Every wonder what the heck a surrey was???

Definition:  A light four-wheeled carriage with two seats facing forward.

Well, our “surrey” has arrived at Lyric Arts.  Cain’t wait to see it in action.

Patrick getting the run-down on raising and lowering the top from John and Todd Block. John owns over 170 horse-drawn (and reindeer-drawn) vehicles. This is the first buggy in his collection...he purchased it in 1974.

This single seat piano box top buggy was built by the Velie Carriage Company in 1903 and sold in Minneapolis through a Deere and Webber dealership (which eventually became John Deere)

John and Todd said that they hoped the buggy would add a little something to our production of "Oklahoma!" I think we can safely say that will be the case. It is a beauty.

Thursday night we pushed through to the end of the show.  We focused on scenes starting with “Oklahoma” and running through to the end of Act II.  While running through the scenes, we stopped and worked on the fight between Judd and Curly, not only on the choreography, but on the reactions from the crowd.  Once we ran through the fight a few more times, we continued on through the end.  It was nice to finally have a chance to really work the end of the show, working on the trial scene and the finale.  After we completed the act, we took a break.  The next scene we worked on was the entrance of the ensemble in act I.  This is a very small part in a scene, but it was too difficult to do in the rehearsal hall with such a large group.  Once we ran through that entrance, we started working on the top of Act II, “The Farmer and the Cowman”.  During this song, there is more fight choreography, so we worked on smoothing out all the fight sequences and reactions from the crowd and then ran the whole number a couple times through.  Our other choreographer, Shawn McWhorter, was happy to see the progress of all the dances and fights, after not seeing us for a while.

Next up, more work on Saturday!

LA: Tell us a little bit about why this particular musical interested you?

AL: I saw an opportunity to be in a show I love with a director and stage manager I adore.

LA:For those who unfamiliar with Oklahoma! can you tell us about the show?

AL: It is the quintessential American Musical. It has something for everyone: love, humor, romance, excitement, corny jokes and a bad guy!

LA: Talk about the character that you play in Oklahoma!. How have you developed this character? 

AL: I love Aunt Eller.  She is old enough to not worry about what other people think and just wants people to be happy.  She speaks her mind and takes charge wherever she goes.  I look to my mother and grandmothers for their warmth and candor as inspirations for Aunt Eller.

LA: Why should people come and see Oklahoma!? 

AL: Again, it has something for everyone.  And my son is playing Will Parker.  Isn’t that reason enough?

LA:Talk about your fellow cast members, how do you see their characters developing? Any that you are particularly amazed at? 

AL: I have enjoyed watching Phil Skredtvedt as Curly come alive.  I was in a production of Oklahoma! before with Phil, where he played Will, so it’s really fun to see a different side of him. 

LA: What do you feel are the “wow” elements of Oklahoma!?

AL: The beautiful music, the characters, the story all coming together

LA: Tell us what you found to be unexpected in Oklahoma!? (It can be anything involving the show; music, script, history, etc.)

AL: I think what strikes me most about this show is that people either love it or hate it.  There is no in-between, well, it’s “okay, I guess” kind of attitudes when you talk about it.

LA: Tell us what is something that you are particular excited about this show coming to together? For example, a certain scene, costumes, set, lights, etc?

AL: I can’t wait to put the overture together—to set the scene with set, lights, props, movement and then that beautiful opening Curly gets to sing.

LA: Are musicals easier or harder then straight show? If so, why? 

AL: I consider myself a singer first, so musicals have always been easier for me.  I did a play last fall with Freshwater Theater.  It was the first straight play I had performed since college.  We did The Book of Liz by David and Amy Sedaris.  I played 3 characters.  It was hard work.  In a straight play, I feel so much more exposed.  In a musical I can hide in the music.

LA:What is your favorite musical to watch? 

AL: West Side Story

LA: Being that Oklahoma! takes place during the turn of the century, what do consider the best invention of this century? Why? 

AL: The inside bathroom-not having to go outside to the outhouse is pretty nice and always taken for granted.

LA: To date what is your favorite role that you have played and why?

AL: Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods.  It was hard work, but it was such an ensemble show and we had a wonderful cast.

LA: What is your dream character to play on stage?

AL: Eva Peron, but I may be too old now to play her.

LA: Please tell us a little bit about yourself? 

AL: I am a wife and mother, who finally landed my dream job with flexibility enough to “play” at night.  My 2 favorite places on earth: Aspen, CO and Madeline Island in Lake Superior.

LA: Any other area that you would like to comment on? 

AL: Thank you to Lyric Arts for this wonderful opportunity.  I am having a wonderful time and hope to perform at Lyric Arts again!

