Jerusalem Chamber

The last week has been spent in refining and building the play before we start the tedious process of adding the technical elements.  We’ve had the luxury of going scene by scene, adjusting and exploring, and then running several scenes in sequence to get a sense of the build and flow. 
One of my favorite sets of [...]

Who Needs A Day Off?

Tuesday was our day off.  It had been a long and busy second week of rehearsal, with a lot of driving back and forth and many hours fighting, going over lines, and just generally trying to make every moment of rehearsal count.  I was really looking forward to a day away from Shakespeare.  So how [...]

What, Exactly, Do You Mean?

You’ve read much about the often rehearsed but still in progress Boar’s Head scene wherein I first get to strut and fret, or in this case scuffle and roar, my brief hour as Pistol.  You know it’s a big scene, part of which is devoted to seeing the relationships of the people in this tavern and what [...]

They Stumble That Run Fast

It’s been a very busy week dear readers but your faithful reporter has emerged to share a few more thoughts with you about our 2 Henry IV odyssey.  Thanks for your patience. 
At the end of our second week of rehearsal we were ready to put the play up on it’s still wobbly but intrepid legs [...]

Let The Welkin Roar!

So, there I was on top of a table, brandishing a sword and screeching like a Howler monkey…again.
 Let me backtrack.
 We’ve started work on blocking the infamous Act II, scene 4.  This is the scene I referred to earlier that takes place in the Boar’s Head Tavern with Falstaff and his coterie of Eastcheap denizens.  There’s [...]

Slings and Arrows…And Spears

Week two is going strong and we’ve started adding the next layer to our play.  In fact, by the end of the first week we started laying in some very basic blocking and getting a sense of movement within the scenes.  My first blocking rehearsal was for the scene wherein I play Fang, a member [...]

These Be Good Humours Indeed!

Friday was the first of my really long rehearsal days as we were working around the table on a couple of scenes wherein I have much to say.  In the afternoon we gathered to work through the first scene that happens in the Boar’s Head Tavern, located in London’s seedy side of town known as [...]

Pistol Speaks Naught But Truth

Our first week of rehearsal, as most first weeks of rehearsals are, has been largely devoted to table work.  This means that the actors and the director gather around a large table, or in our case several tables configured in a circle, and read through the play.  The script is broken down into scenes and [...]

Auditions

My journey with 2 Henry IV began way back on March 19.  That was the day I auditioned for the roles I’ll be tackling in this production.  I’d gotten a call from Milwaukee Shakespeare Company Manager Noel asking me to prepare the sides* for Pistol and the Earl of Warwick.  I began the process of memorizing the [...]

Once More Unto The Breach

Dear Readers and Potential Audience Members,
 Thanks for taking this journey with me as we explore the rehearsal and performance process for Milwaukee Shakespeare’s production of 2 Henry IV.  This is going to be a process of growth and evolution for me in many ways and I’m both excited and trepidatious about sharing it with you.  [...]