Five Women Wrap-Up and Dude with Balloons

Wow, I haven't been in to update this in some time. My apologies to everyone for that -- I, apparently, am a big old slacker.

In truth, I was so focused on my character and my role in Five Women Wearing the Same Dress that I completely forgot about all of my other responsibilities, what with having to deflect the paparazzi, meet my agent for lunch to discuss my next project, and I've enrolled my dog in this puppy play group that also includes Sandra Bullock and Eva Longoria's pooches, and I'll tell you what, they are such sweet women but man, can Sandy go on for HOURS when you're trying to pick up the pup to take her to the nanny's so that you can get to rehearsal.

That's all a lie. What really happened was that I was really tired and didn't have the brain cells to be funny, so I procrastinated about posting.

BUT. All that said, Five Women... was a great success -- we got wonderful reviews from the audiences, made good friends who we'll all actually keep in touch with (I'm notorious for being horrible about getting together with people, and after most shows I've done, we all go our separate ways -- but I can say for a fact that I will actually make the effort to see all of these women again, because they're amazing and fabulous), and given me enough fodder to create an entire post of ridiculously long sentences.

Special thanks go out to the wonderful team of beauticians at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa in Reston Town Center, who volunteered their time and about 50 cans of hairspray (seriously, they ran out and had to go buy more at the Harris Teeter next door just to finish out the two weekends of the show) to make us look good onstage. Caron, Remona, MariJane, and the rest of the team (I feel so bad, but I don't know the names of the two makeups artists who worked on Brittany and Betsy) were all so kind and welcoming, and I for one hope to work with them all again soon.

For our next trick, we will be flying a lawnchair. Well, sort of. Auditions for CCT with 2FT's spring musical, Flight of the Lawnchair Man (affectionately known by the cast and crew as "Dude with Balloons"), were held this weekend, with callbacks happening tomorrow evening. When I have a cast list, I'll be sure to post it, and a new show means new cast and crew interviews, so stay tuned in the coming weeks for pictures, quotes, and other various shenanigans.

Oh, and on a totally unrelated but totally awesome note, the Great and Wonderful Michael Schaaff has purchased me a BeDazzler, so if there are any requests for BeDazzled items, I am more than happy to staple rhinestones to things for you. My husband told me I'm not allowed to BeDazzle everything in the house, but I think that those rhinestones are probably enough of a pain to take off that if I do it while he's not home, I can probably keep the sparkly potholders and sofa and placemats and all his work clothes. Right?

See how pretty we are?

Check out our trailer video for Five Women..., created by the lovely and talented Shannon Khatcheressian!

Less than 3 weeks out -- WOW.

Well, we're less than 3 weeks from opening (don't panic, cast and crew) and I do have a couple of things to report.

1) Our set is up! It looks great, and we can't WAIT till we get to rehearse on it! Thanks to all who worked so hard on it!

2) We've had another change in the cast: You all remember Felipe. He was the poor lone guy in the group, I posted his interview a couple of weeks ago. Well, turns out, Felipe's auditioning for some really prestigious theatre program (Like, Yale's Master's program or something -- I'm not entirely sure) and if he gets called back, he'll be out of town for one of our show weekends. So we had to find ourselves a new Tripp, and we did! A big, warm welcome to Zachary Lanouette-Opheim (Zach, if I spelled your name wrong, blame Colleen, I copied it off the contact list!).

3) Next week I'm going to try to have our final cast interviews up, for Zach and Betsy Eames, who is playing Frances.

4) I've discovered I'm a big fan of dried mango. Thanks for introducing me to that, Betsy!

(What? You guys didn't actually think I was going to include a post that didn't have anything random or ridiculous in it, did you?)

Meet the Cast: Part ... 4? I think?

Well, we've had some changes to the cast. Do to unforeseen scheduling conflicts, We have a new Mindy. Everyone please welcome Brittany Washington to the cast!

(First, though, let me state that when I wrote these questions, we didn't know the latest developments in Izzie's going-crazy storyline, so the question is slightly dated.)

Name: Brittany Washington
Role: Mindy

Favorite roles you've played already: Nadia in bare! That was such an amazing production to be a part of.

Roles you'd like to play someday: Mae in Reefer Madness, Baker's Wife in Into the Woods, Woman 2 in Edges, CB's Sister in Dog Sees God, and ... this is really embarrassing and I know I'll end up regretting admitting it, but I would possibly kill to play Sharpay in High School Musical. Stop laughing at me.

