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An 'Oliver' Diary—
How is it possible to prepare a complete musical production for a cast of 120 (!) teenagers and elementary students, with all lines and songs learned, dozens of scenes planned and "blocked," big musical productions choreographed and practiced, costumes designed and sets constructed, tickets sold—all in under two weeks? That's what's going on at Chandler Music Hall, where a production of the popular musical "Oliver!" is underway under the direction of Charlie McMeekin (drama), Marjorie Drysdale (music), Kim Nowlan (choreography) and Betsy Cantlin (producer). The show opens Friday for a four-day run. Here's what the rehearsal process looks like through the Oliver Journal of Jake Zani, 12, of Brookfield, who just finished the 7th grade at RUHS and is one of five family members involved in "Oliver." By Jake Zani Day 1: June 18, 2006 Sunday 2:00-3:00. Elementary chorus met, then started learning words and choreography to the song "Food, Glorious, Food". Approximately 20 elementary age kids here today. 3:00 - 5:00. Met the rest of the Teen Chorus (100 kids +/-) Charlie McMeekin, Kim Nowlan and Marjorie Drysdale. Learned the song "Consider Yourself". I enjoyed meeting the rest of the teen chorus and "Consider Yourself." Everyone seems to have learned the words already, it’s sounding great. I have met up with some friends from school and from previous plays. Four people came in costume as examples for everyone. The costumes either come from Pauline Garner’s extensive Chandler closet or are made by Pauline and her elves or from the cast’s homes. Day 2, June 19, 2006 Monday 11:00-11:45. Teen Chorus started the choreography for "Consider Yourself." This is looking very interesting and good. At this point we have one third of it completed. I enjoy doing the play because not only are you jumping and dancing and singing around the stage, but you are meeting new people in your down time. 11:45-12:45. Walked to Village Pizza and got a personal pizza for lunch. 12:45-1:00. Group announcements 1:00-2:00. Continued choreography for "Consider Yourself." Had to wait for my brother, Tommy, and sister, Abby, while they worked on choreography from 2:00 to 4:00. Helped my Dad work on a coffin for the play's set. Day 3. June 20, 2006 Tuesday 12:45-1:00. At announcements, Hershey’s kisses are given out for positive acts. Hung out with Shawn Dunwoody until it was time for us to sing with Marjorie Drysdale. 2:00-3:00. Started to learn the words to "Who Will Buy." Ran through "Consider Yourself" a couple of times. I don’t like "Who Will Buy" because I think some of it doesn't make sense. "Consider Yourself" is coming along well, I think we’ve got it. Everyone seems to enjoy it. We need to work on our accent though. 3:00-4:00. Had to wait for Tommy and Abby again while they worked on songs. Left to grab a pizza and make it to my baseball game by 4:30. Day 4. June 21, 2006 Wednesday 9:00-5:00. The teen chorus had a long day of learning and choreographing one song "Oom-Pah-Pah." We started with the music, getting the timing down as to when we would sing the words oom-pah-pah. Then the choreography on stage got started. I had a lot of fun with this and the following scene with the play’s bad guy, Bill Sykes. So far, they are the best two scenes in the play. Dad finished the coffin. Mom painted fake bricks for the set along with some other Moms. Day 5. June 22, 2006 Thursday 9:00-5:00. We started learning the music to the song "Who will Buy." The teen chorus sat in the theater learning the music. Worked on it all morning. Then we got on stage and ran through "Consider Yourself" a few times. I took my pizza that I got from Randolph Village Pizza and went with Kyle Hammond to the river. Ate and swam near the baseball park until 12:45 then walked back to Chandler. Reviewed Oom-Pah-Pah sitting in the theater again twice through. We worked the rest of the day on stage learning the dance to go along with the song. It was fun pretending to be at a bar and drunk and silly with Tim Wooden, Kyle Hammond, Annie Hutchinson and Ashley LaFrenier. Kyle, Tim and I put our arms around each other and swayed. My dad had some old work boots that he gave me and I spray painted them black for my costume. I also found a chimney brush to carry in the play. Day 6. June 23, 2006 Friday 10:00-11:00. Worked on stage learning "Who Will Buy" movements. We were released early for lunch. 