Now that I’m back to working full-time, blog writing has become a bit of a luxury. While Cue The Penguin! still provides my self-imposed daily escape, I haven’t had much time to roam around SL, save to grab some shots for Cue. Nonetheless, much is still happening in SL. A new CSI:NY mystery is afoot (watch this space for details coming soon) and I received the following notice in my inbox yesterday.
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Group Notice From: Ina Centaur
Bard’s Birthday 4/23 Special Performance…
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have finally settled the chaos of having to schedule a large international cast for a simultaneous live performance.
Join us at 6 PM SL Time, one week from today, at the SL Globe Theatre for a special advance showing of our second miniproduction — Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 2, a.k.a., The Mousetrap.
Thank you,
SL Shakespeare Company
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I don’t think I’ll be able to catch this preview, unfortunately, but will be on the look out for any video clip on this new production.
Received the following notecard in- world today from Ina Centaur, founder of the Company.
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The SL Shakespeare Company will be holding a round of open auditions for our upcoming Hamlet productions, the earliest of which opens on 4/23, with rehearsals beginning in early April. (In addition, we may also be performing a non-Hamlet scene in May. More details to come.)
Directions: Please be prepared to read a passage of your choice of the character you wish to perform, a passage of our choice of the same character, and possibly, an unrelated scene of our choice. (In addition, you may also show us a passage from another Shakespearean play.)
Criteria: Quality, availability, and SL Voice/mic clarity (sorry!). Evidence that you’ve practiced your lines a bit and are familiar enough with your character to do well on our “pop quiz” may help .
Technical Help: Please arrive an hour early (11 AM, SL Time) if you need help setting up, tweaking, or configuring your microphone for SL voice performances.
Also: Please email production@SLshakespeare.com with your availability for rehearsals beginning in early April. We will automatically add you to our repertory cast list, but that does not necessarily mean you get a role. (For those on the repertory cast, we will contact you prior to each production.)
We currently use a repertory cast system, where we will contact actors on a list prior to rehearsals for each production. Please note that the auditions are public, and we do hope to keep your voice on file (unless you specifically opt out) on a public “SL Theatre Open Audition Database”:
I caught the opening of the mini-production of Hamlet in SL on February 28th. The theatre was packed, which was great for the actors, but not so great for lag. I reported on this experience on the CNN iReport in SL blog.
In today’s meeting at the CNN Amphitheater, Henry iReport pointed out that a video clip of the same scene was available on YouTube. Although it’s not a clip of the actual production, it is the same scene, in the same location. At least, the costumes are visible. Thanks to Inacentaur for posting it.
In the works since 2003, a musical version of Stephen Spielberg’s film, Catch Me If You Can, has reached the workshop stage. Helmed by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the Tony-winning composing team behind Hairspray, it will star Nathan Lane as Carl Hanratty, the federal agent played by Tom Hanks in the movie. After a lengthy search, the role of Frank Abigail Jr, played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie, was awarded to relatively newcomer, Aaron Tveit.
The book is written by Terrence McNally (Love, Valour, Compassion, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Master Class, Corpus Christi).
Nathan mentioned the workshop during an interview on The View this week. Video here.
Intercepted this email in the SL Educators listserv this morning. One of the Lindens is actually performing…
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Humanities Curators, Theatre Aficionado, Shakespeare Fans, and Everyone Else!:
I am happy to announce the inaugural live performance of the SL Shakespeare Company to SLED. Each miniproduction will be showcasing a live scene from Hamlet, with a professional troupe, and photorealistic actors and historically accurate wardrobe and props.
Join us exactly one week from now, in-world at the SL Globe Theatre.
Playbill below ;-D
LIVE PERFORMANCE ON SLSC THURSDAY FEB 28, 6 PM SLT… and
Fri, Feb 29: 3 PM
Sat, Mar 1: 11 AM
Sun, Mar 2: 1 PM
Mon, Mar 3: 11 AM
Tues, Mar 4: 6 PM
Weds, Mar 5: —
Thurs, Mar 6: 3 PM
Fri, Mar 7: 1 PM
Sat, Mar 8: 6 PM
Sun, Mar 9: 3 PM
Came across a couple of interesting articles this weekend, dealing with sides of SL and theatre not often talked about, though both very important for each: sex and producing.
