Spotlight: You Can't Take It With You

It's closing night for me, so what better way to celebrate than to talk about the show that I am in? Probably not the best way, but I'll try.

YCTIWY first opened in 1938, with a revival in the 80's, and a current revival as well. The show is zany and eccentric, with a lot of humor and heart.

The show runs in three acts, with a variation that is only two acts.

The story is based in New York. The show opens with the main family going about their daily lives. Penny Sycamore is writing plays on their typewriter, Essie Carmichael, Pennt's daughter, makes candy while practicing ballet. Paul Sycamore creates fireworks with help from a former iceman, Mr. de Pinna. Ed Carmicheal works on his printing press and plays the xylophone. The help, Rheba and Donald, who are also in love, set up for dinner. Grandpa, Penny's father, Martin Vanderhof, has just returned home from the commencements at Columbia.

Everything goes along in its strange manner until Penny's second daughter, Alice returns home from work. She informs the family that she has been called upon by a Mr. Anthony Kirby Jr., the vice president of the company she works at. She goes upstairs to get ready and tells everyone to call her when he arrives.

No sooner does the doorbell ring. Enters a man who everyone thinks is Tony, but rather a man named Henderson, who has come to collect twenty four years of income tax from Grandpa. Fustrated with his stubbornness, he leaves in a rage. The door bell rings again and this time it is Tony. Everyone oohs and awws over this new boy, and Alice cones down in a gorgeous blue gown. Just then, Boris Kolenkhov enters, a Russian who is also Essie's ballet teacher. Alice tells them they are off to the Monte Carlo ballet, and Kolenkhov proclaims he hates it. Alice and Tony leave and the rest of the family, including de Pinna and Kolenkhov sit down to dinner.

Later that night, Alice and Tony return from the show. After playful flirting, they are interrupted by different members of the family. Alice says they are the reason that they shouldn't be together, but Tony insists they are fantastic and proposes to Alice. Tony must leave but promises to spend every other moment he can with her.

In the next act, based a week later, Alice is preparing for the Kirby family, who will be coming for dinner the next night. Meanwhile, Penny is entertaining an actress who has come to tead one of her plays. After she becomes unbelievably drunk, she passed out on the couch. De Pinna come up from the basement with a painting. It is of home, in a Roman costume that Penny painted. Penny vows to finish the painting tonight. Kolenkhov enters to give Essie her ballet lesson. He discussed with Grandpa for a bit about random things and the Soviet government before Essie comes down.

Penny is painting De Pinna. Ed plays his xylophone while Essie and Kolenkhov dance. Grandpa throws darts. Rheba comes from the kitchen to answer the door. And then enters the Kirby's, who have showed up on the wrong night!

How does it all go down? Well, there's some turmoil, an innocent game turned ugly, and everyone's arrested. Oops. But it all calms down in the third act when Grandpa reminds Mr. Kirby that all the power and money he has doesn't matter because you can't take it with you. 😉

A great show that's been around since almost the start of The Great White Way, it's humorous and lighthearted, with cookiness to go around!

Comment below if you have a question, comment, or a show we can talk about next! Find us on Twitter as well!

Kendall

Voice lessons

Finding voice lessons that fit for you is a tough but important part of making a career out of performance. When finding voice lessons, remember a few things:

Recommendations. Ask friends where they take lessons and if they like their coach. Friends are always a good source for things like this. 

Style. If you want a Broadway voice, don't pick a voice teacher who specializes in opera, and vice versa. You wouldn't want a French teacher teaching you algebra, so this should be no different. 

Comfort. First thing first, never pick a teacher who makes you feel uncomfortable or you wouldn't want to embarrass yourself in front of. Because, odds are, you will. You want to get the most out of your lessons. 

Try a sample session. Maybe the way they teach just doesn't work for you. That's okay. Keep looking, don't give up. 

Scheduling. Keep in mind how much time you have. Maybe you would benefit from weekly lessons. Maybe you need to find a teacher who is okay with you only coming in when you have an audition of a show coming up. Maybe you only need 30 minute lessons or maybe you'll go with 45. Find what works best. 

Overall, find whatever you need for you. No two people are exactly the same. Best of luck! 

