REHEARSAL JOURNAL

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DEAR SARA JANE Thursday June 11th: We worked thru and staged Scene 4. (pages 29-43). Joey Parson’s is making  strong- physical choices as she discovers Lynnie’s character. We learn more information about Jerry, Sara Jane’s husband who is away at war. We also learn important information about Sara Jane’s brother Joe…who was in the military.

          “Are you war people? I come from war people. Military people, long line. From way back. Shake the President’s hand and everything, my grandfather did, oh yeah we got fucking heroes left and right-but not Joe, embarrassing everyone like that.

You see, war is my family’s metier. If you want to get French about it. Mother and me are very much at odds on the subject. Very much at odds. She won’t talk about it with me. Won’t talk about Joe.”

We will review and work thru Scene 4 today…and if there is time…we will begin to read thru Scene 5.

FIFTY WORDS: We accomplished a lot yesterday. We worked thru and staged Scene 1. This is such an important scene, because this is the beginning of the story and the first time the audience meets Adam and Jan. Tony Crane (Adam) and Joey Parsons (Jan) explored and discovered their rituals and marriage routines. Adam and Jan are a couple who have leaned and established “habits.” They are hyper-sensitive to each other. The play takes place in their kitchen. So we worked on developing “stage business” and behavior. Adam and Jan perform the “ritual” of preparing a meal…their nine year old son is away for the evening at his first sleep-over. They are alone…together…for the first time in nine years. Adam wants to create a romantic evening:

JAN: This feels very weird, Adam.

ADAM: Being alone together?

JAN: Talking about…like this, these things.

ADAM: Why?

JAN: How we’ve been lately. Since I started the business…and you got this project in the Midwest…I mean things were bad. We both know it. But now, when you’re home suddenly it’s all champagne, romantic dinner, and now sexy talk. Isn’t it strange that things improve like this when you’re not around so much. Have you noticed?

ADAM: We use to be like this all the time.

JAN: When?

ADAM: At the beginning.”

It is very important that the audience likes both characters. This is a story…a love story about marriage and relationships. Adam and Jan are two very passionate people who love each other. I am inspired by this Leonard Cohen lyric:

             “I’m aching for you baby. I can’t pretend I’m not. I’d love to see you naked in your body and your thought…I got you like a habit…ahh…I’ll never get enough.”

FARRAGUT NORTH: We worked thru and staged Act I-Scene 1. The first scene is set in the lounge/bar of the Hotel Fort Des Moines. We meet Stephen, Governor Morris’ Press Secretary; Paul, Campaign Manager for Governor Morris; Ida, a New York Times reporter and Ben, Deputy Press Secretary.

Tonight we will review Scene 1. and work on the pace…tempo and rhythm of the dialogue.

Ed Herendeen

REHEARSAL JOURNAL

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Wednesday June 10th

DEAR SARA JANE: This was Victor’s last day to work with us. He will return for Work-Thru rehearsals in July. We read thru the second half of the play. Today we will review the first 28 pages and begin to stage the first Lynnie scene.

FIFTY WORDS: Michael Weller worked with us at the table. We read thru the play…taking time for questions. Michael encouraged the actors to explore and discover the characters “habits”,  “routines, and rituals. “People who have lived together develop routines and habits.” The characters: Adam and Jan are “hyper-sensitive” to each other.” It is very important that we like Adam and Jan. They love each other…even though their marriage is going through a “bad-patch.” FIFTY WORDS is a love story… it is painful…passionate etc. This is a powerful story about intimacy…or the search for intimacy.

         JAN:“When it’s working, family’s a nice thing, but when it’s not, It’s hell, and that’s how it stays until it gets good again.Tonight’s a down. This month, this year is a down. There’ll be worse to come, I promise you. And we’ll get through it if you allow things to be difficult...”

FARRAGUT NORTH: We table worked our way thru the script. We discussed lust for power…that power is addictive. We discussed “hubris” and the contrast between loyalty and friendship.

     TOM: “Thing you gotta know about Paul-he’s big on loyalty.”

We had a productive day #2

Ed Herendeen

REHEARSAL JOURNAL

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On Tuesday June 9th we began the rehearsal process with a COMPANY READ-THRU of THE HISTORY OF LIGHT, YANKEE TAVERN, FIFTY WORDS, and FARRAGUT NORTH. (DEAR SARA JANE started rehearsals last week.) It was an amazing day…The COMPANY READ-THRU is one of my favorite days. Eight hours…four new plays…four playwrights…and a solid Acting Company. The actors read the plays sitting around a table to the entire 2009 CATF Company. It was a thrilling experience.

From Beau Willimon: “Thanks again for such a wonderful past few days out in Shepherdstown. It’s such an amazing festival you’ve created and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to say a proper farewell to you after the reading, but I’ll see you in July, so it’s only a brief farewell. I thought the reading was very solid, and all the actors seem to have a good initial grasp on the play. Let’s jump on the phone briefly sometime this week or next and I can share a couple small thoughts with you that might be of some use as you press forward. Thanks again! All best, Beau”

Today we break up into our individual rehearsals. Victor Lodato and I will continue our work on DEAR SARA JANE with the talented Joey Parsons. Michael Weller will work with the cast of FIFTY WORDS in a four hour “table work” read-thru. Eisa Davis will work with Liesl Tommy and the cast of THE HISTORY OF LIGHT. Liesl will have a four hour rehearsal with the cast of YANKEE TAVERN… Steven Dietz will join us next week to work with the cast. And I will have a four hour “table work” read-thru with the cast of FARRAGUT NORTH.

The rehearsal process has begun…A rotating Repertory of FIVE new American plays.

Ed Herendeen

COMPANY KICK-OFF PICNIC

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Last night our Board of Trustees hosted a picnic to welcome the 2009 CATF Company. The weather was perfect…the view from the Frank Center Lawn was spectacular and the food was delicious. Linda Wanger, CATF Trustee and her committee did a fabulous job.

Suzanne Shipley, President of Shepherd University gave welcoming remarks. Penny Porter from Senator Jay Rockefeller’ s office read a letter from the Senator:

     “As Ed will enthusiastically remind you this evening, art, and specifically theater, has the power to open dialogue. It has the power to engage the individual-to open communication, to encourage listening, learning and thinking. From politics and war to marriage and families, you will tackle difficult subjects this year. Audiences will be moved by the work you are about to do this summer, and I thank you for making the theater festival a West Virginia tradition.

     Again , my congratulations to you for creating the future of American theater in Shepherdstown, West Virginia! Thank you, Ed, for turning your vision into reality, and my best wishes for another sucessful season at CATF.”    (John D. Rockefeller IV)

Delegate John Doyle from the West Virginia Legislature brought greeting from Governor Joe Manchin.

I posted my remarks to the Company on Monday’s blog.

Today we begin the rehearsal process with a COMPANY READ-THRU beginning at noon.

Ed Herendeen