STAGE NOTES
The WICA Blog
In review
Other Desert Cities
There have been so many wonderful comments about the production and cast of Other Desert Cities. We want to share some of them with you.
And from the entire cast and crew
Thank you for coming to the show and sharing your thoughts with us.
It's what we are here for.
Photos are by Lucy Pearce.
“Go see this. Tonight. Or tomorrow. Andrew Grenier shows himself a master of two crafts, as he directs and appears in this superbly written play. A stunning set provides a sharp, clean backdrop for the unraveling humanity of a family ready to be devoured by its own past and secrets. Shelley Hartle, David Mayer, Heather Ogilvy, and Deana Duncan round out a powerhouse ensemble that reminds us how contemporary theater should be performed. ”
“You and the entire cast of “Other Desert Cities” just blew it away tonight! Wow! That was the best performances I’ve ever seen at WICA. Thanks to all the cast and crew. Don’t miss this show, folks!!! ”
Brooke Wyeth played by Deana Duncan. Photo by Lucy Pearce
Lyman Wyeth played by Andrew Grenier. Photo by Lucy Pearce
“We were riveted and SO impressed...masterful.”
“GO SEE IT! Its wonderful!”
“BRAVO!!!!! “Other Desert Cities” at WICA now through February 28. Totally awesome performance last night by Deana Duncan, Shelley Hartle, Heather Ogilvy, David Mayer, and Andrew Grenier. Absolutely the best evening of theater I have seen for a very long time! Script by Jon Robin Baitz is absorbing, set magnificent, direction masterful, stage management impeccable, the whole production astounding and riveting. BE SURE TO SEE IT! ”
“I don’t do a lot of posting on facebook but the play that I saw at WICA tonight is worth commenting on. Andrew Grenier (director and actor) as well as the rest of his cast were incredible tonight! The play is “Other Desert Cities”... Tonight was opening night so plenty of time but you might want to see it more than once!”
In rehearsal
Other Desert Cities
Other Desert Cities in rehearsal
Cast:
Deana Duncan: Brooke Wyeth
Shelley Hartle: Polly Wyeth
Heather Ogilvy: Silda Grauman
Andrew Grenier: Lyman Wyeth
David Mayer: Trip Wyeth
Under the direction of Andrew Grenier, this cast is outstanding. What the photos don't tell you is that these actors are completely believable as a family unit coming together after years of being both physically and emotionally distant.
Balanced on a razor’s edge of affection and aggression, this studied cleverness is what allows them to continue to communicate with one another. But, years of deep seeded animosity and resentment are about to come to the surface as Brooke Wyeth (Deana Duncan) forces everyone to face reality… her reality. Niceties are put aside as they finally reveal themselves, their secrets.
I was allowed to click away during rehearsal. The only thing that bothered me (and I’m sure the actors as well) was the click, click, click interrupting the completely compelling story that was being played out on stage.
Other Desert Cities
WICA opens ‘Other Desert Cities’ on Friday, Feb. 13
Set in Palm Springs, Brooke Wyeth is the troubled daughter of a prominent California family, who comes home for the holidays after a six-year absence. She presents her family with her about-to-be-published memoir exposing a pivotal and tragic event in the family's history ─ a wound they don't want reopened. In effect, she draws a line in the sand and dares them all to cross it.
American playwright Jon Robin Baitz said he’d rather drink hemlock than harangue an audience with liberal pieties.
A finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Baitz’s Other Desert Cities involves a family with differing political views and a long-held family secret. But, Baitz said his play is more about humility than politics.
Andy Grenier directs (and acts in) the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts’ production, which opens Feb. 13 and runs through Feb. 28. “Jon Robin Baitz was a student of mine years ago in New York so I am delighted with the success of his play. It’s a well-crafted play with wonderfully developed characters. Each of the characters is strong enough to be the lead in a story of their own, this one happens to be about Brook,” said Grenier.
Deana Duncan plays Brooke, and said the cast talked a lot about the code of ethics demanded of a writer. “This play for me is about the cost of telling the truth and then realizing I (Brooke) didn't know the truth,” Duncan said. “It’s about the courage and strength it takes to finally stop trying to please everyone and finally just say what needs to be said.”
Brooke’s mother, Polly Wyeth, is not having it. Polly considers the book’s publication to be a betrayal of her friends-with-the-Reagans family “that has so valued discretion and our good name.”
