Into Theatre's Backstage Blog

IT's for Home Schoolers!

2009-12-08T05:56:00.000-08:00

Into Theatre is offering IT's first workshop production for home schoolers!
Now is your chance to sign up for this amazing opportunity!

Peter Pan- A Fantasy in Five Acts
by J.M. Barrie

Directed by Chery Schaar and Molly Idle

Dates: Rehearsals are Tuesdays January 19- May 11, 2010 (spring break March 16 and 23)
Performance May 14, 2010 (Venue to be determined)

Time: 9-11 am

Ages: 8 and up.

Location: Into Theatre Workshop- Tempe, AZ.

Fee: $250 Payable in two installments (1st due by January 1, 2010, 2nd due by March 1, 2010)

Cast size is limited to 18 students so please sign up early to guarantee your spot in the spotlight.

Registration forms are available to download at www.intothetre.com

For additional information please email intotheatre@cox.net or call 480-707-8273

Cast Photos

2009-06-20T14:16:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to our fabulous cast on a wonderful show!

IT's Cheaper By The Dozen!

2009-06-20T13:37:00.001-07:00

Time is up!

2009-06-19T22:09:00.000-07:00

Hello you lovely actors. Tomorrow is our final performance, and I have a smile on my face already just imagining how wonderful it will be!

Henry Ford

2009-06-10T18:18:00.001-07:00

Time...

2009-06-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."
---Douglas Adams, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Time- be it lunchtime or otherwise- is ticking away as we come closer to our performance of Cheaper By The Dozen, and it's time to start thinking about compiling the show's program.

Normally, we ask you all to write up a little bio about your past roles, etc...
But this time, as time is such an important theme in our production, we thought we'd take a different tact.

So...
I would like each of you to please find a quote, or saying about time that strikes you as a good one. It may be funny, or witty, or beautiful... whatever you like.
Please double check for spelling, punctuation, and credit, and post your quote as a comment here on the blog by Saturday June 12.

Week Two

2009-06-08T15:05:00.000-07:00

My fellow actors,

I wanted to apologize if I came off a bit harsh or preachy in rehearsal today.

I'm so proud of you. The reason for the talk we had was that I've seen you do such wonderful work; I've come to expect nothing less than a fireworks display of focus and creativity!

But we can all have off days.

That said, I can't wait to jump back into rehearsal fresh tomorrow, and I hope the same goes for you!
Thanks!

Cheers dahling,

Amanda

IT's a Family Reunion!

2009-06-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

You’re invited to the first ever Into Theatre Family Reunion!

Our current production (now in rehearsal) “Cheaper By The Dozen”, stresses the importance of family and memories. With that in mind, we thought… what a great idea to get together with cast members from our current and past productions and share some of these wonderful memories!

We have pictures from all past productions and if you have photographs you would like to share please bring them with you. Just come prepared to have fun!

We’ll be sharing laughs, food and good times now and then!

When: Please join us Friday, June 12th from 12:30 to 2:00 for a BBQ. (after rehearsal)

Where: At Into Theatre’s workshop located in the backyard at, 1048 W. Greenway Dr. Tempe.

What: Into Theatre will be providing the hot dogs/veggie dogs, buns and condiments, so just bring something to share. A side dish, soda/water, dessert, chips etc. would be wonderful!

Please RSVP by leaving a comment on this post.

Hope to see you next Friday!

da gangstas

2009-06-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE 1920s

January 17, 1920 the US ratified the 18th amendment banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcohol.

But in the roaring 20s, finding ways to drink became an American pastime!

Gangs that had simply working by robbery, extortion and gambling went into work as BOOTLEGGERS, illegally importing liquor and selling it to the states.

These gangsters became millionaires; Al Capone's income was estimated at $100 million/year (One dollar in 1920 being worth nearly $40 for an unskilled laboror; that put him in the billions were he making the equivalent today)

An interested link here by the way on calculating money then and now: http://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/uscompare/resultwithad.php#

There are very famous mobs and mob bosses from this time (Al Capone being perhaps the best known now). Their "families" grew so large that they eventually divided America into parts for themselves and actually held their own conference in 1928!

It was an extremely bloody time; a time of tommy guns and vendettas; and bribing officials to look the other way...

The above are some headlines from the 1920s that I think give a wonderful overview...

And this concludes my presentation...

-Amanda

PREVIEW/PERFORMANCE SCHEDLE

2009-06-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to cement the preview and perfomance schedule for all you cats and kittens to see, and to tell your friends and family!
Friday the 19th is PREVIEW for an invited audience. Your call is 9AM with an 11:30AM curtain.
Saturday the 20th is the PERFORMANCE! Come one come all! Your call is 10AM with an 11AM curtain.
Thank you!

