Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Join NRT for a Twitter Chat

Right about now, you might be asking, what is a Twitter Chat?  Even thought Twitter is more associated with sharing thoughts and giving updates, it can also be used to interact and converse.  One of my favorite Twitter chats is #FoodieChats, which takes place every Monday night at 8:00 EST, and is run by Steve Green. Every ten minutes or so, he asks the group a questions and it creates the opportunity for people to share recipes, food pics, and favorite foodie adventures.  

This Wednesday night, NRT is going to host its own Twitter Chat at 7:00 PM.  To participate, just log in to your Twitter account, and search the hashtag #NebRepChat.  We've written up a couple of prompt questions that relate to the shows so that NRT audience members can share their thoughts with us and each other.  It should be a great opportunity for you to meet other NRT fans and theatre fans and discuss theatre!  So, make sure to be on Twitter at 7:00 tomorrow night!

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Top Five Reasons to See "Nocturne" Tonight

Becky Key Boesen, who directed tonight's Destination show, Nocturne, has five reasons for you to go see the show tonight at 7:30 PM.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Top Five Reasons to See Nocturne" by Becky Key Boesen

5.  Mystery - This is a staged reading.  Well, sort of....

4.  Affordability - Nocturne kicks off this year's Destination Series.  Where else can you experience great live theatre for a mere $7(editor's note: less if you do the "pay-what-you-can," available fifteen minutes before the show opens)?  At that rate, you can bring a date!

3.  Adam Rapp's script - Nocturne is a beautifully written play crafted in a style that pushes the boundaries of what we expect as a theatre audience. I don't want to give too much away, but it's pretty brave.

2. Ryan Johnston - Speaking of brave, this is a one man show, executed by professional actor and JCSTF Ryan Johnston.  One man shows are pretty ambitious and Ryan is up to the challenge!  He has flown back from New York to share this with us, and it's a treat to watch him work.

1.   One night only! - Hey, if you don't see it now, you'll never see it!  Isn't theatre magical?  I mean, once it's done, IT'S DONE.  NO SERIOUSLY, DON'T MISS IT!

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Countdown to "Nocturne:" The First Destinations Show

On Tuesday, NRT's first Destinations show, Nocture, will open.  Nocturne is written by Adam Rapp, and it is the story of a man who accidentally runs over his younger sister.  It then explores the effect on the young man and his family.

In Destinations fashion, this isn't a full production, but a staged reading by Ryan Johnston and directed by +Becky Key Boesen.  The reading is free to 2013 Season Pass Holders and is $7 at the door for all others.  You can also do Pay-What-You-Can starting fifteen minutes before the show.

In connection with the performance, Ryan Johnston is leading an informal conversation on "Building  Professional Career.  Ryan has worked in theatre and film/TV on both coasts, and so should be able to share interesting pointers about building credits and building a career.

The workshop is at 5:30 PM, Monday, July 29th in the Temple Lobby, so make sure to come by.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Student Rush and Pay-What-You-Can

This season, NRT in partnership with UPC is offering some very cost-friendly tickets rates for students.  Checkout the flyer below to see find out more and see the dates for the "Pay-What-You-Can" performances.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Art Show and Wine Tasting

Nebraska Repertory Theatre is having a mini art show tonight.  Alexis Bass, who is the Digital Instructional Specialist for the Art Department at UNL, was kind enough to let us feature a couple of her pieces in the Temple Lobby.  +Lexi Bass is doing a full show in September and is bringing in a couple of her works from the upcoming show. 