The National Post had a special feature this past weekend: The Love & Sex Issue. One of the article, Virtual Babylon, looked into the phenomenon of virtual sex in SL. It’s not a side of SL I’m much acquainted with, to be honest, but it was an interesting read. Not surprising that it can be a very lucrative business in SL
Picking up the cue from Steve, author of the best blog on Broadway (IMHO), Steve on Broadway, I thought I’d give this meme a try. Not living anywhere near New York, however, I’ll have to expand my area.
1. The first musical I ever saw on Broadway was (or if you haven’t seen a musical on Broadway): Dancin’ (1978). I was with my parents for a shoe tradeshow in New York. I was hooked!
2. The musical I would most like to see again is: The Producers. I never saw the Broadway production, but the Canadian one in Toronto, starring Seán Cullen as Max. It’s become my favourite musical. It’s coming to the Arts Club in May. Can’t wait to see it again.
3. The musical I never want to see again is:Sunset Boulevard.It played in Vancouver with Diahann Carroll as Norma Desmond and Rex Smith as Joe. I won the tickets from one of the radio stations. I ‘m glad I didn’t pay for those. I don’t remember much of it, except I was glad to get up and go home at the end.
4. The best performance in a Broadway musical by a woman I’ve ever seen is: This one will have to be close to home, Jennifer Lyon as Eliza in the Arts Club production of My Fair Lady.
5. The best performance in a Broadway musical by a man I’ve ever seen is:Seán Cullen, as Max, in the Toronto production of The Producers; Nathan Lane in the film version of that play; Richard McMillan, as Pooh-Bah, and Eric Donkin as Koko in the Stratford Festival 1982 production of The Mikado. I saw that show four times… Roger Bart is also excellent in Young Frankenstein.
6. The person I wish they never cast was: Matthew Broderick as Felix in The Odd Couple (I know, not a musical, but…). I didn’t actually see the show on Broadway, but there was a cellphone videoclip for a while on YouTube of the “linguini scene”. I couldn’t believe how stunted he sounded and acted. I don’t think that performance helped him at all.
7. The person they should have cast was:Lee Evans. Nice chemistry with Nathan (Mousehunt,The Producers (UK))
8. My favorite Broadway choreography was in the show: Susan Stroman’s, The Producers and Young Frankenstein. I saw Young Frankenstein in its Seattle run and loved it.
9. The lyric/line that always brings a lump to my throat is: I can’t think of a single lyric, but I find “Somewhere” from West Side Storymoving, as well as “I Know Where I’ve Been” from Hairspray and “Will I” fromRent.
10. The stupidest lyric/line I’ve ever heard is: Can’t think of any at the moment.
11. The first musical I had to go back and see twice four times was:The Mikado (see my answer in #5)
12. The first musical I ever walked out of was: Never happened.
13. The most under praised and overly deserving show in my opinion is:Young Frankenstein.
14. The most overly praised and under deserving show in my opinion is: Can’t think of one right now
15. The song show tune I’m most likely to sing while I’m dancing around at home is: “I Love to Travel”, from Sondheim’s The Frogs and “Voulez-vous?” from Mamma Mia!.
16. If I could recast any role in a current Broadway musical with a performer of the past it would be:Jerry Orbach in his original role of Billy Flynn in Chicago
17. If I could recast a current actor in a Broadway musical that was before their time it would be:Nathan Lane as Koko in The Mikado.
