What can be said about Robin Rightmyer that hasn't been said already? That depends, really. What have you heard?
Whether it's good, bad, or otherwise, it's probably true. And most of the bad is even good! Take his turn as Lord Capulet in Hamlet Isn't Dead's Richard II / Romeo & Juliet for example. You'll love him in the party scene, but watch out! Things can get intense later on.
No spoilers though. For now, catch his softer side in this edition of Two Truths & a Lie.
See? Wasn't that lovely. The show closes November 22nd, and our Indiegogo's gone before that! Click the links below and don't miss a thing! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To donate to the most righteous cause around, click here: http://igg.me/at/hid
Basically,
if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something.
And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. We promise.
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
In his day, Morgan Hooper has played many, many kings: King John, King Henry VI, King Cophetua, Old King Cole, Burger King, Kingdom Hearts 2, and George, King of the Jungle. But his greatest kingship to date is that of Richard II in Hamlet Isn't Dead's Richard II / Romeo & Juliet duology.
He also plays the Prince in Romeo & Juliet. Does that count? We're gonna say that counts. And speaking of counting, can you count to Two Truths & a Lie? If not, here's a little assistance from the King of Things himself, Morgan Hooper.
If that video doesn't make you want to pledge fealty, we don't know what to tell you. All we can suggest is that you catch him in R2RJ, and that you make your contribution to Hamlet Isn't Dead's Indiegogo Campaign before it's too late! Hurry! We'll meet you there!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To donate to the most righteous cause around, click here: http://igg.me/at/hid
Basically,
if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something.
And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. We promise.
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
Extrae! Extrae! Read all about it! Local actress reduces audience to tears of laugher and tears of joy in the same production!
Wow, that is a long headline, but the referenced article is certainly one to behold. Kitty is a strong, dynamic actress who flexes every emotional muscle at her disposal in Hamlet Isn't Dead's Richard II and Romeo & Juliet. She's also a woman of a thousand faces. Don't believe us? Would we tell you Two Truths & a Lie? No, but Kitty would! Check it out!
Come see these faces and many more this weekend only! We close on November 22nd, and there's only so much audience interaction to go around. Come get yours before it's gone!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To donate to the most righteous cause around, click here: http://igg.me/at/hid
Basically,
if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something.
And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. We promise.
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
Maybe it's ironic that the first thing Kineta ever said to us when she walked into the audition room was "It's Gonna Be Me". After she finished blowing our minds, she said "Bye, Bye, Bye", but we said "I Want You Back"! Thus, a collaboration was born, and we are happily able to share with you the following "Digital Get Down". (Oh my god, remember that song? Classic.)
There she is, and she speaks the truth(s and a lie), "No Strings Attached". You'd be a real "Space Cowboy" if you'd follow her suggestions and donate! And if you don't, we'll start "Trashin the Camp"! (Remember? From Tarzan? Ah...good times.) In the meantime, we'll be here "Thinkin of You"! Aaaaand, that's all the N*Sync songs we can think of off the top of our heads. So... Hooray!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, here's that sweet, sweet link ticketing link: http://r2rj.brownpapertickets.com/
Basically,
if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something.
And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. We promise.
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
Little known fact: Today is International Alice Qin Day! Even littler known fact: Alice Qin Day is everyday! She's a lady worth celebrating, and all she wants as a gift is your presence at Hamlet Isn't Dead's in-rep production of Richard II and Romeo & Juliet! Or a donation to Hamlet Isn't Dead's HIDiegogo Campaign would be nice. Or both! It's up to you.
We hope you enjoyed her Two Truths and a Lie! Or, as she says, Two Truths and a False. When someone's as talented as Alice, you don't go around correcting her. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, here's that sweet, sweet link ticketing link: http://r2rj.brownpapertickets.com/
Basically,
if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something.
And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. We promise.
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
Madeline Wolf bares all in today’s Two Truths and a Lie! Or does she? (She does [Or does she?]) This video may or may not be suitable for minors, but you won’t know until you watch it, because we’re not going to spoil it for you. (Or are we?)
Maddie plays Juliet, Henry Percy, and many more in Hamlet Isn’t Dead’s Richard II and Romeo & Juliet. She also has a gorgeous singing voice, and if you haven’t heard it before, you’re welcome. You can check it out at the end of this HIDeo, and then see more on her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/madsterr22
(Or CAN you?!)
