Looking Forward Friday: 2013 Teaser

For the last three weeks, I've been featuring "Flashback Fridays" that looked back at the previous 2012 season of Nebraska Repertory.  Since I've gone through all of the old shows, and the new season is quickly approaching, it is time to start looking forward at the upcoming season.  

So, for the first "Looking Forward Friday," here is a teaser video created for Nebraska Repertory by Michael Reinmiller, the Digital Arts Support Technician.  Since I can't embed it here, you can watch it by clicking here or clicking the picture below. 

    

Emma's Interviews: Erica King, NRT Prop Master

Last week, Emma Gruhl, the Company Manager and Audience Development Assistant, sat down with Erica King,  Nebraska Repertory Theatre's Prop Master for all three shows.  In the interview, Erica talked about memories of the shows from last season and gave insights into making the props for these shows.

In the player below, you can listen to the interview.  Sorry that the sound quality isn't as sharp as it could be; for the blog we went with informal podcasting by using cell phones for the recording.  

Season Ticket Giveaway!!!!

From today, June 25th, through Thursday, July 4th, Nebraska Repertory Theatre is hosting a Season Ticket Giveaway.  One lucky person will win a season pass to the 2013 shows.

A season pass allows you to see each of shows as many times as you like and also gives you free admission to the two Destinations shows on July 30th and August 6th.  Season passes normally run $60, but you have the chance to get one for free!!!

To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below.  For every one of the items you enter you increase your chances of winning.  Here are all the ways you can enter the giveaway:

1. Follow NERepTheatre on Twitter (+1 entry; once)
2. Tweet About the Giveaway (+1 entry; onee)
3. "Like" NRT's Facebook Page (+1 entry; once)
4. Comment below about the ways you signed up to follow NRT (+2 entries; once)
5. Follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, or Google+ (+2 entries; can do once for each option)
6. Sign-up to receive blog updates through email or RSS feed (+5 entries; can do once for each option)

Will announce the winner on July 5th!  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet the Cast of Mrs. Mannerly

Last week I introduced you to the cast of Emma.  Today, I'd like you to meet the small but enthusiastic cast of Mrs. Mannerly.

Director: Rob Urbinati:

Rob is a freelance director and playwright based in New York City,  Literary Manager of Private Theatre, and Director of New Play Development at Queens Theatre, where he curates the Immigrant Voices Project.  In New York City, he has directed for The Public Theatre, Classic Stage Company, The Culture Project, Abingdon Theatre, New York Music Theatre Festival, New York University, York Theatre, Pearl Theatre and Cherry Lane Theatre, among others. He directed Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story at the Lied Center, and The 39 Steps for Nebraska Repertory Theatre.

His plays as a writer include Hazelwood Jr. High, West Moon Street and Death by Design, all published by Samuel French.  His play, Rebel Voices and his musical, Shangri La, will be published by Samuel French in 2013. His adaptation of Cole Porter’s Nymph Errant opened in New York City in July 2013, and his latest play, UMW, was commissioned by Linfield College in Oregon, where it opened in March 2013.

Rob is an alumnus of the Drama League, The Lincoln Center Theatre Director’s Lab, and a member of the Dramatists Guild and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.

Mark McCarthy -- Jeffrey 

Mark McCarthy is proud to make his Nebraska Rep debut.  

Previous Roles: 

• Hampton Theatre Company: How the Other Half Loves
• Shadowland Theatre Company: Dangers, Of Electric Lighting, The Seafarer
• International Mystery Writers’ Festival: Sherlock Holmes: the Final Toast (Dr. Watson)
• Illinois Theatre Center: Moonlight and Magnolias 
• Mercury Theatre (Chicago): King O' the Moon 
• Denver Center Theatre Company: The Rivals 
• Portland Center Stage: The Rivals, Macbeth, As You Like It
• Notre Dame Shakespeare: Tamking of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing 
• Heart of America Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night's Dream 
• Kansas City Rep: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, The Tempest, The Deputy, Julius Caesar, The Imaginary Invalid.  

Mark has played hapless people in several cheesy TV movies and independent films. He voices over a

hundred characters in the audio book version of Alan Brennert’s new novel Palisades Park. He’s also a

stage combat choreographer and published playwright. He lives just outside New York City with his wife,

the brilliant and talented Hollis McCarthy. 