11:00-12:45. Had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the upstairs gallery kitchen for lunch. Played cards and walked around until 12:45 announcements. 1:00-5:00. We all got into costume and Tim from the Herald took pictures. Josh Turk was in a tuxedo and top hat. My pants were too long so I had to roll them up. Then we ran through our numbers again. Went to play tennis with my brother and sister and Dad while my Mom sold tickets for the play from 3:00-6:00. Day 7. June 25, 2006 Sunday 1:00-3:00. Ran through all the songs and movements for the teen chorus with the band. I could not hear the musicians very well from where I stood on stage. It was "formal day," so at least half the chorus was very dressed up. One guy had a pink bow tie. Several girls looked like they were going to a Prom. Sometimes it took me a minute to recognize people in dresses and suits compared to the usual baggy t-shirts and shorts. Day 8. June 26, 2006 Monday 1:00-5:00. Ran through the 2nd Act. It was better and more dramatic than the first couple of times I saw it. Then had to be part of the mob looking for the bad guy. Had to wait for the elementary chorus and Fagan and his gang to have pictures taken in costume. Worked out the curtain call for 45 minutes to one hour with the entire cast. I was ready to go at 5:00 because it was a long afternoon on stage.. (Tuesday followed with a grueling all-day rehearsal in which all the lighting, sound, and other technical effects were added, followed by a complete run-through of the play in the evening. Dress rehearsal was scheduled for Wednesday with all costumes, props, tech effects and orchestra. Director Charlie McMeekin would then decide whether another rehearsal was necessary Thursday before the show opens Friday night, just 12 days after the first cast rehearsal.) IN TEN POINT: An 'Oliver' Diary—Singing and Building Coffins A Cast Member's Impressions How is it possible to prepare a complete musical production for a cast of 120 (!) teenagers and elementary students, with all lines and songs learned, dozens of scenes planned and "blocked," big musical productions choreographed and practiced, costumes designed and sets constructed, tickets sold—all in under two weeks? That's what's going on at Chandler Music Hall, where a production of the popular musical "Oliver!" is underway under the direction of Charlie McMeekin (drama), Marjorie Drysdale (music), Kim Nowlan (choreography) and Betsy Cantlin (producer). The show opens Friday for a four-day run. Here's what the rehearsal process looks like through the Oliver Journal of Jake Zani, 12, of Brookfield, who just finished the 7th grade at RUHS and is one of five family members involved in "Oliver." By Jake Zani Day 1: June 18, 2006 Sunday 2:00-3:00. Elementary chorus met, then started learning words and choreography to the song "Food, Glorious, Food". Approximately 20 elementary age kids here today. 3:00 - 5:00. Met the rest of the Teen Chorus (100 kids +/-) Charlie McMeekin, Kim Nowlan and Marjorie Drysdale. Learned the song "Consider Yourself". I enjoyed meeting the rest of the teen chorus and "Consider Yourself." Everyone seems to have learned the words already, it’s sounding great. I have met up with some friends from school and from previous plays. Four people came in costume as examples for everyone. The costumes either come from Pauline Garner’s extensive Chandler closet or are made by Pauline and her elves or from the cast’s homes. Day 2, June 19, 2006 Monday 11:00-11:45. Teen Chorus started the choreography for "Consider Yourself." This is looking very interesting and good. At this point we have one third of it completed. I enjoy doing the play because not only are you jumping and dancing and singing around the stage, but you are meeting new people in your down time. 11:45-12:45. Walked to Village Pizza and got a personal pizza for lunch. 