Well, as much as I wanted to avoid a cancellation of our June reading, it seems we will NOT be able to meet on June 21. We are still short several readers. But more importantly, we are faced with a direct scheduling conflict with the Portland Area Musical Theatre Awards. It seems several of our regular participants will be attending the event (and our would-be accompanist for the evening, Mont Chris Hubbard, has received a nomination for his work on an original musical he co-wrote - congratulations, Chris!). So if you are simply dying to do something related to musical theatre on June 21, make your way to PCPA's Winningstad Theatre. Our reading will likely be rescheduled for August or September. All who have already signed up for roles will have first right of refusal once the new date is announced.
In the meanwhile, please consider joining us for our reading of "Good News" on July 18.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
"Good News" Cast Signup now online
The signup is now online for our July 18 reading of "Good News." If you are interested in participating, you can signup at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/good5 .
As many of you may not know the show or its characters, you may want to look over a copy of the scrip and/or score first. If you would like to get you hands on a copy on one or both before committing to a role, please contact me at davidbaer@gmail.com.
As many of you may not know the show or its characters, you may want to look over a copy of the scrip and/or score first. If you would like to get you hands on a copy on one or both before committing to a role, please contact me at davidbaer@gmail.com.
MANY Roles Still Open for June 21 - Anyone Can Whistle
Happy June, everyone! Over the weekend we lost three of our cast for June 21 to other commitments. There are still over a dozen roles to be filled, which can be done at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/anyone
"Anyone Can Whistle" was a title that many people requested we do at Entr'acte. To date, only two people who requested it have signed up. If you are out there and want to be a part of this reading PLEASE SIGN UP! If you know someone who might be interested i joining us, please invite them to sign up. If you are already signed up, but are willing/able to play multiple roles please sign up.
If we are NOT close to a full cast by Monday, June 14, we will have to cancel this reading.
"Anyone Can Whistle" was a title that many people requested we do at Entr'acte. To date, only two people who requested it have signed up. If you are out there and want to be a part of this reading PLEASE SIGN UP! If you know someone who might be interested i joining us, please invite them to sign up. If you are already signed up, but are willing/able to play multiple roles please sign up.
If we are NOT close to a full cast by Monday, June 14, we will have to cancel this reading.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Many roles still open for ANYONE CAN WHISTLE on June 21
We are still in need of several more voices to participate in our June 21 reading of "Anyone Can Whistle." The signup page can be found here.
Need a copy of the script and score? Please let us know and we can get it to you.
Need a copy of the script and score? Please let us know and we can get it to you.
GOOD NEWS for July!!!
The good news is that we'll be reading "Good News" on July 18 at 7pm. (A casting announcement will be posted in early June.) The show, which debuted on Broadway in 1927, was by Laurence Schwab and B.G. DeSylva, with lyrics by DeSylva and Lew Brown, and music by Ray Henderson. It opened in the same season as "Show Boat," which was the start of a new direction for musicals. By contrast, "Good News" was a decidedly old-fashioned, light story which capitalized on the popular focus on youth and rah rah college enthusiasm which was found in all sorts of entertainment (books, stage, and film) of the period.
The original production starred big box office names of the day: John Price Jones, Mary Lawlor, Gus Shy, and Inez Courtney - but none had much of a name beyond the stage, and have been forgotten with time. Good News spawned two movie versions (1930 and 1947 - see poster art for the latter to the right), a Broadway revival in the 1970s, and a regional production and cast album in 1993.
A great history of the show can be found here.
