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Saturday, August 11, 2012

A Well Oiled Machine

This week I had my first meeting with our director, David Buckman, and it went great!

We're super lucky to have Dave directing the show as he has a history directing great shows. He directed, trained, managed, and wrote for 2 world renown improvisation companies, including 20+ actors who advanced to major films and television programs including Saturday Night Live, Mad TV. He currently lives in Austin, TX where he has produced and grown the 7-day comedy festival Out Of Bounds by 100% in 2 years. He has showcased 8 stages, 200 acts, 800 performers, and 7,500 attendees, overseeing all creative, business, and technical operations. He teaches at the Coldtowne Theater and performs with the critically-acclaimed troupe, The Frank Mills, selected Frontera Fest - Best of the Fest 2007, winner of the B. Iden Payne Award, Outstanding Improvisational Troupe 2006 & 2008, and winner of the Austin Improv Collective, Best Troupe 2006 & 2008.

Dave and I met over dinner to talk about the challenges of "Off The Reef." We agreed that it is a big endeavor. We are creating a show that has 16 improvisers, including improvisers doing puppeteering, story development, music and lighting... all in the dark under black-lights.  To help us make the show manageable, we are splitting the cast into two groups -- principle performers and puppet techs. We are going to rehearse with each group until they are independently a well oiled machine. Then we are going to bring the groups back together to rehearse the entire show (like the Wonder Twins, or the Power Rangers and their Megazord! -- I'm KIDDING! there are no aliens or robots in this show!! Jeeze.)

We are also building some internal structure into the show to guarantee that each night will be a well crafted, yet new and unique show. But more on that in the days to come!!

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