On Sunday afternoon, we had our closing performance of Songs for a New World. I’m really proud of Eric, Ryan, and the cast and crew. I learned to love my lullaby. I wish more people had come to see the show, but those who did seemed to enjoy it. And it was a joy to welcome the audiences to our new theatre!

After what may have been the shortest strike ever, the handful of people who hadn’t already left for the cast party installed the ghost light.

A ghost light is simply a free-standing light that is left on stage when all the other lights are turned off. The origin stories vary, but most practical explanation is to prevent anyone from falling off the stage or tripping over scenery in the dark.

Our stage is a floor, so you can’t fall off of it, but we still wanted our own ghost light.

Sadly, it proved nearly impossible to find one. My co-conspirator, Joe C, searched high and low. Apparently, no one makes them, and when a used one would come up for sale on ebay, it quickly disappeared.

So Joe decided to make one. Bought a light socket kit and some metal pipe and a bulb cage. Cut the cord, fed it through the pipe, and reattached the wires. As we waited through zoning approval, lease negotiations, contractors, and finally built our theatre – it sat in my basement, 85% completed, but unable to stand. I finally finished the job during intermission on Sunday by attaching some scrap two-by-fours to the base.

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I’m pleased with how our improvised ghost light came together, and it is glowing on our stage now. Whether you believe it is there for safety, to ward off spirits, or to welcome them, it is there because we are a theatre. And we honor the traditions, the magic, and the mysteries of the theatre.

As of April 1st, 2012, Crown Point Community Theatre has a new home that is ours alone!

Our theatre is a 50′ x 50′ store front at 1125 Merrillville Rd. We are near the truck entrance to Jewel Plaza, just north of the intersection of Summit & Merrillville Road. Our neighbors include NWI Ministries, Lovin Oven Pizza, Cost Cutters hair salon, a karate school, and physical therapist.

I’m still pinching myself as we go into Tech Week for Songs for a New World. A lot of volunteers are putting in a lot of hours – pretty much around the clock – to turn a blank storefront into a black box theatre. I’ll have black paint under my fingernails all week! There is still much to be done, and it won’t all be finished in time for opening night. But it will be enough to make a comfortable place for our audiences and volunteers alike. The theatre we will present this weekend is at a starting point. We hope you will be as excited as we are about the possibilities of what is to come.

“Songs for a New World” is coming along great. Eric has challenged each performer, and also matched the songs and characters beautifully. Ryan Flemming, our music director, is amazing. The cast is filled with faces both familiar and new, doing some of the best work I’ve seen from them. I can’t wait to share this show with an audience.

It was a little less than a year ago that SFANW director Eric Reithel asked why, if having our own performing space was a goal, very little had been done to get us closer to that goal. I started looking at commercial real estate rates online, getting a feel for what the costs might be. With a little digging, I formed a theory that paying monthly rent was not that far off from what we were paying to rent our performing space by the hour. Housing a community theatre is no easy feat. We have unique and challenging needs that don’t fit most business models. And that’s when Joe Culley, my directing partner for our Summer Classic production of Cyrano, started calling realtors and making appointments.

Based on those visits, I emailed some rough data to a few board members and asked what they thought of the idea to form a New Spaces Committee with the stated goal of finding, moving to, and launching productions in our own space within a year. I suggested we start with the assumption that this could be done, whether or not we as a group were ready to make it happen. We needed to discover as many obstacles as possible so that we could find ways to deal with them and get an idea how far away our goal might be. Whether it would take us 3 months or 3 years to open our own theatre, I wanted that clock to start ticking right away.

That email was dated April 27th, 2011.

Songs for a New World opens Friday, April 20th, 2012.

We made our goal with a week to spare. It wasn’t easy, and there were times we thought it wasn’t going to happen at all. So many people contributed their time, talents, and tenacity towards making that happen.

I hope you’ll get a chance to come see A New World in our New Theatre, and continue this journey with us.

- Submitted by Kerry Fitch, VP, CPCT, and soon-to-retire Chair of the New Spaces Committee

Have you resolved to take an active role in supporting volunteer arts in your community in 2012?  Well then, have I got an opportunity for you!

CPCT will be holding our annual business meeting and board elections on Monday, January 9th, at 7:30 PM at Farm Bureau Insurance.  All CPCT Members are invited to attend.  If you have worked on 2 shows with CPCT in the past 2 years, and are at least 16 years of age, you are eligible to vote and/or run for a position on the 2012 CPCT Board.

At the March meeting, we will be taking show proposals for our 2012-2013 season.  The season will be selected/voted on 2 weeks later.

This is shaping up to be an exciting year at CPCT with the prospect of having our own dedicated performance space in the very near future.  It’s a decision that is going to affect every aspect of our group, and we need dedicated, creative, energetic people to help activate our vision and shape the theatre we will become.

Much is happening.  A Few Good Men has been cast, and tickets are available online.  This is going to be a good one! 

