O M HECK! We are SWIFTLY approaching our opening date and the excitement around the theatre is growing daily! 
I have to start off by saying that my fellow cast mates, the crew, our ROCKIN' band (under the leadership of his holiness, Kevin Mathie), the Duchess of Damn Fine Direction (Cynthia Fleming), the Duke of D'Lovely Design (Keven Myhre) and, of course, the King and Queen of Commedia dell'Utah, Allen Nevins and Nancy Borgenicht have all jumped feet first into this sumptuous satirical soup we call SATURDAY'S VOYEUR...and it's DELICIOUS!
Every year I've done VOYEUR (this is my 5th) I am amazed at how, in six weeks of rehearsal, SO MUCH can be accomplished. Unlike every other stage show I've done (where directors, actors, etc., receive fully realized scripts and have the luxury of studying and memorizing before the first day of rehearsal), VOYEUR springs fresh from the swollen teat of ridiculous (factual) news that blesses the state of Utah each year. So, on the first day of VOYEUR rehearsal, we gather and discover together. Of course, without Allen and Nancy to milk, skim and churn, this abundant and rich fodder would either be forgotten, or ignored, as a majority of the state would never think to question the absurdity in which we live. (Though, thanks to a few national characters, the absurd no longer seems entirely a Utah trademark...Blessed are the Tea Baggers, for they shall inherit the stage.)
On another note (literally) I have to mention the music in this year's show. It's CRAZY GOOD! Always part of the storytelling, this year's musical numbers seem to feel even more connected to the intricacy of the show than usual. And don't EVEN get me started on the vocal quality of the cast! Wow! Just listening (and participating) in music rehearsals has given me chills. Seriously, VOYEUR might be a fun, biting, sometimes-sweet satire, but the sound that comes from this great group of people could be put toe-to-toe with the best of the best. Though the show is certainly character driven, as a singer, it's fantastic to let loose and (as Mama Rose said) SING OUT, LOUISE!
Next week we start our tech rehearsals (setting lights, sound, working out issues with staging, etc.), which is always fun for me. Oh, and costumes! Indeed, once we've got dialogue and lyrics in our brains, costumes, props and the set always help me settle into, and give additional life to each character I'm playing. And (since it's been in all the ads for VOYEUR '11) it should be no surprise that one of the characters is Paul Revere...of which I have the pleasure of portraying. Thankfully I have a time machine in my basement and have been able to do some truly in-depth, on-site research. He's a swell fellow, but I did discover why he made his midnight ride. You can, too...just Google a photo of his wife. Oy.
Off to rehearsal! The clock is ticking! We need to get ready and YOU need to buy your tickets! So, I'm'a warnin' ya, before the British come over here and take away our rights to see good the-a-ter, and stop us from usin' our guns...
HEAR YE! HEAR YE! WE'RE COMING! WE'RE COMING! The cast of SATURDAY'S VOYEUR '11 is COMING!
SATURDAY'S VOYEUR opens June 29 and runs throughout the summer. Tickets available online or by calling the Box Office: 801.363.7522.
