Studio Chatter from Summer Camp

August 1, 2011

I'm back, Stage Right Nation! Sorry for the long radio silence- I've been in and out of Bermuda on a luxury cruise, so naturally I was unable to update the blog since I left. (It was awesome, by the way- I got to snorkel on a coral reef, sunbathe on a pink-sand beach and see a one-hour abridged version of Les Miserables, which worked almost as well as the full four-hour version.)

The student shows are coming along extremely well. The "Footloose" kids are learning the tap dance/rap sequence "Dancing (Is Not A Crime)," and upstairs, the preteens are working their way through "King of the Forest," the Cowardly Lion's featured song. Meanwhile, later tonight the cast of "In Control" will meet and hopefully choreograph the intricate Hospital Ballet that begins the second act. All the songs in "In Control" are written by Dave Mahokey and me, but the dance sequences are composed by Tyler Hudock, who did most of the orchestrations for the play. It's going to be an interesting experience- the Hospital Ballet is an extremely "modern" piece in terms of composition. Instead of focusing on melody, it's based on rhythm and tone, shifting time signature rapidly like a Philip Glass film score to create a feeling of constant motion and tension.

It's going to be a big two weeks here at the studio- camp shows this weekend, Imagination workshop and the premiere of In Control next weekend. Things are only going to get crazier here, so stay tuned for more Studio Chatter ASAP!

Greg

July 20, 2011

What a day this has been, Stage Right Nation! The shows are off to a great start- classes in the morning are going swimmingly, and you would not believe how well these kids harmonize in the afternoon, singing the scores of Footloose and The Wizard of Oz. lunches have beena bit different this camp, as the beloved American Coffee Shop has closed, leaving students to choose between Cellar Door, Turtle Tree, and Charlie's for their lunch purchases.

It's been a bit of a slow day, no real adventures or great stories to share, but sometimes, that's not such a bad thing- it proves the students are doing exactly what they need to be doing during this first week, laying the ground floor of two amazing shows. Next week will be the interesting one, as "Second Week is Theme Week" here at the studio. Unfortunately, I will not be there for it- I'm taking a cruise to Bermuda next week, so hopefully I'll find someone else to substitute here for me and dish out the gab on the Stage Right Nation for me.

Before I sign off again, I'd like to take this one brief moment to plug my show. Preteen music director Dave Mahokey and I wrote a show last year, and we have been workshopping it slowly but surely with Tony Marino and Alex Noble on alternating sessions. This summer, August 12 and 13, that show finally gets its premiere. "In Control" tells the story of Steve Bloom, a young twentysomething whose life is at a crossroads- choose life, and embrace his relationships with friends and family, or accept death, and face off with the maybe-terminal cancer he knows he has been diagnosed with. But dont' worry- this is no LIfetime-movie melodramatic tearjerker. Embracing the energy of live music, comedy both light and dark, and a healthy dose of magic realism (it's sort of like RENT meets Scrubs), "In Control" is easily the funniest musical about terminal cancer you've ever seen. Music and Lyrics by David M. Mahokey and Greg Kerestan, book by Greg Kerestan. Based on a story by the above, plus Tyler Hudock and Phil Gavin.

Now that I've given you that little commercial, I'm off! Have a great night, all!

Greg

July 19, 2011

Well, here we are again, back for the cast list day and the first rehearsal at Stage Right summer camp number 2. The excitement was huge today as the students waited for the cast list to be posted- an announcement that had to be delayed for many of them, as the Sensations had a show to perform in the community today.

The students are always so excited to read the cast list. It used to be that during the lunch hour, students would swarm up to the bulletin board to read the cast list. This swarm would happen whether it was a new Sensation show being posted, or simply one of the staff members leaving the office for a coffee break. To avoid the ridiculous swarming, I have instituted a new tradition- the students will know that the cast list is posted when the dramatic music plays. As the list goes up, I fill the studio with the booming, grandiose sounds of the RKO Radio Fanfare (familiar to film fans from "King Kong" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"). That notifies the students that the time has come!

There is so much talent in both these camps, and I am sure that the next three weeks will be full of adventure and discovery for these students. I'm off- I'll be back tomorrow with more Studio Chatter!