…(You can)
Right?? Right??? We know. Let that song sweep you away right to the donation station of our Indiegogo Page here: http://igg.me/at/hid You can thank us later. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, here's that sweet, sweet link ticketing link: http://r2rj.brownpapertickets.com/
Basically,
if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something.
And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. We promise.
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
Who's your favorite HIDiot? Is it Nathan? If it it, have we got a treat for you! (And, if it's not...well...we won't tell him if you won't.)
In lieu of the Struts & Frets series, we're introducing our actors to you this time with something a little more personal! Nathan Luttrull plays Romeo and the Duke of York in Hamlet Isn't Dead's upcoming productions of Richard II and Romeo & Juliet. In the video below, Nathan shares with us Two Truths and a Lie! Go ahead and see if you can pick out which is which!
Okay, okay, the thumbnail might have given it away, but what's the MOST true is that Hamlet Isn't Dead needs your help! We're in the middle of our Indiegogo-est campaign to date, and every penny counts.
There are lots of ways you can show your support, and here are a few options that immediately spring to mind:
1. You can donate to the Indiegogo here: http://igg.me/at/hid Easy enough.
2. You can share our campaign, either through e-mail or social media. Need an excuse to catch up with a long-lost (wealthy) relative? We're happy to give you the excuse you need.
3. Come catch Richard II and Romeo & Juliet in rep, opening soon! Tickets and date information are here: http://r2rj.brownpapertickets.com/ 4. Call us at three in the morning and breathe heavily into the phone. ...okay, maybe one of those was a lie too. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, here's that sweet, sweet link again: http://r2rj.brownpapertickets.com/
Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. We promise.
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
Eight actors. Two shows. Eleven performances. That's right, chances are few and seats will be limited as Hamlet Isn't Dead presents Shakespeare's most famous couple alongside his most downtrodden king. Passion, power, and politics collide in the "Vendetta Duology" you won't want to miss. Both shows are rife with love, honor, duty, and just a smattering of violence to keep things interesting. Check out their faces here, and return often as....
Hamlet Isn't Dead Presents:
Richard II
directed by Emily C. A. Snyder
and
Romeo & Juliet
directed by David Andrew Laws
starring:
Nathan Luttrull as Romeo/Sampson
& Duke of York/Gardener's Servant
Madeline Wolf as Juliet/Gregory
& Percy/Bushy/Lady in Waiting
Amanda Clark as Tybalt/Friar Laurence
& Mowbray/Bagot/Exton
Kineta Kunutu as Benvolio
& John of Gaunt/Bishop of Carlisle/Gardener/Duchess of York
Morgan Hooper as Mercutio/Paris/Prince
& Richard II
Robin Rightmyer as Lord Capulet
& Bolingbroke
Alice Qin as Lady Capulet/Abraham
& Northumberland/Green
Kitty Mortland as Nurse/Montague
& Queen Isabella/Duke of Aumerle
We hope you're as excited as we are, though honestly that would be fairly impressive. We can't wait to share these stories with you through old friends and new acquaintances. Whether its your first time joining us or your tenth, we know this is going to be theatre you'll love.
Ticket information will be available soon. In the meantime, mark your calendar. Show dates are:
Oct. 31st - Nov. 22nd at 55 Bethune St., New York, NY
For more information, you can visit http://www.hamletisntdead.com, and be sure to subscribe to our Mailing List while you're there. If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it. https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead Basically,
if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something.
And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun, we promise.
It's one of our favorite times of the year again! (To be fair, we have a lot of favorite times of the year) But, specifically, this is when we get to show off the exciting new (and old) directors of our upcoming shows! Re-Introducing, Emily C. A. Snyder! Emily will be directing this Fall's Richard II, which she'll be the first to tell you is her favorite of Shakespeare's Histories. Lucky us! Emily's been with us since the beginning, as an actor, supporter, and loyal audience member. We are thrilled to have her with us in this new capacity, and will let her say a little bit about herself after this brief picture break.
The brevity really depends on how long you get lost in her eyes.
