A RAISIN IN THE SUN First Rehearsal: the Meet & Greet

Tuesday marked the first day of rehearsal for A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry here at the Huntington. It’s only the second show that we’ve produced more than once in the last 31 years (the other being Candide in 1989 and again in 2011). Back in 1995, Kenny Leon took the helm as director, and this time, we’ve invited Liesl Tommy back to tell the story anew. She also directed 2011’s Ruined  and last year’s production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, both of which were tremendous hits, so we’re excited to have her back in the building. I think I speak for the entire staff here when I say that we look forward to having her around, because she not only delivers these breathtaking theatrical feats, but also because she’s always so full of warmth and enthusiasm, making her an absolute pleasure to work with.

Check out our photo album from the Meet & Greet luncheon.

Fun fact: Liesl Tommy was born in South Africa, and moved to Newton when she was young. She saw Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the Huntington when she was still in high school, and she cites the experience as a defining moment in her development as a theatre artist. In fact, growing up in the Boston area has inspired this production of Raisin as well. "My father was an urban planner who worked on low-income housing in Boston, and we often talked about how destructive to family life tiny apartments can be," she told us. "With Raisin, I'm looking to explore just how desperate poverty can make you when you don't have the space to be yourself."

And another fun fact: Liesl actually auditioned for our 1995 production of A Raisin In The Sun, and although she didn't get the part, she felt so accomplished just by being asked to come in for an audition at the Huntington that the experience cemented her decision to apply to grad school and dedicate her life to being a theatre artist.

You can hear her tell the story in her own words in this exclusive behind-the-scenes video from the first rehearsal, which also features opening remarks from Artistic Director Peter DuBois and Managing Director Michael Maso:

A Raisin in the Sun plays March 8 - April 7, 2013 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre.

Rehearsal Dispatch: NOW OR LATER

Omar Robinson

by Omar Robinson, Assistant to the Director

One of the many wonderful things about this rehearsal process is how we start the day. Usually, after enough of us have entered the rehearsal hall, someone will ask, "Did you see the news from last night?" or "You catch that interview this morning?" These conversations lead directly into those about what's going on in the political world of Now or Later and how the events of the play align so closely with what's happening in our country today.

Last Tuesday we watched President Obama's address to the United Nations together. Many of his points touched upon issues raised in Now or Later, specifically Obama's bold defense of freedom of expression - something John, Jr. (the play's protagonist) fervently fights for throughout the play. Between our current presidential race and the controversy surrounding the recent anti-Islam film, we're finding so many parallels to the play that it's beginning to get a little eerie. (My working theory is that playwright Christopher Shinn is mildly clairvoyant.) Come see the show and see what I'm talking about.

Now or Later plays at the Huntington's Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA October 12 - November 10, 2012. Get tickets and information or call our Box Office at 617 266 0800.

A Dispatch from GOOD PEOPLE Rehearsal: Week 2

Melanie Garber

We now find ourselves about halfway through our rehearsal process for Good People. The clarity of story is becoming a reality onstage. In a constant effort to serve the play, we comb through the complex layers of each scene, and at times even each beat, which continues to fuel a wonderful sense of discovery for the artists in the room.

For the actors who are representing Southie natives, a focus on keeping things light and funny, no matter how actually horrible circumstances might be, permeates the room. This approach seems to be the ultimate modus operandi of Good People. Characters taunt and tease each other as a form of entertainment.

The concept of back story keeps emerging, almost, in its own right, as another one of the characters. Do the choices we make really inform our social status? Economically speaking? Are people who are happy just lucky? How does our past affect our present? I suppose it depends how much we hold onto it…

Until next week…

- Melanie Garber, Assistant to the Director, Good People

 

The Huntington Theatre Company's production of Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire runs September 14 - October 14, 2012 on the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115. Tickets and information here or call our Box Office at 617 266 0800.

A Dispatch from GOOD PEOPLE Rehearsal

Melanie Garber

Rehearsals began last Tuesday for our production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People. The magic from page to stage is particularly poignant this time around because we have a local story (Southie native Margie, played by Johanna Day, is our protagonist) being told by actual locals (actors Karen MacDonald and Nancy E. Carroll and director Kate Whoriskey, to name a few).

In keeping with this focus on local authenticity, we've had a lot of discussion at the table where we can pull our inspiration from to perfect the Boston accent and attitude. We've talked about going out into the city and observing first hand, as well as drawing on movies like The Departed and Gone Baby Gone.

There is also a continuous effort to stay true to the pacing of the language. For example, deciding when these characters have forethought versus when they plow ahead with unfiltered reaction in the heat of the moment keeps cropping up as we muck about in rehearsal. The juxtaposition of playing these two elements adds a humor and sincerity to the performances that’s already paying off as we rounded out our first week together on Sunday.

Until next week...

- Melanie Garber, Assistant to the Director for Good People

GOD OF CARNAGE in Rehearsal

We're now 10 days into rehearsals for God of Carnage.

In the room: Director Daniel Goldstein and a team of top-notch actors. Brooks Ashmanskas (a.k.a. Brooksy) and Christy Pusz play the visiting couple, Alan and Annette Raleigh. Stephen Bogardus (a.k.a. Bogie) and Johanna Day are the home team couple, Michael and Veronica Novak. There’s also Stage Manager Kevin Fitzpatrick, Assistant Stage Manager Amy Spalletta, and Production Assistants Kevin Schlagle and Jessica Wolf. Brooks jokes that there is one person on the stage management team for every actor. And then there’s me, Emily Ranii, I’m Danny’s assistant.


We’ve been working through about 10 pages of the script per day and then reviewing all that we have done so far at the end of rehearsal. Yesterday afternoon, we completed 100% of the script! (Kevin is very specific and likes to calculate -- as of Tuesday, we'd completed 84.4%.) It was very exciting to see it all put together!

We work in the rehearsal hall upstairs at 254 Huntington Ave. while the set is being loaded into the theatre downstairs at 264. We peaked our head into the theatre yesterday just as the carpenters were installing the stairscase of the Novak home. Designed by Dane Laffrey, the space is modern with high-rise ceilings and exposed staircases -- rich with chic industrial architecture. The inspiration for the yellow glass paneling was the cage for the Novak children’s deceased hamster, Nibbles. Indeed, the offstage children of God of Carnage control their pets as well as their parents.

After tomorrow, we'll be taking a three-day break for Christmas, but I'll be back next week with more news from inside the rehearsal room.

Emily Ranii is the assistant to the director for God of Carnage. She is a graduate student in directing at Boston University.