The ICT Weekly Digest

What inspires you?

2008-07-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, I've been lax about posting. It's not that I have forgotten. I remember every week, because I am extraordinarily anal retentive and have a palm pilot set up with automatic task lists and reminders. I sometimes even add a task that says I need to add more tasks to my list. I do no jest. Never about tasks.

But I am having a hard time feeling inspired to write here. Not because of a lack of inspiration or topics to write about, but because the reporting on this inspiration is so formatted and scheduled.

Here is a short list of the experiences I've had lately that have inspired me as an artist...

Getting a brick thrown through the window of my car. The empowerment of taking care of it all on my own (with a baby strapped to my hip, no less). The guilt that I felt in this situation. (e.g. I have too much stuff, and someone must have been really desperate to do something so foul for mere stuff. I am a bad person for having so much stuff.). A strange mixture of emotion that I of course wanted to know more about.
The smell of bacon in the third act of The Hypocrites production of Our Town. Still brings tears to my eyes when I think about that moment.
The feeling of the skin on my back getting tighter as I sat in the sun for hours watching my son go up and down the slide in the baby pool at Whealan Park. He had such a look of utter joy every single time. I like to see that experiences do not always spoil with repetition.

What has inspired you lately? Inquiring minds want to know.

And for the record, I don't know when I'll be back.

Infamous Idol = Tru Luv 4-Eva

2008-06-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

I met my husband at the very first Infamous Idol. Kind of.

OK, so picture this... The year is 2003. ICT’s annual Infamous Idol Karaoke Contest at Cherry Red (this year it’s at the Holiday Club, don’t get confused!). One of the performers is this very into-it blond guy who performs “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” complete with cringe-inducing high notes and hip thrusting. It is truly a beautiful thing, and he is rewarded with a place in the finals, though the crown eventually goes to a guy named Patrick who went for a slightly different oeuvre (remember that Presidents of the USA song “Lump”?). The “Go-Go” guy’s performance, however, is featured prominently in a video package on our website after the event. A video package that has since, sadly, been lost, but which I tended to go watch several times a week whenever I needed a good chuckle.

A few months later, during the run of Savage in Limbo, Genevieve sets me up on a blind date with a guy from her office. The night before the date, she informs me that he was the karaoke guy from the video. Which kind of terrifies me. But I show up anyway.

Fast forward three years, when a whole slew of friends that actually witnessed that now infamous (no pun intended!) karaoke performance attend our wedding... and, actually, after the reception, a large number of our guests ended up singing karaoke at the dive bar down the street...

So, next week is ICT’s 6th annual Infamous Idol contest. And I seriously suggest you go. It’s the most fun you’ll have all year. ICT may have a reputation for being a particularly serious bunch of people, but this is one night where we all get to be really wonderfully silly. Believe me, our “celebrity” judges are not to be missed. And YOU get to pick the winner.

Even if you don’t want to sing, it’s still worth the $5 suggested donation at the door just to watch. I never sang. But I found a husband there. Maybe you’ll meet a hot guy, too.

-Laura

P.S. I know there are other people with great Infamous Idol stories out there. Post them here.! We want to read them!!!

Speaking with Robert Schenkkan

2008-05-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

Near the end of our production of Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates, we were honored to have playwright Robert Schenkkan attend and participate in a post-show discussion.

For me, it is immensely gratifying to see our audience looking like they do in this picture here. Engaged, and dare I say it, large! I know the photo is tiny, but it is worth including. To me it is a snapshot of our mission in action. We are a company devoted to one topic per season. Inherent to our mission is reflection and discussion about that chose topic and the plays we produce to illuminate it. Proof we are succeeding. YES!

Mr. Schenkkan's was gracious and terribly interesting during the post show discussion. I suppose for the purposes of this blog, I should have recorded it and put a little part of it on here, but I have to be honest that I am not built that way. It was a huge honor for me personally that he was there to attend, and it felt rather foolish to try to milk it for more. I just wanted to enjoy the moment. So, I sat in the audience and even posed a question.
For those of you thinking, what a stupid idiot. I want to hear more of what he said. Well, we plan to bring you more post-show discussion next season. I'll never provide transcripts. So I suggest you come on out yourself. And if you do, maybe, just maybe, you'll be as happy as Mr. Schenkkan and director Chris Maher here.

