Thank you all

Thank you everyone who supported the Wizard of Oz...in the cast, the crew, the orchestra, the production team, and most of all the patrons who came to see the show. We won't be updating the blog probably from this point on...but it will stay up for now for people to look back at.

Visit the theatre at www.barrowtheatre.com for information on our current season of shows and other events.

Thank you all.

Ted

KUDOS FOR OZ!

Bravo to the cast and crew of the Wizard of Oz. It was such as great, awesome show....you all did a fantastic job! What a run - opening night of 450, sold out nights Friday and Saturday, sold out Sunday matinee, and 430 for Saturday matinee.....AWESOME!

The theatre is so lucky to have so many of you who volunteered your time to participate in the show and you all gave 110%. It was such a great experience and I thank you all for your hard work, kudos, appreciation and comments.

Thank you to the Munchkins for your "song" and the cards. Thank you to the Ozians and assorted characters for your wonderful and thoughtful gift.

The Barrow could not survive without all of you....and all the patrons who come to the shows. We've now given them a new level of professionalism and entertainment.

Garrett Klines pics of the show are now posted at http://pictures.bytesandpix.com/the_wizard_of_oz, including the cast photo. If you didn't order a cast photo, you can do so at this website. Garrett does a great job taking photos of the shows at the BCT, so please feel free to browse the pics (anyone can) and order.

If anyone has pictures of the show or cast/crew, please send them to me at tedsmith.patio@gmail.com and I will post them on the blog....

Again, thank you all....See you at the next show!
Ted

Fantastic Opening Night

Great job to the cast and crew for the Opening Night of Wizard of Oz.

Playing to a house of 350 people (78% full) you guys rocked the stage. I was able to watch some of it from the side of the house and the audience was really into it.....I've heard comments that people were on the edge of their seats...

So many awesome moments from the tornado scene, Dorothy getting the ruby slippers (one little girl asked her mother why her shoes couldn't be magic like that), to the Great Big Head!

Ghosts and Monkeys took the audience by storm....great job! Winkies - fantastic!

The title characters all did fantastic....you guys looked and sounded amazing. I can't say enough - WOW.

We've also initiated another "only in Franklin" story too. Last night, Jeri (one our Ozian/Trees) was at a trial in the courthouse (she is a public defender). The judge recessed the trial so she could come to the theatre to play her part of the tree! "She even has lines" everyone was told. AMAZING. That's what theatre means to this community.

Many thanks to our orchestra, sound and lighting guys, pyrotechnicians from Kellners, the costumers and props persons.....

KUDOS AND BIG HUGS ALL AROUND TO EVERYONE....

Opening Night - The Reviews are In!

Hello all,

Our friend Pete Greene, over at http://venangoland.blogspot.com put some very nice and unsolicited remarks about our show and the theatre in his column today in The Derrick and News Herald papers. Click on the pic of the column to enlarge it to read. Thank you Pete....your kind words and comments are greatly appreciated.

Just over 10 hours as I type this til curtain opens. We will do Munchkin Circle at 7:30 in the Little Theatre, and then we shall troop over to St. John's to do Ozian circle with the Leads and other assorted characters.....we shall then be ready to go as close to 8:00pm as we can!

My congratulations and thanks to you all in the show- onstage, behind the scenes, and in the pit! You have made this a remarkable experience!

The Wizard (Ted)

FANTASTIC AND CONGRATULATIONS

Great job tonight at final dress rehearsal cast and crew....what an awesome show...tonight's dress rehearsal was probably one of the best dress rehearsals I have ever seen.....and everyone looked great and sounded great.

The Barrow Volunteers who were tonight's audience were absolutely loving the show and raved about it afterwards....you wowed our critical audience.....good job! Great Big Head was fantastic....and the crew did an awesome job keeping things moving. We teethed out our minor little problems...

Enjoy Thursday....Opening Night Curtain is creeping up on us....see you at the theatre!!!!

The Wizard

Reflections from the Oz Balloon

Well, final working rehearsal has come and gone. We had a good night. Worked out the last of the major teething problems.....my thanks to Ed, Theo, Sue, Theresa, Lux, Cork, Mary Ann, Rosie, and the rest of the crew for all their behind the scenes work....we couldn't do this with you.