•do theatre, not drama•

~Sierra 

Hard Work

Theatre, the hardest profession in the world (name that show) 

For real though, can we talk about how hard we work? Because sometimes people forget about us lonely theatre kids. 

A few weeks ago, my eleven-year-old sister, who is a competitive cheerleader, tried to tell me that anyone can do theater. Anyone. 

Of course, I immediately put her in her place and she hasn't said anything against theater since. Our conversation began with-

Me: "okay, why do you say that?"

Sister: "so how many times do you have practice a week?"

Me: "I rehearse for three to four hours 3-5 times a week"

Sister: "yeah I have practice for two hours twice a week. But I bet you don't have to practice on the weekends from 10-11:30"

Me: "actually I usually rehearse from 9-12 Saturday mornings and usually all day during tech days"

Sister: "oh. Okay. But I like never have time off except the summer"

Me: "I usually do a fall play, a winter one act, a spring musical, and then a summer show with the community theatre"

Sister:"yeah but... Cheer is hard."

She proceeded to tell me her competition schedules. Pretty much, ever few months, she would go to a convention center at about 9am, warm up for 15 minutes, perform the same 2 and a half minute routine she's been working on for a year, eat lunch, go to awards at 12:30, and go home. 

Boy, did I have news for her. 

I told her about rehearsing for and being in a show. She sat speechless as a explained to her how to use dry shampoo when you only have an 8th of a bottle left and you have 2 pounds of industrial strength hairspray in your hair and you just finished your matinee and you have one more show to do and not enough time to go home and shower because you need to be back in an hour so you get chipotle and eat it in two seconds before warm ups which usually take about 45 minutes to do properly. I tell her about my voice lessons weekly and my ballet, jazz, and tap classes. I tell her about being a drama club officer and even doing church choir and playing handbells, ukulele, and piano in my spare time. I tell her about the $80 I spent on dance shoes last week because I outgrew my black characters I've worn for 3 years. I tell her about agonizing dance rehearsals when the director decides the most intense dance break in the show doesn't quite look good yet so you spend three hours running it nonstop and by the time you've left you can barely breathe. I tell her about sitting in music rehearsals so long your voice starts to giv out and you feel so restless you wish you were back in the dance studio drilling the opening number. I tell her about memorizing lines, blocking, lyrics, choreo, when to crescendo and decrescendo, when to move props and sets, and where to stand so you don't get run over. I tell her about getting your hair and makeup done to perfection in minutes and how to put on a leotard and tights as fast as possible. I tell her about quick changes and missing props. I tell her about tech week. I tell her about eating fruit slices while the stage managers and costumers aren't looking, and drinking gallons of water every day. I tell her about running sequences onstage over and over until you can't decide wether your head or your feet hurt more. I tell her about publicizing your show so hard because if you don't sell enough tickets, there won't be another show. I tell her about how hard I work for something that she thinks is so easy. I tell her about how I wish I could tell the same thing to everyone who direguards theater as an art, because I've literally devoted my entire life to it. 

•do theatre, not drama•

~Sierra 

Character Types

Wow, it’s been a while. Guys. I formally apologize. Life has been crazy for the college theatre major over here. BUT! I’m back, and I would like to talk about something important that all should know!

CHARACTER TYPES

Now, I’m not going to write all of them down, because there are probably ones I’d miss. And I don’t want to do that. INSTEAD, I’m going to discuss the importance of them and how to possibly break away from that!

We all know that some actors get cast in the same roles over, and over, and over again. That’s because that’s what they’re good at playing at. Nothing wrong with that, just as long as they’re happy. Character types will help directors find out what character suits you! So let’s talk about me for an example.

I’ve been described as the best friend/sidekick/goofy leading man type. Only recently have I gotten to the leading man part because I was cast as Jesus in a production of Godspell. And to be honest, it freaked me out. How the poop was I supposed to play that when I have played funny guys my whole life??? Well I went with it, and it was amazing. Roles like these will help you get out of whatever funk you may be in. Look for diversity. If you like modern contemporary musicals, that’s great. But get a little classical in there. Really show the directors that you are a diverse actor who can handle anything that they throw at you. Look at all opportunities. If that means to get out of your current community theater, then do it. No one likes to be stuck in ensemble or a featured dancer all the time. Get those credits on your resume y’all!

