Tag Archives: LiFT Theatre Company

No, It Really IS Friday!

Posted on November 11, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’m having a Bela moment.

I was going to call this post “Not Feeling Friday,” but a quick search showed me I have already used that title.  Still, feeling it or not, it is Friday, the day I allow myself to post lame (I have different excuses the other days, you know that, so just hold your sarcastic comments till the end).  However, lame or not, a post must be made.  I thought to do the picture thing I have come to enjoy and perhaps overuse.  Looking through my Media Library, I saw this gem, a longtime favorite of mine.  Of course I usually post it on a Tuesday, but it just feels right today.

This was one of my favorite Facebook profile pictures.

I put in this picture in case anybody is judging me for my day-of-the-week time warp.  Go ahead and judge!  I’m not perfect!  I’m not even pretty damn good most days!

Hey, wasn’t I running away from this guy in yesterday’s post?

Oh, here, for anybody who might be sitting there saying, “But dammit, it really IS Friday!”  I can appreciate being a stickler for accuracy.

This is a really fun movie. I wonder if Steven would be into watching it tonight.

I add this picture purely for the irony:  obviously my brain has died, leaving my body behind, fingers typing foolishly.  OK, I have to admit: that just amused me quite a bit.  Well, I’m afraid I write this blog for me.  I hope to also entertain any readers who happen to chance by, but if I please myself, at least SOMEBODY will be happy.  I think even silly bloggers deserve some happiness.

Speaking of silly, I will end with a silly picture of me, in a dramatic moment in The Tempest, the play I was in the LiFT Theatre Company this past summer.  I kind of went over the top in this scene, but the director never told me I went too far, so I guess it was all right.  Now that I think about it, it is a little further irony to put this picture under the heading “Speaking of Silly,” because at that moment in the play (in fact, almost any moment I am on stage), I did not even think about feeling silly: I just went for it.

I’m the one in the yellow tights, in case you couldn’t guess.

Happy Friday, everybody.

 

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Break a Lame?

Posted on October 28, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

On the brighter side, I found my shoes, along with a few other things I’d been missing.

On the darker side (not that I ever actually crossed over to The Dark Side, but that’s a whole other reference), this is going to be another foolish post, even for Lame Post Friday.  I can’t help myself!  I have a play tonight and I am flustered!!! (Yes, it needs all three exclamation points, Punctuation Police.)

One problem is I ate something too large for dinner and I am sick to my stomach.  It tasted good going down, but now its just sitting there, tormenting me.  Oh well, it should digest by curtain time.

Another problem, incidentally, is that there is no curtain.  And I don’t need to know my lines.  Strike Story is the reader’s theatre piece beautifully researched and written by Angela Harris about the textile mills strike in Little Falls in 1912.  There is no curtain because we are not doing it on a stage but in a banquet room in the Travelodge Inn and Suites in Little Falls.  I do so appreciate hiding behind a curtain when I am not actually on stage.  The entire cast is on stage for the entire show.  That makes it a fun and interesting acting challenge, because we get to react to everything that is going on.  But there is also no break and chance to hide.  Yes, I am this weird combination of great big ham and little bitty scaredy cat (not too little, but let’s not get into my dieting woes right now).

What I was saying to a friend at work is, this is an important show.  It is important to the writer, director and cast.  It has historical significance.  It is an honor to be in such a play, and it is a responsibility.  In other plays, if I screw up, I fix it as best I can, and I will probably laugh about it, either as it’s happening or later.  There is every chance the audience will laugh, too.  Of course, I always strive to NOT screw up.  It just seems especially important this time.

So this is my foolish blog post dithering about my pre-show jitters.  I have been going over my lines and thinking about my character all day.  And, as I mentioned earlier, I found the shoes I wanted to wear.  I wore a different pair for dress rehearsal, and they were all right, but the pair I found is better, yes!  I am now perfectly well prepared to break a leg.

 

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Is a Throwback a Non-Sequitur?

Posted on October 27, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Good evening and welcome to Non-Sequitur Thursday.  I am tired as I can be… OK, that is an exaggeration.  I bet I could be a lot more tired, for example, if I had gone running again today or cleaned my house or worked overtime or… see? I’m making myself more tired just by thinking about it.  Actually, now that I think about all the things I have not done today, I feel a little bit ill-used for being so tired.  What the hell, me?

