Sunday, December 21, 2014

SAVING MR. THESPIS

Scott Levy is my hero. Truly. Here is a man who gets things done, who makes thing happen- who knows what the f*#@ he is talking about- especially when it come to talking about theatre. Mr. Levy is the artistic director of the theatre at the Fine Arts Center of Colorado Springs- which under his inspired guidance has become far and away the best theatre company in Colorado. His most recent triumph? The current production of the musical Mary Poppins- which is utterly charming, exciting, and heart-warming. The show is also proving to be amazingly popular- they have already added an extra week of performances. If you are looking for a last minute Christmas gift, giving someone a pair of tix to this outstanding show will definitely get you on their nice list.



The musical is based on both the Disney movie of the same name, and that movie's source material, the stories of P. L. Travers. It centers around the Banks family, who live in Victorian London and are in need of some guidance of their own. Mr. Banks is clearly lost in his banking job, and hasn't merely forgotten to stop and smell the roses, he's forgotten that roses exist. Mrs. Banks is trying to fit into her rather uptight world, and failing.  Michael and Jane, the two children, are a bit on the bratty side, and as such have lost a series of nannies in quick succession. Of course, all that changes with the entrance of Mary Poppins- whose chief magic isn't flying with her umbrella, or pulling an impossible amount of things from her bag to the wonderment of the Banks children- but rather the ability to see through the facades and defenses of everyone around her and into their souls. There is magic of former sort in the show, of course- special effects that delight the eye and confound the mind- but the real magic in this production is the spirit of the show itself- the great wonder of being alive, of being human.  (for info on the plot, characters, etc. click HERE)

I loved everything about this production: the cast, the set, the costumes, the lights, the special effects- the list goes on and on. First and foremost, the show is directed at a cracker jack pace- necessary because this is a huge show. Mr. Levy keeps the action lively, the plot moving forward, and fills the stage with vibrant, fully realized characters. The music- under the direction of Jay Hahn, is superb. The choreography by Mary Ripper Baker is a visual treat- both exciting on its own, but also furthering the story. I think one of the many numbers that shows how all three- director, choreographer, and music director- worked perfectly together would be the Jolly Holiday sequence in Act One, which perfectly blended whimsy, pathos, music and movement. The cast is outstanding, top to bottom. Tom Auclair as Mr. Banks is perfect. Tom Pierce as Bert the chimney sweep is a joy every time he's on stage. Sally Hybl is sweet and sympathetic as Mrs. Banks, full of grace and humor. Nate Patrick Siebert as Michael and Mallory Hybl as Jane are outstanding- getting young actors who can hit it out of the park like they do is a feat indeed. Almost stealing the show as the evil Miss Andrew is the amazing Jen Lennon- who was just flat out awesome. She walks on the stage, and you lean in and believe whatever she wants you to believe. And carrying the show with ease is Jennifer DeDominici as Mary Poppins. Ms. DeDominici gives the best female performance of the year on this or any other stage in Colorado. She sings like an angel, and I believed every moment she was on stage.

Again, tickets for this one are hard to come by, but if you can find a way to procure one, do yourself a favor and get to the FAC. This is one for the ages.


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

GHOSTLIGHT

So busy of late. Little Shop of Horrors at the JCC, Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters at Littleton Town Hall, A Midsummer Night's Dream at DAT, Sweet Charity at StageDoor- I work on a lot of shows. So what do I do next? Film a horror film as part of a class at Reel Kids. The movie is called Ghostlight, and it's a thriller centered around a high school theatre department. It's the kind of movie  Joss Whedon should direct, in my humble opinion. I've had a couple of different classes read the script together, and the feedback has been amazing- you can tell when people genuinely like something. Anyway, I want to share some of the script with you- so here a bit of the opening:

INT. BLACKFORD HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE - NIGHT

The theatre is empty, the only light a lamp in the middle of the stage. FOOTSTEPS AND WHISPERED VOICES approach. A KEY TURNS IN A LOCK. A DOOR CREAKS open. At the doorway is a group of high school kids, ready to party. MILTON, freshman drama geek, nervously points a flashlight into the theatre. RAY, the school rebel, pushes past Milton into the theatre, twelve pack of beer in his hand.


RAY 
          Lock and load!

He tosses a beer to NOEL, the class clown.


NOEL
          My ninja!

The group walks in. Ray tosses a beer to MAGGIE, Milton’s smart and sexy older sister.


MILTON
Maggie!

Maggie wags a finger at Milton.


MAGGIE 
          Milton- don’t make me regret letting you and 
          your nerdy friends come to the party.

IAN AND TONY, Milton’s nerdy friends, look at each other.


IAN
          Nerdy?

TONY 
          Clearly she meant you.

Noel grabs Milton’s flashlight, shines it on himself, and starts making faces. GROANS, LAUGHTER, “Loser!” ETC.


NOEL

          I am the ghost of Bloody Bones!


He HOWLS like a wolf. TRINA, MARNA and CECILY, three of the older girls, giggle.


NOEL (CONT’D)

          I am the ghost of Bloody Bones, and I am 
          walking into the theatre!


Noel freezes in terror. He points over Rays shoulder.

NOEL
          Ray- look out!

Marna and Cecily SCREAM. Trina LAUGHS. Ray doesn't flinch.

RAY
          Hilarious.

Unseen in the audience, LENNY- the school janitor who has been sleeping behind some chairs- sits up.