Artists as Administrators

2008-05-09T12:41:00.001-07:00

Not long after I started college, I ended up in the Dean of my school's office crying. I complained to him that I was not getting cast in any of the student productions, despite what I thought were great auditions. It was the same people getting cast over and over again. And I was feeling like perhaps I had chosen the wrong field, but I couldn't think of anything else to do, because this was all I wanted to do. He sternly informed me that I was being a baby, that if I really wanted to, I could act in anything I wanted to. But I'd have to be willing to look stupid to do it. If I wanted work, it seemed clear to both him and I that I'd have to create it.

So, I applied for a spot in the student run production line-up saying I was going to direct a show. I got the spot, and then I cast myself. Unheard of, and pretty stupid too. And I'm not going to pretend the show was any good. It wasn't. But I worked consistently, and perhaps too often from that point forward and never had to cast myself again.

I see a parallel here somewhere. Artists get a lot of flak for being unorganized, unmotivated, and basically too emotional and weird to actually be able to run a business. But when I look around Chicago, what I find are a bunch of artists not only willing, but also quite capable of running the administration and art of their companies.

There is a lot of discussion in the blogosphere (what a word) about whether this phenomenon of artists doing administrative work has a positive or negative impact on the theatre community and even more debate about those people who do it all for free and the companies that allow them to. Of course, there is much discussion from my company about this as well. But I confess, after all the arguing, for many it comes down to: "It's worth it to me."

Review-o-rama

2008-05-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

Have you read the reviews yet for Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates by Robert Schenkkan?

The Chicago Sun Times recommended us.

Time Out Chicago had some nice things to say.

And Gay Chicago Magazine said "Infamous Commonwealth Theatre continues to stir the emotional pot with it's provocative choice of material and exceptional ability to deliver the complicated dramatic goods."

And let us not forget Kelly Kleiman of NPR talking about what a wonderful crazy person Stephen "Ghandi" Dunn is. High praise indeed for a man so utterly sane.

More importantly, have you seen this amazing piece of theatre? I suggest you do. Email us for tickets at info@infamouscommonwealth.org.

I call this one "A Break"

2008-04-25T12:50:00.000-07:00

I will commence postulating on missions and righteousness and Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates in due time.

But for now, ICT deserves just the smallest of breathers. We took one on Wednesday night at Four Moon Tavern. Here are some photos from the event for you to enjoy.

I call this one "Herr Director Proudly Presents Kevin and Carlos, the Debutante."

I call this one "John Wilson is Not as Severe as He Appears."

I call this one "Three Angry Young Women and a Candyland Purse."

I call this one "Andy's Nostrils."

Simplicity is Key

2008-04-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

I am an American Idol junkie. I love it, and you can just shut up about that. Go David Archuletta! I watched Idol Gives Back last night while Craig slept on the couch. While Teri Hatcher was a complete embarrassment to herself, I found Annie Lennox and Carrie Underwood's performances heart-wrenching. It was a reminder to me of how provocative and profound artistic expression can be.

It is easy during tech week to get swept up into the details, the schedule, the budget, all the paperwork of art. But watching these two performances was a real joy for me. I don't even necessarily mean that they performed so well that they inspired me to give or to examine my moral obligations to other communities not so blessed as mine. While that is an amazing feat to accomplish with a song, it was their humility and openness that got me.

Celebrity in America is completely fucked up. The whole premise of Idol Gives Back is totally grotesque to begin with. "Hey. I am a really famous person with a lot of money and power. So, I will go on TV and tell people what their moral obligations are and that they should give money. And because I am pretty and really frenetic (Slow down Fergie. Give Heart a little room, woman!), America will get really excited and call in and do just what I say!" This is what it has come to: Wrestling Champions, singers, dancers, actors and whatever Paula Abdul is supposed to be are acting as my moral compass.

The simplicity of Annie Lennox and Carrie Underwood stood out to me. The other performers gyrated and flung themselves to and fro and seemed to be prostituting themselves. For a worthy cause, but prostitution nonetheless. Annie and Carrie stood out from the rest for me. They moved me deeply by descending from the throne of celebrity and becoming true artists. They joined the human race and sang with passion, simplicity and honesty. Their performances gave me a deeper understanding of the world and my place in it. What a gift! In the busy-ness and business of running a non-profit theater, it is easy to forget the power of the arts.

Featuring Infamous Commonwealth Theatre

2008-04-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I started off typing out some shallow thoughts on the whole "mission" conundrum that non-profit organizations face. And I thought to myself, "Self, this is not exciting, and it's not making you very happy. Write a blog entry that amuses you in the hopes that it will amuse others." And then my other self, the one that responds to self one said, "OK, self!"

