Finishing touches and unexpected emails

It is a little over a week until opening night. We had a mini dress rehearsal last weekend. I almost want to cry from happiness, it was so wonderful seeing my designs coming to life, this one character's whole look is practically my sketch!  (If I am like this now I wonder what I will be like on opening night! )   I would say I am 99% done at this point. I brought home everybody's smelly shoes home Thursday night and spending Good Friday and Saturday making white shoe covers. I have never made them before, it was interesting to say the least. Here's a pic of the process pinning the wrong side of the fabric, and an original shoe and a covered one.

 

 There hasn't been a lot of alterations to do other then hemming a kilt by hand. It's been tons of shopping. At least four cast members are all wearing completely new outfits I purchased. Two are half pulled from either their closets or storage and the rest bought, and three of the guys supplied their own clothes, but I was provided options and then decided.  The director wanted me to get a new shirt for someone and take in the side of a pair of pants as well as shorten them for the next night. (They were practically ready to cut up my Tommy Hilfiger shirtdress and use it as the top! ) When I ran to Wal-Mart - as it was the only thing open on Sunday night - I found a new shirt similar colour palette to my dress, and I just bought new pants that worked better for $12 and saved myself the work I didn't really like the drawstring waist on the other pants anyway! Although the irony because I have to make them in to shorts with a border around the leg. It was a challenge because I only had the material from one partial sleeve to worth with, but I made it work. I am honestly really pleased with everything that will be going on stage. Here is a pic of the shorts and one of the cast at rehearsal. 

 I am glad I was at rehearsal last weekend, because they were actually missing a costume change entirely! This one character is supposed to change into a white robe, but they hadn't been doing it even though the robe was there at the rehearsal space. When I noticed this I literally ran to the other room and grabbed the robe, when I was running back I wiped out. My knee is skinned a little and my elbow hurt when I moved it, but nothing was really injured, just my pride, because it kind of stopped rehearsal.

At that rehearsal I was kind of bummed though because one of the cast member's wasn't there and I had built his character's cape and I couldn't wait to see his reaction. The cape is supposed to look homemade, and I wanted it to read tablecloth, but the trick was is that it can't be too busy because it needs to go over top the tie dye shirt I made previously. Fortunately I found the perfect fabric, it was pricy at $19 per metre when I needed two metres, but there was a 40% off sale and I am doing good with my budget so I splurged. When it's right it's right. I ended up making the cape in about 50 minutes total from start to finish while my apple pie was baking. It's funny how that works needing such little time for something that is going to be on stage for most of the show, but spending close to 18 hours on something that is barely on stage for 2 minutes just to get a certain look. The director felt the cape was too yellow, so I spend 3 hours adding red gingham. My design concept being that the kid combined two table clothes. I definitely enjoyed his reaction to the ginghamed cape though; it's moments like that, which makes it all worthwhile. Here's a pic of the cape before and after the gingham. 

Finally last weekend when I was going through my programmes, I realized I no longer have one from Toxic Avenger which played in 2009 or 2010. I have three photo size storage boxes full of programmes in chronological order (I wasn't joking when I said I was a theatre addict!)  I like to keep them for souvenirs/ reference, plus more than a few are signed.  I decided to try and contact the theatre company Dan Cap Productions to see about getting another one. To be honest I wasn't even sure I would get a reply because I wasn't even 100% sure they were in in operation but the website was copywritten for this year. Dan Cap hasn't put on a show in a few years. (In the years prior there was a legal battle with Toronto theatre giant Mirvish Productions.)

I was definitely not expecting a very timely, kind and acquiescent reply from Dan Cap Productions founder himself Aubrey Dan! He said no promises but that it would take him a little time, but he would look for one for me! I can't imagine David Mirvish doing that for one of his subscribers. (I never did get a reply yet from the Rock of Ages production company) This has definitely given me a new respect for Mr Dan.

Thinking outside the box and finding balance

We are down to a matter of weeks now before opening night and things are in full swing. One of the things with working costumes in community theatre is thinking outside the box. One of the projects I worked on this week involved thinking outside the box. The director wanted legwarmers when we priced them out they were $11-$13 each and I needed 4 pairs, That would have really taken a chunk out of the budget plus there would possibly be time and cost involved of dying them. All this for a 3 or 4 minute number. We decided it would be cheaper to just make the legwarmers until I went to the fabric store. The perfect material was $18 a metre and I needed 4 metres, there was nothing cheaper that worked. So either way this working out the same, and it seems once factoring in the cost of the tutus to spend 20% of the budget on one number was more than a little ridiculous!  The director had a stroke of genius: she had seen fleece baby blankets in the right shade of ballerina baby pink at the dollarstore. For $18 -including the cost of elastic- I made 4 pairs of leg warmers and it took me about 4 hours of labour. The first pair took the longest as I was figure things out since I was straying from the pattern I found online. I think they turned out pretty cute not to mention that they are really warm and cozy and I really want a pair of my own! Here's a pic: (I had to try them on for purely research purposes of course)

