Mark Aldrich
Company member
Mark Aldrich
(Charlie Dalrymple)
gives a peek behind the scenes of Lerner & Loewe's Brigadoon. | July 2, 2008 - 9:32 PM
Well, our time here has come to an end and BRIGADOON has slipped into the mists. Thank you all for reading along, for welcoming us to the Fulton and to Lancaster. My time here has been a highlight that will remain with me for many years to come. It has far surpassed all of my expectations. To keep tabs on me, check up on my doings at:
actorinnewyork.blogspot.com/
and
www.thehappyhourguys.com
Until the next time...
June 28, 2008 - 12:40 PM
 | | Our anthem singers. |  | | On the field and singing! |  | | Cody Smith caught, not a foul ball, but a t-shirt. Here he displays his booty. |  | | Ken McMullen and Cylo. New best friends. |
There was a certain symmetry in the fact that we returned to Clipper Magazine Stadium and the Barnstormers during our final week to sing the national anthem before the game. Our earlier field trip here had been one of our first cast activities. As is probably clear from earlier entries, I'm a big baseball fan (Go Red Sox!). I was so pleased to have a small part in the game this day and to reach all of the folks in the stands with the mention of our show and our cast. Minimal rehearsal was needed as most of us have performed the anthem at one point or another. Still, there's nothing quite like stepping onto the field, taking your place behind home plate, seeing the players up close, hearing the crowd, and kicking off a game. Luckily for us, morning rains gave way to a warm morning and the game began on time with us doing the anthem honors under the conducting of our own David Girolmo.
With thoughts of our evening cabaret in our heads and the knowledge that we would have to pack up and go home soon, leaving Lancaster and Brigadoon behind, it was nice to step out into the sun together again and see so many Lancaster folks out to enjoy a ballgame. That's summertime to me!
On a side note, Andy Kindig was a late scratch from the anthem singers. He was planning for that night's cabaret benefit, but once again he was no where to be seen when the mascot, Cylo, made it's appearance. See my earlier post on the Barnstormers to catch up on our theory regarding Cylo's identity.(Disclaimer: Andy is still not, nor ever has been Cylo. However, the mystery deepens...)
June 28, 2008 - 12:40 PM
 | | Welcome to Equity! |  | | New Equity member Katie Hagen, does the honors on the Equity cake. (We have cake for every conceivable occasion!) |  | | Welcome! |
During our time here, we had the opportunity to welcome a number of our cast to the ranks of Actors' Equity, the union of stage actors and stage managers. It’s fairly rare that such a larger number, eight, had either joined recently, joined during our show, or are about to join. We took the opportunity to celebrate their joining throughout the past week. Joining Equity is a personal choice and depends on career goals and geographic location. Also, timing is crucial in making the decision to join, as well. Some choose to wait while others chomp at the bit to join. David Girolmo, Ariane Dolan and myself are all involved in the governing of Equity, so it seemed like a chance to answer any questions people might have and acknowledge the decision to become members. (David and I had only known each other as voices on a teleconference before this as he is based in Chicago and I am in NYC).
I love actors. Acting is truly a calling, not simply a career. It can be filled with rejection, bouts of unemployment, solitude, and questionable finances. However, it is also filled with faith (like Brigadoon!). Faith in yourself, your talents, your fellow actors, and ultimately the power of live theatre. The willingness to pack up and move to a new "home", often not knowing others in your cast, leaving family and home behind to come together to create theatre can be a daunting task. But we trust that it will be worth it. That others will share our passion and sense of adventure and exploration. Obviously, Brigadoon and the Fulton have more than fulfilled that trust.
In a life of uncertainty, Equity can be our safety net. Our assurance that we are all in it together, sharing common concerns and goals. Our backup when things go awry (though none did here). Our guarantee that certain work conditions will be in place, that we can achieve insurance, contribute to a 401K, and hope to live a semblance of a "normal" life that most people achieve very differently. But really, our celebration here has not been only to welcome new members to the union, but to welcome each other, both union members and not, into our extended family. The relationships we've formed here will, indeed, last for years to come. Even if we don't see each other for long periods of time, we'll work with mutual friends, attend auditions together, share stories via email, and play Scramble on Facebook. And so, while we applaud our newest Equity members and hope to help in their transition to union members, we really celebrate our extended Brigadoon family and the larger fraternity of actors who have so much in common. Not least of all, faith.
