Happy Thanksgiving

To:  Cast and Crew
From:  John McC

Happy Thanksgiving everybody....if you are traveling, hope it is safe...during our little break please look over lines and blocking...we will meet again on Sunday at 3:00 for a tech rehearsal...next week of course is full run-throughs each night...

Enjoyed rehearsal tonight...so much just seemed to fall in place tonight...it allowed me to make some nice changes/improvements/tweeking...a big thank you to everyone for your time and hard work...

Two Rehearsals This Week

To:  "Carol" Cast and Crew
From:  John McC

Well, first of all, a huge "thank you" to all who were able to ride the float last night...when the flot went past our judges platform I was very proud...I was very proud of you all and of the Theatre and of the show...the float looked great!!!...but most importantly, it did exactly what it needed to do - it served as super advertising...thousands of people saw and heard of the upcoming performances of "A Christmas Carol"...hopefully the phone will ring of the hook tomorrow...

As you are talking up the show, try to push the first weekend...the theory behind doing two weekends of shows is to get people there the first weekend so they go out and tell people about it and then those people come see the show the second weekend...it is a theory - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't...tell folks that there are special activities in the Little Theatre on opening night - music by Allegheny Sounds, a Wassail Bowl, and "munchies"...

TWO rehearsals this week - Monday and Tuesday...if all goes well, we might just run the show twice each night...NO BOOKS ON STAGE, please...if you have costume business, etc...please come a few minutes early to take care of those duties so we can get a start on time...

Just Announced:

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JUST ANNOUNCED:

The award-winning Allegheny Sounds, under the direction of Linda Wrhen, will be performing in the Barrow Little Theatre as part of the opening night festivities for the FCOA production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

Opening night of "A Christmas Carol" is December 4th. Beginning at 7:00pm, for those who are attending the performance, there will be a wassail bowl, hors d'oeures, and music in the Barrow Little Theatre. In addition, there will be over 35 beautifully decorated holiday trees in the lobby. The performance of "A Christmas Carol" begins at 8:00pm.

For show tickets, please call 437-3440 or purchase tickets online at www.barrowtheatre.com

The Charles Dickens holiday classic "A Christmas Carol" plays LIVE on December 4, 5, 11, and 12 at 8:00pm. A special matinee is scheduled December 13 at 2:00pm. "A Christmas Carol" stars Al Shilling as Scrooge and is directed by John McConnell. The production managers are Cooper Oliver and Jeri Bolton.

Lots to do...

To:  "Carol" Cast
From:  John

There are lots of things to do tonight...first and foremost, we need to run the show in sequence...by doing so we get a sense of "a show" - a sense of "a story"...sequence is especially important to our Scrooge...he has a lot of lines and a lot of time on stage (never off)...he needs to feel the "flow"...

We should be adding the narrator tonight...aka - Charles Dickens...this will be fun...

I will need a few minutes to talk to the "crowd"...we need to find our little groups again...use more of the stage...be creative with "business"...

We will want to have the Cratchits use a real table and chairs...I think that will help make a little more sense of what is going on there...

Everyone needs to be out-of-book as much a possible (did everyone notice Scrooge did a wonderful job off-book on Monday - yeah, Al!!!)...also, lots and lots of projection of voices and faces - out to the audience...(by the way, everybody selling tickets?)

I could go on and on...the important thing here is that there is a rehearsal tonight...see you then...

PS...have you noticed a little excitement brewing in town?...I think a holiday is in the brew and I think there is a show being produced about this holiday...come, stir the brew...

Fine Arts Council Raffle

To:  Cast and Crew
From:  John McC

Franklin Fine Arts Council Raffle
(benefit: annual arts scholarship)

$5.00 each - 3 for $10.00
Drawing: December 2, 2009

Holiday Basket contains:
-- Two (2) tickets to “A Christmas Carol”
(live at the Barrow Theatre 12/4, 5, 11, 12, & 13)
(presented by Franklin Civic Operetta Association)
-- $30.00 gift certificate to Bella Cucina
-- Snowman Blanket
-- Cookie Jar and Tea Pot
-- numerous other holiday items
Total value: over $150

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING ANY RAFFLE TICKETS, PLEASE SEE ME

Show Shirts

From:  Jeri Bolton, producer

Please post onto the blog: T-shirts
Cast members can choose long sleeve or short sleeve t-shirts.


