It's Show Week! Jesus is in the building!

Hello theatre luvvies.

OMG how did that happen - its show week!  We are now at Wednesday having done two successful nights already.  And the great news is that for the rest of the week we are SOLD OUT!

So far the highlights for me have been:

1. Setting up Camp Urinal as the ladies are in the men's dressing room this year and we're at the Urinal end.  Camp Urinal is a special place where tea is served in the interval - and its very magic tea. It makes you sing better and gives you a warm glow.

Not everyone gets into Camp Urinal though - if you want to come join the fun you have to bring biscuits and we don't allow men either!!  By the way I am not really smoking...I had to put that in for beloved daughter's sake.

2. Smoking the wrong end of my cigarette last night in first scene until Tom told me...wondered why there was no smoke coming out....thanks Tom.

3.  Dressing up as a Soul girl every night - oh the joy of the spanx pants and the diva glitter - I love it!

4. Getting ready in the dressing room every night with the girls and feeling the adrenaline every night as I hear the opening bars of the overture.

5. My costume is sooooo comfortable this year - I can wear jeans and converse!!  And be a hippy every night!

6. The battle of the dressing room selfies...bring it on boys...!!!  We're going to beat you for LIKES for sure..

7. Wearing THIS every night...

8.General mucking about...

9. The fun in the bar afterwards with my theatre family....

10. Wearing massive fake eyelashes!!!

More blogs to come this week I hope - my family and friends are in tonight for first time so no pressure there then..no-one tomorrow and work on Friday with the rest of my family on Saturday night.  I think Sunday is going to be a massive come down but I am living and LOVING every minute at the moment.  This is why I do it!

We open on Monday! Plus some make up ideas

Hello theatre luvvies...

So its Wednesday which means its the LAST rehearsal before the big Tech and Dress on Sunday.  How am I feeling?  Uber excited!  Confident (I think) - although at the last rehearsal I managed to completely forget my steps in the Temple scene, but the good news is that I have cracked the Superstar number.

We have our costume call on Thursday night which this year means for me just one old hag'  'cape and dress - please, please let the dress fit!  Usually I have a problem with hired costume dresses - they never fit me and I always have to make alterations.  This is due to having what some might term a fuller figure 'up top'  - the bane of my life.  Maybe I can strap them down this year? Use a minimiser bra or sports bra?

I also have a superb wig in a 60s beehive style which us soul girls are wearing in the final Superstar number- this is going to be styled for me on Thursday and then apparantly I have to take it home on a balloon??  That will be weird - a balloon head - I may draw a face on it. I can keep it in the hall to scare off burglars.

So on to make up - I thought I'd include some pictures in this blog for make up ideas - we have been told we are not allowed to go too mad adorning our faces with flowers /hearts etc and should have purple or blue eye shadow.

 Firstly how great does Pixie Lott look?  I love everything about this look - hair, flowers, eye shadow and the art on her face -wish I could do that every night but it may be a bit high maintenance.  This has given me the idea to do my hair in waves though - looks totally cool.

I love this as its not too overdone but its still really pretty - love the green eyeshadow - might try that...and big lashes - I have some of those!

Quite like this as again she's not gone over the top but its still effective and she's managed to sneak a hippy heart in there. Again, green and blue eyeshadow mixed in there - looks totally right.

Now this is an original look from 1969 - year I was born (you do the math)   Wow they loved that blue eyeshadow didn't they?  And the big eyed look - easily achievable with false eyelashes ( I recommend eyelure - they seem to be the best and have the most staying power).

Nice again but perhaps a little tricky to do yourself before a show - love the hair though.

I'd never get away with it but can you imagine the look on our directors face if I did come on like this??? ha ha


I don't want to forget the guys so here are a few inspirational pics for you boys in the cast as well...

Look at this lovely festival goer - he's got some great make up going on there - if any of you guys want to make a bit of  a statement.