Greg

July18, 2011

Welcome back, Stage Right Nation! It's Greg again, returning to my post as Studio Chatter blogger. It's true that I disappeared in the middle of the final week of the previous camp, but that's because the last few days of camp are hectic and don't allow for a time to set up my laptop in an area with steady internet connections. Those final days involve rounding up the final props and costumes, moving into the theatre, and finding your roots in a new space for a new show- a show which, I am proud to say, went incredibly well. Both "Camp Rock" and "Miss Saigon" were wonderful successes, and genuine crowdpleasers.

Camp 2 began today with a brand-new twist- an all-morning audition workshop preparing the students to give the best audition that they possibly could, instead of simply throwing the material at them. The teens were incredibly enthusiastic about the prospect of performing cheesy-but-wonderful Eighties classic "Footloose," but the INCREDIBLE amount of unexpected preteen talent meant changes had to be made- "The Jungle Book" simply did not offer enough roles for the talent we felt deserved to be showcased (other than making them singing, dancing bananas). After deliberating for literally hours over every possible change of show, the final decision was made- the preteens will perform "The Wizard Of Oz" for the first time in preteen camp history!

I was very excited to sit in on vocal auditions for the teens- over the course of the past five weeks, EVERYONE has improved. There was not a single person about whom I could say "They were better last time." Whether it was an increased acting performance of the song or a performance technique or vocal ability that had been refined, there wasn't a single student who didn't blow me away during the casting process. We're writing up the cast list now, and I can't wait to watch these amazing students work and grow for another three weeks.

Well, I'm off to band practice, so I'll be back tomorrow with more Studio Chatter!

Greg

June 28, 2011

It's Tuesday of the final week here at the studio, and things are slowing down and heating up at the same time. While the teens rehearsed all day, in between costuming sessions, brief talks on the history of the Vietnam War and lunch breaks, the preteens made their first journey across town to Westmoreland County Community College's theatre at Science Hall, where the shows will be performed.

The sets were built today, ensuring that by tomorrow, all the students will have performed on their actual sets and not simply on a flat rehearsal floor.

If it seems that lately there have been less exciting stories and funny moments in the blog, that's simply because as we near production week, things streamline down to routine. Nonetheless, every day more and more students show more and more potential, and I can promise you that these shows will be incredible. I'll be back tomorrow with more studio chatter!

Greg

June 27, 2011

What a weekend it was, Stage Right Nation! So many updates, so little time, so I'll begin right away. Friday night was the much-hyped Stage Right Man Versus Food competition, and in a surprising upset, Dylan Baughman could barely finish one third of the five-pound sandwich, while Eric Phelps decimated it, cleaning his plate with seven minutes left on the clock, making him not only the Stage Right champion, but Pasta Lorenzo's seventh-place victor of all time- and the youngest person to ever complete the sandwich.

Sunday night saw the first of Stage Right's three Broadway in the Park concerts in St. Clair park, with previews of the season and the exciting news that Stage Right veterans Kiley Caughey and Kevin O'Leary may indeed be returning for "Rocky Horror" this year! Also, selections from Hair were performed by the adult cast and the Stage Right Sensations, for an exciting opening number.

Monday in camp proved to be a fruitful day, with rehearsals going on all day to finish the two shows in time to move into the theatre tomorrow. It was a day of history lessons for the teens- both political, as they examined the evacuation of Saigon in order to portray the scene onstage, and cultural, as two teen girls playing somewhat androgynous roles were introduced to the stylings of Marlene Dietrich as a character inspiration.

Well, things are getting hectic in the office, as I have to handle dozens of parents buying tickets and wondering when and where their children will be rehearsing at the WCCC campus, so I have to run, but I'll be back tomorrow with more Studio Chatter!

Greg

June 24, 2011

Hey there, Stage Right Nation! Friday has come at last, ending the second week of camp here at the studio. Today's theme was Christmas in June, and the students wore their favorite (or least favorite) holiday gear- everything from kitschy Christmas sweaters to full elf leggings and Santa Claus jackets. The mood was festive, even as we began the last major press of learning the show before we begin running it again and again.

