Shake It Up Times!

What is Repertory?

2011-04-19T12:47:00.000-05:00

It is a very busy time at the theatre now the Spring rep season is in full swing. There are three shows currently running at ASF, "Moonlight and Magnolias", "Julius Caesar" and "Much Ado About Nothing." This is to help clear up the confusion about the dates for each show and why each one isn't offered everyday.

So what is repertory?

Alabama Shakespeare Festival puts on a Spring repertory or rep season, usually consisting of three shows. Repertory is when a theatre company presents work from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. A repertoire are pieces (shows) an actor is ready to perform. The actors in the company are in both Shakespeare performances and 4 cast members make up the cast for "Moonlight and Magnolias." Whew, that's a lot of lines and a lot of characters.

There is no pattern for the rotation of the shows but there are several weekends patrons can see all three shows in one weekend and all shows are on the Festival Stage. The stage crew has to change over the sets between shows and during some change overs the tech director commentates about the building and changing of the sets.

Julius Caesar (Click for a preview)

Saturday April 23 7:30

Thursday April 28 7:30

Saturday April 30 2:00-Extreme Weekend*

Sunday May 8 2:00-Extreme Weekend*

Saturday May 14 7:30-SWP Weekend~

Friday May 20 7:30-Extreme Weekend*

Saturday May 21 2:00

Much Ado About Nothing (Click for a preview)

Thursday April 21 7:30

Saturday April 23 2:00

Friday April 29 7:30

Saturday April 30 7:30-Extreme Weekend*

Saturday May 7 7:30-Extreme Weekend*

Sunday May 15 2:00-SWP Weekend~

Saturday 21 7:30-Extreme Weekend*

Moonlight and Magnolias

Friday April 22 7:30

Sunday May 1 2:00-Extreme Weekend*

Tuesday May 3 7:30

Wednesday May 4 7:30

Thursday May 5 7:30

Friday May 6 7:30

Saturday May 7 2:00-Extreme Weekend*

Friday May 13 7:30-SWP Weekend~

Wednesday May 18 7:30

Thursday May 19 7:30

Sunday May 22 2:00-Extreme Weekend*

Tuesday May 24 7:30

Wednesday May 25 7:30

Thursday May 26 7:30

Friday May 27 7:30

Saturday May 28 2:00

Saturday May 28 7:30

Sunday May 29 2:00

* Click for more information about the Extreme Weekend Packages

~ Click for more information about the Southern Writers' Project

We've Gone Bananas

2011-03-24T11:02:00.001-05:00

Moonlight and Magnolias is a comedy and "what if" about the writing of Gone With the Wind. The show is about the movie script being so awful they have to stop production on it bring in another writer to help the script. Three men are locked in an office until they are finished rewriting the script and the only thing they can eat are bananas and peanuts--brainfood.

Here is the process our props department used to make a bunch of banana peels for the show. This was a learning process for Shanley Aumiller as she has never had the need to create banana peels for a show.

Step 1: Bought four bananas, ate them and laid out the peels as patterns.

Step 2: Trace the patterns onto yellow vinyl and spray paint to desired ripeness of fruit. 2 yards produced 22 bananas.

Step 3: The cork "belly button" was added to the inside to let them flop open and a tiny piece of a wooden dowel was added as the stem.

Step 4: The inside of the peel was shaded with a Sharpie and a strip of hot glue was run down the center to add a crease to the peel.

And there you have it....a bunch of banana peels!

Go bananas with us and Moonlight and Magnolias starting April 8th!

An Audio Walking Tour to accompany the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s World Premieres of The Flag Maker of Market Street by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder And Blood Divided by Geoffrey Chastang

2011-02-25T22:02:00.002-06:00

Thank you for taking advantage of this audio walking tour. This tour is designed to guide you through some of the sites relevant to the action of the two Civil War plays at ASF, using your smart-phone device. Ten audio tracks are available below that coordinate with locations in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. You may walk or drive this tour.

Start your tour HERE

View Larger Map

Track 1: Introduction
We recommend listening to this track before departing for the tour OR immediately after arriving and parking at Court Square.

Track 01 by Alabama Shakes

Track 2: Court Square

Track 02 by Alabama Shakes

Track 3: Exchange Hotel

Track 03 by Alabama Shakes

Track 4: George Cowles Store Site
Walk or drive HERE

View Larger Map

Track 04 by Alabama Shakes

Track 5: Dr. Baldwin’s Office

Track 05 by Alabama Shakes

Track 6: The Montgomery Theatre
Walk or drive HERE

View Larger Map

Track 06 by Alabama Shakes

Track 7: The State Capitol
Walk or drive HERE

View Larger Map

Track 07 by Alabama Shakes

Track 8: The Confederate Memorial

Track 08 by Alabama Shakes

Track 9: The Baldwin Sister Houses
We recommend driving HERE

View Larger Map

Track 09 by Alabama Shakes

Track 10: Closing
Track 10 by Alabama Shakes

Extended Sites
A number of other sites in the downtown area relate to the Civil War plays and Montgomery’s important role in the history of the Civil War and Civil Rights They are labeled on the map as a. – r. and a brief description of each is offered below.

a. Rosa Parks Historic Site Marker at Court Square – this marks the site where Rosa Parks stepped onto the Montgomery bus and made history.
b. Winter Building (Telegraph office) – the second floor of this building housed the telegraph office that send the message to fire on Fort Sumter.
c. Central Bank – The bank housed in this building financed the Confederate government and was subsequently bankrupt at the end of the war.
d. Estelle and Concert Halls – Event halls where Jefferson Davis’ inaugural ball was held. These eventually became confederate hospitals
e. Confederate Hospitals
f. Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church –In this National Historic Landmark see the modest pulpit where Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., first preached his message of hope and brotherhood. This church was also a center point of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. A large mural in the church depicts King's Civil Rights crusade from Montgomery to Memphis.
g. Yancey’s House Site – the site where William Lowndes Yancey’s townhouse
h. Yancey’s office site – the site of Yancey’s Law Office
i. Baldwin’s House Site – The location of Dr. Baldwin’s Home
j. Old Alabama Town – This 19th Century Alabama Village features several examples of homes and buildings from around Alabama, including the dog trot where William Lowndes Yancey died.
k. Cowles House Site – the site of George Cowles Home
l. Oakwood Cemetery (Baldwin and Hale graves) – Visit Dr. Baldwin, Buddie Willie and Jim Hale, among others in this beautiful cemetery for all people.
m. Riverfront – The Alabama River made Montgomery the king of cotton trade. Get a glimpse of the majestic river and consider a river boat ride on the Harriott II.
n. Union Prison (Biscuit Stadium) – the home of the AA baseball team the Montgomery Biscuits is also the site where union troops captured at Shiloh were imprisoned in Montgomery. Buddie Willie alludes to this in Blood Divided.

View Civil War Tour Extended Sites in a larger map

Getting Back to the Facts: Q&A with Historians Bob Bradley and Mary Ann Neeley

2011-02-16T08:10:00.027-06:00

The two world premieres on stage now at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Flag Maker of Market Street and Blood Divided, tell the stories of lesser known people who lived in Montgomery at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War. Two playwrights were commissioned by ASF to tell this story, but they could not have even begun their work with out input from distinguished local historians. Two of those historians, Bob Bradley and Mary Ann Neeley, recently participated in a Q & A session with ASF’s Member Newsletter, the Quarterly Quill where the fact and the fiction of our stories can be clearly seen, and great credit is given to the artists for their work in bringing Montgomery of 1861 to life before our eyes.

Montgomery is not known as a bustling metropolis, yet in the plays the city seems the center of the universe. Can you explain?

Market and Court Square to the Capitol

Mary Ann Neeley: Montgomery was the “center of the universe” for the South in the waning years of 1860 and until May 1861. Not only was southern attention focused on this city of about 8,500, but the eyes of the North and Europe were also looking in this direction. With Lincoln’s election in November 1860, the world watched to see what action southern states would take, as one by one they left the Union. Alabama seceded on January 11, 1861, and immediately issued an invitation to other southern states to convene in the Capitol in Montgomery on February 4. Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama were present at the opening of the convention with the Texas delegation on the way. Within the next two weeks, these states had formed the Confederate States of America, elected Jefferson Davis as president and on February 18 inaugurated him on the portico of the Capitol. Until the moving of the government in May to Richmond, Montgomery enjoyed her role as the “center of the universe.”

How long have we known about George Cowles and his commission by Jefferson Davis to create the first confederate flag?

Ad for Cowles' Store

Bob Bradley: I discovered that the flag was made at Cowles’ store about ten years ago. Jefferson Davis did not commission Cowles or anyone else to make the flag. The Confederate Congress created a Committee on Flag and Seal to select the flag. The committee was headed by William Porcher Miles of South Carolina. The committee received at least 141 designs but, could not agree on one. Frustrated with all of the elaborate designs, they commissioned four models and presented them to Congress on March 4. When the design was selected by Congress (not Davis) it was taken to Cowles’ store where merino (wool) was purchased to make the flag. Calvin L. Sayre, former U.S. Marine and former U.S. Navy Commodore Duncan Nathaniel Ingraham supervised the fabrication of the flag. Since Cowles was the exclusive dealer of Wheeler and Wilson sewing machines, I assume, that is what was used to make the flag. I also assume that it was made by a female since Miles wrote years later that the flag was quickly made by “fair and nimble fingers.” All of this happened in one day and there was no prior contact with Cowles by anyone. Cowles may not have even been in the store the day the flag was made.

Did the real George Cowles have slaves and hold unionist meetings? Was he really such a conflicted man?

BB: Warren Rogers, in his book Confederate Home Front: Montgomery in the Civil War, notes on pages 4 and 105 that Cowles was a Unionist who held secret meetings at his store after the war began. That is all that I know. To be honest Cowles was historically very obscure and until there was discussion about the play, the only other people beside Mr. Rogers who knew that Cowles existed were I and Mary Ann Neely. I don’t know if he was conflicted, but owning slaves and being a Unionist was not uncommon. Remember that in March of 1861, eight slave states were still loyal to the Union, only seven had seceded

MAN: I have checked the slave census for 1850 and 1860 and found that George Cowles had two slaves on both, but the ages did not correlate so they may not have been the same ones. Each time it was a male and a younger female. The 1860 census states that the mulatto male was forty and the girl 15.

What happened to George? What happened to the flag he made?

BB: We don’t have a clue what happened to Cowles. As I said, he is very obscure and really seems to have done nothing more that run a store on Market Street. William Porcher Miles kept the models and the original flag. According to a letter written by him in 1872, they were all lost or destroyed during the war.

MAN: According to the 1870 census, George and wife Ellen were back in Connecticut and although the writing was poor, it appears that George had given up on sewing machines and was then a liquor manufacturer. I could not find him on the 1880 census.

The final moments of Flag Maker take place on the morning that Cowles’ flag is raised over the capital. Can you tell us what that morning really looked like?

BB: The whole thing seems to have been a bit of a rushed affair, without much planned fanfare. Mary Boykin Chestnut barely mentions it in her diary which is interesting, since she was hanging around with Ingraham and Miles on a routine basis. In fact, she witnessed the entire affair from her balcony rather than go up for it. The Montgomery True Blue(s) saluted the flag with seven Cannons and that she was told by Ingraham, who had heard from someone else, that the “mob” was lifeless with no cheering or enthusiasm. Mr. Canning's band played “Massa’s In De Cold, Cold Ground” during or after the ceremony. The Montgomery Weekly Mail notes that Mr. Canning’s Band also played the tune “The Red White and Blue.” The Advertiser states that the crowd would have been three times as large “if it had been possible to have given an earlier announcement of the ceremony.”

Jim Hale is one of the lesser known, but incredibly important people from the moment in time we get to visit in Blood Divided. What impression did Jim leave on Montgomery?

Hale's Infirmary

Mary Ann Neeley: Jim Hale’s impact on Montgomery was diverse and important. After the War, he and Dr. Baldwin entered into a partnership wherein Baldwin backed Jim as a contractor, utilizing his skills as a carpenter. Four outstanding examples of this are the 1878 Baldwin Sister Houses on South Perry Street. Other houses that Jim built have been documented. Also, family records state that Jim and Dr. Baldwin developed the Madison Park neighborhood for blacks on land that had been part of the Baldwin plantation. Jim and his wife, Annie, had a daughter who married Dr. Cornelius Dorsette, the first registered black physician in Alabama. After the daughter’s and a son’s deaths, Annie and Jim built Hale’s Infirmary, the first hospital for blacks (other than emergency hospitals for small pox, etc) which opened about 1890, soon after Jim’s death. It served the community until 1955.

The Hales lived on Washington Street, about a block below the State Archives Building and had a planer mill operation across the street. Jim frequently had boarders or relatives living with them. On the 1870 census, one of the occupants was James Rapier, a leading black political figure of that period. Hale relatives continue to make contributions to the political, social and economic life of Alabama.

Was William Lowndes Yancey as extreme as he seems in Blood Divided?

William Lowndes Yancy

MAN: William Lowndes Yancey was the standard bearer for secession, and had been an ardent promoter of the idea for years before 1860. He had a direct hand in the election of Abraham Lincoln when he led the southern delegations from the Democratic Convention in Charleston, April 1860. This fractured the Democratic Party and led to three presidential candidates opposing Lincoln, the Republican. Yancey had many talents, but, according to some, his temper was unpredictable, and he seemed to have few close friends. A remarkable orator, dedicated to his version of states rights, Yancey was so radical that he was not even chosen to be a member of Alabama’s delegation to the convention that would birth the CSA.

