Huntington's Corn is Green - A Valentine to Teachers

I saw Meg Campbell - Head of Dorchester's Codman Academy Charter Public School - at the opening night festivities of The Corn is Green.

I have to take a moment here to congratulate Meg, and to crow a little - Codman recently was recently given the state's highest award in arts and culture, the Commonwealth Award, presented by the Massachusetts Cultural Council to Codman Academy for its innovative partnership with The Huntington. Codman Academy is the first public school to receive this award, presented to organizations or individuals deemed to have made extraordinary contributions to the community quality of life. Our partnership has been nationally recognized as an innovator in arts education. Codman Academy and the other award recipients were honored at a celebration, which took place on Tuesday, January 13 at the Massachusetts State House.

Meg was over-the-moon about the production, she loved the story and the performances - she called it "a valentine to teachers". It's pretty easy to suppose that Meg saw a lot of herself up on that stage. She is a Miss Moffat if ever I knew one - always challenging her students with tough love, a knowing insistence that they are capable of more, and tireless dedication. She has known many Morgan Evans' in her life.

Last week I took a group of educators backstage - part of our "Teachers as Scholars" program where around 15 teachers will join us for three days to learn about us and how they can use the Arts as a teaching tool - all part of a professional development program paid for by the schools. I love meeting with this group - I've done it for the last 4 or 5 years. They are engaged when they walk in the door, easy to talk to, full of questions - a real joy to spend 30 minutes with. A couple of them had already seen Corn and shared Meg's enthusiasm. And, as teachers do, they led me to see the play in new ways that I hadn't previously considered.

Lynne Johnson, Donna Glick and Meg Campbell - teachers all.

A lot of people have been talking the mentor/mentee relationship in this play. Our own Peter DuBois talks about his high school English teacher Linda Miller who "taught me to see the world a bit differently, always pointing me towards new revelations as she blew my mind with new writers, ideas, and a new way of looking at the 'every day' ". He also spoke of playwright Paula Vogel - who taught playwriting at Brown when he was a graduate student. "Paula made me realize that the theatre can be an incredible world in which to live, the source of remarkable community, and, at the same time, a war zone where artists need to fight for what they truly believe".

I remember a high school music and drama teacher, Don Adams, who gave me the chance to learn the joys of performance, a college Technical Director, John Larrance, who introduced me to the fun and challenges of backstage life, and a whole slew of role models and friends at the Weston Playhouse where I began my professional career.

Peter DuBois says "I am thrilled to be producing The Corn is Green, a tribute to those from our past who profoundly shaped our futures".

Is there a teacher, mentor, role model, in your life that you would credit for changing your life? Please comment and share your story.

Educators - Teachers & Professors - are eligible for two-for-the-price-of-one tickets to The Corn is Green when you buy online. Enter the promo code "TEACH" or click here. You must show ID verification when you pick up discounted tickets.

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800.

Music wraps Upstairs at the Calderwood with Star Power

by M. Bevin O'Gara
So here we are getting started with the second installment of our new Cabaret Series, UPSTAIRS at the Calderwood and what a blast!

This time, we’ve paired up with the Berklee School of Music. For the past few months, Michael Borgita (of Berklee) and I have been scouring the city working to assemble the best assortment of performers for this series. We’ve been to venues big and small, dingy and elaborate, and I think we’ve collected some of the best up-and-coming musicians Berkee has to offer. And their talents are all over the map; we have jazz, folk, rap, rock, gospel and more.

Our first evening back featured the song stylings of Amy Crawford and her band, The Electrics. Boy, does this girl have star-power written all over her, and the band she’s assembled rocket her into outer space. I was riveted right from the start of the afternoon sound check when the band incorporated a new song Amy wrote earlier that day into their set list. Rehearsal ran right up until we had to open the house, but is was worth it! The new song, “Weekend Woman,” was one of my personal favorites of the evening.

The room, as before, looked incredible. The casual elegance that scenic designer Cristina Todesco created in the Deane (usually used as a rehearsal hall) gives the venue and the real series a sense of style and class. Everyone seems impressed by it, not only the audience, but also the performers, who can’t resist commenting on how great the venue looks.

We have five more acts coming up this weekend and next and I think audiences are in for a real treat. Check out www.huntingtontheatre.org for more information and to get tickets, which are just $15, or $10 for students and subscribers.

