"It's getting late" sings Reno and that's how I'm feeling right now. After a long and adventurous day I can hear the harmonies that Nathan and Joye are singing in their duet "All Through The Night".
A two week process of learning all the music, choreography, short bits of dialogue and staging is a bit of a challenge. But we're in the thick of it. And the music sounds beautiful.
I'm excited for Wednesday Night when we add all of our musical theatre campers into the mix who have been rehearsing the work during the day. And then off to Pickering Square we go.
I'll keep reminding you here this week, but I do hope you join us for ANYTHING GOES this Friday, Saturday and Sunday outside. Perhaps some of the humidity will leave this corner of Maine soon, but no matter the temperature as the day winds down at 6 PM this weekend, I guarantee a fun time will be had by all.
--Scott
Monday, July 30, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Welcome To The Blog!
Today marks the first time that many people who visit our website are aware of our blog. So if you are just joining us, welcome. And if you are reading this and not on our email list, send your email address to info@penobscottheatre.org and we'll make sure you get all the information you need about all of our upcoming shows and events!
ANYTHING GOES begins performances a week from tonight. One of the songs, PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE, which we worked on last night features really "tight" 4-part harmony (and will probably be performed a-capella). Come on down and hear all the great Cole Porter songs!
Have a great weekend!
--Scott
ANYTHING GOES begins performances a week from tonight. One of the songs, PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE, which we worked on last night features really "tight" 4-part harmony (and will probably be performed a-capella). Come on down and hear all the great Cole Porter songs!
Have a great weekend!
--Scott
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
And The Great Work Begins...
Maine Fire Protection showed up today to begin installation of the sprinkler system through the whole Opera House. As you may know, we recently received monies from the city of Bangor to help with life safety, code and general improvements to the building. The facade is being restored to its 1920-splendor. But first, the sprinkler system. It's exciting to have the work truly begin.
Here's a recent picture of the Bangor Opera House:
I'll post the artist's rendering of what it will look like when restored as soon as I scan it in.
Also, today marks the last day for our technical director Joe Donovan. He has been a great asset to the theatre and has been on staff since I arrived in Bangor in 2005. He is going off to be the technical director and teacher of stagecraft at the University of Maine in Orono. We wish him well and it's great that he's only going up the street. This really isn't goodbye at all. We're having a farewell/goodluck toast to him at Paddy Murphy's at 5 PM today...if anyone would like to join us.
Here's a recent picture of the Bangor Opera House:
I'll post the artist's rendering of what it will look like when restored as soon as I scan it in.
Also, today marks the last day for our technical director Joe Donovan. He has been a great asset to the theatre and has been on staff since I arrived in Bangor in 2005. He is going off to be the technical director and teacher of stagecraft at the University of Maine in Orono. We wish him well and it's great that he's only going up the street. This really isn't goodbye at all. We're having a farewell/goodluck toast to him at Paddy Murphy's at 5 PM today...if anyone would like to join us.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Rehearsing and Grantwriting
We had fun last night. Under the musical direction of Andrew McCormick, the adults performing in ANYTHING GOES (including myself, Joye - my wife and director of education, and Nathan Halvorson - also directing the staged concert) worked our way through about 3 1/2 of the group numbers. It's always a challenge to learn 4-part harmonies, and when learning each individual part it doesn't sound like its neccesarily going to make sense, but once you put it all together and add the piano - it's simply magic. We're making music. And having fun doing it.
I've been spending most of my daytime writing grants - and am taking a break from a big NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) grant right now in order to post this blog. Tomorrow morning I go to City Council chambers here in Bangor to defend a recent grant we wrote to the cultural commission asking for $25,000 to help support Penobscot Theatre moving to a new shop space. The result of the move would allow us to offer the Opera House more frequently to outside rentals. This would benefit all of us, especially the community - being able to attend lots of different arts events here in the Opera House. We are currently limited in this regard because without an adequate shop space we are forced to build our sets on the stage, making the stage unavailable for weeks before one of our productions.
