What's the history of the Huntington's relationship with commercial producers?

Peter DuBois

by Peter DuBois

The Boston Globe reported recently on an upcoming study about the partnership between the non-profit-theatre and commercial producers. The study was sponsored by the Center for Theater Commons at Emerson College and written by Diane Ragsdale.

With respect to the Huntington, its true that we occasionally collaborate with commercial producers, and we believe that this can be accomplished in ways that stay on mission.

I encourage you to read the Globe article and to think about your own response to the questions raised. The Globe reported a short overview of our history of collaborations that involved commercial producers. In the interest of transparency and adding additional facts to the conversation, here's the full history of the Huntington's relationship with commercial producers, dating back to the our founding.

What do you think about the relationship between non-profit theatres and commercial producers? If you're an audience member, do you think it's impacted your experience at the Huntington?

My tenure: 5 seasons, 3 projects scheduled in collaboration with commercial producers (one dropped out before production), and one co-produced with a New York-based non-profit 

2012-2013 Season
Our Town
In collaboration with an Off Broadway commercial producer

2011 – 2012 Season 
Sons of the Prophet
Co-production with New York-based non-profit

Captors
In collaboration with an outside producer

2008-2009 Season
Pirates! 
Scheduled with the with the participation of an outside producer who ultimately pulled out before production

The Nicholas Martin years: 8 seasons, 7 projects in collaboration with commercial producers including 3 with Broadway in Boston

2007-2008 Season
Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps
West-End transfer transferred directly to Broadway

2006-2007 Season
Radio Golf
Pre-Broadway production with commercial producers involved

2004-2005 Season
Gem of the Ocean
Pre-Broadway production with commercial producers involved

2003-2004 Season
As You Like It
Commercial touring production co-produced with Broadway in Boston

2002-2003 Season
Marty 
Produced in collaboration with commercial producers

2001-2002 Season
Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Toward the Somme
Produced in association with Broadway in Boston, direct transfer to Lincoln Center Theatre

2000-2001 Season
Fully Committed
Produced in association with Broadway in Boston

The Peter Altman years: 18 seasons, 7 projects in collaboration with commercial producers

1999-2000 Season
King Hedley
Produced in collaboration with commercial producers

1998-1999 Season
Jitney
Produced in collaboration with commercial producers, no commercial run

1995-1996 Season
Seven Guitars
Produced in collaboration with commercial producers, pre-Broadway run

The Young Man from Atlanta
Enhanced by commercial producers, ran on Broadway in 1997

1992-1993 Season
Pal Joey
Enhanced by commercial producers

1990-1991 Season
Two Trains Running
Produced in collaboration with commercial producers, pre-Broadway run

1987-1988 Season
The Piano Lesson
Produced in collaboration with commercial producers, pre-Broadway run

Present Laughter opens on Broadway!

Just in case you haven't heard... tonight is opening night for the Broadway production of Present Laughter at the Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre. Here's a toast to Nicky, and the cast and crew! Break a leg!

It's pretty much the same bunch - Victor Garber, Brooks Ashmanskas, Lisa Banes, Holly Fain, and Boston locals Nancy E. Carroll and Alice Duffy, amongst others. We understand that octogenarian Alice Duffy will be featured on NBC's  Today (Wednesday, January 27 in the 8:30am half-hour) to celebrate her Broadway debut. I've got the DVR set.

You'll also see some of the original Huntington props onstage in Present Laughter, the scenery and costumes have been re-built.Congrats again!

If the Roundabout sounds familiar you may recall that David Rabe's Streamers directed by Scott Ellis played there following the Huntington's production, as did Carry Fisher in Wishful Drinking.

Our production of The 39 Steps also opened on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre, and then moved to the Cort and then the Helen Hayes. It closed at the Cort on Jan 10, and after 771 performances it was the longest running play on Broadway in 7 years. A long rumored Off Broadway run at New World Stages has just been announced to open on March 25 for an open ended run. A US national tour kicked off in November, and regional productions are springing up across the country.

 On the run for their lives, Pamela (Jennifer Ferrin) and Hannay (Charles Edwards) discover the only way is up in the Huntington Theatre Company's pre-Broadway American premiere production of Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps." Photo: T. Charles Erickson

It's so exciting that our work continues to be represented in New York and across the country. We are so proud and thrilled! Happy Opening Present Laughter!