June 26, 2008 - 2:26 PM
 | | I can't resist. |  | | The objects of my desire. |  | | Rave reviews for La Casa Bella. Is it wrong to love a sandwich this much? |
When does appreciation turn to obsession? I’m guessing right about the time I realized that I’d been eating from La Casa Bella on Prince Street every day for a week. I had been completely caught off guard when I’d wandered in for an Italian sub because of a lunch special I’d seen advertised. From the home baked bread to the overstuffed sub itself, I was completely taken and found myself returning day after day to try as many menu items as I could before our run here is through. It’s already become a habit for me to visit between performances, order more than I can eat and bring it home with me to enjoy. I’ve yet to be disappointed. In fact, I’ve been talking so incessantly about it that a number of our cast and crew have wandered over to find out what it was I just wouldn’t shut up about.
Owner Dominic is as friendly, generous and talented as any Italian restaurateur in my neighborhood back in Queens, NY. In fact, when I’m in La Casa Bella, I could easily imagine myself back in the Big Apple. (Dominic’s brother has a pizza shop in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, so clearly it runs in the family.)
Now, I don’t mean to sound like an advertisement. However, I’m known as a bit of a pizza-holic to my friends, long believing that it’s the perfect food. La Casa Bella’s pizza is every bit as good as that Italian sub I had the first day. In fact, everything I’ve tried there has been worth a return visit. Or seven.
As I’ve written, being on the road so often can be tiring. Finding La Casa Bella was like wandering into my neighborhood back home. If I could transport it and all of Dominic’s family run business back with me, I just might. On the other hand, it’s nice to know it’s here for all of you in Lancaster. I hear there’s an apartment available above the restaurant...if you see me around after the show closes this week, you’ll know what happened.
Yet one more thing that I’ll miss when our time here in Lancaster is up in just a few days. As if I needed any more...
June 21, 2008 - 12:43 PM
 | | Barry Kornhauser leads us through parts of the theatre rarely seen. |  | | Is that an orb over the audience? You be the judge... |  | | Hmmmm...... |  | | A rapt audience. |  | | Few people get to explore the way we did...Here Andy Kindig ponders the darkness.... |
Following Thursday night’s performance, we were fortunate enough to be given a ghost tour of the theatre by Barry Kornhauser, who is listed on this website as Playwright-in-Residence and Director of Theatre for Young Audiences, but whom I suspect plays many more roles in the life of the Fulton. The entire cast thanks Barry for taking the time, at 10:30 P.M. to come down and show us the ropes (literally as part of the tour brought us into the fly space above the stage). Barry was charming and full of stories told with just the right mixture of skepticism and curiosity. I strongly suspect he has some Irish ancestry because of the ease with which he held our attention throughout.
The history of the Fulton is full of both tragedy ( in the form of the infamous massacre of Native Americans who had sought sanctuary there when the building was a jail in the early 18th century) and triumph (in the form of the many famous performers who have trod its’ boards during its illustrious time as a theatre). Clearly, if there is a spot primed for some sort of ghostly presence, it is the Fulton where emotions have run high for over two hundred years. Theatres in general are said to be some of the most haunted places to experience when the lights are off, and whatever you’re personal opinion on these things, there is no denying that when all is quiet and dark, theatres play on imagination, superstition and fears as few other locations can. Thursday night was no exception in that regard.
The stories of inexplicable activity in the Fulton are many. Too many for me to begin to recount here. The fact that actors tend to be susceptible to those ideas doesn’t appear to explain all that has happened over the years. In any event, we had a wonderful evening filled with stories and bumps-in-the-night and insight into the grandeur and proud history of the stage we are so fortunate call our own for this short time.
As for ghosts? Well, none of us saw any full body apparitions. At least, no one is admitting to it. But orbs (which some say are one manifestation of spirits) appeared in many of our photos. Then again, if I were a ghost I’m not sure I’d choose to appear to a group of 20 or so excited, chattering, slightly hysterical theatrical types. I will say that we returned to the stage last night with a greater appreciation of the Fulton’s place in history and a wary eye on the shadows in the corner...