Every month, ICT has a featured member on the website. This month it is Paul Joseph.

And so, I have decided that, for tonight, Infamous Commonwealth Theatre is a person. On behalf of that person, I am playing the 7 Questions game.

Q: What is your most vivid memory of childhood?

A: Winning the academic decathalon in 6th grade.

Q: What is your favorite vice?

A: Holding really long meetings.

Q: What is the first show you were ever in, and what was the experience like?

A: I was in a production of Star Spangled Girl by Neil Simon. I thought that it lacked depth and I vowed from that point on to never participate in another theatrical experience that didn't involve one of the following things: copious amounts of drinking, rape, incest, or death. I am currently reexamining my commitment to this vow.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you face as an artist in Chicago?

A: People asking me how I got my name.

Q: What is the best smell in the world?

A: Genevieve Thompson

Q: What aspect of the season topic Righteousness is most interesting to you?

A: That when people say it, I imagine the sea turtle from Finding Nemo shouting "Righteous! Righteous!"

Q: How would you describe your dream home?

A: Um. A theatre.

Going out for a drink.

2008-03-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

Craig just called me to say that he is going out for a drink with the cast of Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates. I'm jealous. Spontaneous and unplanned bonding. Isn't it glorious?

It used to be that every night was a night for a beer after rehearsal. But ICT has grown a lot since our inception. Our ensemble gets bigger. Our budgets get bigger. Our productions get bigger. We do more shows. We do more events. Not to mention many of our personal lives have changed and now include children and spouses and demanding jobs. A beer every night just isn't all that realistic.

But I know that I'm not the only one who misses it. Socializing after a night of hard work somehow makes it feel less like work. Perhaps that is why Lewis and Clark were wise enough to know that liquor was of the utmost importance on their Corps of Discovery.

My top 5 list

2008-03-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

The top 5 things that excite me about ICT right now:

1. Our Theater Thursday event for Keely and Du last night was a rousing success. Not only were the Oreo cookies delicious, the house was a good size and the discussion afterwards with a pro-choice and pro-life advocate was thought-provoking yet contained and polite. It was intriguing to see both women commenting on their understanding of the abortion dispute through the lens of the play. We really got to watch our mission in action.

2. Majel, Diane and Jenn are working on planning our annual retreat. Seeing all the possible options for locations got company members very excited about the amount of alcohol they plan to imbibe and what they hopes the results of that festive drunkenness might be.

3. It's snowing today. Just kidding. That sucks. Plus it has very little to do with ICT, except perhaps how it might negatively affect ticket sales to the show this evening. And that doesn't really excite me, but I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

4. Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates is now blocked. Which means that starting tomorrow, the director and cast can really focus on the scene work and the true life of the play. Things really are about to take shape.

5. Director interviews for next season have begun, and the few candidates that I've interviewed shared some amazing insight and passion for the plays that we'll be bringing to you next season.

The Corps of Discovery Needs a Drink

2008-03-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Here is the main boat of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery. They took 2 smaller ones, but this was the main one.

I find traveling to Kansas City on an airplane to be exhausting, so I can't imagine the endurance these men (and one woman and child) must have had to go on this mission. They must have known it would be a real bitch, because the the one provision they brought in ample supply was liquor. I find that endearing.

Though it might just have been a result of Meriwether Lewis' alcoholism.

Scenic designer, Diane Fairchild, has done an amazing job capturing the feel of this boat with her set. Incidentally, it also transforms into about 50 other different places throughout the evening.

Base costumes in earth tones and signature pieces.

2008-03-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

We began rehearsals for Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates this Monday. Talk about a room full of testosterone! Laura Rook is our only female cast member and literally plays every woman in the play.

The rest of the men, save Craig and Stephen, play a dizzying number or roles. I do not envy our costumer Rachel Sypniewski. She's worked with us on a lot of shows, and I swear to God, at the first rehearsal, she always tells the cast: "Each of you will have a base costume in earth tones. You will also have signature pieces that you remove and put back on to help identify new characters." Whatever happened to small, 4 person shows on unit sets with one costume a piece? Oh wait, we're doing that right now.

Speaking of Keely and Du, come on Sunday, March 9 and participate in a post show discussion with pro-choice writer and speaker Paula Kamen or on Thursday, March 20 when we have a pro-choice and a pro-life speaker participating in a post show discussion. It'll be, well, maybe not fun, but certainly engaging and interesting!

On Keely and Du

2008-02-29T08:49:00.000-08:00

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

Back in the saddle

2008-02-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

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!!!