I am so looking forward to seeing and hearing the audience reaction to the show...thank you cast for all your hard work....you have an amazing show and you definitely deserve to go out there and look good, sound good and feel good. Trust yourselves and trust your castmates.....

The vision of this show was to modernize the classic story of Wizard of Oz without touching the storyline, characters or songs. We've done that. From the awesome tornado sequence to our glam-evil Wicked Witch and green-tinted Ozians, and our special treats in the form of the Monkeys, Ghosts, Winkies, and Snowkins....we are sure to keep the audience on the edge of the seats, enthralled and anticipating....

A true community theatre production is one you can walk into and away from saying, "Wow. I'm glad I was part of this." I am glad to have been directing Wizard of Oz....and to surprise star in it. Playing both sides of the curtain has not been easy these last couple of weeks....but we've pulled it off.

We have an amazing set - utilizing minimalism, immensity, and great lighting, sets, and props.....
Enjoy everyone if you are coming to see the show....please stick around afterwards - I will come out and would love to hear your reactions and comments.....

Kudos cast and crew....thank you patrons and friends for coming.....

Curtains up!
Ted

Tue Dec 2 Rehearsal and Notes

Hello all,
First, thank you for the vote of confidence in stepping into the role of The Wizard...you are a great cast and we are going to have a fantastic show....just keep reviewing your lines, songs, and blocking...we're not there yet. I am pushing you guys hard but that's because we can do professional quality theatre in community theatre....and you are setting the bar higher for the next show to reach for....just remember it will all be worth it once we get to opening night and a packed house showers their love and appreciation on you for five consecutive shows....
Ted

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Tue Dec 2 Rehearsal - Main Stage
5:00pm Dorothy/Wizard
5:30pm Dorothy/Triplets/Wizard
6:00pm Run Act TWO - run from top to bottom, then clean any and all scenes.

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We will start working with props on Wed and Thursday.....we will start working with costumes in rehearsal on Monday Dec 8.....

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We definitely still need help this week with sets...especially on Saturday and possibly Friday....we still have to assemble the witch's castle, scarecrow's lot, the forest backdrop, Professor's campsite, Munchkin land houses, Kansas backdrop-house-incubator, Emerald City Gates, Great Big Oz Head foundation, and the Balloon.....

Please please please let Ed or a producer know if you can help out at all between Tuesday and this Sunday.....thanks

Thank you's and Monday Dec 1 Rehearsal

Rehearsal Monday December 1st is at 6pm-Main Stage
We are running Act One, starting with Munchkins then moving to 1-5, 8-13.
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We are taking publicity photos for the news with Dorothy, Triplets, Mayor, Coroner, Barrister, Glinda, Guard, ..... possibly others....
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Thank you very much for working hard tonight....more hard work to come this week.....please hang in there.

Happy Thanksgiving

From your director and the entire production crew, have a Happy Thanksgiving all.

We are so close to opening night and you will have an awesome show. Be the best you can be, review your blocking, lines, and songs, and please enjoy the holiday. If you have free time, please stop by the theatre to assist with set build.

Thank you each and every one of you for participating in the show. Can't wait to see you all rock the stage and the theatre.

Ted

Note from Director

Well folks, we open THREE weeks from tonight (Thursday Nov 20). It's been a privilege to work with all of you so far in getting this show off the ground.

Lest we become complacent, I want to take a moment to say that now we are entering into the crunch time. I encourage you ALL to re-read your schedules and clear all conflicts from your personal lives. Your commitment to doing this show now must become Priority Number One....we still have several scenes that while blocked, have never been fully rehearsed with everyone in them because of multiple conflicts preventing people from being at rehearsal.

You will note that Friday Dec 5 is a TBA. This means To Be Announced and I will determine before then if a rehearsal is needed that night. So, the best rule of thumb here would be NOT to schedule anything for that night. Please don't assume that we won't use it.

We have sold almost 1000 tickets as of 4pm today (990 to be precise)....that is 46% of our total seating with 3 weeks to go. BUY BUY BUY those tickets everyone.

Again, thank you so much for doing the show - please make this your number one priority of your extra-curricular activities from this point forward. You owe it to yourself, to your fellow cast mates, and to the patrons who will be coming to see the show.

Take care,

Ted

Rehearsal Nov 20 and Costume Note.....