June 18, 2008 - 12:21 PM
 | | I hope that's not my train... |  | | Self-Portrait: Actor on a train while the Tony Awards begin. And his friends have a party. But he's not there. |  | | Culture Shock |
As I walked through downtown Lancaster preparing for my family’s arrival last weekend, it occurred to me that I had developed a routine, of sorts. To the market for my weekly visit, a stop at the Historical Society to look something up, picking up one of my favorite sandwiches (more on that later), and so on. Suddenly, I realized just how comfortable I’ve become in Lancaster and how “homey” it feels. For someone who travels quite a bit and experiences many new places, that was quite a sensation. This is as relaxed and settled as I’ve felt in a place. Much of that has to do with our wonderful cast, crew and staff and the marvelous theatre itself. However, some of it is simply that Lancaster is a very welcoming place. I plan on making the most of our remaining time here and see our conclusion a week and a half away with a sense of the bittersweet.
My mother and brother visited over the weekend and I enjoyed showing them some of my favorite spots. After seeing the show, as is our custom, we discussed the production and the theatre. I’m happy to say that they were as impressed with the Fulton as I am. Also, having seen me in two other productions of BRIGADOON, they felt that they enjoyed this one the most. Again, nice to hear, especially from family.
Sunday arrived and the Tony’s were on tap for the night. Sadly, I was to head back to New York for some business and had to miss the cast gathering that night. As I rode the train home, they were kind enough to assure me that they were having no fun without me. Unfortunately, the photo they sent me of all of them in full celebratory mode told a different story. I just hate to miss a party. Upon my return to New York, I found myself experiencing a bit of culture shock when walking through Times Square. Again, that’s an unusual reaction for me to have and speaks to the impression Lancaster has left.
All was well when I returned, though, as through the kindness of my wife I brought the car back with me and will be able to explore even farther for our final two weeks. Suggestions? Fire away!
June 13, 2008 - 6:11 PM
 | | Happy Birthday, Michael and Ari! |  | | Birthday treats! |  | | Andy Kindig: Caught in the Act! |
We returned to the theatre on Wednesday after two days off to recover from rehearsals and explore Lancaster. This is one of those rare shows where everyone seemed eager to get back to work. Our crowds have continued to be responsive and ticket sales seem to be going very well. That’s very rewarding when you’re a part of something you feel is special. We’re happy to be sharing it with as many people as possible.
One of the quirks of our line of business is that we often miss spending special occasions with family. The phrase "the show must go on" is something taken seriously. I personally have missed weddings, birthdays and other events that were important to me and my family. However, one by-product of that is that casts bond quickly and become our family of sorts by sharing many of these events together. Living in a new city for a few months, often in the same buildings, brings us together like little else I can think of. So, as we returned to performances we were able to share two birthdays: Ariane Dolan and Michael Strassheim (the 10th and 11th, respectively) were greeted with song and cake and after Wed. evening we headed out for celebratory cocktails and dancing. I know family was missed by them, but their BRIGADOON family did its best to make them feel appreciated. (Happy Birthday again !)
Friday saw the first understudy rehearsal of our run. In a short run such as ours, we hope that understudies aren’t called upon (knock wood), but it’s wise to be prepared. A nasty flu or a call from Steven Spielberg can come unexpectedly! While it’s always a bit nerve wracking (understudies have far less rehearsal time than is comfortable), it’s always a great chance to see new sides of fellow cast mates and for them to shine. I quietly crept into the theater to listen for a few moments. They sounded fantastic!
Lastly, we head into this weekend looking forward to the Tony Awards on Sunday night. It’s the Super Bowl and World Series of the theatre world. Two of our cast (myself and David Girolmo) are voters for the Tony’s which always lends a sense of personal involvement to the night. Sadly, I’ll be on my way to New York that evening to take care of some business, but our cast is looking forward to gathering together to celebrate the theatrical season and live theater in general. Tune in Sunday night! This season’s shows may one day be gracing the gorgeous stage at the Fulton!
