Show Commentary
- Well you missed it! SNOOPY!!! is now history. Talk to people who saw it and find out what you missed. Certainly a feel good show with a lot of smiles and wonderful songs. A perfect cast who did a fantastic job at bringing the "Peanuts" characters alive on stage. The show pictures are now online.
The only good thing about missing this show is that this year you have the opportunity to see more shows remaining in this centennial year than ever before. The Governor's Son begins rehearsal this coming week. Nuncrackers starts rehearsal soon. Mark your calendar. Don't miss out on another OHP celebration season production.
- The second weekend begins, and this cast and crew are ready. They have a terrific time with this show and you can tell it on stage. We did pictures last night, and as you saw on the main SNOOPY!!! page, I had to share at least one.
Actually, with the wonders of digital photography, we took close to 600 shots of the show. We won't keep or share anywhere near that many, but as Tom Chandler says... "you take that many there are bound to be a few good ones."
When the show finishes it's run, I'll work to get pictures online.
- Opening night was an all around success! (Did you expect me to say anything different?<g>) The audience enjoyed themselves a great deal. I've said it before, and it bears repeating. There is nothing NOT to like about this show. Anyone who likes "Peanuts" will love this musical. That pretty much includes anyone who can read or who has been read to.
Add in the beautiful music from out talented cast and orchestra, and you have a wonderful night of entertainment. The beautifully redone Opera House does nothing but enhance the atmosphere, and the sound acoustics are perfect.
Wonderful entertainment, and more to come. The show continues tonight and runs next Thursday through Saturday (October 9, 10, 11, 2003) at 8pm at the Elkader Opera House. Be one of those lucky people who can say that they made it to every one of the Centennial Season shows! Make your plans now for SNOOPY!!! and take away a memory.
- I thought it was time for an opening week update. The cast is ready, the crew is putting final touches on lighting effects and setting things to give us just the right look. Sound has been working very well and is ready to go. The orchestra is working out the last few timing issues to get that cohesive sound we all want.
All in all, things are winding down quite well as we head toward opening. A final reminder to all you people out there. This is a wonderfully fun and deceptively simple show. There is a lot to like with SNOOPY!!!. This will be a show that leaves you smiling and huming a tune. It has simple thoughtful messages for people of all ages. You will take away from this show exactly what you need to take away. It seems to provide entertainment on multiple levels.
Take time in the next two weekends to smile, sigh, and laugh. You'll be better off because of it. Good seats are still left. I'll see you at the beautiful Elkader Opera House!
- Sound is onboard and working, lights are nearing completion. Tonight we run through things and get them set the way we want them to look. Although set is simple for this show, and the cast is small, on the technical front, there are a lot of things necessary to make this show special.
I must say it was a pleasure to walk around the theater last night as we were finishing up details with lights and listen to the beautiful sound coming off that stage and out of that pit. This is definitely a show that will leave you humming for days on end.
- We had our first run through of the full show last night and it went pretty well. I'd say very well, except that I am well aware that this cast can do much better. <g> I will continue to work to make things as close to perfect as we can get them. We've begun extensive work on lights and tomorrow I start working with sound. Hopefully I will have things ready to go by the night's rehearsal, then I can start to see how the show sounds as well. It has been sounding great, so that's not the question, it's just that with the addition of more orchestra members (we now have our drummer on board!) we need a bit more help to get the cast projecting out into the audience to balance things.
This would normally be the time where I was absolutely frantic and crazy. This cast, although they are having more fun then they should be allowed to have, are talented enough that I've let them get away with it thus far. (okay... I've even partaken in most of it!) The time has come to buckle down for the last two weeks to give you the show you've come to expect and deserve. Set time aside for SNOOPY!!! and get those tickets now!
- The rehearsal continue to go very well. Next week we drop books, which means that the cast should have their parts memorized (are you listening cast?). That will enable us to get much more picky in terms of facial expression and general character developement, since I will now be able to SEE their faces, and that's a good thing.
There are so many beautiful things about this show, and so many fun things about this show. I can't tell you how glad I am that we chose to do this one. I can tell you that when you show up and see these talented people on stage, and hear the songs, and laugh at the sillyness that is SNOOPY!!!, you will be glad as well. Get your tickets now!
- Rehearsals continue to go very well. We added a second keyboard to the rehearsal last night, and it was an wonderful change. Things are just filling out that much more. Some absolutely beautiful sounds. These are indeed fun songs both in terms of listening and singing. Of course, I find myself singing along quite a bit. I'll have to learn not to do that or the audience will keep turning around during the show and pointing at that guy in the back singing with the cast onstage.
We do have a ways to go of course. Now it is time to get this cast out of their books so we can begin hitting the details that will make this fun for the entire family. This cast is very capable, and I have no doubt that we will produce a show all will enjoy. This is one of those shows that has it all. Short little "comic strip" length routines as well as beautiful songs and sentiments. Something for everyone. Tickets are now onsale, and while you are at it, reserve you tickets for The Governor's Son and Nuncrackers coming yet this fall.
- We had a bit of fun over the weekend, sharing some of the upcoming shows with those in the McGregor / Marquette area for the weekend at the Labor Day Weekend Parade, also known as the Heritage Days Parade.