Alexis mainly works in video, but has been creating Mordancage Photography for her September show. Mordancage Photography is a form of photography that creates a degraded effect through altering silver gelatin prints.  As a sneak peak, Alexis said I could feature one print on the blog, but you can also check out her blog, Two Dreadful Pennies Worth, and her website to see more.
Photograph by Alexis Bass
Also tonight, Meier's Cork'n Bottle will be hosting a wine tasting events.  For $6.00, you can sample these three wines:
  1. Peirano Estates "The Other" (California): This wine is an esoteric blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.  It is crisp and flavorful with hints of pear, kiwi and has a nice floral aroma.
  2. Eguren Tempranillo (Spain): Tempranillo is the flagship grape of Spain.  Dark, rich cassis with a hint of  smoke. 
  3. Sawbuck Malbec  (California): Malbec is the principle wine grape of Argentina.  This wine is one of the first from California to enter the wine market.  Distinctive blackberry and vanilla flavors a lingering finish of soft spice.
This is a pre-show event, some come samples some wines, enjoy the art of Lexi Bass, and stay for the performance of Mrs. Mannerly.  

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Making God Laugh Set

Yesterday was the opening of Making God Laugh, and it opened to a large, excited audience.  For me, one of my favorite parts of the show is the set, which feels incredibly nostalig, comfortable, and like a real family lives there.  So that you can see the process of the set being created, see the bare set, and then the set being decorated, here is a slideshow . . .

Thanks to all of the wonderful carpenters, technicians, and staff who helped build the Making God Laugh set.  It looks great!

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Top Ten Reasons to See "Making God Laugh"

Tonight, the Nebraska Repertory Theatre opens its last show for the 2013 summer season, "Making God Laugh"! This is one you're not going to want to miss (though I don't think you'd want to miss "Mrs. Mannerly" or "Emma" either!) Without further ado, here is a countdown list of the top ten reasons you should come out to see Making God Laugh at Nebraska Rep!

10. Holiday Music
Making God Laugh is composed of four different scenes, each taking place during a different holiday gathering. The holidays displayed in the show include Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Easter. Accompanying these holidays is some great holiday music. Of course we have your classic Christmas tunes, but our sound designer, Michael Smith, has also compiled music relating to each of the other holidays.

9. The Set
Scenic Designer Jeff Stander has designed a beautiful family's living room that may make you nostalgic for your mother's house, or whatever house you normally gathered at for family holidays. Knick knacks and mismatched furniture decorate the living room of Bill and Ruthie.
A "work in progress" shot of the Making God Laugh set
8. Artistic Director of NRT: Virginia Smith
Yes, our very own Virginia Smith is the director for this show. Virginia has been the Artistic Director for the Nebraska Repertory Theatre for nine years. Her other Rep directing credits include God of Carnage, Church Basement Ladies, Vino Veritas, Santaland Diaries, Souvenir: A Fantasia Life of Florence Foster Jenkins, Metamorphoses, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, Omnium Gatherum, Crimes of the Heart, and Dinnertime.


Virginia Smith
Artistic Director of NRT
7. Four Decades
This play takes place over the course of four decades, giving the audience a chance to really see the characters grow and evolve. We start in Thanksgiving 1980 followed by Christmas 1990 before moving to New Year's Eve 2000 and concluding with Easter 2010.

6. Becky Key Boesen and Melissa Epp
These Lincoln actresses are something special. In Making God Laugh they play a mother and daughter who quarrel often, Maddie and Ruthie. Becky just finished directing Much Ado About Nothing for Flatwater Shakespeare this June, and Melissa has been gradually overcoming a problem with losing her voice two years ago. To learn more about what Melissa has overcome, click here to read Jeff Korbelik's feature article on her. They are two talented and hard working women whose performances are not to be missed!
Melissa Epp and Becky Key Boesen as Ruthie and Maddie
Thanks to Becky for the photo!
5. Three Equity Actors
All of our out-of-town Actors' Equity Association members are in this show, which essentially means they are professionally working actors. They include Alan Knoll as the father of the family, Bill, Mark McCarthy as the eldest son, Richard, and Dan Rodden as the youngest son, Thomas. All three are a delight to work with and a hoot to see onstage!

4. A Dramedy
Sean Grennan's play can be identified as a "dramedy", a "drama" and "comedy" in one. There are several comedic bits in the script that are quick-witted, but ultimately, the show tells the story of a family that is struggling to stay together. You'll get your humor and catharsis fix with this show.

