Stage Door
June 2009
OKTC STAGEDOOR, JUNE 2009
Editor: Art Fidler, art@oktc.ca
RENT ROCKS THE WOLF!
You’re all about to get the rare chance to see the new Rent: High School Edition! Some high schools in the USA have had their productions cancelled by principals and boards of education, because of what has been deemed the “controversial” nature of the musical. Rent became a phenomenon over 10 years ago, when it created a sensation at its Off-Broadway opening in the East Village, and then moved to Broadway as the most honest and realistic show since Hair. Original Kids was still in our little Bull-Donaldson Theatre in Museum London and I have this vivid memory: during rehearsal breaks, our teen casts just wanted to do one thing. They would put on a Rent CD, and sing along with it. I realized, that for the first time in years, I was with young people who knew an entire Broadway musical off by heart. We took our first OK group to New York the next year, and the sensation they all were drawn to? You guessed it! RENT! It was possible to line up early before every performance and get tickets for $20 –for seats in the front two rows. We supervised our kids that year, sometimes at 4am, going down to the Nederlander Theatre on 41st to line up and wait for the box office to open at 10am.We saw kids camping overnight on the street. I remember young Stephanie Demas in the hall of the Edison Hotel, walking around cradling her cherished souvenir Rent book in her arms like a baby, and I remember telling her that 4 times at Rent was maybe enough when there were other terrific shows to see. But maybe Stephanie was right! I remember Rent, but for the life of me, I have no memories of those other shows I thought so important at the time.
In the decade and more ensuing, Rent has continued to be important in the lives and interests of young people, especially ones like ours. It is the music, the legend, the themes, the desire Rent has to tell the truth, no matter how shocking. It is the song, “Seasons of Love” when the young artists of Rent realize that you can measure a year of your life many ways, but the best way to measure it is in LOVE. It is the haunting story of the young genius, Jonathan Larson, who wrote Rent while working late nights in a downtown Manhattan diner, and then tragically and unexpectedly died the night before the opening dress rehearsal. Infinite promise betrayed. Measure in love.....
It is many things that make Rent dear to the hearts of the young and all of us who’ve struggled to keep something of the spirit of youth in our hearts as time passes. It certainly takes me back when I listen to our kids singing “We’re living in America/ At the end of the Millennium...”
When we went to New York this March, it was the first year since that first trip that Rent wasn’t playing down on 41St . The Kids who’ve been on the trip more than once said that they really missed just knowing it was there. It left a hole that our cast is doing its best to fill.
All I can finally say is, open your hearts and your minds, remember being young and filled with passion, go to OKTC’s RENT at the Wolf Performance Hall and cheer our own courageous young artists, as they bring to life on stage what has been alive in young imaginations for so long. RENT. SPREAD THE WORD!!
RENT: May 26 – 31 at 7. May 30 &31 at 2pm.
Wolf Performance Hall, Central Library
Tickets: 519-672-8800 / www.grandtheatre.com / At the Door
We recommend 14+ for general public, but expect OK families to make up their own minds.
The musical contains some profanity, and (like real life) hits hot buttons –AIDS, sexuality, child/parent conflict, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness. And it ROCKS! SERIOUSLY!
OKTC GRAD GALA 09. EVERYBODY WELCOME!
Monday, June 1 is the big night! We’re meeting to celebrate our great season past and to honour our Grade 8 Grads who are moving into the Senior Company, and our High School Grads who are moving out on a new and exciting journey, trailing clouds of glory. Some have given 10 and more years of their character and talent to OK. They’ve made it a second home where they’ve not only been on our stage time after time, but also stage managed, directed, choreographed, music directed, run tech, been Camp OK Counsellors, fallen into and out of love, and made true friends. We’ve known some since they were 6 years old! And some have come to OK more recently and made the most of their time. One of them told us at Rent rehearsal this week that she had sold 100 tickets to the show herself. We love them all, and when each of them speaks about their time at OK, we want you to hear them and for your OK’s to hear them too. We don’t restrict ourselves to one Valedictorian! We hear from them all- and tears WILL be shed!!
Expect big numbers from OK shows to be performed, and an all around rich and rewarding time. This event is open to the entire Company, families and friends. It is free –and straight from the heart!
And Dale will announce the shows he has under consideration for the 2009-2010 Playbill!
Mon., June 1, 630 – 830. Wolf Performance Hall, Central Library.
EVITA. HIGH FLYING, ADORED.
There’s a life lesson in every show. Evita is likely one of the most difficult and adult musicals we’ve ever attempted. To make it even more complex, the director (Dale) doublecast some of the main parts, including the title role. At final dress rehearsal , the day before the opening, we were in despair!! It just hadn’t come together, and there was no wiggle time left! Now I’ve always believed this and said it a hundred times: “Always trust the Kids. There is some power that they have of making it happen – no matter what.” But I wasn’t saying it that day! I was miserable too. Tossed and turned all night. Well, let’s keep this short- the next day they performed the magic trick again. They brought it to life! I had to think of that great Cole Porter song, Another Openin’ Another Show:
4 weeks you rehearse and rehearse-
3 weeks and it couldn’t be worse-
1 week-Will it ever be right?