June 9, 2008 - 12:52 PM
 | | Managing Director Aaron A. Young sports a kilt for Opening Night. |  | | Director Marc Robin with his opening night gift. We miss him already! |  | | It's the day of the show, y'all! |  | | Stage Manager Liz Reddick makes a new friend at the opening night party. |  | | Recent high school graduate David Diehl! |
Well, it’s certainly been an eventful few days. On Thursday, June 5, we opened BRIGADOON to a full house. After two preview performances to get our feet wet, we were ready to let the adrenaline flow. Openings are always an exciting night and this was no disappointment. Many of the cast had family or friends in town for the night and we were eager to show everyone the fruits of our hard labor. Before the show, the cast met in the green room with Marc Robin to have a final chat. One of the bittersweet aspects of opening night is that it’s often the last night the director is in town. Marc has set such a wonderful tone of taking the work seriously but maintaining a sense of fun and wonder. Knowing that the next morning he would be heading on to his next project left more than one of us a bit sad. He will be missed. It’s a natural progression, though, and it was time for the show to grow on its own, feeling the rhythms set by the audiences and allowing the performances to adapt and deepen. Marc gave us a short talk about our time together and his feelings about the show and our group. We gave Marc a goody bag filled with all manner of Scottish treats, which he assured us would be good company on the long drive he faced the following day. No, we didn't give him haggis. There were a few given to others, though, and I can't help noticing that they remain untouched still. Any takers?
The performance itself was filled with nerves and excitement. The audience seemed to respond very well to our show. It’s become a personally moving production for many of us, so to feel our crowd responding in kind was gratifying. As the curtain dropped, we were thrilled to see a standing ovation and feel that things had gone well. Following the performance, we adjourned to the lovely Steinman Park at the Pressroom Restaurant for a celebration where were able to meet many of the members of the audience and hear their thoughts. Kilts abounded and tartan was the hot fashion accessory of the night. A big thanks to the Fulton for throwing us such a wonderful party.
The weekend ahead held four more performances before a day off. An ugly case of allergies or, worse, a cold, was working its way through the cast. Needless to say, something as common as that can wreak havoc for a singer or dancer, so cold medicines and good behavior were on order. Luckily, we've passed into our days off (Monday and Tuesday this week... a rare two day weekend for us) with no further damage and a chance to rest up and enter the next week healthy and raring to go.
One last note: Friday night’s performance was a bit different. David Diehl was graduating from high school that night and we had all agreed that it was an experience he should not miss. David, in true “the show must go on” spirit had offered to perform and miss his big night. With David not there on Friday we made some slight adjustments to cover for his absence and everyone came through with flying colors. Although we missed his glorious voice, we were thrilled that he could enjoy his night with friends and family. So... I'll close this one with another hearty congratulations to David!
June 4, 2008 - 12:59 PM
 | | Marc Robin directs us on our fairy tale set. |  | | The technology that makes theatre magic. |  | | Paul Black (lighting designer) and Liz Reddick (stage manager) guide us through technical rehearsals. |  | | Waiting in the wings. |  | | Eva Heppelmann and Ariane Dolan (foreground) await there scenes in the green room. |  | | Two of Anthony Lascoskie Jr.'s wig designs await their turn on stage, too. (Along with a reminder to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!) |
Still riding high from our visit to Hersheypark, we moved into the theatre for our tech rehearsal period. As I wrote earlier, the tech rehearsals were as advertised: focus was placed on adjusting all the work we’d done in the clubhouse to fit the stage, set, and lighting design. Friday night we heard our orchestra for the first time and it was exciting to hear the score rising from the orchestra pit in all its glory. This rehearsal, is usually called a sit probe, and involves the cast seated as they sing through the score with the orchestra. Ours was actually a wandelprobe, meaning we moved through our blocking and choreography along with the music.
Saturday saw us beginning full technical rehearsals. As we worked slowly through the show, there is inevitably a lot of down time as actors wait for their scenes and numbers to reach the stage. Our production of BRIGADOON really is a fairy tale and the set and lights are just beautiful-- full of lights and glimmering water and leafy greens. To be able to achieve that effect meant careful attention was needed from our creative staff to each cue. Not surprisingly, given our positive group, the techs went well and we managed to get through the entire show in two days of 10 out of 12’s (which are exactly what they sound like-- 10 hours of rehearsal with a two hour break in the day. We went from 11 A.M. to 11 P.M.). Those are the actors’ hours. Our technical staff and crew put in significantly more hours. Theatre magic doesn’t come easily. In my experience, it’s unusual to get through the entire show in that amount of time. It’s not rare to reach the first preview having barely finished the tech of the show. Again, this is a testament to the organization and planning of our staff, in particular our director Marc Robin. I know it seems, from what I’ve written, that I could be some sort of Pollyanna, always positive and seeing only the bright side. In truth, nothing could be farther from the truth. I can complain right along with the best of them, but this really has been an extraordinary process. (Old joke: What complains more than an unemployed actor? An employed actor.)