One Week Til Opening.

2008-02-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

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.

You're Invited. Seriously, you're invited!

2008-02-03T18:48:00.000-08:00

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?

13hours 18 minutes and counting...

2008-01-26T20:14:00.000-08:00

twelve minutes before the final performance of the 24 hour theater project and my throat is so swollen I can hardly speak. It seems that too many theatrical orgasms and birthing blocks has taken it's toll on me. Overall it has been quite the experience. There is something totally visceral about going up on the tight wire with little to no net below you. All you can do is trust. Trust that you know the way through the hastily written text that has recently lodged its way into your brain. Trust that if you begin to fall one of your fellow tight roper walkers will keep you from falling. Trust that the audience will gasp in excitement every time you wave your hands looking for balance... We are really all here just for the gasps.

Thus far we have been blessed. No one has bounced off the proverbial pavement placed so far below our feet. Tee minus five minutes and counting... may we be graced once more.

10:11pm . . .

2008-01-26T20:11:00.000-08:00

Well, house is open for the second showing. The adrenalin rush is fading and everyone is starting to feel a little tired. Majel looks glazed. When I gave her a 5 to house opening, she looked at me in disbelief and said, "seriously?" The first showing went smoothly. The house was a little hot, but it didn't keep folks from laughing and enjoying the show. I am off to give 15 to places . . . only 2 hours left til we get to start cleanup. blah! d

Playwright Jitters

2008-01-26T16:58:00.000-08:00

So it's about an hour to curtain, and I've seen the script I wrote performed twice now. Luckily, the actors make it much funnier than it actually is. I was able to go home and get more sleep than Joey and Majel, but I came back for the free food - er, to help out. My favorite moment from writing the play last night: me padding out of my writing hovel, slippers on feet, finding Joey and Majel doing something or other with a screen and a projector, and asking, "Joey, is it okay if my characters break into song?" Answer: Yes.

- Jacob

Dramaturgically Yours -- Lavina Jadhwani

2008-01-26T15:20:00.000-08:00

In less than 12 hours of rehearsal, we've done a little blitz-dramaturgy on Genevieve Thompson's Play, The Most Grandest Prize. Here's some of the our on-the-fly research from today:

- "What is Haldol?" The answer.
- "What does Kevin Bacon's dance from Footloose look like?" The answer.
- "How does the song 'Hakuna Matata' go?" The answer.

More importantly -- what on earth do these things have in common? Guess you'll have to come to the show to find out... see you at the theater!

ICT 24 Hour Project update

2008-01-26T13:26:00.000-08:00

Joey again. So we are at the last rotation of the rehearsals before tech begins. Diane, the last minute pick-up queen, is bringing us the last minute things we didn't realize we would need. (see her previous blog to see what that list included) I just wanted to take a quick minute to say:
1. the food spread was made possible by the super supportive people of infamous who brought us things from pb&j fixins to tea and coffee to snacks and chips to beverages to homemade goodies like rice crispie treats and cookies.
2. These shows are going to rock. Listening to the rehearsals through the space has really got me anxious to see them. I can't wait. I have not looked at the scripts since they were handed over to us by the playwrights many, many moons ago.
3. The artists seem to be having a good time mingling during their brief breaks. We set up increments of 1.5 hours for rehearsals with 15 minute breaks for miscellaneous. We also had a lunch break and soon there will be a dinner break with pizza. Hopefully during that time, some more actors and directors can get in here and give you a glimpse of their day.

For now that is all. Send us your notes in the comments and we look forward to seeing you in a few short hours.

24 Hour Project - Artists reactions

2008-01-26T11:13:00.001-08:00

Chris Mathews

-Dear God in Heaven what the hell am I doing? I am so distract...hey these bagels are really yummy! Ummmmmm....bagels....I'm so relieved that my actors and play are so good so they can make me look really smart and funn...oh, now. This spread is just FABULOUS! Wait! Where's my coffee??! DAMNIT Whitney! Stop throwing cheese! Love to Emma B, Sophie P, Jenny, and Jenny's Mom...signing off to deflect the cheese-throwing madwoman.

Danielle Mari (Filas)
-OK-- if nobody's blogged about this yet, I am here to tell you that the food spread is amazing.... no little ol' bowl'o'nuts here. And if someone else has blogged about it... well... the spread is amazing.

