Haley Dyes:::
Five hours of singing and we didn't even come close to making it all the way through all "Five Courses!"

Rehearsals like these will teach you a lot about yourself if you pay attention:

1. Never take the equity 10 minute breaks you are guaranteed too lightly. They are much needed and much deserved by all involved.

2. Try to maintain a since of humor. Laughing at yourself makes it easier to deal with your shortcomings! Hahahahahaha! . . .temporary shortcomings, of course. I am an actor, and, therefore, by nature, a perfectionist! Ha-Ha!

Looking forward to a delicious dish with this show. . .can't wait to get that music learned and then delve into the hearts of these folks!

David George:::
WOW!!! Yesterday's matinee was a surprise!!! Aside from a sell-out crowd, which is always great thing, there was a group of 44 that came in COSTUME!!! They were wearing mullet wigs, overalls, "bubba teeth" and anything else they could think of to look "white trash". It was reminiscent of "Rocky Horror", which I think the entire cast thought was kinda cool. It was so great to see these folks after the show too. It shows that they "understand the show!" That is the kind of fun we want everyone to have. So come in costume, come in a suit, or come naked, just come and have a great time!!!

Joseph Corri:::

IT'S LIVE.

People seem to think there are so many things that can go wrong on a movie set...and yes, that's true, but other than the camera, the majority of these are also involved in theatre. The difference is that you don’t get a second, third (or fortieth depending on the director & actors) take. You still have lighting, wardrobe, sound, set, and of course script and actors. Add to that THE AUDIENCE, a variable that is probably more of a factor than you realize, and on any one night you can have those happy accidents that lead to a special evening that makes theatre sooooo different than film. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing film but variables are very controlled and eliminated for the most part.

This week was full of happy accidents.

Until this week not much has happened off track. Although we did misplace the baby one night...but the backstage crew is so on top of things that it wasn't a big issue.

Then this week we had a little of everything:

1.) Pickles’ box of Cheez-its explodes on stage. Doesn’t seem like much, but dang those things are slippery and the girls are prancing around in high heels the entire show, not to mention the dances. The crew, ever on top of things, made a little cameo with a broom and problem solved.

2.) Pippi had not one but TWO wardrobe malfunctions. I tossed her on my shoulder during “T.V. Show” and her top plopped down! Ever the stripper, she just ripped it off and went on...no worries, a lovely lacey blue brassiere was still in place. As I apologized for possibly helping the disrobing along accidentally, I was told it had already fallen off once earlier in the show.

3.) Then there was my gun. As I pulled it out during one of my many rants, the clip fell out. Now I am no gun expert, but I know the bullets are a little important to being successfully threatening with a gun. So I had to scramble around to get it…This was one of our rowdier audiences, so they enjoyed this to no end. I could not resist...I began spouting off threats and hollering at them to listen to my gosh darned plan. This led to a follow up comment in my next rant to tie it all together. Huge audience response.

This was probably the most fun I have had on stage in years, if not ever. When you are working with professionals who know how to do their job, as long as you stay in character you feel amazingly confident and free to deal with anything that may happen during a show. Especially as you never want to let an audience down and allow a technical problem interfere with their enjoyment.

David George:::
We have now finished our third week of shows and it's going great! Every single night is a bit different from the night before. The audiences seem to really be digging the show, and their enjoyment and laughter honestly does feed our enjoyment of doing it. I know it sounds clichè, but I really do feel great being part of something that is bringing so much joy to the audience. I've spoken to several patrons after the show and everyone has said how it looks like we are having a great time doing this show. I've told them that you'd really have to WORK at not having fun with this one. If everyone just takes this show for what it is, (a tongue in cheek look at these characters), they should enjoy it. I hope we have continued success and that the audiences leaves humming something from the show and laughing about the outrageous fun they've just had.

David George:::
I've got to say how honored I am to share the stage with everyone in this cast; they are all
gifted, talented actresses, actors and singers. We all get along splendidly and there really is a strong sense of camaraderie among the cast and crew. Several of us had stated early on that cast unity was important, and that having unity made the rehearsal process and performances much better. I know that you can't get along with everybody you meet in a work environment, but I think we all really lucked out on this one. Everyone involved in this production is a gem and a true pleasure to work with. I wish every show were like this.

