Off Book Part Deux

Second night of full cast off book for Act I. Seemed to go pretty well. There was less beer spillage on the set, which could be taken as either a good or bad thing, but we still had a lot of nice new moments pop up from nowhere. Craig gave me a tip or two about how to properly lubricate a chair, and Jon...well, Jon was there.

Afterwards, we painted the set, and when I say we, I mean Craig, Shawn, and Jon. Last night was the night the floor got painted. Jon had promised to bring beer, and SURPRISE, he forgot. So I had the last two Old Milwaukee prop beers while standing around watching the boys paint. Actually, I did do a little bit of work, sweeping off the stage prior to watching them paint. This may have even been documented on film, kind of like getting a picture of Bigfoot or something. Next week, we put the fancy wood grain effect onto the floor and probably move the refrigerator in.

The show seems to be coming along pretty well. We're all kind of feeling some things out and once those start sticking, we should really find our rhythm. Next week, Act II off book! Woohoo!

Dear friends, don't forget to buy your tickets at www.truewestokc.com. If you wait, you will get left out and we don't want that, do we?

As always, thanks for the support!

Love and toast,
BD

More rehearsal photos

28 days to go.....

A long and inspired night. No, this is not a smut blog.

A bunch of really good things happened last night. We ran ACTI off book, well most of it-we hit some snags, which is to be expected. We also ran ACTII on book with some great moments starting to happen.

The boys had a real problem with GAS for some reason, I blame the burger I had at lunch-I saw Barrett eating fried pork fat. Thank God Abby wasn't there.(She had a la-di-da French thing or some "better than us " crap to do that night, we will get her back!).

The work on stage is getting easier! The mood is, from my vantage, pretty good. People are trying new things, Barrett is starting to freak me out cause he is starting to be brilliant on stage and Craig is a freakin' slimy producer!I think people are gonna have a great time just watching those two. My suck ass is really gonna haffta work!We have time to really put some good work to the piece, which is a luxury!

The actual production stuff is where the real "uggggg" is found thus far. Not that folks are not passionately devoted to this project, we are just having to deal with it. I have mentor that runs one of the theaters in town and he always told me to "hug the monster", don't let the big stuff scare ya, tackle it!! I'm not worried in the least bit.However if any one knows where we can lay our hands on some DISPOSABLE TYPEWRITERS.......

Painting Round 2 of 3 is happening tonight. Barrett will more than likely watch(even though I know he can freakin' paint like a madman).

P.S. I hear tickets are selling like crazy...which rocks!! If those of you who wish to see this beerfest have not nick'd tickets...you should soon!

Off book...or not?

Last night was our first runthrough off-book, meaning the cast had to know all their lines for at least Act I. It actually went pretty well, considering that some of these scenes hadn't been worked in several days. At the end of the runthrough, the set was pretty much drenched in beer, thanks to Jon's method acting performance that involves, apparently, waving open, full beer cans all around the set.

I think we're all just starting to get a feel for what we're doing, though, which is fun. We surprise each other sometimes, and ourselves, with some of the stuff that's happening on stage. We all have a lot of work to do, still, to really do the work justice, but I think each of us realizes that. It's a lot of fun playing with other actors you can trust. Except Jon. I don't trust that sonuvabitch any further than I can pee.

So tonight we're painting the floors after rehearsal. As usual, I will supervise Craig and Jon while they paint. Shawn will stand in the back, drinking his Pabst. And tomorrow Jon and I will hopefully choreograph the big fight scene. No swords, sorry!

Make sure and buy your tickets now. I'm not kidding when I say seating is limited.

www.truewestokc.com

Love and toast,

BD

Note from the Actors

29 days left on the calendar….

Last night marked (by my math, but I’m not really good at math-that’s why I’m an actor) t-minus 30 calendar days until the open of this TRUE WEST. Our wonderful Anne stopped by, and started to remind us about ALL the P.R.-TwitteringTweeting-FacebookProfiling and other other media fun. Before Anne showed up, Abby (our loverly stage manager) was the only person at rehearsal that technically should have had breasts. Historically, the three gents in the show have always been hearty men that love women, and all the no no parts that they posses. However, something strange always happens when Shawn and Barrett and Jon(me) get together…we start pho-homo advances toward each other. This makes poor Abby cringe, Abby is a visual person-considering she is a brilliant photographer. This pattern of rehearsing intense scenes of love and betrayal, then awkward man-love kept us fairly entertained until the sobering news that Anne brought-PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THIS THING.

INSIDE JOKE…WAY INSIDE

Anne does not know that I have a propensity of obliterating props. It is so bad that in some theatres around town I have become a verb- v. to HAQUE something is to break it. Shawn and Abby had made mention that they should buy back-up props cause I break things. I’m sure I sounded like an emotionly unstable bull. This prompts Anne to ask quiet seriously…”are you doin’ ok?” .“Ya, why?” I say. I’ve been noticing some strange Facebook posts and pics posted in the hospital and then you just stopped Facebooking. “I got a colonoscopy and then I got busy…IT’S NOT A CRY FOR HELP!”. Laughing followed, I think Anne and I are closer friends because of my ass.

-Jon Haque

Rehearsal from Feb 25

The boys are working scene 8 from the show.

Howdy!

Welcome to the TRUE WEST blog spot where we will try and update you on daily rehearsals of our show. The show is opening March 27 at 8p.m. Other performances will be March 28 and 29 at 8p.m. and April 3, 4, 5 at 8p.m. at the Actors Warehouse Studio in Oklahoma City. To buy tickets in advance go to truewestokc.com, and hurry because they are already selling like wildfire!

To give a brief summary of the people in the show, we have:
Barrett Davidson as LEE
Jon Haque as AUSTIN
Craig Pruitt as SAUL
Caprice Woolsey as MOM

the director of this performance is Shawn Hicks
producing is L.I.P Service