 

There is also a lot of balance in costuming in more ways than one. Some actors are more hands on about their costumes than others, you have to balance keeping your cast and director happy while staying true to your vision. For example my $10 outfit find I mentioned in my last post isn't being used in the show after all, so I decided to deduct the cost from what I spent and keep the jacket and shirt for myself  (I totally rocked them at work earlier this week)

There is also the balancing, well more so juggling of your personal life and the show. I am trying to get things done, make time for my boyfriend, and not let my responsibilities around the house slip too much, it wouldn't be fair to leave a stack of dishes or have N. do all the cooking. Plus there is taking care of my physical self, ie finding the time/energy to do my exercises, not eating crap the majority of the time. All important to keep my diabetes reversed. There has been a little bit of a losing battle on this front this past week and a half, with our routines and schedules being out of whack.That is it for now back to work!

Taking time off to see Chicago, Rock of Ages and a Game of Thrones

I've taken a little time off this past week from costuming to go to the theatre.(I know doing something totally different right?) I couldn't resist the urge to see World Champion/Silver medal olympian Elvis Stojko tackle the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago and my mom got tickets for us to go see Rock of Ages at Casino Rama.

My first introduction to Chicago was the 2002 Oscar winning film which I immediately loved, in fact I even wrote a movie review in my university student news paper. Basically that is what I had to compare the performance to other than a community theatre production back in 2004 up in Sudbury that I don't really remember.

Right away I was put off by the vocals of Terra C McLeod in All That Jazz which is one of my favourite songs from the show. She did this weird vocal trick that I didn't like. I thought that the actress playing Roxie, Bianca Marroquin was okay. I guess I am used to the film version where it plays things very seriously, this production really played up the comedic aspects of the show, for me it didn't work. I was irritated for example during the cell block tango how the actress playing Mona shook her head from side to side like an airhead every time she she said Lipshitz. Elvis Stojko's voice and performance on the other hand took me by surprise and made the show for me. He has this really deep, rich voice that resonates, and he can hold that long note at the end of "We both reached for the gun."

It was kind of neat getting to see late broadway legend/Law & Order star Jerry Orbach's cousin play the role of Amos, a bit of trivia for you Jerry Orbach was the original Billy Flynn. I also recognized one of the ensemble members from when she was in We Will Rock You. Overall though I was underwhelmed and prefer the movie. The stage show leaves lloose ends that the movie doesn't *minor spoiler* like how exactly did Velma Kelly get out let of her murder charges? I am glad I got to see Elvis, but I am glad I didn't pay more than $25 for my ticket! Elvis sadly took of pretty quickly at the stage door so I didn't get an autograph or anything.

With Rock of Ages I had the exact opposite experience, where I liked the stage show better than the movie. I thought the story in the stage show made more sense and I didn't like the changes made for the movie. I had seen Rock of Ages with my sister back in 2010, I thought it was okay, we were familiar with some of the cast from their We Will Rock You days, that can make it hard to suspend belief as you see them as so and so playing a role as opposed to just the character. I think the movie had the same problem, I liked it, but for example you don't see the character of Stacee Jaxx you see Tom Cruise as Stacee. Because with this production the cast was all unknown to me it really allowed them to inhabit and become their roles for me. I quite enjoyed the actor who played Lonny he was great, I thought the character in the Canadian production played by Aaron Walpole was really annoying, but this guy was super funny. I did find that the actress Shannon Mullen who played the lead Sherrie tried a little too hard to emulate Julianne Hough from the movie.

Overall it was a lot of fun, and our seats were great so I got a close look at the costumes. There is a little irony though with the venue because a lot of the bands whose music they were playing Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Whitesnake, Journey have played that exact stage. I had come straight to the show from work and we'd stopped at Arby's for dinner which turned out to be pretty funny because there were three different references to that restaurant in the show! One of my complaints is that as we were leaving my mom saw the actor who played Lonny and I missed him. My other minor complaint is that I didn't get a programme, because there was none. I have emailed the show's production company to see if I can get hooked up with one, if I don't I have a couple cool souvenirs a pic with the show's fictional band Arsenal's name on it and a protest flyer prop from the stage. Here's a pic:

         

As if the shows weren't enough this week with work I got to go the Chorus entertainment building on Thursday night for an advance screening of Game of Thrones season four episode one which premieres tonight. It was really fun, everyone's name was on a guest list, we had to check in. There was free booze and passed appetizers of lobster/phyllo puffs and coconut shrimp (Popcorn too of course) A good night! We also saw the pilot of this new series Silicon Valley which was pretty funny. It's been an interesting week to say the least now time to get back to work!