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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

The 39 Steps continues

A few staffers caught a glimpse of The 39 Steps on today's Good Morning America showon ABC TV. I watch NBC's Today show - so I missed it live - but thank goodness for the www where you too can take a backstage peek at the Broadway production currently running at the Cort.

Those are the sets, props and costumes that we built here on Huntington Ave over a year ago.

Well - maybe some things are new - it has been a year.


The role of Hannay is now played by Sam Robards (above).
Photo by Joan Marcus

Eliot and Tony - Huntington wins big!

I took the night off yesterday and I, apparently, missed one helluva time at the Eliot Norton awards. Everyone is talking about it today. This is the news in from Temple Gill:

Hi everyone!

The Huntington had a big night last night at the Elliot Norton Awards, where Present Laughter won best production, Nancy Carroll won Outstanding Actress (for Brendan and Present Laughter), Alexander Dodge won best design (for Present Laughter and Brendan), and Nicky(Martin) was honored with the Norton Award for Sustained Excellence. You can read more about the awards here:

What the article won't tell you is how funny Michael(Maso) was in accepting the awards for Alexander Dodge and Present Laughter, what a tremendous great sport Victor Garber was in getting up to graciously accept Nancy Carroll's award on her behalf, and how delightful Andrea Martin was as the guest of honor and in introducing Nicky. In accepting the award for sustained excellence, Nicky was funny and charming (as usual!), and both he and the tribute video to him were greeted very warmly by the crowd.

Congratulations to all of our winners! And thanks to everyone who came to the awards last evening to support them!

- Temple

Also in my mailbox this from Michael Maso:

The 39 Steps has six Tony Nominations — including best play, best director and all design components.

Best Play - The 39 Steps

Best Director of a Play - Maria Aitken

Best Sets for a Play - Peter McKintosh

Best Costume for a Play - Peter McKintosh

Best Lighting for a Play - Kevin Adams

Best Sound for a Play - Mic Pool

You should all feel very proud of what you have helped accomplish, with special note of our extraordinary production staff for what your expertise has contributed to this recognition.

There are also noms for Andrea Martin and Chris Fitzgerald! View the complete list of nominees here.

M.


Exciting news all around. Congrats everyone!

The 39 Steps Opens Again

Our production of Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps opens again on Broadway at the Cort tonight... Playbill has the story here. Charlie Edwards, Arnie Burton, Cliff Saunders, and Jennifer Ferrin (L to R in the above photo by Joan Marcus), continue in their roles. We wish everyone a healthy "break a leg"! Managing Director Michael Maso and incoming Artistic Director Peter Dubois will be on hand tonight in NYC to deliver our best wishes. The rest of us are getting ready for a She Loves Me dry tech tomorrow night.

I visited the production in rehearsal at the Cort two weeks ago with my sister, and my 10 yo nephew, and 12 yo niece. It was great to see so many familiar faces backstage and at the tech tables. Two of the Boston crew are still with the production - BU stage management student Rosy Garner and dresser Peggy Donovan. Rosy has been commuting back to Boston for classes on Monday all semester. We also saw Stage Managers Nevin Headly and Janet Takami, as well as the Production management team from Aurora productions. Kevin Adams (lighting) and Drew Levy (sound) , were busy behind their tech tables again, and it was nice to see lighting assistant Hillary Manners. It's a small world. Director Aitken, who has been busy directing a new production in Australia, sent her best back to the Huntington. I delivered IRNE awards to Clilff Saunders and Arnie Burton. More awards are expected soon at the Norton and Drama Desk ceremonies.

We've sent them a few new costumes - Jennifer Ferrin has had a new dress for every production - and Charlie, who uses two suits for each show, is on his second set. I expect we'll be called for the third in a few months. The four chairs in the show - which survived the Boston run to our surprise, also made it almost all the way through the run at the Roundabout - with their back ups going on in the final week there. Everything (and everyone) looks great and it's nice to see our work up on Broadway once again.

The above photo is by T. Charles Erickson.