Photos: (top to bottom) M. Bevin O'Gara, Amy Crawford, retro-infused folk rocker Haley Jane, and jazz violinist Andrei Matorin.

Tickets and Information about Berklee @ Upstairs at the Calderwood, playing January 22-31, 2009, can be found at huntingtontheatre.org. Performances are at the Calderwood Pavlion at the BCA, 527 Tremont St, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our box office at 617 266-0800

Morgan Evans - PhD?

Have you ever sat around after seeing a show and hypothesized about what happens next? I found myself doing just that a few nights back.

What kind of mother will Miss Moffat be? How many students will she send to University?

Miss Moffat (Kate Burton)

Will the baby have a cockney accent, sticky fingers, and become a pulitzer prize winning author? Mrs. Watty and Mr. Jones? Maybe not...

Bessie Watty (Mary Faber), Mr. Jones (Roderick McLachlan), and Mrs. Watty (Kristine Nielsen)

Will the Squire propose to Miss Ronberry, settle down and become a literary bloke?

Mr. Jones (Roderick McLachlan) and The Squire (Will LeBow)

Or will Miss Ronberry give up on the Squire and snag Mr. Jones?

Mr. Jones (Roderick McLachlan) and Miss Ronberry (Kathy McCafferty)

Or perhaps Mr. Jones will finally save Bessie Watty

Mr. Jones (Roderick McLachlan) and Bessie Watty (Mary Faber)

And Morgan? Will he give up the rum?

Morgan Evans (Morgan Ritchie) and Bessie Watty (Mary Faber)

Maybe A PhD? in what? Perhaps a politician - the Barack Obama of Wales?

Morgan Evans (Morgan Ritchie)

Where does your imagination take these characters? Please comment and tell us how your version of the story continues.

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800. Photos: T. Charles Erickson

... and The Corn is Green is Open

Almost open. As I begin to write the first Act has just begun. I should have written about the previews instead of tech. They were more eventful - though perhaps influenced by outside events rather than inside the theater. The most trouble we had inside was a flaky snow machine (sorry, just had to) and a sheet of color burned out in front of a 5K (I suspect you too might melt if you were standing in front of a 5000w lamp). Here's a photo of the set - preshow.


Friday Night: you'll remember a tragic accident with a fire truck up the street from us. Huntington Ave was closed all day until curtain time - we had about 50 subscribers exchange out in fear that they wouldn't be able to get to us - but it was an otherwise great first preview that started about 10 minutes late. The audience was great - having worked hard to get here they immediately invested themselves in the action.

Saturday Night: the forecast called for snow starting by curtain time. It started during the second act and didn't stop until well after curtain. There were 2-3 inches, making it quite lovely for the patrons exiting the theatre. I hope the driving wasn't too bad. It was another great audience - again looking for an adventure.

Sunday Night: was uneventful - cold with lots of snow on the ground, slippery sidewalks and roads. This crowd was ready - having had time to prepare. They were bundled up looking as round as snowmen. The house looked something like an apres-ski gathering - only they weren't looking for a roaring fire to sit in front of, just a comfy play (and perhaps a mellow glass of red wine from the bar). It was a bittersweet evening as it was Nick Martin's last with us before he headed back to NYC to recuperate further. And Morgan Evans got whomped.

Miss Moffat (Kate Burton) gives the miner boys what for

Tuesday Night: Again fairly uneventful. A few friends of mine saw the show and wrote me predicting that we were in for another great run. I went home before the show to catch the premiere of American Idol. Yes - I am admitting it here for all the world to see. I'll have to check in tomorrow to see what my Niece and Nephew thought of the new Judge, Kara.

The cast takes a bow

Wednesday AM was more eventful. Around 2AM the theatre lost power. Our ATD (Associate Tech Director) commutes from NH, and prefers to come in early to avoid traffic. He usually arrives by 5AM. I slept through a text at 6:15AM - thankfully Adam waited until 7:30 to phone. The news looked bad at that hour - perhaps a canceled performance and several days without power - but gradually got better as the morning progressed and Nstar restored power just after Noon.

They are still out there with four trucks and a generator as I write. We are none worse for the wear - but I did forget to check the lobby video displays before the house opened. They work (now).

Come to think of it - I haven't checked to make sure the light on Henry Jewett's portrait is working. It was out a couple of days ago. That could explain a lot - his ghost doesn't like to be in the dark.

