what will become our branding photos (thanks to Joe Vitale) and a Powerpoint presentation is ready to view via Scribd. (Click on the link at the top of the page!)

I posted a photo resume on stlauditions.com and hope to have auditions posted for early November. I have also hammered out a rehearsal schedule.

I have secured a Music Director.

So lots of things have been happening and that’s why I haven’t posted here on passionblog for a while.

Casting

Last week sometime, I posted on stlauditions.com regarding PASSION. It has been moved from the theatre page to 'other' because it is currently just a resume and headshot submission. So I thought I would post here as well because I'm fairly certain I have never been to the 'other' page on that site. BTW, kudos to those that did go there and sent in headshots and resumes. Below is the notice.

Spotlight Theatre is now taking headshot and resume submissions for its spring production of PASSION. This is an original piece adapted by Pamela Reckamp, featuring stylized movement and singing. Ms. Reckamp has casting authority.

Production dates are March 14-23, 2013. There are matinee performances possible on both Fridays, March 15 and March 22. Rehearsals begin February 26, 2013.

Looking for physically strong actors who sing well. Gender is not an important consideration for many roles and nearly all roles double in some way. The following roles are available:

Judas: excellent dramatic actor, sly, doubles as chorus

John: girlish looking, physically very strong, tall, slim, good singer, doesn’t say much but is a constant presence

Mary: female to play 40-50’s, can carry a tune, a grounding presence even in the face of the horrific events

Magdalene: female, feisty, 30’s to 40’s, must be a strong singer, very energetic

High Priest: any age, a hot head, loudmouth, behavior similar to a child

Pilate: any age, foreign in some way (voice or stance, etc), a big presence who becomes smaller. Doubles as Disciple Andrew

Disciples Matthew, Philip, James: double as soldiers, good singers

Disciple Simon: man, good singer, doubles as Man with Jug, chorus and Thief #2

Disciple Thaddeus: man, strong singer, young, doubles as Barrabas and Thief #1

Please submit headshots/resumes to 2013passion@gmail.com by October 15, 2012.

I will restate that I really don't care about the gender of these roles. What's most important to me is ability. The only person I definitely wanted to be male was Jesus because he needs to be in a diaper for the crucifixion and I didn't want to go the bodysuit route by casting a female, So women, do not feel limited by Mary and Magdalene. That is all.

minor setback

I have talked a lot about those databases my son and I did nearly two years ago. Well, apparently, I quite romanticized them in my mind and that has led to the minor setback, hence, the title of this post.

The databases, of thousands of church organizations in the St. Louis area, are quite extensive with names, addresses, city, state, website and such, but no email addresses. I worked on these before, as did my son, and thought I really knocked out a bunch. That's where the romanticized part comes in - I have waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy less emails than I thought. It's not a major catastrophe, I just need to make around 1500 phone calls. Seriously.

But here's the thing that flabbergasts me: so many of these organizations do not have websites, if they do, often do not post emails for their staff OR, they have one of those forms you have to fill out so you have no idea what the email actually is. (That's the one that aggravates me the most!) You can hunt for them on the internet but I know it will generally take 1 minute to call the church and ask for the contact email. My first bit of stickiness is that I have a 1500 minute family plan with all my kids. Usually, there are no more than 400 minutes used, most of them by me - the one person who likes to talk to people, not just text them. Mkay, if my phone company charges me a minute for each call, I'm going to hit my family limit in about 5 days and you know I don't want to pay $$$$$$ for the extra minutes.

So, I'm going to be tied to a land line for the next couple of days, probably at my mothers. It's all good though. My first newsletter is ready to send I am jazzed!

Good news from this last week:
1. My crown of thorns is ready and looks super-awesome.
2, I found a cache of costumes that will be perfect.
3. First press release goes out this week.
4. I have conquered Constant Contacts, Paypal, and a Facebook page.

If you need me this week, I'll be on the phone.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

This past week has been one of filling in tiny bits to complete the picture. I looked at costumes at the Rep, but I will need to fill them out with other theatre company's costumes. I have been finishing my PowerPoint presentation, endlessly tweaking things to show to possible stakeholders. I am working on the newsletter and getting all the links correctly inserted (don't want to have the PayPal button pay someone else!) I spoke with a friend who I hadn't seen in such a long while, and am fairly certain I convinced her that she needed to be in PASSION. It was all over the map but every little gap filled in now, is one I don't have to worry about later.

Next week is more of more of the same. Meeting with a friend on Tuesday, waiting to hear back from a possible music director, scheduling costume warehouse visits, getting the crown of thorns for a photo shoot, talking with Actor's Equity Association to secure contracts, finally uploading those databases!!!!!

A phone call, a text, a Facebook message, an email. It all leads to the production of PASSION. It seems like busy work but it is amazingly fulfilling to complete a task, lock in a designer, agree to a FONT!!!, if it gets the job done.

