True West is ramping up. Prepare the vacuum cleaner!

It’s that time again! Going into rehearsals this week for our next show, True West. To kick off our rehearsal process, we held two open readings of True West, free to the public. The readings went really well, and an unanticipated benefit was the terrific discussion that ensued afterward. The folks who had listened to the script had great insights into family dynamics, Sam Shepard's oeuvre, and specific language in the play--plus, they all seem excited to come and see the fully-mounted production!

I want to thank all the actors who read: Scott Treadway, who will be playing Austin, Kay Galvin who will be playing the Mom, Lance Ball who will be playing Saul, and Peter Savage who read Saul on the Sunday reading. Peter also tweeted during the reading and took a few vids. You can see them here and here. It’s an interesting thread about the reading so I encourage you to check it out.

I wanted to share with you a couple of interesting comments and questions
that came up--hopefully these will whet your appetite for this unusual
play!

Comment: Oh, I know this family. You know how it is in families--there
are no surprises. You all know what cards the other ones have. A topic
gets brought up, and you know that your mother is going to say this, and
that will make your sister say that, then your father chimes in with
this...We're just watching this family do their dance. It may get more out
of hand than your family does, but...well, it may not!

Q: How long have you been rehearsing together?
A: We read this for the first time today.
Q: Wait, no, because this play opens in--what? On February 17?
A: That's right. We rehearse all of our plays for three weeks.
Q: How do you do that?
A: Well, it's the big advantage of working with this cast--Scott and I
have done a number of plays together, Lance and Kay have worked together,
Kay and I have worked together...it leads to an ease in the rehearsal
room, and it also means we're not really starting at square one, since we
know how the other people in the room work and think and communicate.
Plus, rehearsing this play is a full-time job. We rehearse about 30 hours
per week.

Q: This is by Sam Shepard, the actor?
A: Yes! Except he's also Sam Shepard , the playwright. He's quite well-known as a writer of dark family dramas, as well, of course, as an actor in movies and on stage.

(Side note: I worked for three days on the film Sweet Dreams which starred Jessica Lange back in 1984. She and Sam Shepard had just started dating, I think, and Shepard sat on the side of the set the entire time we were shooting. Cool! BTW, Ed Harris looked at me funny in that film! Uber cool!!)

A message about the NCSC Stage Hands

Happy New Year, y'all!

I want to kick off 2010 with a message from one of our board members, Tina Lipscomb. We're really excited about this new volunteer group, so check it out!

Introducing the NCSC Stage Hands

Do you love NC Stage and wish you could do more to support them?
Is it sometimes difficult to find ways to give to the theatre?

NC Stage Company needs your talents, your time, and your creativity as much as they need financial support. This is your chance to be part of the theatre.

Our new endeavor is called the NCSC Stage Hands. It is similar to a theatre guild but so much more fun and engaging. Being a part of the Stage Hands is as if you are part owner of the theatre, and Charlie and Angie want to share what they have created with each of you on a more personal level.

Besides attending plays, you can help in other ways. The Stage Hands will do some of the following (a few examples)
¸ Plan a special event
¸ Help to run an event
¸ Help to run concessions at the shows

Your time commitment can be as little or as much as you can give. We really want your enthusiasm and love of NC Stage to be what guides you. In addition, so many of our patrons have talents that we need.

So let those talents shine and come join us as we launch the Stage Hands. The biggest perk of being a part of this new group is the personal satisfaction of knowing that you are making a difference for your favorite theatre. The secondary perk is that you become a very special insider. This insider group will have some surprises down the road to thank them for their commitment.

If interested, please join us for a brief wine and cheese reception at the theatre.
Monday, January 25th, 5:30 pm at NC Stage Company

An RSVP is appreciated – if unable to attend but interested in being a Stage Hand please let me know as well.

Thanks!
Tina Lipscomb
tlipscomb2001 at yahoo dot com
281-1296