A month to go and shopping until I drop

With just over a month until opening night for the show, I thought I would post a little update. Cast and crew had our deadline to hand in our programme bios and had our pics taken last weekend. I am finally starting to get to work on the show now that I've had my sit down with the director and we've settled on ideas. She felt we were 90% on the same page. The tutus I mentioned in my last post are done, I probably spent a good 12 or more hours cutting tulle and tying it to elastics. I had seen the technique before but had never done it before. It looked like a big pink fluffy cloud when they were all hung up together, it kind of freaked out my boyfriend a little. I had to hang them to keep the cats away or they would have been shredded and not the way I wanted!  I used a total of 16 metres of fabric, and the cost was 10% of the total budget, little scary, but I am happy with how they turned out. My co-workers got a kick out of watching me work at my tulle covered desk (Someone even offered to pay me to make some for her nieces!). Here's a pic of the tutu cloud and one of me in the tutu.

I have also done another technique that I have never done before: tie dying. I apparently missed out on that rite of childhood even though I was Girl Guide. One of the characters is described as having hippie parents and pride in his homemade clothing, what says homemade and hippie more than tie dye? I tried to do a spiral technique, but I didn't use enough colour so the shirt came out whiter than anticipated, but I still really like it quite a bit here's a photo. 

 

Every once in a while there are costuming miracles. Traditionally in the show one of the characters wears a very specific uniform, and although I wanted to go in a different direction, that is what the director wanted. The miracle comes in that the actor's father actually the uniform that we needed! It totally helped out my budget and reduced my work load! (Bonus)  On the last show I worked one of the cast member's wife had a actual nurses uniform from the 70's which is exactly what we needed, I even got to try it on. 

Things seem to be coming together, I feel like I am in good shape. At this point after my last shopping trip 5 of 9 cast members have all their main outfit.  No one realizes the amount of shopping that actually goes into costuming. The tulle, elastics, and tie dye kit didn't magically appear, we need to shop for supplies. I met up with one of the cast member's earlier this week to shop for his costume. Why can't I do that with everyone? It is so much easier than carrying around my binder of measurements and a measuring tape! I have probably spent over 3 hours thus far in secondhand clothing stores. I still have a few more pieces to get and there are some shoe covers to make, but mostly it is just odds and ends. No real major builds, just possibly some alterations like shortening an actual Scottish kilt with out cutting it, because I don't want to wreck it. Anyway I scoured Goodwill yesterday because it was their end of month 50% off sale, I got $34 worth of stuff for $17! I bet when whoever donated their clothing they never thought it would be a costume one day! A thrifty costumer am I, one character's entire outfit cost $10 and I love it! Here's a pic:

 

The important thing is that I am having fun, if I am not why do it?  Rehearsal last weekend was a blast. The show calls for audience volunteers and as the cast stumbled through a run through of the first act I helped out by being an audience volunteer, so much fun! I had a hard time not singing along and wrecking the harmonies ( Not that I am totally tone deaf or anything) So that's the latest, I will continue to keep you posted if I can.

My birthday at the ballet

My blog is called confessions of a theatre addict, but so far I have really only talked about one kind of theatre: musicals. I also quite enjoy ballet. For my birthday earlier this week I saw Swan Lake for the first time. I am a huge fan of Tchaikovsky's work and thought it would be a great way to commemorate the day, especially it being the only one of his major works I haven't seen.

I took ballet for the first time when I was 4 and studied it off and on, but never got very far, never en pointe. It wasn't until I was in my early 20's that I saw my first ballet. I was living in Vienna (Wein), Austria. The Staatoper there offered 2€ standing tickets. At the time I didn't like the performance of Kadettenball because I thought it was unconventional. I wonder what the more seasoned ballet goer I am now would think if I saw it today. (I think I have seen probably close to 30 different performances since 2006)

I digress, these days I still line up for tickets, but a little more expensive $35 but better seating! Because I don't live in Toronto ensuring that I get good seats means getting up before the sun. The rush tickets go on sale at 11 when the box office opens, usually there are over 60 people queued up. Being there early is key my plan was to get to Toronto around 8, catch the subway and arrive by 8:30 at the opera house. Slight snag we arrived discovered the subway doesn't start running until 9! There was someone else waiting too so we suggesting splitting a cab. This young guy was from Orlando, Florida, and paid for the $60+ cab-ride that was only supposed to be $30 max at flat rate, my boyfriend N. handed him a $20 though.