I had to explain to my 14 year-old tonight what is keeping me so busy. She said, "you have been working on this all day." Keeping in mind that the last time I produced she was 9 years old, she has only a vague idea of what it takes. But instead of a script that I was already written, it is my creation, my vision, my music selections, my projections, my concept. That takes a bit more time. And she's grown up enough to notice that.

Aside from all these super-important bits and pieces, I really do need to complete casting and that's a arduous task. There are seventeen actors in PASSION. Ask anyone who does theatre, attends theatre, supports theatre - that's a ginormous cast. (And that's with people doubling!! )I only have about six of the 17 right now. And that needs to change soon. And it will.

Lighting

Last night I met with lighting designer John "JT" Taylor to discuss PASSION. I have been talking with JT about the show for a couple years now and I am so thrilled he is on board. One of the things I'm most excited about at the Skip (as those in-the-know call the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts) is that we have a cyc. I'm pysched! (Those words sound the same, heh heh.)

A cyc is a white or light blue scrim that can be lit (yes, I prefer lit over lighted. I never got the memo about that change for the past tense). They are extremely versatile and generally only available at big theatres because of the expense. The Skip is a state-of-the-art facility, though, so YAY! Last year, while doing a show at the Touhill, my husband asked what that scrim was because it created such beautiful effects. (Shout out to John Wylie for The Wizard of Oz). A cyc is an amazing addition to a lighting plot and I am so grateful that we get to use one.

In other news:
1)  I have sent out my first test-email via Constant Contacts. It ain't perfect, but it's out there and I am breathlessly awaiting feedback.
2)  I have made an appointment to look at costumes.
3)  Casting is beginning and I've got some really great people wanting to be involved.

Coming up:
1)  Find a musical director
2)  Hire a Technical Director
3)  find rehearsal space.

Producing is hard. But I am loving every minute of it!

Contact

I have made contact. Or rather, I'm going to have lots of contacts. And in addition, I signed with Constant Contact. This past week has been about getting ready for a huge marketing launch to about 2500 organizations. I think it's that many. You see, it's been two years since my son and I did the nitty-gritty dirty work on getting emails for all these organizations. The contacts are stored on my old dead computer so I took it into BestBuy and they pulled all that stuff off for me and technically, I'm ready to go. (Now, if I hadn't left the charger for my other computer at the lodge over Labor Day!)

In the meantime, I have signed up with Constant Contacts to create email blasts. With 2,500 contacts, I cannot afford the postage, paper or time it would take to send direct mail pieces. I also don't want to kill that many trees. So the marketing has to be 98% viral, through emails, social media, and regular ole telephone. But the first month or so is a free trial so I am working on fonts and colors and all kinds of stuff to get the look I want and the look that people respond to. So if you're a close friend, you'll be getting these test emails. And if you want to be on the list of folks who get these preliminary blasts, let me know and I can add you.

I go back to the PASSION script at least every two days and something new always strikes me. Lately, I've been spending a lot of time on the Roman soldiers, their movement and their sound. I've also been reviewing technical stuff that some playwrights (and I'm not claiming to be a playwright) don't understand because they write in an almost movie-ish fashion. In movies, you can stop the camera, change hair, costume, makeup and location. I've been in plays where I've had to do all that in about 14 seconds. I'm happy to say that I have given time for things to move, for people to get to a new entrance, for the action to continue forward without make actors sprint around the space.

I've spoken here about pictures and everyday, they become clearer in my head. Stage pictures are what stay with us after we've left the theatre. Words help, but I really feel they are secondary to our connection with the play. (Here I am saying this after a paragraph about the script!!) But the weight of the words is much more if we have an accompanying visual. Otherwise, I am back to square one - the reading of the Passion at my church. Bleh. I know after people see PASSION, they will 1) re-envision the pictures they saw in the production; 2) feel cheated without the accompanying visual; and 3) want to see PASSION again.

That really sounds like I have a huge case of hubris, but I don't. I do have confidence in pictures though, and the visceral reaction we have to them. You'll see. (Get it? You'll see?)

Thanks Coops

This morning I met with Dave and Alisa Cooperstein to discuss some of the "Jewish" aspects of Passion. They were so incredibly helpful and confirmed much of what I had researched, and were able to put certain things in context for me. You see, there has never been a moment when I didn't consider Jesus to be a Jew, with a Jewish mother and Jewish friends, following Jewish law. And I wanted those aspects to be visible in the production.

I did much of my initial research about two years ago and quite honestly, have been a little foggy now that I'm back into the script so much. And, I gave some of the books that I was using back to friends (Miriam), so I wouldn't be hanging on to their stuff for, at that point, who knows how long.