Artistically, this is a blast. Very fun to be putting it on its feet on the fly-- the director has to discover moments and beats as things progress in the rehearsal room. The whole thing is just really visceral. And the best part for me is that you have to say "yes and" or the process goes nowhere fast. OK-- I must fly off... herr direktor is calling!

11:24am... majel

2008-01-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

i'm up. i'm up. i'm up. joey is now on the floor "resting". he claims he's past crashing and won't get any sleep. but his eyes are closed and he doesn't seem to be "hearing" anything either. reminds me of when i was a kid and it was bedtime and i would tell my mom "i'm not tired. " (BIG YAWN) "i'm not sleepy, at all!"

the rest was nice, i feel better though i'm sure i don't look it. i ran into whitney hayes in the restroom and she asked me if i got some good sleep. pretty hysterical considering all of the tours of the space and arrivals happened during my "sleep".

so before joey nodded off i received instructions...
- send an email to a musician
- get footloose song and a thump/slicing sound effect
- make a cardboard blade
- find pronounciations
- set up lunch

gotta get to work!

24 Hous or 240 hours

2008-01-26T08:11:00.001-08:00

At this moment I am not quite sure which is more. Joey, here and the directors are now with the actors and some have already started blocking while others are doing some table work. Our musicians have arrived and I have given then the scripts that they will be working with. This year we are going to have the musicians writing songs to bridge two pieces together rather than writing for one show. I think this is going to give a nice transition to each of the pieces and it will fill out the night. It is going to be fun. I swear. I say this though I have not slept. I have been up 26 hours as of now. Hopefully Majel will be up soon, (like she can get any real rest with me coming in and out of the office area we call work space/bedroom) and then I will get to take a nappy nap. (yeah, I am THAT tired.) Ok, that is all for now. Signing off.

6:46am... majel.

2008-01-26T04:46:00.000-08:00

just finishing up, what we can finish up without bios, directors, actors etc. things are ready to go for when everyone arrives starting in an hour... except for maybe me and i'm guessing joey. neither of us have slept. 15 minutes ago i was wrapping things up and joe goes "majel, i think you need to blog." i said no. then i whined. then i finished what i was doing, and felt guilty so here i am... blogging. i'm not really sure if it's even worth sleeping right now. part of me is thinking that maybe i'll get a nap in once all the groups start rehearsing. i think that's the part of me that's delusional. i have to admit, it's not that i'm that tired. i'm a night owl. i stay up late all the time. the delusion is coming from the thought of the next 20 sleepless hours.
i'm excited to see what comes from all of this hard work. the plays are great and i think our audiences are really going to enjoy them. when all is said and done, i won't think it was that bad. i wasn't that tired. it was great! for now though... i'm going to go hide under a comforter and pretend that the directors aren't on their way over right now as i type...

24 Hour Project 1:15am

2008-01-25T21:39:00.001-08:00

Diane here. I am getting ready to go home. I have to remember to bring the following tomorrow (this is my list so I can check it from my computer at home and don't have to write it on my arm) - an extension cord, speaker cable and something that looks like a tazer. Is that how you spell tazer? Does that up the intrigue factor of this project? Oh and safety pins. Joey and I helped James by reading his piece outloud while Majel was working on tomorrow's schedule. Everyone should be thankful that they didn't have to witness that. I am going home now to read about glass shades in the 1900's. D

24 Hour Project

2008-01-25T21:26:00.000-08:00

So the 24 Hour Project has officially begun. At 8pm, the playwrights were given their assigned group which includes their image, a director and three actors. Each of the actors had mini-auditions for the playwrights and then went along their merry way, but will return at 9am.
Throughout the first three hours Majel and I have noticed many interesting things about the playwrights.

The guys, James Dunn and Jacob Juntunen, each took their own room and have taken advantage of the dry-erase boards.
The ladies, Gen Thompson and Marisa Wegrzyn, chose a room together.
Most, if not all, of them are listening to music.
Gen has come to us with random questions.
James has gone all the way downstairs and outside for several cigarette breaks.
Marisa has gone to our prop table to see what is there.
Before even beginning Jacob changed into comfy slippers.

In the performance space, Majel and I have ben trying to figure out how best to displace the images that will shown before each piece. I think we finally came up with a solution. diane arrived to start setting up all of the tech for the day so that it is all set before rehearsals are set to begin at 9am.

for now this is all. In the coming hours, we will return with comments on the day and will hopefully have the artists give a couple thoughts of their own. See you all in a bit.

Joey and Majel

Audition Tales

2008-01-18T11:43:00.000-08:00

As requested, here are some audition stories from members of ICT. Nothing too fancy from me this week. Just nice clean fun, y'all.

