Sheesh…days since I’ve written about this process. I’m just not in the habit of writing as I go through it. I should get a laptop so I could get more down on paper and out of my mind.
Yesterday I wrote the auditionees whom I did not cast. I emailed those who supplied an email address. I just don’t have time to call them, however. The cast list that I have so far should go up on the website tomorrow. No…why wait? The whole purpose of this blog is to chart this step by step.
So, as of this moment on Wednesday morning the following people have been cast: Thomas Bates as Eddie; Sophie Vayansky as Annie; Jeff Ryan as Chet the father; and Deb Sawyer as Ellen the mother. The last three have all been in an HG play before. Thomas has never been in an HG play. I did see him in Elkland High School’s production of ROBIN HOOD last spring.
I’m going check with each of these to see if it’s ok with them for me to talk about what we work on as we go through the rehearsals. Everybody has some quirks and mannerisms and tendencies that sometime get in the way of the character. I’d really like to be able to write about how we wrestle with them…the quirks, not the people.
For example, in GRACE AND GLORIE, Kris has a tendency to allow her voice to get pinched and a bit whiney when she gets excited or questioning. We’ve worked on it in this play (she’s been in others before but we’ve never really addressed it) and she’s responding and working through it. While we’re on G&G…it opens Friday night. I hope everyone comes to see it. Having just two in the cast is a unique experience. Except for some of the ten-minute plays, I don’t believe we’ve ever had a two-hander before. (Oh, yes, I DO I DO was just two people, but one of them was me so that doesn’t count…I couldn’t address the quirks and tendencies and habits ‘cause I couldn’t see them!)
There is an entirely new dynamic to having just two in the cast. Thankfully these two work well together…really well. They really communicate and support each other. It’s a fairly long play—nearly 2 ½ hours—and they both are on stage the entire time. It’s a beautiful production with these two talented women…I wish I had charted that process, too.
Back to OTT…see…I get distracted with other productions and responsibilities (I still have to finish the set for G&G, and finish the program, and answer the phone to take reservations) in the midst of casting OTT. I’m still searching for Georgie…haven’t given up on the possibility of casting a Down Syndrome boy, and Rudy. We had a few people audition for Rudy, but there wasn’t a sure connection—certainly not for lack of talent…these guys are talented; but just not quite right for this part.
Sister Clarissa is cast pending an ok from a doctor.
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