3. Holiday Wear
We all have a grandmother or mother or aunt or sister who dons a very, shall we say, festive attire for each holiday gathering. Regardless of how legitimately fashionable their attire may be, it's always enjoyable to see and it often brightens the mood of the holiday. There is plenty of festive holiday wear in Making God Laugh, especially in Ruthie's apron sequence!
Ruthie's aprons for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter
2. Fantasia Cheese Dip
The mother of the family, Ruthie, has a running joke in the show with her famous Fantasia Cheese Dip. She thinks the kids love it and she makes it for every holiday dinner, but in reality, the kids and her husband can't stand the dip. They just continually say they enjoy it to please her. Erica King, Props Mistress for NRT, has developed a truly disgusting recipe for this dip that you'll have to see to believe.

1. A Real Portrayal of Family Holidays
The number one reason you should see Making God Laugh, however, doesn't have anything to do with sets or costumes or props; it has to do with the story. The story of Bill, Ruthie, Richard, Maddie, and Thomas's family is one everyone can relate to, because it provides a real portrayal of families and the time they spend together during the holidays. The show doesn't create a fluffy, idealistic, and perfect family with zero problems. It shows a real family with real problems. And this family takes you, as audience members, on the journey to fix their problems. It's a story worth seeing.

Making God Laugh opens tonight, July 24th at 7:30pm on Nebraska Repertory Theatre's Howell stage. It also performs July 25, 27 and August 2, 7, 8 at 7:30pm and August 11 at 2:00pm. 
To secure tickets, visit unl.edu/rep or call 402-472-4747, 800-432-3231

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Costumes for "Making God Laugh"

This is part two of the conversation I had with Sharon Sobel about designing the costumes for Mrs. Mannerly and Making God Laugh.  Whereas Mrs. Mannerly and Emma are both shows that take place in just one clothing era, Making God Laugh is spread over four decades.   The family gets together on Thanksgiving in the 1980's, Christmas in the 1990's, New Year's Eve at 1999 (or Y2K), and Easter in 2010.  
To shows such a range of time periods, Sharon had to design each character's costumes to reflect the change in time periods.  Thomas, one of the sons, is priest for the first couple of get-togethers, so he doesn't quite have the same costume arc.  Then, with the father, Bill, and the mother, Ruthie, Sharon felt like their clothes wouldn't be that drastically different because they are older and more set in a type of clothing styles.  Instead, she changed their costumes to reflect the change in holidays.  Ruthie gets different aprons for each of the holidays, and Bill has a series of sweaters in which the colors reflect the holiday.
Maddie, the daughter, and Richard, the eldest son, get to have costumes that cover the full range of style changes.  For Maddie, Sharon got inspiration from the clothes of Pat Benatar.  Although the text mentions Madonna, she ends up being more late 80's, and Sharon wanted to stick with the style of the early 80's, which has a lot in common with late 1970's style.  Then, for the 90's, Sharon used one of her own sweaters.
For Richard, he is meant to be a character highly influenced by all of the latest fads and trends.  When he shows up to the house on New Year's Eve 1999, he comes in military gear because he is so paranoid about Y2K.     For the 80's and 90's, she used Tom Selleck, Herb from WXRP, Travolta for hair styles, Duran Duran, Fame, and Flock of Seagulls.  
So, that is the rundown on the costumes, but it doesn't take the place of coming to see them on stage! So, you better follow the tabs above to "Buy a Ticket" to see Making God Laugh.


Monday, July 22, 2013

"Making God Laugh" Podcast

Two shows are now up and running, and the countdown to the opening of Making God Laugh continues!  The third show of the season opens on Wednesday, July 24th @ 7:30 PM.