Emily is thrilled to be returning to Hamlet Isn't Dead to direct Richard II, after performing in HID's inaugural production of Two Gentlemen of Verona as Lucetta. [Editor: And Outlaw #2, never forget] Emily is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Turn to Flesh Productions, which specializes in new plays on modern themes written in classical styles. Valentine's Weekend 2014 premiered Emily's own Cupid and Psyche ~ A New Play in Blank Verse at the Barrow Group Theatre. A professional director for the past fifteen years, favorite shows include: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Gaudete Academy), The Tempest, Twelfth Night, Tartuffe, Our Town (Hudson Drama Society), and Macbeth (Theatre906). The premiere scholar on writing new verse plays, she has also worked as a Verse Consultant for May Violets Spring: A New Story for a New Ophelia (Dare Lab), Twelfth Night (Manhattan Shakespeare Company), and It Would Take Armageddon (DreamCatcher Entertainment.) Emily had the pleasure of studying John Barton's approach to Shakespearean verse in London and Stratford-upon-Avon, England, where she also performed as Rosalind in As You Like It catty-corner to Shakespeare's birthplace. She holds her Masters Degree from Emerson College in Boston, MA, and her Bachelors from Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH. Learn more here: www.emilycasnyder.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hooray for Emily! But, oof, our next director has some mighty scholarly shoes to fill. Plus, the show paired with Richard II is Romeo & Juliet, one of Shakespeare's most-famous and often-produced plays. This director had better have some lofty artistic ideas, some immense intellectual ability, and the theatrical capabilities of a--...oh, it's David.
More like Romeo & Who-liet David Direct Again?
That's right! David Andrew Laws returns in his third stint as director for Hamlet Isn't Dead. He directed HID's maiden production, The Two Gentleman of Verona, and the bloody-fun Halloween adventure, Titus Andronicus. He has also appeared with Hamlet Isn't Dead as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, Buckinghamin Richard III, and Costard in Love's Labour's Lost, as well as providing fight choreography for the Henry VI trilogy. He also had a bit part as Alarbus in Titus Andronicus, but we don't talk about that much. For those of you new to the CommunHIDty, David is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Hamlet Isn't Dead. His training has taken him all over, including Louisville, Pittsburgh, Princeton, New York City, and Smolyan, Bulgaria, where he played the titular role in Romeo & Juliet (and we're not talking about the ampersand). He is a Carnegie Mellon graduate and is sitting here writing this entry as if he didn't just vaguely insult himself two paragraphs ago. He is also an avid writer, having written over 154 sonnets, which he is hoping to compile into a book called Donations for the Wordless. His most recent work is Attack! of the Killer Man from the Sun!, a Sci-Fi B-Movie parody for the stage, which has received several staged readings in New York, and is anxiously awaiting its world premiere. But that really has little to do with his directorial abilities; you'll just have to come check out R&J to see those. For more information on David and his doings, please visit davidandrewlaws.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We'll have a lot more information arriving soon, such as audition information and performance dates, but know for now that this is one set of shows you're not going to want to miss. The same troupe of eight actors, each playing multiple roles, will present this series that we're lovingly referring to as the "Vendetta Duology". Can they do it? How much hair will they lose in the process? Only time will tell. Come see how love turns to death, and desire leads to the grave, as Hamlet Isn't Dead explores Shakespeare's best-known couple and one of his lesser-loved kings. And remember, Hamlet Isn't Dead is theatre you'll love, whether you like it or not! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information, you can visit http://www.hamletisntdead.com, and be sure to subscribe to our Mailing List while you're there. If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it. https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can.https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun, we promise.
"Last, but not least" is a phrase not usually associated with Shakespeare. Sometimes, when dealing with the Bard, last and least go hand in hand. Two Noble Kinsmen? Come on. And Sonnet 154? It doesn't even rhyme! All we're saying is, the bar's been raised high, and if David Andrew Laws wants to overcome it, he's gonna have to use all the lankiness he embodies to do so.
"Challenge accepted."
(Special thanks to company member Samantha Maurice for providing these questions, so that David didn't have to interview himself.)
HID: You know the drill. What's Costard's favorite color?
DL: Luckily, Costard isn't bound by such conventions as "favorite" or "color" or "What's". He's a fan of every and all things. Asking him to choose a favorite color would be like asking a molecule of water to compose an original opera. But also, it's yellow.
