Some pages and some pillows: Day One in Showcaseland

Hi everyone! This is Katie Logan. I am the Director of Education for Empty Chair, and I'll be posting sporadically this week to give you an observer's perspective on all that's unfolding in rehearsals for the showcase. Here's a taste of today's rehearsals:

The proceedings would have startled any visitor to the rehearsal: actors with pillows in hand pummeling a couch. Wallops, whacks, and womps ensue for several minutes before the cast, breathing a bit more heavily, resumes its work on a scene from Henry VI, Part 1. 

The slumber party-reminiscent warm-up was not the only unusual part of today’s preparations for the Minds Wide Open showcase, opening on Thursday night. The cast doesn’t get into the space until a few hours before the first performance, so rehearsals spaces are more makeshift--the great outdoors (when it doesn’t rain), a cozy living room. Without a formal space or elaborate props, the rehearsal I watched today focused on the most important tools we have at our disposal as a young company of good friends--our curiosity about powerful pieces of text and our respect for one another’s talents. As Empty Chair has spent the last year dreaming and reaching bigger, today’s work, all the laughter and discussions, felt like a return to our roots. The energy bouncing off the walls (and off the couches in the form of fluffy pillows) bodes well for the rest of the week. 

Look for my posts later in the week!

KML