As you can see, we even had a nun walk with us as well (Barb Ruff representing the upcoming Nuncrackers show). Good representation and they loved us! (unless it was just the candy...<g>) Good fun was had by all, and lots of comments by people looking forward to all the shows.
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The rehearsals continue for Snoopy, as does the growth of the characters. I thought I'd share this one photo of our early rehearsals. It's always fun to watch the changes occur. This weekend, we do some set work. Additional lighting is ordered to help make this show special. We're doing our best to be ready for your with a fantastic rendition of SNOOPY!!!
- Just thought I'd bring you up to date on the first major rehearsal (after the read through last Wednesday.) There are some pretty tremendously talented people in this cast. I am impressed with the progress in one night with some not so easy songs.
(Cast members... if you are reading this, it doesn't mean I'm going to go soft on you, it simply means that I'll expect more. I know we have the capability to make this a phenominal show!)
Of course, knowing the cast is as talented as it is means that I have that much more to do as director, and more to expect out of the rest of the crews, such as lighting and sound. We will, of course, make this a show that you'll remember for quite some time. In doing so, we'll keep with the OHP show traditions and make the Centennial Season start off with the bang it deserves!
- The first read through for SNOOPY!!! went very well last night. We had an opportunity to hear not only the full dialogue, but also the songs. There is a great deal of beautiful music in this production. Music that will take full advantage of the wonderful voices in the cast. The musical styles vary as well, keeping everything fresh and interesting for the audience.
I'm also pleased to say that we were able to obtain five additional musical numbers that were added to the production during the show's run in London. These songs add much to the characters and the show itself.
Rehearsals start in earnest next week. As things progress, I'll try to get you some pictures of our progress. Stay tuned for a show that is definitely not "wishy-washy".
- I know, I know, you thought it would never happen. To be honest, with summer vacations, we have yet to contact everyone with their roles for this falls season of shows, however... I felt it was time to announce the cast for SNOOPY!!!
If there are any changes later, you can blame me for announcing early! <grin> The first read through is tonight however, so I'm pretty confident of all speaking parts. I'll try to let you know some things about how the cast did on their first read-through after tonight.
- For those of you watching and waiting. We have indeed made all the final decisions regarding the shows for this fall. We are in the process of contacting people with their roles. This is a rather more difficult task in the summer because of vacation schedules, and as I mentioned before, we don't release the entire cast online or to the newspapers until everyone has accepted their roles.
We are pretty confident in our casting however, and should you wish to know an answer before we've gotten to you on our lists, feel free to give us a call. As director for SNOOPY!!! I have that entire list. Our capable production head Kay Moser, has the show castings that are available for the other two shows. The SNOOPY!!! cast has pretty much been notified. I'm awaiting only two people to return from vacation, to be able to release that cast list.
I know it makes it difficult to wait, but we have always felt that individual contact of everyone who tried out is the only way to give notification. We greatly appreciate EVERYONE who wants to be part of OHP productions. As soon as any full cast is ready, I'll announce it online. Feel free to drop us a note (you can use the private section of the guestbook online if you so desire) if you want to know if you received a part before we get to you in our callbacks. We'll get back to you via email.
- We've scheduled out last makeup tryout and had meetings regarding the fall shows as well as the list of items we need to get done for completion of the renovation project before our 100th Anniversary in November.
As Director for Snoopy, I can let you know that I have finished the determination of casting for that show. I'll be making the calls beginning today. The last makeup tryout is tonight, but we also know that won't be affecting our casting for this show. As soon as everyone is notified and accepts their parts, I'll be announcing the full cast for Snoopy!!!
- We're BAAAACK! We have spent quite a bit of time discussing fall shows over the past 10 days. We still have a few people to see before we make our final decisions, but we will be contacting people soon with information about casting for the fall shows.
I must admit, we didn't spend the entire vacation planning for the fall. We did stop a few times to admire the views. Not that this has anything to do with Snoopy!!! but sometimes you just have to share.
- We were able to see several new people again last night for tryouts. There are a few that have contacted us that were not able, because of vacation schedules, to make either of the two tryouts this week. We are rescheduling those tryout and will hold old off on final decisions until we have seen everyone.
We hope to be able to announce the casting for these shows by the first week of August. I can let you know already, that we once again can guarantee several great shows! Some good voices, and good stage presence was seen over the past two nights. I know that we can build and improve greatly on what we saw and heard as well. Tryouts are always a nervous time for most people. They often go away thinking they didn't do their best. After directing several shows, and working with people who have spent even more time in theater, you get to understand just what people are capable of accomplishing. I have no doubt that we will be proving once again how talented the area actors are. Stay tuned!
- The first night of tryouts are finished. It was good to be back in the theater for the purposes of putting on a show! Nice to see so many familiar faces, and also, great to see new faces of people who want to be involved in this memorable centennial season.
Once again, the talent in this area is evident. It's good to see people who obviously enjoy the experience of amateur theater. The final productions always show that love and dedication.
There are a few people that we have yet to see. Some we will see tonight (Wed, July 16, 2003) and a few will have to wait until early August because of vacation time. With three shows to cast for this fall, it's extra work for me and and the rest of the directors of these three productions. It is something that we enjoy however, and certainly, something that I know that you will enjoy as well as we start our Centennial Season 2003-4
CHG