Juanita Pat Rice -- Mrs. Mannerly

Juanita Pat Rice began her theatre career right here at UNL then went on to San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre, where in addition to acting she taught the performance of Shakespeare. She then earned a PhD from UC-Berkeley and became a Theatre Professor at CSU-Sacramento where she directed numerous distinguished productions of Shakespeare, Shaw, Moliere and contemporary American theatre. While there, she was head of the directing, acting and graduate programs and served as the first woman department chair.  After retiring, she returned to Nebraska, and has appeared in Lincoln with Angels Theatre Company, and as Queen Margaret in Flatwater Shakespeare's Richard III. 

She is a writer, pianist, master gardener, Tai Chi teacher, and a longtime social activist for environmental, peace and equality issues.  

Fifty years ago, in 1963, she debuted at UNL  in Eugene O'Neill's one-woman play Before Breakfast and won her first acting award, a "Dallas," as Widow Paroo in a production of Music Man directed by Dallas Williams, her first role on the Howell Memorial stage.  So this is the golden anniversary of her acting career, back where she first began. In her career she has worked with directors William Ball, Edward Hastings, Nagle Jackson and Alan Fletcher. She has performed as Lady MacBeth, Blanche DuBois, Jocasta (in Cocteau), Molly Brown (in The Unsinkable) among numerous other roles and has emcee'd The Vagina Monologues numerous times at benefits in California.

Mannerly Mondays: Male Etiquette for dating in the 19th Century

In the 19th century dating, the custom was to be very formal when pursuing a young lady.  It was the males’ role to court the female; a lady would never go out of her way to call on a man.  Before the courting could commence, it was important to seek approval from her father first. After approval was granted it was normal for the young man to come over to a young lady’s house and stay for lunch or dinner, play badminton, drink tea, and go on carriage rides. The rules of propriety and good conduct forbade women visiting suitors in their homes, although the rules were not so strict as to prevent her from visiting male relatives unattended. 

A woman with wealth and a high education, however, could get away with being single for an extended amount of time but eventually married another rich man to start a family with.  

One thing I wish we continued in the 21st century was writing letters especially love letters. Writing letters was a crucial step to courting a lady in the 19th century; her love could be kindled with a well-written love letter. Along with love letters, when a man was ready to propose it was done through a letter. This struck me with surprise because in this day and age we always talk about how the man sets up a beautiful evening to pop the question. A letter to me completely dries up any romance of a proposal of marriage. But I guess you can’t have your cake and eat it, so having both love letters and a perfect night for a proposal would be a little too rich.   

So as you go through your dating years remember, a love letter can light the tiniest of flames and might grow into the strongest fire. 

Flashback Friday: God of Carnage

This is the last flashback to Nebraska Repertory's 2012 Season.  NRT's third show of the season was God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza.  I chatted with Dennis Henry (who played Michael) about what he remembered most about being in the production.  His response matched up with my strongest memory, and that is of the vomit scene.  Dennis went on to expand that it was a pretty intensive part of the production between bringing in guest technicians to help design a machine that could projectile vomit, figuring out the perfect mix of ingredients to get the right look, and then figuring out how to disguise the machine so that when  Annette (played by Sasha Dobson) threw up, it looked believable.  Then, for the actors, there was also the on-stage clean-up that had to happen every performance.  The moment always got a huge response of laughs, gasps, and a little bit of turning green.  I forgot to include a picture in the slideshow below, so click here to see a picture from the Facebook page.

Meet the Cast of Emma

This week, the casts for all three shows started rehearsals.  Although I could introduce them to you all at once, I thought I'd give each show its due and introduce each cast separately.  So, here are the head shots and bios for the 2013 production of Jane Austen's Emma!

Director: Catherine Weidner  

Catherine Weidner is a professional director, actor and teacher.   She has directed productions of Taming of the Shrew, Titus Andronicus and Merry Wives of Windsor for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and Two Gentleman of Verona at Theater at Monmouth in Maine.

Catherine is an Associate Professor at The Theatre School of DePaul University in Chicago, where she teaches Classical Acting and Heightened Text in the BFA and MFA programs.  For DePaul, she has directed productions of The Rivals, Measure for Measure, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Richard III, as well as adapting and directing A Midsummer Night’s Dream for young audiences. 