Is the relationship between Jim and the Baldwins in Blood Divided accurate?

MAN: From the Baldwin family’s memoirs, Jim and Dr. Baldwin were friends even though there was a master-servant relationship. Jim did carry packages to Buddie Willie in camp, and he did go to Franklin to bring back Buddie Willie’s body after the young boy was killed during the Battle of Franklin. It seems evident that there was mutual respect and trust between the two who went into business together after the war was over.

What physical evidence can still be seen in Montgomery of the men and women we meet in these plays?

Dr. Baldwin's Office Corner

MAN: Evidence of the characters met in the plays are to be found all around. Market Street received a new name, Dexter Avenue, in 1884. The action in the Flag Maker took place at 49 Market Street, within a store near the corner on the north side of Market and Perry streets, A copy of the Stars and Bars, the flag Cowles made, flies daily in front of the First White House of the Confederacy at the corner of Union and Washington streets. Court Square was the site of many kinds of sales, including slaves, in the antebellum period. Bibb Street bears the name of Alabama’s first two governors, the uncles of William Bibb. The central portion of the Alabama Capitol was the Capitol of the Confederacy from February to May, 1861.

In Blood Divided, Dr. W.O. Baldwin lived at the southwest corner of South Perry Street and Adams Avenue; although his house is gone, one block south of where it stood are the four Baldwin Sister Houses, built by Jim Hale about 1878 for Dr. Baldwin’s daughters. Dr. Baldwin, at one time, had his office in the building that still stands at 78 Dexter Avenue, on the southwest corner of Dexter Avenue and Perry Street. Across the street at 67 Dexter is a building that housed one of the hospitals in which Dr.Baldwin attended the sick and wounded during the Civil War. This is the only remaining structure of the several which served as hospitals during the conflict. The Dogtrot in Old Alabama Town was the country home of William Lowndes Yancey where, in July 1863, he died.

In Oakwood Cemetery are the graves, in relatively close proximity, of W.L. Yancey, Dr. Baldwin, his wife, Mary Martin Baldwin, his son, Buddie Willie, Jim and Annie Hale and Mammy Sallie Baldwin.

From a historian’s perspective, does The Flag Maker of Market Street give audiences a fairly accurate glimpse into this tempestuous moment in time?

BB: It is accurate in that Cowles was a Unionist, he did meet with Bibb and others in his store and the flag was made in his store apparently by a female, on a Wheeler and Wilson sewing machine. All of the emotions expressed in the play surely existed at the time. To manage to have just four people express those feelings and emotions is artistic genius. Additionally, the actors are dead on. The sentence structure and mannerisms are perfect. I think Elyzabeth Wilder has done a wonderful job of taking these few facts and weaving them into a story that captures the imagination of the audience and leaves then wanting to know more.

MAN: I agree totally with your remarks about the play and the talent of Elyzabeth in taking a few facts and creating a drama filled with both extreme tension and comic relief. I have now seen it two and a half times and would happily go again if the opportunity should arise!

Bob Bradley is a graduate of University of West Florida. He served in the National Park Service for 13 years, 4 of these as Historian at Fort Sumter. He spent 3 years as Site Administrator for Alabama Historical Commission. He has been with the Alabama State Archives as Curator and Conservator 22 years. Civil War Battle Flags have been his major focus, but he knows more about Civil War than anybody in Montgomery and most likely Alabama!

Mary Ann Neeley is a historian, preservationist, author, and former educator. She earned a degree in history at Huntingdon College and was a teacher before becoming director of the Landmarks Foundation. She has written and edited several books on local history including The Works of Matthew Blue, Montgomery's First Historian

Bringing the Bard to Life

2011-02-08T21:32:00.000-06:00

"Bringing the Bard to Life" is an outreach educational opportunity for our interns to go into schools and perform a 1-hour "Macbeth" and lead a workshop. The performance of "Macbeth" uses all 8 interns and each of them play several characters. The script has been altered to hit the high points and has all the famous lines from this well-known Shakespeare play. From a theatrical standpoint the performance offers monologues, fight scenes, romance, and costume changes off to the side. Then during the workshop the interns lead the students to the use of poetry in language and discovery of the themes represented.

Erik and Caitlin before the show during fight call.

Erik and Seth for fight call.

Another shot.

The cast enters hooded as the witches.

The stools are where they wait and grab props for their next scene.

Macbeth (Erik) as the new king.

Cheers to Macbeth.

Macbeth visits the witches again.

Macbeth's power and guilt gets the best of him.

Interns and cast of Macbeth.

The actors do a fantastic job with this "truck and trunk" show. All their props and costumes plus themselves fit in two vehicles. The show is fast paced with drums, bells, shrieks, and chants. The students in the workshop enjoy being apart of the discovery process when it comes to looking at the themes and language components in "Macbeth." This workshop runs through May so if your school is interested in having them come to your school go to http://www.asfeducation.com/educators/workshops.html for more information.

Bear Country Tailgate Party

2011-01-15T13:47:00.001-06:00

Thursday night ASF kicked off the limited run of Bear Country with an indoor tailgate party with special guests Ken Stabler and Bob Baumhower. Members and press gathered to taste Ken Stabler's wine from the Champion Collection by Legend Cellars. And Mr. Baumhower and Mr. Stabler shared football stories from when they played at Alabama under Coach Bryant with the guests. After the tailgate, everyone moved into the festival for the main event, the performance of Bear Country.

Tailgate Goodies provided by Baumhower's

Ken Stabler wine collection

Enjoying the party

Entertainment by Layne Weldon

Bob Baumhower and Ken Stabler sharing football stories

Michael Vigilant, Young Boozer and Ken Stabler


Cast members, director and playwright of Bear Country with Mr. Baumhower and Mr. Stabler

ASF has other member events planned throughout the season so make sure you don't miss the next one scheduled for February 5th and is a Playwright's Dinner with Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, the playwright for "Flag Maker of Market Street." "

Armchair Auction Trips

2011-01-09T19:28:00.001-06:00

The Annual ASF Armchair Auction always has great items up for bid and raises a significant amount of money for the theatre. Here are a few of the weekend getaway packages in this year's auction. The Armchair Auction is January 29th, 2011. For more information visit http://www.asfarmchairauction.com/

NC Mountain Magic Chalet (3 nights)

Do you need the perfect getaway? Bid on "Mountain Magic," a lovely North Carolina chalet near Franklin, 30 minutes from Highlands and Cherokee and 75 minutes to Asheville. Enjoy this treasure for a three-night stay with plenty to do during the day!
The chalet has 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, with a queen sleeper in the great room. It can accommodate up to six guests.
Live auction item. Valued at $450.00

French Quarter Trip (3 nights)

Soak in the flavor of New Orleans, LA, in a charming Creole townhouse located on St. Peter Street in the heart of the French Quarter. Includes a parking space in front of the building and is central to all the great restaurants and sights! Apartment sleeps two people maximum.
Live auction item. Valued at $600.00

The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa (2 nights)

Enjoy a two-night stay for two at the Battle House in Mobile, AL. Includes $100 credit for dinner.
Live auction item. Valued at $438.00

Two Nights at WaterColor Inn & Resort

Enjoy a two night stay at WaterColor Inn & Resort, located along Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast on Scenic Highway 30A, including dinner for two at their highly acclaimed restaurant Fish Out of Water. This Four Star premiere luxury destination is nestled along the emerald green waters and sugar white sand of Northwest Florida, and is an enchanting getaway with luxurious guest rooms overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Perfect for a romantic getaway for two or a complete family vacation, there’s everything from water activities to golf to incredible shopping and a rejuvenating spa to keep both your days and your evenings occupied.
Live auction item. Valued at $1,000.00

Two Nights at Henderson Park Inn, Destin, FL

Enjoy a three night stay in the Presidential Suite at Henderson Park Inn, a premiere beachside bed and breakfast overlooking a mile of undeveloped beaches in Destin. This luxurious New England-style bed and breakfast is a retreat for adults only, with balconies offering miles of panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico. A chefs breakfast is offered daily, and once the day is underway, complimentary bicycles are available for touring the area. The chef prepares boxed lunches perfect for a picnic on the beach, and the inn keeps refrigerators stocked with soft drinks, water and candy bars for guests. To celebrate the end of the day, enjoy the beautiful sunset overlooking the gulf on the back deck with a complimentary Happy Hour.
Live auction item. Valued at $1,500.00

Tiggerific and Piglet-icious

2011-01-09T18:59:00.000-06:00

Erik Gullberg- Brooklyn New York

Originally from Fairfield, Connecticut Erik has spent the last 6 years in New York and some of his time was spent at NYU working on a degree. He has also spent some time acting in London.

Erik’s Goals:

To see every great film every made and to read every great book every written

to speak 10 languages

see ¾ of the world

fly on my own accord

Erik is sincerely enjoying Montgomery with the stunning park and exceptionally kind people. “Exactly what I needed at this time in my life.” I can’t believe I’m getting paid to learn how to skateboard and jump on a pogo stick.

Caitlin McGee- Brooklyn, NY

Grew up outside the Boston area and can already tell she is going to miss the snow this winter. Her dad has had her shoveling her way out since she was big enough to hold a shovel. Caitlin has spent the past 4 years at Wagner College in New York and graduated this Spring. ASF is her first professional acting job and she is very excited about the upcoming season. Lil’ Bit in the play “How I Learned to Drive” has been Caitlin’s favorite role. Caitlin wants to continue to grow and improve as an actor so she can act continuously and eventually make it into film. Caitlin enjoys going to the movies and also attending shows while in New York. Stella, Caitlin’s number one companion, is a Portuguese Water Dog and was named after Stella in “A Street Car Named Desire.” Montgomery is very prestine and doesn’t have all the trash like Brooklyn. Loves any kind of pizza but pineapple is her favorite.

2010 in Review

2010-12-31T18:35:00.001-06:00

ASF has had a great 2010 year and we give all the credit to our wonderful patrons, talented actors and dedicated employees.

2010 in Review:

"Harriet's Return" The amazing one woman show about Harriet Tubman.

"Nobody" World Premiere musical about Bert Williams.

"Fall of the House" World Premiere which played with time and elements of Edgar Allan Poe.

"Hamlet" Nathan Hosner gave audiences chills in his role as the Prince of Denmark.

"All's Well That Ends Well" Made audiences laugh and sigh at relief that everything worked out in the end.

"Lettice and Lovage" Kept us on our toes and provided a funny twist among friends.

"Cowgirls" These ladies WOWed audiences with the amount of talent on stage at one time.

"Scot Bruce" Provided another wonderful evening of entertainment from the King of Rock and Roll.

"The Nacirema Society" A great kick off to the 25th Season in Montgomery and a pleasure to have Jasmine Guy.

"The House at Pooh Corner" A childhood favorite with a modern edge presented by our great group of interns.

"Peter Pan" Sarah Litzsinger took every audience to Never Land night after night.

And those are just the shows. We have entertained tens of thousands of school children through our AlfaSchoolFest program. Our Southern Writer's Project weekend took place in May and we had people from all over attend and experience a variety of new plays. And we have spent a majority of the year celebrating our 25th Season in Montgomery. A party in the garden was thrown for William Shakespeare on his birthday in April and kids filled the theatre all summer for acting camps.

Our members have enjoyed events like Playwrights Dinners for Nobody and Fall of the House. We also had a Mother's Day Brunch, Thankful for You dinner and May Day wine tasting.

On October 30th the building was transformed into something out of the New York City scene as we celebrated the 25th Anniversary with a gala. Long time supporters of ASF attended the evening and were swept away by the food, entertainment and decor. Dionne Warwick sang on the festival stage and the event raised a significant amount of money for ASF.

We close the curtain on 2010 but look forward to 2011 and all it has to bring. Rehearsals have already started for our next few shows opening.

We invite you to join us for the thrill of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, where great stories come to play, in 2011!

A Hat-ful Donation

2010-12-29T12:21:00.000-06:00

A gracious patron was cleaning out a family member's closet and came across a wonderful collection of hats for men and women. Instead of continuing to store them they decided to donate them to ASF in hopes of seeing them on stage someday. The costume shop accepted the donation with open arms.

There are still a few days left in 2010 to make an end of the year contribution. If you are interested in making a donation to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival please contact the Development Office by calling Denise Greene at 334-271-5380, or by emailing her at dgreene@asf.net. You can also make a donation on our web site by clicking here.

Mark your calendar for our Annual Armchair Auction, which is Saturday January 29th, 2011. WSFA airs the live bidding and you are able to bid on items in the comfort of your own living room in your armchair or you can head to ASF to bid with fellow bargin hunters. Take a look at the items available at www.asfarmchairauction.com. New items are being added daily.

She Still Believes

2010-11-24T18:39:00.000-06:00

This Thanksgiving ASF is thankful for our loyal patrons and we love to hear stories like this one...

A mother walked into the gift shop this evening and brought two packages of fairy dust to the counter. She looked around to make sure her family was out of sight and told us the story of Peter Pan and her family. Three years ago her daughter was 4 years old and they took her to Peter Pan at ASF. The little girl sat patiently through the entire show but was disappointed at the end when she realized she was never sprinkled with fairy dust. The parents were able to buy some at the gift shop without her noticing and on the way home they told her maybe they could ask Peter Pan to visit them that night. The little girl woke up the next morning to find fairy dust all over her and her bed with a trail leading outside which only means Peter Pan did visit her while she was sleeping. On the way to the show tonight the now 7 year old asked her parents if they could invite Peter Pan back again tonight. Her mom is ready with two bags of fairy dust for the daughter who still believes...

