More Snow Queen Video Shoot

Reiner talks to Mark and Gené about the play and the sequence they are going to shoot:

Snow Queen Video Shoot

Our production of The Snow Queen features a multimedia component and director Reiner Prochaska has been busy filming video sequences for the show. These mini movies will play on screens upstage of the action. Yesterday evening, Reiner filmed some segments in our Ensemble School classroom:

Julie Herber and Reiner apply makeup to Ken Poisson, who will be playing the part of "Evil Sprite."

Julie makes Ken look evil, Reiner applies spirit gum and elf ears. Ken relaxes, enjoys the attention, sips a Fresca and muses that he should wear this makeup when playing World of Warcraft.

Ken is an evil sprite!

Reiner sets up a low-tech green screen. 'Real' green screens are incredibly expensive, but Reiner made this one for $4, using plastic tablecloths. He said the other videos he's shot with this cheap solution look great.

Ken positions Ensemble School students Austin Lemere and Lena Janes, who are playing his minions. Reiner prepares to shoot their scene.

To see how the videos turn out and how they mesh with the play, come see the show!

Ken's Evil Amulet

Ken prepares for his role as an evil sprite in a Snow Queen video sequence. There was a minor costume malfunction just prior to the shoot. But Ken, ever the resourceful METster, grabbed some spirit gum and saved the day!

New MET Website!

We have a new look for our MET website! Same address (www.marylandensemble.org), different look.

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And now you can access the MET Blog from the new homepage, just click the Blog link on the left side of the page.

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In the photo, Gené and I are talking (on our fancy new phone in our fancy new conference room with our fancy new table!) with web guy Phil Graves. Gené designed the look of the site and Phil put everything together for us.

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As with any new technology, there are always bugs to work out - thank you for being patient as we make this transition. Let us know what you think about the new site! Email me at sstraw@marylandensemble.org

Santaland in the news and a trip down memory lane

There was a lovely article about The Santaland Diaries in the Gazette today. Read it here.

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The Hagerstown Herald-Mail also has an article about the show. Read it here.

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As I was searching for the article online, I came across this piece about MET from Christmastime 2003. It's just a brief summary of all the shows we had going at the time, but it proves that the holidays have always been the busiest time of the year for MET. I heard once that when you're in show business, the only way you know it's a holiday is that you do two shows instead of one!

Santaland Tech Week

It's Tech Week for Santaland! This is the time when all the technical components - lights, sound, costumes, set, props, etc - come together with the performance. The director works with all the designers to get everything just right.

The set is still going up - it has to serve for three different shows: Santaland Diaries, 4 Eggnogs and an Apology and The Snow Queen.

Santaland director Suzanne Beal gives notes to Rona Mensah after rehearsal.

Suzanne, Rona and the designers/technicians talk about the show.



Rona takes notes. The swirly blue on the walls behind her are for the Snow Queen set.
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I'm still not sure how everything is going to fit together and work for each show, but I know that our set designers (Ken Poisson, Joann Lee and the Comedy Pigs) and our technical director (Mark Barnhart) having been working together closely will find a way to make it fabulous!

Doll's House Strike

The moment the audiences leaves a final performance, we begin strike - putting away props, furniture and costumes, dismantling the set and getting the stage ready for the next production. Below are photos from the A Doll's House strike:

First, we clear all the props and set dressing.

© 2008 Joe Williams

Then it's time to remove the bigger furniture items. Some of the props and furniture pieces belong to MET, but most of them were loaned from various company members, so we had to sort everything as well.
© 2008 Joe Williams

Joann poses with her beautiful floor. We hated to paint over this masterpiece!
© 2008 Joe Williams

The stage is almost clear and the windows have been removed, so it's time to start dismantling the walls.
© 2008 Joe Williams

We try to reuse everything we can, so in addition to taking the walls down, we have to pull out every single nail, screw and staple.
© 2008 Joe Williams

Reiner is He-Man!
© 2008 Joe Williams

At this point, everyone needs a screw gun, but unfortunately we don't have enough to go around.
© 2008 Joe Williams

We had a lot of people help with this strike, which made the whole process go quickly. By the end of strike, the stage was clear, except for the things that were going to be throw out or given away. The next day we had a work call and a dump run.

© 2008 Joe Williams