Miss Moffat (Kate Burton) give the miners what for in The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800. Photos: T. Charles Erickson

1 Day to Previews

Thursday - January 8.

I've no time to write today so - not unlike Miss Moffat - I'll assign you a little reading material. Be prepared for a quiz tomorrow.

We've got lots of nice news to share, including big features about Corn and a terrific review for Peter DuBois' production of Becky Shaw from Charles Isherwood in the NY Times! Congratulations, Peter.

The Corn is Green:

A charming feature in The Boston Globe

And a great feature on WBUR's Morning Edition

Playbill announces that we begin Friday

Other:

We're included (#2) in Geoff Edger's cover story in the Boston Globe's "G" about new ways to get inexpensive tickets (Facebook).

(And yes - we still do student rush tickets ($15), last row seats ($20), $25 tickets for 35 Below, and reduced prices for preview performances. $10 off for Boston University staff, students, faculty, and alumni as well as $5 off for seniors and service members. Groups (ten plus) get discounts (call Adam at 617 273-1525) and we have outreach programs for community organizations and programs (call Naheem 617 273-1564). And then there are all the special offers you'll get if you sign up on our email list. Sound confusing? Just call our box office and ask 617 266-0800)

Becky Shaw:

A fantastic New York Times review!

A terrific AP review

Mention of Peter's opening in the Globe's "Stages" column:

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800

2 Days to Previews

Wednesday, January 7

Did a little google image search today. Kate is in good company.

guess who?

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800

3 Days to Previews

Tuesday, January 6 - Countdown

It is our second day of technical rehearsals - and we are doing very well (knock wood). This evening we added costumes, wigs and makeup to the process- and our flock increased today by another 10 people in the theatre.

Backstage we have a wardrobe supervisor (Christine), two dressers (Jeffrey and Troy), and two hair & wig people (Susie and Christy). Out front watching, taking notes, and solving problems are our designer (Bob Morgan), costume director (Nancy), costume design assistant (Mary), wig designer (Jason), and his assistant (Rachel).

Since this is a countdown - I'm gonna count. It can be quite the crowd in the theatre during technical and dress rehearsals.

Sound has a crew of four - a designer (Drew), assistant (Darby), audio supervisor (Ben) and production engineer (Ken). Lighting has five - a designer (Frances), assistant (Aaron), master electrician (Mercedes), production electrician (Jenni), and followspot operator (Will).

In scenery we have the stage carpenter (Pat) backstage, and assistant scene designer (Cristina) and the technical director (Dan) out front. We have the props master (Kris) or her assistant (Justin) in the theatre with the props run head (Andrew) backstage. The charge scenic artist (Corey) stops in to get notes from the scene designer a couple of times a day.

The stage manager (Brandon) has a workstation out in the house, while the assistant stage manager (Leslie) and PA (Vanessa) are running the deck stage left and right.

The director (Nicky) wanders around the house checking out the action from different viewpoints, followed by the assistant director (Erick), and their assistant (Andrew). The producing director (Chris) or artistic associate (Bevin) are also there keeping an eye on the proceedings from the back of the House.

Yes - I'm there too.

Add to this the thirty cast members and understudies onstage, in the wings, out in the theatre and down in the greenroom and dressing rooms.

I'll send a free ticket voucher to the first person who takes the time to add it up and send me an email with the count. In any case - it's a lot of people. A lot of people who "put a lot of love, passion, skill and joy into what we do"*.

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800

*Thanks to Adam Thurman at Mission Paradox - who provided the words I was looking for to close this post.

The Corn is Green - Kate Burton Video

In one of my last posts I gave you a little bit of Kate's family history around The Corn is Green. In this video you'll get even more of the story.



The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800

4 Days to Previews

Monday - Jan 5

Today the actors took a day off.

The properties department, however, did not and were rather busy with all of the notes they got from Sunday's rehearsal.

Our props team is very good at stretching the budgets with their creativity and resourcefulness. Sometimes they will build instead of buy - for instance we build a lot of custom furniture. Other times they will make something look like something else - changing the upholstery on a sofa can take it from period to modern. And then there's good old beg, borrow, and steal. We don't shoplift necessarily, but we did find some of the hospital bed parts used in Boleros in an alley next to the dumpster.

When we're doing a period piece things can get a little tricky. We have to find a balance between what is historically accurate and what works for the play. Sometimes you can't find the exact thing you're looking for at the right price.

