Calling all crew! We’ve got weekend 2 and final coming up for The Tempest. Before you know it, it will be Monday and we’ll be striking the set at Alverno. I’m putting out the call right here and right now for able bodied help. There’s a small stipend for helping AND guaranteed seating to The Tempest (in case you haven’t managed to swing confirmed seats). Please contact me at SSFry@OptimistTheatre.org for details.

“A hit, a very palpable hit.”

Through temperatures and tempests.  On glorious, mild and star-spangled eve’s.  The cast and crew of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest brought it.

Huge kudos and thanks to all the goodly folke who created and came this past weekend.  The feedback in person and via email has been glorious and gratifying.  A a grateful speck in the big scheme, it’s imperative that I share this cache of happiness with you all.

Here’s what people have said…

Updated and added to 7-8-10:

My daughter & I really had a wonderful evening for your first ever FREE Shakespeare in the Park………ALFRED AND LYNN WOULD BE SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU   (ck out the story on who may have  really authored all of W S work)   THANKS AGAIN AND SEE YOU AGAIN!!!!!

A friend and I enjoyed the Tempest at Alverno last evening.  The tribe was fantastic as was the entire cast.  We certainly hope that you are able to continue doing this wonderful evening entertainment for years to come.

Thank you for sponsoring such a wonderful event.  Bravo!

Wonderful evening. So glad we took the time to come out. Thank you so much.

Susan,  What a charming, divine rendering of the Tempest!  Of course, I was enchanted by the revels of Ariel and Prospero.  The words of the Bard lept off the page in their hands/feet and I was captivated.  Even being the first public show, it was an engaging company performance, as well.    Certainly the weather even helped give the island aura.  Bravo to all!  Not the least of which is your clear and expert handling of tickets and directions.  Many blessings for the rest of the run.

Saw the performance today – magnificent.  A bit warm, but that was not in your conrol.  Everything from the staging (simple but used well), costume design, talent, etc was a joy.  Hope you are able to find the means to continue this venue.  We drove an hour to get there and would do it over and over again.  Thanks to everyone involved…

Congratulations on this wonderful achievement. I do hope you can enlarge your schedule next year.

Dear Milwaukee,

Thank you for wanting to come see The Tempest.  At this point in time, all reserved seating for all 9 performances has been booked solid.

There are a few options.

Waiting List

Get on the waiting list for reserved seating.  If someone cancels their reservation, we’ll reserve the seat for you in the order your name appears on the list and notify you via email.  Please email me at SSFry@OptimistTheatre.org if you would like this option.  RSVP seats released within 6 hours of the performance will be made available to walk-in seating.

Walk-in Seating

When you arrive at Alverno College, add your name to the walk-in list and 15 minutes prior to curtain, we will release any unclaimed RSVP’s to walk-ins in the order received.  We cannot create a waiting list for walk-in seating.  It is limited to persons who are actually on site at the time the seats are unclaimed.

(My opinion… I think this is your BEST BET.  It’s not uncommon for RSVP’s for free tickets to go unclaimed at a last minute decision.  I suggest you be optimistic and take your chances and hedge your bets with a lawn chair.)

Lawn Seating

There are some small, grassy areas in the courtyard where a limited number of walk-ins are welcome to set up lawn chairs to view the performance.  Visibility is slightly limited and we recommend lawn chairs instead of blankets as the grass can be a bit wet.  Sign up at the RSVP table for lawn space and those spaces will be allocated then and there up to the limit allowed by the fire marshal.

A few other thoughts.  We are eternally grateful for the outpouring of support and desire to see this production and wish we could extend the performance to accommodate all requests.  Unfortunately, although Shakespeare in the Park is free to the audience, it’s not free to produce so we don’t have the option to extend this year.

I’m very sorry for the inconvenience and if we aren’t able to help you see The Tempest this year, we hope for an even longer run next season.  Join the Optimist Theatre mailing list and be the first to hear next year.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

Managing Director

Angela Iannone is solidly in the ‘makes my mouth hang open’ category.  It’s getting closer to show opening, so I’m not able to make it to every rehearsal.  When I do, it’s a joy to see what’s happened and where this cast has gone.

The cast started integrating the live music into the performance this week.  As Ariel, Angela is right in the thick of things.  It’s got to be frustrating, all the stops and starts, but they keep at it.  Anyway, one of the pieces they were working last night is the masque.  I had seen it without the music and at various phases in development and already had an appreciation for where it was going.  Last night, I looked up from my program proof and there was Angela on stage.  Her physical embodiment of Ariel playing a goddess was delicious, precise and sublime.  I swear, I forgot to breathe.

The answer to “How can she do that?” is obvious.  It’s years of training and dedication combined with natural physical gifts and discipline.  It doesn’t stop me from asking.

RSVP’s for The Tempest are rolling in very, very quickly.  I believe that I’ll be sending the ‘very sorry, but we’re SRO’ email responses quite soon.

I hope you get to see it.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

(UPDATED JUNE 11 AT 9:48 PM)

Greetings, Milwaukee!

Thanks to everyone for already filling 4 (count ‘em – 4!) of our 9 performances.