The NEA grant is actually for the 2008-2009 season (yes, we have to think that far ahead!) Our plan is to produce the 1946 Pulitzer Prize winning play STATE OF THE UNION in late October/Early November, 2008. The play, written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, is basically about the making of a presidential candidate in America. It's a wonderful comedy and the dialogue that the 17 cast members engage in feels very much like Aaron Sorkin's writing from THE WEST WING. My goal is to combinie the production with various discussions and symposiums regarding the 2008 elections, which will be held during the run of the production. I also plan to have voter registration tables in the lobby of the theatre, and to create study guides regarding the show and the state of politics in America to school groups.
I'd love to blog all day, but the NEA is calling. The grant is due August 13th and there are lots and lots of attachments that I need to create. More soon.
--Scott
I've been spending most of my daytime writing grants - and am taking a break from a big NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) grant right now in order to post this blog. Tomorrow morning I go to City Council chambers here in Bangor to defend a recent grant we wrote to the cultural commission asking for $25,000 to help support Penobscot Theatre moving to a new shop space. The result of the move would allow us to offer the Opera House more frequently to outside rentals. This would benefit all of us, especially the community - being able to attend lots of different arts events here in the Opera House. We are currently limited in this regard because without an adequate shop space we are forced to build our sets on the stage, making the stage unavailable for weeks before one of our productions.
The NEA grant is actually for the 2008-2009 season (yes, we have to think that far ahead!) Our plan is to produce the 1946 Pulitzer Prize winning play STATE OF THE UNION in late October/Early November, 2008. The play, written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, is basically about the making of a presidential candidate in America. It's a wonderful comedy and the dialogue that the 17 cast members engage in feels very much like Aaron Sorkin's writing from THE WEST WING. My goal is to combinie the production with various discussions and symposiums regarding the 2008 elections, which will be held during the run of the production. I also plan to have voter registration tables in the lobby of the theatre, and to create study guides regarding the show and the state of politics in America to school groups.
I'd love to blog all day, but the NEA is calling. The grant is due August 13th and there are lots and lots of attachments that I need to create. More soon.
--Scott
Monday, July 23, 2007
Anything Goes
What a perfect time to start the Penobscot Theatre blog! In about 10 minutes, our first rehearsal for ANYTHING GOES begins. This is our annual outdoor summer staged concert musical, which will be performed in Pickering Square on August 3rd and 4th. Show starts at 6 PM! You don't want to miss it!
We had so much fun doing CAROUSEL last year. The music of Rodgers and Hammerstein (and the whole show was set in Maine!) featured some wonderful professional actors who were backed up by our musical theatre campers. This summer, the best of Cole Porter will shine through in this classic musical, first written in the early 30's, revived in 1962 and again in 1987. In fact in doing the research for the show, we've discovered that every time ANYTHING GOES has been produced, the songs have changed, the book has changed, even character's names have changed.
I'll report more on the first rehearsal tomorrow and I hope you will continue to check our blog and leave your own comments about our work. Let's make this a forum of everything Penobscot Theatre and the rest of the arts in Bangor.
I'm thrilled that the fine folks at Sutherland Weston have used their efforts to help update our website and add this new feature. It seems to be a trend, this blogging. Who knows? Maybe we'll be able to create some theatre through the blog too!
--Scott
We had so much fun doing CAROUSEL last year. The music of Rodgers and Hammerstein (and the whole show was set in Maine!) featured some wonderful professional actors who were backed up by our musical theatre campers. This summer, the best of Cole Porter will shine through in this classic musical, first written in the early 30's, revived in 1962 and again in 1987. In fact in doing the research for the show, we've discovered that every time ANYTHING GOES has been produced, the songs have changed, the book has changed, even character's names have changed.
I'll report more on the first rehearsal tomorrow and I hope you will continue to check our blog and leave your own comments about our work. Let's make this a forum of everything Penobscot Theatre and the rest of the arts in Bangor.
I'm thrilled that the fine folks at Sutherland Weston have used their efforts to help update our website and add this new feature. It seems to be a trend, this blogging. Who knows? Maybe we'll be able to create some theatre through the blog too!
--Scott
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