See you next week.
Gen

Clarissa Gregg
Soooo......I had this audition for a musical. They wanted a 2 minute comic monologue, and at the time the only 2 minute I had was a LITTLE racy. Not THAT racy, we are all theatre people, right-open minded? The first thing that happens when I walk in is a HUGE roach runs across the floor in front of the stage. I don't think the auditioners could see it, because they were back a few rows. Needless to say, that was a LITTLE unsettling to begin with. Then I realize that that the people I am auditioning for could LITERALLY be my grandparents. Definitely not hip, open minded theatre types, who would get a kick out of the word "pussy" used at the most hilarious point of my monologue. Sooo...I grit my teeth and launch into my monologue and hear a collective,! yet almost silent gasp when I get to the word "pussy" ( even though the line is REALLY funny, I promise!). Then the accompanist-who also looks like my grandpa) BUTCHERS my song ( I am sure he was so taken aback by the word "pussy" that he couldn't concentrate). Then, even though the audition listing said NOTHING about movement or dancing, the choreographer comes up on stage and has me do a few moves, including seeing how high I can kick, with my back turned to the other auditioners, since it is summer and I am wearing a knee length dress and no tights. I was laughing soooo hard as I walked to my car and thinking--at least it would make a GREAT story.....(and maybe an even funnier monologue?!)

Jenn Remke
The first time I ever auditioned for a film here in Chicago, I went in, did my monologue (which I didn't think was that bad), they said "Thank You" and I walked out the door. As soon as I closed the door I could hear the auditors burst into laughter (my monologue was dramatic). I was devastated. I cried for a full day and wanted to give up acting then and there. The next day, they called me in for a call back. I said " Really?! Because, I heard you laugh at me" and the woman said that I must have been mistaken. I went to the call back, thinking the whole time that perhaps they just wanted to laugh at me some more but when I got there it really was only between me and one other girl. A week later, they called and cast me. I unfortunately didn't take the role because something else had come up by then. But it was a true lesson and I've tried hard since to not take what happens in those auditions personally.

Whitney Hayes

A couple of years ago, I had an audition for a company that I was in love with. Thoroughly prepared, clad in movement attire and resume in hand I scurried off to my audition.

Sitting with my fellow auditionees, I trouble-shot my performance piece in my head. I had tailored it specifically to this theater company, to their season, to the director, everything. I knew it cold. It was funny. It was physical. It was musical!

The moment of truth came. I breathed, introduced myself to the auditors and began my piece. The performance went nearly seemlessly, minus the teeny moments of nerves that may have been recognized only by me, but nevertheless.

Finished and relieved, I said "Thank you."

The auditor smiled and said, "Thank you Whitney. This is an impressive list of special skills you have here. You've got some circus skills; that's great. Hey....what does Pittsburgh sound like?"

Sidebar: I had lived in Pittsburgh, PA for a year. Folks there have a distinct accent. Having become comfortable using it, I had added it to my dialect list on my resume.

I was taken completely aback. What does Pittsburgh sound like? Don't screw up. What does he mean? What does Pittsburgh sound like? Searching for a creative response that would exhibit improvisation ability and thoughtfulness, my brain squeezed hard and I proudly stated, "Pittsburgh sounds like .....steel........hitting.......................................................steel."

Starting to giggle, he said, "No. I meant the dialect."

Laura Ciresi Starr
Once I had a casting director tell me on the spot that I wasn't going to be in her show because my monologue just wasn't strong enough. and then she said, "but if you want to come back and audition for me in a year, don't worry, I won't remember you." It was harsh, but some of the best auditioning advice I've ever gotten. It's sometimes helpful to keep in mind that most people don't get cast because they just don't make an impression in a particular audition piece. Only a few are truly bad. and if you just don't make an impression, nobody is laughing at you behind your back or thinking, "What a bad actor!" or anything like that. They've got other things on their minds and are more likely to just forget a forgettable audition after they've seen dozens or hundreds of others (also mostly forgettable). And thus, you can easily try again another day with a perfectly clean slate.