Does anyone actually like what the writers of "Grey's Anatomy" are doing to Izzie with this whole weird Denny thing? And what happened to George? They've totally slacked off on him this season. Am I the only one who's going to answer this question?! (Erin says: Yes, you are, because I think you and I are the only remaining viewers of that show.) Because I haven't been keeping up with the show this season (Erin says: Never mind, I guess it's just me.), but I heard (SPOILER ALERT) that the whole weird Izzie plot may be a vehicle to kill her off the show, and I hate Katherine Heigl with a passion, so I'm beyond okay with this. (Erin says: Why does every hate Katherine Heigl??? Does she kick puppies or something and no one told me?)

What is your dream job? I think I would like to be a princess. (Erin says: Brittany, get out of my head.) I enjoy tiaras and sparkly dresses and the idea of pretending to rule an empire while someone else actually does all of the work for me. If being one in real life was an impossibility, I'd settle for playing one on TV.

If you had to live for a month off of either corndogs or Big Macs, which would it be? Corndogs! I'm so picky about what goes on my hamburgers that a Brittany Big Mac would just be meat and bread (and cheese? Do Big Macs have cheese? I don't think I've ever actually had one. [Erin says: Yes -- don't you remember the song?]), and I feel like that would get really boring after awhile. Not that corndogs wouldn't, but I really love corndogs.

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate chip, but only if it's the green kind (Erin says: Amen, sister.). I don't care what anyone (Michael Schaaff, I am looking at you) says, the white kind just does not taste as good. Actually, I had blue mint chocolate chip ice cream once, though, and it was acceptable. Does this make me an ice cream racist?

Who's your celebrity cheat? You know, the celeb you heart so much that your significant other says "Okay, fine, if you ever meet that person, you can hook up once just to say you did it, and I won't get mad." Any significant other I manage to pick up is going to have to learn to be flexible, because I have a list, and it is extensive. Adam Brody and Taylor Kitsch are at the top of it.

Our second interview of the day is our beloved Stage Manager, without whom we would be both lost and confused.

Name: Colleen Stock
Role: Stage Manager

Favorite shows you’ve worked on: I think I'll have to go with Le Pas D'Acier or The Steel Step, a ballet done at Princeton University. Ton of fun and very not what I do normally as an SM.

Shows you’d like to do: Well, 5 Women was on my short list, so I'll have to go with How I Learned To Drive by Paula Vogel.

What are some of your non-theatre hobbies? I volunteer for the Flying Circus Aerodrome out in Bealeton, VA on Sundays. They perform a barnstorming show featuring vintage aircraft c. 1940s every Sunday from May through October. It's a fun way to lose weight and get a tan :D

What is your dream job? One where I get paid to do nothing but what I love. Does something like that exist?

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk. I can eat a whole container in one sitting. Sickening, I know ... (Erin says: I frequently eat a whole container of Ben and Jerry's in one sitting. And yes, it is a bit sickening. But so delicious at the time!!!)

Who’s your celebrity cheat? Hugh Jackman.

Interviews: Meet Michael and Erin!

Michael is hounding me for an update because I promised him that this week would be Michael and Erin week.

I'm honestly a bit surprised he's still excited about these interviews, since this is the third one he's done since this summer. Although at the rate he's going, even if he's not involved in a given show, I just may have to interview him anyway, or break our awesomeness streak.

Also, just cuz I feel like it, today we're Hokie-color-coding our interviews.

Name: Michael Schaaff

Role: Assistant Stage Manager / Assistant Costumes

Favorite roles you've played already: I'd have to say Michael in My Life: A Michael Schaaff Story (not actually a show, but I can't pick a favorite role/show without fear of being attacked by fellow theater people)
Roles you'd like to play someday: Still want to play Rod/Princeton in Avenue Q

If Five Women... was Survivor, in what order do you think the characters would be voted off the island? Why? Tripp (sorry, not enough room for 2 men), Frances (on principle), Trisha (there's only room for one manipulative person here ... me!), Meredith (stay long enough for me to laugh at the emo kid), Mindy (who doesn't love a witty lesbian), Georganne (she's just fun ... and no, I'm not sucking up to the blogger [Erin says: Yes, you are. Don't lie if you can't do it any better than that ;) ]), and finally Colleen ('cause I can't rule the island if I'm assisting someone) ... meaning I WIN SURVIVOR 5 WOMEN!