If you are not familiar with the show, yesterday Emma Gruhl posted a great Popplet to help familiarize you with Making God Laugh.  To also help introduce you to the show, I've also included the podcast for Making God Laugh so you can hear Virginia Smith, the director of the show, discuss the play, and you can see little samples of the play while it was in rehearsal.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Making God Laugh: A Popplet

Here is our last "show themed" popplet for the season: Making God Laugh! Popplet is an online program that allows you to create graphic organizers and diagrams. I've given another "who's who" of the characters, some fun quotations, and facts about the author, Sean Grennan. 

To see the Popplet, use the zoom buttons and just "click and drag" below.  Or, you can click on the link below to open in a new screen!
 

Friday, July 19, 2013

Herb Howe Tribute

Written by Julie Hagemeier


On Friday, July 19, the Nebraska Repertory Theatre (NRT) in partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, better known as OLLI, will pay tribute to Dr. Herbert E. Howe Jr.. Dr. Howe, or Herb to his many friends and colleagues, was an advocate for the arts on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus during his time serving as associate to the chancellor from 1988 through 2007. Sadly, Dr. Howe passed away in November 2012.

What a treat it always was to see his smiling face in the lobby of the theatre. That same always-smiling face never forgot to ask how things were going at the theatre when he happened upon one of our staff across campus. He believed in what the NRT was doing and supported it not only with his attendance but also with active involvement in its financial health and well-being.  The same is true with OLLI.  He was passionate in his support of lifelong learning, helping to grow the organization’s membership, advocating for specific programming, and encouraging the staff.

Personally, I enjoyed Herb’s wicked sense of humor. That’s why we chose a performance of MRS. MANNERLY to honor him. I think he would have liked the character of Jeffrey very much, and m-a-y-b-e even identified with him a little bit.  A very kind man, he was also very willing to give his advice and mentor those who needed it. That sort of reminded me ofMRS. MANNERLY as well.  We will toast his memory with food and drink, let family and friends in the audience know just how much we appreciated him, and then spend the next 90 minutes laughing at a show I think he would have really enjoyed.

Top Ten Reasons You Should See "Mrs. Mannerly" at the Nebraska Rep

Countdowns always make me so excited for events. Whether it's for the first day of school, the last day of school, or any of the major holidays, my enthusiasm increases tenfold when I am able to make a big red "X" on the calendar, signaling one day closer to the big day. That being said, it's easy to guess that I'm extremely excited for our second opening night of the season: Mrs. Mannerly!

That's right, folks: today is the day. We've been counting down all week long (quite excitedly on my end), and we are finally able to say that the second show of our 2013 season is ready to be seen and enjoyed by the public! To keep in the spirit of countdowns, I've put together a "Top Ten" countdown for reasons why you should come see "Mrs. Mannerly" on stage in the Studio Theatre at the Nebraska Rep. Let's get to it, David Letterman style... 

Number 10: It's nostalgic! - Everybody loves to "remember when", and "Mrs. Mannerly"gives plenty of opportunities for one to reflect on his own childhood while they follow the hilarious story of Jeffrey's memories back to Mrs. Mannerly's etiquette class. An extra bonus for those who grew up in the 1960s: there are tons of references to what was popular in entertainment and culture back then! 

Number 9: It's educational! - Believe it or not, you learn a bunch of etiquette rules and tips throughout the show! Not only will you get an entertaining performance, but you'll also get a fair amount of helpful hints on how to properly throw your next social get-together, among other etiquette rules. Who could ask for more?

Number 8: It's incredibly relatable. - Let's face it: all of us have reached a point in our lives where all we wanted was to find something we were incredibly good at. Though not all of us may have wanted to become professionals in etiquette like Jeffrey, we know how he feels.  We've all wanted to find our special niche, and we've all wanted to be the best we could be at it. When you see Jeffrey on stage trying to accomplish his goal and reach the right of passage that is graduation (another thing we all have our sights set on), you can't help but know how he feels. 