Keely and Du, Lake of Fire, and Shmushsmortion

2008-01-11T05:54:00.000-08:00

Recently, I was perusing Roger Ebert's website for new film reviews when I came across this review of Lake of Fire, a documentary that recently played at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. Filmmaker Tony Kaye (perhaps best known for his very public battle with producers over the editing of his film American History X) spent 16 years producing this documentary about the U.S. debate over abortion. Ebert says of the film, "Readers often complain about documentaries that don't tell "both sides." Those who care deeply about the issue of abortion in America, no matter which side they are on, may complain that Lake of Fire tells the other side. This is a brave, unflinching, sometimes virtually unwatchable documentary that makes such an effective case for both pro-choice and pro-life that it is impossible to determine which side the filmmaker, Tony Kaye, stands on."

Of course, reading about this film immediately reminded me of reading Keely and Du, Jane Martin's startling 1993 drama that explores the same topic in fictional terms. Keely and Du won the 1994 American Theater Critics Association New Play Award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize (Read more about Keely and Du here). Next week, ICT begins rehearsing this challenging and touching work, exploring the relationship that forms between Keely, a young woman seeking an abortion, and Du, the pro-life activist who wants to protect Keely's unborn child. In my assessment of the play, it seems Martin is careful never to paint either side as completely right or wrong, good or evil, allowing the audience an opportunity to form their own conclusions. In this way, Keely and Du is the perfect play to embody ICT's mission.

I wanted to read more to compare Martin's and Kaye's approaches to this controversial topic. In my googling frenzy, I came across a very interesting interview that Kaye did about this film with Scott Tobias from The Onion AV Club. In addition to the interesting insights within the interview itself, the article also sparked quite a lively message board debate about the film and the issue of abortion that I think is worth reading for futher perspective going into Keely and Du. At one point within the message board discussion, Tobias even felt compelled to jump back into the conversation to add his own opinion of the film: "Kaye's trying to survey the landscape and just get a very basic sense of what abortion entails and the war of ideas (and bullets) that's taking place over it. One of the things I appreciated about the movie is its curiosity: You might get a sense of the director's own feelings after watching the film, but it's the furthest thing from agitprop. It's a dispassionate portrait of a passionate issue, and that's not easy to pull off."

A major fracas was created when last summer's Hollywood blockbuster Knocked Up charmed audiences with a story about an unplanned pregnancy that neatly and quickly dismissed abortion as an option. Read about this criticism of the film here. I enjoyed Knocked Up, but this is an interesting discussion. Slate does a good job of compiling all the evidence. I found Barbara Ehrenreich's op-ed piece particularly compelling reading. What did you think?

Sadly, I'm too far away geographically from Chicago to be able to see either Lake of Fire (though I have already saved it on Netflix!) or Keely and Du, so now I am requesting your help. Did anybody see Lake of Fire when it was in Chicago (or anywhere else)? What did you think of it?

I urge you to go see Keely and Du next month and compare and contrast. And then report back to me. I think we could have a really interesting discussion about all this. 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and yet we are still hotly debating that decision. Weigh in!!!

-Laura

Blog you back.

2008-01-04T11:50:00.000-08:00

Laura Starr is genius with the search engine. She googles (did you know this is an official word in Webster's now?) ICT quite often to see if we have any new hits.

Yesterday, she forwarded me this link. This was someone who auditioned for ICT's upcoming production of Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates by Robert Schenkkan. Laura was fascinated by it, mostly because the woman refers to ICT by name and what was said by specific people in the room. I agreed but said I didn't mind, because it's not like she said, "this company treated me like crap and also the assistant director is fat and has frizzy hair."

Oh, all right! Maybe she did offend me just a little bit when she assumed that I was the assistant director rather than the artistic director... was it because I am a woman ... oh hush you ridiculous ego of mine!

It was intriguing to read her account of the auditions for the show. I recall so vividly the terror of it all, but confess that it's been a while since I have had such a clear glimpse into the hell I put others through. Flashback to auditions for Tony and Tina's Wedding, (oh hush!) when I did an improv scene (help me, Jesus) and answered every question my scene partner asked with "no." Or the one where I was auditioning for a role in a film where I was expected to snarf down cookies as I pondered over different shaped bikini lines. I'm so sorry, dear. I wish there was a better way to do these things.

I think the thing that makes me feel worst as an auditor is when an actor travels 50 minutes in snow and sleet, does a 60 second monologue really well, and then we have to be like, "Hey, thanks man. Bye." The look is always like "Are you kidding me? That's it? I thought we'd get to at least second base!" We had over 100 people to consider for 8 roles. That's a lot of nos, man. I start to feel like a real bitch.

