WORLD PREMIER4-11 APRIL 2008
J.L. MANN HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
Monday, December 17, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
New Traditions?
I had a great time Friday night. Chef Mani's was awesome and the play, RECKLESS at The Warehouse was the best I've seen in some time (still like FROZEN better, though).
I've been at this job for almost a year and a half. Slowly, surely I'm finding my footing. Settling into a production schedule, figuring out my classes (what to teach when, and how), getting used to working in a public high school. I've had mostly good times. I like my job quite a bit.
Which brings me to traditions. I want MANN SHOW to have its own collection of very special traditions. One is the Spring Show. Always action-adventure, always bigger, always better. Another might be an annual Christmas party and play like Friday night. One may be (if any of you would bring me stuff) screen printing the MANN SHOW mark on your clothes. Another is how you call me "Coach White"...that is until you graduate, when I become "Chris" to you.
Well, we're moving into a new school in just a few weeks. This is the time for all of us to dream up new traditions. Traditions that will stand the test of time and be unique to our new theater space and classroom.
What do you think? Any ideas for new school MANN SHOW traditions?
I've been at this job for almost a year and a half. Slowly, surely I'm finding my footing. Settling into a production schedule, figuring out my classes (what to teach when, and how), getting used to working in a public high school. I've had mostly good times. I like my job quite a bit.
Which brings me to traditions. I want MANN SHOW to have its own collection of very special traditions. One is the Spring Show. Always action-adventure, always bigger, always better. Another might be an annual Christmas party and play like Friday night. One may be (if any of you would bring me stuff) screen printing the MANN SHOW mark on your clothes. Another is how you call me "Coach White"...that is until you graduate, when I become "Chris" to you.
Well, we're moving into a new school in just a few weeks. This is the time for all of us to dream up new traditions. Traditions that will stand the test of time and be unique to our new theater space and classroom.
What do you think? Any ideas for new school MANN SHOW traditions?
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Genius! Cell phone use at school without meddling teachers!
OK.Here are amazingly cool mosquito buzzing phone alerts.
Now...somebody think of a way this idea could be applied to the theatre.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Clear the beach! It's MANN SHOW December!
12/2 THE DINING ROOM Mann Show 2008 (3:00 PM) Online Reservation12/3-7 JAWS Film Criticism
12/4 MANN SHOW Leadership Meeting after school
12/6 Spring Production Team Meeting after school
12/10-14 HIGH NOON Film Criticism
12/10 Spring Production Team Meeting
12/13 Stage Extension STRIKE in the Auditorium after school
12/14 MANN SHOW CHRISTMAS PARTY! ($15 per person) Dinner at Manigualt's La Vielle Maison (6:30 PM) followed by RECKLESS at The Warehouse Theatre. Dress is semi-formal.
12/17-19 THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN CREEK Film Criticism
12/17 Spring Production Press Conference after school in the NEW Auditorium
12/18 Final Auditorium STRIKE after school
12/29 Spring Production Team Meeting at NEW Auditorium (10 AM)
Saturday, December 1, 2007
MANN SHOW 2008 Presents "THE DINING ROOM"
The company of THE DINING ROOM has just completed its third performance of five. The houses have been full, and the reviews have been impressive. Drama professionals from The Warehouse Theatre, The School District of Greenville County, SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, The Fine Arts Center of Greenville County, Christ Church Episcopal School, Mauldin and Hillcrest High Schools, and Greenville Technical College have attended the play...more are coming. So far, their comments have been very complimentary.
Almost half the cast (BROOKE ALBERSON, MOLLY DAVIS, LUKE DOUGLAS, JOSH EDWARDS, SID HALTIWANGER, GABBY HAMMOND, ALEX HOUMANN, KENNY NUNEZ, JUSTIN SEAY) are either acting in a play for the first time, or acting with J.L. Mann for the first time. Each has done an outstanding job—especially when you consider the difficulties of playing to such an up-close and personal audience.
Veterans have provided leadership, while making great strides themselves. Sophomores REID COX, CALEY and KIERSTY DeGROOTE, and CASEY WILSON have stepped up into much larger parts, and performed quite well. These four actors are on stage at the start of the show, end of the first act, start of the second act, and close of the show. They anchor the play for us, which is no small task. And each is very good.
Juniors BLAKE BOWEN and TORY LeCLAIR are scary-good. Both give solid, film-like performances worthy of note. Tory's Aunt Harriet has become a highlight of the show. And Blake's subtle, world-weary Richard who must endure his father's funeral plans is a performance almost everyone talks about after.