As an actress, she has worked at The Kennedy Center in A Streetcar Named Desire with Patricia Clarkson and Amy Ryan, and at CenterStage in Baltimore (Blithe Spirit, Mary Stuart) and Arena Stage (The Heidi Chronicles) in Washington, DC.   She holds a BFA in Acting from Ithaca College, an MFA in Directing from the University of Minnesota, and has also trained at The Second City in Chicago and The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, and is a member of Actors Equity Association and the Stage Directors & Choreographers Union.  

Jessie Tidball -- Emma Woodhouse

Jessie Tidball is a recent graduate from the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film with a B.A. in Theatre Performance. You may have seen her as Tilly in the University production of Melancholy Play or as Elsa VonGrossenkneuten in The Musical Comedy Murders of the 1940's.  Since graduation, Jessie has appeared at the Haymarket Theatre as Ophelia in Hamlet, and Wendy Darling in Peter Pan.  Jessie's next project after Emma will be with The Haymarket Theatre as well, playing Anne Frank in the Midwest premier of Anne and Emmett, slated to tour Lincoln Public Schools in the fall.  Jessie is thrilled that her first professional acting gig is with the Nebraska Rep and wants to thank you all for supporting the arts!  Enjoy the show.   

Emily Martinez -- Harriet Smith
Emily is a recent graduate of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Performance, as well as Theatre Management. Nebraska Rep has given her the opportunity to excel in both areas, last season as the Associate Director of Audience Development and this season acting as Harriet in Emma! This marks her first appearance on the Rep stage! Emily was last seen in UNL’s production of The Taming of the Shrew as Bianca. Other show credits include: Lady Windermere, Lady Windermer's Fan (UNL), Maria, Twelfth Night (UNL), Antonia, My Antonia (Illusion Theater Company), and Lucetta, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Flatwater Shakespeare Company). In the fall of 2014, Emily will be attending the MFA International Acting Program at East 15 School of Acting within the University of Essex in Essex, England! She is beyond grateful for this year of blessings, proof that in the theatre, anything is possible. 

Jaimie Pruden -- Jane Fairfax

Jaimie Pruden recently graduated with a degree in Vocal Performance from UNL. This is her second summer with the Nebraska Rep. Recent performances include Paquette in Candide (UNL Opera), Rose in Paragon Springs (UNL Theatre), Glory in Almost. Maine (Theatrix), and Signe in Church Basement Ladies (NRT). Jaimie loves tacos and yoga. Enjoy the show!

Sean Schmeits -- Mr. Knightly

Sean Schmeits has previously performed on the Rep stage as Father Flynn in our 2008 production of Doubt. Sean has also acted for Flatwater Shakespeare (Henry V, Mercutio, Dromio of Syracuse, Berowne), the Angels Theatre Company (McMurphy in Cuckoo's Nest), The Haymarket Theatre (Rochester in Jane Eyre, Elyot in Private Lives), the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival (Antipholous of Syracuse), the Lincoln Community Playhouse (Garry in Noises Off), Rough Magic, and the Nebraska Theatre Caravan.

Alex Jeffery -- Frank Churchill

Alexander is an actor and filmmaker currently residing in Lincoln, Nebraska. Recently, he won the "Royal Reel Award" for his first feature film, One Way, at the Canada International Film Festival. This is his second summer with the Nebraska Repertory Theatre and he couldn't be more delighted to play the scoundrel Frank Churchill in Emma. Previous roles include Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing (Flatwater Shakespeare), Chris in Becky's New Car (Nebraska Repertory Theatre), and Alceste in The Misanthrope (UNL Mainstage). Alexander loves to travel, eat macaroni and cheese, and talk about himself in the third person. He hopes you enjoy the show!

Dan Rodden -- Mr. Elton

Dan happily returns to Lincoln for his second season, where NRT audiences will recall his performances as Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps and Steve in Becky's New Car.  His career has allowed him to perform for theaters across the U.S. and Canada.  Last fall, he had the honor of playing the iconic role of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird at Cardinal Stage Company in Bloomington, IN.  Other selected credits: Don Quixote, Man of La Mancha (Guest Artist - Normandale Community College, Bloomington, MN); Felix, The Odd Couple (Drury Lane Oakbrook); Antipholus of Syracuse, The Comedy of Errors (Oak Park Festival Theatre); Dr. Adams, Marrying Terry (Nightingale Group); Charles, Blithe Spirit; Mortimer, Arsenic And Old Lace; Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol (New American Theater), IO Chicago; Texas Shakespeare Festival, and Cidermill Playhouse. Back home in Chicago, he performs frequently with The Shakespeare Project of Chicago in numerous classical staged readings, including Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and Antonio in The Duchess Of Malfi.  Dan resides with his talented wife, actress Gail Rastorfer, whom he met a number of years ago while touring with the Nebraska Theatre Caravan.