Please realize that I want each and every single one of you fantastic talented people to succeed. So listen to me and do not get offended when I say STOP BEING YOU. Being an actor means you have to be able to many types of people. Your acting ability should be stretched to where you can play both the bad guy and the good guy.

“But, Andrew, I’m so nice! I’ll only get cast as the ingénue!”

WRONG!

You don’t know what the directors are thinking! They may want a very nice actress to play the passive aggressive ex-girlfriend. Never try to guess what the director is thinking. Cause you will never know.

I love you all. I say these words with kindness. Go forth and rain talent down.  You know how to contact me if you have questions, concerns, or you want to say hello. I run the official snapchat so add us!

Snapchat: actorproblems

Twitter: theatreginger

Andrew

My Pre-Show Routine

It's 6am on a Friday morning, the one day each school year you almost don't mind waking up early. It's opening night. After surviving what feels like the longest school day of your life, the time has come. You arrive at your house while it's still light outside for the first time in months and- well, what then?

1. Get the scary stuff out of the way

You have time, plenty of it. Although it may feel like there's so much to do and so little time, you're fine. So do some homework and take your time with it. Once it's done, if you're feeling a bit nervous, run the big dance number once in your backyard, or recite your monologue into a mirror. But don't overdo it. If you keep doing it again and again, you'll psych yourself out, and that's not good. 

2. Take some time to relax

Choose a good soap, tie your hair up, and take a bubble bath while listening to your favorite songs. Once the water turns cold, wrap yourself in a fluffy robe and brew some tea (personally, I love mint medley with 2 Splenda packets and some honey) while you just relax and enjoy calm before the storm. 

3. Prepare for the worst

It's time to get ready for everything and anything that could happen. Check your tights for any runs in them. Throw some sudafed and ibuprofen in your bag. Plug in the vaporizer or boil some water in a large pot. Take deep breaths and inhale the steam. Suck on a cough drop, it doesn't matter if you feel sick or not. Be ready for anything and everything to go wrong.

4. Get ready to leave

Before you leave, get some things out of the way. I always do my hair before I leave, just because of the lack of space in an average dressing room. Before I go I always slip on my tights and leotard, just to make things easier on myself. Slip on some spandex shorts and a t-shirt and you're ready to go. 

5. Make your way to the theater

Go for it. Stop at Star

bucks. Make sure your drink has no dairy in it. Hold the whipped cream, and no lattes. Go for a tea or refresher. Go ahead and blast your show's songs from the stereo, and always make sure you're there before call time. 

6. Makeup

Plug in your earbuds and try to stay calm while you do your makeup. Your first step should always be to moisturize your face. Personally, I use a CC cream instead of foundation. After you've done blush and any bronzer you'd like, remember to use setting powder to keep the makeup in place and stop your face from shining. Next, use some eyeliner on your lower lash line and mascara top and bottom. Use eyeshadow if appropriate for the show. Finally, on the lips, use more of a lipstick than a lip gloss, just to keep it more matte and less shiny under the lights. 

7. Warm up

Step into the hallway and do whatever stretches work for you. Make sure you're as flexible as you need to be for whatever you need to do in the show. Don't forget to warm up your voice, too. If your music director doesn't lead warm ups or doesn't go high enough for you, download a piano app on your phone and do your own. Make sure you're as ready as you need to be to put on this show. 

8. Zip up

Put on your costume. Make sure there are no rips or loose buttons. Make sure you are wearing it correctly and then make sure everything you need for the show is set. Put on your shoes and apply hairspray to the bottoms to avoid slipping onstage. Grab your mic and have someone help you with the tape. 

9. Perform

Dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening, and most of all, have fun no matter what happens. 

10. After the show

Go out to eat with your cast and enjoy yourself. When you get home, take a nice long shower, wash your face and hair well, and get plenty of sleep. You get to sleep in as late as you need to. Get yourself ready for another fantastic show!

•do theatre, not drama•

-Sierra 

The view from here is pretty

What is it about an empty stage that calls a desperate performer? The energy an actor feels when standing on the apron of a stage is enough to overcome anything else. No matter how bad your show may be, or how stressed you are from tech week, or how evil your dance captain is being about nailing that stupid left pirouette that you fall out of every night, that's why you do it. For the adrenaline you feel when you stand there onstage. 

