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.)

Meet the Cast of "Five Women"!!!!

Or some of the cast, anyway. I'm going to spread these out some over the next few weeks.

Let's start with our lone guy (poor Felipe, he came to rehearsal on Monday night and had to sit through a LOT of us girls talking about all sorts of stuff with regard to our characters -- sexual promiscuity, weight issues, Mommy issues, Daddy issues, all sorts of stuff ... he was a very good sport, but I felt really bad for him).

Typically I like to post headshots of the cast, but I don't have any of today's featured cast members. I did, however, find a cast photo from LTA's The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, in which Felipe played Comet and Laura played Blitzen. So here's that:

Felipe would be the sullen-looking reindeer in the green shirt in the lower left corner. Laura is in the beige suit, with curly black hair.

Name: Felipe Cabezas
Role: Tripp

Favorite roles you’ve played already: Wallace in Women and Wallace; Graham in Cleansed

Roles you’d like to play someday: Jules in Boom; the frat dawg in Red Light Winter; and others whose names I can’t remember right now.

What are some of your non-theatre hobbies? Playing sports, photography, watching stand-up comedy.

What is your dream job? Astronaut

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Anything chocolate. In fact, the more vicious the name, the better. If some company made a “Lethal Fudge Injection Chocolate,” I would be ALL OVER that.

What was your very first email address and/or IM screen name? Why did you choose it? YpshnaAfro. Ypshna was a nickname (which was only really used for a month or two), and I had a 'fro when I made the screen name.

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.” Manuela Martelli. Google her. (Erin says: I did, and her pic is below. She's cute.)

Name: Laura J. Scott
Role: Mindy

Favorite roles you've played already: Favorite role was Veta in Harvey, favorite production was Saturday Sunday Monday at LTA.

Roles you'd like to play someday: Volumnia in Coriolanus

Least favorite thing about your character in Five Women: She's a graceful klutz like me, a little too close to home.

What are some of your non-theatre hobbies? Raising my daughter Hannah. Training my cats to leash walk. Pretending I'm foreign when an annoyingly stupid (American) tourist in DC asks me for directions.

What is your dream job? To be part of a rep acting company where I have the luxury of being paid/getting benefits to act every day.

If you had to live for a month off of either corndogs or Big Macs, which would it be? I'd starve first.

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey

Who's your celebrity cheat? David Strathairn (Erin says: Just for kicks, I'll give you guys a pic of him too.)

2009 Season and Director Applications

Happy Monday, all! I think this may be the first time in history that I have updated EARLY.

But we have exciting news that must be shared!!!

CCT with 2nd Flight Theatre Company has announced its 2009 season! You all know that we're kicking off with Five Women Wearing the Same Dress (or you should, since it's all I've been blogging about for weeks), but we have chosen the rest of our season and are ready to begin looking for directors who are interested in working with us on these two shows.

Our second show of the season, going up after Five Women... in late spring, is Flight of the Lawnchair Man by Peter Ullian and Robert Lindsey-Nassif, a fun and slightly campy musical about Wal*Mart employee Jerry Gorman who, with the help of his girlfriend Gracie, achieves his dream of flight by suspending a lawnchair from 400 helium balloons. (Side note: Some Guy in Oregon actually did this.)

Rounding off our season in the fall will be John Guare's award-winning Six Degrees of Separation, a story about a con artist and the relationship he develops with an older couple he's scammed. The original Broadway cast included Stockard Channing and Anthony Rapp (best known for originating the role of Mark in Rent), and the film version starred Ms. Channing and Mr. Rapp (reprising their roles from the stage production -- Channing was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for this film), Donald Sutherland, Ian McKellan, Anthony Michael Hall, Heather Graham, and Will Smith as the con artist, circa The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

If you're interested in directing one of these two shows for us, submit the director application package by December 31, 2008!

And for all you actors, put us on your audition radar.

This promises to be a particularly fun season ... you know you want to be a part of it!!!

Rehearsal Numero Uno

So on Monday night we had our first read-through at Susan's house, prefaced by the Best Brunswick Stew Ever (thanks to Donna Naybour for the recipe!) and an estrogen-laden conversation about babies and the like that probably made poor Jeff the sound guy want to put his head through a wall, being the only male in the room (the only male in the cast, Felipe, was unable to be there, so poor Jeff was on his own. Sorry Jeff.).

The read-through went well. We talked some about our characters, some about the impact of the play's events on each woman, and touched on some ways we can play with the meanings of and reactions to some of the script's more major happenings. I think we're on our way to a rockin' good show.

On a more personal note, I went into this a little apprehensive about playing the funny Georgeanne (even though it was my most coveted part in the show), as my only truly comedic role to date is Brooke in Noises Off, which is supposed to be over-the-top silly. I was afraid of doing Georgeanne a disservice by trying too hard either to be funny, or not to be funny, but in the car on the way home I realized that out of all the characters in this play, I am the most like Georgeanne, and her experiences are experiences I can actually identify with personally, unlike the other characters. So I'm feeling a lot better about that. I can't speak for the others, but I at least am going to have a LOT of fun getting inside this woman's head. I'm so excited!

Next week's agenda for the blog: begin cast interviews!!! Check back and see who I decide to put on the spot :)