Goodbye 2008

Audition Piece rehearsal last night went well. ……. Plus an added excursion for 4 of us, to pick up the new WWOS piano for WTC … (WWOS now do Piano Removals at a modest fee!) no more semi-tone differences, the new electric model will make us all sound better! (yes, even Adrian!)
No more The Producers rehearsals until next year now!
Mon 5th Jan – audition pieces (again)
Wed 7th Jan – full company for Music
Mon 12th Jan – Auditions (Max, Leo, Ulla, Roger, Carmen & Franz)
Wed 14th Jan – Auditions (all other parts!)
It’s going to be WONDERFUL!

Christmas get-together on Wednesday 17th @ WTC

Have a very Merry Christmas …

Kevin x

ps Where's all the comments?

Away we go again!

Opening Meeting Tonight.
WWMC @ 8pm

GO FOR IT!

Nice couple of dress rehearsals ..... the set looks good, the company look good, Annie & the Orphans will steal the show!

Heads up now, vocal chords on MAXIMUM (& preferably in tune), left & right feet at the ready (& spare one in cupboard). brains in gear and AWAY WE GO!

Good luck to all and thank you for you hard work - to - date!

Kevin xx

SING OUT!

Lee's back! or was that Scott?

Another good run!

Time is tightening up ... 1 hr 5 min 1st Act & 1 hr 7 min 2nd Act .... we can still shave a bit off that.

Needless to say, Annie & the kids will steel the show ... although there are some other great Duster Winning performances building!

Friday is the final run before The Churchill, could everybody please make a mental note on Friday of Costume changes & props needed so it doesn't come as a complete surprise on Monday!!

Wasn't it nice to see Lee last night ... better late than never!

Kevin x

THE END (clap, hand out!)

Few bits sorted out last night, plus the final bit of Choreography.
A few words still seem to be eluding some members of the company, I’m sure they’ll be there on the night!
Tickets, Tickets, Tickets!
See you all on Wednesday (8pm start with Grace team) & Friday (8pm start with Oliver team)
DON’T BE LATE!

Thanks

Kevin xx

Last Push

Saturday in The Glades went Marvelously ... a big thanks to Ian on the Piano, Philip for his piano & invaluable help, Gabby, Shannon & all the orphans for their performances and all the other supporters who turned up & gave out about 5000 handbills!

Sundays run was a bit limp! Everybody seemed like they were just going through the motions .... we all need a bit more energy (and words!)

Full company with Annies (no orphans) tonight .... Be there or be talked about! you have been warned!

Kevin xx

ps ... I'm learning my lines!

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! (whistle)

Got lots of bits done last night, with the company & the orphans …. Plus the highly complicated Station Scene, in which there are a few Duster Winning performances!
SO….. Publicity drive this Saturday in the Glades … (Please turn up at some point & support the girls!)….. Orphans rehearsal Sunday Morning, Run show Sunday afternoon, the Full rehearsals Monday, Wednesday & Friday next week …. No apologies so far!!!
The ticket situation is not good, but we have a bit of Publicity & paid ads going out next week, and we must all keep trying & keep our fingers crossed. IT IS A GOOD FUN SHOW ….

Kevin x

Ps Tracy … stop talking!

2 weeks to go!

2 weeks from tonight will be our final dress rehearsal ..... it's getting close.
Sunday's jog through was encouraging ..... it will be a good show.
The ticket situation is still bad ... particularly Thursday Eve performance. If anyone knows any association we can offload a group booking on at a low price PLEASE contact me now!

See ya Wednesday

Kevin

THE END!

We've set everything now ........ even the Who's Bests at the end ........ now comes the polishing!

It's all looking good BUT EVERYBODY ... that's every member of the company, needs to do 3 things:-

1 Turn up to ALL remaining rehearsals (no more illnesses or part time plastering!)

2 Learn lyrics to songs & all dialogue (there are still plenty of goldfish on stage!!)

3 SELL TICKETS!

Thanks ... onward & upward ... it will be a very good show!

See ya next week

Kevin x (who will be learning his lines!)

3.5 weeks to go

Excellent Orphans & Dancers rehearsal rehearsal yesterday afternoon, All Dolled Up will look great with the Company, Principals, Orphans & Dancers!(we'll put it all together on Wednesday)
The Orphans are working very hard & will be fab.
Tickets TICKETS TICKETS!!!!
See you all on Wednesday back at WTC, Th 62. (Principals, I'll see you tonight)

Kevin x

good run inish

Good run - ish last night ... alot of work on words still needed, but well done for those of the cast who have made a huge effort at this stage with 4 weeks to go.