It Could Be "Thine Own"

2010-11-16T11:50:00.001-06:00

"She is mine own, And I as rich in having such a jewel..." -The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF) approached Lyle Fields, owner of Marquirette’s EXQUISITE Jewelry, to design a Signature Renaissance Necklace to mark ASF’s 25^th Anniversary in Montgomery, Alabama. The inspiration was found in a 15^th century Hugo van der Goes painting entitled The Portinari Altarpiece, which portrays one of the daughters of a Florentine banker wearing a necklace with rows of pearls, a gem between every pair of pearls, and a lily-shaped jeweled pendant and a suspended, large drop-shaped pearl.

This double-strand, large pearl necklace linked by 18 carat rondelles is separated by 170 carats of garnets and features a 4.85 carat deep pink morganite tear drop that hypnotizes with its overwhelming beauty. A detachable turn-of-the-century inspirited medallion of 18 carat gold cradles vivid rhodolite garnet, topaz and green amethyst, totaling 54 carats of pure perfection. The necklace is expected to raise over $50,000 for the ASF, making it one of the most anticipated gifts donated to its eighth annual Armchair Auction.

Neverland in the Costume Shop

2010-10-25T13:42:00.000-05:00

Our costume shop is quickly preparing all of our "Peter Pan" costumes for the cast. Rehearsals started last Friday and the show opens in less than a month. The ASF costume shop creates just about everything worn on stage. And they are very creative when it comes to creating the perfect look.

We even have very talented people who make all of the wigs for performances.

"Peter Pan" opens November 19th and runs through December 24th.

Introducing Brett & Seth

2010-10-11T15:30:00.000-05:00

Brett as Rabbit in "The House at Pooh Corner"

Seth as Eeyore in "The House at Pooh Corner"

Brett Warnke (Rabbit)- Troy, AL

Brett's dad was in the military so he moved around but settled in Huntsville 12 years ago and went to school in Troy to study acting. He has known about ASF for quite some time and actually attended “Hamlet” last season. Brett loves his dog Grady, a bird dog/border collie mix. A goal is to work professionally as constistenly as he can. Has spent three summers at Lost Colony on Ronak Island and fell in love with Colorado when he spent the summer at Cripple Creek doing a classic Victorian melodrama. Favorite role has been Lock Stock in Urinetown the Musical. Not really interested in film, Brett wants to stay in theatre. When not in rehearsal he is listening to music and right now he is really in to the Local Natives and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. His first role was freshman year of high school and had a great string of teachers to keep him going. His favorite food is cheap Chinese.

Seth D. Rabinowitz (Eeyore)- New York, NY

Born in Philly but raised in South Jersey his heart is in the City of Brotherly Love when it comes to sports. Seth is a sports fanatic with football and hockey at the top of the list and baseball coming in close second. He has his Master’s from the Actor’s Studio and his been acting and living in New York for the past 9 years. Seth wants to work his way to Broadway then move into film and television. Hamlet is his favorite play of all time and hangs in its entirety on a poster in his house. Braveheart is his favorite movie if he had to choose just one. Musical taste varies from classic rock to 80s to Dave Matthews Band. He owes everything to his wonderful, supportive parents and gives credit for his acting career to his mother since she was the one who got him into high school theatre. Seth enjoys studying and perfecting stage combat which will come in handy one day when he hopes to play Hamlet. Montgomery feels very homey to Seth and he is very happy to be here. One day he wants to own a black lab and name it Oberon.

Vintage Costumes

2010-09-23T16:00:00.003-05:00

Here's a look at some of the costumes for the upcoming show, The Nacirema Society. This play is set in Montgomery in the 1960s and these pieces are from the 60s. The costume shop spent many hours searching on-line for the perfect pieces to appear center stage. These dresses and sweaters are mesmerizing and definitely pull the audience into the 60s fashion. ASF is excited about these authentic pieces and feels they are giving them a second life. Re-using already created clothing instead of making new helps recycle items. Enjoy taking a look at some of the costumes and get a feel for the 1960s through these pictures.

Who are Kanga and Roo?

2010-09-20T22:19:00.002-05:00

Tara and Kevin both enjoy music and performing. Tara has a wonderful voice and is looking forward to sharing it with an audience. Kevin has gotten into recording and recently started playing the guitar. Broadway stars in the making? They are anxious to see where their love for music will take them.

Tara L. Herweg (Kanga)- Camp Hill, PA

Tara was born and raised in PA and has been in New York for four years auditioning and working for a law firm. If she’s not in rehearsal you can find her curled up on her couch reading. Tara saw a lot of movies in NY because cheaper than going to see a show. She loves how clean the air in Montgomery is and is looking forward to exploring local restaurants along with the local music scene. Tara enjoys writing but does it sporadically. She tries to keep her blog updated so check out Tara's adventures at http://www.alifeofquestionabletaste.blogspot.com/ Tara can't wait to sing on stage again which an audience, it’s been a while. Tara is enjoying the break from NY and is very excited about her current role as Kanga in The House at Pooh Corner.

Kevin (Kev) Callaghan (Roo)- East Northport, NY

Kevin is loving Montgomery and has been able to expand his skill set already. Kevin had a hand in recording the intro music for The House at Pooh Corner. He picked up playing the guitar in the past year and has enjoyed learning. Kevin just finished school at Wagner College and this is his first gig right out of the gate. He is very interested in going to Broadway or branch into film. He would like to try his hand at directing at some point, but really loves acting. He likes anything Clint Eastwood related. And eventually, Kevin wants to fall in love, get married and have a few kids.

Sneak Peek and Tell

2010-09-13T15:47:00.002-05:00

Thursday night Bob Vardaman, of Bob Vardaman Events Management, took center stage at ASF to show his 25th Anniversary concepts for the Gala. Mr. Vardaman has the task of topping one of the biggest parties Montgomery has ever seen, which took place 25 years ago in the same building, opening night of Alabama Shakespeare Festival. And boy does Mr. Vardaman have a party planned, complete with dancers and Dionne Warwick.

Participants in Thursday's event were able to walk among the stage and see the concepts for each of the night's festivities.

Once guests arrive, valet service will greet them at the door and then they will proceed into the theatre by walking the red carpet.

Wicked Winter Wonderland is the formal seated dinner taking place in the transformed rehearsal halls. Decked out with silver sparkle fabric, mirrors, white flowers and candles this will surely look like a Wonderland and not rehearsal halls.

A Midsummer's Night SCREAM is the high energy cocktail dinner taking place in the outfitted Octagon theatre equipped with go-go dancers and all night partiers.

After dinner everyone is escorted into the festival stage for a performance by Dionne Warwick. And then everyone returns to the Octagon for All's Swell That Ends Swell, which means champagne and desserts.

The Gala is Saturday, October 30th, 2010 at Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Tickets are still available for A Midsummer's Night SCREAM at $825 a person. This includes the cocktail dinner in the Octagon, the Dionne Warwick concert, and the after party with drinks and desserts in the Octagon.

For more information visit www.asf.net or call 334.271.5353.

Welcome Tyler and Corey

2010-09-06T14:45:00.009-05:00

This season ASF has eight acting interns and this week we are introducing Tyler Jakes and Corey Triplett. Right now the interns are rehearsing for the upcoming children's show "The House at Pooh Corner."

Picture from previous production at ASF.

Tyler Jakes (Christopher Robin)- New York, NY
Tyler grew up in Tampa, FL and attended Vanderbilt, originally to become a lawyer but decided he didn’t want to look back at the age of 50 and say "what if." So he finished his degree in history and moved to New York, which is where he has been for the past 3 years. Tyler likes being a well diverse person and feels his love for history helps him in studying scripts and preparing for roles. He loves watching movies as long as it is not a romantic comedy. Tyler really admires Kevin Kline and bases his career goals off of him. He ultimately wants respect for his work but to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible. Tyler has no desire to be “famous” just to entertain people. He is extremely excited about performing at ASF and has heard of it for many years being from FL but has never been before. This is his first time to work with Shakespeare so he is looking forward to Julius Caesar and Much Ado About Nothing in the spring. His favorite book is Dune. And so far, Tyler sees ASF as a family company and a good place to work.

Corey Triplett (Pooh)- New York, NY
Corey moved around as a child but spent more of his childhood in East Lansing, Michigan and attended the University of Michigan and earned a degree in English. He spent a year in the Teach for America program teaching in Los Angeles. Corey would take acting classes at night and decided he wanted to change gears and pursue a career in acting. He went back to school at the New School for Drama for a MFA. One of his favorite memories is when he was 17 and was able to go to St. Petersburg Russia to study dance with an exchange program. He eventually wants to play Othello and his goal is to do his best acting work possible so he won’t have to wait tables. Corey’s favorite food is free food. And Corey's most memorable moment on stage was when he was playing Buckingham in Richard III. He had a three page speech to deliver before intermission and during the invited dress rehearsal he forgot the speech and improvised Shakespeare until he eventually improvised his way out the scene. He was very happy it was only an IDR.

Don't call her trailer trash!

2010-06-17T09:37:00.000-05:00

In the current production of Cowgirls, three high-brow classical musicians get mistakenly hired to play the grand re-opening of Hiram Hall, a country saloon in Rexford, Kansas. Mickey and Mo, the two waitresses at the saloon have their heart set on performing at the event, but owner Jo Carlson is more interested in turning those classical chicks into country queens...

In this video Mickey and Mo audition for Jo with a little ditty called "Don't Call Me Trailer Trash." You can relate? Can't you?

What are Audiences Saying about Cowgirls?

2010-06-16T10:00:00.001-05:00

Check out this video to find out!

Cowgirls "Impressive" says Howley

2010-06-14T15:15:00.000-05:00

Our new production of Cowgirls began previews this weekend and reviewer Michael Howley says "Talent Abounds"in Cowgirls and found "foot stompin' delight" in the show!

Here are a few excerpts from his review

Talent abounds in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's production of "Cowgirls", directed by Karen Azenberg, who also directed & choreographed ASF's production of "West Side Story", and choreographed "A Christmas Carol: the Musical" and "Beehive".

*   *   *

Not only do the six actresses act and sing their roles, they are also called on to play an assortment of musical instruments ranging from cello to mandolin and from piano to washtub in the two hour performance; and they demonstrate a variety of musical styles from classical to country. Impressive.

*   *   *

Most of the play is an extended exposition, and it isn't till the final moments that they actually perform as the "Cowgirl Trio". But when they do, the event is a foot-stompin' delight -- partly because they have transformed into a really good country act, and partly because we have become invested in their lives.

*   *   *

When Act I opens on Peter Hicks's two-level interior of Hiram Hall in Rexford, Kansas, one can almost smell the years of smoke and spilled beer, the brown wood aged just enough and the numerous photographs of country stars and old advertisements reach out to include the audience, so the external world that is never seen through its windows hardly matters. This is the world for the present.

*   *   *

Individual personalities emerge as we watch the relationships grow, and by the end, most audience members will have chosen a favorite and will cheer the spunk and achievements of this excellent ensemble.

Read the entire review on his blog at www.theatremontgomery.blogspot.com

Check out this number from the show featuring Jessica Tyler Wright as Mary Lou.

Southern Writers' Project Festival in First Issue of Arts in Alabama Mag

2010-06-07T08:32:00.000-05:00

There's a new arts magazine in town! Well, in all of the state, really. Its called Arts in Alabama and its time has really come. The publishers visited ASF about a week before the Southern Writers' Project Festival and of course we invited them to check out the weekend and see what they thought.

They must have liked it because we have a fabulous write up on pages 46-49 of the first published issue. I'm sure they will be bringing some copies to your area soon, if you're in Alabama that is, but until then, and for all those not in Alabama, here's a link to their online version of the publication.

The magazine is really gorgeous and shows the diversity and very high quality of arts in Alabama. Enjoy!
And, if you've got a business, please consider supporting this important publication by advertising with them!

SWP Fest 2010 has begun!

2010-05-13T08:45:00.000-05:00

This week the Southern Writers' Project Festival of New Plays officially started with the arrival of the playwrights, directors, dramaturgs and actors who will be working together to get the four new plays that ASF has selected read for their concert readings this weekend.

We caught up with a couple of the playwrights and their dramaturgs to see how things were going after their first day on Tuesday.

Readings are just $10 each and a full schedule and details on the weekend are available at www.southernwritersproject.net
Or you can get more info by calling 1.800.841.4273.

Shakespeare's Birthday Party

2010-05-01T08:54:00.000-05:00

Last Friday night we celebrated the 446th Birthday of the Bard! We invited the community to come out for free cake and ice cream and performances by the Curtain Call Players, a group of experienced acting students from our camps and academies.

We estimate around 150 people attended this first-time event and we couldn't have been more pleased! Here are a few pictures from the party.

This AMAZING cake was donated by Liger's Bakery! THANK YOU!

ASF Producing Artistic Director Geoffrey Sherman and Education Director Greta Lambert with the Curtain Call Players!

The curtain Call Players in action!

A game of Shakespeare Pictionary (I think that's Falstaff!)

ICE CREAM & CAKE! ICE CREAM & CAKE!

A great time was had by all and you can mark April 23, 2011 for another Birthday Party for Shakespeare!

ASF Repertory Company Shows Off Pink Gloves Dance

2010-04-30T16:30:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday the Joy to Life Foundation, a hugely successful Breast Cancer Awareness group based in Montgomery, invited ASF to participate in a viral video project to help raise awareness for Breast Cancer.

You can see that the cast is not only well trained in classical theatre, but can also get pretty "unce, unce" on the dance floor too. If you like this video DONATE NOW!