One would think that historical accuracy is not an entertainment value but it has to be believable. People notice things - we've got a bunch of smarties here in Boston - nearly 50% of our subscriber households have graduate degrees. We get letters. During our run of Butley, with Nathan Lane, we got a letter informing us that the stripes on the ties were going in the wrong direction. It's a matter of distinction between the Europeans and Americans dating back to before the turn of the century - we were informed. So we try - or at least try for things that seem accurate.

The Corn is Green calls for Miss Moffat to enter with a bicycle. A contraption not entirely familiar to Welsh women in 1889. Our stock, extensive as it is, does not have any Women's Safety Bikes from this era. So we did some research - found an illustration - and started for looking for something LIKE it. Here's the 1889 version

The interweb is a wonderful tool for finding stuff... we found a website called Oldroads.com which has an extensive inventory of vintage bikes. The company - Menetomy Vintage Bicycles, Inc. - happens to be located at a local antique co-op in Cambridge (Cambridge Antique Market 201 Monsignor OBrien Highway, Cambridge, MA 02141). We inquired and Vin sent us back this photo of a 1920's English Antique - he thinks it will be believable to someone who knows bicycles. We picked it up this past weekend.

Not bad, eh? And they gave us a very nice rental price - we can't always get Antiques Dealers to rent their goods - so here's a big thank you to Menetomy Vintage Bicycles. And here's to props - who make finding something special everyday work.

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800

5 Days to Previews

It's Sunday - our first day of technical rehearsals and five days until our first preview.

The morning started with a visit to the rehearsal hall to pick up the props and rehearsal costumes, and then getting the stage ready for a noon start. Lighting worked on last minute focus notes and trouble shooting, Scenery put in some railings and cleaned up, Sound continued to make noise and check communication systems, and props set the furniture and organized the hand props backstage.

Noon came and we welcomed Nicky back to the BU Theatre and the actors got a tour of the set and learned how the doors worked, tried the stairs, found the changing booths and cue lights, and explored how to get from one side of the stage to the other. We then stepped through the transitions in the show - the beginnings and ends of each of the three acts - and set the lighting, adjusted the furniture, changed some blocking, and rehearsed the changes over and over again. In relatively record time we made it through the entire show before our dinner break.

After dinner we started over again and began to fill in all of the lighting cues, adjusted the furniture some more, took notes on props and scenery. Sound familiar? This is what we'll keep doing for the next day and a half of rehearsal or so - then we'll add the costumes, and then we'll start to run the show, making fewer stops and adjustments as we approach the preview on Friday.

I had a few minutes and caught up on a few notes and email. One of the email was to our friends at The 39 Steps. The production closes tonight at the Cort in preparation for it's move to the Helen Hayes. This will be the third NY Theatre that our production has performed at. Just keeps on tickin'....

It's almost as if the show is finally going home. The Hayes was the theatre of choice for the artistic team and it's producers, and the set was designed to fit there. Then this plucky little cult musical named Xanadu moved in and stayed longer than most people expected. So we moved The 39 Steps to the Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre, and then to the Cort. The Hayes is a smaller theatre, about 600, and it's a better location with more foot traffic - all of which will be good for the longevity of the show. It's been running in London since 2006.

The Corn is Green Sound designer Drew Levy is leaving us tomorrow for the Helen Hayes. The 39 Steps sound designer Mic Pool has not been able to make it from the UK for the US productions so Drew has been moving the show around NY. Did I mention that Drew is a BU alumni?

There is another Corn connection to 39 Steps - dialect coach Stephen Gabis is playing Old Tom here in Boston - and helping us with the Welsh - while continuing dialect duties with The 39 Steps. He's been working with Sean Mahon, who will take over the role of Richard Hannay when it opens at the Helen Hayes. Stephen was profiled in the NY Times today. Click to read the article.

Another of our family was profiled in the paper today too... click here to read about Nancy E. Carroll as she prepares for the one woman show The Year of Magical Thinking at Lyric Stage.

Nancy - I'm truly sorry about Binx (the goat). I learned just last week that Binxy is still alive and so is his career. He's been working as a Celebrity Salvation Army goat. No kidd-ing. And I'm sure he's leaving gifts for all donors. (you have to read the Globe article if you don't know what I'm talking about).