Today at the studio, Stage Right veteran actor David Cabot, also a master of voice and speech techniques, came to visit the studio for a seminar on stage movement and vocal projection. If you've never seen a David Cabot seminar before, his teaching techniques often focus on intonation and speech techniques, exemplified by the way that a person says their own name. "DA-VID CAAABOTT," his signature way of saying his own name, met huge applause at the end of his lesson. (I can't wait to hear him shout out "Benjamin Barker!" at the climax of "Sweeney Todd" this season- Cabot just signed on to play Sweeney Todd himself!)

In the afternoon, David Mahokey, music director of the preteen show "Camp Rock," took it on himself to choreograph the number "Heart and Soul," and it was a resounding success. This is the biggest achievement in a recurring motif of the Stage Right boys who are NOT specialized in dance choreographing segments of Stage Right shows- Mahokey himself choreographed "A Spoonful of Sugar" from the Sensations' Walt Disney World medley, I choreographed "For The Longest Time" and "Run Freedom Run" in the Sensations medley, Mahokey and I choreographed the male "dance line" in "My Strongest Suit." But long before either of us took to the stage, Tony Marino himself invented the humorously masculine style of "Tony-ography" with a silly hand-flipping gesture that still shows up in Stage Right choreography to this day.

Tonight is the night of the Third Annual Stage Right Man Versus Food competition, and I'm off to referee the challenge! I'll update you all on Monday, with plenty more studio chatter!

Greg

June 23, 2011

Hello, Stage Right Nation! It's Greg again, blogging in from the studio as we near the end of our second week. It's been a dreary, overcast day, but the mood inside is still high, as both shows begin to reach the final lap of their preparations.

Mornings continued as usual, with Thursday being Pajama-Rama Day for Theme Week. All of the students came in their favorite sleepwear, everything from sweats to nightgowns, with one student especially noteworthy (and shiny) in a full-body Nehru-style Japanese sleep suit- borrowed, naturally, from Stage Right's most notable young fashionista, Carolyn Rosemary-Winnifred Cole. (If you can't picture what that outfit looks like, imagine an extremely Asian-styled version of Doctor Evil's famous costume.)

In the afternoon, costuming finally began for "Miss Saigon," and the teens began to get their costumes assigned and approved by the production team. After that, the preteens took the main floor for the first time in two weeks, sending the teens upstairs to rehearse as they brought "Camp Rock" onto the main rehearsal area for a change. In addition, preparations have begun for the first Broadway In The Park concert, which will be performed this Sunday.

There is, also, considerable buzz about a DIFFERENT annual summer event taking place tomorrow... the annual (but unofficial) Stage Right Man Versus Food competition. For the past three years, one Stage Right teen boy every summer has attempted the Italian Stallion Challenge at Lorenzo's restaurant in Uniontown- one hour to consume a five pound, fifteen layer Italian sandwich made of an entire two-foot loaf of Italian bread. Two years ago, David Mahokey (now the preteen music director of camp) attempted the first Italian Stallion Challenge and was unable to win. Last year, Phil Gavin, another alum, came close to winning, but could not make it through the final third of the sandwich. This year, Stage Right has not one, but two, students attempting the Challenge- Eric Phelps and Dylan "DB" Baughman will each attempt to tackle the impossible meal. If you're looking for a great meal tomorrow night, come down to Lorenzo's and cheer them on! (The spaghetti there is delicious too, by the way.)

It's about time for me to clock out for the day, but I promise I'll be back tomorrow with a little more progress, a little more gossip, and a lot more studio chatter!

Greg

June 22, 2011

Hello again, Stage Right Nation! Greg Kerestan again, dropping by with a few updates from a very eventful day at camp, and a few behind-the-scenes tidbits that may enlighten and entertain those of you who have never passed within the hallowed halls of the studio during summer hours. Theme Week continues, with Wednesdays being Pink Day. What began as a joke referencing the "Mean Girls" quote about "On Wednesdays, we wear pink" has become, over time, a rallying day for breast cancer awareness, with boys and girls alike dressed in pink, typically with a pink ribbon for support. For extra value, today was enriched by a visit from Lenora Nemetz, a Broadway legend often known as "world's greatest understudy" for her time standing by and performing for theatrical legends like Gwen Verdon, Liza Minelli and Patti LuPone, among others. Nemetz talked about her life, the Broadway greats she had worked with, and shared a few key words of wisdom and inspiration for the students who looked up to her.

