http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog Keep up with all things Great Lakes Theater. Our blog is a great way to learn about the very latest Great Lakes Theater news/notes and enjoy extraordinary "behind-the-scenes" access to the creative process of our artistic company. en-us Thu, 17 May 2012 01:47:01 EDT Great Lakes Theater Great Lakes Theater mail@greatlakestheater.org http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2012/01/bardstock-2012-a-student-songwriting-contest http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2012/01/bardstock-2012-a-student-songwriting-contest#comments Congratulations to the grand-prize winners of our 2012 Bardstock Songwriting Contest! Eye & Ear Candy: Read The Plain Dealer's feature article about Bardsotck. Listen to WCPN's broadcast of Bardstock FM 2012 which aired on April 23rd. Check out the grand prize winning music tracks. (Scroll down to hear the songs.) Bardstock 2013: We look forward to continuing the lagacy of Bardstock. If you are interested in participating in the contest during the coming year, drop us a line. Check back soon for details about our 2013 edition of the program. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST Todd Krispinsky http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-twelve-days-of-a-christmas-carolthe-song http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-twelve-days-of-a-christmas-carolthe-song#comments On the twelfth day of (a) Christmas (carol)… A Song Full of Christmas Cheer!! Happy Holidays from everyone in the Great Lakes Theater family! As we wrap up our 23rd annual production of A Christmas Carol, the fantastic cast and crew would like to share with you a very special song! We'd also like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who attended this year's production and helped to keep Northeast Ohio’s favorite holiday tradition alive, well and as festive as ever! We hope to see you this spring in the Hanna Theatre for The... Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST Alisha Glasser http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-twelve-days-of-a-christmas-carol--passing-the-chains http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-twelve-days-of-a-christmas-carol--passing-the-chains#comments I took over the role of the Ghost of Jacob Marley upon the great John Buck’s decision to retire in 2004.  How I got the role was far from auspicious: Dudley Swetland, Scrooge at the time, approached me on the first day of rehearsal of The Taming of the Shrew earlier that year and said, “Buck retired.  I think you should do it next.” I was 26 years old in 2004.  I was a year out of graduate school.  However all my hair had fallen out around the age of 22, so I could pass for older, and I’d played “old... Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST Alisha Glasser http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-twelve-days-of-a-christmas-carol--secret-santa http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-twelve-days-of-a-christmas-carol--secret-santa#comments On the tenth day of (a) Christmas (carol).... Secret Santa!!!   Every year the cast and crew participate in a week-long game of Secret Santa! For one week during the run, presents are hidden all over the backstage of the Ohio Theatre (dressing rooms, green room, hallways... you name it!) This GLT tradition really brings a sense of holiday excitement to the theatre! After 5 days of small gifts - everyone brings in one special final present for the reveal of Secret Santa! This year out of 33 participants, only 4 people guessed their Secret Santa correctly!... Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST Alisha Glasser http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-twelve-days-of-a-christmas-carol--qa-with-laura-perrotta http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-twelve-days-of-a-christmas-carol--qa-with-laura-perrotta#comments On the ninth day of (a) Christmas (carol)… Q&A with Actress, Laura Perrotta:   Q: What is your favorite part about being in Great Lakes Theater's production of A Christmas Carol?  A: A Christmas Carol brings a sense of family more than anything else at Great Lakes. It always feels like a homecoming. I love the sense of tradition and how people are connected through the production. Q: After performing the same role of “Mother Cleaveland” for 11 years, how do you keep it fresh and new? A: It’s always a challenge as an... Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST Alisha Glasser http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol-marleys-ghost http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol-marleys-ghost#comments On the eighth day of (a) Christmas (carol)... Marley's Ghost! On average, it takes actor Lynn Robert Berg about 30 minutes to complete the layers of makeup that transform him from a handsome actor to a haunting ghost that has been dead for seven years! Berg has always had an interest in art, especially painting and he enjoys using his face as a canvas during every performance. Berg is only onstage as Marley for 6 and a half minutes. But it takes him 4 times longer to apply his make-up. However, it's all worth it to hear the... Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST Alisha Glasser http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol--backstage-favorites http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol--backstage-favorites#comments On the seventh day of (A) Christmas (Carol)…. We chatted with the cast and crew! We went backstage and asked the cast and crew of our 23rd annual production of A Christmas Carol about their favorite part of the show. The answers are priceless. Enjoy! Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST Todd Krispinsky http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol-opening-night http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/12/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol-opening-night#comments On the sixth day of (a) Christmas (carol)…. Opening Night!   HAPPY OPENING & CONGRATULATIONS to the cast and crew of A Christmas Carol!!!  And a big THANK YOU to the great audience that helped make the 23rd opening speciall!   After the show, the cast and crew gathered to celebrate with family and friends at Brrico for an opening night party! Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST Alisha Glasser http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/11/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol--technical-rehearsals http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/11/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol--technical-rehearsals#comments On the fifth day of (a) Christmas (carol)... Technical Rehearsals After 9 days in the rehearsal hall, it is time to move into the Ohio Theatre for technical rehearsals. The cast and crew came together over Thanksgiving weekend, for two 10 out of 12 days (meaning: 10 hours of rehearsal in a 12 hour day). Backstage, 19 members of the Great Lakes Theater run and wardrobe crews work together to make A Christmas Carol magical! The team incorporates all of the technical elements including trap doors, a flying clock, fog, snow, light up costumes and ‘Christmas Cheer’!     Production... Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST Alisha Glasser http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/11/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol-load-in http://www.greatlakestheater.org/blog/2011/11/the-12-days-of-a-christmas-carol-load-in#comments On the fourth day of (a) Christmas (carol)... Loading into the Ohio Theatre The Great Lakes Theater Scene Shop Crew and the PlayhouseSquare IATSE Team spend 3 days loading in set pieces and focusing lights in the Ohio Theatre for A Christmas Carol. The crew of 30 unloads 3 trucks (including two 53-foot trailers) and transform the empty stage into a Victorian era Christmas in London! Even Santa (stagehand, Tom Boddy) pitched in by flying set pieces in and out during lighting focus!   Some of the set pieces have weathered the run of A Christmas Carol at GLT for 22 years!  Going into... Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST Alisha Glasser