A Plethora of Pianos

Posted by Phyllis Chen, pianist--

We are now in our last week of previews of Coraline! What a truly unique collaboration it’s been so far. As a musician, I work mostly with other musicians and composers, but for this show, the experience has given me a glimpse into a different world.  It’s demanded the creativity and talents of so many different artists. It’s been truly amazing to see. 

Since Coraline’s arrival at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, the multiple-piano set-up that I perform on has become a very comfortable playground for me. I love having access to a prepared piano, adult piano, and three toy pianos all at once. Actually, it reminds me of my own apartment. I have been playing toy and prepared pianos for more than ten years. Stephin Merritt's prepared piano, however, is probably the most intricate and detailed I’ve ever worked on. 

It’s also rare for me to work with a prepared piano for such a long period of time. Certain preparations move around or pop out during performance and these adjustments need to be repaired and maintained on an ongoing basis. Twisting a screw or other item in the piano’s strings by even a tiny bit is enough to change the pitch of the note. And for Coraline, it’s very important to maintain the instruments, since they are both playing tonal music and accompanying the show’s singers! The scoring is sparse but detailed and beautiful. There are really no words to describe it. 

Click here for more info about Phyllis and her music.

Photos from the "Coraline" Set in "Vanity Fair"

OH, and a great interview with Stephin Merritt...

Click HERE to view.

Rehearsal, Technically Speaking

Posted by January LaVoy, actor--

Whew! We've just completed the first 40-some-odd hours of Coraline tech rehearsals (with a few more to come). It's left me feeling simultaneously exhausted and compelled to blog a bit about the experience. 

I've been doing theatre for some time now, and have been fortunate enough to act in a number of new plays.  But I've never felt the type of creative energy and commitment that I feel from our Coraline tech and design crew. Each day of tech rehearsal has brought new delights - incredible and intricate set dressing, unbelievably gorgeous and inventive props, mind-blowingly beautiful lighting effects, fabulous and innovative costume designs... I could go on and on!  But I won't, because you simply must see it for yourself! 

I also wanted to send out some mighty props (not the stage kind) to the folks who are helping us put it all together backstage - our wardrobe crew, dressers, deck carpenters, ASM, PA's, et al... There is a huge group of people putting this show together, and they are doing it with amazing generosity and good humor. I'm so grateful to everyone involved.  Every night this week, as I fell into bed, thoroughly exhausted, I thought about how lucky I feel to be a part of this show, at this moment in my life.

Onward, now, to our first public performance tomorrow night...