BIG BOLD NOTE: The show dates are Thursday November 10th, Saturday November 12th, Friday November 18th, and Saturday November 19th at 8pm, as well as on Sunday November 13th and 20th at 2pm. Tickets are not on sale at the moment but pricing information, as well as tickets for our fundraiser party at Nocello's on October 23rd and other information, can be found here at our theatre's website.
Written by: Justin Murphy
Date of Rehearsals Listed: 10/5 and 10/6
Rehearsal Location: Northport-East Northport Community Theatre/NCT
Here we are back again (that's a little redundant) for the second blog for NCT's Miracle on 34th Street! On the first rehearsal last week on Wednesday, the first thing we did was review the songs that we had already worked on previously, though we most specifically worked on the Big Clown (still pronounced Cuh-lown) Balloons. Why? Because it turned out that we would be blocking most of the first two scenes today.
The first thing done was a very brief scene involving Mr. Shellhammer and Mrs. Walker talking about hiring "Bearded Gentlemen" as Santa Claus (seriously, was it too hard to just call him Kris in the script the entire time?). After that, we worked on most of the first two scenes in the show, with the exception of the parade spectators's lines, as those parts haven't been given out yet. First a scene was done with Fred and Susie Walker, both of whom had already worked on the scene during previous rehearsals, and a little punk kid was added to steal Fred's hat, played by Andrew Geres. (As a side-note, James's particular way of saying "Santy Claus" made a good chunk of the cast crack up, myself included) In addition, Kris Kringle's interaction with a Balloon Vendor before the song starts was blocked, in addition to a few other characters interacting with the balloon vendor such as a little girl and the punk kid. I don't remember who's playing the balloon vendor, except that he internally decided to name the balloon vendor Steven...I dunno why, I guess he looks like a Steven.
The next scene involved Kris Kringle ended up replacing the intoxicated Santa Claus in the parade, as well as adding two girls to the scene to share a line (and to make fun of Mr. Shellhammer). A key moment that could change the foundation of this show happened this night, as Miss Muffet is no more, and Joel's character will now be Mary (from Mary had a little lamb). THE SHOW WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAYN. Kris Kringle was unavailable for the evening, so our director Jim performed his lines throughout both of the scenes that were worked on tonight.
Finally what happens in between these scenes, the song sequence, was blocked. Assisting Jim in figuring out where everyone would be blocked was cast member Tess Robinson. Jim had a few interesting ideas about how the parade would actually be done. What were they exactly? You'll have to come to the show in 31 days to see for yourself (wait, 31 days? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!) Most of the cast was blocked into the scene for singing, with the exception of a few like Mrs. Walker, Susie, Fred, Kris Kringle, and the teenagers, the last of whom would be performing in the parade, whatever the parade turns out to be.
On the second day of rehearsal that week, we worked on the song sequence again. However this time, our choreographer, Tori, taught us what we'd be doing during the scene. She made sure to give everyone on the stage a specific place for both sections of the song, as at one point, the placing groups change completely towards around the end of the song. Once again, a few of the teenagers were left out of the dance, as they will be performing in the parade themselves. It was a little difficult for everyone to learn, as there will be around 40 people on stage during the dance if not more. However, with extensive practice and some elbow grease, we got it all down. Hopefully we remember it by the next time she holds a choreography night on next Wednesday the 19th! (At the moment, I still have all the steps down except for maybe one at the end.)
This coming week, there will be a full cast rehearsal on Tuesday the 11th as well as a cast rehearsal on Thursday the 13th for everyone in the courtroom scenes, myself included, to block that scene out (Shame I can't remember who I'm playing). As mentioned hitherto, there is also a full cast rehearsal to work on choreography on the 19th. Those are all the rehearsals we know for now. One piece of very interesting information was found out at the end of the rehearsal, thanks to my excellent deductive and sleuthing skills...or I just asked and found out easily enough. Former leading man of NCT, Dave Curtis, at some point, made his way to the auditorium, watching us learn the choreography. Now, Dave's niece is in the show. In fact, she's Grace Sewell, one of the two girls playing Susie, so I figured he was there to see her. It turned out he was actually there because James Reiss, for whatever reason, will be unavailable to play Fred Gaily for one of the weekends, so Dave will be stepping in for him during those times.
"Susan, I speak French but that doesn't make me Joan of Arc!" -Doris Walker
CAST LIST (Newly cast characters or actors will be italicized)
NOTE: As of October 10th, Heather Carro Totoro, Taylor Carro, Vinnie Dillon, and Luke Frisoli have all withdrawn from the production. We wish them the best in all of their future endeavors.
Kris Kringle: Lawrence Palevsky
Doris Walker: Chelsea Brown
Susan Walker: Annabelle Deaner/Grace Sewell
Fred Gailey: James Reiss/Dave Curtis
Mr. Marvin Shellhammer: Justin Autz
Mr. R.H. Macy: Rich Lau
Judge Group: Suzie Lustig
D.A. Thomas Mara/Steven the Balloon Vendor: I'm Steven
Mrs. Sawyer: Kathy Lau
Miss Crookshank: Samantha Schoeps
Hendrika: Lily Eagen/Carlie Rees
Hendrika's Foster Mother: Judy Avena/Barbara Schulman
Harry Finfer: Jude Centamore/Michael Deaner
Mrs. Finfer: Michelle Centamore/Elise Autz
Thomas Mara Junior: Jacob Karp/Kieran Brown
Mr. Gimbel: John Morale
Mary whom did once upon a time own a rather miniscule lamb: Joel Ackerman
Inebriated Santa Claus: Rich Rowehl
Hat Thieving Kid: Andrew Geres
Majorettes: Alyssa Infranco and Riley Gayer
The following Roles as of yet are not cast
Tammany O'Halloran, a political boss
Alvin, Whitey, and Climber, Marine friends of Fred's
Clara, a legal secretary
Miss Sims, a nurse
Bailiff, a...bailiff
Murphy, a night watchman
Lady Shopper, a lady sho-ok, that's enough, if the character doesn't have a name, than they don't need a description
Man Shopper and his Wife
Young Woman Shopper
Clerk in Toy Department
Troubled Shopper
Governor of New York
Mayor of New York City
Two Policemen
Mailman
Tall Dame Girl Scout
Mrs. Beeler, the housekeeper
Marines, Parade Spectators, and Christmas Shoppers
Toy Ballet Sequence Characters
THE FOLLOWING CAST MEMBERS HAVE YET TO BE GIVEN A SPECIFIC PART AS OF 10/10/16
Men
Joe Centamore
Boys
Owen LaBruna
James Roche
Anthony Shah
Nathan Zarko
Women
Noel Dillon
Jillian Graci
Katlyn Reller
Kellsey Roy
Linda Scott
Kate Smith
Patsy VanDyke
Girls
Julie Barbier
Juliette Bonchonsky
Maya Burget
Goldie Centamore
Bella Donneruno
Maggie Fitzmaurice
Jennifer Golder
Quincy Jackson
Arianna Keating
Grace Keating
Amelia Lau
Meaghan Maher
Juliet Morale
Caitlin Rees
Tess Robinson
Grace Rowan
Ashley Rowehl
Amelia Semple
Emily Shah
Ella Smith
Emily Starin
Clare Vogt
Fallon Young
Lacey Zaharis
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