Number 7: The Studio Theatre. - You won't realize how important the style of theatre is until you see this show. Performed in the Temple Building's intimate Studio Theatre, all 160 seats are arranged in a way which all audience members have a close-up connection to the show.  The actors are right on the floor, which makes it easier to see their expressions and gestures, and it makes the audience feel like they're part of the show.

Number 6: The set. - Combine the expertise of Scenic Designer Laurel Shoemaker and artist David Tousley, and you've got an artistic set that is second to none. Rather than build an elaborate set, Laurel uses images of murals located in Steubenville, Ohio (the actual setting for "Mrs. Mannerly") for light projections that set the nostalgic stage for each scene. Add illustrations, inspired by vintage etiquette books, courtesy of UNL student David Tousley, and you've got a one-of-a-kind scenic experience that is begging to be seen. (Get it? Seen, which sounds like "scene"? Ha.) 

Number 5: The cast is entirely Equity. - The two cast members of the show, Juanita Rice and Mark McCarthy, are both members of the Actors' Equity Association.  Mrs. Rice, an alumna of the University, has been both performing and teaching theatre for decades, from Nebraska to California (She's also a doctor!...of theatre). Mr. McCarthy has traveled all over the country to perform in different  companies, and he is also an accomplished playwright and voiceover actor. These two don't mess around when it comes to any aspect of theatre, so you know they're going to bring nothing but fantastic talent to the stage. 

Number 4: The chemistry. - Looking at all of the credentials above, of course these two talented actors are going to have loads of chemistry! Since they are the only two members of the cast, they work wonders to keep things interesting, and the way they play off of one another is amazing as well as hilarious.

Number 3: The character pops. - Perhaps it's the inner speech nerd inside me, but there's nothing I love more than a variety of characters, especially when they're all portrayed by one person.  Not only does Mr. McCarthy personify young Jeffrey, but he also plays all of Jeffrey's very...um...charismatic classmates. With changes in posture as well as voice, you are sure to notice the special panache that Mr. McCarthy brings to every one of the characters he plays, and you are sure to get a laugh. 

Number 2: The Urbinati. - No, I don't use Director Rob Urbinati's last name for reason number two just because it sounds cool, but also because all you need to hear is his last name to know how fantastic he is. Mr. Urbinati has accumulated an extreme amount of experience directing for many productions and companies in New York City, and we are so pleased that he has returned for the second time to the Nebraska Repertory Theatre. Mr. Urbinati uses a creative vision and enthusiasm that helps bring the play together, while keeping it entertaining and fresh.

And the Number 1 reason you should come see "Mrs. Mannerly" at the Nebraska Repertory     Theatre... The script. - Without the amazing script brought to us by Jeffrey Hatcher, we wouldn't have a production to begin with! Mr. Hatcher's ability to write a play chock-full of humor, nostalgia, fantastic characters, relatable lessons, and entertaining plot is what brings us to Studio Theatre tonight. Without the script, we wouldn't have a show, and we are SO glad to have such a talent company bring you this fantastic work tonight.


...And there you have it! The top ten reasons (and their explanations) of why you should come see "Mrs. Mannerly" at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre this summer. Though our shows for tonight and tomorrow are sold out, we certainly hope that you are now convinced to order your tickets for the next available performance. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Costumes for Mrs. Mannerly

A couple of weeks ago, I interviewed Sharon Sobel, who designed the costumes for Mrs. Mannerly and Making God Laugh.  I'll keep what she told me about Making God Laugh for next week, but thought you might enjoy hearing about upcoming costumes in Mannerly (because it opens tomorrow night!).