HID: Costard treats us with several songs during the show. What is Costard's favorite 90's single?
DL: Unfortunately, Costard's favorite 90s single hasn't been released yet, because it's from the year 2090. But it's called "All 4 of U", which is a gritty remake of the Sister Hazel song combined with relevant themes on personal cloning devices. It's going to have been a big hit.
HID: Costard also has a penchant for malapropisms. Have you ever embarrassed yourself through trying to sound smarter than you are?
DL: Okay, this is a such a leading question that I'm almost certain you're looking for me to tell a specific story, but the sad truth is that this happens to so frequently that I can't decide which one. Recently I remember realizing that the word "fluctuate" doesn't have an "x" in it, which just blew my mind. Other words I may frequently misuse include "indoctrinate", "obstinately", and "completely legal".
HID: What is Costard going to spend his guerdon and his remuneration on?
DL: Spoiler alert! But probably nothing. In the scene where he exits joyfully with them in hand, it's very likely that he tries to throw the coins in the air and catch them...but drops them and loses them in a storm grate. Not that I've done that with the props, Dayle! I promise. Dayle? I don't want to go back in the cupboard....
HID: Anything else we need to know about you or the show?
DL: The serious answer is that singing in front of an audience is the second scariest thing I've been asked to do in front of an audience, so enjoy that opportunity while it lasts. The silly answer is, I'm gonna need someone to let me out of the cupboard when this airs.
We'll be sure to send someone soon, David, but all the people reading this are going to be too busy buying up those last few Love's Labour's Lost tickets. Right? RIGHT?? See you there!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidlove.bpt.me/ or here: http://www.hamletisntdead.com
Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. So, see you soon for Love's Labour's Lost!
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
We're not sure if you're aware, but Justin Weaks, who plays the King of Navarre in our Love's Labour's Lost, is actually royalty. He's the king of our hearts. *blush* But seriously, we love him, and you're going to too! Be careful, you might have to fight to Princess of France for him! But between all the loving looks he'll be shooting you and the melodious harmonies of his personally written love-ballads, you'll be willing to take that chance.
Let's keep the fan-ficion PG-13 though, shall we?
HID: The world’s dying to know: What’s King Ferdinand’s favorite color and why?
JW: Ferdinand's favorite color is most definitely red. It's a color you must pay attention to. It also signifies strength and determination, which one needs a lot of if they're ruling over a kingdom in their 20's.
HID: If you were king, what would be your first kingly decree? JW: That's a toughie! If I, Justin, were king I'd find a way to get as many books for as many kids as I could. Too many don't have access to something so basic!
HID: When it comes to ladies, have you and your friends ever gotten up to any similar antics as the King and his men?
JW: My friend, Andrew, was going on a blind date and invited me and another friend of ours, Cassie, to come to the restaurant, sit at a nearby table, and scope his date out. Then, during the dinner he and his date would "run into us" at the other table. And we'd give him our opinion of his date when he asks "How's the dessert?". His date was flaky.
HID: Yikes. Burn. Okay, which of his court is really King Ferdinand’s favorite? Be honest.
JW: Longaville, fo sho! He's always down for the King's ideas!
HID: We hear that. Anything else we should know about you or the show itself?
JW: When I was 6, I went to the playground to marry my first grade girlfriend (we had arranged this at snack). I went to the wooden fort on the playground, the alter, to exchange vows, but got a bad splinter and stood her up at the alter instead. That was in 1996, and I still have the splinter!! That's Love's Labour's Lost-ish, yeah? Enjoy the show!!
Well, now we're just going to spend the whole time wondering where the splinter is! Place your bets before coming to the show to see if you can spy it yourself! See you soon!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidlove.bpt.me/ or here: http://www.hamletisntdead.com
Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. So, see you soon for Love's Labour's Lost!
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
Travis Klemm has been with us since the beginning. He stole our hearts in Two Gentlemen of Verona, dutifully brought them back in The Taming of the Shrew, and pawned off our hearts and our sanity in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged]. He's been the butt of many jokes, the victim of constant double-casting, and one of our hardest workers. Sometimes it's hard to say why we love him so much, but we're certainly glad he wandered into your lives.
Plus, we get a government subsidy for keeping him off the streets-- Er...we mean...nevermind.
