The first update in AGES!!!

Hello!!

It's Anne here. Both myself and NovaStage are still alive!

After finishing with 'Wickedly' in September of 2008, there were big changes coming. On top of that, I personally needed a long break. I travelled to England where I got some R&R (and some INCREDIBLE theatre) and got the chance to reflect on what NovaStage had accomplished up to that point.

So there has been a hiatus to rest and collect. During this time there has been quite a bit of talking and brainstorming about the next production and what it might entail. Our first new activity began in June with workshops between myself and selected NovaStage actors. These workshops are the first steps toward a larger production that will take a much longer time to gestate than our previous shows.

There are a few other plans in the works - and all the while NovaStage productions will be moving into a new, crowded, but vibrant territory - Toronto.

An Update from Anne

A Blog from Sean

Sean Williamson stars as 'The Man' in Wickedly Wonderful, opening September 5th 2008.

Hey Everyone! Sean here with a blog. Anne always asks us for them...and I almost always forget to do it. So here it is.

Man is this show fun! The rehearsals so far have been a blast. We've had a lot of laughs while we try to discover our characters. I'm really excited about being given this challenge of playing 10 different characters. It's interesting trying to find ways to make them different but still real. I still need a little work. A few of them have come really easily...and a few are causing some stress. But we'll get through. Thanks to the fabulous ladies (Piper, that means you too!) in the cast for their patience and Anne for all her constant coaching! And Bridget for keeping me on top of the lines ... even though I still have the script in my hand! Oiy!

This script is a lot of fun. It may be "kid-friendly", but I laugh so much listening to the dialogue. And that has so much to do with the four very talented witches. They ROCK! But they are witches...seriously. It can get a little scary sometimes. :P

Wednesday is our last "on book" rehearsal. From there, the scripts go down and we have like 6 more rehearsals. Eep! Not that it's really that scary, it's just coming up quick! Look forward to seeing you there! Hope you all enjoy the show! I know I will! : )

'Wickedly Wonderful' revs up!

Anne Meighan is directing Wickedly Wonderful for NovaStage.
Hello NovaStagers, it's Anne...

It's been a fabulous summer so far! And after a couple of months off after Desperate Housepets, it's time for Wickedly Wonderful.

I have to say that although I was excited about this show starting up, I didn't predict how much I would enjoy it once it got started. This is a slightly bigger show for us, with 5 adult actors and one child. Our rehearsal space is busting with talent.

Here's the cast rundown:

Wickedly Wonderful
written by Heidi M. Hayward
directed by Anne Meighan

Starring
Jaimie Birnbaum as Freya (Snow White's witch)

Lori Distel as Helga (Hanzel and Gretel's witch)

Carly Heffernan as Dierdre (Sleeping Beauty's witch)

Courtney Smith as Violet (Rapunzel's witch)

Also Starring
Sean Williamson as The Reporter, The TV Assistant, The Editor, The Boss, The Pageant Host, The Ad Executive, Daddy, The Barfly, Big Bad Wolf, and The Handsome Prince.

...and Piper Distel as The Page and Little Girl

If you want to learn more about the actors featured in this show, you can read all about them at http://www.novastage.com/Bios.html.

AND...if you would like to grab tickets for this show, which is going to be both beautiful and highly engaging, just click your way over to the magic website: www.novastage.com and purchase tickets quickly, and safely using paypal. Still a massive bargain at $13!

'Desperate Housepets' Curtain Call...

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Desperate Housepets. What a fantastic show it was - we're all so very proud!!

I'd like to personally thank everyone who came to see Desperate Housepets. Thanks to you, we've had one of our most successful runs ever and were able for the first time to make a contribution to a local charity - The Cambridge & District Humane Society - through one of our shows.

Producing shows in this area is always a challenge, and at times it can be a real uphill battle. But each time we open a show, it's a little smoother. And I don't know if I mentioned this, but the actors in Desperate Housepets were truly outstanding - intelligent, hilarious, fearless and hard-working. I could never have hoped for better.

Lori and I know that NovaStage is going to continue to develop and grow over the next few years - - but with growth and development comes lots of change. I always remind myself that the future is what Shakespeare calls the undiscovered country and that means it always has the possibility of adventure. It's scary, but also exciting.