Your mission...

2009-06-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

Your mission- should you choose to accept it- is to bring in a piece of music you like tomorrow... and we'll Charleston to it!

Charleston Punk!

2009-06-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

So today we tackled the basic first 8 count of the Charleston, and then we tried it out dancing to Sister Sledge!
Very nice.

And so- I thought you might enjoy this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=339ixMtHrVk

Seriously- you can do this dance to any music you like in 4/4 time!

Try it out!

REHEASAL SCHEDULE

2009-05-26T12:45:00.001-07:00

Hello there flappers and shieks!
I wanted to give you an idea of what the rehearsal schedule will be like.
Listed below are the pages we are intending to work on each day.
There will be a short break each day, but apart from that, we will all be working. (Even if it looks like you don't have much to do on a certain day, believe me, you will have plenty to do.)
SO, please do be off book and prepared with ideas to try when one of your scenes is going up on its feet!

June 1: Show intro (the designers will give a brief overview of their vision of the show), Read thru, and begin Tablework.
June 2: Continue tablework, and work 'whistling assembly'
June 3: pgs 9-19
June 4: pgs 19-29
June 5: pgs 29-42

June 8: pgs 43-54
June 9: pgs 54-62
June 10: pgs 62-72
June 11: pgs 72-86
June 12: STUMBLE THRU SHOW

June 15: RUN THRU/Work TBD
June 16: RUN THRU/Work TBD
June 17: RUN THRU/TECH
June 18: DRESS REHEARSAL
June 19: INVITED PREVIEW
June 20: OPENING!

It is possible that there may be some slight changes to this schedule through the rehearsal period. I will keep you posted if they come up.

Again, please prepare yourself to rehearse the day before your scenes are called. And I encourage you to PLEASE always come with questions and ideas about your character and the show!

I am very much looking forward to working on this with you; I am sure that if we are all dedicated to it, this will be a truly beautiful show. :)

Making Time

2009-05-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

Every year I create a piece of art for the program, but this year I need you all to help me!

We are going to be making time...or at least, a representation of time.
Specifically, clocks.

We are going to be taking photos of each of you in costume, and replacing your heads (digitally)with... clocks!

So, what I need from each of you, is a photo of the clock you want to represent you.
Something older... nothing digital, and no wristwatches please.

Think, grandfather clocks, mantle clocks, pocket watches... things like that.

Here are just a few examples...

If I were to pick one to represent myself, it would be... a cuckoo clock!

Please be sure that you clock appears against a white, or light background, and email image of the clock that is "you" to molly@idleillustration.com as a JPG file, 300dpi, by June 5.

Now get going- the clock is ticking!

Work, work, work...Play, play, play!

2009-05-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

In just over a week IT begins!!!

So, while you are enjoying holiday BBQs and poolside parties we hope you are making time to study up on your parts, so that we can all come to the first day of rehearsal, with scripts in hand... but off-book!

I recently came across this wonderful quote by Emile Zola:

"The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work."

Looking forward to the work ahead- and to the play!

IT's Victorian Vernacular Week 4, Boys and Girls!

2009-05-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

We're getting closer and closer to IT!

And so this week Victorian Vernacular is bringing you a trio of words and phrases all listed under a topic of general interest in the Gilbreth household, at least to the eldest Gilbreth girls: getting noticed by the opposite sex. This is also a matter of the utmost interest to Mr Gilbreth- as he would like his girls to have nothing to do with them!
This week's terms are:

"The last of the Seven Veils":

This refers to the fabled "Dance of the Seven Veils" which is best knows for an appearance itmakes in the Bible in conjunction with the story of John the Baptist- but as noted on Wikipedia... "The Dance of the Seven Veils is thought to have originated with the myth of the goddess Ishtar and the god Tammuz of Assyrian and Babylonian lore. In this myth, Ishtar decides to visit her sister, Ereshkigal, in the underworld. When Ishtar approaches the gates of the underworld, the gatekeeper lets Ishtar pass through the seven gates, opening one gate at a time. At each gate, Ishtar has to shed an article of clothing. When she finally passes the seventh gate, she is naked."

So, as far as Mr Gilbreth is concerned, if his daughters are wearing silk stockings- they might as well have removed the seventh veil!

"Painted women": Painted women refers to women who wore "paint" or as we call it, make-up. Times change, but when Mr. Gilbreth was growing up, most women never wore make-up, and those who did were considered women of ill-repute!