HID: Travis, for $25,000: What are Longaville and Dull’s favorite color and why?
TK: Longaville's favorite color is ninja turtle green. He always secretly wanted to be a pizza eating crime fighter, and thinks of the dudes of Navar a bit like an exclusive bale of turtles.
Dull's favorite color is dark white. Not grey, mind you. Dark white. It may only exist in his mind, you'd have to ask him what that looks like. And I'd assume his answer would be "Its white…but darker"
HID: By now you’ve got a reputation for playing multiple roles in Hamlet
Isn’t Dead shows. Do you have a process for approaching each character
that helps you make them so different? TK: It's always a little different for each character, but I basically find a physical hook for each one, right off the bat, and let the character evolve from there. Sometimes it's a stance or a walk, sometimes it's something a bit sillier. Like "What if Thurio had personal space issues, and just touches people a bit too much?". It's always a character by character issue, but I find that especially with multi-rolling, clear & distinct physical traits help keep different characters easily identifiable. Vocal choices and different sets of actions tend to fall into place pretty quickly after that.
HID: If you were going to play every single role in one of Shakespeare’s
plays, which would it be? And how do you think it would be received?
TK: Definitely a tragedy. I think a one man show full of death and murder would be a lot of fun. Titus maybe. I think playing a girl with no hands who is also playing a man cutting off his own hand has some real potential for greatness.
HID: Are there any moments in LLL that are difficult as an actor not to laugh at?
TK: Tons. Some I've entirely given up on, but they're semi-appropriate moments for me to be laughing (and hopefully the audience will be so busy laughing themselves that it'll slide past unnoticed). I have a very hard time keeping a straight face anytime José is onstage.
HID: Anything else we need to know about you or the show itself? TK: It's great!! You should buy your tickets early and often. Oh, and if you get the chance you should read some of the notes that get tossed around during the show. They range from comedic genius to utter filth.
Challenge accepted! Come catch the love (and a furiously balled-up haiku) with Travis and the rest at Love's Labour's Lost!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidlove.bpt.me/ or here: http://www.hamletisntdead.com
Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. So, see you soon for Love's Labour's Lost!
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
Fact: This is an article about Samantha Maurice. Fact: She plays Katherine and Holofernes in Hamlet Isn't Dead's Love's Labour's Lost. Fact: She is amazing at it. It's time to face the facts as we near the end of this production's Struts & Frets series and the end of LLL's run. And the fact is, this fun, fast, farcical romp wouldn't have been nearly as successful without Sam's involvement. Whether she's lisping her way through Latin, mimicking and mocking the dudes of Navarre, or scurrying through a quick change from one character to the next, she does it all while looking absolutely fabulous.
And, yesh, that is a tear-away shkirt.
Why do you ashk?
HID: First thing’s first: What’re Katherine and Holofernes’ favorite color and why?
SM: Katherine is one sassy lady and she likes a sassy pink--not a barbie pink but more of like a hot fuchsia: bold, notice me and a little dark.
Holofernes is a fan of rainbow print. I dunno if you're familiar with Lisa Frank, but I think of a rainbow-maned and -tailed unicorn as Holofernes' spirit animal. She definitely decorates her binders with those stickers.
HID: Holofernes is obviously one for pontification. What’s your favorite big or obscure word, and can you use it in a sentence?
SM: Holofernes and I are of the same mind in this regard. We both exult the written word. My current project is reading all of the Pulitzer Prize winners for fiction (I've currently read everything written after 1990 to 2014 and about half of the winners from 1980), and in that pursuit I've come across a lot of big and obscure words that I didn't know existed until reading that book.
My current favorite is from Tinkers by Paul Harding and the word is susurrus, which means something murmuring or whispering, particularly associated with moving water. As in, "the susurrus of the ocean tide calmed her frazzled nerves." There's something onomatopoeic about that word that really appeals to me, plus I'm very connected to the sound of water moving as something calming; it reminds me of home. This has taken a turn for the far too serious.
HID: Can you give us a list of the physical and mental ailments afflicting Holofernes? In any order.