We got to officially hit the stage a day earlier than expected.  It was nice to be able to move around in our actual space.  Because we had the stage, we worked a lot on the spacing and dance of the big opening number of Act II – The Farmer and the Cowman.  We spent a lot of time working out some kinks and tightening up the dance, and the blocking before and after the number.  Then we continued to move on to the larger ensemble scenes, while skipping or moving quickly through the smaller principal scenes.  The next big scene was working on the Box Social auction in which Judd Fry and Curly start a bidding war over Laurey’s picnic hamper.  The next big number we worked on and tightened up was the scene with the title song, “Oklahoma”.  After that, we continued to move through the others scenes leading up to finale.  Because we it was getting close to 10pm, the director called it a night before we were able to finish the act.  Only principal actors are called onstage for rehearsal Wednesday night, so the ensemble has an extra night to relax, or do whatever.  We’ll be taking it from where we left off tonight on Thursday night.

It was a real treat being on stage.

Before we started on the act, we had our nightly vocal warm ups.  As part of our warm ups, we worked and sang “Oklahoma”.  We went through the song a few times, Kristin, our music director was happy with our improvement, but we still need work.  I think I’m finally figuring out my Baritone part!

Once warm ups were done, we started out with the ensemble entrance into “Kansas City” and then ran and worked the dance.  I’m feeling better about my dance parts, but I still need some help.  I’m determined to get it down.  Come on legs, don’t fail me now!  After that, Laurey (Stephanie Wipf) and the women ensemble worked on Many A New Day song and dance.  My final work for the day was the Dream Ballet, we ran through and worked that, and then tightened it up a bit, changed some of the blocking and then ran through it again.  It’s looking really nice.

Most of the ensemble were sent home around 9pm, leaving the principal actors and some of the women ensemble to work on some other scenes and dance numbers.  Act II tomorrow night.  Looking forward to, “The Farmer and the Cowman” and “Oklahoma”.  YEOW!

Choreographer, Angie Cain, working on "Many a New Day" dance number

On Wednesday, January 25^th we had our first stumble through of the entire show.  A stumble through is basically what it sounds like.  It is a rehearsal where the cast runs (stumbles) through the entire show from start to end for the first time, usually without stopping.  We stumble on our lines, music, dance, and other people’s feet.  There were several group scenes that we haven’t worked out yet that we pushed through.  Many scenes were coming together very nice, but this gave the director, the music director, and the choreographers a chance to see what we really need to work on as we get closer to opening.  Because we have been rehearsing in a smaller space than the stage, some of the group scenes mentioned will be worked on once we hit the stage next week.  Wednesday was the ensemble casts last rehearsal until Monday, January 29^th when we will tackle Act I.  We were reminded to continue working on our music, dance steps and lines.  Only the principal (lead) actors were called in for rehearsal early Saturday.  The pictures shown are from select scenes during the stumble through.

Curly (Philip Skretvedt), Aunt Eller (Alana LaBissoniere) and Laurey (Stephanie Wipf)

Ado Annie (Kate Beahen), Laurey (Stephanie Wipf), Ali Hakim (Matt McNabb) and Aunt Eller (Alana LaBissoniere)

Laurey (Stephanie Wipf) and the women ensemble

Judd Fry (Tom Goerger) and Curly (Philip Skretvedt)

Hey there!

Names Rick McAllister, I will be playing Ike Skidmore a cowman/ranch owner in Lyric Arts production of Oklahoma.  I will be blogging during the remainder of our rehearsal period and throughout our performance run.

First I will tell you about myself.  I have been doing theatre since my sophomore year in high school, back in the mid-1980’s…a long time ago for you youngins.   In high school, I performed in musicals and one-acts for state competitions, and work as part of the stage crew for school meetings, events and set builds.  After graduating from high school I continued performing, mostly in community theatre productions.  For over twenty years I have performed onstage at the Guthrie Theater, Stages Theatre Company, Youth Performance Company, Chaska Valley Family Theatre, WorkHorse Theatre, Eden Prairie Players, and Waconia Theatre 110.

For the past twenty years I have worked professionally behind the scenes on over a combined 70 productions with Stages Theatre Company in Hopkins and The Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis.  After being hidden backstage for nearly ten years, I made a by chance appearance in a MN Fringe Festival show called “CB and Sheave Take the Bus” in 2009.  Most recently I played Mr. Salt in Willy Wonka at Chaska Valley Family Theatre.  I am very excited to hit the Lyric Arts Mainstage for the first time in Oklahoma.  Yeow!

Next up, info and photos from our first full show stumble through rehearsal last Wednesday…

Hope to see you soon,

Rick

Chet Pazinski: Justin Anger
Ellen Pazinski: Laura Tahja Johnson
Annie Pazinski: Maia Walter
Eddie Pazinski: Noah Gruber
Rudy Pazinski: Alec Fisher
Georgie Pazinski: Alex Hage
Sister Clarissa: Valerie Knode
Mother Superior: Barbara Franklin

Learn more about Over the Tavern. Get your tickets to Over the Tavern today!

We can’t wait for Oklahoma! to open.  And in honor of it, we’re digging up our best state facts.  Keep an eye on our Facebook page, where every day we’ll have a question about a different state.  Respond to our status with the correct answer, and you’ll be entered in a drawing for free tickets to opening night of Oklahoma! and  the Opening Night Gala on Friday, February 17th!  Each correct answer gives you another chance to win!

So start studying up on your state facts and be sure to join us on Facebook every day from Wednesday, February 1st through Wednesday, February 15th!