Rehearsal for Thursday November 20th-6pm Little Theatre.
All Winkie and Monkey scenes .... need Dorothy, Triplets, Wicked Witch, Monkeys, Winkies,Winkie General.....

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So the Wizard has heard that some Ozians think the Ozian costumes aren't "Sexy" enough. We've also heard that they want to rent their own. Spread the word - all costumes get approved by Ted prior to dress rehearsal. There is no budget to rent costumes individually; anyone who does will not be allowed to perform.

If being "sexy" is necessary for you to be on stage, then might the Wizard suggest you are in the wrong show. This is a family show - with children in the cast. All cast will wear the costumes that are selected from the show and approved by the Director. NO EXCEPTIONS.

The Wizard knows who you are!

Saturday November 15th

Hello Ozians.....
Dance Rehearsal Sat 10am-12pm at Studio 22.

COSTUME SESSION - Sat 12:00pm-1:30pm at the Warehouse on 12th Street. ANYONE who does not yet have a costume please come by...

Thank you all for your hard work. Repetition and review can be annoying but you will be fantastic....and don't we all want to be the best on stage. With over 800 people already ticketed for the show, you will be showered with love and appreciation from the audience.

As part of the 50th Anniversary Year, this show is shaping up to close out the year with a bang. Back in 1959, a small group of theatre-minded citizens got together and founded Franklin Civic Operetta. In 1993 they opened the Barrow-Civic Theatre as their permanent home. We are all following in the footsteps of thousands of actors, directors, costumers, muscicians, set builders, and more devoted people as we work from the next 28 days on The Wizard.

Keep smiling .... keep plugging away.....keep dreaming of the rainbow....

Ted

Rehearsals for next few days...Nov 8-10

Hello folks, I'll be out of town for a few days so I am posting Sat, Sun and Mon rehearsals together....

Sat November 8 - Main Stage
1:oopm - Polishers, Manicurists, Stuffers, "Rub Rub girls"
2:00pm - All Ozians, inc Dorothy, Triplets, Guard
3:00pm - Jitterbug including ghosts

Sun November 9 - Main Stage
5:30pm - Munckins, Dorothy, Glinda, Wicked Witch - finish scene 6 and move into scene 7

7:00pm - ALL OZIANS (that means you) - continue Act Two-Scene 2...work ozian scenes.

Mon November 10 - Little Theatre
6pm - Dorothy, Triplets, Guard, Wizard - Act Two Scenes 1, 4; also Scenes 3 and 11

Please give your undivided attention to Jackie, Lux, and the Stage Mgr/Producers this weekend. We have five weeks from YESTERDAY before we open....we are in the cleaning and reviewing stage now but we need your help! Check your conflicts - if you can clear any of them, please do so. If you have conflicts that cannot be cleared, please STUDY your lines and movement - I will be expecting people to be "OFF-BOOK" soon so we can work characters....

BUY BUY BUY your tickets!!!! Get your family and friends in the "good seats" closer to the stage NOW before they end up further back. THE SHOW IS NOT SOLD OUT but it selling briskly....over 600 TICKETS SOLD ALREADY (out of 2200 available seats).....

See you Monday night and next week...thanks to everyone for all the hard work.

Note from Director

Wow! That is all I can say! Wow!

What an amazing experience so far we have had with this show and our casting and rehearsals. From an almost unheard 121 people auditioning to one of the largest casts (if not the largest outside of Youth Theatre) to hit the BCT stage, the Wizard is making Barrow history. I am really thrilled over the response of the cast to jump right in and learn lines, blocking and choreography. The response to the addition of a second matinee has been enthusiastic-and why not. Any additional chance to show off the talents, skills, and personalities that this cast possesses is welcomed.

And we have an amazing production management team. From "Lux" on Music and "Jacks" on Choregraphy, to our assistant "Stump" and producters, Ed on the set, and many more....we are well on our way to a fantastic end to Civic's 50th Anniversary year.

Last night, Jane Judson, one of Civic's founding members, sat in on rehearsal. As I always do when I see Jane, I took the opportunity to ask what she thought. She was delighted to see so many people interested in carrying on the Civic tradition of community theatre and can't wait to see the show.

And we still have a few tricks up our sleeves.....

Kudos to all in the cast and crew. You are what is making this show!

Ted