We now head into our opening week feeling prepared. Some changes have been made. Scenes have been re-blocked or re-choreographed. The songs have been tweaked to adjust to the orchestra. We’re tired but eager to perform for an audience. Nothing informs an actor like getting up in front of a crowd. Will the jokes land? Do the scenes play? Will people react to the characters, the music, the message? This week will let us know.
June 3, 2008 - 11:58 AM
 | | So many choices... Which rollercoaster should be first? |  | | Mark Fisher, coaster neophyte, has second thoughts. |  | | Cody Smith-- prodigious theme park food expert. |  | | Yup. We rode that. |  | | Our gang. |  | | Exhausted but happy. |
Recently, because rehearsals have been going so well, the majority of our cast spent the better part of a day giggling like small children through HersheyPark. Luckily, the day we chose was as clear and beautiful as you can hope for and our biggest concern was to avoid sunburn. (Aside from personal discomfort, highland villagers rarely sport a savage tan…)It became clear that our priority was to ride as many of the rollercoasters as possible. I have to say that we did a pretty good job on that score.
Now, this blogger hasn’t been to an amusement park in longer than I can remember, despite going to college in the shadow of Busch Gardens. I wasn’t too surprised to find that I had a great time on them-- I like to indulge my childlike tendencies on a regular basis. My personal favorite was the Storm Runner, which is described by the Park this way:
Description
This one-of-a-kind coaster will launch you from 0-72 mph in 2 seconds flat. 18 stories straight up, straight down. And that's just the beginning. You'll fly through a 135 foot cobra loop, barrel rolls, and a dramatic flying snake dive so fast, you won't know which way is west.
It more than lived up to that. (Andy Kindig has some great video that we hope to add here at some point soon.)
We also loved the Lightning Racer which allowed us to “race” in competing coaster cars. Proudly, the guys won both races through absolutely no skill of our own. I also liked the Wildcat for its old wooden coaster feel.
The Wild Mouse is the favorite of Marc Robin (possibly the biggest coaster fanatic of the group), who clamed me as his riding partner. He carefully directed me to a specific seat in the car that, on any left hand turn, gave the impression that you were about to sail off the ride over the park. We howled through the entire experience, punctuated by the cries of Cody Smith from the car behind us.
A number of our group had friends in the shows and we caught a couple of them throughout the day and were able to catch up with acquaintances. (Lani Corson actually worked at the park a few summers ago.)
At one point, we split into two larger groups as some headed off to the water park area. I chose to continue with coasters and an aquatic life show. Sea lions = fun in my book. The only lasting impression I had of their water adventures were Mark Fisher’s drenched corduroy shorts.
Late in the afternoon, one group headed back home while the diehards remained to ride themselves silly until closing at 8 p.m. That’s right, we went for the full 10 hour park experience. As the lines grew shorter, our waits did the same and we finished the day going from coaster to coaster until our heads and stomachs could take no more. Just as I thought I was done, Jessica Kademenos pulled me along for one more go at the Storm Runner. The perfect way to close the day.
We headed home exhausted but ready to eager to rehearsal the next day. Tech lay ahead of us. But as well know, tech is fun.
May 30, 2008 - 1:40 PM
 | | Samantha Lea Hewes and Katie Hagen before the final run through in the rehearsal hall. |  | | Jessica Kademenos helps Cody Deon Smith loosen up for rehearsal. |  | | Jo Patrick laces up the ghillies. |
For the past two weeks plus, we have been rehearsing in the clubhouse, a rehearsal space you’ve heard about often in previous blogs. Wednesday night we had our final run-through in that space and now head across the street to begin our technical rehearsals in the theatre itself. While in the clubhouse, we’ve been able to focus on our blocking, our choreography, and develop the relationships between our characters. It’s been an exciting time as I’ve already written about.