To echo one of the Comments to the last blog, the Orphans are going to be Fab, the dancing is looking marvelous and the singing sounding great.

Tickets are a big worry at the moment .... the Society alone are about 400 tickets down on the last show at this stage ..... please make an effort now to sell as many tickets as you can. We can offer, the group discounts, if needed to secure booking is. There are special school rates available, which we can offer for most performances. Please contact me or John to obtain further details.

Please note the selling points of the show.

Firstly, it is a new show, and we are presenting the London Premier.

Secondly, it is the sequel to one of the most famous musicals of all time-Annie.

Thirdly, as it is a family musical, and we are performing it in half term week, there are 3 matinee performances available on the Thursday Friday and Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Fourthly, the music is wonderful, there are some great new songs and dances in the show.

Finally, the kids are great and worth the price of the ticket alone.

Please try and sell as many tickets as possible.
The rehearsal of this Wednesday is back at the Methodist Church. See you there.
Kevin xx

4 ish Weeks to go .....!

Nearly there .... just a bit of Finale to set, then the complicated bows & we're done!

Looking good. Kids & adults, although alot of words & music still has to be committed to memory!

PLUS ... tickets need to be sold. The matinees are going slowly but surely .... but the evenings are looking very sparse ... it needs a kick NOW.

Please put your posters up & start badgering those sales.

Sunday rehearsal for certain Orphans & both Annies at the Methodist Church @ 2:30 ... Monday ALL principals at Emmanuel Church @ 8 and Wednesdays call is for FULL COMPANY at the Methodist Church again ... orphans & Annies @ 7, adults @ 8.

See you there

Kevin x

The Final Countdown!

Back from short hols, completely tired & Chilled out (NOT)

Good Orphans rehearsal Sunday afternoon, still a few missing on Easter Hols ...... but with 5 weeks to go, we now have to get going and finish the show.

The set has now been finalised, with a couple of extra"bits" coming from Scenic Projects, including the Statton Island Ferry (looking very like a bit of The Titanic!)

It's going to look great .....

Keep selling the tickets ... if you know of any publication or website that could use a press release please email me & I'll send you one ( kevin.gauntlett@thackraywilliams.com ) We must get the message out there that this show is being performed. Posters can now go up ... Sell, Publicise & Sell NOW please!

See you all on Wednesday back at The Methodist Church

Kevin x

Only 10 each a week! (see below)

Good rehearsal last night. Numbers better .... still no Lee, Scott or Phillip .... I live in hope!

All looking Cheesey & good. Alot of words need learning and moves co-ordinating ... apart from that ... OK

We are now working from the Yellow rehearsal schedule (unless you are an orphan, who have a pink version) ... please transfer the rehearsal info to your diaries, calenders and memories ....

7 weeks to go, about 4000 tickets to sell, which works out about 600 per week, divided by the 60 odd cast (including orphans) is about 10 each per week .... GO FOR IT!

Thanks ....

Kevin xx (a bit calmer this week)

The calm after the storm!

Well, what a couple of weeks we've had!

Sadly, Jonathan French had to withdraw from the production due to his father's ill health. We will of course miss Jonathan dreadfully, not only on stage but his calm approach to everything ... We can only wish him well and hope his father makes a full recovery.

In his place we have been lucky to secure the talents of Tunbridge Wells favourite Simon Judd (He is a Solicitor with Twins ... so must be a really talented good bloke!)

Simon has quickly been set in most of Act I and will be marvelous.

Next Wednesday is an orphans only rehearsal ... (PLUS DANCERS from 8) ... so adults have a night off (to learn words!!!!)

Monday week ... 31st March ....will be All Principals in Act II to blitz it ... set the lot and then the Polish can begin!

2/3 more company scenes to set, including the Wedding that goes wrong and the Finale (happy ever after ... until Annie 3 .... )

Please note carefully all dates for future rehearsals and DO NOT MISS THEM ... Please!

Bye for now

Kevin xx (a bit less stressed today ... coming up for air!)

Somebody's done something about ........

Orphans are looking good ... noisy but dancing well. Another Sunday morning rehearsal for them this week ... Starting at 10!

Adults ... Another company number set, with dancing set for all ... and looking good. Please all do a bit of homework on the music so we can put everything together next week. We will also set the proceeding scene with various comings and goings for all.

PLUS the usual revision.

Keep promoting & selling tickets please

Kevin x

Wasn't it nice to be back at WTC .....