The original production starred big box office names of the day: John Price Jones, Mary Lawlor, Gus Shy, and Inez Courtney - but none had much of a name beyond the stage, and have been forgotten with time. Good News spawned two movie versions (1930 and 1947 - see poster art for the latter to the right), a Broadway revival in the 1970s, and a regional production and cast album in 1993.A great history of the show can be found here.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
"Promises, Promises" Comes Together After All
It was touch and go for a while if we would actually get to do this reading, but in the end it all came together, with an enthusiastic group of performers covering an range of roles. Some were familiar with the source material (Billy Wilder's film, "The Apartment") and others had knowledge of the show through the cast album, but only two of us had ever encountered it on stage. Our exploration of the piece last night led many of us to understand why the show isn't produced more often (and wonder why anyone thought it would be a good idea to revive on Broadway right now). The story is fun, with some classic Neil Simon (and Billy Wilder) dialogue, and some songs are great fun (although it's a very challenging score, and the lyrics rarely do much to advance the plot), but it's dated, and tough to identify with the the office-place sexual shenanigans, let alone the show's protagonist in the same way that audiences might with, say J. Pierrepont Finch from "How to Succeed...."
Nonetheless, we all had a fun evening, especially the many new participants who were joining us for the first time last night. Thanks to KJ McElrath for his expert accompaniment, and, once again, a very special thanks to everyone who stepped in (with very little notice in some cases) to cover roles.
Nonetheless, we all had a fun evening, especially the many new participants who were joining us for the first time last night. Thanks to KJ McElrath for his expert accompaniment, and, once again, a very special thanks to everyone who stepped in (with very little notice in some cases) to cover roles.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
PROMISES, PROMISES Reading on Monday
Our 4/26 reading of PROMISES, PROMISES is less than a week away. Here are a few details about our reading for those planning to attend:
SCRIPTS AND SCORES - Please plan to bring your own copies. If you need to know where to get your own copy, email us. (NOTE: There are a copule of missing pages from the scripts that have already been distributed. I will have hard copies of the missing pages for those involved in the corresponding scenes at the reading)
OPEN ROLES - There are still a few unclaimed key male roles (including a couple who sing). If you would like to claim one or know someone who can, please do so here.
PRE-READING REHEARSAL - While we do not have a formal rehearsal, anyone who wishes to come in advance of the 7pm reading start time to review a song or two should feel free to do so. KJ will be on hand starting at 6pm to help you through difficult sections or harmonies that you wish to review.
TIME, PLACE, and HOW TO GET IN - The reading will take place in the recital hall at Sherman Clay Pianos, located at NW 13th and Davis. We MUST USE THE SIDE DOOR ON DAVIS. The door is locked from the outside, so you need to be let in. Someone will be monitoring the door between 5:30pm and 7pm. If you arrive after 7pm, YOU NEED TO CALL OR TEXT ME AT 914-522-9363 TO BE LET INSIDE.
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS - The goal of Entr'acte is to educate and enrich our collective knowledge of this art form, but also to network with fellow practitioners. We have a wide range of knowledge and experience among our participants. Please come with an open mind and willingness to both learn and share.
Questions? Don't hesitate to ask.
SCRIPTS AND SCORES - Please plan to bring your own copies. If you need to know where to get your own copy, email us. (NOTE: There are a copule of missing pages from the scripts that have already been distributed. I will have hard copies of the missing pages for those involved in the corresponding scenes at the reading)
OPEN ROLES - There are still a few unclaimed key male roles (including a couple who sing). If you would like to claim one or know someone who can, please do so here.
PRE-READING REHEARSAL - While we do not have a formal rehearsal, anyone who wishes to come in advance of the 7pm reading start time to review a song or two should feel free to do so. KJ will be on hand starting at 6pm to help you through difficult sections or harmonies that you wish to review.
TIME, PLACE, and HOW TO GET IN - The reading will take place in the recital hall at Sherman Clay Pianos, located at NW 13th and Davis. We MUST USE THE SIDE DOOR ON DAVIS. The door is locked from the outside, so you need to be let in. Someone will be monitoring the door between 5:30pm and 7pm. If you arrive after 7pm, YOU NEED TO CALL OR TEXT ME AT 914-522-9363 TO BE LET INSIDE.
WHY WE ARE DOING THIS - The goal of Entr'acte is to educate and enrich our collective knowledge of this art form, but also to network with fellow practitioners. We have a wide range of knowledge and experience among our participants. Please come with an open mind and willingness to both learn and share.
Questions? Don't hesitate to ask.
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