FIGMENTS

And

ALMOST, MAINE

CASTING PLAN

Thanks and congratulations for the excellent audition work.  You made our job difficult, which is just the way we like it.   A casting plan for both FIGMENTS and ALMOST, MAINE is included. 

Please INITIAL by your name to accept your role assignment.  Hard copies of the notice will be posted on the theatre door, and on the STAGE callboard in the music hallway.

If for any reason you will not accept your role, please inform me ASAP in writing or in person.  Any personnel change will require us to do some shuffling.

If we were not able to assign you a cast position at this time, please consider working on the other aspects of the production as much as your schedule allows.  The general stage crew is currently meeting  Tuesdays and Thursdays.

UNDERSTUDIES and ASSISTANT DIRECTOR positions have not yet  been filled – please see me individually if you do want to fill one of those roles for FIGMENTS.  ALMOST, MAINE will not have understudies, but I would like to hire a student to work with the acting teams .  Let me know if you are interested.

If any changes to the cast are needed, we’ll notify you personally if an onstage spot for you develops – and that does happen once in a while!

CREW CHIEFS – you should attend the FIGMENTS readthrough and are welcome to attend the ALMOST MAINE session too – there will be some things you can help with.

The  FIGMENTS readthrough is Monday, September 16 at 6:00 pm.  Plan to stay until at least 8:30 to allow us sufficient time to read through the script.

The ALMOST MAINE  readthrough is Wednesday, September 18 at 2:30.  .  Plan to stay until 4:30  to give us time to read the whole script – and each team needs to hear what is in the other scenes to get a full flavor of the piece.

All casting and work assignments are based on the completion of all paperwork – application, contract and resume – by WEDNESDAY, September 18.  All CONFLICTS should be entered into VSM by that time as well.

Positions that are open (TBD, or To Be Determined – you’ll have the opportunity to interview for those positions.  Let me know if you are interested in any of them.

Once again, thank you for the work and effort you’ve put in to the audition process.

Figments/almost, maine

CAST AND CREW CHIEF ASSIGNMENTS

FIGMENTS			ALMOST, MAINE
ROLE	Assigned	Init	ROLE	Assigned	Init
RICK	Mark Cioffi		PROLOGUE/EPILOGUE
RICK 2	Carlos Castillo		PETE	Simon Aroche
MAMA	Michiko Feehan		GINETTE	Lauren Pina
MAMA 2	Hannah Bisk		HER HEART
LONI	Lily Habenstreit		EAST	Jordan Hill
LONI 2	Adeline McCaul		GLORY	Daniela Quintero-R
MATT	David Toro		SAD AND GLAD
MATT 2	Daniel Zucker		JIMMY	Kyle Smeallie
VERONICA	Elizabeth Lambert		SANDRINE	Sehee Curro
WINSTON	Zach Norris		WAITRESS	Melody Tondari
DAVID	Jordan Hill		THIS HURTS
LOUISE	Nora Manzella		MARVALYN	Erin Gallagher
POP	Noah Habenstreit		STEVE	Daniel Zucker
SARAH	Kira Appelman		GETTING IT BACK
STAGE MANAGER	Stephanie Williams		GAYLE	Kristina Rexford
STAGE MANAGER	Jamee Hood		LINDELL	Carlos Castillo
SET DESIGNER	Sonja Plungis		THEY FELL
SET DESIGNER	Rosetta Previti		RANDY	Declan Enright
SHOP MANAGER	Sarah Becker		CHAD	Zach Norris
LIGHTING MGR	Amanda Gamage		WHERE IT WENT
SOUND MANAGER	Spencer Cronin		PHIL	Max Maynard
PROPS MANAGER	Alexandra Haddad		MARCIE	Mae Keller
			STORY OF HOPE
MAKEUP MGR	Leah M.-Rosenthal*		HOPE	Jassim Conteh
COSTUMES MGR	Sehee Curro		MAN (DANIEL)	Tomonari Feehan
PUBLICITY MGR	Noah Habenstreit		SUZETTE (WALK-ON)	Zoe Ades
BOX OFFICE MGR	AMEENA FAREEDA*		SEEING THE THING
BOX OFFICE MGR	ZHONIQUE PRYSOCK*		RHONDA	Vidya Shaker
HOUSE MANAGER	NATALIE BODIAN*		DAVE	Noah Habenstreit
ADVERTISING MGR	OPEN
ASST. DIRECTOR	tba		ASST. DIRECTOR	tba