When I last lined up a year ago, we could wait in the subway/lobby area, but I guess the building manager had a fit and now it is not allowed, N. and I were definitely not expecting to wait outside (I am not sure he would have agreed to go if that was part of the deal, birthday or not) for two and half hours. What we did was everyone waiting when there wasn't that many of us, we rotated waiting outside and inside the door out of camera view.

There was a bit of injustice in the line. This woman who was fifth in line (I was seventh) had her daughter show up at ten to eleven and join her in line they needed four tickets and it is a max of two tickets per person.  This is unfair because now someone who did wait in line for a long time didn't get tickets, I feel really badly for them, especially because it wasn't even for good reasons, the grandkids had activities like swimming. Even a little girl who was in the ballet, lined up with her mother so they could get 4 tickets. Seriously if seeing the ballet is that important to you put in the effort! After acquiring out tickets we went for a sort of French themed brunch of crepes, and I treated myself to a mimosa.

I was like going to the pre-ballet talks which usually talk about the particular ballet's history, or technique. I find them really interesting especially because I dabble in the production side of theatre. I particularly love getting seats near the stage, so I can get a close look at the costume details. This talk was really dry and I didn't really find out anything that wasn't in the programme. One thing about the ballet that blows my mind is that they spend $170,000 a year on pointe shoes alone!

As to the performance I was meh on the first act, although the violence implied against the character of the serving wench stood out. It was amazing watching the dance of the four little swans in act II - for those that don't know it is a famous dance where four ballerinas link arms and ance in sync- it is quite something to see.

I loved the third and four acts, perhaps, because that is where more of the action takes place. The sets and costumes were really luxe as well. The dancer playing the Swan Princess Odette and the dual role of Odile was fantastic. I could really tell the difference in her movements as she portrayed both parts. It was also impressive watching her all those consecutive fouettes that Swan Lake is famous for. I wasn't able to count if she did all 32 or not (Fouettes are basically turns when you are balanced en pointe on one foot) I enjoy learning about the technique of ballet.

I didn't stalk former prima ballerina/current Artistic Director Karen Kain this time;O), I already have a signed programme that she signed. After the ballet N. got me a little pair of ballet slippers for my Pandora bracelet. We returned home and I got my fav homemade eggs benedict, I guess you could said I had a somewhat French theme, ballet, crepes, hollandaise.(All sort of fitting because I just found out I am going to need to make tutus for the show I am working on) Anyway there was the special Wicked cake he bought me. I will leave you with a pic of my special cake, and of the ballet slipper charm. 

 

And sew it begins

I have officially started work on costumes the show. Less than 2 months until opening night! Last night I started by taking cast measurements. I really had only done it a bit on the last show, but it went pretty well. I only have 3 people left to measure. I think measuring another person is rather intimate because you are in such close proximity. With my little arms I was more or less hugging people as I was trying to get the measure tape around their chests and waists etc. One trick I picked up from the last costume designer I worked with was measuring the guys to the sides when measuring their hips so so your hands don't accidentally slip somewhere they are not supposed to! Also asking them to hold the tape when doing the inseams. I couldn't help thinking about the episode of Friends where Chandler goes to Joey's tailor and was measured shall we say inappropriately and how I didn't want it go down like that. I didn't find it nearly hard as I thought it was going to be being 4'9" measuring someone over 6 feet. I was expecting to have to use a stool, but I didn't need it after all.

It was alot harder than I thought it was going to be just to grab people during a quiet moment, because of the nature of the show, alot of the cast is on stage at all times. One of my LOL moments was when a buddy of mine Kevin came over when he had a second and said "do me, do me quick."

While I was waiting, I started to go through the immense wardrobe area for which you need a moving scaffolding and a clothing hook to getting certain things down. There are about three long rows of clothes, and each one has another row suspended on top of that.  The theatre group moved to a new facility and it's not quite as easily accessible as the old storage area. I did manage to pull a couple pieces that could work. Now it is a matter of finalizing my ideas for the characters, pulling, shopping (I am sure my mom would love to come to Value Village with me) and altering. The producer also wants me to estimate what kind of budget I will need, keeping in mind that this is community theatre and there is no money ;O)  I am sitting down with the director on the weekend to show her my ideas etc. Enough blogging time to get back to work, I will leave you with a pic of our storage area, hope I don't get lost!