Afternoon rehearsals continue as usual, with "Miss Saigon" and "Camp Rock" making lots of progress thanks to the wide variety of materials licensed by MTI (Music Theatre International) to assist with rehearsals. Speaking of both shows, this year several young teens (or older preteens) have the special opportunity to appear in both shows, playing leads among the preteens and smaller or supporting parts in the teen shows. When I was a student, many years ago now, students doing this were affectionally known as "the big McNugget." (If you don't get the reference, picture the one or two much larger McNuggets that come in every carton of smaller McNuggets, which give the package extra value for the price.) Far from being an insult or an inconvenience, being a "big McNugget" gives a truly unique position within the company- learning from experience with older students, and simultaneously using that knowledge and increased experience to mentor the younger students in the preteen cast. This year, teens Matthew Fawcett and Mike Mazel join the ranks of Stage Right teens and graduates who, at one time or another, served as "big McNugget" for a preteen show- Mari Boyle, Mitchell Barclay, Chelsea Ritenour, and Phil Gavin, among others.

Well, I just ate a very hot bowl of chicken gumbo, and there is a Minute Maid lemonade in the studio refridgerator calling my name, so this is it for the day. I'll be back tomorrow, with more studio chatter!

Greg

June 21, 2011

Hello, Stage Right Nation! This is Greg Kerestan, intern and brand-new camp counselor at Stage Right! School For The Performing Arts Summer Camp. I thought I'd drop in and let you know how things are going in camp, sort of a peek from the outside looking in. As a former summercamper myself, I know firsthand what an amazing experience this program is, and how valuable it can be to a young performer.

This is Week 2 of first camp, and Week 2 is traditionally known among students as "Theme Week." (Back in MY day, we didn't have no new-fangled Theme Weeks, heh.) Students every day, Monday through Friday, choose a theme, dress appropriately for that theme, and morning dance classes are altered to be relevant to that theme. Yesterday was Cowboys and Indians, and dance classes featured today's country hits and a few line-dance combinations. Today is Eighties Flashback, and the studio is filled with spandex and spangles, while the teens dance to Bon Jovi and belt it out to Whitney Houston. Call me an eighties nerd, but I'm frankly surprised at how many of these teens, ages fourteen to eighteen, know the words to "You Give Love A Bad Name" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." And they say "GLEE" isn't educational...

Afternoons continue as scheduled, with the preteens rehearsing "Camp Rock," and the teens putting together "Miss Saigon." Stage Right's students never fail to surprise me with the way they develop so quickly under pressure to perform. "Camp Rock" is probably the most dance-heavy show the preteens have ever done. Barring preteen favorite "Once On This Island" (a show so popular with students that the preteen company has performed it time and time again), which features much "stage movement" and non-dance-based, but choreographed sequences, no other show has topped the wall-to-wall dancing and singing that "Camp Rock" promises.

The teens, meanwhile, wrestle with "Miss Saigon," and when I say they're wrestling with it, I'm not kidding. "Miss Saigon" is not typical Stage Right student material- it's a huge, dramatic show, and it's a poperetta (otherwise known as a pop-opera or a megamusical). Poperettas are long, vocally demanding shows in a mixture of rock, pop and musical theater styles, which are sung-through entirely, like an opera. Rather than having lines and scenes to learn, these students just have song after song to move the plot along. In addition, "Saigon" grapples with some tough issues- the end of the Vietnam War, East-West relations, the price of "the American dream," and the exploitation of children and teenagers overseas. This production shows real potential to be meaty and moving, especially with the intense choreography of this summer camp's new choreographer, Mindy Wedner.

I'll be back tomorrow with more updates on the camp experience, and maybe a few more stories to share!

Greg