Meanwhile, Polly's sister Silda is also visiting, after having spent some time in rehab. Polly and her former American Ambassador husband Lyman are Republicans, while Silda is a liberal. Privately, Silda tells Brooke to stand by her book.
“Don’t back down. You’ll win because you have ideas, and they only have fear,” Silda tells her.
Baitz said he wrote the play to explore what happens when a writer uses one’s life to create something. He says Brooke gets a lot of it wrong and has to deal with that; that she may not know everything she thought she knew about her parents and family. The play, he said, is about what we think we know about everybody and “the absolute un-knowableness of things.”
Whatever it is, this play contains all the makings of an engaging evening: high drama, comic relief, and great repartee written by one of America’s best, living playwrights.
The play shows at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and at 2 p.m. Sundays; Feb.13 through Feb. 28. Tickets are $22 for adults; $18 for seniors; $15 for youths; $15 for everyone at any matinee.
The cast includes Deana Duncan (Brooke), Andy Grenier (director, Lyman Wyeth), Shelley Hartle (Polly Wyeth), Heather Oglivy (aunt Silda), and David Mayer (brother Trip). Lucy Pearce is associate director, Steve Ford is the stage manager, Patty Mathieu designs the lights, costumes are by Mira Steinbrecher, Tyler Raymond is the technical director and Chandra Sadro and Jim Scullin will design the set.
Click Here for Online Purchases.
Online tickets are available until noon the day of the show.
For tickets by phone, call the Box Office at 800.638.7631 or 360.221.8268.
You can also buy tickets in person at the Box Office at 565 Camano Ave in Langley between 1 and 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, or two hours before any show.
Notes from Last Night's Audition Workshop
WICA hosted our 14th annual Audition Workshop last night taught by Andrew Grenier.
We've compiled the 'take away" notes and hope you'll enjoy reading them as we consider an ongoing "What are You Working On" workshop for actors.
WICA Season Auditions are next week, please call or write to sign up. We'd love to see you!
Big thank YOU to Andy for a great class!
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts
Audition Workshop with Andrew Grenier, August 6, 2014 at 7pm
Take Aways:
Andy was very clear that these are his ideas, what works for him and by no means the absolute truth for everyone. He encouraged all actors to read more plays, read a few Auditioning books and audition audition audition. Strong encouragement to always “keep a few pieces in your pocket” so we don’t freak out when auditions come up…reminding us that “we are what we do not what we say.”
He is looking for:
• Show me a skill set that makes me want to work with you.
• Don’t put barriers in your way, on Whidbey Island if you need to hold your monologue because the memorization isn’t all there, hold the monologue. Help yourself.
• Be present, honest – don’t try to convince the director, just show
• Don’t defuse your energy, no pacing, unnecessary placement of furniture. Own the space
• Choose material in your range, choose strong plays from great playwrights. (Help yourself ☺)
• Choose pieces that give you something to DO
• Choose a piece that tells a story, has a beginning, a middle and an end. Read the play, know what has happened before and after what you’ve just done
• Do not choose a piece from the play you are auditioning for.
• Do not use pieces these directors have seen you do before, get new work!
• Stay on time, you will be stopped and it’s horrible
• Pay close attention to that audition sheet, don’t be cute on it, don’t skip anything, give them as much information as you can. Be honest about conflicts.
• Always “slate” – give your name and the name of the material including playwright (know the playwright!)
• Understand the space, DC is strongest but you can introduce and then move into that space as a way to show body awareness.
• Remember you are auditioning from the moment you walk in the theatre
After an audition answer for yourself:
• What did you like about what just happened
• What would you do differently
• Do you want feedback-okay to reach out and ask for that but not in a negative way like, “I was great, why didn’t you cast me?”
Question and answers:
“What mistakes have you seen” - Andy talked a bit about the occasional presumptuousness of actors; that we know the directors and each other, and rely on that rather than our skills. He’d like to see all of us us come in more professionally. No bullshit. Pay attention to the items mentioned above. Breathe, ground yourself, own the space. Say thank you.
Dressing for Auditions: Think about the character but don’t come in full costume, can always dress towards the character to help the director and yourself.
Accents: Best left for callbacks and individual conversations with director. Just showcase YOU
How to prep: Consider beginning a local “What are you Working On Workshop” keep everybody fresh. Pick a piece that shows off YOU, practice, rehearse, be confident