We got to watch a few hours of tech rehearsal - a little bit of the bog chase, where they brought back the "Boston" stream, some new blocking in the "door" scene in the mansion on the moors, and some of the shadow play. Ben and Kendra (my nephew and niece) were probably the most engaged they had been the entire weekend. Ben, who likes to figure things out, wanted to know if it was rated PG-13 and if he could watch the movie when he got home. Kendra was thrilled that they were the only guests in the theatre. Ben wanted to know if the show was like the movie "Clue". I didn't have an answer for that one, but it was fun to explain some of the tricks behind the shadow play chase scene. We got to see that about 5 times, as they would stop each time to fix a little snag, go back and start all over again. I thought the kids would be bored after two hours of stops and starts - but they weren't. Clearly it's time to get them to the theatre more often. Hopefully the show will run for years (like it has in London) and we'll be back to NY to see the show from start to finish someday.

This just in: Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film classic, The 39 Steps, will air on Turner Classic Movies on Monday, May 12th at 8:00PM,. TCM host Robert Osborne will introduce the film and discuss the hit Broadway production, Alfred Hitchcock’s THE 39 STEPS, which is running at the Cort Theatre on Broadway. Check local listings for channel information.

Inbox Friday 3/21

a few things out there worth checking out.

The 39 Steps will be moving to a commercial Broadway production at the Cort, starting late April.

Streamers, again directed by Roundabout helmer Scott Ellis, may play the Laura Pels in NYC next season. Click to read the Playbill article.

Brooks Ashmanskas (Present Laughter) and Kate Baldwin (Falsettos) will take the leads in She Loves Me coming to the Huntington in May/June. Read more here.

Read this.... I think it's time for new leadership at the Boston Parks Department. To see Boston.com reader reaction click here

Do you support the notion that creativity and the Arts should be taught in public schools in MA? Click here to read more and be sure to tell House Speaker Dimasi it's time for a vote.

More Breaking Ground 2008 info here.

Huntington Theatre Family Features

The past week or so has garnered some nice features for a few members of our extended family. Click on the links below to explore - and as always we would love to hear your thoughts.

The Broadway Production of The 39 Steps has a great review in the NY Times, an audio feature with designer Peter McKintosh (see link on the above review page), a backstage photo feature, and a little history of the evolution of the play.

Huntington Favorite Kate Burton (Hedda Gabler, The Cherry Orchard) is now appearing in Spring Awakening, and there is a very nice feature about her here. The NY Times has also published a lovely slideshow featuring Kate.

Actor Christopher Fitzgerald (A Month in the Country, The Sons of Ulster...) is now appearing on Broadway as Igor in Young Frankenstien. The AP published a nice feature and you can read it here. His wife, Jess Stone, is also a familiar face (Betty in Betty's Summer Vacation) and we're hoping to see them both (along with their infant son - congrats) back in Boston soon.

Photo: Kate Burton (as Madame Ranevskaya) in the Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Cherry Orchard, directed by Nicholas Martin. Photo: T. Charles Erickson

The 39 Step Opens on Broadway!

I had the pleasure of attending the Broadway opening of Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps on Tuesday night in NYC as a guest of the Roundabout. It was a great night, starting with a rousing performance followed by a fun opening night party.

The show was oh-so-familiar (I've seen it in London, and at least a dozen times in Boston) but director Maria Aitken has added a couple of fun new moments and made a few snips that made the frenetic pace of the NY show even more manic. It was great to see our sets, props and costumes up on that stage.

It was even better to see Maria, the cast, a few of the designers, and our backstage friends including Stage Managers Nevin Hedley and Janet Takami after the show! The growing excitement at the Times Square party gained even more momentum as news of a rave review in the NY Times spread.

Here are some photos, courtesy of Janet, and at the end of the post you'll find a link to the PLAYBILL.com coverage of the event.

Huntington's Costume Director Nancy Brennan (left) and guest enjoying the festivities.

Kevin, Janet, Peggy, Kelly, and Rosie (left to right) . Kevin and Rosie are both BU Students who worked on the Huntington run and reprised their roles as Assistant to the Director and Production Assistant in New York. Back to class you two! Janet and Peggy also stayed on with the show in their respective roles as Stage Manager and Dresser. Kelly, a BU grad who recently returned to NY after stage managing our production of Brendan was there with her S.O. Drew Levy. Drew (not pictured) is also a BU Grad, has several Huntington Sound design credits under his belt, and most recently was Assistant Sound designer on The 39 Steps. I guess he was at the bar. Nice to see these youngsters already working on Broadway! Congrats!

and here are yours truly with our GM, George Ryan, and his guest. For even more photos from the evening click here.
Read the NY Times review here.
and even more photos at BroadwayWorld.com

Comin' together

Here's the news and lots of it. I'll try to be brief:

Streamers final performances are this weekend - with a closing performance at two o'clock this Sunday afternoon. For more Streamers info including articles, reviews and video, visit here or read more from the blog here.

