Skyscraper : Aftermath
If you noticed that the blog has been a little slow during the last two months it’s because I’ve been directing a play called Skyscraper by David Auburn with the Albright Theatre in Batavia, IL. Normally during production I would bring my camera to a couple practices and snap some photos and post some progress here. This time that never really happened. Partly since I was directing this time around and couldn’t really step aside during practice to take photos. Secondly I was working on a second project at the same time and I would have never been able to prep the photos for the web.
But finally on the last weekend of performances I was able to take some photos of the show from backstage while the actors were doing their thing. So if you were unable to make the show, or just want to look at some photos from it, here are some images from Skyscraper:
The Philadelphia Story – Opening Night
So it’s here. the play I’ve been working on at the Albright Theatre in Batavia, IL opens tonight. I think the cast is definitely ready as I’ve been watching them slip more and more into their roles as the week progresses. It’s been nice watching the pieces fall into places, as costumes, and hair, and make up, and props, and set all come together. You can see the confidence in the cast grow as all the little things help them identify with the character more and more.
Well, enough of my kind words for now. The show is going to be good, and I’m ready to sleep for a week. Which I might do. Here are some more images taken a couple nights ago. Not everyone is in costume yet, but it was starting to take shape.
Finally if you are in the area, please make an effort to come out and see the show. I think it’s going to be good, and I want these guys to have the audience they deserve. You can get info on the show at the albright theatre web site.
The Philadelphia Story – Round 2
This week in the final week of practice for The Philadelphia Story at the Albright Theatre. Many places refer to it as “Hell Week”. Basically it’s a long week of late practices every single night leading up to the actual show on Friday.
Today, we had a short practice and had to reshoot head shots due to some technical problems that happened to the first ones. Again since I had my camera with me I took some photos while the actors were doing their thing.
The stage is finished and the walls are up from the last time I posted images. But again I’m probably showing off a bit more of the space then the theatre would probably like me to show. It is a very rough, exposed, industral space. Their are nice seats there too hidden in the darkness. The man watching everything in the bottom image is the director, Eric.
The Philadelphia Story – Round 1
Part of the reason for my lack of posting lately is my involvement with the Albright Theatre’s production of The Philadelphia Story. For those who don’t know, The Philadelphia Story is a romantic comedy from the 1940′s about a debutant who is getting married to her second husband while, dealing with her lingering ex, and falling for a reporter who is sent to cover her wedding for the magazine Destiny. There was a movie made in the 40′s staring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and Jimmy Stewart.
Contrary to common misperceptions this is not a play based of the Tom Hanks’ drama Philadelphia.
I had brought my camera in to take some cast head shots and promotional photos for the play. Some have already ran in the in the Kane County Chronicle last week. Since I had my camera present I thought I would take some photos of our actors at work.
At the time of the photos the theatre was in the middle of renovations. They had stripped away all the walls that normally surround the actors to rebuild the stage after several years. So you may notice office chairs and an unfinished floor. Just signs of the hard work going on at the theatre.
With the missing walls there is a lot more exposed then normal. Some of the storage spaces for props backstage become visible. Beams and the brick walls from the turn of the century construction of the former windmill factory also add to the character of the building, but not necessarily to the tone of the play. So will will have more photos later with our actors occupying the completed set.
