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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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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

DEAR SARA JANE REHEARSAL JOURNAL

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6PM Tuesday June 2, 2009:

First Rehearsal: We began with a read-thru of the script. Victor Lodato read his play to us in his own voice. It was exciting to hear the playwright read. We learned so much about the play after listening to the writer read his own words. It was very cool to hear the author’s tempo, rhythm and pace… Victor created this story and invented this character…so it was a real treat to just sit back and listen to his voice. I always enjoy listening to a playwright read their play.

After Victor’s read-thru, we discussed the play…asked specific questions RE: his inspiration for the story… the time line of the events etc. Then we did a second Read-Thru with Joey Parsons who is playing the role of Sara Jane. Joey gave a beautiful and heartfelt reading. Then we discussed the play some more…giving the playwright and actor the opportunity to talk and listen to each other.

Wednesday June 3, 2009   Rehearsal #2: Table Work.

We began rehearsal with a four hour Read-thru sitting at the table. We broke the play up into short scenes and I had Joey read each scene…allowing time to stop and ask questions etc. It was a very productive working rehearsal.

After doing table-work we broke for lunch and Victor and I met with Peggy McKowen, the Production Designer for DEAR SARA JANE. Peggy shared her costume sketches and a model of her set design with Victor. Peggy has created an imaginative design that truly supports the “world of the play.” Then we returned to the rehearsal hall for a four hour work session. We staged  the first eight pages.

ABOUT JOEY PARSONS/ Sara Jane: Joey is an actor from New York City with acting credits that include Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional Theaters, Television and Film. She is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.

Ed Herendeen

YANKEE TAVERN SET DESIGN

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Yesterday we had a preliminary design meeting for YANKEE TAVERN by Steven Dietz. Robert Klingelhoefer our set designer presented his design for the scenery. I have included a draft of his rendering for you to see:

Yankee Tavern Set Design

YANKEE TAVERN is set in a historic, rundown tavern in New York City. Steven Dietz has asked for a realistic setting:

“An old neighborhood joint…housed on the ground floor of a decaying, abandoned, once-upon-a-time hotel.Not big. A handful of stools around the battered wooden bar. A few unremarkable tables nearby. An old vintage jukebox that no longer works. Spent neon and dusty memorabilia. This is a place that no doubt shined in the forties, but now is doling out its final shots before the crash of the wrecking ball.”

TIME:  2006

PLACE:  New York City

A man walks into a bar and orders two beers, one for himself and one for his absent buddy. This may sound like a set up for a joke…but the prolific Steven Dietz has something darker and more sobering in mind with his chilling new political thriller, YANKEE TAVERN. CATF Audiences are in for a cerebral workout as Dietz attempts to cast doubt on everything you assume you know.

I am really jazzed about Bob Klingelhoefer’s terrific set design. I especially like how he has incorporated the outside of the building with the interior of the tavern. He has captured Dietz’s world of the play. Liesl Tommy is directing YANKEE TAVERN and she and Bob have been working with Steven Dietz throughout the design process.

Steven Dietz is a master of smart dialogue and wily storytelling. In YANKEE TAVERN he will pull you into this intriguing story. I believe that YANKEE TAVERN has staying power…and will enjoy great success in many American and International Theaters.

I wanted to share some of our design process with you. Let me know what you think…

Ed Herendeen