Kimberley Clark Kaczmarek -- Mrs. Elton

Kim Clark-Kaczmarek possesses a B.A. in theatre from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Theatre from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. More recent roles with Nebraska Repertory Theatre include:  Tiny in The Anatomy of Grey and Chick in Crimes of the Heart.  She is very involved in the Omaha theatre community including working with the Living Picture Project, Nebraska Shakespeare, Omaha Theatre Company for Young People, Omaha Community Playhouse and the Great Plains Theatre Conference. Kim directed Two Minute Shakespeare for Nebraska Shakespeare also this summer.  She is on the artist roster for the Nebraska Arts Council Artists in Schools program, teaches acting with Performer’s Edge and is a Teaching Artist for Dancing Classrooms with The Artery.  She and her husband, Anthony, are proud parents of little Stella.  

Alan Knoll -- Mr. Woodhouse

Alan Knoll is a St Louis-based actor, and he's thrilled to return for another season at the Nebraska Rep; last year he was seen as Jeeves in Jeeves Intervens and Phillipe in Heroes.  Other favorite roles include George in Who's Afraid Of Virgina Woolf? (Riverfront Times 2010 Best Actor),  Max in Laughter on the 23rd Floor,  Graham in A Chip  in the Sugar,  and all the residents of Bedford Falls in This Wonderful  Life, named St Louis' best one-man show in 2011. Thanks to Virginia for the chance to return to Lincoln, and to his wonderful wife Laurie McConnell for her love and support.

Sasha Dobson -- Mrs. Weston

Sasha Dobson is a Lincoln native who received her BFA in Acting from Ithaca College in NY and her MFA in Acting from UNL.  After graduate school, Sasha moved to England for five years where she was fortunate to find work as an actress with the touring company Shakespeare To Go.  Since Sasha has returned to Lincoln she has worked extensively as an actor, director, acting/voice/ dialect coach, University educator and producer.  She teaches theatre and acting classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is also the Outreach Coordinator for the Lied Center for Performing Arts.  Sasha also serves on the board for two local theatre companies:  The Angels Theatre Company and Flatwater Shakespeare Company.  By far, the most rewarding roles Sasha has ever and will ever play is that of Mother to her two wonderful children, Josephine and Chase and Wife to her amazing husband Chris!

Richard Nielsen -- Mr. Weston

Richard Nielsen last performed on the Rep stage in 2000’s Picnic, and he is happy to return this season.  He has appeared on several Lincoln stages, most recently with the Flatwater Shakespeare Company.  His favorite roles include Roy Cohn in Angels in America, Parts I and II, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, the Fool in King Lear, and Caliban in The Tempest.  Later this summer he will be appearing in Flatwater’s production of Waiting for Godot.  He is an instructor of English at Southeast Community College in Lincoln.

Chet Kincaid -- Miss Bates

Chet is thrilled to be a Nebraska Repertory first-timer. Her last appearance on the Howell stage was almost 40 years ago as Conjur Woman in Dark of the Moon. She has acted in various Nebraska venues, including the Lincoln Community Playhouse, Futz Theatre, Gaslight Mellerdrammers, Murder To Go, and Cornhusker Hotel’s Colonnades Dinner Theatre, being awarded one UNL Dallas and 3 LCP Elsies. Chet’s favorite roles have been Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter, Bessie in Marvin’s Room, and Trudi in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. Her day job is Senior Producer for NET’s Learning Services’ Interactive Educational Media, creating educational websites, some with dramatic videos. Thanks, Virginia, for this incredible opportunity. One Bucket List item accomplished!

Costuming Emma

Last week, I talked with one of the costumers, +Katie Davis, who worked on researching 19th century fashion and the fashion of Jane Austen.  In talking with her, I found out a lot about the inspirations for the show and about how the costumes connect to the characters.