BU School of Theatre has both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and The Weavers up and running. The former is in Studio 210 through Dec 8th, the latter at the Wimberly through Dec. 16th.

Rehearsals for Third begin next Tuesday. We're looking forward to it and to having Maureen Anderman back in Boston. TheatreMania.com carries the casting news. Scenery construction is well underway. Our machine shop has been particularly busy as we gear up to try a new (really really quiet) method of moving scenery around on stage. This photo shows an example of their metal work. More on the physical production later.

Judy Gold was in town earlier this week to psych us up for her upcoming appearance in 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother (starts Dec. 18 at the Calderwood Pavilion). We did brunch. She's tall, she's queer, she's Jewish, she's a (loud) Mother, and she is damn FUNNY! We're looking forward to it. Here's a short I found on You Tube - she talks about working with the crew backstage. Contains adult language.



I'm glad that we are not responsible for providing a stage manager and/or hair and makeup help.

We had a meet and greet yesterday with our four new Huntington Playwriting Fellows. I have to wait until next week to drop names, but it was great to meet them.

I've got new video for Shakespeare's Actresses and Ennio to share later as well.

Rehearsals for Shining City begin soon at the Goodman in Chicago. They'll pack it up and move it to Boston soon after they complete their run there. Goodman Artistic Director Robert Falls directs.

We have a prelim design meeting set up for She Loves Me next week. Yay. The entire artistic and production teams will be getting together for a few hours to brainstorm.

Our annual Holiday party is coming up. I'm looking forward the all staff meeting - with only eating, drinking and chatting on the agenda! Glad to say that we're getting one last shot at some darn good southern food served up at our favorite neighborhood bistro thanks to a certain Huntington overseer! We have the best board in Boston. No doubts.

We'll soon be sending of some new costumes for The 39 Steps to NY for the understudies. Rehearsals begin soon with previews starting January 4th at the Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre. BU students Rosie Garner and Kevin Bigger are heading to the city to reprise their respective roles as Production Assistant and Assistant to the Director. Congrats!

Our education department decided they don't have enough going on with all of our great programming for teens. We are now offering classes for adults! Check it out here.

Oh yeah, and one more item: Another $25 ticket sale!!! Happy Holidays all!

39 Steps Boston - last chance

Our new friends from The Roundabout have been a few times in the last week, and we're expecting a few more visits. The production will move to their American Airlines Theatre for a nice three month run on Broadway sometime around New Year's. We look forward to working with you!

We've been working once a week or so with our understudies and they have been doing a fabulous job. The challenge has been that there is only one understudy for the two clowns. That makes sense for performance, but it's a little tough for rehearsals where the other half of the team is the same guy! Luckily the stage crew have been stepping into the act and helping out. I hear that many of them have stepped in and performed a role during the rehearsals to help out . Sounds like fun! I hear Ryan, Pat and Christine have all taken star turns. Wish I had video on that...

We're going to miss this gang, but we're also looking forward to Streamers which began rehearsals today. Maybe we'll all take a field trip to NY in January or February and see how our The 39 Steps friends are doing on Broadway.

Here's one more glimpse of The 39 Steps brought to you courtesy of the Boston Phoenix. I like how they assembled our b roll - see for yourself below.




One last reminder: I was talking to Jim Torres at SpeakEasy Stage tonight while writing this post here in the Calderwood Pavilion lobby. He mentioned, in addition to The 39 Steps, their production of Zanna, Don't! also closes on Sunday with an additional performance. Both shows can be purchased at BostonTheatreScene.com

Inbox - Tuesday

Had a few nice surprises in my mailbox today:

BU Today published a video feature with Campbell Scott, Justin Waldman and Ronan Noone. Visit BU Today and take a look.

Huntington favorite Jerry Kissel (Persephone, The Cherry Orchard, Sisters Rosenswieg) recorded a radio spot for us... it's especially worth a listen if you know Jerry. Take a look under the videos in the side bar for the radio ad.

Ty Burr on The 39 Steps

Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr will be our Humanities Forum speaker tomorrow Sunday, September 23, following the 2PM show. Humanities speakers usually talk about the historical and literary context of the play. Given the book by Buchan gave birth to three movies as well as this play I'd bet that Ty will have plenty to talk about. This event is free with the purchase of a ticket to any performance. You can learn more about our other scheduled programs and events on our website.