But after reading this, I also wished that actors could have as vivid a glimpse into a director's mind, because this woman's interpretations of what we were or were not thinking throughout the audition were incorrect. The biggest misinterpretation would be that our true calling in life is to judge subtle interactions and form big conclusions from them (the shoes, the hair, etc.) I think I want actors to nail the role more than they want to. But somehow, it always comes off as mean spirited judging. Alas. Alack. Poor me. Just kidding. My side of the table is so much safer. Being an actor is terribly gutsy, and that's pretty much my bottom line on the matter.

Except for one thing... I mock actors gleefully when they pull pretend finger guns from their pockets and point it menacingly around the audition room. Oh wait, two things! I also mock actors who do that weird put my head to my chest and invoke my character a la spooky seance and then pop my head up and begin acting thing. Then the third one is when...

Oh dear.

Til next week
G

Happy Holidays to all, and to all an impeachment.

2007-12-16T11:42:00.000-08:00

As promised, I bring news from last weekend's holiday party. Turns out my house isn't too small! Especially when a blizzard keeps most of your guests away.

The party started off with a bang as Erica and Seth read Sam some bedtime stories.

Here is Joey enjoying some salmon. Is it just me, or does he look a little menacing here? "Take the damn picture, Gen, and let me eat my fancy fish!"

Here we have Bill Fortune, board member extraordinairre and Andrew Reuland, supporter of ICT extraordinairre. And don't forget to notice Craig's and my teeny tiny Christmas tree featured in the background.

One of our newest company members, Rachel Sypniewski and her fiance Robb. Robb made some peanut brittle for us. I was totally channeling Back to the Future -- except it was really, really good peanut brittle.

Stephen, Sarah, Joey and Majel gather around the food. Or perhaps it was the wine. Or perhaps it was the winegaritas. (Take one margarita bucket. Follow directions on bucket -- except when it says add tequila, add wine instead. Voila. Winegarita.)
I know what you're saying now. How could this party be any more wild and crazy? Peanut brittle? Winegaritas? Geez Louise, is this even appropriate for the Weekly Digest? Well, here's where the real party started, folks. A big argument broke out whether Clinton was actually ever impeached. Remke saved the day by referencing everyone's favorite news source.

But then things got really heated when we discussed what did and did not belong in a refrigerator. Peanut butter is a definite no, and Joey should tell his mom that by my posting it on this blog it is now officially wrong of her to keep her peanut butter in there. It seems that syrup in the fridge is also a no. I am still unconvinced, as you can see.

And unfortunately, when I tried to take a picture of Diane answering her fill-in-the-blank titles on Scene It in her freakishly fast way, my camera simply exploded. Alas.

All the best in the New Year.
Genevieve

my first time

2007-12-14T11:48:00.000-08:00

it's my first entry on the ICT Weekly Digest. PRESSURE.

blah di blah. blogging about ICT. telling you all our successes and bragging and attempting to entice you to enter our den of entertainment. Etc. etc. business. business. business.

Ok. Here is my best shot. wehavemanysuccessfulmembersinourcompanythatyouaregoingtodig
seeingthisyear andweallworkveryhard andweneedyourmoney andweneedsometimeoff andwelovewhatwedo andartreallyrocksandisvaluableandimportant andMerryChristmas... whoopsimeanhappyholidaystoall.

Now that that's done...

here is my list on real ict news this week

1. not only did diane design a kick ass set for Resort 76, she designed it so that we could reuse most of the set pieces for storage and organization at our space out in california (aka the west side of chicago), where our office resides. this weekend we are cleaning out our space and my dream of obsessive organization is about to come true.

2. we chose our season for 2008-2009, but we don't have the rights yet, so i won't be announcing it today. but i can tell you that we did not choose any comedies. not really. our entire company was dead set on choosing comedies and talked a big game. but in the end, nobody proposed them. not very many anyway. and the ones that were proposed, nobody liked. i told the company i think we needed to accept ourselves for who we are and embrace the drama. which we clearly adore.

3. i am having a party at my house for the entire ict company and board on saturday night. i will share pictures next week. i don't think everyone is going to fit. actually, i know everyone will not fit. but i'm sure it will be fun anyway. this is our first year without a white elephant gift exchange. i think people are sort of pissed at me for not planning one into the festivities. but we can't all fit... and... forget it. it's my party. i'm not defending it.

4. majel and joey chose the images for the 24 Hour Project in january. and they sent them to craig to send as a sneak peek to our subscribers. but they won't let me see them, because i am writing a play for it, and they think that will give me some huge advantage. they clearly are misinformed on my writing skills.

5. i (or someone from the company) will be updating this every week. check back soon.

genevieve