Regency Era:

The costumes for Emma are drawn from the Regency Era.  The Regency Era ran from 1795-1830 and the dress of the time is one marked by "simplistic elegance."  You can see this in the sense of line, color, and silhouette.  Katie created a Pinterest Board of the Regency Era and there are of Regency Boards that you can peruse on Pinterest.    I also just made a Pinterest Board to start collecting images either from our production or that inspired the production, and that incorporated some of Katie's Pinterest collection.  

Corsets:  

Since I was able to see the stages of making a corset on my last trip to the costume shop, I asked Katie more about what are the characteristics of the corsets in the early 19th century.  She said that for one, it raises the bust line so that the bust is in a higher range.  The style also has slightly less rigid boning and is a longer length, covering the hips instead of just stopping at the top of the hips.  The effect of this style of corset is the way it creates a sense of formality because of how straight the corsets makes the wearer stand.  For the female performers in Emma, the corsets ended up really helping the performer create a certain movement and almost enforce a particular way they will have to hold their bodies and move around.  

Colors in the Shows:  

In order to give insights into each character, the main characters all have their own color palette.  I loved this idea because whenever I read a book, I think about what color I would associate with this person.  Here are some examples:

• Emma wears pink and lavender 
• Mrs. Elton wears stripes and jarring colors (to match her personality).  
• Harriet ends up wearing costumes in cotton since she isn't as wealthy as the other characters.  The cotton makes her clothes lay a little differently which will also show her difference in status.  

My favorite pairing, though, is one that I wouldn't have thought of, but that made perfect sense.  For Jane Fairfax, the costumers put her in blues because she has been a little depressed.  

Funny Tidbit:  

One thing that Katie found in her research is that men would wear flats during dances.  However, that style of flats is really hard to find in men's shoes.  So, most of the flats in the show are just really large sizes of women's shoes.

Coming up in a couple of weeks, Emma Gruhl is doing a podcast interview with the head costume designer, Janice.  So, stay tuned to hear about what insights she gives into the costumes.  

Winning With the Arts at the Mayor's Arts Awards

Life is a game…or is it? Well, actually, yes it is. Just ask the owners of Hasbro. Philosophically speaking, however, there has been a debate going on for quite sometime about whether life is all fun and games or if it’s real business. Patrons of the arts happen to get the best of both by having the enjoyable world of the arts be their business. For those who support the Lincoln Arts Council, including the Nebraska Repertory Theatre, life isn’t just a game they’re playing, it’s a game they’re winning.

Last Wednesday, patrons and artists in the Lincoln area continued to “Win With the Arts” at the Mayor’s Arts Awards, held on the Lied Center stage. Guests from the Lincoln Arts Council, Nebraska Repertory Theatre, and every artistic corner in between enjoyed the combination of the colorful casino theme, delicious buffet meal, artistic silent auction, and eloquent awards ceremony, which all added up to a night to remember. Following a social cocktail hour and sit-down dinner, patrons of the arts and Lincoln artists alike honored the special winners of the year with video tributes as well as beautifully quilted award plaques. Prior to the distribution of awards, Mayor Beutler gave an address that commended artists on their hard work in the past year of improving the city of Lincoln and state of Nebraska culturally, educationally, socially, and economically. Through the work and support of artists, entertainers, and patrons of the Lincoln Arts Council, Lincoln is quickly growing to become not only the happiest city in America, but also one of the most well-rounded and cultured cities as well.

Desiree (author of the post) and Emily Martinez at the Mayor's Awards

Many special artists showed how they won with the arts in the past year at the Mayor’s Arts Awards last Wednesday. Through those winners, many have become inspired to reach their full artistic potential, whether it is on the stage, canvas, or page. The Mayor’s Arts Awards, along with the Lincoln Arts Council, give great opportunities to artists young and old, new and experienced. The artistic scene of Lincoln has been and continues to bring new crowds, experiences, and lessons to the city, helping everyone win with the arts. That’s one jackpot and one game we can all be happy about winning.

Mannerly Mondays: Girls in the 19th Century

When presenting yourself as a young lady in the 19th century, you must be very aware of your every action and situation. For example, when conversing with mixed company, a polite young lady must never speak loudly or use vulgarities. This is especially true in the company of gentlemen who would be offended by her crudeness and unladylike behavior. Another big no no in conversing in public is there should be no talk of personal family matters outside of ones own home. Conversation should not go into deep matters but should stay light by talking about subjects such as the weather and ones health.