We had a major clean up day in our storage area at OTSSA this Saturday.  Following the bathroom renovations, they have started work on the basement, converting the old pitching lanes into storage areas.  With doors.  That lock!  Most importantly, it is much nicer to breathe downstairs than it has been in quite some time!

The Spaces and Marketing committees have been hard at work on exciting/potentially game-changing projects.  But that’s a story for another day.

To me, the great news this weekend is that my directing partner, Joe C, & I have been working on pre-production for Cyrano de Bergerac this summer, and we just discovered the Frank Langella adaptation of Cyrano.  He scaled the show down to 12 actors, jettisoned outdated name-dropping references that bring the story to a screeching halt, yet retained all the romance and poetry of the original.  (True, he adapted from the Hooker translation, while I favor Burgess’ translation, but… I’m okay with it.)

We’ve read it through and are certain we have found the voice and structure that are best-suited for our vision of Cyrano.  Every time Mr. Langella does something that makes sense to me in this adaptation, I find myself saying ‘Thank you, Frank!’ and kissing his picture on the cover.  We love the Cyrano story and the language, but were feeling rather daunted at the scale of the task ahead of us.  And we didn’t want to start over, like a recent (and highly enjoyable) production we saw at the House Theatre in Chicago.  (That version also added a piano bar, ninjas, and 2 fights.  No complaints, but that does not match our vision.)

It’s still 5 scenes spanning 15 years.  Cyrano is still larger-than-life.  The characters are still colorful and interesting.  It’s still going to have swordfighting and romance with a capital RUH, and if we do our job right, you should still be able to smell France on our stage.

What it means for our audience is that we’ll be able to present a streamlined, uncluttered Cyrano, without losing its heart and history.  The story and the poetry will shine through.

We’ll be updating the website with character descriptions and more details.  If you’d like a chance to read the script, we should have some un-kissed copies available to loan soon.

I’m in horn-tootin’, button-poppin’ mode over here.  We’ve got a darned fine play on our stage, and even in my limited role as house manager, I’m proud of this show and the people who have worked so hard to put it together.

But right now, I’d like to tell you about tearing it apart.

And this…. 

Into THIS:

Photo by Joe Culley

It took about an hour and a half of dismantling, loading, shifting & hefting, late at night, after an emotional roller coaster ride of a show, in the midst of greeting friends, changing costumes, and riding the cherry picker up to the ceiling to tuck away the dining room chandelier.  It’s a lot like hosting a dinner party two nights in a row, washing the dishes in a tiny janitor’s closet, then dismantling your living room.  There were no post-show parties on Saturday night. Everyone was worn out!

August: Osage County continues Friday, Saturday, & Sunday at On the Square Sports Academy.  As of this writing, tickets are still available through www.cpct.biz

I’m a few days late with this and trying to write an entry with my phone, so just sending a quick shout-out and a lot of love to everyone who came out Sunday to create an amazing set for August: Osage County! I can’t remember the last time I saw an entire cast at a set build. And you brought so many handy & helpful friends! You guys are amazing!

Huge Applaudience to:
Eric, Adam, Don, Cathy, Jeff, Marion, Dan, Matt, Jen, Chris, Andi, Tristan, Amanda, John, Kate, Anne, Mandy, Andy, Jeff, Glenn, CJ, Joe, Trish, & Diane!

(Did I leave anyone out? I hope not!)

I know my OTSSA stair-climbing muscles were sore for the next two days.

It’s Opening Night for The Taming of the Shrew!

This show has been a new experience for me because I’m playing the Prologue. (Don’t look for it in the original play.  The part is unique to Earle Howe’s adaptation.) This means that I do pre-show announcements, a Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits Medley (my term, not the directors’), play Captain Exposition (also my term) to introduce the two main story lines…. and then I disappear until curtain call.

I’m thrilled with the part.  I get to set the stage & tone of the show.  Our Summer Shakespeare program is near and dear to my heart, and I’m honored to be able to contribute even a little to this show.  I almost want to go out and shout ARE YOU READY FOR SOME SHAKESPEEEEEAAAAAAAARRRRRRE?  all WWE-like.  

But it is a bizarre rehearsal process – all monologue; no dialogue, which is something new for me.  I have no scene partners.  Most of my work was done on my own, with Earle and Betty’s direction.  I’m just getting to know the cast and the show this past week.  It’s a great group, staying focused and professional as we worked to resolve various technical issues.  They, and the Howes, and all of our volunteers, have been a Class Act all the way.

I finally get to interact with the people tonight – the audience!  Hope to see you there!