REPORT FROM EDINBURGH

AUGUST 7, 2013

So today was our countryside trip – our day off of festival doings where we hop on the bus and explore the hilly area known as the Trossachs – including the celebrated Stirling Castle and a few other surprises.

After all the bustle of Edinburgh you will enjoy the relaxed nature of the day – the countryside is really beautiful and at the time in August when we should be traveling, the famous “Heather on the Hill” will be blooming.  Stirling is perhaps best remembered as the location of the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots – an important figure in Scottish history, and one you’ll learn a lot about during the trip.  Much of the castle dates from the 15^th and 16^th centuries.  You’ll enjoy the great hall, where you’ll be able to sit at the thrones for a great photo op.

Castles grow and change over time

From the castle walls, a great view

Costumed interpreters tell the story of the castle

After the castle we rode on for a while and stopped for a box lunch in the small town of Callendar – most of us went to the riverbank to feed ourselves and give a little to the ducks and swans.

Lunchtime - you will meet lots of
cool teachers and adult mentors from
other schools next year.

The tiny town of Callendar-
the dot the landscape

After lunch the bus headed up the narrow road to a lovely vista of the surrounding countryside  While traveling we were treated to tales of the Scottish royals and some of the bloody battles of history involving towering historical figures like William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Rob Roy MacGregor.  (See the movie BRAVEHEART to get a flavor of medieval Scotland  (beware, it’s a pretty bloody epic!)

The hills are alive with-
wait, wrong country

Actual real heather on the hill

We had a few other stops along the way, to see the Highland Mountain Cattle, and had a stop at the Scottish Woolen Centre – enjoying a demonstration of sheep (and duck) herding and shopping in the large store (good prices on wool souvenirs).

My new buddy Davina introduces us to Hamish,
the Highland Mountain Cow

Hamish likes people, and carrots

Border Collie demonstrates herding with ducks

Tomorrow, a meeting with this year’s directors, and then some more free time to explore, see some shows and get ready to come home.  In tomorrow’s edition I’ll fill in a few more blanks.  Questions?  Email them and maybe I can answer from here!

REPORT FROM EDINBURGH

AUGUST 6, 2013

Today’s entry will be a short one because it is late and there are too many images to sift through to make good choices!  I’ll do my best to catch up tomorrow!  But here’s the scoop –

After meetings with the festival tech staff and tours of all the facilities, I can say with confidence that we’ll be well taken care of.  We received lots of great advice on how to choose, build and market a show that will travel well and play well at festival, and they have every reason to believe we’ll be at the same venues next year. There’s one moderate size house (pix yesterday) and two more black box, intimate spots. I’ve now seen shows in two of the three venues and I’ll catch one Thursday in the third!

The Church Hill Studio space

The Church Hll Sainstage space

The Pilrig Studio - above a church

The big highlight of the day, and one you will look forward to greatly, was the performance of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.  It’s one of the most spectacular and moving shows you will ever see, held outdoors against the backdrop of the Edinburgh castle.  This year the seasons were used as a theme – but my takeaway was that it’s the closest you may ever get to the thrill of being at the Olympics opening or closing ceremony – except without the pop stars.  There were astonishingly talented military bands, dance troupes and even a group of kid stunt motorcycle riders called the “Imps”.  And of course the bagpipers – a sound unlike any other – especially when there are 50 of them.  All in all over 1000 performers are in the show, and the production uses lighting to spectacular effect on the castle surface.  It’s truly fabulous.

Spectacular Castle Backdrop

Mongolian Armed Forces depiction of winter

Gearing up for the finale

Tomorrow we are out in the countryside, with our day trip to Stirling Castle and the Trossachs. Hope the weather is nice!