February 18, 2006

AllStars


We had a good rehearsal today, even if it was just three of them. We worked on monologues while we focused on detail and how to get content out of the stories and worked on linking that content into our scenes.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 10:49 PM

February 03, 2006

High Octane

Suggestion (Something worth Fighting For): Chocolate Cookies

Only eight scenes this week. This is a good thing, as it means over the same amount of time, we were able to play longer scenes. This means the work that we have been doing around scenic devices to explore characters and relationship are working and allowing us to play with the pacing.

We put some tough restrictions on the team members individually last night to make people work outside of their comfort zones. I think it's incredibly important that they are constantly pushing at their edges to see that they are actually capable of more than they thought.

We didn't get a location for a suggestion, instead we asked for something worth fighting for. This allowed for us to play more of a thematic set vs. a series of scenes in the same place.

I really think the ladies had a great set tonight as they attacked the stage and their scenes with the notes that we gave them right from the beginning. Sara was agressive and looked to toy with the scenes, Carolyn allowed herself to be uncomfortable and to be MADE uncomfortable and Katie made different physical choices throughout the show.

That being said, EVERYONE attacked the stage with the intensity and energy that I have been asking them for and pushing them at. Just about all of the scenes had a high level of energy, and the team was incredibly tuned in to one another, allowing them for lightning fast tag outs and scenic choices. The intensity also allowed them to have longer scenes because they were tuned in, listening and interested in their own work and the work of their teammates.

And from now, Carolyn's name is Steve.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 03:11 PM | Comments (1)

December 31, 2005

High Octane

Suggestion: Gym

Eleven scenes. There is a concreteness in characters that is growing within the group that definitely needs to be fostered. The use of names and stronger physical choices will make the feeling that the audience recognizes a specific character a concrete and conscious realization that will take them to the next level right along with the team.

Katy and Sarah had some serious dedication to characters that had a darker side to them, which allowed for the uncomfortable comedy that I so enjoy to come out.

All of the scenes had continuity and a scattershot effect that was closer to a "Day(s) in the life of this Gym(school)" than to a linear timeline that had a beginning, middle and end. It was great to see them experiment with discomfort, and I look forward to our next rehearsal where we will continue to play with time and character.

There were some dropped opportunities for callbacks and theme that we talked about in post-game, and it lead me to wonder how we can work on bringing the first scene back around at the end (or at least the thematic) so that we can put a period on the entire show.

Some of the members are at the stage where they are questioning their intuition and I love to tell them, "YES!! YES!! Do that..give in to that feeling and do it!" It marks the next steps on their journey as they are starting to become self-aware naturally through their improv. That is, they are dedicating themselves to the scene so much that they are having impulses that they aren't "thinking" about first.

I love this part.

It was an awesome show, and I'm really looking forward to this month and the Cat Fight

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 07:30 PM

November 10, 2005

Making the Leap

Tonight, the All Starz are making the leap to High Octane. No cometition, just out there having fun. High Octane is a great opportunity to strut our stuff, and I really think that the team is ready for it. After five wins in a row at the Cat Fight and another competition tonight, we're feeling pretty good.

Of course, the Idiot Savants are not a team to take lightly, but I have faith that we will prevail.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)

October 31, 2005

Yet Another Win

Thursday night was a great show and a well deserved win. The suggestion was "Sacrifice" for a location, and the virginal chairs took to the stage.

It was hard to come up with an All Star for the show as everyone was on their marks throughout, but Carolyn shined just a little brighter with her two moments of reality amidst the surreal with her mother and her sheep that wanted to be the sacrifical, um, lamb.

Rehearsal on Saturday went extremely well, and with only two more performers left on the 'personal treatment' list, I think the team is really starting to gel, and it is evident in just about all their work. I don't think I can repeat just how impressed and proud I am with their continued improvement and the great shows that they are putting on stage.

Rock on, All Starz, Rock on!

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)

September 26, 2005

Marked Improvement

We've been doing some personalized workshopping over the last few weeks. We've been examining two players a week, giving half of the rehearsal to each for building them up and examining both strengths and weaknesses. We've delved into the energetic, the emotional, wants and touched a little, little on seduction.

I want to use this more as it relates to want, and not as it always relates to sexual seduction. I want to see the team work on getting what they want through seduction. Be it mental, physical, emotional, etc. I just need to formalize the exercises that I want to use. There are three players specifically that I want to turn on to these techniques as I think they will make awesome tools on their utility belts. Not that they aren't tools for everyone, but these three would benefit most.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)

May 23, 2005

Other Bloggers blogging CTAS

Sara had comment on Saturday's Rehearsal, here.

I'd like a car with a tail.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 11:34 AM | Comments (0)

May 15, 2005

All Starz - Week Two.

Everyone is improving and it's only our second week. The hard and fast character workshop that we did this week seemed to spark some new ideas in the group, and we actually did a twelve minute speed harold, sans the games or the run (or as I like to call it - the "intersection", because there is a lot of traffic and all the scenes come together).

Those two things could easily bring us up our 25 minute time, so we are defintiely on track.

The most awesome part of the whole process, though, is the fun of discovery that everyone is having (including Clif and I), and how we are quickly gelling as an ensemble.

Good work this week everyone, Saturday is going to bring it all together.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)

May 09, 2005

Chuck Taylor All Starz

Saturday was a great day. It was beautiful outisde and a great morning to rehearse in Ann Arbor. The Chuck Taylor All Starz (CTAS) took compelte advantage of the opportunity and we worked a three hour three hour workshop which will be known from here forward as "The Harold Express" That's right, the first five weeks of IO in three hours.

It was a blast.

The members of CTAS took to the form well and although there are a few kinks that will need to be worked through, I forsee great things from these talented performers, some very great things.

Thank you all for a great time, I can't wait for next Saturday.

Posted by Chuck Charbeneau at 11:52 AM | Comments (0)