Joseph Corri:::
Two weeks down and it has been too much fun. Amazing audiences loving the show, the cast still finding new things and having a blast. As primarily a film actor, this has been great...seeing people in the audience enjoying it so much. Especially the few who you can tell are trying to be shocked by some of the crudeness and then breaking down as they just can't stop themselves from laughing anymore.

On a movie set if you get the crew to laugh it ruins the shot and you have to do it again. You'll get a boom guy or prop master come up to you afterwords say," Wow, you were so funny." Not the same as a few hundred people exploding when they are surprised by something. The other big pleasure compared to film acting is getting to be so BIG AND CRAZY. Film is all about small, definitely not my job here!

Final note: The pleasure of working with these Houston actors. I have lived in LA for a long time now. Although I am from here, it has been a loooong time, and I will tell you; I get the pleasure to enjoy most of the first act along with y'all and these actors are at least as good
as any LA or NYC actor I have had the pleasure to work with. So enjoy them....and me, soon.

Brooke Wilson:::
What an amazing opening night and a fabulous audience! I have such an amazing time doing this show with an incredible group of people! Aside from my foot wanting to stay stuck on the top of the stripper pole when I hike my leg up (giggles), I think it was a pretty uneventful performance as far as mishaps. I can't wait to see where the rest of the run takes us! Thanks so much for coming out and supporting us and Stages!

Luisa Amaral-Smith:::
I just want to mention again, how extraordinary my colleagues are in talent and character (their own) and what a privilege it has been to appear on stage with them. I will miss them terribly when our show is over and pray that our paths will cross again. Bravo to our director, Brad Dalton, cast and crew! The backstage crew is making it possible for things on stage to appear effortless, they do amazing work! Everyone has been a dream to work with. And on that note...I was thinking recently about our greatest UNSUNG HERO, Karen Mata, our outstanding and remarkable Stage Manager.....I don't think audiences realize how pivotal the SM role is. It is the Stage Manager who calls the show--giving technical, lighting & sound cues. And there are so many in this production! She also makes sure everything is set properly before the show begins--taking care of all our needs and much, much more. Honestly, I don't know how Karen does it all--but she does it beautifully, professionally and flawlessly...she has our complete respect and admiration. She is our ROCK!

Luisa Amaral-Smith:::
Our production of NICKEL AND DIMED has indeed inspired the "passionate dialogue" I had imagined it would....our Talk Back sessions (Question & Answer, and Comment period following the production) have been most interesting, insightful, and frustrating, because there is no simple, clear-cut solution to the issue of living and surviving on minimum wage. We just have to keep searching for answers and ways in which each of us can contribute to a society that seeks to improve itself and strives to be compassionate.

Connie Cooper:::
Radio interviews and Ernie Manouse's show on PBS on Wednesday, June 1st. Please tune in at 11pm!!

Connie Cooper:::
What an exciting opening weekend!! Reviews come out tomorrow. Crossed fingers for a great one.
For such a technically challenging play things are rocking right along. This is the most wideranging role of my life with mountains of lines and action. To tell you the truth, I am exhausted and totally exhilarated all at the same time. Come see the show--we never stop.
Connie

Luisa Amaral-Smith:::
I'm going to be very interested to learn what people take home from this play. I hope it will inspire passionate dialogue - there are so many things to consider and ponder. I love the focus on the human condition and the relationships we create; the things we need to survive and thrive. We are all so alike in many ways and yet different (I discovered this growing up as an Army brat, having lived in so many different places.) Everyone, regardless of what they do or where they come from or what they look like, deserves respect, compassion and loving-kindness.

Luisa Amaral-Smith:::
Can't wait to see how our first Preview Audience reacts to the show
tonight...

I had mentioned in my last post that this production is both exhilarating and
challenging for me; exhilarating in that I am having such a blast jumping from one role into
another. It's just a dream to have this opportunity to create a variety of characters in a single production. The challenging aspect of course is the fast pace of the production and how quickly we must "morph" backstage into different characters (and additional responsibilities which are happening backstage.) It's like being on a roller coaster ride - I love every minute of it!

You don't want to miss this show!!!!
Luisa Amaral-Smith

Connie Cooper:::
When Brad Dalton came to LA to invite me to play Barbara in "Nickel and Dimed," I was flattered and very excited that the schedule worked right in to the "hiatus" from Pilot and film season.

What an adventure we are having! I love Stages. I have never done a play accompanied by a musician! It is so much fun and adds so much. The cast and crew are the best and Brad is our fearless leader. Great ideas, always. So supportive. He has his hands so full with a technically demanding play.