"Wallflower": A person who, because of shyness, unpopularity, or lack of a partner, remains at the side of the party or dance." (Webster's Dictionary)
The Gilbreth girls dread being wallflowers!

That's all for this week boys and girls!

Victorian Vernacular- Take 3

2009-05-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

As we're really rolling now- I thought I'd make this installment of Victorian Vernacular about... transportation!

Jalopy: a dilapidated old vehicle (as an automobile)

Joe drives an old Jalopy, while the Gilbreths drive a Pierce Arrow...

Above are magazine ads for the Pierce Arrow
(Be sure to take a look at the price!)
And here's a bit more of info I pilfered from the web about the Gilbreth family car of choice:

"In 1909, U.S. President William Howard Taft ordered two Pierce-Arrows

to be used for state occasions, the first official automobiles of the White House. An open-bodied Pierce-Arrow carriedWoodrow Wilson and Warren G. Harding to Harding’s 1921 inauguration. The Pierce-Arrow was a status symbol, owned by many Hollywood stars, corporate tycoons; royalty of many foreign nations had at least one Pierce-Arrow in their collections. In American luxury cars it was rivaled only by Peerless and Packard, which collectively received the accolade Three P's of Motordom. Industrial efficiency expert Frank Gilbreth extolled the virtues of Pierce-Arrow, in both quality and in its ability to safely transport his large family. "

Casting by the Dozen!

2009-05-02T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hello fabulous cast members!
Here is the cast list...

Mr. Gilbreth: Tom

Mrs. Gilbreth: Erika

Ernestine: Morgan

Frank: Matthew

Jackie: Joal

Dan: TBD

Bill: Colton

Fred: Phoebe

Anne: Pam

Lilian: Alicia

Bob: Jack

Jane: Ashleigh

Martha: Jess

Mrs. Fitzgerald: Alyssa

Dr. Burton : Tanner

Joe Scales: Josh

Mrs. Brill: Celine

Larry: Zach

Keep checking in, as we will be posting additional line assignments- especially for those Gilbreth children for whom specific lines are not indicated. And remember for all the "children" to be sure to learn the "all children" lines as well.

Thank you all and happy studying!!!

Victorian Vernacular- week Two!

2009-04-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

This week's installment of Victorian Vernacular visits a favorite subject in the Gilbreth home... Victrolas!

This is a Victrola!

A Victrola is an early ancestor of the record player. And as many of you know, a record player is an early ancestor of the CD and MP3 players we know and love today! I wonder if they'll every make a comeback? Maybe as an i-victrola? I think it would be positively "snakey"!

Next week... "Snakey" stockings, and so much more!

2009-04-18T13:12:00.000-07:00

The story of Cheaper by the Dozen ends in 1924. We'll investigate this in several contexts. But FIRST, we'll look at FASHION, since it plays an important role in the play.
To begin, 1924 sets us just after the end of WWI. (The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919. However, the signing was followed by the Turkish Independence War, and a final peace treaty was signed in 1923.)
That said, what does that mean for fashion?

Here we see a goodbye kiss during the war.

A sewing circle for the war... Dress was very conservative, as you can see. Please notice the long skirts, and, if you can make them out, the heavy wool stockings.

THEN, came the FLAPPERS, celebrating the end of the war, and the coming of jazz!

Quite a change from the wartime dress, right? There are many wonderful pictures of flappers available, and I encourage you to look for them to get a sense of what the 1920s looked like. I've selected this one though, because of the ROLLED SILK STOCKINGS.

Legs were on parade for the first time in America, and so, wool stockings were out, and silk stockings were in. Scandelous!

Here are some ads for silk stockings in the 1920s.

The girls of the Gilbreth house want them desperately!

But their father says absolutely not.

They are the only girls in school who still have to wear wool stockings, and believe that's why they're never asked out on dates.

What would the equivalent be today?