The attire of a young lady in the 19th century was extremely important due to the wealth of her family and her potential to acquire a husband. According to writer Pauline Weston Thomas, girls often wore long, heavy layers of skirts and underclothes, which made their movements very restricted. Despite her limitations, a polite girl would not lift the hem of her dress too far past her ankle, nor would she lift both sides of the skirt at the same time. If the ankle were to show, it would seem that the girl was ill-mannered and indelicate.

Both conversing in public and the attire of a young lady was crucial in gaining status as an ideal wife and talented well breed girl.  This balance of status and public opinion is something that is a rather an important issue for Emma and her friends, but you have to ask "how does it compare to today?"   

For more from Mrs. Mannerly, check out performance dates for Mrs. Mannerly and keep checking the blog every Monday. 

Sources: Social Etiquette for Girls in the 19^th Century

         By Brittany Luongo

Flashback Friday: Heroes

Looking back to the NRT 2012 season, the Studio show was Heroes, written by Gerald Sibleyras and translated by Tom Stoppard.  Heroes is set in a French retirement home for First World War veterans. Gustav, Philippe, and Henri pass their time grumbling about the staff, dreaming about young women and arguing over whether a statue of a dog is alive. They also hatch a plan to make a break for freedom -- taking the dog with them.

In the promo video for Heroes, the director, D. Scott Glaser talked about the dynamic about how the three characters connect with each other: "Phillipe is the middle one.  The two extremes kind of are Henri and Gustave and they drive each other crazy and they are opposites who want different things.  Phillipe is a peacemaker.  He's the one in the middle.  He's a lost soul, a sweet lost soul."

If you want to see photos from the production, check out this little video collection.

From Taking Tickets to Taking the Stage

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- See more at: http://nrtbehindthecurtain.blogspot.com/2013/06/flatwater-shakespeare-from-youth.html#sthash.AlxQE8Ov.dpuf

This is the first of a series that talks about other creative things our very talented staff are up to.  This is Emma Gruhl, our Company Manager and Audience Development Assistant.  She also is starring as Hero in Flatwater Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Becky Key Boesen (who is in NRT's production of Making God Laugh and will be directing one of the Destination shows).  Since part of the goal of the NRT blog is to share behind the scenes stories, I asked Emma to write about how she got involved in Flatwater.   

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- See more at: http://nrtbehindthecurtain.blogspot.com/2013/06/flatwater-shakespeare-from-youth.html#sthash.AlxQE8Ov.dpuThis is the first of a series that talks about other creative things our very talented staff are up to.  This is Emma Gruhl, our Company Manager and Audience Development Assistant.  She also is starring as Hero in Flatwater Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Becky Key Boesen (who is in NRT's production of Making God Laugh and will be directing one of the Destination shows).  Since part of the goal of the NRT blog is to share behind the scenes stories, I asked Emma to write about how she got involved in Flatwater.   

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- See more at: http://nrtbehindthecurtain.blogspot.com/2013/06/flatwater-shakespeare-from-youth.html#sthash.AlxQE8Ov.dpuf

And so it begins! Another season with the Nebraska Rep! The management team is in, the actors have been cast, costumes are underway, and everyone is anxiously anticipating the annual welcome party! I know what you’re thinking. “This girl needs to lay off the exclamation points.” I believe an introduction is in order. My name is Emily Martinez and I have worked with the Nebraska Repertory Theater for the past 3 years. It’s home now, and anything less than an exclamation point just won’t do. I began as a Front of House student intern, moved to the Associate Director of Audience Development, and this year I hit the stage as Harriet Smith in our production of “Emma”!

I have been blessed with so many of the opportunities this theater has to offer. In the past, I have learned such things as to how to plan/execute opening night parties, how to interest new audiences, and how to accommodate any guest of the theatre. This year is a whole new ball game! (Yes, I just referenced sports in a blog about the Arts. Ah, the beauty of the theatre... Anything is possible!) I have been cast as Harriet Smith in the Rep’s production of “Emma”! This is my first role as a graduate of the Johnny Carson School of Theater and Film. This is also my first show working with Actor’s Equity, the actor’s union.