SM: ...I don't think there's time. Poor Holofernes. Her biggest problem is that she is simultaneously incredibly insecure and incredibly vain about her intellect. Physically she's two scoops pigeon-toes, a dash of scoliosis, a cup of near-sightedness, a massive serving of perpetual sinus infection, a hint of an overbite and a noticeable lisp. Maybe she'll surprise us all and become the ugly duckling who becomes a swan--I think if you take of those glasses and let her hair down...well, she'll still be a mess. But who doesn't love a makeover?
HID: It also seems Holofernes has a bit of a crush on Nathaniel. Who’s your celebrity crush at the moment?
SM: I'm certainly not kicking any of the Avengers (or any of their non-superhero buddies) out of bed--except maybe Mark Ruffalo--sorry dude. Chris Pratt, Benedict Cumberbatch, John Oliver.
HID: We'll make sure Mark doesn't get ahold of this. Anything else we need to know about you or the show itself?
SM: I can rap all the lyrics to 'Loser' by Beck--a 90s band that I think should be more represented in this show.
Well, it's too late for that, but you can come and watch Sam belt out some Hootie & the Blowfish, along with all the 90s nostalgia you can stomach. Join us dudes and dudettes for Love's Labour's Lost!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidlove.bpt.me/ or here: http://www.hamletisntdead.com
Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. So, see you soon for Love's Labour's Lost! And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
We have good news and bad news. The good news is, you're about to fall in love. The bad news is...he's already married. But that shouldn't stop you from fawning over Josh Mahaffey, who plays Moth (and the guitar like a god) in Love's Labour's Lost! He was also our latest guinea pig in the HIDiot's Guide series, where actors drunkenly summarize Shakespeare's works. He's cute, down-to-earth, and an adorable, drunken mess, just like normal people!
"Normal" is a relative term.
HID: Pop Quiz! What’s Moth’s favorite color and why?
JM: Color - Green YO!!!! Moth's favorite band is Green Day. Also, as the name would suggest, Moth prefers being outdoors among the trees, and, on the grass (no pun intended - maybe?), and clearly, outside, green is King of the Colors.
HID: You provide most of the soundtrack for the show on your lovely guitar. What other instruments do you play, and how long have you been playing them?
JM: I "play" the guitar, piano, ukelele, bass guitar, and clarinet. I've been trying to make sounds on the piano since I was a toddler, but never took any formal training. I picked up Ukelele this year, and it still needs some work :) Clarinet I played in elementary and middle school, and then we lost touch with other. Guitar, I've been playing since I was twelve. I took lessons for three years, and continued to teach myself ever since. It is definitely my preferred instrument.
HID: Moth says he hopes to prove a man if he lives. What do you want to be when you grow up?
JM: When I grow up, I want to be the President of the United States. However, it should be noted that the question was prefaced with "When you grow up", and I have no plans to do that anytime soon. Hopefully, whenever that day comes, it'll still be as easy to jump into the race as it seems to be today.
HID: We know there are a lot to choose from, but you’re onstage for most of them: What’s your favorite joke in the play?
JM: I think my favorite joke of all is when Berowne finally confesses his love, "sans crack or flaw", to Rosaline in a very tender moment, only to be shut down with a dig at his poor pronunciation of the word "Sans." It's such a good joke on it's own, but also represents the feeling of the play as a whole. It's also a play on language, which has been a very important element in the show's process. However, I want to give an honorable mention to one of "Dull's" first lines, which is simply, "Me. I am Anthony Dull." The delivery from the actor (Travis Klemm) is just brilliant.
HID: Spoiler alert! Anyway. Anything else we should know about you or the show itself?
JM: Well, most of my favorite songs from the '90s don't exactly jive with the overall theme of the show, but I still found some moments to stick them in. I would challenge the observant listener to spot the inclusions of Nirvana, The Offspring, and Jane's Addiction in the backing score.
Will you take up the challenge of identifying the whole playlist? Come fail at suppressing the urge to sing along atthe toe-tapping, knee-slapping extravaganza that is Love's Labour's Lost!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidlove.bpt.me/ or here: http://www.hamletisntdead.com If you haven't Liked us already on Facebook, now is the time! All the cool kids are doing it. https://www.facebook.com/HamletIsntDead If Twitter's more your speed, we have that too. We just want to please you any way we can. https://twitter.com/hamletisntdead Or to see us in action, you can check us out (and subscribe, hint, hint) at https://www.youtube.com/user/hamletisntdead
Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. So, see you soon for Love's Labour's Lost! And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
One part director, one part actor, three parts voice and speech teacher: all awesome. Dayle Towarnicky is a lady of many talents, and she's brought something from each of those skill sets to tackle Love's Labour's Lost, a comedy full of jokes in Latin, archaic puns, and lots and lots of bad poetry.