I can't work out if he is dressed up or really does look like this but anyway he's nailed the hippy look - note the coloured hair extensions guys - you could try that...

I like this pic because this guy just looks naturally cool and relaxed and he's not wearing any make up.  My brother sported this look for a while when he was a student but the dreads got a bit smelly after a while as he didn't like washing them.  YUK.

The good news is that our sales figures are looking good which for an amateur group means a hell of a lot!! Last rehearsal we were told we had sold 73% so thats fantastic.

BRING IT ON!!

BSMTC Jesus Christ Superstar 2014 Trailer

This, people, is our fabulous trailer for our show Jesus Christ Superstar 10th - 16th November - get your tickets here
www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk or call 01279 651746 for the Box Office

Oh the irony...

Hello theatre luvvies,
Isn't it just too ironic that I have been too busy at rehearsals to blog about going to rehearsals... ?

Anyway its been a while since I've written but I said to myself if I don't keep this up it's going to just wither away and die..and that would be sad.  We are now about 3 and a bit weeks away from our first night of JCS and the show is coming together now.  I am always amazed at how it really does start to gel in the last few weeks - we are now sharpening up our dance steps and lyrics and I feel a lot more confident.

Costume is pretty sorted - 60s hippy is not too difficult to do.  However, I thought I would share with you my lovely fabric painted jeans - which I decorated myself!  I bought a cheap pair of jeans and some fabric paints from Hobbycraft, enlisted the help of darling artistic daughter and voila!  What do you think?

I am really impressed by the performances from our leads - one thing you have to give with this show is a lot of emotion, night after night.  Judging from the performances I've seen in rehearsals the audience are in for a treat - and will probably feel a bit wrung out by the end.

A little clue for those of you who don't know the show - it doesn't have a happy ending. Just saying.

One of my favourite parts at the moment is when Pilate (played by Gareth Cheeseman) gets into kicking Jesus around and the mob are yelling crucify him - it really gives me goosebumps everytime - especially when poor Jesus (Richard Foster) is whipped 39 times.

Here is Richard giving his all as Jesus in Gethsemane...

And here are some of our lovely cast waiting patiently for their entrance - ha ha

I also really love the Superstar number - I think when we have a live band with us, this is going to be awesome.  There will be so much going on, on the stage, that I think it will be quite spectacular. I cannot wait until we have a proper rock guitar in there...

As a soul girl in this number ( I got promoted!) I am wearing a spangly tight dress and a blonde beehive wig - here is Wardrobe Manager Charlie Tarran modelling the wig ...I last saw this look on my mum who also had a similar hairstyle in the 60s - I know she reads this blog so she won't mind me saying!

I also want to leave you with this dilemma - whose side are you on - Team Jesus or Team Judas! I know who got my vote!

You can cast your vote on our Twitter page https://twitter.com/BSMTC and also check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BSMTCpage
for more news about our show and to book tickets visit  http://www.rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk/events/jesus-christ-superstar/  where you can see our amazing show trailer!

Yup we're going to be 60s hippies...man

Hi theatre luvvies...

I'm not going to be writing any new posts over the next two weeks as I am going on holiday...a bit of R and R is needed as I have been working hard since January without a real break at all.

Our rehearsals for Jesus Christ Superstar are in full swing now and we have started the choreography.  Last night was a particularly sweaty evening in the school hall, and I had to come home and have a shower afterwards.  It was like a full Zumba workout!

Here are my highlights so far:

• Trying to learn the choreography for the Superstar number with Bob and Margaret - each of us saying 'I'll follow you' last night - not sure who followed who in the end??
• Learning a few aqua aerobics moves for What's the Buzz...
• Our Director's innuendos especially directed towards the younger male members of the cast...its the 'colgate' smiles that do it for him I think
• Judas nattily attired in a waistcoat that he last wore when he was 17 and it still fits him
• Stage speaking ie silently having conversations about absolutely nothing whilst Judas and Jesus square up to each other front of 'stage'

We learned that we are to be dressed late sixties - i.e quite hippy in attire so I am wondering what look we will go for...