I haven't "blogged" until now, because I have been intently trying to learn this huge piece to take us all on Barbara's journey.

Our run through Sunday night was so encouraging!!

Cheers,
Connie

Luisa Amaral-Smith:::
The rehearsal period is concluding for our production and just a heartbeat away is our Opening Night (heartbeat racing here)...

From my vantage point->
I believe the audience is in for a thrilling and profound experience...be ready to laugh and be moved, simultaneously (that happens in real life, right?)

Personally, performing this play is both exhilarating and challenging (I'll explain why next time.) It is an enormous blessing and privilege for me to be a part of this production and I am awed and inspired by the talent and skill of my colleagues on stage, Brad Dalton (our awesome director), the crew and the entire Artistic Team...just cannot praise their work and dedication enough!

Luisa Amaral-Smith

Elena Coates:::
If you like the thrill that only live theatre can bring - and by that I mean flirting with disaster for a full two hours - then come see THE DEAD GUY! Up front let me say that every audience gets a top-quality show no matter what happens. However, some nights are a little more challenging than others.

Last night, we had patrons sitting on the floor level in wheelchairs; we had to be aware of this because of the furniture coming in and out, and also because when the audience is that close, they're practically on stage. I'm still not sure how the crew got all the set pieces on and off - they're AMAZING!

But the real thrill came during the last scene: The video cable for the on-stage camera came loose and there was NO video feed into the on-stage TVs for the show's finale. My mind was racing while I said my lines - I went through my mental checklist: Yes, I had turned on all of the TV monitors; yes, they were working, as they were flashing the APPLAUSE signs; so it was the feed into the camera that wasn't working. The only thing I could try was to check the connection, and so I found a moment to check the cable and it had, indeed, come unplugged.

I plugged it in, and all was well; everything worked perfectly for the rest of the show.... THANK GOD!!! Twelve shows down - three more to go - what will happen next!?!?!?!?

Elena Coates:::
THE DEAD GUY, as a show about reality TV, is - necessarily - a technological world. There are elements that would never be considered in any other stage presentation - logos, graphics, theme songs, "bumpers", etc. Our video designer, Tim Thomson, has created the slickest, coolest videography ever seen on our stages. But all technology, no matter how sopisticated, rests on some pretty basic elements. You have to have electricity. You have to have video feed. Oh, and you have to turn on the TV, or you can't see a damn thing.

This last thing is the bane of my existence in this show. I am responsible for turning on the TVs in the final scene of the play, which communicate critical information to the audience. And sometimes they don't work. It's maddening. Once I forgot to turn on one of the monitors - just plain forgot. And most of the time the large-screen TV has technical difficulties that make it either hard or downright impossible to see the information, depending on the problem. The worst moment is when we have one of these glitches and I can see the audience in a certain section rise up in their seats, craning their necks to try to look at a different monitor to see the information that has the rest of the audience gasping.

We have back-ups. All the crew and house management are focused on making these technological moments happen flawlessly. But there is always room for error - no matter how hard we try. And believe me, we are trying!

Whatever happens, the show is a riot and everyone eventually gets the info they need, but as a separate character on stage, "Technology" is not always the easiest cast member to work with!

Adrianne Kipp:::
Wow! What a fantastic opening weekend! The audiences were spectacular and it was so wonderful to have verbal feedback. I know we have all worked very hard and it was such a good feeling to have an audience to go through the journey with us. I hope word gets out and we have another week of full houses!

Adrianne Kipp:::
Last night was final preview and though I had yet another technical costume error, I think I have exhausted them all. Tonight, will be, God willing, wardrobe-malfunction-free. Yea! I felt good about my performances last night and I am hopeful that tonight will be a great time and go smooth!
I really felt that the audience had a good time last night, which is such a great feeling.

Breaking legs, we will be!!!

Dwight Clark:::
Okay, so, What a ride we've all been on so far. We just came off our second preview audience and, Damn, what a ride. Can't wait for opening night and the rest of the run. I can tell, already, that I will be sad to let Eldon go. AREN' T WE ALL? (vote to live, vote to live, vote to live).

"what is this an awards acceptance speech?"
I don't think I could ever thank the genuises enough who have been a part of this production and help bring this "ride" to life more than those who are "behind the curtain" and make us look so great. You know who you are, you're the best.

okay, enough of that crap.

AND THE CAST? HANDS DOWN.

luv, eldon