For Mrs. Mannerly, Sharon's main costume inspiration was pictures of Kay Thompson, specifically Kay Thompson in Funny Face. Sharon also said that she saw Mannerly as a woman who is "secluded by Manners." Although Mrs. Mannerly is set in the 60's among lots of cultural and political turmoil,  none of that really seems to exist.  Instead, Mannerly's world is still all manners and etiquette and creates an interesting mindset for her.
In theory, Jeffrey is slightly trickier to costume because the same actor that plays Jeffrey also plays the four other children in the manners class.  In theory, you could do quick changes or alter part of the costume to help with those changes; instead, Mark McCarthy, who plays Jeffrey, changes his body language and voice for each of the kids while maintaining the same costume.  Jeffrey, himself, is a very mature 10-year-old, and his costumes reflect that.  He gets those trendy 1960's hush puppy shoes, a sweater vest, and a rather sharp suite for his big manners test at the climax of the play.  He, like Mrs. Mannerly, is also a character that uses manners and appearance to create an outer character that is more polished and "mannered" then his inner self, and Jeffrey's costumes do a great job of showing his more formal outer self.
If you want to see the costumes in person, well then you will just have to come see the performance! 


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Mrs. Mannerly: A Popplet

As I did with the opening of Emma, I decided to create a Popplet focused on Mrs. Mannerly. If you missed the Emma Popplet, Popplet is an online program that allows you to create graphic organizers and diagrams. In this one, I've given another "who's who" of the characters, information on the setting, and facts about the author, Jeffrey Hatcher. Don't miss the opening of Mrs. Mannerly this Thursday! 

To see the Popplet, use the zoom buttons and just "click and drag" below.  Or, you can click on the link below to open in a new screen! 


Monday, July 15, 2013

Mannerly Mondays: Wedding Etiquette for the 19th Century Bride and Groom

The concept of a wedding has not changed much since the 19th century, and it is still a major event in a person's life.  There are some 19th century traditions that we've lost in the 21st century.  For instance, in the 19th century the bride and groom were not to see each other during the engagement without a chaperone.  Also in the 19th century, when the groom was proposing, custom dictated that he should ask the bride's father for permission to marry his daughter. Today, the act of asking the father's permission is not a must, but it is still considered a show of good etiquette.

Most 19th century weddings were held in the morning between 10 and 12 a.m. normally in a church.  Back then the date of the wedding was extremely important, there were months and days not even considered because of superstition. I think the date is still important to the modern bride and groom but more in the way of what season they both like and dates that are significant to the couple.

Now, as for the reception, the 19th century reception is quite different in comparison to modern weddings. For example, since 19th century weddings were held in the morning, the reception food was usually breakfast. At modern day weddings, most weddings are help in late afternoon and usually dinner is served. Another difference was that the bride would cut the cake alone, and she saved a piece that represented fidelity. As I'm sure you know, a modern tradition is that the married couple feeds the first slice to each other, laughing as they get it all over themselves.

Next time you see your fiance unchaperoned or go to a wedding where the couple smears cake over each others face, think of your 19th century counterparts eating breakfast together and keeping moldy cake locked away as a memento. 

Keep up those manners and we'll see you next week.






Sunday, July 14, 2013

Clueless Screening Tonight 7:00 PM @ the Ross Theater

Tonight is the night!  It is your chance to go see Clueless on the big screen for free!!  Come by the Ross Theater at 7:00 PM and enjoy the movie compliments of UPC and Nebraska Repertory Theatre.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

NRT's Interview with Matt McKay

On July 9, 2013, the Nebraska Repertory Theatre visited our good friends at 106.3 KFRX's Matt McKay Mornings show.  In case you missed it, you can listen to the interview and watch the video (made by +Desiree Bartels) below.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Girls Night Out and Pre-Show Wine Tasting Night


The opening for Emma last night went wonderfully!  We had a huge house and lots of happy audience members.  

For tonight's show, we have two special events.  The first one is a "Girls Night Out" Promotion.  It is a BOGO event in which when you buy any one ticket, you get a second one of equal or less value, for free!  So, it is a great excuse to take and an old friend (or a new friend) out to the show. 