REVIEW: The Fall of the House

2010-04-21T13:30:00.008-05:00

We're a little late posting this review from Michael Howley at www.theatremontgomery.blogspot.com, but we hope you enjoy it anyway! You can still catch the few remaining performances of The Fall of the House this weekend Thurs - Sun.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

ASF: "The Fall of the House"

Another Southern Writers' Project World Premiere opened this weekend in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's Octagon Theatre. "The Fall of the House", a haunting two act dreamscape by Robert Ford, links the past and the present and analyzes the consequences of our choices.

An often puzzling script that nonetheless intrigues audiences, "The Fall of the House" is fortunate in its sheer literacy and its extraordinary performances, and anyone who is fascinated with figuring out a mystery is bound to get involved in its intricate plot.....

Read the full review HERE

Jonathan C. Kaplan and Ta'Myia Narcisse Cousar pictured above in The Fall of the House.

2010-04-21T08:45:00.000-05:00

Our latest Ask an Actor question comes from Anonymous:

Q: What made you want to become an actor?

A: Honestly? "The Wizard of Oz." When I was three I used to dance around my house pretending to be Dorothy. At that time I also wanted a baby blue VW Bug with Ruby Slippers all over the hood. Needless to say that dream did not come to fruition. And I've yet to play Dorothy, but one year I did go as her for Halloween.

I grew up singing and dancing and started performing locally (in Pennsylvania, where I grew up) in my community and eventually professionally. When I was nine I worked at my first Equity theatre and I have been blessed in the work I've done since.

I never really wanted to do anything else. I guess that makes me lucky. I had a goal and I set my mind to it. I hope when I'm old I can look back and say I've contributed something to this world. I think being an actor has made me a better person - playing different human beings has opened my mind and kept me curious, yet respectful. I try not to judge others (though I do admit to observing people I think are interesting for character research!) and I let everything in my life be a learning experience to fuel my art. To any aspiring actors out there I'd say this - be open to the world around you for within it are all the things with which you'll need to play.

Lauren Sowa pictured above in All's Well that Ends Well with Jordan Coughtry.

Ask an Actor is a new feature where you can ask an actor anything! Submit your questions here in the comments or on ASF's Facebook page or by direct messaging @AlabamaShakes on twitter. Questions are answered by ASF actor Lauren Sowa. You can see Lauren in the Hamlet, All's Well that Ends Well and Lettice & Lovage now through May 23. Keep an eye out for the next Ask an Actor post!

A glowing review of ASF world premiere Nobody

2010-03-18T13:22:00.000-05:00

From Michael Howley's blog www.theatremontgomery.blospot.com:

Monday, March 15, 2010

ASF World Premier: "Nobody"

After two years in development through the Southern Writers' Project, Richard Aellen's provocative play "Nobody" is being given its World Premier in the Octagon Theatre at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. A nearly full house rose to its feet at the conclusion of Sunday's opening performance. Spilling out into the lobby for a reception, conversations were intense and candid as the audience grappled with the play's themes and challenges...just one of the things that makes live theatre exciting and important.

Set in the late 19th and early part of the 20th Century, "Nobody" traces the lives of two actual African-American vaudevillians, out of work and almost out of hope. Bert Williams [James Bowen] and George Walker [Sean Blake] meet in San Francisco and decide to team up and make their mark in the business. Williams is introspective and wants a career as a "serious" actor, playing Shakespearean roles; Walker is a ladies man and more brash, intending to make a lot of money by dazzling audiences with his quick wit. Neither is quite ready for the reality that faces them: they will only be considered for playing the stereotypical and degrading "Coon" roles; that is, until they decide to play in minstrel shows in burnt-cork Blackface, billing themselves as "Two Real Coons," a choice that leaves few alternatives from then on.

Read more

Pictured above left: James Bowen as Bert Williams. Right: James Bowen as Bert Williams, Erika LaVonn as Lottie Williams, Sean Blake as George Walker and Angela K. Thomas as Ada Overton Walker.

Oh the THINKS you can think up!

2010-03-08T08:45:00.000-06:00

ASF repertory actress, and contributor to "Ask and Actor" on this blog, Lauren Sowa recently visited a local school room and shares this inspiring report!

"Oh, the THINKS you can think up if only you try! If you try, you can think up a GUFF going by."

I'm not quite sure what a Guff is, but if it's a creature that helps stir up the imagination of Alabama schoolchildren then I think there was one in Montgomery Friday. My fellow actor and roommate, Melanie and I went into the Highland Ave. Elementary School Friday to read a few Dr. Seuss books to the children as part of the Read Across America program. The kids were adorable and probably didn't know what to make of us with our silly voices and large gestures. Melanie read "Oh, the THINKS you can think!" with gusto and I ended up reading the teacher's choice: "Bartholomew and the Oobleck" - never heard of it? Me neither. Have you ever tried to sight read a Dr. Seuss book?!?! Not easy. About halfway through I realized I was working up a sweat - playing five or so different characters and warning the people of the Kingdom of Didd that large blobs of oobleck were raining from the sky! The book, in the end, teaches the importance of the simple and powerful words "I'm sorry." All in all, it was a hour well spent, sharing the joy of reading and the power of imagination with a small classroom full of the creative minds of the next generation. Now, back to Shakespeare!

Cast Member of Nobody Explores Montgomery

2010-03-04T13:59:00.004-06:00

Margaret Loesser Robinson from the Cast of Nobody shares her experiences in Montgomery while in rehearsals for the show.

     I started my journey to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival under one week ago at LaGuardia airport. After having sat at my flight’s gate for about an hour, a man turned around, looked at me and pointed at me. I pointed back. We had found each other--somehow, you can just tell who amongst your fellow passengers is your fellow actor. Call it artistic profiling. And so began our journey--we flew into Atlanta, and were met by our wonderful company manager, Crystal, and met several other cast members before starting the drive to Montgomery. I’ve been ready to come to Montgomery for some time; I have held a long distance fondness for the south and things southern for some time now but have only made it as far down as Florida, and so I greeted the warm air, the hospitality, the accent, and the biscuits eagerly. One of my favorite things about being a regional theatre actor is getting to live in and experience new places--make a temporary home and try to take advantage of my free time to do some exploring. And free time is something I have in some abundance at the moment--I don’t make my way onto the stage until the second act in Nobody, so I’ve had the luxury of getting out and about in advance of our first official day off. Already, I’ve been to the Zelda Sayre and F. Scott Fitzgerald Museum in the beautiful Cloverdale Historic District. When I arrived, I was greeted by the man who has run the museum for the past five years and actually lives in the house itself (with his cat, named Zelda, of course) who invited me to sit down in the living room and chat before looking around; this is part of what I love already about the south. People take a little more time here, time to get to know one another. He actually offered to rent me an apartment in Zelda’s childhood home for 500 dollars a month when he found out I was a Zelda fan--an offer I seriously considered for a brief moment. As we parted ways, he remarked that as a “living historian,” he and I, as an actor, had a lot in common as people who keep the past alive. On the sun porch, there was a faded newspaper article about a play performed at ASF years ago called Zelda.
     Already, I have taken a quick drive though downtown Montgomery just to get a lay of the land, have enjoyed Publix to no end, and am a fan of Zoe’s Kitchen in Eastchase. I also made my first visit to the Museum of Fine Art--I am sure to be back. I liked Café M for its name, and also for its food, and yet again for Jonas, who let me try the Brunswick Stew when he found out (yes, from my “accent”) that I wasn’t from the south and had never tried or heard of this delicacy. It was delicious and I felt indoctrinated in a way. I saw Jonas a couple of days later--he was working at an event before a performance of (the excellent) Harriet’s Return and he remembered my name! New York City, this is not.
   As I continue to explore Montgomery and its environs, I am also hard at work finding out all there is to know about Eva Tanguay, the real life vaudevillian I play in Nobody. She was a real madcap, and tales of her backstage antics--including an arrest for sticking a stagehand with a hatpin--are wild. Here’s a link to a NYTimes article about the arrest. This clip of Bert Williams singing “Nobody” may also be of interest.

I’m looking forward to sharing more of our casts adventures--on stage and off…

Margaret Loesser Robinson recently arrived in Montgomery to play the role of Eva Tanguay in the world premiere of Nobody at ASF. This new musical is based on the true-life characters of Bert Williams and George Walker, two African-American vaudevillians who couldn't catch a break at the big-time until they did the unthinkable and performed in black face. By doing so, they broke racial barriers and paved the way for modern entertainers of all racial backgrounds. Margaret's character, Eva Tanguay is another real-life vaudeville performer who worked in the same entertainment community as Bert Williams and George Walker.

Ask an Actor: Stagefright

2010-02-12T19:44:00.000-06:00

Our first ever Ask an Actor question comes from Rodney via Facebook:

Q: During public speaking I sometimes feel a little stage fright. Do you guys ever feel the same during a performance? If so, what are your secret methods of getting over it?

A: Stage fright is a common fear among people of all ages.

Personally, I haven't had a problem with stage fright. That being said, I am usually nervous before a performance (and sometimes rehearsal!) but I think of it as "good nerves," aka: anticipation or excitement. If you are feeling butterflies in your stomach before a public speaking engagement, my advice would be to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, while imagining yourself to be successful. Try to channel your nerves into positive energy and use that energy to give you a little kick!

You may have heard the old "picture them naked" trick. Some people find this useful. I find it awkward. But if it works for you, then that's great! All you do is picture your audience without clothing, which I think is to make you feel less embarrassed and more empowered. The problem with this, for me, is that if I pictured 1000+ audience members without any clothes on, it would probably make me MORE embarrassed. Or break out into laughter. Neither of which would really be good for the play. But I digress.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to be utterly and completely prepared. Know what you are going to say. Know the information you have to get across. Practice, practice, practice. Ask if you can practice for your significant other, or a friend. Personally, I am always the most nervous when I know a family member is in the audience, or a friend, because their opinions are so important to me. If you can practice your speech or presentation for someone close to you, it might be easier when you get up in front of others.

Once you do get up there, just remember, your audience wants you to succeed. Crack a joke if you're feeling nervous, it will help to calm you and everyone else down. Then, just trust yourself!

Ask an Actor is a new feature where you can ask an actor anything! Submit your questions here in the comments or on ASF's Facebook page or by direct messaging @AlabamaShakes on twitter. Questions are answered by ASF actor Lauren Sowa. You can see Lauren in the upcoming productions of Hamlet and All's Well that Ends Well. Keep an eye out for the next Ask an Actor post!

REVIEW: Harriet's Return

2010-02-09T08:47:00.000-06:00

American Theatre Critic's Association member Michael Howley has posted his review of Harriet's Return on his blog.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

ASF: "Harriet"s Return"

Seven days into Black History Month, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival is presenting "Harriet's Return", author and actress Karen Jones Meadows' stirring tribute to Harriet Tubman, an escaped slave who went on to become a noted "conductor" for the Underground Railroad, a "General" under John Brown, another "Moses" and "Mother Harriet" to countless abused victims of slavery.

A tour-de-force two-and-a-half-hour performance by Ms. Jones Meadows tracks Tubman's life from childhood to old age, wherein she portrays some 30+ characters who intersect and often re-appear in Harriet's eventful life. Read more

New Feature: Ask an Actor

2010-02-04T14:20:00.002-06:00

We're starting a new feature on the ASF Blog: Ask an Actor! This is your opportunity to submit questions to be answered by a member of our acting company. Anything goes! Submit your questions here, on the ASF FaceBook page or on Twitter by direct messaging @AlabamaShakes.

Your questions will be answered by Lauren Sowa, a member of the repertory acting company. Lauren was most recently seen as Cochina in Ferdinand the Bull, and is also playing Diana in All's Well that Ends Well, among other roles in the Repertory Season.

Charity: who cares?

2009-12-23T16:57:00.001-06:00

A coworker forwarded a really interesting item from mint.com to me today. Those interested in non-profit administration (i.e. how we manage to run a non profit like a theatre) might find it very interesting as well. This neat little set of stats clearly and quickly delivers a ton of info on trends in American's charitable giving habits. As we already know at ASF, its the gifts from individuals who tend to make up the majority of charitable donations. Draw your own conclusions from the rest of the info given here:

budget planner – Mint.com

Howley says "stellar performances usher in a delightful Christmas season..."

2009-12-08T16:31:00.003-06:00

American Theatre Critics Association member Michael Howley has reviewed ASF's production of

A Christmas Story and says

"the stellar performances usher in a delightful Christmas season in Montgomery."

ASF "A Christmas Story"

-- "What do you want for Christmas?"
-- "..a legendary official Red Ryder 200-shot carbine action range model air rifle with a compass and this thing which tells time built into the stock."
-- "You'll shoot your eye out!"

These lines are repeated frequently in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's delightful production of Jean Shepherd's "A Christmas Story" adapted for the stage by Philip Grecian, and brought to life under Geoffrey Sherman's clever direction by a company of professional actors and local students recruited from many Montgomery schools. READ MORE...

(Pictured above: Sandy York, Seth Meriwether, MaryKathryn Samelson and Bryant Mason. Bottom right: Seth Meriwether as Ralphie.)

What? You haven't seen Ferdinand the Bull yet?

2009-12-03T10:34:00.000-06:00

If you haven't checked out our children's show Ferdinand the Bull yet, maybe you need a little more info to make your decision. If so, feast your eyes on this little taste of the show.

Fiesta de Ferdinand!

2009-11-08T14:04:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was the BIG day at ASF. We not only had performances from the Alabama Dance Theatre and Wetumpka Depot Players on our stages but we officially opened Ferdinand the Bull! It was invigorating to have so many people, especially very young people, in the theatre!

