Friday, September 11, 2009

Week Four

Posted by Still Life actor Ian Kahn--

We’re now in the fourth week of rehearsals for Still Life… I always find this period to be an interesting one, and in some ways, the most fun and fruitful part of the rehearsal process. We've got the whole show blocked, and we're doing full runs of the play in the afternoons. It is the time where we can all start to get an idea of the piece as a whole, and where each of our characters fit into it. Can be tricky, too, though. You can get your hands around a scene or a moment, and you feel like you’ve really "got it", and then the next time through it just seems to slip away. Reconnect with your partner, look to your director, and get back on that horse. That's the advice I was given and I try to keep in mind.

I am feeling really fortunate to be working with this company of actors, this director, playwright, stage management, and MCC. We are up here swinging with everything we’ve got. Here's hoping we knock it out of the park like Derek Jeter. Or at least a double off the wall.

Editor’s note: Ian has had many roles you may recognize him from – including major roles on ABC's The Unusuals and Dawson’s Creek and – although he’s now a married man – a number of rolls in the hay with some top-shelf leading ladies, including Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw – Check it out ...


Monday, August 31, 2009

From "Red Dog" to "Still Life"

Posted by Still Life actor Matthew Rauch--

Working with Alexander Dinelaris on his play,
Red Dog Howls, was similar in many ways to my experience with Still Life so far. We have an amazing friendship, and I have been privileged to participate in the early stages of Alex's process on several pieces - to read early drafts, to talk through arcs and themes and structure with him. It's exciting to work closely with a writer whose voice I admire, and who speaks to his audience with such honesty and without a hint of irony. I find his use of muscular emotion to be tremendously refreshing. His words just seem to fit me, and when we are grooving, it's really really fun. Of course, Alex explores painful and profound themes in his plays, and with Red Dog Howls, we were dealing with some extremely delicate issues of collective shame and discovered identity. It was a difficult and rewarding process - incredibly emotional and cathartic. I consider myself very lucky to have been in that play, and of course this one, too. It's thrilling and a great honor to be a part of my friend's journey as a writer, and to be his companion on this path.

Photo (L-R):
Darcie Siciliano, Alexander Dinelaris, Kathleen Chalfant, Matthew Rauch at the LA premiere of Dinelaris' Red Dog Howls.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Photos from "Still Life" First Rehearsal


Actors Adriane Lenox and Ian Kahn.

MCC Artistic Director Bernard Telsey with
Scenic Designer David Korins.

Actors Frederick Weller and Dominic Chianese with
MCC Associate Artistic Director Will Cantler.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Joy and All Out Pleasure

Posted by Cullen Golden, 18, MCC Theater Youth Company Member --

Over the past few weeks of FreshPlay rehearsals three plays have been rewritten, staged, lit, sprinkled with sound and acted out with such love and dedication.


These photos show just one of the plays being produced, Taking Leave. I hope that they give you a glimpse into the joy and all out pleasure that is this year's Fresh Play Festival.
http://tinyurl.com/kpgk3y

Click here for show info. Tickets $5/$10.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Swoon

MCC Company Manager Kristina Bramhall was at the Tony Awards ceremony last month to support our Broadway production of reasons to be pretty (nominated for three awards). But, apparently there was also some swooning going on and the LA Times was there to catch it. Sadly, she wasn't credited. (Although in fairness, Susan Sarandon, who sat next to her, wasn't credited either.)
Click here to read the LA Times'
feature on Hair's Gavin Creel.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Playwrights' Coalition Productions All Over Town

Posted by Stephen Willems, Literary Manager--

Our developmental support group for 27 of New York’s most exciting early and mid-career writers, The Playwrights’ Coalition, is all over town – with three separate productions happening now or about to happen soon:

David Adjmi’s wonderful Stunning is currently playing to great notices and audience response at The Duke Theater as a Lincoln Center LC3 production. It boasts an incredible artistic team of director, actors, and designers … a great theater experience.

Lucy Thurber’s sprawling, futuristic play Monstrosity with a staggering cast of 30 will be opening soon at The Connolly Theatre. Raw energy and great storytelling.

Ann Marie Healy’s funny and haunting play What Once We Felt is another Lincoln Center LC3 choice for next season.

Congratulations to these founding members of The Playwrights’ Coalition!

(Photo: Sara Krulwich/The New York Times. Cristin Milioti and Danny Mastrogiorgio in Stunning.)

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Opening Night: Sights and Sounds

Last night was the opening night party for Coraline. DJ Randyhate spun for the evening's revelers as well as streaming live on the internet via blip.fm.

Click HERE to listen to his set list. And, be sure to click the photo links of Neil Gaiman, David Greenspan, Stephin Merritt, Jayne Houdyshell, Aaron Tviet, Lisa Kron, Thomas Sadoski, and more!

(Above: DJ Randyhate with Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls. Photos by Sung An.)