CPCT Presents The Taming of the Shrew at On the Square Sports Academy, 105 N Court St, Crown Point. July 29, 30, Aug 5, 6 at 8 PM, and Aug 7 at 3 PM.

www.cpct.biz

It is that time of year again!  For at least as long as we’ve been doing Summer Shakespeare, CPCT has been marching in Crown Point’s Fourth of July Parade.  We’ve had Romeo & Juliet waving from the back of a convertible, and Dogberry galloping madly with coconut shell sound effects.  We’ve sung show tunes and worn fairy wings.  Usually behind a volunteer’s festively-decorated truck.

This year, we’re trying our hand at an Honest-to-Bard float.  Yesterday was construction day, and I have to say we are pleased with the results.  It was a pretty hot day, and our 4 littlest helpers had a great time attacking the yellow paint with rollers.  Then walking across it.  Then sitting in it…

I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but here are some teaser photos from the construction day.

Preparing the trailer

CP! CT!

Sparkly.  Like a holiday.  And we were all sorta sparkly by the end of the day.

My 6-year-old is now excited to be marching in the parade this year.  Because she helped build the float.

I know how she feels.  I wish I still had a picture of the cute little stage I made to keep her cool riding in a wagon for her first parade.  But she does still use that stage as a puppet theatre.

As for what I’ll be doing in the parade, my byline holds a bit of a hint.  But that’s a story for another day…

So come on down to Main Street tomorrow at 2.  Grab a postcard, wave, and get in on the fun!

Trish Neary, CPCT board member at large signing on.  =)  Just wanting to congratulate the cast of our fundraiser for a fantastic job last night, and a thank you to everyone who pitched in and donated items to make it possible.

We are now starting into rehearsals for our upcoming production, “The Taming of the Shrew”, which is the sixth installment of our “Summer Shakespeare” series.  We’ve only just been through the first read-through, but I can already tell you that we are going to have a stellar cast full of many talented new faces (which I always love seeing)!  This show will not be one to miss!

But getting back to our fundraiser, one thing that struck a chord with me is that it reminded me about how much I still have to learn about musical theatre.  I really need to start listening to more soundtracks, especially from composers I like (such as Sondheim).  It would benefit me as a performer, I think, to get better-versed in that sort of thing. 

That said, I now leave you with a Sondheim piece that I have just become acquainted with, that I think will resonate with any actor, regardless of their theatrical discipline:

“Gods of the theatre, smile on us.
You who sit up there in stern judgment, smile on us.
You who look down on actors (and who doesn’t?),
bless this yearly festival and smile on us.
We offer you song and dance.
We offer you rites and revels.
We offer you grace and beauty –
Smile on us for this while.”

~ Trish Neary, Broadway Student & Board Member at Large, CPCT

Just home from a little gathering to watch the Tonys.  I’m headed to NYC in a few weeks to catch Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed…  Always had a soft spot in my heart for J. Pierpont Finch.  Loved their excerpt.  The choreography was fun and inventive.

We’re also in the home stretch for our fundraiser, a-2-3-4! If the Tonys got you in the mood for some great musical theatre, we’re showcasing some of Broadway’s greatest duets, trios, & quartets for one night only, June 18th.  It’s going to be a great night with food & drink & silent auction items.  I know Liz and her crew have been pounding the pavement around the Square getting some amazing donations. 

We had a spontaneous ovation from the crew doing landscape work outside First United Church where we were rehearsing on Saturday, which is always fun.  Kristy came up with some fun and inventive choreography for ‘My Body’ so we can sell our Times Square Attitude during that number.  I’m so thrilled to be singing with these talented people.  Seriously, pinching myself every rehearsal because it hardly seems real.  When we’re all singing ‘Light’ in 6 parts and it sounds right and feels right, I can’t help but get a little thrill.  Amanda and Eric have done an outstanding job putting this together, finding songs that are unexpected and a great blend of funny and heartbreaking.  I can’t wait to share this with an audience.  (But I would like a little more time to get those steps right.)

The Taming of the Shrew has been cast, and I’ve been asked to perform the Prologue!  It’s an honor and I’m excited to be able to participate in Summer Shakespeare again with a part that fits perfectly with my schedule.

The Marketeers have also been hard at work with photo shoots for our upcoming season.  We braved a glaring June sun for our August: Osage County shoot, then cold temps again this past Thursday evening for Company and Cyrano.  We had great help on both days, but I have to give special thanks to Joe for doing the photography, and Eric for his painstaking PhotoShop work.  Can’t wait to share the results.  I feel like my garage, shadow, and hands have had a starring role in this year’s campaign!

Testing houses, shadows & chalk colors

Frollicking about my yard with swords after the Shrew Shoot

(I’ll try not to leave anyone out…. lots of hands went into putting these shoots together!)

Joe Culley, Eric Reithel, Trish Neary, Kristen Hasselgren, Anne Nicholls, Jen Lundin, Jack Margis, Charlie the dog, Mandy Dietrich, Chris Hull, Katie McLaren, KerriAnne Valuckis, Amber Lucas

& Kerry Fitch, Thrill-Seeker & Shadowy Figure, CPCT