I have created an event on Facebook about Passion and I have just figured out how to upload a newly designed Powerpoint presentation by creating jpegs. The event is titled Passion. Clicking right along.

Thanks again Dave and Alisa.

 

New name

My blog didn't disappear, I just changed it to reflect the 2013 production dates. If it's disappeared from any Facebook posts, you can still read all the posts from this new address. Aaannnnndddd, if you become a follower, my posts will come right to you. But you prolly have to create an account with a username and password and that, my friends, is a drag. So, you can continue to read like this or visit my FB timeline.

Thanks!

Busy Bee

Well, I have been a busy bee! Now that I am out of production as a nun in The Sound of Music, I can really dig into Passion. So here's what I've been up to...

As many or some of you might know, the stories in the gospels are from the oral tradition, meaning certain high points were hit again and again in the telling of the story and that's kinda how it comes out in the written form - circular. I get it, and they wanted to be sure you got it. But in trying to make a play where it sounds as if people are having conversations with other people, you can see how this might get a little cray-cray. So, I have been methodically going through the Last Supper scene in particular, trying to edit down the "this is what I say," "now I'm saying it like this," and let me repeat what I said before," text. All the while making sure I have kept the nugget of truth and wisdom that was being taught. Yeah, about three hours of that on Monday.

Annnd, I might have been holding on a little too tightly to my Alleluia/Hallelujah vision for when Jesus has risen. So I typed just that into google - He is risen - and I have something that 1) gets right to the point and 2) will have the sort of energy and joy that I'm looking for. Mind you, it's a fairly horrible arrangement and I am cherry-picking the verse, among other things, but every moment I feel more confident about the choice and more excited about the possibilities of the new arrangement and how it will bring about the resolution of the show.

B. I got to spend a lovely evening with my favorite couple in Rolla (whilst also checking up on my son) and when John Beger asked me about Passion, I think I talked for 45 minutes straight. I'm sure he had no idea I was going to launch into my presentation but as I was explaining it to him, I kept going, "Oh, and we are recreating sacred art like DaVinci's Last Supper and the Pieta. And let me tell you about the projections. Whoops! Can't forget about the music. Blah, blah, blah on and on!"

Next, I have been emailing peeps about costumes, set, music direction, being a consultant on Jewish customs. And people have been answering me!! Is it all yesses? No. But the no generally comes with regret that they can't help me but excitement for the project. And that's awesome!!

Because the big news really, is that I have put a down payment on the space so you know it's happening. I have talk, talk, talked for years about this but now, the check has been written and I am moving forward at what seems like a breakneck pace. Amazing, how having years to consider and reconsider various aspects, I can say I need this, that and the other and/or, no that won't work for what I envision. It seems like a piece of cake.

Up next is gathering my team of designers who can make Passion come to fruition. The space at Chaminade is a top-of-the-line, we-can-doing anything-here, blackbox which is exciting in and of itself. Plus, they're letting me have the donkey and a big sign out on Lindbergh. Whoo-hoo!!

Exciting, right? And you, too, can be a part of this project. Let me tell YOU all about it. Send me an email or FB message and we'll get together. Toodles!!


 

Details, details, details

Beginning September 1, the pre-production of Passion officially starts. I am familiarizing myself with Constant Contacts so I can imput the thousands of emails I've gotten. I am oh-so-close to finalizing the alleluia at the end of the show. I have found someone to play the role of Jesus and hopefully have my Peter too. I am putting the downpayment down on the space at the Skip Viragh Center. I'm sending out the email to someone who said I could use their costumes. I've made initial contact with someone I hope will design the set and that pesky crucifix that I want to be raised from the floor.

There are a couple things I could use help with, if you're so inclined. I need a contact for someone with a donkey. Jesus must ride in on a donkey. So if you know someone with a petting zoo or someone who has a farm with a donkey that can be ridden for a short distance, c-c-c-call me!

I have a cabaret I would like to do as a fundraiser for Passion. I need a space with a piano.

It is looking like Passion will be produced under the auspices of Spotlight Theatre, which is a not-for-profit 501c(3) so all donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Feel free to donate generously.

Oh, and I'm praying for the Holy Spirit to infuse me with some design creativity for the mailers and such. I'm a little lame in that area.

That's all for now.

Game On

Mercy me! It's been nearly a year since my last entry. But then you know, Passion has never been far away from my mind even if it has not been in my fingers typing the blog. As you can tell from the title of this post, the game is on. One of the most challenging aspects of this production was securing a venue in time to fully take advantage of marketing opportunities such as group sales. Drum roll please..........

Passion will presented in March 14-23, 2013 in the Blackbox Theatre at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts on the campus of Chaminade College Preparatory School. Whew! That is a mouthful.

That was so important, other information seems trivial now. So I'll save other information for another post. Til then!