Never mind all that.  I have a blog post to make.  Just now as I was casting about in my rather mushy brain for an idea, I remembered, Throwback Thursday.  People on Facebook post pictures from the past. Maybe I could do that!  I could even be non-sequiturish about it.  I bet I have some good stuff in my Media Library.  Let’s look…

I am not sure what he is looking at.

This is our late, much missed poocher, Spunky.  I guess sometimes Throwback Thursday can sometimes make you melancholy.

I can’t even believe what he is telling me to say.

Here is something more cheerful.  This is my husband, Steven, and I  as Dr. Chumley and Veda in the Ilion Little Theatre production of Harvey in the spring on 2012.  I believe I wrote a few blog posts about it at the time.

These days we use champagne flutes.

Now here is a REAL Throwback Thursday shot!  This is our wedding in October of 1990.  Look how young and cute we were!  I suppose we’re still kind of cute, for a couple of old folks (some people call us old something else that begins with an f, but I do not care to be vulgar).

I think three pictures is good for a foolish post when I’m tired.  Now all I have to do is slap on a snappy headline and I’m done.  I hope people will tune in again tomorrow on Lame Post Friday.  I will probably be quite flustered, because I will be about to leave for the performance of Strike Story  with LiFt Theatre Company in Little Falls.  I’m sure I’ve mentioned it.  I bet I even included a link to the Facebook event.  I just did again.  So this is not a completely useless post.  Happy Thursday, everyone.

 

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What’s the Story?

Posted on October 25, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

This is another pre-rehearsal hasty post (which is not the same thing as hasty pudding) (which I have no idea what that is anyways but thought I would throw it in there).  Will I ever take a break from doing plays and rushing off to rehearsal?  Yes, after this one.

And I really wanted to write a good blog post about it, telling a little about the play, its history, the Little Falls history it is based on, the event of its revival, the special guest involved…

And my brain has turned to mush!  The best I can do, it seems, is to tell you the where, when, etc., and link back to the Facebook event.

The play is Strike Story, by Little Falls resident Angela Harris, directed by Matthew Powers, and presented by LiFT Theatre Company.  The performance is 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at the Travel Lodge Inn and Suites, 20 Albany St., Little Falls, NY.  Tickets are $5.  Guests are invited to arrive early as a cash bar will be available (I’ve been told that my character would NOT enter carrying a gin martini, dammit!).  I have linked to the Facebook event on the word event, above.

And this is my Tired Tuesday post.  I have to take my shower, finish getting my costume together, and get on the road.  I hope to see you all tomorrow, when it will probably be Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

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Another Pre-Rehearsal Hasty Post

Posted on October 4, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, it was going to be a Bad Attituesday no matter what anyways, but I’m afraid now I have to take a blogger’s sick day.  I have been feeling quite awful since last night, dizzy, nauseous, headache, body aches, stiffness… oh, sorry, now I’m going on and on, whining in a most unbecoming fashion.  I’m pretty sure it is my allergies, and I’m just going to have to ride it out.  Once when I had gastroenteritis, a doctor told me that the body can ride out an astonishing number of things if only you stay hydrated.  With that in mind, I drank water all day, with only the necessary amount of coffee thrown in, and now am sipping seltzer with lemon from a wine glass (woman cannot live by water alone) (at least, not this woman).

Where was I?  Did I mention I’m also feeling kind of out of it?  That’s just MARVELOUS news for me, since I have to drive myself to Little Falls in about a half hour for rehearsal for Strike Story.  I don’t suppose I mentioned Strike Story recently. It is a beautifully researched reader’s theatre piece about the 1912 textile workers strike in Little Falls, written by Little Falls resident Angela Harris.  It was the inaugural production of LiFT Theatre Company, first presented in 2012.  I had the good fortune to take part in it when Ilion Little Theatre imported the production in November of that year (I may have written  a few blog posts about it at the time).

Well, LiFT is reviving the play on Oct. 27 in Little Falls.  Unfortunately, a quick search as I type this does not give me further info as to time, ticket prices, etc.  However, this is a daily blog, so as soon as I find out more, I’ll write another post.  In the meantime, I’ve got to punch holes in my script and put it in a binder.  Thank God it’s reader’s theatre and I don’t have to learn all the lines!