The 39 Steps - Pictures

Here are the promised photos.

Dashing everyman Richard Hannay (Charles Edwards) finds himself on the run for his life.


Scottish innkeeper Mrs. McGarrigle (Arnie Burton, l.) greets Pamela and Hannay with a wink and a nod in the Huntington Theatre Company’s pre-Broadway American premiere production of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps.”

Pamela (Jennifer Ferrin) and Hannay (Charles Edwards) spot trouble from their opera box

Mistaken for a Scottish political candidate while hiding out from police, Hannay (Charles Edwards, l.) unwittingly exposes his little secret to the crowd as Mr. McQuarrie (Cliff Saunders, center) and the Master of Ceremonies (Arnie Burton, l.) remain unaware.


On the run for their lives, Pamela (Jennifer Ferrin) and Hannay (Charles Edwards) discover the only way is up.



Onboard an Edinburgh train, racing against time to clear himself of murder, Hannay (Charles Edwards, r.) overhears two itinerant underwear salesman (Arnie Burton (l.) and Cliff Saunders, center), as they discuss a newspaper description of the alleged killer in the Huntington Theatre Company’s pre-Broadway American premiere production of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps.”


It’s a love-hate relationship for Pamela (Jennifer Ferrin) and Hanney (Charles Edwards) as they run for their lives from a sinister plot.


Hannay (Charles Edwards, l.) is caught peering over the shoulder of a surly Scottish farmer (Cliff Saunders, r.), who’s reading a news report about a London murder suspect on the loose.

All photos:T. Charles Erickson

A HUGE THANKS to the folks at JenniferFerrin.Net who have essentially been reposting the blog (and doing a great job of crediting us).

Next round of photos: OPENING NIGHT - coming soon.

The 39 Steps Boston - Video

I thought I'd toss this fun video online while I'm eating my dinner, a yummy maki roll from the nice folks at Symphony Sushi right around the corner here in Boston. (Shameless, aren't I?)

Here are our good friends Arnie Burton, Charles Edwards, Jennifer Ferrin, Cliff Saunders and Director Maria Aitken hamming it up for the camera in the Huntington Theatre's rehearsal hall. Enjoy the video!



Next Post? Production Photos. Y'all come back now!

39 Steps Previews

Preview rehearsals have been going very well this weekend, we're making small adjustments and refinements as we discover what works best with an American audience. Designer Peter McKintosh joined us on Thursday and the notes lists have been remarkably small given that it was the first time he had seen our scenery, costumes and props in person.

Friday's preview was, um, technically challenged. The crew have since been finding all sorts of ways to make their moves faster, funnier, safer, and consistent. Saturday evening's show was greatly improved and perhaps even calm at moments backstage.

The performances thus far have played to capacity crowds who are roaring their approval at curtain calls. We are all looking forward to tomorrow's day off, and Wednesday's Opening Night.

The Boston Globe has a nice article today written by freelancer (and HubArts blogger) Joel Brown. He spent a little time with us during rehearsal and talked with the cast, playwright Patrick Barlow and director Maria Aitken. Joel shares his behind the scenes peek with you here.

Cliff Saunders, Charles Edwards, Arnie Burton and Jennifer Ferrin rehearse a four-actor stage adaptation of "The 39 Steps." (Boston Globe Photo: John Bohn/Globe Staff)

"Tech"ing 1-2-3

I'm doing a bit of "live" blogging tonight as I watch tech for The 39 Steps here at the BU Theatre. An invited dress for The Atheist should have just begun over at the Wimberly Theatre. Here's a bit about the last four days.

Saturday (Sept 8)

Final rehearsal in the Huntington Ave rehearsal hall for The 39 Steps. I watched a run through and it was great fun, there are some new bits and references to other Hitchcock classics worked in.

The lights are focused on stage at the BU Theatre.

It is also the final rehearsal in Connecticut for The Atheist. I missed that run but reports are that all is going very well. It's also the travel day - everyone returns to Boston.