How do you make a show like this accessible to a modern audience? Well, for Dayle and Hamlet Isn't Dead, you throw in a smattering of 90s music, the best cast you can find, and it helps if you know the show inside-out.
This is a photo of Dayle in a previous production,
but also just how she presents herself on a daily basis.
HID: We asked all the actors, so we didn’t want you to feel left out: What’s your favorite color and why?
DT: BLUE - blue is my favorite color. Always has been, always will be. I don't really know why, because I was drawn to it before I knew that colors had names, but I think part of the reason was because my blue eyes were super blue as a baby, and people commented on them all the time, so I think I was potentially indoctrinated into the cult of blueness by random strangers who coo over babies.
HID: What was it about Love’s Labour’s Lost that first made you want to direct it?
DT: Love's Labour's Lost is my first real directing project (fake directing projects include a one-act play in middle school, and a 48-hour film submission which I forced a bunch of guys to "let me direct" ....). So really, I think the heftier question is "what made me want to direct?" period.
A lot of things led me in this 'direction' (yes bad puns). I had been assistant directing/text coaching our Henry VI cycle and thought to myself, "Hey - you know what? I could do this, I could!" - which was a big step for me because I had felt for a long time that I wasn't director material. I thought that because I never could envision a concept of a play. But last summer, I had been teaching for nearly two years, and was assistant directing and somehow realized that I was the little engine that could... and I thought to myself - a concept doesn't actually have to be fully formed in order to be created. I 'm gonna quote Anne Bogart here-
"Do not assume that you have to have some prescribed conditions to do your best work. Do not wait. Do not wait for enough time or money to accomplish what you think you have in mind. Do not wait for what you assume is the appropriate, stress-free environment. Do not wait for maturity or insight or wisdom. Do not wait until you are sure you know what you are doing. Do not wait until you have enough technique. What you do now will determine the the quality and scope of your future endeavors."
And I decided not to wait! And Shakespeare was most likely my age when he wrote LLL - so I feel a connection to it as a play. The things that happen to the characters feel like things that have happened to me and my friends - love at first sight, ridiculous courtship, love triangles and bittersweet loss. All of which is peppered with word play and sex jokes.
So basically LLL was for me a right time, right place moment - I felt the urge to try directing, it was coming up soon in the Shakespeare canon (which is important because at Hamlet Isn't Dead we're producing the plays in the *possible* order that they were written), and it was a a play I loved. So I thought... why not!?
HID: The soundtrack for the play has been supplemented with hits from the 1990s. Care to discuss where that initial decision came from, and how you chose the specific songs?
DT: That previous moment, in which I thought "Why not!?" happened to arrive while I was on the N train listening to "Time" by Hootie and the Blowfish. Somehow those two moments became linked for me, and I envisioned the music that I love from the 90s filtering through the show. So as the concept developed and changed over time, I continued to link in music from that era (era? is that even appropriate for only 20s years ago??). Choosing the songs went basically like this "I LOVE THESE SONGS. WE'LL USE THESE SONGS."
I've been listening to 86% 90s music on Pandora since last August, refreshing my memory and reconnecting to songs even I had forgotten! What cracks me up is that most people in the cast know all the songs, and yet no one knows the titles, and often not the artists. Like "Two Princes" by Spin Doctors. Can you sing that off the top of your head?? But I bet you if you google it, you'll have the "ah-ha!" moment and start singing a long. (Also, side note, until this year I thought they were saying "Princess" not "Princes" ..... oops.)
HID: How is this Love’s Labour’s Lost different from other productions people might have seen?
DT: I think our LLL is different because Hamlet Isn't Dead has a unique approach and style. And while I'm directing, I have directed specifically with that Hamlet Isn't Dead style in mind. So this LLL is irreverent, bold, outrageous, and endearing - because that's what HIDiots are! Other things that are different include setting the play in the round - I've seen the play five times myself, and previously been in it, and I've never seen a production in the round before! It's HID's third "in the round" show (preceded by Taming of the Shrew and Henry VI part 3) and it's a style we love to do!