Long SLEEVE T-SHIRTS --$13.00
Short sleeve T-shirts--$9.00

You can also choose if you would like forest green or cardinal red (that is a deeper red)

T-shiirts will be embroidered with the "AChristmas Carol" logo.

At rehearsal tonight, Jeri get sizes.

Jeri needs money for the shirts by Thursday night. So please bring cash for your shirt to rehearsal on Thursday.

The Next Step

To: "Carol" Cast

From: John McC

Well, here we are...ready to take the next step...Monday (November 16) at 7:00pm we will be on the main stage and we will run the entire show from the beginning to the end...I am sure there are some blocking things that will need fixed - so we will...there are also a couple of things that have to be added - don't panic...the cast has been wonderful through the blocking process - thank you to each and everyone of you...I must admit, I am excited for the first run-through...

Cooper told me today that the "load in" went very well...thank you to all that were able to help...

Thank you to Ed and Jeri for decorating the front window of the Theatre...appreciated...(can the lights be on - or are you saving that for Light Up Night?)

This is a good time to be "talking up" the show to potential ticket buyers...Cooper has ticket order forms for any cast members who need them...remember: all cast members receive one complimentary ticket...

THIS WEEK:
- Monday...7:00pm...Main Stage...Entire Show
- Tuesday...6:00pm...Main Stage...final costume fitting for entire cast AND set painting with Ed
- Thursday...7:00pm...Main Stage...Entire Show
- Saturday...Light Up Night Parade...(final details forthcoming)

BECAUSE WE ARE ON THE MAIN STAGE THIS WEEK, PLEASE ENTER THROUGH THE STAGE DOOR AT THE BACK OF THE THEATRE - ON BUFFALO STREET...THE STAGE DOOR IS THE ONE AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP...(THAT WAS FOR ANY NEWCOMERS)...STAY ONLY IN THE MAIN STAGE AREA - DO NOT GO INTO THE LOBBY AREA...

Rounding the turn...

To:  "Carol" Cast and Crew
From:  John McC

Well, we're here...rounding the final turn - getting ready to come down the home stretch...

1.  Last night's rehearsal was great...you all are so talented...thanks

2.  Thursday, November 12...7:00pm...(who knows - LT or Lobby - be surprised like me)...final blocking rehearsal...that's scenes 22, 24, and 25 (like the schedule says)...so, we'll need to see only Scrooge, Buck, Fred, Kate, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim...(no London "crowd" folks)

3.  Sunday, November 15...1:00pm - 2:30pm...Ed Ramage needs as many people helping him as possible to "load in"...that means bringing set pieces, furniture, props, costumes, etc...from the warehouse to the theatre...if you have access to a truck or a van, please let us know or just show up...please - everyone be there to help - feel free to bring a friend or family member to help...the more the merrier and the quicker it gets done...plan to meet at the stage door area (top of ramp at the back of the theatre on Buffalo Street)

4.  Monday, November 16...7:00...Main Stage (?)...the entire show!!!!!

5.  Tuesday, November 17...6:00pm...(no rehearsal)...HOWEVER...final costume fitting for ALL cast members AND set painting (dress accordingly - bring a friend)...

6.  Thursday, November 19...7:00pm...Main Stage (?)...the entire show!!!!

Tonight - Tuesday - Rehearsal

To:  Cast and Crew
From:  John McC

Tonight we welcome the Ghost of Christmas Present...Ho Ho Ho and Ha Ha Ha...
...the scenes tonight are:
#12 - minus the "crowd" of Londoners tonight, Scrooge, and Christmas Present
#13 - that's the entire Cratchit family, Scrooge and Christmas Present
#14 - Fred, Kate, and "Fred's Party" people, Scrooge and Christmas Present
#15 - Scrooge, Ghost of Christmas Present
#16A - that's Ignorance and Want, Scrooge and Christmas Present

Did everyone read the posting on 'Work Sessions"?...please read - everyone!

Thursday we finish blocking the show...Next week we start putting everything together (hopefully it will look like a show)...Has everyone been "talking it up" - we need ticket sales...

Night Off!

