Week 3 Getting off book

This is the point of the rehearsal process where real strides get done. While actors have sketched in the broad outlines of their characters, it's only when they've memorized their lines, and linked dialogue with action and emotion that the production can really start to emerge as a living breathing entity.

Director David Hsieh is spending this time working with blocking, working scenes one way, then changing it to try another. Scenes begin in one area of the stage, then get moved to another to serve the flow of the show. Julia Beers gets to have fun and play with a variety of accents, from Southern to "New Yawk" to Yiddish (and even gets some more outré dialog). As always, actors are ready to take notes from the director and stage manager, noting incorrect lines and developing nuances of characterization from the director. This week ends with David giving links to a wide variety of YouTube footage featuring  some of the real life folks that are being portrayed in the show, from Wen Ho Lee to B. D. Wong to Lily Tomlin to Ed Koch.

Now, on the production side, I'm busy placing PR notices on web sites, publications and other electronic media. I've written press releases, calendar entries and PSAs and placed them across the country, in a variety of different areas. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to follow up with a number of papers or stations for feature stories and photos. If I'm not lucky, I'll get my articles ignored or thrown in the trash by the local "major" counter culture publications. You have to be persistent and almost annoying in getting through to folks (not an easy thing for someone who inadvertently embodies a fair number of the stereotypical Asian personality traits).

In addition, I'm lining up group sales. Right now, I've got some deals set up with the Seattle chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (I served on their board a few years back), the local chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association and Seattle Chinese Garden. Not done yet, because I hope to line up more folks.

And....we have a special announcement for next week. So we'll talk later....

So, remember, YELLOW FACE is a production of both the Pork Filled Players and Repertory Actors Theatre. It opens on Friday, August 5 and runs through Saturday, September 3 at the Richard Hugo House (1634 11th Ave in Seattle’s Capitol Hill area). Shows are 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm. Admission is $15 General Admission, $12 Students/Seniors/Artists at the door; tickets can also be purchased in advance at Brown Paper Tickets (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/181433) for $12 General, $9 Students/Seniors/Artists. Discounted group rates are also available for parties of 10 or more. For more information and ticket reservations, please call the ReAct Box Office at (206)364-3283 or visit online at http://www.reactheatre.org or go to the Pork Filled Players website.