18. The show they should never change a word of because it is already perfect is:The Producers.
19. The show I’d most like to get my hands on and rewrite is: Yeah, right…Beyond my skills…
20. The role I was born to play on Broadway is: Being void of any acting and singing skills of any type, this is a challenge. Personality-wise, Donna, of Mamma Mia! comes to mind. Though I would love to play one of the lil’ old ladies in The Producers, just to be part of a chorus. I’m definitely more of a background/backstage person. (I’m getting butterflies in my stomach just at the thought of being on a stage…yeeech…)
David Mamet’s latest play, November, a comedy featuring a dysfunctional President seeking re-election, opens this week at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway. Previews started in late December and reviews from the blogging world have been mixed. Nonetheless, with Nathan Lane at the helm, tickets will be a rare commodity before long. The play is scheduled to run at least until July.
For those of us unable to make the journey to Broadway, David Mamet will be extending the November experience by blogging, as Charles H.P. Smith, on the official November site.
I subscribed to the blog but have yet to receive any notice of new material, although a new post was uploaded on January 10th. Perhaps it will really go live on Opening Day?…
Despite the ongoing stagehand strike, which hopefully may be resolved today, David Mamet’s new comedy, November, started rehearsals on Monday. It is scheduled to preview on December 20th, and open on January 17, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway. It stars Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf, Dylan Baker, Michael Nichols and Ethan Phillips.
“Set just days before a major presidential election, November involves civil marriages, gambling casinos, lesbians, American Indians, presidential libraries, questionable pardons and campaign contributions.”
Nathan plays incumbent President Charles Smith, fighting for the unlikely chance to be re-elected. This marks Nathan’s third foray into the political arena. His first was as Congressman Charlie Lawrence, in the eponymous very short-lived sitcom. In 2008 he will be seen in Kevin Costner’s upcoming movie Swing Vote. All well-timed, no doubt, to coincide with the real presidential elections in November of 2008.
Tickets are already on sale, with ebay scalpers asking $250/ticket. Photos of the first rehearsal are available here, courtesy of BroadwayWorld.com.
Well, it looks like the mini plays I wrote back in July will be premiering (is that a verb?…) this weekend on Broadway Live Island in Second Life. Got the following invite in-world yesterday:
Act Up Theater presents
A Halloween Spooktacular
ACT UP Theater announces a Second Life (SL) performance of three original works. A Halloween Spooktacular is a live theatrical performance with lines and movement delivered by the actors in real time in front of a live audience in a virtual setting.
The performance consists of 3 short plays consisting of 13 scenes on 10 different stages with no intermissions. “Love Bites” is a one scene performance examining the challenges which might exist in a relationship between a vampire and human. “When Monster Creation Goes Bad” looks at the trials and tribulations of creating “famous” monsters. “Martha’s Halloween Spectacular” offers cooking suggestions and other tips for monsters around Halloween. Drawing inspiration from iconic horror genera and pop culture, the result is a humorous performance sure to please the crowd.
A HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR will be performed three nights. Admission is free to the SL public, however, attendance is limited to 40 avatars per performance. Tip jars will be set up for contributions.
Friday Oct 26th, 7pm PDT
Saturday, Oct 27, 7 pm PDT
Sunday Oct 28, 1pm PDT
Broadway Live Island
Broadway Live is a five island sim residential and live theatrical commerical area. Live Performances from all levels of artists and a beautiful residential community. Residents are encouraged to use the five theatre spaces for their own needs and performances
TCM Entertainment
TCM Entertainment designed, and built the stage, sets, and lighting used in the performance. TCM Entertainment features a unique set changing system powered by REZTech. ?The stage features HUD controls of the theater lighting, curtain, and individual special effects such as lightning strikes, set door styles. The HUD is worn and controlled by the set director. ?For more information about TCM Entertainment Contact :Erlic Chevalier
You can access Tromanville, Broadway Live South (131, 187, 33) by clicking on the following SLURL. Space is limited! Come early and we hope to see you there.
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, which was great for the actors, but not so great for lag. I reported on this experience on the 
In the works since 2003, a musical version of Stephen Spielberg’s film, 
SLURL: 
Despite the ongoing stagehand strike, which hopefully may be resolved today, David Mamet’s new comedy, November, started 