Clothing from the 1920's

2009-04-17T14:01:00.000-07:00

Boys' Clothes during the 1920s
The 1920s was a major turning point for boys' fashions. Short pants worn with knee length socks rapidly replaced knee length pants and long stockings. The growing popularity of the Boy Scout uniform played an important role in popularizing shorts. The trend was particularly rapid in England and Continental Europe. Quite old boys were soon wearing short pants suits and sporting bare knees. The length of the shorts became shorter ad shorter on the continent, especially for younger boys. But even some older boys were were wearing thigh- high shorts by the end of the decade. These were suits chosen by parents and not school uniforms. In England shorts remained mostly just above the knees. Older boys of 13 or so would wear longs. Some older English boys wore shrts, but primarily as part of a school uniform. All English and European scouts wore shorts. American boys, except for the younger ones did not join this trend and the knicker suit was the dominante fashion. Even American Boy Scoyts wore knickers. Some older American boys wore short trosers, but primarily boys in wealthy with English or other European connections.
The knitting fever of the war years carried over into civilian life of the 1920s but in soft yarns of lovely colors, in sweaters and caps. Children's clothes were now designed with knee length skirts and shorts, both garments growing shorter and shorter. Boys took to wearing flannel, tweed and serge suits with shirts and scarfs like those of their elders, topped by the beret and also the peaked cloth cap. Girls' dresses were of gay fabrics with flowered, striped and spotted motif.
Boys' pants or trousers through the 1920s had button closures. The BFGoodrich Co. in 1924 registered the name "zipper," although it would be a number of years before this closure was used in any apparel other than overshoes, it would eventually repace buttons.
Most little girls wore their hair short and boys had their heads cropped as soon as they could convince their mothers.
Girls fashions also changed. Small misses wore the beret, the cloche and soft tams. Girls also began wearing short socks, including the younger teen-agers, hence the name of "bobby-soxers."
Before the 1920s most well-off families had household help to assist with heavy cleaning and the onerous weekly laundering. Availability of servants decreased in the 1920s as immigration was restricted and more women entered the work force. Such help was needed less as labor-saving conveniences such as electricity and running water came to most homes. Also, vacuum cleaners and electric washing machines were readily available. Even so, the increasing participation of women in the work place and the declining availability of servants for all but the wealthiest families were major factors in the popularity of simpler clothing styles for children as well as adults

2009-04-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

"Dad himself used to tell a story about one time when Mother went off to fill a lecture engagement and left him in charge at home. When Mother returned, she asked him if everything had run smoothly.

'Didn't have any trouble except with that one over there,' he replied. 'But a spanking brought him into line.'

Mother could handle any crisis without losing her composure. 'That's not one of ours, dear,' she said. 'He belongs next door.' " — Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (Cheaper by the Dozen)

AND

"It is cheaper and more productive to design machines to fit men rather than try and force men to fit machines."- Frank Gilbreth

These two quotes together begin to illustrate just what sort of man Frank Gilbreth is (and consequently, what sort of world the play lives in); I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions...

Just another reminder...The face I want to start associating with the dad is this one:

Frank Gilbreth

Not this one...

Steve Martin who plays Tom Baker.

Again, Steve Martin is wonderful. But the new movies are nothing like the play you're working on!

It's very much like the book "Cheaper by the Dozen". Go grab a copy!

And finally, let me hint at a story line in our production...

This is an advertisement for silk stockings in the 1920s...

Tune in tomorrow for more!

Table Work

2009-04-15T15:08:00.000-07:00

Eleven of the twelve Gilbreth children.

Frank Gilbreth with a motion model...

With Cheaper by the Dozen rehearsals approaching, it's time to start doing "table work" (studying!). There is a lot of research to be done before we start, by jingo!

To start at the beginning...These pictures are all of Frank and the Gilbreth family! The characters are all non-fictional; The play (and the book, which I would recommend you read) are written by two of the Gilbreth children, Frank Jr. and Ernestine.

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=frank%20gilbreth&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#

Here you can see the Gilbreths in action!

And if I may make one final recommendation for now...If you are going to watch a film of Cheaper by the Dozen. Watch this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD1l2q6Xgl4

I love Steve Martin...But the new movies are nothing like the play... Which reminds me; The family is "Gilbreth", not "Baker"; the dad an expert in motion study (see first video), not a coach; and no one calls anyone 'FedEx'...

I think you'll prefer the original (book, script and film).

:)

Victorian Vernacular, by Jingo!

2009-04-15T06:28:00.001-07:00

With auditions for Cheaper By the Dozen, almost upon us- we've decided that it's time to start introducing you to a bit of the Victorian vernacular, or slang, of the era in which the play is set!

This week's term is:

By jingo!
"An exclamation used to emphasize the truth or importance of the forgoing statement, or to express astonishment, approval, etc. :
I know you can do it, by jingo!"

Try it out this week... maybe over breakfast: "Mom, those were fantastic pancakes, by jingo!"

Or after a pop quiz... "By jingo, that math quiz was tough!"

Check back next week for the next installment of Victorian Vernacular! By jingo- it'll be great!

Definition taken from Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, copyright 2003.

Welcome to the Backstage Blog!

2009-03-18T14:00:00.001-07:00

Hello there- and welcome to into Theartre's Backstage Blog!
This, our first blog post, is to announce that registration for our summer workshop production of: Cheaper By the Dozen, is now open! Visit www.intotheatre.com to downlaod your enrollment form!