I am hoping we can look something like this!  ie hippy but cool...

Or this would be acceptable

I found this which is a real 60's photo of demonstrators but could be straight out of JCS don't you think?

Here we all are just chillin' man and listening to Jesus...

 

Please please nothing like this....

Speak to you all again when I get back from my holibobs....! Bye bye from the soon to be suntanned Diva....

JCS performed by prison inmates in Peru

I came across this link today and was pretty impressed by these pictures - this was a production performed in a prison!  Wow - look at the costumes etc - pretty good I think, don't you agree? 

JCS performed by prison inmates in Peru


This is the video of it on You Tube as well.  The power of musical theatre, eh?

Biblical, hippy or modern - the thorny issue of costumes

Hello fellow theatre luvvies,
I was thinking what to write the blog on this week - we are now into our rehearsal schedule but as we have only been doing music so far, we have yet to find out what vision our director has in store for us, including the issue of what we are going to wear and what look the show is going to have.

So this made me start thinking about costume.  We are all aware of the time Jesus Christ Superstar is set (33AD I think?), and some companies choose to stage it in biblical dress.  I have seen an amateur production of this where this was done, and it did not do it for me.  Maybe because I feel that this limits you to a sea of sandals and beige stripes with the odd palm leaf being waved around.We have agreed our production will be in modern dress - but what does this mean?  We have all been very influenced I think by the recent arena tour, where the cast wore modern dress - the look was of protestors and was heavily influenced I think by the riots in London a few years ago, and the protestors around St Paul's Cathedral.  Doing some internet research I came across all sorts of references so thought I would share them with you.

Firstly I found this brilliant bit of video from the costumer designer for JCS on Broadway in 2012 - I really like what he did as he has merged traditional dress with but there are touches of modern fashion - so it still looks funky and cool...

Paul Tazewell: Costume Designer For Jesus Christ Superstar Broadway 2012

What do you think?  I particularly like how he dressed Herod and Mary Magdalene - Mary really stands out in that yellow dress.

Love the suit Pilate is wearing too

This last picture shows Herod's song - love the use of the white piano but also how the girls and boys are dressed - sort of camp Roman??? Bit like 'A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum? '  Look at  that guy in the red tunic!!


Here is another take on costume from another society - the Hippy look...this is another way of doing it, referencing the time it was written and first put on stage - i.e. 1970s...Not too sure about this - could be in danger of looking a bit too much of its time?

 

Touch me, touch me Jesus!

I'm sure I've seen these guys in the British legion playing ukeleles on a Wednesday night

Now in this next picture, I am not sure what the hell is going on - back to the 80's anyone?  Pink DMs - a bit Bananarama? Although I am quite liking the Angels and the white vests with diamante crosses. But what is with those grey dresses the souls sisters are wearing?  Tell me, does this float your boat?

Do you really want to hurt me?

This was the only pic I could find of traditional Biblical dress and I must say I do like the Roman uniforms, but then I have always been a uniforms girl...but no, glad we are not doing it like this.

Doesn't Jesus look sweet though?

It thought this worked well, sort of - mix of old and new?  And that corset I bought could come in handy again...I am getting my money's worth out of that. I like Judas in black and Jesus in white.  Not sure about the guys in hats though, are they meant to be the priests or gangsters?

This is from the arena tour - hard not to copy it isn't it, as it is so good! - love the banners, love the modern look.  It would be really easy for us to do as we probably have the clothes at home - but what does our director have in mind?  I am sure he won't want to just copy it.

 

 

Gotta get my hoody out

Lastly thought I would leave you with this image of the priests - wouldn't this be great????Like something out of Star Wars???  Leather tea cosies for hats?