There is also a wine tasting event going on pre-show.  Meier's Cork and Bottle (who is the official bar carterer for NRT) will be sampling three wines for $5.  Here are the three wines that will be available:

  1. Verget Macon-Villages: 100 % French Chardonnay.  Clean, crisp, refreshing aged in stainless steel.  Wonderful cocktail wine also an excellent summer lighter fare food wine.
  2. Alberti 154 Torrentes: Torrentes is the white wine grape that is unique to Argentina.  Orange citrus flavors with a soft ripe melon finish.  Great wine on a hot summer day! 
  3. Votra Sante Pinot Noir: Crafted by Francis Ford Coppola.  This wine is among the best of of California Pinot Noir.  Ripe cherry notes with soft mouth feel.  Delightful with salmon, pork or chicken or just sipping.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Top Ten Reasons Why You Should See "Emma"

Tonight is opening night for Nebraska Repertory Theatre's production of Emma!!  To get you excited about the production, +Emily Martinez, who plays Harriet in the production, created a "Top Ten Reasons Why You Should See Emma."  

1. Everyone loves a good love story. 
- Don’t roll your eyes. You know it’s true! The story line is quick, witty, romantic, and nothing short of heartwarming. A perfect night out! Bring your spouse! Bring your girl/boyfriend! Bring that person you WANT to be your girl/boyfriend! They will be dying to date you by the time we take our bows! 

2. Two amazing Equity Actors!! 
Alan Knoll (Mr. Woodhouse) and +Dan Rodden (Mr. Elton). There is just something about these two professionals that puts the cherry on top of an already delightful show. 
3. The rest of the cast includes actors from all over! 

  • Sasha Dobson and +Alexander Jeffery just finished a run with Flatwater Shakespeare leading the cast of Much Ado About Nothing as Beatrice and Claudio.  
  • Kim Clark Kaczmarek just finished directing in Omaha for Nebraska Shakespeare.  
  • Chet Kincaid is constantly on the go working for Nebraska Entertainment Television.  
  • Sean Schmeits is a Haymarket/Flatwater regular
  • Dick Nielson is already prepping for his next role in the Haymarket Theater’s Waiting For Godot 
  • Jamie, Jessie and Myself (Emily Martinez) are all recent graduates of the Hixson Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, having just performed in Candide (Jaimie), Melancholy Play (Jessie) and The Taming of the Shrew (myself)!  
4. The Costumes! 
-They went all out with this show! Bold colors, beautiful patterns, and hats that you will wish you could purchase yourself!  The costumes fit the characters perfectly and are as much apart of the story telling as everything else! 

5. The set!
-A playing space on every level, it's classic! Takes you right to the gardens of England! Think I’m exaggerating? Well, you will just have to come and see for yourself. The garden is waiting! 

6. The hair! 
Alex Jeffery, the actor who plays the dashing Frank Churchill, curls his hair for the role. THAT is dedication! (And a good laugh. Ha!)

7. Moments that make time stand still! 
When the lights, sounds and characterization all line up perfectly (which happens quite often), it will honestly take your breath away. Yes, that was cheesy. No, I won’t take it back. Tis the truth!

8. The Quick Changes! 
Come see +Jessie Tidball (Emma), remain on stage for almost the entire show, and yet magically change clothes in her two seconds between scenes! Hooray for an amazing dressing crew!!  ** You can read the Lincoln Star's interview with Jessie here.  

9. We dance! And sing! And pick strawberries! 
Really though, what more could you ever want? Beautiful things happen when any or all of those things are involved.

10. Our Fearless Leaders! 
To conclude, this show has been lead by two of the most amazing directors/stage managers I have ever met.  Catherine Weidner’s vision for Emma is magnificent and so full of energy and love. The passion this woman has for the art she is creating is just aw-inspiring. She has brought out the best in each and every one of us. +Brad Buffum, our fearless stage manager, doesn’t get half the credit he deserves. He keeps us on task, and he guides us through the show with sarcastic remakes that, we all know deep down, are oozing with love. 