We took some photos of the Ferdinand Opening Party and you can check them all out on our FB page. Here are a few of the highlights:
Chick-fil-A Colonial Promenade location sponsored the part and provided delicious kid-friendly nuggets plus brought a long-lost cousin of Ferdinand's, the Chick-fil-A cow known by few as Jason.

The cast of the show made an appearance and greeted their adoring (tiny) public.

They even joined in the fun activities like Spanish Bingo and making paper flowers.

These hands-on activities will be available to Ferdinand the Bull patrons before EVERY public show!

You can check out a similar event this Tuesday, November 10 from 6-7 PM at the Chick-fil-A Colonial Promenade location for a Kids night with the cast! Its FREE, so check it out!

Cold mornings and Wet Noses

2009-10-17T10:49:00.000-05:00

ASF is full of furry creatures these days, and I'm not just talking about Ferdinand the Bull and his friends. Today is the 9th Annual Walk 'n Wag Pledge Walk for the Montgomery Humane Society in Blount Cultural Park.

The weather was downright cold this morning at 41 degrees, but that didn't stop lots of cute four-legged friends and their owners from coming out for the costume contest, silent auction, 50-yard Doggie Dash and more.

One very special guest was Mr. Louis Vuitton, a pit bull who survived extraordinary cruelty at the hands of a very disturbed young man. Louis' story was on the news for weeks here in Montgomery, and a local family adopted him and has given him a VERY loving new home. Because he had been so severely abused it took a very special family to take him in. As you can see, he's doing great!

Local radio hosts (and great friends of the theatre) JT & Leanne from Mix 103's married in the Morning were the emcees for the event and introduced a new member of their family, a pup they lovingly call a chi-wiener, a cross between a chihuahua and dachshund. Sure is cute in that dino-suit!

Thanks to all who came out to the park this morning. Here's hoping it was a huge success for the Montgomery Humane Shelter!

Local Reviewer now reviewing online!

2009-09-30T14:37:00.000-05:00

Our long-time theatre reviewer Michael Howley has begun a new blog where he will publish his reviews of local productions, including ASF, Faulkner Dinner Theatre, Way Off Broadway, the Wetumpka Depot Players, Theatre AUM, and more.

The first post on his new blog expresses it best:

"Welcome to a new blog with a purpose of service to the theatre community in Montgomery. With several years of contributing theatre reviews in print, my plan is to continue writing reviews for the local theatre companies and the public at large.With their permission, I would like to provide links to these theatre companies as well as to other theatre organizations on the blog.
Please spread the news that local theatre will receive critical attention here."

So please do share the word. Follow his blog and learn about all the great theatre there is in Montgomery!

So you wanna be an intern?

2009-09-28T22:23:00.002-05:00

Today we met the new Intern Acting Company for the 09-10 Season. Six fresh faced youths were greeted by a room full of techies, artists and administrators chewing on bagels and sipping tart OJ from our styrofoam cups. Every season, there's about a month or so where we have very few actors on site while we're dark. Right before the first cast of the season comes in, its almost like we start to ache for the giddy buzz of actors in the hall, running lines, cracking jokes and building that special bond that translates so well on stage in a great ensemble. Today we got our giddy buzz back and it's kinda wonderful.

The Intern Acting Company will first take on the task of bringing Ferdinand the Bull to life for our young audiences. Later they will take on roles in the Repertory season and in between they will do lots of outreach to students in classrooms across the state.

New 2009-2010 Season Announcement

2009-08-17T15:15:00.002-05:00

After long months of discussions and budget meetings, we at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival have announced the 2009-2010 season! So for a quick run-down, the season includes:

Ferdinand the Bull Nov. 7 - Dec. 19, 2009
adaptation and lyrics by Karen Zacarias
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Based on the book The Story of Ferdinand
by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson

All Ferdinand wants is to sit in his field and smell the flowers. All Danilo wants is to dance. But Danilo's father, the Duke, has other ideas, and so into the bullring they go. This sweet and funny musical, based on Munro Leaf's classic children's story, teaches important lessons about being true to yourself. Recommended for ages 4+

A Christmas Story Nov. 27- Dec. 24, 2009
adapted by Philip Grecian from the works for Jean Shepherd

Oh fudge! Yes, it's that Christmas story, complete with little Randy's oversized snowsuit, the Old Man's leg lamp, and, of course, Ralphie's Red Ryder BB gun. We triple-dog dare you to bring out the whole clan to spend a hilarious holiday with a family even more dysfunctional than yours. Recommended for ages 7+

Harriet's Return Feb. 5 - 28, 2010
by Karen Jones Meadows
This incredible and inspiring story of Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman comes to life in this amazing one-woman show, in which playwright and actress Karen Jones Meadows plays more than 30 characters. Recommended for ages 13+, due to occasional suggested violence and mild sexual suggestion

Provocative Premieres

Nobody March 12 - 28, 2010
by Richard Aellen

A pair of down-on-their-luck African-American vaudevillians can't catch a break until they do the unthinkable - don blackface. This provocative new musical story is based on the tempestuous lives of Bert Williams and George Walker, who broke racial barriers by portraying racial stereotypes. This production is recommended for mature audiences only, due to strong language and adult situations

The Fall of the House April 9 - 25, 2010
by Robert Ford

The spirit of Edgar Allen Poe haunts this mind-bending new play that brings together magic, betrayal, forbidden love, tragic accidents, secret documents and familial bonds that span 150 years. This production is recommended for mature audiences only, due to strong language and adult situations

The Repertory Season

Lettice & Lovage April 9 - May 23, 2010
by Peter Shaffer

Exuberant, eccentric Lettice Douffet is a tour guide given to exaggerating history to entertain her charges. Lotte Schoen is a buttoned-up, by-the-book boss brought in to fire her. The confrontation leads to an unlikely friendship filled with drama, laughter, and an accidental near-beheading. This very witty, very British comedy is tailor-made for fans of the BBC. Recommended for ages 10+

Hamlet April 16 - May 22, 2010
by William Shakespeare

Denmark's Sweet prince suffers the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune as he seeks to avenge the murder of his father, poisoned by Hamlet's conniving uncle. The bodies pile up as his revenge takes its toll on the innocent as well as the guilty. Recommended for ages 10+ for some violence and mature themes

All's Well That End's Well April 23 - May 22, 2010
by William Shakespeare

Helena is smart, brave, and talented...and in love with a man who's just not that interested in her. But she's willing to do whatever it takes to win his heart - be it risk the wrath of a king, cross battle lines, or fake her own death. Because after all, all's well that end's well. Recommended for ages 10+ for mature themes

Summer Musical

Cowgirls June 11 - July 3, 2010
by Betty Howe with Music and Lyrics by Mary Murfitt

Jo Carlson is gonna lose the family saloon unless she raises a lot of cash, fast. And darned if she hasn't accidentally hired an all-girl trio of classical - not country - musicians for her Grand Reopening. Now she's gotta help them find their inner cowgirls in just 24 hours. Ya'll won't want to miss this very funny musical, featuring such original songs as Don't Call Me Trailer Trash, Honkey Tonk Girl, Saddle Tramp Blues. Recommended for ages 10+

The only way to order right now is by becoming a member. Don't worry, it's painless this year with our new membership program. Each starts with a $25 membership fee and then just add how many tickets you'd like to whatever show you'd like to attend. We have three different levels:

Scripted - Want to see six or more shows? Buying in bulk ensures the highest discount off ticket prices.

Ad Lib - Want to see five or fewer shows or just want to add on throughout the year? Then Ad-Libing it is the way to go.

Improv - This is our voucher membership in case you'd like to purchase discounted tickets but don't know when you want to go, or if you'd like to give them away as gifts during the year.

So give us a call at 334-271-5353 or check out the website at www.asf.net for more information.

The Wigs of Beehive

2009-07-14T11:53:00.004-05:00

The Montgomery Advertiser has some great coverage of the wigs that go into taking our musical Beehive back to the 60's. Follow the link for the article. Preview tickets for $25 are still available till this Sunday, July 19th. This is one show you don't want to miss!

Beehive Rehearsal Video

2009-07-07T09:28:00.001-05:00

Check out our newest rehearsal footage for our upcoming Musical Beehive starting July 10th!

Beehive the Musical

2009-07-01T10:16:00.000-05:00

Here's the teaser for our upcoming musical Beehive!

A Day in Misalliance

2009-06-19T09:38:00.004-05:00

A Day in Misalliance Rehearsal

by Heather Newman (Stage Manager for Misalliance)

We rehearse Misalliance 6 days a week 8 hours a day. My normal morning starts at 11:00am when I meet my ASM (assistant stage manager),Crystal McCall, at the theatre and we start prepping for the day's activities. Prep usually consists of setting up the room with the furniture, props, and rehearsal costumes needed for that day. Next, while Crystal checks in with the costume and prop departments for any updates and new items that may be available, I check my work email for any questions from designers and department heads, go through the day's rehearsal and fitting schedules, and put together any notes I need to go over with the cast (2009 MFA acting company & Greta Lambert) and director (Wendy McClellan) before rehearsal starts.

At 12:00pm, we begin rehearsal, right now that involves a full day of blocking (choreographing and recording the movements of the actors in each scene). Wendy guides the actors through this process as I take down blocking notes in my prompt script (the main archive for the show) and Crystal stays on book for the actor's lines while keeping track of props used. As we go from scene to scene I track their entrances and exits, record their blocking, watch for potential technical related issues, make sure we are taking the appropriate breaks, monitor the actor's fitting schedule, and make note of any questions we have for the designers and departments involved in the production. By 4:00pm we are all ready to take a meal break. Crystal and I finish up notes and lock up valuables before we rush home to walk our respective puppies and grab a quick bite.

At 5:00pm I am back in the building checking in with the costume shop to see how fittings went and checking for emails from other departments- all while Crystal sets up the room again for the evening’s schedule. The MFA actors and Wendy are back at 5:30pm and we head back into the blocking process. 9:30pm is the end of blocking for the day and the actors are given their notes and sent home. Wendy and I go over the next day's schedule (called the DAILY) while Crystal cleans up the props and rehearsal costumes. Once the DAILY is finished I email it out to the production heads and record the schedule onto a voice-mail system the actors can call into- a hard copy of the DAILY is also distributed around the building in about 15 locations by Crystal. I then move onto my rehearsal report which contains everything we worked on that day, any questions we need answered, important reminders for future events, and requests for items we may need for rehearsal; once it's done, this document gets emailed out to everyone involved in the production. Last one to leave, I check the room for left over valuables, turn out the lights,and head home.

Party at ASF

2009-06-18T16:07:00.002-05:00

Join the party at ASF with our production of Misalliance running June 26th - July 4th! Watch the video below and get acquainted with your fellow guests.

More on The Three Musketeers!

2009-05-27T13:54:00.001-05:00

Here's more footage of The Three Musketeers on stage!

ASF Spring Season FINAL WEEKS

2009-05-26T11:47:00.003-05:00

Here's what our audiences' have to say about the our productions of The Three Musketeers, Othello, and The Comedy of Errors!

The Comedy of Errors Dancing

2009-05-20T09:39:00.004-05:00

At the end of a long day of misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and general chases throughout town, the people of The Comedy of Errors like to indulge in a dance. Here's one of the rehearsals where our actors learned the steps very similar to Morris dancing.

Enjoy!

Interview with Othello, Iago, and Desdemona

2009-05-19T10:49:00.001-05:00

I got a chance to sit down with Esau Pritchett (Othello), Matt D'Amico (Iago), and Kaytie Morris (Desdemona) to talk about the production of Othello and what it was like bringing these characters to life. Enjoy!

Southern Writers' Project 2009!

2009-05-15T14:01:00.003-05:00

Today starts our Festival of New Plays otherwise known as The Southern Writers' Project!

The first reading ("Nacirema Society") starts in an hour though the guests have already been on a tour of the facility and are at a meet and greet with the playwrights right now. Check out our youtube page for videos about the plays and background information on the stories. As for everyone here at the theatre, we're all getting ready to see great new plays fresh from the writer's imagination. The play readings are avaliable to the public at large and can be obtained at the Boxoffice. Call 800-841-4273 for more information.

Comedy Brother's Tell All

2009-05-14T12:58:00.002-05:00

I got together with the four brothers from The Comedy of Errors and got the inside story of what exactly happens during the two hour show. Here's what I came away with:

Our Audiences Love The Three Musketeers!

2009-04-29T09:11:00.003-05:00

We caught a few of our audience members as they were leaving the show this weekend and here's what they had to say about our new production of The Three Musketeers!

Tickets on sale now - call 800.841.4273 or visit www.asf.net for more information.

Othello - Sneak Peek

2009-04-27T16:14:00.002-05:00

Here's a sneak peek inside one of the last rehearsals of Othello before it went to the stage. In this scene the town is gathered at one of the local taverns to celebrate Othello's marriage to Desdemona - and Iago spends his night stirring up trouble with Cassio.

One Castle for Two Shows

2009-04-24T15:34:00.003-05:00

For our two Shakespeare plays this season we decided to build one set that could then be customized with removable embellishments for each show. The man behind the design is Rob F. Wolin and in this video he talks with us about the inspiration behind the design and the practicality and functionality of the set.

Spring is here and so are the Plays!

2009-04-24T15:23:00.003-05:00

Wow, has it been busy here at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival! We've been working on bringing our spring Rep season to the stage. This spring we feature three great and diverse shows: The Three Musketeers, Othello, and The Comedy of Errors.