Now we’ll begin to fold in the rest of the elements of the show: sets, lights, costumes, sound. Our spacing will adjust as we acclimate to the stage and we’ll finally be able to hear this glorious score as played by our orchestra. Obviously, that’s going to require flexibility and good humor. Often, tech rehearsals are groaned over. They can mean hours of waiting as lights or sets are adjusted. However, our gang is looking forward to them. It will be exciting to see the results of all the hard work of the designers and crew, much of which began long before we arrived for rehearsal. We bid good bye our little insulated rehearsal hall and our show family grows to include many more.
Our final run through was as we expected. Solid in some ways and less in others, as we look ahead to the many changes we have in store for us. As we incorporate all of our new elements, the world of BRIGADOON will become more tangible for us. To wear the clothes and walk in the world of our characters always brings out nuances to an actor’s performance that are difficult to imagine in rehearsal clothes and a bare room. We’re taking a large step closer to bringing all of this to our audiences. Exciting to consider. And with the words of Marc Robin echoing in our ears-- “Tech is fun”-- we plunge onward. I can’t wait.
May 28, 2008 - 4:57 PM
 | | Our Gamers: Ariane Dolan, Eva Heppelman,Liz Reddick,David Girolmo, Lisa Rumbauskas, Lani Corson (not seen: Anne Jude) |  | | A perfect night for a game! |  | | David Girolmo and I show off our new Barnstormers fashion statements. |  | | Lani Corson and a funnel cake that's twice as big as she is. |  | | The mystery that is Cylo. |  | | Nope. We're doing BRIGADOON. Not CAROUSEL. |
One of my favorite aspects of being an actor is the chance to experience new places and communities. Of course, it’s always better when you have a group of castmates who are up for some fun with you. So this past Saturday some of us took the opportunity to walk down Prince St. and catch a Lancaster Barnstormer’s game. Nothing welcomes the coming days of summer like a trip to the ballpark. The weather was perfect and Clipper Magazine Stadium was ready to see the home team snap a losing streak (and so were we!).
Of course, before we even took our seats, we were at the concession stands checking out the menus. Obligatory hot dogs and beers in hand we made our way to or seats just past third base and settled in for a night of rooting for the Barbstormers. The stadium is really very nice, obviously newly built, and David Girolmo and I only regretted not picking up some “Rally Roni” to take part in the local chants (although David did his best to win our section a free frosty). Throughout the game it also became clear that David is a master at the witty grandstand banter/heckle. Whether the players heard him we don’t know, but he kept us and the folks sitting near us laughing throughout.
The baseball fan in me was thrilled to recognize some of the players: Matt Lecroy was on my fantasy team at one point, Ian Bladergroen was a Red Sox minor leaguer whom I followed, and Curtis Pride , who played for the opposition, is a fellow alum of the College of William & Mary. But being at the game is also about spending time with friends and we relaxed after our grueling day of rehearsal chatting and enjoying the time outdoors and marching back to the concession stands on a regular basis. Funnel cakes were had. Need I say more? We also gave the deep fried oreos a try. One was enough, but we just had to say we tried them.
As the game wore on, we realized that cast member Andy Kindig would be detained by a “prior commitment”. However, it quickly became apparent that calls and texts only arrived from him when the Barnstormers’ mascot, Cylo, was not around. When Cylo displayed one of Andy’s trademark dance moves, we began to suspect that they were one and the same. As of now, we’ve still never seen them in the same room together, so no conclusion has been reached. (DISCLAIMER: Andy Kindig is not, and never has been, Cylo. It was merely a way for us to feel our friend was with us. And we thought it was funny.)
In the end, the hometown boys pulled out an exciting win in the 8th inning and we all left happy and with a dose of Lancaster beyond our rehearsal hall. Any suggestions on local events or attractions that shouldn’t be missed are more than welcome! We’re having great time exploring Lancaster.
