set design

It's Willows Wednesday!
Here are two views of the set model, created by our ATD Jillian Warburton.  The model doesn't have all of the walls (in case you're thinking stage left looks rather bare), bannisters, or the overhead beams.
Here's the concept: Per the script, the entire story is told within the confines of the abandoned Toad Hall.  Because it is a memory play, we didn't want solid walls; therefore, the audience will only see partial walls.  The actors will use the furniture from Toad Hall to tell the story.  The audience will be surprised (I hope) as to how we use the space and the furniture. 
Here's an example:

We experimented in rehearsal.  What do you think this is?

The Wind in the Willows runs October 17-20.

The Evolution of Fabric

Happy Willows Wednesday!  The picture above shows the same piece of material.  The one on the left is the original.  We have a huge roll of it, and Anna, QCT's costume designer, suggested we use it for one of Mr. Toad's suits.  I said I liked it, but it felt too blue (hard to tell in the picture).  She dyed it green.  That is the middle piece.  I said I liked that it was more green, but overall it felt too dark.  Then, Anna, being a smart cookie, soaked the original fabric in "color remover" and then dyed it green.  That is the strip on the far right.  I am so pleased with how it turned out.  The look of the piece on the right is what we will use for Mr. Toad's costume.

The wind is blowing.......

The next student theatre show, "The Wind in the Willows," has been cast and, as of last night, rehearsals have begun!  There are 23 actors, playing multiple characters.  There are 17 students and 6 adults featured in this production.  For some of the actors this will be their first QCT production, and for some, this will be their first time on stage anywhere! 
This week, we are just reading the script.  We take a few days to "just sit and read."  This gives us the chance to make sure we understand what we are saying and why we are saying it.  Next week we will start "blocking rehearsals."  This is where we put the show up on its feet and we figure out how to "physicalize" the story.
Someone on behalf of the company will try to keep you posted on the making of this production and any behind the scenes antics.

We hope you'll come see "The Wind in the Willows" at Quincy Community Theatre.

Brandon
Director

Flight of the Neverbird

Workspace or Playspace?

Build Your Own World: A Neverland Interactive Game

Quick! Grab the object nearest to you. It can be a pencil, a hairbrush, your cell phone, even a rubber duck. Just pick up the first thing you can find and stick with it. This is now your focal point. Mine is a stapler.

Now, hold it in your hand. What does it look like? What color, what shape, what size? Feel it beneath your fingertips. Rough? Smooth? Soft? Firm? Does it bend? Can you squeeze it? Now, study its features with all five of your senses (the sixth, too, if you have one) and absorb those details. Assimilate them into your mind's eye.

Now make it a piece of clothing.

 Like a bow tie! Bow ties are cool.

Now a kitchen utensil.

 Like a lemon juicer! 

 Now a part of a car.

 Like windshield wipers!

Now an animal.

Like a beaver!

                                                                                You've just made four completely different objects from one thing you snatched up from arm's reach -- one of which was a living creature! This is just a taste of how the eight actors in Peter Pan create the worlds around them. A lamp becomes a tree, an old Christmas wreath a bird's nest, a grass skirt a roaring fire. 

Want to share your ideas? Post a picture or send a comment to Quincy Community Theatre's Facebook page to tell us about your masterpiece!

Selling Like Hot Cakes!

We certainly hope you purchased tickets to Peter Pan! Within days, tickets were snatched up and performances were sold out. This laboratory production gets up close and personal with the audience as they join Wendy, John, and Michael in their nursery/attic. We hope you join us for this magical, mystical journey!

Side by Side by Shelby Rees?

Okay, so Jesse Tyler Ferguson won't be appearing in this blog, but over the next four weeks, I will be conducting interviews with the cast of Quincy Community Theatre's Peter Pan. Some may be written interviews and some may be videos. Stay tuned for exclusive inside knowledge!

The Growth of Neverland

When was the last time you saw Peter Pan? Was it the Broadway musical? Maybe it was Robin Williams in Hook, or perhaps the carrot-haired boy, familiarized by Walt Disney. How many characters were in it? Take a moment, count on your fingers if you need to. There's Peter, the Darling family, Lost Boys, mermaids, pirates... Now look at this picture. How many do you see?

Nine.

Nine students from the area are constructing the wild and whimsical world of Peter Pan. Most of the actors portray two, three, or even more characters. Scallywags, merfolk, and little rascals await in this adaptation of the classical tale, each as fantastical as the last. Keep your eyes peeled and your wits about you in the twists and turns of Quincy Community Theatre's Peter Pan: you never know who -- or what -- you'll find.

Happy First Rehearsal!

Last night was the first rehearsal for QCT's Lab Production of Peter Pan. This adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic tale is like none that has ever been seen -- literally! This show is a conglomeration of many different aspects of the classic story, from the novel "Peter and Wendy" to the original 1904 production. Surprises lie in store for all who attend this performance. You may just learn something you never knew about the time-honored bedtime story!

The first step in the rehearsal is table work. No, nobody comes in with saws and hammers to build a table. The production team -- actors, the accompanist, the director, the stage manager, the costumer, and the publicity guru -- meets to read through the script. This allows the company to get a feel for the show, just to hear what the words sound like when spoken aloud and to begin formulation of ideas. Who is Peter Pan? What drives each character? What do those eloquent lines mean when spoken by such innocent children? Each person has their own ideas about the show; this is the time to share them. They spark quite the conversation! One idea thrown out last night was this, which I invite you to reflect on.

"Growing up has the connotation of leaving someone who needs you."