Then out of the hat comes that big first night!”
So humble bows to our cast of Evita for being theatrical magicians and pulling the show “out of the hat”! And for reminding us to “Always trust the Kids...”
FAME FOREVER. A SHOW TO REMEMBER
There’s no doubt that audiences were impressed and moved by our just-closed production of Fame Forever. That’s what I heard them talking about as they gathered to see the cast at the end of performances. You all likely saw the big Fame spread in the Free Press last Tuesday; well, this was a show that deserved the ballyhoo. The cast was obviously a very together group, and the talent on display was matched by the positive attitude and the team spirit. Dean Harrison’s backstage band was so good that many people didn’t even know there was a live band there- maybe recorded?? Nope! Amy Wright, as we knew she would, had challenged the cast with apt, creative and testing choreography, and the results were constantly a pleasure to watch. Sam Shoebottom provided his customary steady director’s hand and brought along the cast with confidence and poise. The fine performance of a show with strong emotion and a sense of the fragility of life and the passage of time was a special gift to Sam, who has worked with so many of our OK’s over the years, and who is now leaving us for a time. Sam is getting married (June 13) to Linda D’Ascanio, who stage managed Fame Forever, and will be also taking on exciting fatherly duties, as well as pursuing a professional acting career. We’ll be eager to welcome Sam back as a director whenever he is available, and want to say that he has given and done so much to keep the spirit and passion alive at OKTC. Fame Forever, Sam!!
A BUNCH OF IMPORTANT NOTICES
1. I still have 10 tickets unclaimed for the OK Trip to the West Side Story matinee at the Stratford Festival on Wed., Sept. 23. $50 includes excellent seats, transportation, acting workshop for OK’s. Family members and friends are welcome too. We leave at 930 am. Reserve by email to art@oktc.ca .
2. There are still openings in every Camp OK session. In Sessions #1 and #3, look for I NEED A VACATION, LION KING, CATS . In Sessions #2 and #4, look for HOW THE ELEPHANT GOT HIS TRUNK, THE GREAT GUITAR HERO HAPPENING, SPAMALOT. In Session #4 only, look for HORTON HEARS A WHO, OK’S NEW DANCE CREW. Kids love our Camp OK, and parents love having kids who can’t wait to get there each day! Spread the word to your friends! Just go to www.oktc.ca!!
Here’s a message from Camp OK Director, Justin Quesnelle: “Is it just me or is it starting to heat up outside? Here we go again! Camp OK 2009 is just around the corner and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the staff assembled. I’m joined this year by Andrew McQuinn (the new Leadership Coordinator) and Kate Lawson (The new Program Coordinator) and all the familiar counselor faces, and we’ve been busy at work planning fun that’ll make Camp Rock! The lineup of shows can’t be beat! Come and build memories for a lifetime”
3. Kamp Kidlets- all 4 Sessions are now SOLD OUT! There is room in all Main Camp OK Sessions, however, for 7 - year - olds, and for 6 – year – olds turning 7 in the fall. So spread that word too.
4. Invitations to return to the Company are being prepared and will be mailed to you in June. Look for them!
5. Although the 2008-09 Season Ending is celebrated at our June 1 Grad Gala, the actual truth is that it isn’t REALLY over! Remember “It never stops at OKTC”? So true! We are presenting DISNEY’S ALICE IN WONDERLAND from July 31 to August 9 outdoors, and the cast is hard at work on it right now. Four years ago OK created a gift to the families of the city, when we presented A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD as a Pay What You Can event in the Rotary Reading Garden at the Central Public Library as part of the London Fringe Festival. Since then, we’ve built this event with THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, THE WIZ and WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. This year, The Fringe has moved to June when our actors are just finishing school, and so we’re going it alone in our regular mid-summer spot. THAT MEANS WE NEED ALL OF YOU TO HELP US TO GET THE WORD OUT! And remind everyone that it is Pay What You Can, but not FREE!! Ha!! There are always bills to pay in live theatre....
6. If you’ve been to one of these outdoor shows of ours, you know how much fun it is and how refreshing to be outdoors ** in the lovely Garden enjoying fresh, charming talent and healthy family entertainment!
ALICE: Aug. 1, 2, 8, 9 @ 530pm. July 31, Aug. 3, 4, 6, 7 at 7pm
**In case of rain, the show goes on in the Stevenson & Hunt Room in the Library.
7. This is the last Stagedoor of the season. I’ll be back in late August, as the OKTC adventure continues... Thanks to everyone who has emailed me with ideas and with their appreciation for the Stagedoor.
SEE YOU AT RENT AND ALICE
!
Art