To:  "Carol" cast and crew
From:  John McC

1.  You are right...no rehearsal tonight (Monday - 11/9)...Go Steelers!!!!...tomorrow night (Tuesday - 11/10) is all the scenes with the Ghost of Christmas Present...this includes everyone in those scenes but NOT the London "crowd"

2.  I went to see Disney's "A Christmas Carol"...very Disney...over all, not bad...can't say that it is my favorite...really liked:  the costumes, "crowd" pieces of business, music, Marley's ghost, and ghost of  Christmas Future...would have liked it better in 3-D...I thought it was too scary for kids...

3.  If you haven't read the posting on "work session" etc...please do...

Update and Clarification:

To:  "Carol" Cast
From:  John McC

For the rehearsals this week (Tuesday - 10th and Thursday - 12th) the "crowd" is not needed...their blocking for their scenes is all in place.

Work Sessions

To:  "Carol" Cast and Crew
From:  John McC

At the production meeting on Thursday we (tentatively) set the following:

Sunday, November 15..."Load-In"...1:00pm-2:30pm...cast members, friends, and family are needed to move set pieces, props, costume items, etc...from the warehouse to the Theatre...if you have access to  a truck or van, please let us know...the more people the easier and quicker the work...

Tuesday, November 17...6:00pm...(no rehearsal is scheduled)...however, cast members, friends, and family are needed to help Ed Ramage paint the set pieces...ALSO...for all cast members, this evening will be the final costume fitting with the costume ladies...

Saturday, November 21...LIGHT-UP NIGHT PARADE...the cast will need to be at the Theatre at 5:00pm to put on costumes...5:15pm leave to go to the float...5:30pm gather and get positioned in the parade...the parade begins at 6:00pm...Please:  there is to be no candy thrown from the float...if you have a friend or family member who would like to walk along side the float to hand out candy and flyers, this would be good...

Saturday, November 28...(no set times at this moment)...Ed Ramage will be needing help setting lights in the morning and early afternoon...in later afternoon and evening, Ed will need help doing the final "assembling" of the set...

NOTE FROM THE COSTUMERS:
1.  All cast members will be responsible for their own shoes and socks...NO tennis shoes or sneakers...dark dress type shoes for the men...dark character shoes or slipper type shoes for the women...
2.  NEEDED...men's white (or light) dress shirts - any size...donated - not to be returned...

Looking Ahead

To:  Cast and Crew
From:  John McC

Thank you to the "crowd" folks last night...we went through their scenes...the costume people were able to talk to and measure all those they needed...a lot of little stuff got taken care of in addition to their scenes...

The production meeting was "productive" - as it should be...again, a lot of little stuff got taken care of...

There are only two rehearsals next week!  (Monday is off for the benefit of all the Steeler fans...specifically Scrooge and me)

* Tuesday (11/10)...7:00pm...Lobby/Little Theatre...everyone in scenes 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, &  16 ...  note:  this is a slight change...on the schedule it calls for Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present only...I would like everyone in those scenes...sorry for any problems...if you had made other plans that can not be changed, I understand...



* Thursday (11/12)...7:00pm...Lobby/Little Theatre...everyone in scenes 22, 24, and 25

It's Not Too Early

To:  Cast and Crew
From:  John McC

I am getting ready to go to the Theatre for a 6:00pm production meeting and a 7:00pm rehearsal (all the scenes with the "crowd" etc...)

I wanted to suggest to everybody that it is not to early to start telling your friends and family about the show.  Encourage them to attend.  Encourage them to make it a part of their holiday.  Suggest they take someone (a neighbor, relative, church friend, etc...) as a holiday gift.  Remind everyone that the show is very "family friendly."  Make a list of people that you want to call.  Use your email listings to spread the word.  Use your facebook to spread the word.  SELL TICKETS!!!!!  GET AN AUDIENCE!!!!

I am a strong believer that WE are the ones that have to spread the word and build our audience.

Looking forward to a good meeting and rehearsal.  Will be updating with more info soon.

Tonight's Rehearsal

Tonight's (Tuesday, Nov. 3) rehearsal is at 7:00pm in the Theatre's Lobby.  We will be done between 8:30pm and 8:45pm.  Tonight's rehearsal covers all scenes with the Ghost of Christmas Future - those are scenes 16-B (where the Ghost of Christmas Future enters) through (and including) scene 21.  So, check your scene listing, and if you are in one of those scenes, we will need see you tonight.

Bravo to the "crowd"...last night we roughed out the three crowd scenes...we will build upon them a little more on Thursday...

There is a production staff meeting on Thursday at 6:00 for the people in charge of props, costumes, lights, sound, sets, etc...