I've got a treat for you today, a quick video of fight rehearsals from The Three Musketeers. As you can tell, with a story featuring the famed fighting army called The Musketeers there must be a whole lot of sword fighting, and this show delivers. Check it out below and check out our youtube page for more videos!

Reactions to The Furniture of Home

2009-03-16T09:25:00.002-05:00

Don't miss our newest play The Furniture of Home playing now through March 29th and come home to your family at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Snow Day in Alabama

2009-03-02T09:59:00.014-06:00

The Great Snow Adventure of 2009!

This past weekend we had a morning of snow in Montgomery, Alabama. This is the second year in a row that we've had snow here and I convinced a few people to go out into the park for what we thought would just be a nice walk through light snow flurries. Here are a few pictures I snapped while we walked through the falling snow.

The beginning of our walk! Here is our Garden/ Amphitheater area with the main building in the background.

Close shot of our newest flowers in the Garden covered in slush.

In front of the Theatre at the pergola.

Our front lawn that slopes down to the pond. The snow is still light and melting as soon as it hits the ground.

We've looped around to the Art Museum and the snow is getting a bit heavier. Our resident sea gulls keep trying to fly but the winds don't let them get anywhere. Most of the ducks, loons, swans, and herons have gathered on the island to wait out the storm.

All except these guys! We couldn't figure out if they wanted us to feed them or take them somewhere warm.

The Alice in Wonderland tribute fountain at the Museum.

The storm is starting to get worse and we've just realized that we have to walk back in a headwind with stinging snow...and none of us thought to wear sunglasses or any face protection.

The bank we had just been on, now a duck free zone.

Our snow covered Willow.

The front lawn, now with slowly gathering snow. We got a text from a friend at this point saying only "It's magical!"

The statue of Mr. Blount watching out over the theatre and surrounded by snowy hedges. By this time we had decided it was time to go inside and get warm before our hands froze off.

Keep checking back! Our newest show opens this weekend (March 6th) and I'll have responses to the show up on the blog after our invited dress on Thursday night!

Meet the cast of The Furniture of Home

2009-02-27T11:03:00.003-06:00

Here's a new video interview with the cast of The Furniture of Home where the actors talk about the show, their characters, bringing a new play to the stage, and their trip to Mobile, Alabama for Mardi Gras!

Set of The Furniture of Home Pt. 1

2009-02-24T16:17:00.008-06:00

Ask any actor and they'll tell you that any set they work on really affects how they connect with the character who belongs to that created world. The environment changes how a person interacts with other actors and even changes how they perceive their own character.

So, how then, do you interact with the home that you've grown old (or grown up) in when all that's left is the floor and one wall?

If you saw any of the photos or news coverage from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina then you'll understand the challenge of bringing this devastation to our Octagon Theatre and make it so the actors could still connect with the set. The house and trinkets that would have made it a home are all missing from this set, the only things left being a washed up large blue chair and refrigerator. This added challenge for the actors could be a challenge or opportunity but it definitly made for an interesting time down in the scene shop.

I've been paying regular visits to the scene and prop shops to find out how they've brought the Bayou to the stage and here's a photo tour of the past few weeks.

Here's the set designer's painted version of the set design. Used as information, copies are always kept on the board so that the artists can check their work.

Always building walls! I believe this will form the longer wall with the doorway.

This is view from the end of the 100's section of seats.

It's all slowly coming together.

The dreaded red "X" to mark your house for demolition.

Now that the set for Bear Country is out of the theatre there's room for the new set.

The next installment will follow the finishing touches and set decorating. Keep a look out for the entry on the two chairs being built for the show, the blue arm-chair and a special steel version of a folding chair!

Furniture of Home Broadcasts

2009-02-23T16:14:00.002-06:00

Catch the new publicity for Furniture of Home on radio and tv this week! Tune in to:

Tuesday 2/24 – WAKA CBS 8 AM show around 6:30 – 7AM – Anne Letscher and Alexis Camins
Mix 103.3 FM JT & Leanne – between 7:30 – 8 AM - Anne Letscher and Alexis Camins
WSFA NBC 12 Noon show – between 12-12:30 PM – Greta Lambert and Philip Clark

Wednesday 2/25 – WTSU 89.9 FM Troy Public Radio – 12:12 - 12:20PM – Greta Lambert and Meg Lewis

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

2009-02-23T10:19:00.010-06:00

Everything is so exciting around the theatre these days! We just finished the run of our incredibly popular show Bear Country and now have a two week window to carefully remove and store that set while moving in the pieces of our next show, The Furniture of Home.

Key to this upcoming play are the pull of memories and their physical embodiment, family photographs. Our props department could have just printed copies of photos from the web but they wanted the candid and haunting quality of damaged real family photographs to be strung around the set. A few days after a building wide email calling for photos, the props department had a good start on the number of photos that they'd need for the set. The photos of different employees and their friends/families, pets, homes, landscapes,etc. featured their varied lives and brings a great sense of community to the set and adds another layer of emotion for the actors.

Getting the photos was the first step but the next was to distress them so they looked as if they had been through a hurricane and the resulting flood. Shanley from props first tried to soak them in water to see how the water affected the pigment in the photos. The effect that the plain water had was a few water marks, but not the type of distressing that would result from days of soaking after the storm.

So Shanley and I went on a field trip around the outside of the building to find organic material to soak the photos in and hopefully cause more damage to the color and images. We found a great patch of Alabama Clay which I didn't get a picture of because I couldn't resist playing in the mud. Once I had cleaned up as best I could I snapped a few pictures of the rest of the distressing recipe:

One cup dark top soil. I hope Karen the master gardener doesn't mind!

One cup mulch. Probably from the guys cleaning up the extra growth out in the park.

One cup gravel for that extra banged up look. I bet this pile was intended to help fill in the gravel parking lot. I doubt they'll miss a cup or so.

Optional: Add leaves and moss for that authentic look.

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a large bucket and add water. Stir the photos at intervals to move the gravel and other materials together.

After letting sit for a few days, Shanley has pulled the photos up and out of the muck to dry on a clothes line, very similar to what will happen to them on the set. It may take a few more dips and some clever use of paint but I know the set will be perfect like always for the opening of The Furniture of Home, playing March 6th-29th. Don't miss out on this great show, call the Box Office at 334-271-5353 or visit www.asf.net for ticket info. Try out our Loveseat Special and check back here for more insider info from the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Dressing the Part - The Furniture of Home

2009-02-17T13:28:00.006-06:00

We have news on the quickly approaching The Furniture of Home, our fifth show and second world premiere of this season. Following the outstanding success of Bear Country which broke attendance records for our Octagon stage and brought a new audience to the theatre, this new comedy mixes laughter and tears, fear and romance, youthful exuberance and proven patience to our stage. Addressing the continuing effort to rebuild the Gulf Coast after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, these characters, like the people they mimic, don't give into self pity about the circumstances they've found themselves in. With lively banter and realistic situations, these characters struggle to rebuild and face the choice to stay in the broken community or leave for a new home.

The Costume Shop shared scans of the costume designs for the four characters with me and I'm sharing them now with you. Enjoy!

Dottie, the tough loving grandmother of Kendall, tries to keep the remains of her family together and all their heads above water.

Kendall, clever and intuitive, she ignores the love of her only stable family member and instead favors the imagined love of her absent mother.

Butch returned to Bayou La Batre after the Hurricane and finds his old friend Dottie. Was it the Hurricane that brought him back, or the winds of change?

Boone, a quiet young man and friend to Kendall. These two strike a deal to help each other find the pieces of the past that might help them find a future in the battered Bayou La Batre.

Bear Country Extended!

2009-01-23T11:40:00.002-06:00

Great news! The amazingly popular production of Bear Country by Michael Vigilant has been extended! So if you haven't gotten your tickets yet then hurry over to www.asf.net or call 1-800-841-4273 to buy now. These seats won't last long so buy today!

ASF Armchair Auction

2009-01-06T14:10:00.010-06:00

From Soyia Ellison, Development Intern

ASF's annual Armchair Auction is almost here!

We'll be auctioning off more than 125 fabulous items on Saturday, Jan. 31, from noon until 6 p.m. The auction will be held in the Festival Theatre, and for the first time, buyers can pre-register and do their bidding in person!

As always, ClearChannel radio stations across the state will broadcast the auction live, and WSFA 12 News will broadcast the last hour on its network.

But you can lay claim to your items long before that! Online bidding begins Jan. 12 at www.armchairauction.cmarket.com.

Below are photos of a handful of our items so that you can get an idea of what's available. Go to www.armchairauction.cmarket.com for more details and dozens more items.

Happy Shopping!

Vacation in New York, New York.

Buiscuts Baseball Suite for 16

$75 gift certificate to Honey Baked Ham

Tapas party for eight guests to Luna

Scuba Diving lessons for 2

Personal Trainer

Hot Rocks Massage

Eyes of the Storm- Furniture of Home

2009-01-06T11:07:00.001-06:00

After hurricane Katrina destroyed their community and halted their way of life, eighth graders from Alba Middle School in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, took to the streets armed with cameras to document their lives through the black and white images they captured. Assisted by middle schoolers from Elm Place Middle School in Highland Park, Illinois, the children processed their emotions with photography and poetry.

This video features photos and poetry from the "eyes of the storm: a community survives after Katrina" photo and book project and includes art and poetry submitted by middle schoolers from both Alba and Elm Place Middle Schools.

Bear Country Teaser

2008-12-24T11:15:00.002-06:00

Here's a teaser for our new play Bear Country starting Jan. 9th! Tickets make a great last minute gift!

The Costumes of Bear Country

2008-12-22T11:44:00.015-06:00

By Beth Novak, Costume Designer for Bear Country

Bear Country is a play that takes place over a 50+ year span of time dramatizing important moments both real and imagined in the life of Coach Bear Bryant. There is a cast of only four actors, one who plays Coach Bryant at the end of his career looking back on his life; one who plays Coach Bryant throughout his life; and two who play all of the other important people that populated his life during important decision making and life changing moments. The mature Bryant wears only one iconic outfit – instantly recognizable to anyone. The other three actors have close to thirty different looks, some that have to happen in just seconds. The creative team (director, designers) decided to take a somewhat presentational approach to the costumes.

The play is written in a fluid style with scenes bleeding into scenes and actors changing characters within the context of a scene. If we tried to create completely different visual statements for each character the production would run the risk of becoming a frantic “fashion” show which could actually be more intrusive than helpful. We chose to use very realistic “period” clothing pieces to enhance the time, place and character of each scene of the play, but also chose not to attempt extremely detailed changes (wigs, facial hair, body padding, etc). Thus, an actor that plays two coaches during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s wears the same pants and shoes, but changes his jacket and adds a hat for one of the coaches.

We all recognized from the very beginning of the project that we would have to be especially true to the details of Coach Bryant’s life because we are in the heart of “Bear” country and there is an enormous amount of common knowledge about him and his story. But we are also fortunate to have fantastic resources at our fingertips. So, in addition to book research, I have been to the Bear Bryant Museum and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and have received generous help from both in the way of photos and information.

An important element of the visual story is the “period” football paraphernalia from the 1920’s, 30’s and 1970’s. We found a company in Los Angeles that rents authentic athletic costumes for movies, TV and commercials and they have much of what we need in their stock. In addition they are building other special items just for us. These uniforms (helmets, shoes, jerseys, padding, etc) greatly enhance the authentic feeling that we are trying to create for our production of Bear Country.

Bear Country Set (pt. 2)

2008-12-22T10:23:00.008-06:00

As promised, part two of the Bear Country set build!

The crew tapes out the hashmarks on the field.

A Ghost! Not really, though we are rumored to have a few ghosts running around the theatre.

The last few panels for the stadium, here being dried before installation.

The stadium is a series of large panels that carry the perspective of being in the crowd at a game.

Spot the crew member in the light grid! One of our brightest ideas (haha) was building a light grid using airline wire. This lets the crew walk out and set the lights and the wires don't cast shadows on the action below.

The infamous tower. Coach Bryant would spend the practice up in the tall metal tower watching his team below. Woe to the person that caused him to climb down before a practice was over.

A door to nowhere? (Or an entrance/exit for the actors.)

That's the last post for the set of Bear Country. They're almost done with it and I'm not allowed to take photos once it is completed, so if you want to see the final version call 334-271-5353 -or- 1-800-841-4273 or visit www.asf.net to purchase tickets to fantastic show. Better hurry, tickets are going quickly!

The Scene At ASF

2008-12-22T08:47:00.003-06:00

Hiya! Don't forget that The Scene party is on January 16th here at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. We'll have live music by Lance Brown, food, drinks, and highlights from Paul Bryant's career at UA. Top it off with a 7:30 showing of the new play Bear Country and you'll have a great night of football, friends, and fun!

Tickets are going quickly for this show so if you want to come to the party then call 334-271-5353 -or- 1-800-841-4273 -or- email thescene@asf.net.

If you like to party and you like theatre, then this is your Scene!

Merry Christmas from ASF!

2008-12-18T14:42:00.018-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Today we had our Christmas Party with everyone gathering together in the front hall to eat a great lunch (some went with the traditional turkey but I went with the Southern favorite of pulled pork barbecue) and all kinds of sides and desserts. I managed to snap some pictures between visiting friends and enjoying lunch. It's picture time!

Even Shakespeare is festive!

A view from the balcony over the spread.

The line's starting for the food.

I didn't know Santa moonlighted! (hehe)

Kristi W, our sassy intern, poses for a picture.

Surprise picture!

Pretty posing!

Food and tickets!

Door prizes that were given away during the party. These are sure to raise everyone's spirits!

Eat, Drink, and be Merry! Father Christmas (aka Ghost of Christmas Present) would be proud!