May 27, 2008 - 1:39 PM
 | | Marc Robin leading one of our wildly productive rehearals. |  | | Katie Hagen stretches in preparation for a dance rehearsal. Our dancers are fantastic and I'm in awe of each and every one of them. |  | | Jo Patrick cowers under the pressure of arriving a week late. I joke. He's in the midst of a rehearsal and knocking it out of the park. |  | | Ken McMullen, Chet Williamson's legs, Jessica Kademenos, Davi Girolmo, and Katie Wieand discuss their characters and future social plans. |
I promised some insight into our rehearsal process so today’s entry will focus on that. At the beginning of our rehearsals, I had no idea I would become the cast blogger and it wasn’t until a few days later that I put on the blogging hat. As a result, this will be a bit of an overview of our process thus far. To put it plainly, this has been one of the most actor-friendly and productive rehearsals I’ve experienced. Of course all of that is a credit to the Fulton and our director, Marc Robin.
On our first day we were presented with a very thorough schedule of what we should expect for the next few weeks. By day three, that schedule was out the window and we launched into blocking rehearsals at what, on paper, would look like break neck speed. Within three days we had blocked the entire show, with the exception of a few dance numbers. Throughout it all, though, our pace never seemed rushed and no one felt the slightest uncomfortable. Marc had set a pace that complimented this extraordinary cast perfectly. (Jo Patrick, who plays Harry Beaton, was joining us a week late due to the run of another show in which he’d been performing. He dove right in and was up to speed quicker than anyone could have expected.)
A happy by-product of being ahead of schedule was the opportunity to really sit with Marc and the cast to develop specific relationships between our characters on stage. This is such a vital element to the process and sadly often gets overlooked in the rush that most rehearsals become. Our cast has been so glad of the time to do that work and I firmly believe that it is evident onstage. As I’d mentioned in an earlier blog, I’ve performed BRIGADOON before. However, this production already feels as if there is more life and connection onstage. It’s seems like a new show to me, and that is incredibly exciting for an actor.
On Sunday, we held our run through for staff and a few other friends of the theatre. It was the perfect time for us to have an audience. The rhythms and pace can shift, sometimes significantly, when reactions are heard and adjustments need to be made. More importantly, though, it was exciting to share the work we’d been doing. I thought the run went very well, and with another few days before we head into tech rehearsals, this has the makings of a very memorable experience. Can you tell I’m having a good time?
Next up: Field trip to the ballgame!
May 25, 2008 - 8:00 PM
 | | A quiet night relaxing with the cast. |  | | Lisa tries the door while castmate Mark Fisher looks on. |  | | Lisa reacts to her unexpected welcome. |  | Cast member Lani Corson just after the infamous door incident.
|  | | Welcome back, Lisa.... |  | | With all of our talk of faith in Brigadoon, this sign seemed somehow appropriate. |
The beginnings of rehearsal periods are always interesting. Friendships are made and renewed, we all explore our new environment, people learn how to work with each other, and ultimately, by the end of the first week, we all take a chance to relax together---to socialize and learn about each other away from the show and our characters. So on a recent Sunday evening, after our first week of rehearsals, many of us gathered at the apartment building where a number of us are staying for some down time--- a glass of wine, some games, some stories. A chance to unwind together. ( Don’t worry, there will be much more on our rehearsal process and our fantastic creative team.)
We played a number of games, including a card game I had never heard of called Apples to Apples, won by the slyly poker-faced Ari Dolan. We played a few other games whose names I don’t recall, and as the night wore on people began to share stories ---some personal, some funny. Lisa Rumbauskas, who plays the lovelorn Maggie Anderson in Brigadoon, had stayed in one the apartments in the building on a previous stint at the Fulton. She had experienced some... events... while there before and was convinced the apartment was haunted. She decided she’d like to drop by to see if her ghost remembered her. For some reason, that sounded like such a good idea that a number of us tagged along.
We reached the door of Lisa’s former apartment, which was unoccupied, and she tried the doorknob. Locked. David Girolmo, Brigadoon’s Mr. Lundie, gave the door a try and sure enough it was locked solid. After Lisa gave it another good try, our merry little band started to turn away in disappointment. Someone gave Lisa the idea to simply announce her presence through the door, to let her “friendly lady ghost” know that she had dropped by to say hello. As soon as she did, the door gave a click and slowly swung open. If the ghost hadn’t known we were there before that, the screams echoing through the corridor would have given us away. A few moments to catch our breath and, for some reason, our collective wisdom once again told us that it would be a good idea to take a peek into the now open apartment. We did and nothing was out of the ordinary. Nothing except the dead bolt (why do they have to call it DEAD bolt?) that had somehow opened seemingly on its own moments ago. A poorly latched bolt? A gust of wind? Who knows, but even the skeptics among us were surprised at what had happened.