Also, something that's different for HID is that there was a focus during casting to have more diversity in the company. I want to see plays that represent the community I live in - and my community (New York City!!) is diverse. So I want to see that on-stage as well. Our cast includes people from three different continents, all over the country, and different cultures. I was thrilled with the cast that we compiled - not only have we increased diversity in respect to all of our previous shows, but they are FABULOUSLY talented. Just... whoa. Directing has been a joy. I think LLL is a great show to explore colorblind casting because love can strike any of us at any moment and bring us together with people we wouldn't have anticipated. However, I won't go so far as to say #Lovewins .... (partially because I hate hashtags most of the time) - but also, because let's face it.... Love's... Labour's.... LOST....
HID: Anything else we need to know about you or the show itself?
DT: I played Rosaline in a production of LLL at the Columbus Civic Theatre in Ohio in 2010, directed by Ben Gorman. The cast also included my best friend Megan Mahaffey (née McSweeney) as Maria. I am proud to say that Megan is my Assistant Director for this production, keeping me sane and remembering all the things I've undoubtedly forgotten! It's so exciting to be creating work and art with Megan and her hubby Josh (Moth) - both of whom attended a performing arts high school with me. We're part of a group of best friends and artists that came out of that '06 class and I'm overjoyed to have their support on my first directing project!! We've been going strong for 11 years and who knows what we'll be up to in the future :D
Hopefully still dressing like this.
The stage is set, the lights are hung, and Dayle's ready to stand in the back and silently judge the audience's every reaction (or lack thereof). Come give her something to judge at Hamlet Isn't Dead's Love's Labour's Lost!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidlove.bpt.me/ or here: http://www.hamletisntdead.com
Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. So, see you soon for Love's Labour's Lost!
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
Happy Birthday, Shanna Dana!!! Okay, in all likelihood, it's not actually Shanna Dana's birthday when you're reading this. But this blog posts exist and are accessible year-round. So there's a 1/365-ish chance that you've returned here on Shanna's birthday. And if so, hooray! Let there be cake! And ice cream! And an interview with Love's Labour's Lost's best Maria/Jaquenetta combo ever!
Seen here auditioning for Two Gentlemen of Verona's inevitable gritty reboot.
HID: First: What are Maria and Jacquenetta’s favorite color and why?
SD: Maria is very much like myself, so of course her favorite color is Purple. Jaquenetta's is red because it's bright and flashy.
HID: If it weren’t for the “unexpected surprise” at the end of the play, who do you think Jacquenetta would really end up with, Costard or De Armado? Be honest….
SD: Well both are very handsome contenders, but I do believe Jaquanette would end up with De Armado in the end. There's this awkwardness with De Armado that makes things less easy, which let's be honest is how things usually are for Jaquenetta. I think she secretly likes the extra effort that's needed for their relationship.
HID: Be doubly honest. What is it Maria actually sees in Longaville?
SD: I believe Maria once saw Longaville sweetly give a kiddo a cookie off an unreachable tray at a marriage feast in Normandy. Since then she's wanted to have his babies. Also, how could you not love those handsome eyes!
HID: Have guys done anything creepy (such as dressing up like Muscovites) to win your affection since you moved to New York?
SD: Oddly yes. One time this guy stole my phone in hopes to heroically return it later. After two hours, many many tears, and one too many drinks on his part, he attempted to cheer me up with some pictures of Canadian bears he had taken. Instead of pulling out his own phone though, he tried to show me his pictures on my own phone...let's just say it didn't work out.
HID: Anything else we should know about you or the show itself?
SD: Working with this group has been so wonderful and, they all are so kind. I can't wait for ya'll to come see this show!
Awww...we're blushing. All Shanna Dana wants for her birthday is for you to come see Love's Labour's Lost. Make it happen!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For tickets and more information, you can either go here: http://hidlove.bpt.me/ or here: http://www.hamletisntdead.com
Basically, if you want to follow us, you just put hamletisntdead after something. And why wouldn't you want to follow us?? We're a lot of fun. So, see you soon for Love's Labour's Lost!
And remember, it's Hamlet Isn't Dead: Theatre You’ll Love, Whether You Like It Or Not!