Not to fear – there are plenty of seats available, but it’s time to get an update out to help you plan your options for successfully attending The Tempest.

As of this moment in time this is what’s available:

Friday, June 18, 2010 – 12 noon performance:  We have 105 RSVP’s, which leaves 95 seats available

Friday, June 18, 2010 – 8:00 pm performance:  FULL.  All 200 seats are spoken for.

Saturday, June 19, 2010 – 8:00 pm performance:  FULL.  All 200 seats are spoken for.

Sunday, June 20, 2010 – 8:00 pm performance:  We have 161 RSVP’s, which leaves 39 seats available.

Thursday, June 24, 2010 – 8:00 pm performance:  FULL.  All 200 seats are spoken for.

Friday, June 25, 2010 – 12 noon performance:  We have 183 RSVP’s, which leaves 17 seats available.

Friday, June 25, 2010 – 8:00 pm performance:  FULL.  All 200 seats are spoken for.

Saturday, June 26, 2010 – 8:00 pm performance:  We have 154 RSVP’s, which leaves 46 seats available.

Sunday, June 27, 2010 – 8:00 pm performance:  We have 122 RSVP’s, which leaves 78 seats available.

Your options if the date you want to attend is full…

At 15 minutes prior to show time, we’ll open up unclaimed RSVP’s to walk-in’s.  We’ll put names on lists and it will be first-come, first-served.  At the same time, we’ll open up some limited space lawn seating.  You’d need to bring your own lawn chair.  Visibility from the lawn seating is a little limited, but hey, you’re in!

People also occasionally cancel an RSVP.  You can always ask for the date you want and if it’s become available, it’s yours.

Please RSVP to Susan Fry at SSFry@OptimistTheatre.org.  I need your first and last name, date, show time and total number of seats.  If they’re available, they’re yours.

Hope to see you there.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

Managing Director

Optimist Theatre’s newest video interview is up!  Click here to meet Ron Scot Fry, Director of The Tempest and Optimist Theatre’s Artistic Director.

As we get further and further into rehearsals and into producing the festival, perspectives naturally evolve.  It’s fascinating to listen to what Ron has to say now that he’s been into working with the actors for several weeks now.

Hope you enjoy it!

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

THANK YOU, City of Milwaukee Arts Board!

Optimist Theatre is the proud and grateful recipient of a grant from the Milwaukee Arts Board to aid in our production of The Tempest!  At least, the letter grasped tightly in my hot and sweaty little hand says so.

Makes it hard to type, but I can’t quite bring myself to put the letter down yet.

Please join me in extending a huge THANK YOU to the people at the Milwaukee Arts Board for their faith and support.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

On the Optimist Theatre Facebook page (click HERE to go to the album) there’s a new mish-mash of photos from our first all-cast rehearsal on May 11 and from our rehearsal on May 18.  It’s only been a week and we’re still blocking The Tempest, but the tranformations are amazing and beautiful.

Jim Pickering* (Prospero) still makes me cry.  I just want to punch him in the arm.

Angela Iannone* (Ariel) is lithe, sleek and kicks major butt.  She IS an anime heroine.

I’m shocked that Jacque Troy (Antonio) isn’t always surrounded by men.  She’s got this primal magnetism.  I know, I know.  It’s called acting, but it still makes me dizzy.

Ken Williams (Stephano) and David Flores (Trinculo) also make me want to cry and punch them, but I can’t because my soul is rolling on the floor laughing and holding my aching side.

Tom Reed* (Caliban) is primal.  We’ll be chitchatting about something like cutting wood for the stage platform legs and seconds later, my skin is crawling with fascination as I watch and listen with awe.

The Lovers, Andrew Voss and Jocelyn Fitz-Gibbon — Neil Haven  — Stacy and Flora  –  The Tribe…  I have so much more to say, but will save it for another post.

And, the best Stage Manager in the world.  I miss my Sandy Wood, but Sandy, you’d be so proud of Melissa Wanke*.

Optimistically,

Susan Scot Fry

Starting May 11, 2010, The Tempest will hit the streets of Milwaukee.  Literally.  Well, copies of the play will, at any rate.

Agents for Optimist Theatre will be releasing copies of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest into the wild in various places around Milwaukee.  Inside each paperback will be a letter personally inviting you to come see The Tempest, to bring the copy you just rescued with you and have it autographed by Prospero himself (aka Mr. James Pickering).

Watch for a release announcement and clues.  Happy treasure hunting!

Optimist Theatre’s celebration of Shakespeare in the Park, this past January was a microcosm of the talent, support and sheer joy that is being brought to this project.

Many area artists gathered and strutted their substantial stuff for an appreciative audience.  Laughter, great music and an enticing Tempest preview (accompanied by a killer gourmet popcorn bar) made for a great evening.

Enjoy this show snippet and we hope to see you at The Tempest this June on the beautiful Alverno College campus.

(Aren’t Ken and David – aka Stephano and Trinculo — just the cutest?  More pix of these 2 coming soon…)

In Ars Veritas,

Susan Scot Fry