Cindy Ripley

I completely enjoyed my time this week with this amazing group of people!  All such wonderful artists and humans!  Especially the 'Talented Cindy Ripley' !  I haves been changed for the better:)

King and I week has come to an end.

What a fantastic week!  The kids were wonderful, but the directorial staff even better!

On Thursday we all moved into an Off-Broadway Theater on 43rd called West End Theater.  It was a perfect space for this workshop.  And the kids were super excited to be there.  There was still not a complete run-thru at this point.  Side note - most of these kids were really pushed to bring their best work.  Some were pushed to the line, and they are all leaving with a better understanding of the whole Acting/Singing process.

On Friday, aside from the parents, there were quite a few people in attendance. Some people from the Roger's and Hammerstein Estate (licensing agency), the music editor for the piece, Bayork Lee, and friends and co-workers of the staff.  The kids did a wonderful job!

First day of rehearsals! Whoop whoop!

Such a nice cool morning to wake up to! We has a nice rain cooling us down overnight. Nice Birthday weather - thank you!!!

I arrived at the space early and was met with a small crowd of parents and kids and some of the iTheatrics/MTI team.  What a great assembly of talent yet to come .  These kids are absolutely wonderful!  (Second to our Treehouse kids - of course!).  The morning was a process of auditions without a traditional audition process.  Ms. Cindy Ripley taught a song and then one by one people were asked to 'popcorn up' to sing about 8 measures of that song.  3-4 songs later into that process the team knew who they would want to read.  (Note to Cassie, Abby and Ethan - Wear your name tag up close to your neck). By noon the casting process was done.  

What an amazing team!  Cindy, Tim, Marty and Tiffany have done this so often their conversations are quick, low key and easy, sometimes finishing each other's sentences.

The day was ended with a circle-up and reflect time.  It was super useful to all, I think.  Deanne - kudos - you already have this process down so well!

I would like to thank all those kids for my wonderful birthday song!  Wow what a treat!

Tomorrow the 'meat and potatoes' of the rehearsal happens.

Cannot wait!

Oh! Almost forgot!  The Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is tomorrow too!!!!!!

MTI rehearsal location

In the Big Apple

I arrived in NYC last night where I used a bus, a train and a taxi to get to my location up on the heights (192nd st).  I was reminded of the warmer weather and the need for a body that can handle exertion.  Hmmmm.  Little adjustment needed.  

This morning I woke up refreshed and ready to go!  When I walked out my door and across the street to the A train station- they were doing weekend work on the tracks- the station was closed, so I would need to take a bus to the train to the city.  Ok.  Interesting group on the weekend bus.  Older Dominican and Russian couples mostly and I imagined they were going to meet up with other family members for their Sunday.  

When I arrived at the 42nd street stop I went straight to the rehearsal location (since it changed) to scope it out.  I had lunch at a great Italian restaurant outdoors.

  

Yum!

I am now sated and waiting in a line in sweltering heat with sweat dripping down my back, but happy as a clam - because..... I'M ABOUT TO SEE IDINA MENZEL!!!!!!!!!!  Whoop whoop!  

Yeah Idina!!!!

On my way!

Hello!  Jennifer Kasten here - Artistic Director for Treehouse Theater.  I am so excited to share this part of Treehouse's journey with you!  I am currently still in WI at the Milwaukee Airport waiting for the plane - but not in this state for long. :)  

For those of you who are unaware of why I am going to NYC - 4 people out of 16 who put in their applications with MTI (Music Theater International) were awarded a Teacher Observership.  I am so super excited to be one of those 4!  MTI takes Broadway shows and re-works them to be appropriate for young kids both musically and dramatically.  They also take the 2-3 hour shows and shrink them to 60-90 minutes for the JR shows and 30 minutes for the KIDS shows.  MTI uses the summers to Workshop new KIDS and JR shows.  Workshopping a show is when the writers of the show gather a cast and have the cast perform the show without stage, costumes or set. It is performed for the writers, producers and a small audience to see what works, what doesn't and what needs to be changed - if anything.  In this case the MTI kids put together the show Monday-Thursday and perform on Friday. I will be observing one of the four  week-long workshops. The show is The King and I. Both Cindy Ripley and Marty Johnson will be among those I am observing.  I cannot wait to bring home new ideas to share!!!

More to come!  Tune in later :). Gosh, anyone remember tuning in a radio station!  (Eeek, I do)