There's two different, but equally beautiful circumstances for the perfect view onstage. The first- a full house. Personally, I love the moment when you first walk onstage and can steal a glimpse of the audience for only a moment. You look at all those faces and just think, wow, all these people are here to watch me. Yeah, maybe not particularly you, but look at all the people who paid money to come see you onstage.

There's always a moment in each show. You know the moment, the one you've been waiting for. The impressive synchronized dance sequence in the opening number, the tight harmonies by the ensemble during the main ballad, the cool dynamic full cast involvement in the act one closer. That moment where you're just hoping that the audience will love. You wonder what they're thinking. You think the critics will love this. Or my friends will think this is so cool. That moment you look forward to in a show, and, even though from where you're standing, you can't make out faces, you can just picture 500 wide eyed smiles sitting in front of you. 

If that doesn't just excite you, I don't know what does. 

Of course, although us extroverted theatre people love the energy we get from a full house, a completely empty theater can be one of the most beautiful things in the world. There's so much potential sitting on an empty stage in an empty house. I can't help but think of all the people who have been so happy sitting in those chairs and how many people will be made happy there later. The amount of eternal happiness in one room is overwhelming. 

If you ever find yourself alone in a theater, pause, breathe, take a moment to feel the energy in the room, the positivity that lies behind and ahead. Appreciate the amazing art that has happened in one place, and think of the beautiful magic that has yet to happen on the stage you're standing on. 

The places I've performed never cease to amaze me. I'm still in awe of the history I where I've stood. Next time you're in a theater, just stop, breathe, and appreciate. 

The view from onstage at the National Theatre in Washington DC, which I visited during theater week DC. The stage is home to pre-broadway runs such as If/Then. 

I hope you all liked my first post here as an actor problems blogger! My name is Sierra and I'm psyched to be part of the team. Find me on twitter @SoundOfSierra and please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to blog about. Have a great day! 

•do theatre, not drama•

-Sierra 

Why I Hate Wicked

Wicked is probably one of the most popular shows that has ever been preformed. Not only is the original cast legendary, but there are instagram accounts dedicated to them. I find the whole notion ridiculous. So here are more reason for my explanation of why I hate Wicked.

I didn't always hate the show. I was like every other little theatre kid who one day wanted to be Elphaba/Galinda/Fiyero. But that's just it. Wicked is a kid show. The target audience are those little ones who have just read or seen The Wizard of Oz and want to show this prequel to their children. So these kids grow up thinking that they too can be one of the characters one day. Cough cough, sorry kids, cough cough.

Let me take a second to discuss the book before going back to the musical. The book by the same name is most likely the most repulsive thing I have ever read. I advise any Wicked fan or theatre geek or anyone in general to never read this book. The book is dull, disgusting, and all together poorly written. How anyone read it and thought to make a musical out of it is beyond me.

Okay, back to the musical. Everyone has a show that they just don't like. Some don't like straight plays, some don't like anything by Webber, and some don't like shows with film or tv celebrities in them. Wicked happens to be the show that I just dislike, among a few others.

Let's get on to the technical aspects I don't like. The show is all spectacle and no substance. The plot line is shallow and so common. There never seems to be that much heart in the show besides the basic themes of love and friendship that is in nearly all shows.

Nessarose. If there is a character I hate more, they are not coming to mind. Just an udder of her name makes me mad. Who does she think she is? Why is she so special? I'm glad everyone hates her in the end. She's just a spoiled brat in my opinion.

At every audition, there is always someone who wants to sing something from Wicked. The music is so overdone that nobody wants to hear it anymore, which is a shame. Even though I find the music generic and too dramatic, it goes along with the show.

My heart belongs to old Broadway (Bring in Cosmo and the ensemble). The 20's was a time rich with fantastic pieces that capture my soul every time. I think that Wicked is just too contemporary for me. I would rather have to wait through two intermissions than too much of pop-y type music. I'm in all my glory right now as I'm currently in You Can't Take It With You as Mrs. Kirby.

The show may seem all frilly and cutesy, but it lacks real life connection that show needs now of days to continue to be popular. I feel like in ten years, Wicked won't be all that amazing as people now think it is. But that's just me.

Tell me what you think? Do you like Wicked, or do you agree? Comment below or ask us on Twitter.

Break legs,
Kendall

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