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Post by Trent Lawless on Jan 25, 2008 6:51:47 GMT -5
Well, folks, after a little over 13 years away from theater acting, I'm finally returning to the stage. It's for a Valentine's Day-time romantic comedy called "Oops" by an author from my area and being produced by my area's newest theater group, BS Productions. We started rehearsals a few weeks ago and open on Valentine's Day for a seven-show run over two weekends. Here's the story (although as of this posting there's no cast photo to go with it like there is in the newspaper): www.times-news.com/entertainment/local_story_024200735.htmlIt's a fun show, and if anyone here just happens to be in western Maryland during the run (yeah, that'll happen), let me know and I'll make sure some tickets can be reserved for you. I think the Zone of Lawlessness podcasts really got me back into wanting to do this, so to all of you who listen to them, thanks for the support! |
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Post by Chewey on Jan 25, 2008 7:38:49 GMT -5
Good luck with your show. The Zone of Lawlessness podcasts really kept me entertained for the thirteen hour flight from Beijing to New York, and I'm glad they also served as an inspiration to get you back on the stage.
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Post by Darth Turkish on Jan 25, 2008 13:03:38 GMT -5
awesome. Hope it goes well. Love to hear your thoughts as things come together.
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Post by Tournament Master on Jan 25, 2008 15:02:09 GMT -5
Fantastic news Mark. I'm glad that your excellent work on the podcast has brought back that urge to get on stage. Break a leg!
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Post by JED-SE on Jan 25, 2008 15:10:03 GMT -5
Break a leg, my friend!!  |
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Post by Trent Lawless on Jan 25, 2008 17:22:35 GMT -5
awesome. Hope it goes well. Love to hear your thoughts as things come together. I don't know exactly what thoughts to give, but we're three weeks out from opening and doing our best to get "off book." I tried last night and only flubbed twice that I recall. I think we'll get it together by tech week! The writer gives very specifically worded cues for the next character's line, so if you don't remember what those key words are, you risk throwing off your fellow actors. But it's a fun, "cute" story for the Valentine's season, everything tying up neatly at the end. As it says in the news article, I'm a guy who had amnesia for two years and as the play opens, I've regained my memory and am coming back to rejoin my fiancee. Problem is, she's engaged to a new guy who doesn't know about me. Therefore, my ex-fiancee has to make up a story that I'm her long-lost cousin with whom she was once "very close." Hilarity and misunderstandings naturally ensue. I'll admit to being a bit apprehensive about the fact that I'm 1) going to be doing the second part of one act in my underwear, and 2) I have to kiss a woman other than my wife quite passionately and repeatedly, and at least one of those nights, my wife will be in the audience! (She already knows about this and says she's okay with it, but come on, guys, we know women...) At least my romantic interest is married with kids, too, so we'll both feel awkward! Anyway, got rehearsal in an hour and a half. Go listen to the latest Zone before I get back! (Check the POW board...) And I see that there's now a cast picture up on the link above. I'll be kissing the lady whose head is leaning toward me. |
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Post by darkrider on Jan 26, 2008 6:01:52 GMT -5
how did it go mark ? tee hee.
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Post by Trent Lawless on Jan 26, 2008 8:25:58 GMT -5
Well, last night, we just decided to go for broke, and instead of getting slapped on the shoulder and "pretend kissed," she just smacked me on the face and then planted one on me. Kinda nice to get that out of the way, although the slap sorta hurt and she still said she'd probably go harder in the actual play. So pray for me! Next rehearsal's Monday! |
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Post by stephenvegas on Jan 27, 2008 15:11:14 GMT -5
Good luck with tomorrow's rehearsal Trent Lawless.
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Post by Chewey on Jan 27, 2008 15:33:09 GMT -5
Well, last night, we just decided to go for broke, and instead of getting slapped on the shoulder and "pretend kissed," she just smacked me on the face and then planted one on me. Kinda nice to get that out of the way, although the slap sorta hurt and she still said she'd probably go harder in the actual play. So pray for me! Next rehearsal's Monday! Sure.. the slap is not the only thing she'd go harder on in the actual play.  |
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Post by Big Bri on Jan 27, 2008 17:03:06 GMT -5
BS Productions?  |
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Post by Trent Lawless on Jan 27, 2008 19:00:10 GMT -5
The "BS" in BS Productions stands for the first initials of the two guys running it, Blair and Shane. They tend to do comedies, so the name just kind of lends itself to the nature of the work.
And I think I'm officially "off book" now. We'll see over the course of this week if I'm right!
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Post by behindthebook on Jan 28, 2008 9:04:09 GMT -5
Wish we could come see it.
Ah, I do so love the legitimate theatre.
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Post by Big Bri on Jan 28, 2008 9:05:14 GMT -5
My middle name starts with "S" so whenever I have to say my initials it brings about a response (kinda like wearing a Detroit Lions shirt in public - it always gets a conversation started).
Good luck and have fun.
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Post by Trent Lawless on Feb 14, 2008 6:13:12 GMT -5
Well, tonight's opening night! We've had all the run-throughs we're gonna have, so now it's all just down to the doin'. Tonight's technically being called a "sneak preview" (which just means it hasn't been written up in the paper yet), but it's no different from any of the other shows in content. When the official opening happens tomorrow, I'll post a link to the newspaper article. I hope the picture turned out well.
This has been a lot of fun for me, so I've got my fingers crossed it all goes well tonight through next Sunday. I'll post a brief report tomorrow morning.
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Post by Tournament Master on Feb 14, 2008 10:07:10 GMT -5
Break a leg Mark!
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Post by mft on Feb 14, 2008 10:14:44 GMT -5
Well, if he really gets to into that sloppy kiss, his wife may break more than that!  |
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Post by Trent Lawless on Feb 14, 2008 11:35:01 GMT -5
Yeah, she's coming tomorrow night with a couple friends of ours. They're taking her to dinner beforehand and plying her with wine so she'll be more relaxed.  Actually, she's been pretty understanding about the whole thing. And the kisses aren't that sloppy, although there's at least one in all three acts (and Act 2 is the one I'm concerned about as far as her reaction goes!). That's not really what I'm most concerned about, though. My co-star's husband is coming on Saturday. Let's hope I'll be alive for the rest of the run! |
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Post by Chewey on Feb 14, 2008 18:29:41 GMT -5
Wow, and here I thought it was just one kiss. Good luck with that!
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Post by Trent Lawless on Feb 15, 2008 8:13:51 GMT -5
No, it's definitely more than one! A bunch of frenzied ones at the end of Act 1 (after being reunited after a long absence), darn near a makeout session at the end of Act 2, and just a sweet one at the end of the show. You can see why Act 2 is my concern from a spousal standpoint.
Anyway, last night's opening went pretty well. Decent-sized crowd for the space (and for a Thursday). Some dropped lines here and there but we all covered pretty well for those who had brain farts. The write-up is in the paper this morning, but as of yet it's not on the web. Once it's there I'll post it. (And as a teaser, just know that in it my character is described as "all-American"!)
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IPPON!!
Actually, she's been pretty understanding about the whole thing. And the kisses aren't that sloppy, although there's at least one in all three acts (and Act 2 is the one I'm concerned about as far as her reaction goes!).