Open Rehearsal: The Court Theatre Blog
May 5, 2009
It’s Time for Tech Rehearsals
Seemingly mere moments after my last blog post, The Piano Lesson team now find ourselves deep into the tech process. We’ve moved from the rehearsal space to our Abelson auditorium and are enjoying setting up shop in the space. It’s wonderful to be in the theatre, on the set, and to actually physically move in. Our props artist, Lara Musard, is filling cupboards and stocking Doaker’s pantry. Set designer Keith Pitts is contemplating tablecloths, sound designer Nick Keenon is choosing our sound palette, while lighting designer Richard Norwood is trying different hues to showcase the performers, props, Christine Pascual’s rich costumes, and to indicate Sutter’s ghost.
It feels like a particularly ripe time to be producing August Wilson, given that he is in the news so much right now with several articles on the choice of Bartlett Sher to direct Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway. Last week, Director Ron OJ Parson, Marketing Director Adam Thurman, and myself attended a lively debate hosted by the Bronzeville Arts group the Tofu Chitlin’ Circuit with the subject ‘Should White Directors Direct August Wilson Plays?’ Ron and Adam were among the panelists, and after almost three hours the group was still engrossed in a passionate and heated conversation that continues.
Back in Hyde Park, it is wonderful to work with this group of artists, many of whom knew August Wilson. On the first day of rehearsal the cast sat down to discuss their experiences with Wilson and his plays. A selection of this conversation will appear in the program; a full transcript appears here:
http://www.courttheatre.org/season/article/cast_crew_roundtable_august_wilson/
We have our first preview on Thursday, May 7. We will have post performance conversations following every preview performance and look forward to talking with you. See you soon!
-Kate Bredeson, Resident Dramaturg
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