Hello everyone I am James Dunn, Company member, here at good ol ICT. I just wanted to say a few words about our wonderful new show Keely and Du and a little about the role I play, Cole.
Cole is a rapist, among other things, and was a real challenge to portray. Whenever I play a part I force myself to love at least a very small part of the character, and who they are, warts and all. This allows me to attempt to understand where they are coming from and why they might have done what they have done. For each terrible thing Cole did in the play I forged a string of events that led to that point. All of these things, small and large, let me take the journey with Cole from boy to rapist.
As for the show I strongly urge you to see it and let your thoughts be known here on the blog. This show is full of compassion and can really throw you for a loop no matter how staunchly pro choice or pro life you thought you were. I have heard from friends that have seen it that they've never really ever heard their opposing side (whichever it may be) explained in such a way that the were compelled to listen, as opposed to immediately putting up defenses. This show does that. I can say that this much is true for me as well.
See you at the theatre.
James
Feb 29, 2008
Feb 25, 2008
Back in the saddle
Keely and Du opened to an enthusiastic house on Saturday. We already received our first review. Highly recommended! Here is my list of the 5 tops things I had forgotten about opening a show.
1. Doing physical and vocal warms up, while incredibly useful, makes me feel like a total tool.
2. The entire day before opening feels a bit like the first trimester of pregnancy.
3. People bring you a ton of snacks in the dressing room beforehand, none of which I can eat due to the fact that I spit on Paul Joseph in the second act and don't want the spit to be laced with chocolate. Mmmmm.
4. It's unsettling to accidentally make eye contact with audience members when your focus, as mine is for the vast majority of the show, is on the invisible fourth wall.
5. Somehow the extensive conversations about oddly unrelated topics right before curtain (e.g. gay basketball players or our digestive systems) are oddly calming.
Come see the show. Book your tickets now!!!
1. Doing physical and vocal warms up, while incredibly useful, makes me feel like a total tool.
2. The entire day before opening feels a bit like the first trimester of pregnancy.
3. People bring you a ton of snacks in the dressing room beforehand, none of which I can eat due to the fact that I spit on Paul Joseph in the second act and don't want the spit to be laced with chocolate. Mmmmm.
4. It's unsettling to accidentally make eye contact with audience members when your focus, as mine is for the vast majority of the show, is on the invisible fourth wall.
5. Somehow the extensive conversations about oddly unrelated topics right before curtain (e.g. gay basketball players or our digestive systems) are oddly calming.
Come see the show. Book your tickets now!!!
Feb 15, 2008
One Week Til Opening.
Keely and Du opens in one week.
Diane just stopped by to drop off the rocking chair we're going to use in the show. She wanted me to bring it to rehearsal tonight. She got out of her car and started walking towards mine, rocking chair in hand. I look back and her car is rolling down the street. All by itself. So, I ran after it like a crazy lady while she stood there in shock beside the rocking chair. I leapt into the car, very ungracefully, I might add, slammed on the brake and put it in park. We then loaded the chair into my car while some construction guy cheered his appreciation from the rooftop of a nearby building
That pretty much sums up one week til opening.
Diane just stopped by to drop off the rocking chair we're going to use in the show. She wanted me to bring it to rehearsal tonight. She got out of her car and started walking towards mine, rocking chair in hand. I look back and her car is rolling down the street. All by itself. So, I ran after it like a crazy lady while she stood there in shock beside the rocking chair. I leapt into the car, very ungracefully, I might add, slammed on the brake and put it in park. We then loaded the chair into my car while some construction guy cheered his appreciation from the rooftop of a nearby building
That pretty much sums up one week til opening.
Feb 3, 2008
You're Invited. Seriously, you're invited!
I was at a Superbowl party this afternoon. I was invited over by one of the mom's in the playgroup that I meet with weekly. One of the couples who was there was not one that I'd ever met before. Craig and I got to talking with them and they told us how they loved living in the city... that they were culture junkies. When we mentioned that we worked in theater, they told us that they have a couple friends who are scenic designers in the city and who have taken them to see some really incredible storefront theater that they would never have known about otherwise.
So, of course, I pulled out a postcard for Keely and Du and passed it along to them. They graciously accepted it and we moved on to other subjects. Then, as we were leaving they bid us adieu and told us that they would pass the card along to their scenic designer friends.
I was so surprised by the statement. I didn't respond that I meant the card for them, and that I was hoping that they would come see the show. I just said, "Ok, thank you" and packed my overtired son into his overpuffy coat.
I find this response disheartening, but fascinating. I would really like some insight into it. I'm not calling for an attack, because I really don't believe it ever occurred to them that I was inviting them to attend, that I would even consider that in the realm of possibilities. But my big question is why?
My assumption is that the vast majority of people reading this blog are producers, and not audience members... which is sort of exactly my point. So, my question to you theater artists is this, in your experience, what is it that keeps self-defined culture junkies away from your theater? And more importantly, what is it that makes them come?
So, of course, I pulled out a postcard for Keely and Du and passed it along to them. They graciously accepted it and we moved on to other subjects. Then, as we were leaving they bid us adieu and told us that they would pass the card along to their scenic designer friends.
I was so surprised by the statement. I didn't respond that I meant the card for them, and that I was hoping that they would come see the show. I just said, "Ok, thank you" and packed my overtired son into his overpuffy coat.
I find this response disheartening, but fascinating. I would really like some insight into it. I'm not calling for an attack, because I really don't believe it ever occurred to them that I was inviting them to attend, that I would even consider that in the realm of possibilities. But my big question is why?
My assumption is that the vast majority of people reading this blog are producers, and not audience members... which is sort of exactly my point. So, my question to you theater artists is this, in your experience, what is it that keeps self-defined culture junkies away from your theater? And more importantly, what is it that makes them come?
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