Tailor progress report

So it's looking like I am definitely going to need to split Tailor into multiple episodes. The story has become so large and so complex that I think breaking it down into chunks of about thirty minutes or so is the only way to present it in manageably coherent form. To that end, I think I have finished the script for the first episode, which I shall title "The Gown." It has come out fairly well, I think, and is currently under review by myself and a trusted editor or two. I feel good about it, especially since now I have a solid piece to go through at our read through a week from today. I would like to go even further, though, if for no other reason than a couple of my actors that will be in attendance next Friday only have a couple of lines in the first episode despite a larger presence in later parts of the story. I'd like them to have a little bit more to read than that.

On the note of actors, I have finally cast the piece as well. As I said, this was a surprisingly difficult process given that as my personal, unaffiliated project I could cast it however I wanted. A lot of these roles could easily be switched because of the talent of my actors, but I think this is a pretty solid cast. I'm pleased with it at least.

And so, the cast of The Tailor of Riddling Way:
TOM BARROWS, a local tailor and dressmaker - Jonathan Plesser
ALICE LORING, young heiress to the wealthy Loring estate - Gigi Geller
EMMA LORING, aunt to Alice, once involved in the family business, now a spinster withdrawn from society - Sami Genstein
CONSTANCE DANBURY, aunt to Alice, in her youth a student at university until a spate of ill health, now chronically indisposed - Steph Karol
EDMUND DANBURY, gentleman of old and powerful background, married to Constance, current proprietor of Loring Textiles - Casey Roberts
ROWAN LORING, father to Alice, popular gentleman about town, now local hero after dying in action in WWI - Jonathan Kindness
BETHANY LORING, aunt to Alice, beloved baby of the family until her still-unsolved death at her debutante ball - Carolyn Daitch
REGINALD LORING, Loring family patriarch, father to Rowan, Emma, Constance, and Bethany, captain of industry and prominent citizen - Dave Benger
SUSAN WARREN - longtime housekeeper at Loring's End, deeply devoted to the family - Charlotte Oswald
ABIGAIL BARROWS - mother to Tom, accomplished dressmaker and embroiderer who passed on her knowledge to her son - Caitlin Partridge
JOHN CRIER - young policeman investigating the murder at Loring's End - Andrew Prentice
KENNETH GARNER - local ne'er-do-well, known around town as a drunk - Jared Hite
DELLA CARRUTHERS - proprietor of a popular local working-class pub, friend to Tom - Jenn Giorno

At least, that's the characters I know already exist. I may add more as the script is written out. At the moment, I actually have one more part that I hadn't originally planned on including and now need an actor for. The role is male, and though I know a number of talented male actors I could ask, the one complication is that the actor must be able to put on a slight-- slight, mind you, NOT strong --German accent. I'll have to ask around about that. If anyone knows anyone, let me know, and of course if you fit that description feel free to volunteer.



Merely Players cast list!

After a great deal of wrangling, adapting, and making hard decisions, with the release of the Margaret list I was able to nail down the cast of Merely Players. Our ragtag but intrepid troupe The Walking Shadows shall be portrayed as follows:

Cornelia, the Director - Stephanie Karol
Sylvia, the Ingenue - Gabrielle Geller
Dionyza, the Diva - April Farmer
Malcolm, the Lead - Ben Federlin
Orlando, the Lover - Andrew Prentice
Arcite, the Fool - Lenny Somervell
Valeria, the First Chorus - Jenna Schlags
Cressida, the Second Chorus - Emma Lieberman
Charmian, the Third Chorus - Miriam Goldman
Audrey, the Stage Manager - Carolyn Daitch

As always, I had more people than I could use, which meant some talented, awesome actors could not be cast. And since I'd made a promise to prioritize those with smaller roles or no roles in Margaret, or even those that weren't booked up by other shows, that meant certain poeple who I would normally leap to work with could not be chosen in fairness to the stated mission. *sigh* Let it not be said that I am not a woman of my word, even when it requires me to make some cuts that pain me. It was really important to me to do right by the club, and I feel like I can say that I did.

Looking at the complete list, it strikes me how little overlap there is with this list with those of the previous shows I've directed. To Think of Nothing had three actors in common with Hamlet, probably the three that struck me the most with their particular abilities, while this show has none. There's only one actor from To Think of Nothing in it, though not for lack of trying. Much as I miss them, it does kind of make me feel good that I was able to use a number of people tried out for To Think of Nothing that I wasn't able to cast that time, not for their lack of talent, but just because I didn't have room. I assured them once that I still though they were worthy in my estimation even though I had no parts for them, and it's kind of nice to be able to make good on that assurance now. And it's good to work with new people, to vary up your theatrical experience. It may help me improve and grow as a director.

The first read through is tonight. As I did for To Think of Nothing, I plan on cooking dinner for all those lovely souls who will be contributing their time and effort to act out this play. I think it's a nice way to start off the working relationship. Got to win goodwill from your actors straight off, and God knows if you feed those creatures you've won their loyalty for life.

To Think of Nothing cast

After much pondering, struggle, and debate, I finally cast To Think of Nothing and sent the list out today. Though I'm very pleased with my final decision, I'm still hating myself for who I had to cut. I am not just trying to be nice when I say that every single person I saw deserved a part in this show, and I would have loved to have them in it.

Anyway, here is my final decision:

Cassander - Jared Hite
Andromeda - Frances Kimpel
Thalia - Stephanie Karol
Euphrosyne - Caitlin Patridge
Aglaea - Liz Baessler
Damon - Jonathan Plesser
Selene - Charlotte Oswald
Palamon - Jonathan Kindness

An excellent lot right there. Though I had to exclude some who where also excellent, unfortunately. It tears me that I couldn't find a place for Brenda. Lenny was fantastic, and is an amazing actress, and I have always wanted to direct her. But she's going to be directing the mainstage HTP show Julius Caesar next semester. Not only is she going to have a ton of responsibilites for that, scheduling her would probably have been a bitch. And likely my timeframe will be kind of tight. I hope they all understand. :-( Because I really do feel bad. Maybe people will be willing to understudy.

I need to focus on the fact that I have a really great cast right there. Heh. I've never been so happy and so sad right after giving out roles before. A new experience. I printed up scripts today as well, and packaged them in little envelopes with the recipient's name and role on them. I shall have them messengered (read: chase people down and hand them over myself) soon, and then we'll try and find a time for the readthrough.