These are the moments that bring a cast together. Shared experiences. Some casts opt for rollercoasters, or museums, or a simple night over drinks. We’ve become ghost hunters. There are many stories about ghosts at the theatre and we’re hoping for a ghost tour in the future. I’m looking forward to it. But I’m not standing next to Lisa. Hey, I actually live in the building with her “lady friend”.
Don’t worry about our jangled nerves too much. We already have plans for movies, a theme park, and a baseball game. Too bad we’re not a social group...
To bring this all around to BRIGADOON (which is something I’ll do often to justify our many social events), this experience fit surprisingly into our first week of rehearsal. Our director Marc Robin has spoken to us often about the importance of faith in the lives of the citizens of Brigadoon. Faith comes in many shapes and sizes and often requires someone to believe in something they can’t see or explain. For at least a few minutes we all shared an event with each other that none of us could explain. So--- gust of wind or malfunctioning lock, magical or paranormal, or simply mass hysteria, we learned something about things beyond our senses. Plus, it’s a really fun story. I can’t wait for that ghost tour.
(Also, Lisa and I have talked about trying to find something out about the history of the building. I’ll let you know what we find!)
May 22, 2008 - 10:59 AM
Hello and Welcome to Blogadoon--- the blog for the Fulton Theatre's upcoming production of Lerner and Loewe's classic musical BRIGADOON. I'm Mark Aldrich and will be playing the role of Charlie Dalrymple. I've taken on the daunting task of following the prolific bloggers from earlier this season. So... here we go!
Our first rehearsal was on Tuesday, May 13, so we'll be playing catch up here for a couple of entries, but we'll soon be up to speed. On a personal note, this is one of my all time favorite musicals and I've had the pleasure of performing in it twice before. That said, I have never appeared at the Fulton and on looking at the cast list realized that I'd only worked with one other cast member - Ken McMullen - previously, so I arrived with little idea of what was ahead.
Arriving on the evening of the 12th, I was greeted by Sarah Primak, company manager extraordinaire, and shown my apartment. Apparently, the apartment was literally just renovated, and upon seeing it I was more than delighted. Actors live traveling from job to job and strange apartment to strange apartment. It's more than a relief when your new living space is well, livable, and my apartment was more than that; a beautifully decorated and designed space. I immediately felt comfortable and breathed a sigh of relief. I think Sarah thought I was joking when I said they'd have a hard time getting rid of me at the end of June. I'll be quiet. It will take them weeks to find me.
But we're here to work, and the next morning I launched myself out the door eager to see the theatre and the people with whom I'd be spending the next 7 weeks. After a few minutes finding my way to and through the stage door, I walked into the theatre for the first time and had a literal jaw dropping moment. The beautiful music box opera house struck me as not only a wonderful theatre, but a perfect spot to create the magic of BRIGADOON. A meet and greet meeting followed where all the nerves that come with the first day of school were erased by the cheerful faces of staff and cast and crew all meeting for the first time.
Michael D. Mitchell greeted us all and spoke about the history of the theatre and our fearless leader Marc Robin, spoke about design concepts and his approach to the show. As he so rightly pointed out, "our job is to put on plays and they're called plays for a reason". This was going to be fun. That said he also let us know that we'd be creating real people and real relationships between our characters onstage. Now that is music to an actor's ears. No happy villagers muttering "watermelon, watermelon" for us.
We moved to the rehearsal halls behind the theatre for an afternoon of music with our Music Director, Ron Barnett, and the sound coming out of this cast had me convinced quickly that something special would be happening over the next few weeks.
At the end of the day I wandered back to my (fantastic) apartment thinking back on the ghost stories, the history, the music and the new friends of a full first day. I can't imagine a better place to create the mystery and passion and soaring melodies of BRIGADOON. Day two couldn't come quickly enough.
(I did have the feeling that Andy Kindig and I would laugh too much and eventually have to be separated in class like third graders, but that would wait for another day...)
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the next few weeks as much as I will!
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