Back to New York - The Atheist, with Campbell Scott, finishes it's NY run today. Streamers, which has enjoyed critical acclaim, closes at the Roundabout's Laura Pels next weekend. Congrats to everyone involved. It's got to be a record for us - sending three shows to the city in one season.

It's now 10:22 PM. In theory we have another hour and a half. But, as often happens at this hour, everyone is getting a little punchy and a bit silly. It's great to hear Nicky's familiar laugh ring out in the theatre - but I have a feeling we'll be going home early tonight.

More tomorrow.... warning though... there is no rehearsal on Monday... so you'll probably learn fun stuff like how slow our computer network has been this week, maybe how to seal a stage floor, or perhaps a little something about Miracle at Naples or Pirates. Both of which I probably should have given a little attention today.

Photos: Kate Burton in The Corn is Green - photo by Joan Marcus. Nancy E. Carroll - photo by John Bohn / Globe Staff. Campbell Scott in The Atheist - photo by T. Charles Erickson

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800

6 Days to Previews

Saturday - January 3rd

It's been a while since I've done a countdown series - so here we are. This means you'll get at least 6 posts this month! Today is Saturday, Jan 3rd. Our first preview is on Friday the 9th (six days) - with our press opening on the 14th.

This production is a remount of the one Nicky directed at Williamstown in 2007, but none of the show's production elements were available to us so we've rebuilt the set, with new props and costumes.

Our shops and offices have been quiet over the holidays - mostly because the BU Students are home doing laundry - but Costumes, Paints, Props, Lighting and Sound have been putting in their time this week. Kudos to the costumes shop, and designer Robert Morgan, who came in on New Years Day to keep on schedule. Bob did not design the Williamstown costumes - so we'll have a fresh new look in wardrobe.

Sound designer Drew Levy arrived a couple days ago to witness the last few rehearsals in the Hall. The music sounds vaguely familiar - I suppose it's lodged somewhere in my Welsh genetic memory. The transitions feature choral music - which sounds great on the new sound system we installed this past summer.

Scene designer Jim Noone was here on Monday and Tuesday giving us a few last minute notes. He's off now to California to work on the new musical Stormy Weather at the Pasadena Playhouse. Local designer and BU grad Cristina Todesco will be subbing in as his assistant for our tech week. Cristina also designed the Cabaret set up for our Upstairs at the Calderwood series this winter.

Lighting designer Frances Aronson arrived in town yesterday to see a run and is now onstage for the lighting focus. I stopped in earlier today before heading over to the rehearsal hall to watch a run through.

The show is in great shape, and it's nice to see a stage full of actors. Kate is brilliant, as usual, and it's fun to see her interact with son Morgan Ritchie. Morgan is a student at nearby Brown - so he'll be commuting once classes begin again.

In case you haven't heard the rest of the family story (and it's a good one) - the playwright of The Corn is Green, Emlyn Williams, is Kate's godfather.

Kate's dad, Richard Burton, was good friends with Emlyn and once played the role of Morgan Evans that now grandson Morgan Ritchie is playing. It's nice to see the family traditions being carried on to the next generation.

(I'm sure those of you who saw Wishful Drinking with Carrie Fisher this fall can guess how to expand the family tree).

The rest of the cast is brilliant too... Will LeBow as The Squire, Bobbie Steinbach as Sarah Pugh, Kristine Nielsen (To Be or Not to Be, Spring Awakening) as Mrs. Watty, Roderick McLachlan as John Goronwy Jones, Mary Faber (Avenue Q, Saved!) as Bessie Wattie, Kathleen McCafferty as Miss Ronberry, Stephen Gabis as Old Tom and Jared Craig as Idwal Morris. Nice to see so many locals in the mix. There are also about 16 local college age actors playing the students and villagers. Many are from BU, but Harvard, Boston Conservatory, Emerson, Wheaton College, and Brandeis are also represented.

I loved the run - needless to say - and I'm glad to not have read the script in about a year. It's nice to be surprised by a play. And this play has nice surprises.

That's enough for today... tune in later for Sunday's webisode. Use the comment feature to send me your questions or comments.

Photos: The Corn is Green - Joan Marcus 2007, Emlyn Williams - unknown, Richard Burton and daughter Kate - unknown.

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Corn is Green, by Emlyn Williams, playing January 9 through February 8, 2009 at the Huntington's mainstage, the B.U. Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA. Buy tickets online or call our Box Office at 617 266-0800