Sunday (Sept 9)

The crew starts around 9:30 AM getting ready for today's "Ten out of Twelve" tech rehearsal. That means that we will rehearse for 10 hours over a 12 hour period. Noon to Midnight with a 2 hour dinner break. It's a good days work - we manage to get through about 50 pages of the script (better than 1/3), but not quite up to intermission. We discover a few things that require a bit of re-blocking, take a few notes, have plenty to work to complete. There are a ton of props, hundreds of light cues, many many quick changes, 4 varieties of smoke and fog, and decibels of sound cues. Then add four actors, two stage managers, four deck crew, and four dressers figuring out how not to bump into each other. A recipe for lots of hard work.

The lights are focused for The Atheist and the crew does a few last notes to get the set ready for tech tomorrow. It's a day off for Campbell, Justin and Steve.

Monday

It's a day off for The 39 Steps cast and crew. Scenery, Props and Paints all worked a long day completing some old notes and starting on some new ones.

It's a 10 out of 12 for The Atheist. The technical rehearsal period for this production is much shorter... only about 14 hours before the invited Dress Rehearsal versus about 33 to the same point for The 39 Steps. It is a great day's work, we tech through the whole play once and then run it back through again without stopping. We finish early.

During the breaks I find out why the boys didn't reply to the last few posts with rehearsal stories. It's because the stories are not fit to print. Unless we want to invite a libel suit or perhaps an international incident. Besides - this blog isn't really about scary hotels, B&Bs, golf or politics. Use your imagination. It's also obvious that they did a lot of work in those five days. They were extremely well prepared for tech rehearsals and we would not have made so much progress without their advance work.

Tuesday

Today is our second 10 out of 12 technical rehearsal for The 39 Steps. We pick up where we left off on Sunday and finish the 1st Act in the afternoon session. We may finish the play tonight, but even if we don't we'll have tomorrow to finish up and run through it all again. That will leave Thursday (an 8 out of 10) and Friday to run it a few times to be ready for Friday evening's preview performance. That will be my favorite night of the week. I'll (hopefully) be home before midnight.

Both design teams and all of the staff are doing great work as the shows are looking great!

Meanwhile the scene shop is building Brendan and the stage managers are prepping for rehearsals next week. The painters are working on Streamers and prelim scenic designs for Third are expected any day now.

If you have any questions about what goes on at tech rehearsals or about these shows feel free to ask (use the "Join the conversation" link below) or Check out this glossary for an explanation of just about any theatrical term there is!

Jennifer Ferrin and Charles Edwards

Jennifer Ferrin and Charles Edwards - fully one half of the cast of The 39 Steps took a moment this week to send you a message. Jennifer is familiar to fans of Spike TV's The Kill Point, and As the World Turns fans will recognize her as Jennifer Munson Donovan. Emmy nominated Jennifer returns to her roots in the theater here at the Huntington Theatre Company, having graduated from the renowned North Carolina School of the Arts.

Charles Edwards, familiar to fans of London Theater such as the National Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, the Tricycle and the West End's Criterion where he originated The 39 Steps leading role of Richard Hannay. Charles has also appeared in UK television and several movies including The All Together and Batman Begins.

Run for it!

Today we rehearsed a bit of one of the more challenging chase sequences in The 39 Steps. We don't officially start tech until Sunday - but this scene requires the use of the technical wizardry only available on stage, so we joined the cast and spent three or four hours playing with all of our toys. It was a lot of fun and this show is shaping up nicely.

It's also fun to see that we are not making a carbon copy of the London production. Sure - it closely resembles the fun now playing in Piccadilly Circus - but it has a character all it's own.

I didn't get any video this afternoon, but I found the scenes from the Hitchcock movie that we're re-enacting. The part we rehearsed today starts about 2 minutes into this clip.



The 39 Steps play (rather fully) recreates The 39 Steps movie, but Hitchcock slips into the action in other ways (as Hitchcock will). We borrow from this classic movie too...



I have to say - the helicopter scene in Miss Saigon has NOTHING on us. See today's earlier post if you are interest in catching the whole thing on a larger screen.

Date Night

Looking to stay up late (or be up early) tomorrow night?

Join us at a special midnight screening of the original Hitchcock film THE 39 STEPS at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, celebrating the Huntington's upcoming stage production of the Broadway-bound show THE 39 STEPS!

39 Seats for THE 39 STEPS
An event in partnership with the Huntington Theatre Company, Truth Serum Productions, and the Coolidge Corner Theatre.
Friday, September 7 at midnight
$10

Coolidge Corner Theatre
290 Harvard Street, Brookline
617-734-2500
http://www.coolidge.org/midnites