The kids are working hard & getting alot done and the adults ... turned up again.!

Although the story, action and dialogue maybe a little naff, the Music, as we are all experiencing, is a bit tricky and very good. The variety of songs (solos & concerted number) is vast and all audiences tastes should be met. We all have to do a bit of homework to learn the words & harmonies because it is not a well known show, like Annie, and because of that it is important it is done well.

Next week, apart from the usual bit of revision, we will be setting a new company scene so PLEASE do a bit of swotting up at home between now & then ... thank you.

Tickets are limping off the shelf ... but the new Churchill season brochure goes out at the beginning of March, so hopefully the public awareness will give the tickets a kick start. WE HAVE TO SELL THIS SHOW!!!

Bye for now

Kevin x (PS Replies, comments, back-stabbings, gossip and ideas are all welcome!)

GRACEful rehearsal!

Thanks .... we got the GRACEful number finished, fitting in the missing bods (and coping with others going missing!)
The Orphans are working (and Talking) hard ... and will, once again, outshine the adults if we're not careful!
Rehearsal schedule has been given out ... if you need one, let me know (I can email you a copy if you are desparate!) simarly, if you want a cd of the music, let me know!
COSTUMES ... Men, please find yourselves a 1930s suit again (if you want to know the style, speak to Eileen or Lucy ... or look at what Adrian wears!) and Ladies, we will be looking for you to possibly find a 1930s dress .... (Must be Blue ..patterned or plain... start looking) All uniforms will be hired, but if we can find other bits ourselves it does save alot of money!
KEEP SELLING THEM THERE TICKETS
And, see you next week back at Th 62 (WTC) Horrah!

Kevin xx

Oops .... New Blog (at last)

Back on course again!
Good rehearsal last night, for both the kids and grown-ups!
As with Annie, there will be an overlap between the Adults & girls rehearsals so to set the bits with us all in.
We set most of the GRACEful number last night .... it will be interesting next week fitting the missing few in. We will finish it next week and also look at the opening number which we set 3/4 weeks back (when Stephen was plastering!)
Start thinking about and arranging those block bookings and generally selling this show .... we still have to sell about 5000 tickets.

Thanks & see you next week at WWMC once again at 8!

Kevin x

Annie W

1 Floor rehearsal down and 1 company number set ..... we only have to add 15 orphans, a dog and Grace. (... oh, and a plasterer!)
Next wednesday is at the WW Methodist Church! Anyone who reads this please pass on this fact to others!
Thanks and See you next week

Kevin

Annie ain't just Annie anymore!

The music in Annie Warbucks is tricky but Very Good! .....
1st principal music rehearsal on Monday sounded good .... Daddy & Grace have both got some beautiful songs. Still waiting for set designs .... so no idea of entrances & exits yet and we start setting soon!
The Churchill have finally included us on the Website of forthcoming productions and we should start selling the show. Please take some handbills on Wednesday and start passing them round.
Auditions on Wednesday and then AWAY WE GO AGAIN!

Lovely!

Kevin x

They're Back!

Aaaaaaah ,,.....,,,,..... Lovely to see all the Annie girls on Sunday, Singing their little hearts out. I think Ian was only expecting about 6 in each team, so was a bit surprised when 30 noisy urchins turned up!

Alot of Music was covered and rehearsals sorted and (most importantly) handbills given out to SELL tickets!

Another Music rehearsal for the grown-ups on Wednesday ... see ya then.

Kevin x

That Sun's Coming Out Again!

Fab first rehearsal following Christmas festivities under the Firm but fun hands of Mr Skipper (Sir) …….. The music is a bit trickier than the bog-standard Annie!
First rehearsal with the girls on Sunday ….. it will be nice to see them all together again (I wonder how many of them will now be above 5’1”?
Next Wednesday is another Very Important Music rehearsal, then the Auditions and away we go.
It’s going to LOVELY!

Kevin

Happy NewYear

Happy New Year to all! ... Well, that went quickly didn't it .......... it doesn't seem like 5 minutes ago we were all congratulating Tracy for winning the raffle AGAIN at the Christmas bash and now both Christmas & New Year are over and it's back to the grind stone!

And well done to Polly for spotting my deliberate mistake in my last post ... yes, the first rehearsal is not tomorrow (the 2nd) but next Wednesday on the 9th! .... see you all there.

Annie Warbucks is now well and truly underway!

Bye for now

Kevin

PS ... please post some cryptic replies/comments , to prove someone tunes in & reads this!!!