Our seniors are outstanding. JAY BRIDGEMAN not only gets laughs as two very different fathers trying to deal with their children, but his Master Carpenter work has been rock solid. BRIDGET CATE's lovely setting-the-table scene has become one of the show's most powerful, most memorable moments. JOCELIN LEHNER's vulnerable daughter asking to move back home is this production's heart, I think. She brings such sympathy to an otherwise unsympathetic character. ROSS OVINGTON's funeral-obsessed patriarch is a picture of perfect comic timing, adept characterization, and understated desperation. MICHAEL REALMUTO brings wit and wistfulness to each of his characters, and his exit after learning that his mother has been having an affair with a family friend is a picture of adolescent pain. NICOLE SCHMIDT steals the scene and show with her ever-helpful, language-challenged maid Bertha. KNOX WHITE plays his grumpy, rich grandfather with power and vulnerability...every choice pitch perfect.
The play's support staff has been excellent. SEBASTIAN GRIER hosts the show with confidence and style. BRANDON BROWN and BROOKE ALBERSON manage the stage like old pros. PHILLIP CALVIN couldn't be any smarter...have better taste...be more dependable with the technical aspects of the show. NOELLE LAI's costumes work wonderfully. And SALLY HALTIWANGER manages the house (and delivers pizzas) like none other.
Two more performances to go. Production photos will be available soon. If you've not seen THE DINING ROOM, you have two more chances. Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 3. Don't miss this outstanding production.
Almost half the cast (BROOKE ALBERSON, MOLLY DAVIS, LUKE DOUGLAS, JOSH EDWARDS, SID HALTIWANGER, GABBY HAMMOND, ALEX HOUMANN, KENNY NUNEZ, JUSTIN SEAY) are either acting in a play for the first time, or acting with J.L. Mann for the first time. Each has done an outstanding job—especially when you consider the difficulties of playing to such an up-close and personal audience.
Veterans have provided leadership, while making great strides themselves. Sophomores REID COX, CALEY and KIERSTY DeGROOTE, and CASEY WILSON have stepped up into much larger parts, and performed quite well. These four actors are on stage at the start of the show, end of the first act, start of the second act, and close of the show. They anchor the play for us, which is no small task. And each is very good.
Juniors BLAKE BOWEN and TORY LeCLAIR are scary-good. Both give solid, film-like performances worthy of note. Tory's Aunt Harriet has become a highlight of the show. And Blake's subtle, world-weary Richard who must endure his father's funeral plans is a performance almost everyone talks about after.
Our seniors are outstanding. JAY BRIDGEMAN not only gets laughs as two very different fathers trying to deal with their children, but his Master Carpenter work has been rock solid. BRIDGET CATE's lovely setting-the-table scene has become one of the show's most powerful, most memorable moments. JOCELIN LEHNER's vulnerable daughter asking to move back home is this production's heart, I think. She brings such sympathy to an otherwise unsympathetic character. ROSS OVINGTON's funeral-obsessed patriarch is a picture of perfect comic timing, adept characterization, and understated desperation. MICHAEL REALMUTO brings wit and wistfulness to each of his characters, and his exit after learning that his mother has been having an affair with a family friend is a picture of adolescent pain. NICOLE SCHMIDT steals the scene and show with her ever-helpful, language-challenged maid Bertha. KNOX WHITE plays his grumpy, rich grandfather with power and vulnerability...every choice pitch perfect.
The play's support staff has been excellent. SEBASTIAN GRIER hosts the show with confidence and style. BRANDON BROWN and BROOKE ALBERSON manage the stage like old pros. PHILLIP CALVIN couldn't be any smarter...have better taste...be more dependable with the technical aspects of the show. NOELLE LAI's costumes work wonderfully. And SALLY HALTIWANGER manages the house (and delivers pizzas) like none other.
Two more performances to go. Production photos will be available soon. If you've not seen THE DINING ROOM, you have two more chances. Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 3. Don't miss this outstanding production.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
The New York City Fairy Tale Trilogy!
Listen to me on the radio tonight at 7 (103.3 FM or streaming at www.wolt-fm.com). I'll be discussing three recently released films on a local radio show called THE INTERSECTION. Here's a preview of what I'll say:I saw Alejandro Montrverde’s BELLA, Kirsten Sheridan’s AUGUST RUSH, and Kevin Lima’s ENCHANTED.
I wish I could tell you that I like BELLA best and ENCHANTED worst. That AUGUST RUSH fit somewhere in the middle...a pleasant surprise. I wish I could whine about big corporate movies...the blandness of Disney studio pics...how cool American-trained, Mexican-born film school directors are. I want to say “Robin Williams is back!” I want to lament the loss of the coolest independent film chick since Parker Posey (Amy Adams, ENCHANTED) to the big Hollywood machine. I can’t say any of that.
What I can tell you is this: AUGUST RUSH is an absolute mess of a movie, full of “magical thinking,” overwrought sentimentality, and really, really bad music. BELLA is like a movie made by your nephew. A really great effort worth overlooking the glaring flaws because, well...he’s your nephew. You love what he’s trying to do. And ENCHANTED may be my best film of 2007. It’s a shoe-in Best Picture nominee and rightfully so. Amy Adams is a breakout star in this, and the story...the film itself, is about really smart, beautiful, lovely things. True things, I think.
Did you see any of these films? What did you think?
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