Craft

Banff/Citadel, Day 27: Commencement

February 5, 2011

This entry is part 24 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

The past day and a half have been celebratory and full of emotion. The past four weeks of work have culminated in a series of presentations: last night we performed a cabaret of musical theatre solos and group numbers (Sunday and Blue Skies, if you’re into knowing such things); this morning we presented our slutty [...]

Read the full post →

Banff/Citadel, Day 25: Committing Chekhov

February 4, 2011

This entry is part 23 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

For the last three weeks, we’ve all been working on scenes from four Chekhov plays: Platonov, Ivanov, The Seagull, and Uncle Vanya. Until tonight, all of the scene study work has been more or less private — just the scene partners with Brenda, our coach. This evening we got a chance to see everybody’s scenes, [...]

Read the full post →

Banff/Citadel, Day 24: We’re all adults here

February 3, 2011

This entry is part 22 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

It’s tough to imagine that we’ll all be in Edmonton in four days, preparing to start the next climb in the Banff/Citadel journey. My mind is already chewing on the logistics of that first week: getting transportation figured out; having to buy groceries again (oh, if only the Citadel Theatre had a dining hall like [...]

Read the full post →

Banff/Citadel, Day 23: Conjectures

February 2, 2011

This entry is part 21 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

In text class today, James asked us all to partner up, and then handed us contemporary scenes. He asked us to apply everything we’ve been working on to a quick analysis of the script: discover the given circumstances, objectives, actions/tactics, and obstacles. My partner and I found a corner, did a cold read through the [...]

Read the full post →

Banff/Citadel, Day 22: Masochism

February 1, 2011

This entry is part 20 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

We are on the home stretch: as the final week of our training intensive gets underway, I can’t help but start to get excited about getting to Edmonton and getting into rehearsal for our shows. BUT — there’s still a ton to do here. It was a terrific day today, for me, kicked into high [...]

Read the full post →

Banff/Citadel, Day 20: Finding Marilyn

January 29, 2011

This entry is part 19 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

Every little gay boy dreams of being Marilyn Monroe. No? Is it just me? Well, whatever. I went into my singing coaching session this evening and Ryan asked me how I’ve been doing with my music. I said I’d been trying to do the exercises he gave me, but had no idea if I was [...]

Read the full post →

Banff/Citadel, Day 18: Let’s get visual

January 28, 2011

This entry is part 18 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

went to bed early last night; had great cardio session in the gym this morning; and as a result, today was a much better day than yesterday. I also credit the fact that our usual breakneck schedule was interrupted by the three-hour break this afternoon, which I spent preparing for The Three Musketeers. I know; [...]

Read the full post →

Banff/Citadel, Day 17: The dam

January 27, 2011

This entry is part 17 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

I think that people are a bit like artificial reservoirs — the type with dams on one end that can regulate water flow. Everything we experience is like the water that collects in the reservoir — whether it trickles in from upstream, babbles its way into the lake after a rainfall, or sloshes in after [...]

Read the full post →

Banff/Citadel, Day 16: Surfeit

January 26, 2011

This entry is part 16 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

Evidence abounds that the sheer novelty of being here in Banff is wearing off: the once-excellent buffet in the dining hall is beginning to look routine. The giddiness of the first week has given way to an earnest seriousness as all of us try to keep on top of our workload and our sanity. It [...]

Read the full post →

Banff/Citadel, Day 15: Getting heady

January 25, 2011

This entry is part 15 of 24 in the series Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Program

In stage combat class today, Paul decided to spend some time showing us how to use “found objects” to create stage fights. We spent ninety minutes figuring out how to safely beat each other with pipes, corkscrews, cloaks, chalkboards, tripods, electrical cords, belts, desks, and small people. It’s amazing how excited adults get at the [...]

Read the full post →

← Previous Entries