LENNY
          Morons.

Lenny takes the last swig from a BOTTLE OF WHISKEY, lays back down, and almost immediately passes out.


MILTON
          Actually, Bloody Bones is an old
          Scottish legend. He was flayed alive, and 
          roams the highlands seeking new skin.

Everyone stares at Milton. Maggie hangs her head, embarrassed. DANA, sophomore drama geek, looks scared.


DANA 
          N-N- New skin?


MILTON
          You could tell his victims from
          the lack thereof.


DANA 
          Lack there of?


MILTON
          He'd peel them. Like grapes.


NOEL
          Sweet!

Milton notices everyone is listening, smiles sheepishly.



RAY
          Nobody’s interested in a lecture
          on Captain Bloody Butt-


MILTON 
          Bloody Bones.


RAY
          What?


MILTON
          His name- it’s Bloody Bones.


RAY
          Whatever- look, you got us in here-
          now shut the fuck up.

Milton looks down, hurt. Maggie glares at Ray.


MAGGIE
          Milton, why don't you turn some
          lights on?

Milton sullenly runs towards the light room.



NOEL 
          Lack thereof.

Marna giggles. Noel smiles at her. Ray notices this.


RAY
          What we need is some atmosphere.

Ray steps to lamp, reaches for the switch.


MILTON
          Don’t turn off the ghost light!

Ray stops, turns to Milton.


RAY
          The what?


MILTON
          A theatre in the dark is a
          dangerous place. As president of the drama club, 
          I strenuously object.

Trina howls with laughter. Ray winks at Maggie.


RAY
          Danger's my middle name, baby.


MILTON
          Be that as it may, you don't turn
          the ghostlight off-


NOEL
          Why’s it called the ghost light?

MILTON 
          Theatres are haunted- full of ghosts from the 
          stories we tell: the fall of kings and queens, 
          star crossed lovers, things that go bump in the night-


RAY
          I got something that goes bump in the night.

Noel and several others shush Ray.



MILTON
          This is sacred ground...can’t you feel it?


RAY
          No.


MILTON
          You're clearly not a thespian.


RAY
          Clearly.


MILTON
          Every theatre has a ghostlight, to keep 
          the spirits out.

Trina takes a step towards Milton, fascinated.


TRINA 
          What do they want?

EMMY, a cute freshmen, steps forward.


EMMY
          Yeah, what do they want, Milton?


MILTON
          Oh, uh...some think it's the ghosts of actors, 
          not ready for their final exit-

Trina looks Milton in the eyes and smiles. Milton blushes, not sure what to do.


RAY

          Oh no!

Ray turns off the ghost light, plunging the theatre into DARKNESS. Milton SCREAMS. Everyone LAUGHS.

RAY 
          Come and get us, Bloody Bone!

Noel points flashlight into Milton’s face.


NOEL
          It’s Bloody Bones! He’s gonna peel me!

Milton runs to the ghostlight, turns it back on.


MILTON
          Seriously! What's next? Whistling backstage? 
          Quoting the Scottish play?


NOEL 
          You mean Brigadoon?

Ray looks incredulously at Noel.


NOEL 
          What? It’s a good movie.


MILTON
          You’re not respecting the theatre!


RAY 
          Alright, Duck- calm down.


MILTON
          A theatre is a temple! A TEMPLE!

An awkward moment. Milton is practically hyperventilating.


MAGGIE
          Milton, you’re embarrassing me.

Milton tries to compose himself.


MILTON 
          I’ll get those lights.

Milton walks to the LIGHT ROOM DOOR. A FLOORBOARD CREAKS.


MAGGIE 
          What was that?

NOEL 

          Maybe it’s Bloody Bones!

Milton unlocks the door.


MILTON
          I told you, he’s in Scotland.

Milton opens the door. It’s very dark inside, and the light switch is at the far end.

MILTON 
          Uh, Maggie, could you help me?

NOEL 
          What’s with Duck?

Maggie elbows Noel in the ribs.


MAGGIE
          He doesn’t like the dark, asshole.

Noel smiles, looks to Ray.

NOEL 
          Really?

Noel and Ray run to Milton, push him in the light room, and close the door, holding it shut. Milton screams from inside. Noel and Ray howl with laughter.

MAGGIE
          Not funny!

Some of the kids laugh. Milton continues to scream.


MILTON
          Let me out!

Maggie runs and pulls Ray away from the door.



MAGGIE
          Ray! Stop being such an asshole.

RAY 
          Lighten up!


MAGGIE
          I don’t like how you’re treating
          my little brother.

RAY 
          How do you like this?

Ray swats Maggie on the ass.

MAGGIE
          Stop it!

Maggie SLAPS Ray. 

An uncomfortable silence, except for Milton’s pounding on the door.

RAY 
          Well fuck you too!

Ray throws the ghostlight to the floor, SHATTERING the bulb, plunging the theatre into DARKNESS. 

A moment of silence, then ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE. Floorboards CREAK. Stage LIGHTS turn on, and BURST, showering SPARKS on the floor. Milton furiously POUNDS on the door.

Trina sees something, SCREAMS.

Abruptly, everything goes QUIET. Everyone looks a little shell shocked. Maggie goes to the back wall and turns on the overhead lights. Noel is still standing in front of the prop room door.

NOEL 
          What the fuck was that? 




So that's some of Ghostlight. If you are over 13, and interested in working on this, click HERE.


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