What are some of your non-theatre hobbies? Sleeping ... that's all my non-theater time allows for.

What is your dream job? To be a dreamer of dreams like Willy Wonka! Not creepy Johnny Depp Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder Willy Wonka. (Erin says: I never thought I'd say this, but you're right -- Johnny Depp is far creepier than Gene Wilder.)

If you had to live for a month off of either corndogs or Big Macs, which would it be? Big Macs ... GOD I love that special sauce. It's like crack ... maybe that's what's in it!

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Mint Chocolate Chip! THERE IS NO OTHER FLAVOR!

Now, I have to say, I feel really weird posting myself up here. It feels a touch narcissistic. But, I'm in the show, and anyway, you guys all want to learn about the person who writes these posts, I know you do. So here we go.

Name: Erin Anderson King
Role: Georgeanne

Favorite roles you’ve played already: Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, and Brooke in Noises Off. Last year I was Reggie in Some Girl(s), directed by the lovely and talented Susan Devine ... I'm not sucking up to the director, I swear. (Erin says: Yes, you are. Don't lie if you can't do it any better than that. Erin also says: Michael, this whole commenting on my own interview was a really weird idea, I'm not sure I'm digging it.)

Roles you’d like to play someday: I can’t carry a tune in a bucket (no one believes me on this because they've never heard me sing, but they've never heard me sing because I think it's mean to cause my friend irreparable hearing damage), so I don’t stand a chance of ever playing Elphaba or Glinda in Wicked or Maureen in Rent, but if I COULD sing, those would be on the list. I love, love, love Shakespeare, and would really love to play either Puck or Helena in Midsummer or Katherine in Taming of the Shrew. Oooh, or Ophelia in Hamlet. But my all-time must-play role is Shelby in Steel Magnolias.

If Five Women ... was Survivor, in what order do you think the characters would be voted off the island? Why? I think we’d lose Frances first, because she kind of annoys all of them. I hate to say it, but they’d probably all boot Georgeanne off next cuz she’s so whiny and self-deprecating (I know I could only be stuck on an island with that for so long ... and yet I'm living in her head until March -- joy and joyness!), and then probably Meredith just because she’s so immature, then Mindy because out of this group, Trisha's the “ultimate do-girl”.

If you had to live for a month off of either corndogs or Big Macs, which would it be? Big Macs, if I can scrape off some of the sauce to give to Michael, 'cuz I'd get sick of it after a week or so.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? I am obsessed with Edy’s slow-churned peppermint ice cream, which is the reason this question made it into the interview. Shame they only have it during the holidays. When it's not the holidays, Mint Chocolate Chip. Especially Turkey Hill, that stuff's addicting. Now I want ice cream.

What was your very first email address and/or IM screen name? Why did you choose it? My first email address was skyegirl17@hotmail … when I was 14, my friends and I found this thing at Claire’s in Apple Blossom Mall called “Boyfriend In a Box”. It was basically a box with a photo of said boy, a love note, a movie ticket stub, and other cheesy stuff, so that you could have your very own fake boyfriend. We each bought one, and I got Skater Skye (yes, I know that’s not a very manly name, but it’s the one he came with). I never actually told people Skye was my boyfriend though (seriously, I'm not THAT lame).

Who’s your celebrity cheat? You know, the celeb you heart so much that your significant other says “Okay, fine, if you ever meet that person, you can hook up once just to say you did it, and I won’t get mad.” I have so many, it’s a wonder Kevin married me at all. Nathan Fillion, I think, is the one I’ll choose ... a friend and I actually went to a nerd-con a few years back in hopes of meeting him, but didn’t realize that I was looking in the wrong place on the website for the con, and he’d been a guest the PREVIOUS year. I wanted to cry. But even if I had met Nathan, I probably would have been in such a state of star-struck-ness that I probably wouldn’t have even been able to squeak out a "hi", much less “Will you make out with me?”

Congrats to our WATCH nominees!!!

WATCH nominations went out this weekend, and CCT2FT people are all over the place!

