The Adventure Continues

It’s taking shape

This past week has been a whirlwind of activity for the Wildflower Women’s Ensemble artistic team. We’ve scouted locations, built a baby website, got started on social media, and held auditions/first company meeting. All while working at another Shakespeare festival and holding down a 40 hour a week job. There were times when I thought I couldn’t handle this much, but I love it when I prove myself wrong. Grant it, I’ve done a bit more nothing these past couple days because I needed to. I’m ready to get back in the thick of it!

First Company Members

On Saturday, we held an invited audition for our first production, Henry V. It was invited because we need specific abilities and skills based on the type of production this first one is. I’m so excited that 14 women showed up as I was hoping for 10. The best part was the excitement and enthusiasm they brought. As I continue on this path, I am learning how important it is to have this company, dedicated to expanding the opportunities of women on stage, here in my city.

Nina Dramer, Samantha Hannum, Emily Labowitch, Shelby Saumier and Faye Taylore.

First Meeting

There is something intriguing about seeing “founding member” on someone’s resume or biography. I now get to put that on mine, Founder – Wildflower Women’s Ensemble, something that makes me crazy proud. I also plan to make the 14 women who showed up founding associate artists! This makes me crazy happy.

Back to work

As I sit here, I realize my “break” is over and I want to get back to work. Until next time!

The Next Adventure Begins

Wildflower is Born

Today, I went on an adventure to help bring about the beginning of a brand new all-female Shakespeare company called Wildflower Women’s Ensemble. In previous blog posts, I’ve hinted at the creation of this, and now it’s becoming real.

The Work to Do

I knew that starting this would take work. I think I even knew it would take a lot of work. But as I dig into the Articles of Incorporation, tax-exempt status and business licenses, I realize that I need to be more organized at getting all this done. I have 18 windows open right now and can’t remember where I started. But it’s an exciting process and I can’t wait to take the next step.

Coming Soon

We scouted for a location today for our first play which will open in Sept. We started in one direction but ended up on the other side of the river, in a spot that will work beautifully if the city allows it. Next, we announced auditions to a small group of women. In the next 8 weeks, we have to audition, rehearse, incorporate, apply for tax exemption and secure our location. Not to mention the crowd funding campaign that should start in about a week. Whew! But it’s all accomplishable…and mind boggling!

Wildflower

If you’d like to see the baby steps of this new company, visit us on the web, Facebook , Twitter and Instagram. We’ll be posting updates there (and I’ll be keeping you all up to date here.)

Thank you for reading!

It’s a matter of scale

Time for Change

Well, I’ve had to rebuild my blog, at least temporarily, as my other has crashed spectacularly. Maybe it’s simply time to move on from that site and build the new one that will lead me on in my life path.

Scale

I had the wonderful opportunity, within the span of a week, to be reminded exactly what theatre is. My first moment was on a backstage tour at Mystere in Las Vegas. An old friend of mine is in the cast and toured us around their theatre. What a site! And yet, they still don’t have enough backstage space and they have an elevator (up to the dressing rooms six floors above) that doesn’t always work. They’ve had to figure out how to store those pieces efficiently and effectively – a problem many theatre people will recognize.

At the end of the at same week, I also got a personalized backstage tour (complete with a barbecue at the prop shop) of the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. I work for a smaller company and to us, these guys are part of the “big guys” in the festival circuit. But to them, they are not the “big guys”, that’s Oregon and Stratford. (Same perception, different level.) They creatively use their storage space, so do we – just on a smaller scale. They need rehearsal space – so do we, and we find it where we can. The list goes on but the key point I came away from both of these experiences with is that no matter the size or budget, we are here to put on a show. The basic elements are the same whether you are small like us or big the the “big guys” – script, artistic staff, cast, crew and audience.

PS: I got to stand on stage at the Adams Shakespearean Theatre where moments before Brian Vaughn was rehearsing his Petruchio for this years “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Have you had an experience where someone or something you idolized helped you gain perspective and realize your place in the grand scheme? Please share.

Adams Shakesperean Theatre
Cedar City, UT
Utah Shakespeare Festival