12:45-1:00. Group announcements 1:00-2:00. Continued choreography for "Consider Yourself." Had to wait for my brother, Tommy, and sister, Abby, while they worked on choreography from 2:00 to 4:00. Helped my Dad work on a coffin for the play's set. Day 3. June 20, 2006 Tuesday 12:45-1:00. At announcements, Hershey’s kisses are given out for positive acts. Hung out with Shawn Dunwoody until it was time for us to sing with Marjorie Drysdale. 2:00-3:00. Started to learn the words to "Who Will Buy." Ran through "Consider Yourself" a couple of times. I don’t like "Who Will Buy" because I think some of it doesn't make sense. "Consider Yourself" is coming along well, I think we’ve got it. Everyone seems to enjoy it. We need to work on our accent though. 3:00-4:00. Had to wait for Tommy and Abby again while they worked on songs. Left to grab a pizza and make it to my baseball game by 4:30. Day 4. June 21, 2006 Wednesday 9:00-5:00. The teen chorus had a long day of learning and choreographing one song "Oom-Pah-Pah." We started with the music, getting the timing down as to when we would sing the words oom-pah-pah. Then the choreography on stage got started. I had a lot of fun with this and the following scene with the play’s bad guy, Bill Sykes. So far, they are the best two scenes in the play. Dad finished the coffin. Mom painted fake bricks for the set along with some other Moms. Day 5. June 22, 2006 Thursday 9:00-5:00. We started learning the music to the song "Who will Buy." The teen chorus sat in the theater learning the music. Worked on it all morning. Then we got on stage and ran through "Consider Yourself" a few times. I took my pizza that I got from Randolph Village Pizza and went with Kyle Hammond to the river. Ate and swam near the baseball park until 12:45 then walked back to Chandler. Reviewed Oom-Pah-Pah sitting in the theater again twice through. We worked the rest of the day on stage learning the dance to go along with the song. It was fun pretending to be at a bar and drunk and silly with Tim Wooden, Kyle Hammond, Annie Hutchinson and Ashley LaFrenier. Kyle, Tim and I put our arms around each other and swayed. My dad had some old work boots that he gave me and I spray painted them black for my costume. I also found a chimney brush to carry in the play. Day 6. June 23, 2006 Friday 10:00-11:00. Worked on stage learning "Who Will Buy" movements. We were released early for lunch. 11:00-12:45. Had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the upstairs gallery kitchen for lunch. Played cards and walked around until 12:45 announcements. 1:00-5:00. We all got into costume and Tim from the Herald took pictures. Josh Turk was in a tuxedo and top hat. My pants were too long so I had to roll them up. Then we ran through our numbers again. Went to play tennis with my brother and sister and Dad while my Mom sold tickets for the play from 3:00-6:00. Day 7. June 25, 2006 Sunday 1:00-3:00. Ran through all the songs and movements for the teen chorus with the band. I could not hear the musicians very well from where I stood on stage. It was "formal day," so at least half the chorus was very dressed up. One guy had a pink bow tie. Several girls looked like they were going to a Prom. Sometimes it took me a minute to recognize people in dresses and suits compared to the usual baggy t-shirts and shorts. Day 8. June 26, 2006 Monday 1:00-5:00. Ran through the 2nd Act. It was better and more dramatic than the first couple of times I saw it. Then had to be part of the mob looking for the bad guy. Had to wait for the elementary chorus and Fagan and his gang to have pictures taken in costume. Worked out the curtain call for 45 minutes to one hour with the entire cast. I was ready to go at 5:00 because it was a long afternoon on stage.. (Tuesday followed with a grueling all-day rehearsal in which all the lighting, sound, and other technical effects were added, followed by a complete run-through of the play in the evening. Dress rehearsal was scheduled for Wednesday with all costumes, props, tech effects and orchestra. Director Charlie McMeekin would then decide whether another rehearsal was necessary Thursday before the show opens Friday night, just 12 days after the first cast rehearsal.) |
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