For CCT2FT productions, we have:

• Outstanding Cameo in a Musical - Cathy Arnold as "Claire" - bare, a pop opera
• Outstanding Cameo in a Play - Robin Zerbe as "Miss Sandwich" - The Elephant
  Man
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play - Hans Dettmar as "John Merrick" - The
  Elephant Man

And for other companies/productions, the following CCT2FT board members have been nominated:

• Outstanding Choreography - Shannon Khatcheressian - A New Brain (KAT)
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Ryan Khatcheressian as "Roger Delli-
  Bovi" - A New Brain (KAT)
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play - Matthew Randall as "Norman" - The Dresser (PCP)

And many others whom we know and love -- congrats to everyone who was nominated!

More interviews!!!

This week we have a cast interview and a crew interview. Sorry I missed last week's update, for those of you who read this blog regularly (Michael) ... it was one of those weeks. But now I'm back!

Before I get into the interviews, I want to take a moment to play Mom: Take care of yourselves this winter. Get enough sleep, drink lots of fluids, get some Vitamin C -- half the cast and crew is fighting something right now, from a mild head cold on up through a lung infection (get better, Colleen!!!!), and it's not fun. I want you all to promise me that you'll do your best to stay healthy. Especially if you're working on our show ;)

That said, on to the interviews!!! First up, we have our costumer!

Name: Melissa Jo York-Tilley
Role: Costume Designer

Favorite shows you’ve worked on: Euripides’ The Bacchae, On Golden Pond, and Ghost Sonata.

Shows you’d like to do some day: I would absolutely love to direct Jesus Christ Superstar. I don’t usually act so I like projects that are challenging technically.

If you had to live for a month off of either corndogs or Big Macs, which would it be? Probably Big Macs because at least you have dairy, protein, and a tiny bit of veggies in there. (Erin says: You know, I hadn't actually thought about that. You make a good point ... you should do marketing for McDonald's!)

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Cookies & Cream!!!!

What was your very first email address and/or IM screen name? Why did you choose it? First name I’ve had is Melsiwelsie. A co-worker called me that one day and it stuck.

Who’s your celebrity cheat? You know, the celeb you heart so much that your significant other says “Okay, fine, if you ever meet that person, you can hook up once just to say you did it, and I won’t get mad.” Brendan Frasier ... YUMMY!!!!

If you were offered free plastic surgery and were guaranteed no complications from it, would you take it? What would you have done? I doubt it. Surgery scares me to death!!!

Name: Lauren Feliz
Role: Meredith Marlowe

Favorite roles you've played already: I was in musicals during high school ... most noteably I was Rapunzel in Into the Woods and Kate/Lilli Vannessi in Kiss Me Kate. Most recently I was Tyler in Some Girl(s) with 2nd Flight Productions.

Roles you'd like to play some day: Eliza Doolittle My Fair Lady ... Christine in Phantom of the Opera ... Other than that, whatever comes across my plate, I'm not too picky :)

Favorite thing about your character in Five Women: She sorta reminds me of myself in high school ... outside the whole spoiled bitchy part of her character (Erin says: Can we say "bitchy" on the air?). I remember trying to establish myself as an independent thinker, as a person who would define herself outside the status quo -- I respect that about her, as well as pity her for trying to do so. It's a hard road to follow ... not to mention that no man (or in this case woman) is an island and every group has rules you follow to be considered part of the group.

What are some of your non-theatre hobbies? I read a lot ... paint some ... watch my shows ... mostly I play with my 7 month old daughter.

What is your dream job? Dream job ... Rich, house/trophy wife? HA! Just kidding. Dream job would probably be an FBI profiler for their violent crimes unit, i.e. stopping super-bad guys.

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Coldstone, Birthday Cake Light with white chocolate morsels topping, with raspberries and gummy bears on it too ... Yum!

Who's your celebrity cheat? You know, the celeb you heart so much that your significant other says "Okay, fine, if you ever meet that person, you can hook up once just to say you did it, and I won't get mad." Ahhh, there are so many attractive men in the world ... I would have to go with either Paul Blackthorne or Mark Valley. I don't heart them so much that I'm in love ... but they sure are two yummy men. ;)

(Erin says: Just for you, loyal readers ... pictures of Lauren's celebrity cheats -- Paul first, then Mark. I didn't know who they were, and figured you might not either. Actually, once I saw them, I did know them -- I love Boston Legal.)