Come see “Emma” and leave with a new sense of what it means to love and be loved, as this is true in all cases (on and off the stage) at the Nebraska Rep!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

NRT Book Club discusses "Emma"

At the beginning of the season, I was brainstorming on ways to promote NRT's production of Emma using social media.  One of my ideas that I thought was feasible, but worried was a little tricky, was to have a book club meet online through Google+ Hangout.. When I told my assistant, Emma Gruhl, about it, she was pretty intrigued and said she would see what she could do.  I was thrilled when she came back about a week later and some of her friends had agreed to do it.


Jordan Brooks, Hannah Coatney, Kristen Kramer met yesterday on Google+ to discuss how they felt about Emma, the characters, and more.  Be warned, there are a couple of spoilers--none that will ruin anything, but I just wanted to warn you.  This group of young scholars was very kind to share their time and thoughts on the novel and I hope you enjoy hearing what they have to say!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Costumes for Emma

My day-to-day schedule as the summer intern at the Nebraska Repertory Theatre is never the same. One day I’ll be running errands and hanging posters; the next I’ll be working with social media or sewing in the costume shop.
Costume Shop Hard at Work
A highlight of my summer has been interacting with the actors. The opportunity came about when I got the chance to take pictures of costume fittings before the opening night of Emma (which is July 11th).  It was such a joy to see the first drawings of the costumes become a beautiful reality.  With each character came a new pallet of color with festive patterns to help you feel like you went back in time. It was fun to hear which gown or coat they liked best or see if they needed an adjustment here or there. I also enjoyed seeing how each garment fit them in completely different ways, bringing out the true beauty of the English 19th century and its glorious style.

I want to thank the designers and selected actors for letting me take photos and show the public a sneak peek a couple days before opening night. If you'd like to see all of the pictures, click here

I hope all of you enjoy the NRT production of Emma and its exquisite costumes. See you at the show!

Thanks to all the wonderful women in the costume shop: +Katie Davis, Kayla Klammer, Rachel Owings, +Mallory Prucha, Janice Stauffer, and Ann Watson.

Costume Fitting Collages:







Monday, July 8, 2013

Setting the Stage for Emma

For about a month, the carpenters and crew have been hard at work on the set of Emma.   Below, you can see a collage of the set in its many stages.
Thanks to Trip Snyder, Greg Rishoi, Michael Fortkamp, +Vicki Halverson, Erica King, A.J. Lowery, Quentin Robb, Morgan Robertson, Patrick Stayer, Chris Stepanek, Forrest Teske, +Clay Van winkle, Jeff Stander, Steven Grair, and Brad Buffum


Sunday, July 7, 2013

Emma: A Popplet

In honor of the opening of Emma this week, I made a Popplet dedicated to Austen's classic story. Popplet is an online program that allows you to create graphic organizers and diagrams. In this Popplet, I've given you a "who's who" of the characters, information on the setting, a little bit about Jane Austen herself, and more!  I hope this Popplet is informative and helps you get ready for the show, which opens this Thursday!

To see the Popplet, use the zoom buttons and just "click and drag" below.  Or, you can click on the link below to open in a new screen!


Saturday, July 6, 2013

Season Pass Giveaway Winner

The winner of the "Season Pass Giveway" is . . . .

Rachele Stoops Brown!!!!!!!!

Rachele, please email NebraskaRepertoryTheatre@gmail.com within three days (so by the end of the day, July 9th) with an address I can mail your Season Pass to.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone for playing!!!!

Friday, July 5, 2013

Looking Forward Friday: Teaser Video, Pt. 2

Nebraska Repertory Theatre's first show, Emma, opens next Thursday, July 11 @ 7:30.  The opening of that show will launch the start of the 2013 Season and the whole crew is excited.  To get ready for the opening, the blog will be running a "Countdown to Emma" and will have lots of great previews into the costumes, sets, and more.  So, make sure to comeback on Monday to start the countdown with us.

In the meantime, here is another Nebraska Repertory Teaser video, brought to us by +Michael Reinmiller.  You can watch it by clicking here, or by clicking the picture below.



ShareThis