Got rehearsal tonight and wondering - will I ever get the notes right? The altos have got some real buggers to sing this year.

As promised in my last blog here is alto corner for JCS 2014!!  There are some more ladies but they are either on holiday or in the toilet....

Auditions - make me sick (quite literally)

The nerves are jangling today as tonight we have our auditions for Jesus Christ Superstar! You can feel the tension amongst the whole company as everyone has been practising like mad.  Every year I ask myself why I put myself through it and I am sure so does everyone else - there is nothing worse than going in to a room and performing in front of a panel.  Nerves always get the better of me and I usually forget something - I actually find it worse than doing an actual performance. 

Last year I was on the committee and so I sat in on the panel for our Carousel auditions - I learnt a lot from this so thought I would pass on a few of my observations in the hope that they may help others (or not!)

1. Try to learn the piece if possible
It was noticeable from last year that people who had tried to learn the part performed better - probably because they were not hampered by holding a piece of paper and could act. We all have busy lives and its hard to fit it all in, but it definitely helps to have some idea of what you are doing without getting flustered and looking at your lines. My own personal view is that if you learn the part you really get into the character you are portraying because you're thinking about the words and the emotions more.

2. To wear a costume - or not?
I think the jury is out on this one - this year I am going to wear something suitable but the main reason is to help me feel the character more.  I have seen others take this approach and I think it really does lend something to their performance - maybe it gives more confidence? However, I saw really good auditions last year where people had not worn any type of costume but they just' 'had' the character and interpreted it well.  You could almost see them transform by using their body language etc.  Some of these people were chosen for their roles too - so having a costume would not have made any difference.  I think you should do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel more confident, not because you think it may impress the director.  He/she will have a vision of what the character will wear in the final show and it probably won't be anything like you wear for your audition anyway.

You can tell me the truth - is the donkey a bit much?

3. Do your own interpretation
Forget what anyone else says to you - go into the room and present the character how you feel it should be done.  The director is looking for something different - sometimes he/she may not even know what he is looking for until he/she sees it!  If everyone went in and did the same thing it would be really boring, wouldn't it?   So if you want to slow down your singing part in places, let the MD know that you want to do that before you start.   You have control!

Yes Pilate could be this guy - why not?

3. Don't be afraid to come further forward and make (some) eye contact
The director will probably tell you where he/she wants you to stand if you ask them first - here's a little tip to our BSMTC members - our Director  (mentioning no names) likes people to come forward and not stand too far back,  he likes a bit of eye contact - he likes people to move around a bit and not stand too rigidly and forced - i.e. don't just adopt one position and stand like that for the whole audition.  He shows absolutely no reaction to your performance but he is taking it all in, and will thank you politely the end...but you will have no idea how you have done!  Also his decision is final - he does take advice from others but its totally up to him in the end.
I thought this article was good on eye contact - no-one likes to be stared down but people don't like it when you don't make eye contact altogether...the 90/10% contact rule is quite good.
http://www.ace-your-audition.com/making-eye-contact.html

Possibly just a teeny weeny bit too much eye contact

4.  Be confident when you walk in - first impressions count
Yes, you are shaking with nerves but remember you are acting a part to some extent from the moment you walk in the room- walk in confidently and say hello. Stand tall and put your shoulders back - even if you don't feel it you will give the impression of confidence. And that's what they are looking for - are you confident enough to go on stage and perform?

OK this is not confident - this is just overacting - bless Nicholas Cage he never lets me down!

I certainly do not profess to be any kind of expert at auditions and will probably make a mistake tonight but I feel it's always good experience to do them - it helps you learn and it helps the director see what you can do, so he /she may consider you for other parts in future.  Last year I auditioned for a 'Heavenly Friend' and came out as a dancer - something I had not even considered auditioning for as I thought I was a) too old b) not good enough c) not slim enough.  So that proves my point doesn't it?  You never know until you try!

Break a leg!