Tradition!

No, I'm not channeling Tevye, but talking about some of the very pleasant traditions associated with GCP during the rehearsal period. Last Sunday thecast and crew of The Fantasticks hled the traditional potluck between the afternoon and evening rehearsals. Oh my, what a groaning board! In fact, so much and so good that we actually were able to dine on Monday and Tuesday as well! Great garlic ribs courtesy of Director Di Proctor, John Valleau our rehearsal pianist makes a mean sticky toffee pudding and Adrianna Polito's (Luisa) family just happen to make the best fresh sausage to be found in Niagara. And that's just a sampling. We ate very well indeed., and then we ate some more.

Another GCP tradition is Cake Night, held during the rehearsal break on the last night before the crew moves the set into the theatre. Pictured here is the lovely cake the producers provided. Just to make it healthy the top was decorated with vegetables! Actually the veggies and the "Plant a Radish" saying will all make sense when you see the show.

All in Good Health

Fortunately everyone is now well and able to attend rehearsals, now that's a relief! Obviously the two fathers, Bellomy (Brian Vogt) and Huckabee (Paul Lewis) are inspired to offer thanks...or maybe they are rehearsing Never Say No.

"Dogs got to bark, a mule's got to bray,

Soldiers must fight and preachers must pray..."

Uhoh...a bug has struck!

I suppose it is to be expected at this time of year. We're shut indoors, working hard in close quarters and it is, after all, flu season. We've had two cast members off sick this week and it's a bit worrisome that it might spread through the rest of the cast and crew. The good thing is that it's still a few weeks before we open. Pass the Purell please!
This picture is of Luis Paredes (El Gallo) on a day when he was feeling just fine and some cast members performed at the Pen Centre for the Alzheimer's Society's Walk for Memories.

The Penguins Produce!

Rob Burke, who played the cool Johnny Casino in GCP's Grease last fall, and his co-conspirators Adam Maiolo and Trevor Nichols are the guys behind Penguins Productions. Best known for the hugely successful Zelda Marathon which they staged and promoted last fall as a fund raiser for Big Brothers and Sisters, they are masters of what I like to call the web-mercial and they have created one for us! Nobody I know has been content to watch it just once.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtq3Jat8enE

Check them out at http://www.penguinsproductions.com and take note of their upcoming Mystery Video Game Marathon, also in support of Big Brothers and Sisters.
Thanks guys, awesome work!

First Act, first time!

We're already into the 2nd week of rehearsals,.Opening Night is less than a month away - it all doesn't seem possible! I attended a rough run of Act 1 the other night and haven't laughed so much in ages...not because it was a stumblethrough, but because the cast is so delightful and accomplished. The 2 dads, Hucklebee and Bellamy (Paul Lewis and Brian Vogt) are hilarious when they get things right, and just as funny where they haven't quite mastered it yet. You'd think they'd been working together as a vaudeville team for years. Our tiny coloratura (Adrianna Polito) really does sing like a lark, her would-be lover Matt (Brady VanVaerenbergh) is the epitome of lovesick youth, and when they sing together they have the gift of transporting the audience. So good already, and it's only going to get better!

Janice (one of the producers of The Fantasticks)