Sideline Specials for Bear Country

2008-12-16T09:57:00.005-06:00

The Men of Bear Country Offer You a Seat on The Sideline!

Our next production, Bear Country, a play about the great Paul "Bear" Bryant, is starting is a month here at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. In fact, the first rehearsal is this afternoon. I'll try to get a few photos so you can see the four amazing actors that we have for this production. In fact, the lead for Bear Country will be in rehearsals in as well as finishing up the last few weeks of A Christmas Carol: The Musical as the old miser Scrooge.

But the big news for today is that we've got a great special going on for this show called the Sideline Special. We're offering a discount on the seats in our 100 and 500 sections of the theatre, the "sidelines" where you buy one adult tickets and get the second for half price. You have to act fast, though, because this offer is only for the Tuesday and Wednesday shows in the first two weeks. So if you've been waiting to get your tickets then go ahead and give the box office a call at 1-800-841-4273 or visit the link at the side to buy online.

I'll be back with more fun pictures and another update on the Bear Bryant Set soon!

Christmas Carol Promo Extended!

2008-12-12T13:15:00.002-06:00

More discounted tickets are available to our production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical for selected shows (this weekend and next at the 7:30pm shows mostly)! If you've been waiting to see the show then this is your moment! Call 1-800-841-4273 or visit www.asf.net for a great deal on your tickets to this amazing musical production.

Bear Bryant Set (pt. 1)

2008-12-11T14:20:00.015-06:00

So the other day I was snooping down in the Scene Shop and came across parts of the set for Bear Country, the next play to be in our Octagon Theatre. I caught the boys laying down the astro turf and saw the plans to turn our thrust theatre into a football stadium. Here are the pictures I snapped while spying downstairs.

Here's a sample of what the set will look like. Sorry the flash washed it out a bit.

It's Bryant in his tower where he watched how the plays worked on the field. The designer does tons of research for each set.

A little blurry shot of placing the Astroturf. (The guys couldn't stop moving because of the tape!)

A Bird's Eye View!

A Bug's Eye View!

Since the football field starts at the 50 yard line, this ramp provides the perspective in the corner that the field continues down to the field goal.

The top of Bear Bryant's tower. This gave Coach Bryant a better view to watch practices and see how strategies were working.

Annnnnnd...Poof! The magic of the painting crew transforms a bit of Astroturf into a beautiful field!

"Action!Ramp" holds up the rest of the field and once everything is painted it'll look like our Octagon Stage holds half a football field.

That's all for now. Next time I'll have more photos of the set being assembled and hopefully will have lots of great shots from our Christmas Party next week. Last year someone proposed, I wonder what will happen this year.

Happy Holidays!

*edit*: The original picture of stairs were removed because they are part of another show. The correct stairs to the tower are pictured in Part 2 of the build for Bear Country.

Turntable for the Stage

2008-12-02T14:20:00.003-06:00

For three shows in our 2008-2009 season (A Christmas Carol: The Musical, the Three Musketeers, and Les Miserables) our scene shop built a turntable to go on the Festival stage. It's installed right now and will go until next summer when we close the season and dismantle it. The turntable (think lazy susan) makes quick scene changes easier and sets up some dynamite blocking choices. Here's a quick podcast on how it was made!

First in about Bear Country

2008-11-24T15:38:00.004-06:00

I recently sat down in a meeting with our COO, Mike Vigilant, who is also the author of our upcoming production of Bear Country am almost biopic of Bear Bryant, head football coach for the University of Alabama during a very successful and controversial time in the university's football program. Here's what he had to say about the play so far (I'm paraphrasing a bit):

The play is about like jazz, verbally, like a dance between the characters. There's four people playing about 15 different roles, so alot of very quick changes. The interaction between the actor playing Bear and the rest of the cast has the tempo and the style of jazz with the theme and variations throughout the memories. In fact, this play is supposed to make sense even if you were to take out the dialog and just have Bear telling his memories. We should have about 80% of the show done before rehearsals start, but since this is a first time production, the remaining 20% will come during the rehearsal process and everyone from the actors to the director start working on making this real.

As much as I love jazz, this sounds like an amazing play, and I don't even understand football! Tickets for Bear Country are on sale now and they make great Christmas gifts! Call 1-800-841-4273 to purchase today!

Intern Company: Adam Souza

2008-11-24T13:56:00.005-06:00

Another intern interview! This time with Adam Souza. Enjoy!

Born: West Hartford, Connecticut.

Past Experience: Grew into theatre with a play here and there while growing up. Played Willy Wonka at 10. Lots of experience with music on different instuments like the piano, guitar, trombone; also played a bit of soccer and did competitive fencing (which is very different from stage combat!).

Siblings: one younger brother who's more business minded and in school to be a pro golf manager.

Schooling: New York University. Large school with a large drama program (Tisch School of the Arts) but still small enough to to have a good collegiate atmosphere.

Working with Charlotte's Web: It's changed the way that I look at children's theatre- what it means and the level of theatre. It is almost harder to perform for children because you always have to tell the truth. It requires a lot more work and energy because things are more important to kids. You have to approach kids with an open mind because if you don't connect then they tune you out; there's no sense of obligation for kids to pay attention to the story you are telling.
Everyone I've worked with on the show have been of such a high caliber and I'd love to work with Nancy again.

Dream Role of Rep: I'd love to be Athos in The Three Musketeers. Loved the book as a kid and have read it over and over, just to be a Musketeer would be great.

Classes and Teachers: I love how demanding the teachers are. They and the environment challenge you and force you to the next level. Denise [Gabriel, movement instructor] is great. It's hard at first to get your mind around what she's trying to point out in our body movements but when you do finally grasp it then it becomes this amazing and big thing that you've never given thought to before. Ray [Chambers] keeps so much info in his head and is always so precise. He's really committed to teaching a skill for everywhere, to empower the actor. Greta [Lambert] is all about nurturing the ability and talent of everyone. She creates an environment where you feel safe to take risks and push yourself.

Graduation: I have mixed feelings on this. I'm looking forward to taking the skills with me into job force but sad that we'll be leaving before Les Miz. We know it's coming up soon but there's so much between now and then that we haven't given it much thought.

Have you found "The Moment?": It varies project to project and is very difficult to find. I'm just now getting to the point where I can feel that true moment as an actor.

Future Dream Role: Macbeth to be sure, also Richard III, but it will be years before I'm age appropriate.

Straight from the Cast: Blog with Billy Sharpe

2008-11-21T11:00:00.002-06:00

Billy Sharpe (Cratchit, A Christmas Carol: The Musical) checks in with a new blog about working (and playing) at ASF.

Sooooo, I was asked a couple of weeks ago to write a little something for the blog, and that is when anxiety and panic set in… what could I POSSIBLY have to say that would be of any interest to anyone? After much angst and confusion I am sitting down to write a TELL ALL about the cast of A Christmas Carol – The Musical… well, maybe NOT a TELL ALL… How about a TELL SOME…

Most of the cast gathered on Oct 10^th for the first day of rehearsal. I was “stuck” in the Pacific Ocean on a cruise ship that was sailing from Hawaii to Mexico. After making it through the hurricane, I missed my initial flight and had to overnight and take the first flight out the next morning. I arrived in sunny Montgomery on Saturday afternoon just in time for the lunch break! When we met for rehearsals after lunch I was filled with excitement and anticipation about meeting the cast! I knew Rodney Clark, and Jessica Blair from Beauty and the Beast here at ASF two years ago. I also have a dear mutual friend with Mark Woodard, so I knew to be on the lookout for him. As for everyone else, I had NO idea who these people were; however, I was excited to get the process started of developing new friendships! It is always fun to gather for the first few days of rehearsals and see who fits in with whom, and how the group dynamics will work.

It seemed that this group already started to play well together as they had a chance to mingle at Geoffrey’s house after the first day of rehearsal. I discovered that I had actually met one other cast member three years earlier at a Mexican restaurant in New York City! Small world – after all. I also had mutual friends with many of the other cast members so that gave us common ground and a springboard for conversations. The first two days of rehearsals were a blur, albeit a fun blur! On our first Sunday night, we gathered at an apartment of one of the interns and laughed, had a few drinks, and some cubes of cheese MAY have been thrown… I was drinking a concoction I like to call “Summer In A Glass.” If anyone would like the recipe… find me, I’ll gladly share it… perhaps I’ll put it at the end of this entry?!!?

The next day Jessica Blair, Mark Woodard, Will Ray and I started the tradition of Buffet Monday. We decided that every Monday we would find a different Buffet and use it as our grazing spot for lunch. So far, we have gone to Buffet City (*****), Donny’s Home Cooking (*****), King Buffet (***), Golden Corral (*****), and some other Asian Buffet that I don’t remember the name of right now (***) where I ate a crawfish for the first time… I missed Ryan’s this past Monday because I was suffering from intestinal trauma… I will not elaborate… let’s just say I am gluten intolerant and I ate some wheat and it knocked me out for about 16 hours…

We have also had many other outings in addition to the Buffets!!! Some cast members/ASF MFA’s went to the Haunted Chicken House in Hollis, AL… (If you have never been, GO next year!!!! It is a hoot! We had a blast!) We also caught up on the Saw movies by watching the first 4 on DVD before we went to see Saw 5 at the Rave! What a gory good time! We usually try to gather on Sunday nights at someone’s apartment to wind down from the week and have some laughs and drinks and occasionally play some mindless party game!!!! There was also a fun night when many members of the cast went bowling… I do not bowl, because I am THE WORST BOWLER in the WORLD… however, I went along for moral support and of course to critique the bowling techniques of my coworkers!

This cast is an AMAZING group of FUN and TALENTED people without a rotten apple in the bunch! I hope this gives you some insight into our activities so far, and I hope to have another entry to the “Times” in about a week!!!! Here is the Summer in the Glass Recipe:

1 can of Frozen Minute Maid Limeade (the large size not the small!) empty into blender

Fill the can almost to the top with vodka and add to blender

12 mint leaves in blender

Sooooo much ice that you think it is too much and then add one more ice cube

Blend/Mix/Liquefy until completely mixed… enjoy!!!!!

A Christmas Carol Trailer

2008-11-20T10:54:00.001-06:00

Enjoy and come see A Christmas Carol: The Musical now playing through Dec. 24th!

Check the link out to the side for ticket information or call 1-800-841-4273.

Be A Kid Again Promotion

2008-11-18T09:04:00.003-06:00

We're running a promotion for A Christmas Carol: The Musical for the following dates:

11/18 @ 7.30pm
11/20 @ 7.30 pm
11/26 @ 2pm

Buy one full priced adult ticket and get the second for half price! That's $75.00 for two tickets this fabulous holiday musical; it's like Broadway has landed in Montgomery, Alabama. You can't beat this deal so bring your mate, date, family, and anyone else you'd like to share the magic of this Christmas story with, and help support the arts by loving what we do best, entertaining you!

A Christmas Carol Official Opening

2008-11-14T08:58:00.006-06:00

Well, after a week of previews we are headed straight for the opening weekend of our newest production, A Christmas Carol: The Musical. This amazing show is full of Singing, Ghosts, Dancing, and Mutton Chops (that fun bit of facial hair that all the guys are running around with). It will make you laugh and cry, often at the same time, and really brings to life the Christmas spirit, with a side of silliness.

I have to warn you; this is not your grandparent's Christmas Carol.

The opening number itself is full of singing and dancing, and contains about three scenes within the musical number. Our sound and light crew hustle the entire time to keep up with the show's demands. The entire production lasts about 90 minutes, so you can see that it starts at a fast pace and never lets up. The group of actors play so many parts that they are constantly in new costumes, which are gorgeous, and their roles are so captivating. We have a whole group of ghosts who help to drive home Marley's message to scrooge and a line of "presents" that Christmas Present uses to help show Scrooge the joy of life. Check out the program to see exactly how many roles each actor plays.

And it is lovely.

The set is amazing with a turntable (watch for the podcast coming next week on how they built the turntable, complete with photo montage!) and beautiful London scenes. The costumes are absolutely lovely and make you wish for a real winter in the South. We've had, like, one freeze warning so far and it's almost Thanksgiving? This show is absolutely fabulous with each and every song and dance.

Scrooge, the character we all dislike in the beginning, but the one that most of us can connect with. Watch for Scrooge's backstory and you'll find out why he is the way he is, and all the while you're disliking the poor soul you'll be secretly wanting for him to redeem himself, because if there's one person who needs hope, it's Scrooge.

So why haven't you bought your ticket yet? This Broadway musical won't be in town forever so hurry up and get your tickets while we have them. Got family coming for Thanksgiving and you don't know what to do with them? We have two shows the day after Turkey day so come out to a show with the whole family.

Don't be mistaken for a Scrooge this Christmas. Come out and enjoy the fun of live theatre with your family and community!

Christmas Carol Rehearsal

2008-11-04T15:14:00.002-06:00

Two for the price of one! Here's another video, this time of a sneak peek during a rehearsal of A Christmas Carol: The Musical. In it Marley as a ghost tries to convince Scrooge of the consequences of his greed. Enjoy!

Meet Intern David Hudson

2008-11-03T11:17:00.007-06:00

Good morning!

I'd like to start the week off with a new project. We have a new education opportunity called our Intern Company where we bring theatre graduates here to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and they work with our great teachers and perform on our professional stage for a year before heading off into the big theatre world. We have some great actors here this year and I'm slowly interviewing all five of them. First up we have David Stewart Hudson:

Birthplace? Washington D.C. (inner city kid)

Childhood Experience? Very involved in theatre as a kid and always wanted to be an actor. Also went to an art high school and used to write plays as a kid.