So...what of the immediate future? Well - there is a second show to this season and it's a lulu!!! Here it is:

WICKEDLY WONDERFUL
by Heidi M. Hayward

directed by Anne Meighan

September 5, 6*, 11, 12, 13 (*our first ever matinee!)

Tickets available online from July 2nd 2008

We'll see you very soon...

Anne x

First Official Desperate Housepets Post

Anne here. No joke - I have been attempting to finish this post for a week now.

SO! To business. Once again, we're right in at the deep end (no wading in for us) and well into Desperate Housepets rehearsals.

Yes...it's true...I very nearly always say this, but this cast is incredible! A lot of fun for me as well to be directing comedy after last year's wonderful, but intense pieces...and these guys are FUNNY. I'm really looking forward to opening and sharing DH with the community and tri-city area. Opening night kicks off with a gala to raise money for the Cambridge and District Humane Society. The entire show's run will donate a portion of ticket sales to this very busy (and very needed) organization. Huge thanks from me to our mastermind Artistic Producer Lori D. for getting this hefty project in motion.

Lots of fiddly stuff going on right now - - props and costume lists, Lori and Sean putting their incredibly large brains together to create a backdrop for the stage, sound cues getting collected...all the good stuff that comes together to make a nice sharp piece of NovaStage.

I also had the very interesting opportunity last week to do a play polish at Galt Little Theatre. A polish involves asking a guest director (that would be yours truly) to come in, watch a run in rehearsal, and then work with the actors on a few scenes and 'sharpen' as you see fit. The play in question is Les Liaisons Dangereuses, a highly ambitious and challenging play and certainly a change of pace for me as well. The people at GLT were extremely hospitable and welcoming to me and I had a great time working with actors Andrea, Jane and Robin. The show opens April 10th if you're curious -- I will certainly be checking it out.

Auditions 2008

Anne here. We're now through all our original audition bookings - auditions are not officially closed down yet, but we've had a good two Saturdays.

Once again, we were very happy to see a lot of really high-end talent come out. I want to sincerely thank EVERY actor that came to the Cambridge Centre for the Arts over the last two weekends to perform for us and let us see how great you are. Casting desicions made over the next few days are going to be extremely difficult.

You might remember last year, I did a blog entry with a few audition pointers on them. I'd like to reprint one from last year in this entry:

If you have to cancel your audition: Either email or call at LEAST 24 hours ahead to cancel. If you have to leave a message on a machine, do it. Someone will pick it up in time. If something terrible happens and you just were not able to call ahead, go ahead and send a message afterward. It's not as good, but at least it shows you did not forget altogether. For the love of god don't just not show up. Here's what happens. In the case of small theatre companies: You are not anonymous. They WILL notice that you have not shown up. They will also be annoyed by the fact that they could have booked another actor in your place who wanted a chance to audition and couldn't get booked. It's insulting to the company, but you might get a second chance. In the case of large theatre companies (IE Stratford, Shaw, etc): they will notice immediately that you have not shown up. If anything, their lists will be more structured and they'll notice sooner than the small company. Everything above applies, except it can hurt you more, and you're less likely to get a second chance.

Oh man. This is so important. We have had a fairly decent sized group of no-shows this year. I cannot stress this enough: pulling a no-show at an audition is just the absolute worst thing an actor can do. It's not only insulting to the company but it shows that you are totally unreliable. Considering that the theatre community (and yes, actors and directors from neigbouring cities know and speak to each other very regularly) is so very small, this news gets around. People remember all this stuff, because no one wants unreliable actors in their productions who may or may not show up for rehearsal. A good friend of mine who works in an opera company out west told me "Opera companies will blacklist you for one no-show!". Yes indeed. I will not be so dramatic as to say blacklist (even though it's an awesome word), but all companies do keep a list of people not to book, and not showing up one season is a good way to get on that list for the next.

Listen -- most theatre companies are pretty reasonable. If you can't make it, just call ahead. They'll be much more understanding if they have enough time to book in another actor for your audition time. One other suggestion - make it a good excuse eh? The best possible thing to keep you from an audition? You've booked another job. Saying things like "something came up" - one I've heard countless times over the past few years - doesn't cut it.

Well that's not much of a pep talk - but it's some good old honest advice. Soon I'll return to the frightening and often thrilling task of casting NovaStage's 2008 season.

The announcement will come within 2 weeks! Stay tuned and take care.