A Day at the Roxbury

Wigs and makeup day! First day at Roxbury Community College for our dress rehearsals. An easier commute for me, so no complaints. After a quick morning of loading the set in and running light cables, it was down to the dressing room for our Makeup workshop. Easy enough makeup, although I'm supposed to look half-dead. The wigs are fantastic, along with the moustaches, beard, and sideburns that I get to wear. Also got my haircut to look like a hero from the silent movies. No gel yet, though. Enjoy the pictures, and also check out the blogs of two other actors in the show: Anna's is www.alpacanna.blogspot.com and Tom's is www.travelingactor.blogspot.com.

Also had voiceover work with Tom at 6 tonight. Went to a studio near Fenway and recorded 3 tracks for the show. Beforehand, we were at Wendy's and saw a gang-like fight break out right in the restaurant. Blood on the floor, and sickening punch to the face, and plenty of screaming. No guns, no knives, just some quick fists and what looked like a ratchet. I'd like my violence Biggie-sized with a side of fries.

Motley Crue

Here's our first official cast picture...left to right are Sarah, Quimby, Anna, and Tom...plus me in the back. We're sporting our ever-so-attractive back braces because today was our moving day! We moved 10 tons of set parts down five stories and into the truck. Tomorrow we load out at the dress rehearsal space and get ready for tech. Kind of crazy and very tiring, but we made it and are in for a good night's sleep tonight. The job was made slightly easier and infinitely cooler because we lowered huge set pieces down the stairwell using a pulley system. Big thanks to Bart, the set genius and pulley extraordinaire!

Pat King is My Friend

Pat King called and urged me to post another blog. He also let me talk to my kitten, Cassie, on the phone. She did not respond, but instead got freaked out by my voice and ran under the futon. All is apparently well in Chicago. In case you aren't aware, Pat is a former roommate who is currently subletting my room and living with Kyle, my current roommate in Chicago. I'm living with Adam in Boston, another former roommate since Pat, Kyle, Adam and I all lived together for two years at NU. Pat is also a tool.

Had our second run for the producer today, and tomorrow we move out of Uphams and into the dress rehearsal spot. Shouldn't be a long day, just a lot of heavy lifting. We move in on Wednesday, and then have a dry tech Thursday. The run went very well today, and we're in a good spot heading into tech.

Our director, Scott, is always telling us about these amazing feasts that he and his wife concoct every night. Well after much complaining from us as we ate our measly sandwiches for lunch, he brought in two huge spaghetti pies on Saturday. Basically the pie lining is pasta, filled with ricotta cheese, meat sauce, and extra cheese on top. Unbelievable.

Had some Upper Crust pizza tonight...definitely very good, although I don't know if it's as good as Pizzeria Regina. I'll have to sample more and make a decision.

Had our lovely DOT physicals today. Once again had to deal with Boston roads/maps...we got there eventually. The whole cast went as a group, so it was a shared experience. Did the whole "turn your head and cough" thing and then it was over. easy enough, and now we're all cleared to drive the vehicles. Walked around Beacon Hill a bit...absolutely a beautiful area. Got some great shots of an angel statue in the sunset at the north end of the public gardens. Also saw "Little Miss Sunshine" this evening...highly recommended.

Early Run

Today we had our first run for the producer, Spring Sirkin. It went pretty well; plenty to work on, but I think we're in a good place. The past several days have consisted of runs of the stories as well as incorporating some technical aspects. We'll be hiring road crews at each of our locations to help out with scene changes and the like, but all of the actors are expected to help out to a certain extent. Not too much heavy lifting, though.

On Saturday we took an excursion to the North End. Found a great Italian place that had only been open for a few weeks. Afterwards we went to a great bakery with all sorts of goodies, and also stopped by the "Trani" ice cream place. They inject ice cream into various pastries. Imagine a Tastykake cupcake with a frosting center. Now replace the frosting with vanilla ice cream and you get the idea. Really great. I told the guy he could make a killing in Chicago if he opens up a branch there.

Yesterday a few of us went to Chinatown, and then saw Flyboys at the Loews Theatre. It was a free advanced screening of the film; otherwise we probably wouldn't have gone.

We also took a trip to the Strand Theatre where we'd normally have our dress rehearsals. A big production will be there instead, so we'll be moved to a space nearby. But the Strand is amazing; I've included a couple images.

Off-Book

Today was our first day off book. Went well; I think we're in a pretty good place. The afternoon was an epic journey to find kneepads (2 hours in the van) and then figuring out how the set works and how to set it for different stories. Things just seemed to drag on forever, because we weren't really doing much a lot of the time. We did take advantage of it, though, and ran lines together during the downtime. We also witnessed a car crash from the 3rd floor windows. For days, I had stared out at the intersection and marvelled at how hectic and dangerous it looked. No surprise, then, when a minivan got t-boned by a smaller car. No injuries, but a whole lot of yelling. This wasn't much of a change, as Upham's Corner is not the best of neigborhoods and people seem to be fairly impatient most of the time. I went to Trader Joe's again tonight. It's an amazing place, and even when I'm back in Chicago I hope to find one nearby and frequent it.