My future holds opportunities to work with a new (and I’ve heard, amazing,) director straight out of Chicago, a wonderfully talented cast including two brilliant members of Actor’s Equity (both of whom have taken the Rep stage before), and an exciting British dialect! Speaking of dialects, my first lesson was yesterday with the always lovely, Sasha Dobson. After a strange moment of deja vous, I realized that, sometimes, life truly does come full circle. We met last as “actor and dialect coach” two years ago as I prepped for UNL’s production of “Lady Windermere’s Fan,' my first leading role at UNL. Now we meet again, preparing for my first professional role!

Rehearsals begin on the 17th! I can’t wait to share Jane Austen’s beautiful story! In the words of Harriet, “Something extraordinary has happened, which I am longing to tell!”

Ribbing and Grommets and Corsets, Oh My!!

On Tuesday, I stopped into the costume shop to see what was going on, and I ended up getting a little lesson on corsets.  For NRT's production of Emma, the costume shop is making six 19th century style corsets, one for each female performer.

Janice Stauffer, the costume designer for Emma, let me take pictures of a corset in progress, from patterns to piecing together though boning and adding grommets:

Stages of a Corset

 While there, I also heard a bunch of loud hammering coming from part of shop.  Not sure what would involve hammering in a costume shop, I went to investigate.  I found out that one of the stages of making a corset is adding the grommets, which are the reinforced eyelets for the corset's lacing.  Although I wouldn't have thought it was such an intensive process, adding grommets has a lot of steps and so I went ahead an filmed a demonstration for you. 

Each corset has about eight grommets per side.  So, with six corsets for Emma, this process will be repeated ninety-six times!

I learned so much in visiting the costume shop and I look forward to finding out more to share with you throughout the weeks!

Flatwater Shakespeare: From Youth Productions to the Mainstage!

This is the first of a series that talks about other creative things our very talented staff are up to.  This is Emma Gruhl, our Company Manager and Audience Development Assistant.  She also is starring as Hero in Flatwater Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Becky Key Boesen (who is in NRT's production of Making God Laugh and will be directing one of the Destination shows).  Since part of the goal of the NRT blog is to share behind the scenes stories, I asked Emma to write about how she got involved in Flatwater.   

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This summer, I have had the pleasure of being involved in Flatwater Shakespeare Company’s production of Much Ado About Nothing directed by Becky Key Boesen. My work with Flatwater Shakespeare began when I was in 6th  grade and I was in their youth production of The Comedy of Errors directed by Tom Crew.

I never had a strong aversion to Shakespeare when I was younger, as some students do, but I also wasn’t drawn to it. Even after The Comedy of Errors, I wasn’t “hooked.” Still, my parents thought it was a beneficial experience for me to have.  So I played Armado in the youth production of Love’s Labor’s Lost the following year.  It was after this production that I began to enjoy Shakespeare’s works more and more. I continued to play in the youth productions for several more years, appearing in Julius Caesar and Two Gentlemen of Verona.  

My passion for Shakespeare and his works grew as the years went on. Steve Buhler, the co-founder and Dramaturg for Flatwater Shakespeare, worked with our youth casts on rhythm and dialect work while the director; Tom Crew pushed us to develop connections with each other as actors as well as with the language. A group of us in the youth productions made a habit of going to the Flatwater performances of our mainstage counterparts. I looked forward to these productions every year, and it was always a wish of mine that I would be able to be a part of the mainstage production one day. 

This year, I have been granted that wish. It has been such a joy to work with Becky and Bob Hall, Artistic Director of Flatwater Shakespeare, along with the rest of the cast and crew members. I will be playing “Hero” in this rendition of Much Ado About Nothing, the young daughter of Governor “Leonato” who falls for star rugby player, “Claudio." We have set our production in the year 1988, which has allotted for both interesting challenges, as well as fun musical additions to the show. 

After our opening weekend, as we embark into our next three weekends of performances, I can say this process has been magnificent. I have had the opportunity to work with artists who share a passion for the Bard and his play, just as I do. Performing it in the open air space of the Lincoln Community Foundation Gardens only adds to the experience. I’m sure this will not be my last year with Flatwater Shakespeare (they couldn’t keep me away if they tried!), and I hope the company continues to have success in making Shakespeare accessible to the city of Lincoln.