Siblings? Only child.

College? University of Maryland. It had a great theatre department with multiple theaters and a great teaching facility.

Acting for Children? It's been a challenge but the three things that Nancy (Director of Charlotte's Web, our children's production, and Assistant Artistic Producing Director at ASF) teaches are so very true. To reach children you have to reach Simplicity, Connectivity, and Honesty. Kids are an honest audience and you either have their attention and belief or you don't.

Looking forward to the rest of the season? Yes, to competing against all the other actors for roles in upcoming productions. This first show, Charlotte's Web, was all ours and now we'll have to go up against some big competition for future roles.

What do you think of the teachers? Greta is amazing, lots of trust and cuddly almost with her teaching style. I'm very excited about Ray's class on Shakespearean text, I think it'll be fun. Denise's movement class is challenge. There's something very important there with movement and acting and I'll eventually get my head wrapped around it.

Do you work with the MFA's very much? Not yet, we'll start working together during the repertory season.

Have you had that moment yet where it all clicks when becoming a character? Not yet, I'm slowly getting into what acting is. There's no more backstage or green room chatter, though, so I can stay in that place longer.

What are you looking forward to the most in class? I'm looking forward to working with someone who challenges me to stay in the moment.

Bah Humbug!

2008-10-24T15:54:00.001-05:00

Meet the newest Scrooge to grace the stage of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival stage. He's mean, cranky, and plagued with a sharp sarcastic sense of humor that you can't help but pity him. He brought us Capitan Hook from last year's production of Peter Pan and we welcome him back to embody the classic bad guy turned good from Charles Dicken's widely popular story A Christmas Carol. Here he is, Montgomery's own Rodney Clark!

Come see him in our large Holiday production of A Christmas Carol: The Musical, previews from Nov. 7th-16th only $25.00! Call 334-271-5353 or 800-841-4273 to order tickets!

Update!

2008-10-21T09:54:00.002-05:00

Hello again!

It's been awhile since I've posted here and it's all because we're busy building the greatest season for all of you! Soon I'll have up a few videos from the Christmas Carol rehearsal and how the scenic crew built the rotating stage. We'll be using this stage for three of our performances: Carol, Three Musketeers, and Les Miz.

3 Mo' Divas was quite a short show at only a week long! That's quite a change compared to the shows we build and run. They've now moved on to another city and if they come near you then you have got to go see them. These divas are H-O-T!

Right now we have Charlotte's Web running and you can see a photo album of the cast visiting a farm to observe how the animals interact. This adorable show is great for kids and adults alike.

See you at the theatre!

The Scene Starts Here!

2008-09-17T10:06:00.004-05:00

Our new program aimed at 22-45 year olds starts October 10th at 6:00pm with food, drinks, and a edgy performance from the Montgomery Ballet. RSVP to thescene@asf.net or call 334-271-5336.
$10 cover at the door

Come on out and party with people from around the city!

3 Mo' Divas Hits the Stage! One Week Only!

2008-09-11T09:27:00.003-05:00

Inexplicable Dumb Show and ASF

2008-09-10T15:05:00.002-05:00

Hello! Yes, we are still alive!

I hope everyone had a great end of summer blow out. Labor Day has come and gone and summer finished we look to Fall to start our brand new season starting with 3 Mo' Divas!

Our Producing Artistic Director, Geoffrey Sherman, was recently interviewed by the guys over at Inexplicable Dumb Show. Here's a link to the main interview.

These guys are hilarious, so give them a try. And remember, it's for the children...

New Season, New Series

2008-08-19T08:52:00.003-05:00

Good morning bloggers!

I know, I know, updates have been getting farther apart and it seems like we've run out of stories. That, my friends, is an incorrect assumption.

We're hitting the end of the season now with West Side Story closing this Sunday at 2:00 (we're going to miss you guys!) and looking forward to the new season beginning in a month with 3 Mo' Divas kicking it off! In the meantime, though, we're working on a new series of articles to really give the inside look to this theatre.

We're charting a new course and are going to have a new topic everyday. So if your interest is costumes, set building, acting, or my favorite, marketing, then you'll know when to check back each day and see what our awesome submitters have whipped up.

As always, I'll see you at the theatre!

End of Season Announcements

2008-08-14T14:01:00.003-05:00

Hey bloggers!

I wanted to put up a few reminders about our last few weeks in this season. Here we go!

We're in the last week of West Side Story performances! So if you haven't seen the show yet you need to hurry because it won't be here after August 24th!
Want something a little different? Scot Bruce will be here next Monday, August 18th, with his amazing tribute to Elvis, the king of Rock and Roll. Tickets are flying and we don't have too many left for this awesome show. Act fast or you'll miss out on a night of great music and fun!
Our season closes on August 24th, but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop. Emerge Montgomery, our city's premier young professional party network, is coming to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival on Tuesday August 26th. Come join the hot, young, savvy up and coming professionals of Montgomery for a night of fun! We've got blues guitarist Lucky playing, food served up by some of Carrabba's finest servers, and more. You have to RSVP, so consider this your official invite to the party. Call 334-271-5336 to RSVP

I hope everyone has a blast this weekend and, as always, I'll see you at the theatre!

3 Mo' Divas on Sale Now!

2008-08-08T10:13:00.003-05:00

Our season is going to be a hit right out of the gate this year all thanks to a little show called 3 Mo' Divas.

How many of you have heard of the show called 3 Mo' Tenors? It was and still is a blockbuster hit with theatre audiences everywhere. After their success we all knew it wouldn't be long before they would develop a show featuring the talents of three women whose range extends through multiple styles and centuries of music. And thus was born the amazing show 3 Mo' Divas.

This show features three Divas (using the original meaning of "goddess" or a woman who has rare and outstanding talent in opera or other extensive musical arenas) who have been classically trained in the major music styles of the past 400 years. The show itself is reminiscent of a musical concert and will keep you engaged throughout the performance and singing the songs the next day. For more information on the show, check out their website here and see what they're all about. Tickets are on sale right now and are flying out of the box office for this amazing celebration of women and music. Call 1-800-841-4273 or visit www.asf.net for more information on how to order tickets.

Scot Bruce returns August 18th

2008-08-05T11:23:00.003-05:00

Scot Bruce returns August 18th! Tickets on sale now!

Les Miserables and Subscriptions

2008-08-05T08:54:00.006-05:00

Why, you may ask, do we have a large picture of a girl with the French flag and "Summer 2009" across the top? The answer would be because we have been granted the amazing opportunity as a regional theatre to produce Les Miserables! This show has taken the world by storm and is set to shake the foundations of Montgomery, Alabama with its beautiful music and epic story. But the only way to purchase advance tickets to this amazing show is by getting a subscription. What are our subscription, you may ask? Well, they're pretty much broken down like this:

Create Your Own
4, 5, or 6 vouchers good for our major plays in the upcoming season (not good for
our musicals, MFA programs, or Bear Country.)

Premium
Tickets to the majority of the season, 7 shows in all, including Les Miz.

Festival Pass
Tickets to our Rep season (Othello, The Comedy of Errors, and The Three
Musketeers) and also Les Miz.

Those are our major subscriptions and they can be made to fit any schedule or price range. Call the box office at 1-800-841-4273 to learn how you can subscribe to our amazing season this year.

An Appetite for Love

2008-07-31T17:50:00.002-05:00

Need a few more reasons to see the hottest ticket in town?? Check this out... I've got a few!!

If I ask you what the most romantic piece of classical literature is, what would you name? Romeo and Juliet is a prime candidate, of course. If I ask you who the most popular modern composer and lyricist is; who would you name? Stephen Sondheim is a logical choice. What if I tell you there’s a show that gives you the best of both of those worlds?! Well, that’s West Side Story and it’s playing now at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. The story line is adapted from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and the lyrics are by Sondheim. Throw in dynamos like Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents, and Leonard Bernstein and you’re sure to have a hit on your hands!! Now I’ll leave the history and accolades to the theatre professor and stick to my own thoughts! (The link goes to a review by Auburn Montgomery theatre professor Val Winkelman.)

To begin, I cannot tell you how impressed and glad I am to know that there is a live orchestra playing for this musical production! We were greeted by the thrilling sounds of instruments warming up as we quickly found our seats. The curtain speech welcoming the audience and thanking the sponsors of the production was both quick and sincere and also brought the exciting news that next summer’s season will bring a production of the world-wide phenomenon, Les Misérables, which is sure to be a “must see” for theatre goers from far and wide.

I knew this would be a great performance the moment the lights came up on a well designed and very open stage. The boys took to the stage and commanded it with their exciting mix of dance and stunts. These gangsters were truly impressive as they seemed to dance their way across the stage and through the lives of those street-wise characters. Director and Choreographer Karen Azenberg did a marvelous job of capturing the look and feel of the original musical while adding her own elements. Paul Wonsek, the designer, created the set to continuously adapt and provide just the spaces the actors needed to stretch their dancing talents. The stage hands as well as Paul deserve a huge round of applause for the incredible and impeccable scene changes. It was truly remarkable to see a set and scene changes work so beautifully!

The actors blew the audience away with their triple talents in singing, dancing, and acting. The Jets and Sharks fit their “tough guys” personas and provided very nice vocal performances while their ladies sang and danced beautifully throughout the show. Loren Christopher portrayed a wonderful and gentle wide-eyed young boy in love while Nina Negri brought her gorgeous Opera trained voice to the role of Mari. Beautiful Jacqueline Colmer made the perfect Puerto Rican hot tamale as Anita, friend and confidante to innocent Maria. I dearly hope that they’ll bring these three back next year for Les Misérables, mostly Nina to lend her voice and experience with the show.

This is a wonderful show from beginning to end and my date for the evening is still talking about how much he enjoyed it! This show really is the hottest ticket in town and is well worth a trip to Montgomery to see. I have a feeling that once you see this show then you’ll start to look forward to Les Misérables next summer! I know West Side Story has certainly whetted my appetite for it now!

West Side Story and other news

2008-07-30T09:02:00.004-05:00

Good morning bloggers!

I finally went to see the whole show of West Side Story last Friday and I was completely blown away. This really is the must-see show for the South this summer and it is simply spectacular. The music and dancing are out of the world and the costumes are just beautiful; this show really sets the bar high for what the Alabama Shakespeare Festival can do for regional theatre here in the South.

Our production of West Side Story recently had an article in the online Playbill (!), an e-zine that has all the ins and outs of theatre entertainment. Here's a link to the article.

West Side Story has taken the city by storm and is really the show to see this summer. If you haven't checked out the actor's bios online then check it out here and see the great people behind this amazing show.

As always, I'll see you at the theatre!

Les Miserables Announced!

2008-07-28T09:19:00.001-05:00

Everything is bustling around the Festival as we gear up for a new season. And oh, what a season it will be. Have you heard that we are doing Les Mis? YES! Les Misérables, “the musical that swept the world.” We are all super excited about everything we have in store for you. Not only are we presenting three musicals but also three World Premiers, including Bear Country, a play based on the life of legendary University of Alabama coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant. And don’t forget our repertory season…Othello, the playful Comedy of Errors and Charles Morey’s adaptation of The Three Musketeers.

I am also ecstatic to report that our beautiful, full-color season brochure is hot-off-the press and on its way to your homes. Graphic Designer Jenna McCollough and PR Manager Meg Lewis have been working hard since February designing, editing, tweaking and proofing. Inside, you will find all the information you need on subscriptions (including our new payment plan!), travel packages and education programs.

Remember that West Side Story is still running and is “the hottest ticket in town!” Make sure to get your tickets now. And while you’re at the box office, you might as well order your subscription as well. ASF continues to bring you the great classics of the stage side by side with exciting new works and Broadway hits. Come be a part of our 2008-2009 season and play with us!

-Kristi W

Scot Bruce is coming back!

2008-07-25T08:44:00.003-05:00

Good morning bloggers!

The news is in! Scot Bruce is coming back to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival on August 18th for a one night performance! If any of you didn't catch his pelvis shaking performance last time he rode through town then this is your chance to shimmy and shake your way through a night of classic Elvis. Here's a little snippet for you. Enjoy!

Roses at the Theatre

2008-07-23T08:51:00.002-05:00

West Side Story has captivated audiences already and we're only in the first week of true performances (I've heard tales in the box office of repeat customers). Last night was also a very romantic evening for many of our patrons as they received a glass of champagne going into the theatre and a rose on leaving. Yesterday was an interesting day in the office with buckets and buckets of roses huddled about and a few boxes of champagne sitting in the corner.

If you're interested in sharing champagne and roses with someone special, then don't fret, we still have another champagne and roses night next week on July 29. If you haven't already gotten your tickets to West Side Story then give the box office a call at 1-800-841-4237 or visit www.asf.net to get your seats now.

That's all for today. I hope you've gotten your seats because this show is selling quickly!

Tony and Maria singing "Tonight"

2008-07-22T08:25:00.002-05:00

Good morning bloggers!

Here's another snippet from the press junket on 7/9. Tony and Maria singing "Tonight (Balcony scene)" in the rehearsal hall. Enjoy!

Karen Azenberg talks about West Side Story

2008-07-21T11:28:00.002-05:00

Good morning bloggers!

I know, this is the same post that I put up a few days ago then took down again. I thought I had a mistake in the video, only to find out that it was correct. So, in the way of OK-Go, here we go again! This is an interview done with Karen Azenberg a week before West Side Story opened. And wow, was it ever a party yesterday! The show is amazing and the after party was spectacular. Kudos to the amazing Meg for getting all of that together.

And now on to the interview!