Tomorrow will consist of running shows as much as possible on the full set, in preparation for Pat's visit to the space on Friday to work on Usher. Pat Sankus wrote the script for Usher and treats it like her baby. She is very opinionated, but definitely knows what works and how things should look.

Beginning to realize that I'm in this for the long haul. So far, it has been a bit of a vacation, but now the reality of staying away from home for a few months is setting in. Not altogether awful, but it is a distinct change in perspective.

I picked up Adam's copy of War and Peace yesterday, and I plan to make that my tour reading assignment. Only 1400 pages left!

Fight Choreography

Long day today of fight choreography. I'm sure I'll be nice and sore tomorrow, but the longest fight is now blocked and we'll work on the other one tomorrow, as well as odds and ends.

Last night we went to an amazing pizza place in the North End. It was called Pizzeria Regina and has been in Boston since 1926. REALLY good pizza, probably the best I've ever had. We got one pizza with Tomato sauce, Ricotta, Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella cheese, chicken breast and roasted vegetables. The other one had Ricotta and tomato sauces topped with fresh chopped basil, Parmesan, Mozzarella cheese, sliced mushrooms and prosciutto.

Wowee. Anyway, now I'm hungry again, off to find more dinner. Hopefully Adam's stuff will arrive soon so I can sleep on a futon and not on the hardwood floor.

Show is Blocked

We finished blocking the show (5 stories) yesterday, so now we have just a bit of fight choreography to learn (actually a lot!) and then we'll start running it. Off-book day is Wednesday...I'm pretty good on all the stories except "Usher" which we've only gone over once for real. Very strange procedure with that story, as it is the baby of one of the power-wielders at Chamber. We sat for four hours while she went through the blocking (although it was more like choreography, with hand positions and neck angles) on stage by herself. We furiously scribbled down notes and then yesterday tried to stumble through. Yikes. I like to learn lines after I have the blocking, but now I think I'll have trouble learning the blocking to begin with.

Starting to know my way around Boston. I have several options for getting to rehearsal and back every day. The red line had a power outage the other day, and I was able to route around on the Orange and then a bus, no thanks to the very unfriendly T personnel.

Today's my first day off. I've already got laundry going and I'm hoping to listen to the Eagles game.

Rehearsing

First day at the Uphams Corner rehearsal space. Awesome old Masonic building with high ceilings and secret passages. Really cool stuff. Also an old wrought iron elevator that no longer works, but looks amazing. We read through the script and started blocking some stuff. This show has been done so much that the blocking is pretty much set, so it's a bit annoying to get the blocking right off the bat without any organic exploration. The real challenge will be justifying everything I've been told to do, but it should keep me busy. The language is such a wonderful thing...really glad we have these texts to work with. We're performing "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe, "The Open Window" by Saki, "The Lady or the Tiger" by Frank Stockton, "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry, and "The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell. Lots of blocking the next two days, with brush up on Saturday. Then we'll be getting off book and starting to run stories. The set is crazy...I can't believe we're taking the whole thing on the road. I'll try to get some pictures to give an idea. At least it's not like last year where they had a fully rotating stage that they transported! Well, now back to memorizing blocking.

First Day of Rehearsal!

Got to meet everyone today! 9:30 am at the offices off of Boston Commons. Basically sitting around for 2 hours eating free coffee and donuts and listening to people telling us what we'll be doing for the next 4 months. Cool people...the other cast members are Anna, Sarah, Tom, and Quimby. Very fun...we went to the costume fitting together and were there for 4 or so hours. Tom was last to go and had to go way up north to get home anyway, so the other 4 of us went out for a drink on Boston Common. Fun group...we'll see how they are to work with professionally, but from my first impression, it should be fine. Gotta eat now.

Boston Public Gardens
Custom House
Old State House
Park Street Church
Park Street Church

Tourist Day in Boston

Took the Green line into downtown today to see the sights. Lots of amazing architecture and historical sites. Walked through Faneuil Hall and went out to the aquarium. Great public transporation system...just about as clean as Chicago but a lot more class. Adam came in this afternoon and we went to Anna's Taqueria. It's apparently a chain, with really good burritos a la Chipotle. Tonight we're going candlestick bowling, which is apparently a miniature version of the original. First reading is tomorrow right off of Boston Commons.

Around Boston

Having fun wandering around Brookline today so far. Hoping to get downtown and check out some of the tourist sites. Also need to find some bowls and utensils and cups, as Adam's stuff has not yet arrived. Alas. Picture included is out the window in Adam's apartment. Obviously it's a little bit clearer on average.

Breakfast at the Hotel

Rainy morning...hoping to leave soon to get to the apartment, then get some groceries and check out the Chamber offices and rehearsal space. Mom and Dad will probably leave by 2 or so, and I'm guessing Adam will be back tomorrow night.

At the Hotel

Mom, Dad and I got to the hotel in Boston a few minutes ago. Drove through the remnants of tropical storm Ernesto on the way. Lots of wind and rain. Yesterday my flight out of Richmond was delayed by 3 hours because of the rain. Some harrowing turbulence along the way. Spoke to Uncle and Cousin Toms and left a message with Katie. Unfortunately wasn't able to see Tom or Katie during my longer-than-expected stay. Tomorrow we go to Adam's apartment and try to break in, as he is in NYC.