A Wicked post

I seem to be getting into the blogging grove this year. This one will be about another one of my favourite musicals: Wicked. For those unfamiliar it is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, and tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) and The Good Witch of the North before Dorothy came to Oz. A word of warning spoilers will abound from this point about both the stage show and the book it is based on so proceed with caution.

I first heard of it through the media tv shows etc. I living in Paris, France when it first toured Toronto, so I missed it, plus I was still a NYC virgin at the time. When it returned to Toronto in fall 2006 I loved it and saw it 3 times before it flew away. I read the book in the summer as preparation, the novel is definitely WAY different and more sinister than the musical. Elphaba and her love interest Fiyero die in the book, but are given a somewhat happier ending where they've faked their own deaths. Fiyero also turns out to the be Scarcrow. The stage show delves more into the origins of well known characters like the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion, and how they became who they are. I would say the musical is trying to have it's cake and eat it too with the ending, with out straying too much from the traditional OZ cannon except the Scarcrow doesn't die in the movie.

One of the best days that my sister and I shared involved Wicked. She was 12 at the time, and I was introducing her to ballet. We had gone to see a matinee of the Nutcracker, and I got to meet one of Canada's premiere ballerina's Karen Kain. My sister was blase about Karen Kain, and she didn't think anyone would know who she is, so when we were at an ATM, I turned around and asked the guy behind me if he knew and he did!  After that we decided on a lark to go try the Wicked lottery for the 8pm show. My parents actually got us a hotel room and tickets to Wicked as an early Christmas present prior to it and we loved it. I digress with the lottery basically there are about 20 tickets available for $25 if your name is drawn you get up to two tickets. (Wicked isn't alone in the practice Book of Mormon, Rent and We Will Rock You also have/had lotteries) We were so happy when we won! It was just a great day. I tried the lottery on Wicked's last day, but I didn't win.

When Wicked was in Toronto, I was lucky enough to see Todd K. Freeman as Dr Dillamond (For you Buffy The Vampire Slayer fan he played Mr Trick in seasons three), and the talented Megan Hilty. Megan Hilty reprised her role as Glinda on the TV show Ugly Betty and went to to star in the TV show Smash. I have a pic with her:

 

The next time I saw Wicked was the following summer 2007 on my first trip to NYC. The morning of I did a Behind the Emerald Curtain tour and got to see some of the set models, and original cast member's Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth's costumes. It was pretty interesting. The sets on the what is referred to as a "sit down" production as opposed as a touring production are more elaborate. Not everyone understands, why you would see a show over and over again, but each actor brings their own spin to the character. A couple years later when I was watching the Golden Girls, I recognized Lenny Wolpe who I saw play the Wizard.

A year later I was on the road again to see Wicked. The tour was in Ottawa, so I went to visit my friend Laura  (Who I never would have met if not for a mutual love of Wicked!) They still had the same husband and wife team of Clifton and DeeDee Hall playing Fiyero and Nessarose. Deedee played a student in the film Sister Act 2 which was one of my favourites. Here's a pic of me and Clifton and Deedee.I have to admit the first act of shows tend to be my favourite but the actress playing Glinda and Elphie really brought something to their characters older years in the second act, made me appreciate it in a whole new way. Here's a pic of Clifton and I as well as Dee Dee and I. Also one of Laura and I at the show being rebels.

 

The last time I saw Wicked was in Toronto back in 2010. I went with N's aunt and she surprised me that Christmas with a really cute charm of green oz glasses. 

 

Now Idina Menzel who originated the role of Elphaba, was also an original cast member of Rent. In my Rent blog post I talked about meeting her. I don't know why I didn't get any of my Wicked stuff signed by her. I brought the stuff with me, but I think because I had more Rent signatures, I made a choice. Next time I will get my Wicked Grimmerie and soundtrack signed, especially since they are both signed by Kristin Chenoweth who originated the role of Glinda.  Here's a photo

 

I met Kristin Chenoweth in June 2012 when she gave a concert at Massey Hall in Toronto. The stage door was CRAZY, the security guards weren't expecting that at all. It was neat getting to hear her sing the song Popular in Japanese and German. I would have also loved to go up on stage with her and sing For Good, but I was too shy, plus with where my friend Siobahn and my seats were we never would have gotten chosen. Here's a pic of Kristin during the show.

 

Lastly my mother started me off collecting Wicked ornament when she bought me a Wicked Witch of the West ornament one year. I then found out Carlton Cards had ones from the musical and starting getting them every year. I have 5 now and they all play music. I was also given a Wicked Witch Barbie one year too. So that's the story of me and one of my favourite musicals I will leave you with pis of my Wicked corner on my bookshelf and of the ornaments in the tree.