Hmm… this is not the blog post I set out to write at all.  No matter, I have not time to rewrite it.  I hope to see you all tomorrow on Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

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My Weekend: Ritz to GRAVE

Posted on September 19, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Me and my disreputable LiFT friends.

I thought if I led with a really cool picture, my readers would forgive me for another post where I ain’t got nuthin’.    Yes, I said “ain’t got nuthin’.”  A double negative, the word “ain’t,” and a phonetic spelling of lazy pronounciation.  Lots of no-nos!  Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! (That was my evil laugh, in case you did not recognize it.)

I had a busy, tiring weekend.  The above photo is members of LiFT Theatre Company participating in the Ritz and Ragtime fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.  That was my Saturday night, and I spent a good portion of Saturday afternoon getting my costume back together and generally fretting about it, as I tend to do about such things.  We had a lot of fun and got to see one of the famous mansions at Rutger Place.  I’d like to find out more about the Landmarks Society and participate in future fundraisers.

Sunday was taken up with A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, the murder mystery fundraiser for the Herkimer County Historical Society.  That was a lot of fun, too.  We met at my house, so naturally I had to fix a few snacks.  We had a lot of laughs, too.  Now I must get on with learning my lines.  You might think I would already know them, since, you know, I wrote it.  But not so much.  Anyways, it will be easier than learning Shakespeare.

Expect to hear a lot about this in the next few weeks.

After A G.R.A.V.E. Murder, I may take a break from theatrics for a while (even from being a drama queen in real life, if I can manage it).   Many of my friends shake their heads or laugh and point when I say that, but I really need to work on some other things in my life.  On the other hand, if the Landmarks Society wanted to do a murder mystery fundraiser…

 

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More Fun with my Theatre Friends

Posted on September 17, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I am sitting on my couch in my husband’s bathrobe (oh, don’t say TMI, just be happy I’m not sitting around naked!), waiting till it’s time to get ready for tonight’s adventure, which I wrote a blog post about two days ago (perhaps you read it).  I did accomplish one thing I meant to do: I emailed out character sheets and scripts to the cast of my next theatrical endeavor.

They put my name on the flier! I’m really on the spot now!

A G.R.A.V.E Murder is an interactive murder mystery dinner theatre.  I’ve done a few such in the area. Engaged To Be Murdered  and He Laughed Himself to Death at the Morning Star Methodist Church in Ilion were presented under the auspices of Ilion Little Theatre.  Who Shot J.S.?  was produced by and for the Herkimer County Historical Society.   Rubbed Out at Ruby’s was a slightly different interactive murder mystery presented by LiFT Theatre Company at the Overlook Mansion in Little Falls.   So you see, I have the bonafides when it comes to murdering people theatrically (my computer is telling me “bonafides” is not a word, but I don’t have time to look it up) (full disclosure:  I probably do have time to look it up; I’m just too tired and agitated).

Where was I?  Ah yes, A G.R.A.V.E. Murder.  G.R.A.V.E. stands for Ghost Retrieval and Verification Enterprises.  We are a company of ghost hunters, and our fearless leader was recently killed during a ghost-hunting expedition.  Were the evil ghosts he was hunting responsible?  Or was it one of his earthly colleagues?  Hmmmm…..

We begin rehearsals tomorrow (murder mysteries don’t take nearly as many rehearsals as full-length plays).  I have gathered a wonderful cast of marvelously talented people (I don’t say that just to butter them up; it is quite true and I’m sure they would agree with me).

My co-workers have been shaking their heads at me, reminding me that I had vowed to take a theatrical break after The Tempest,  yet here I am, pulling out Ruby’s long cigarette holder (don’t worry; they’re fake cigarettes) and writing murder mysteries.  But these aren’t full-length plays!  Tonight shouldn’t even really count, since I didn’t have any lines to learn.  All right, for the murder mystery I have some lines to learn (I’m not the dead body, after all).  Not too many!  Oh well, maybe after Oct. 14 I will take a real break.  If I don’t, you are welcome to say “I told you so.”  I will be too busy having fun with my theatre friends to worry about it.

A G.R.A.V.E. Murder  will take place at the Mohawk American Legion on Oct. 14 at 5:30 p.m.  Cost is $22 per person and includes a delicious roast beef dinner.  There will be a Chinese auction as well as prizes for some who correctly guess the murderer.  Tickets may be purchased at the historical society at 400 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by calling 315-866-6413.

 

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Probably NOT the Last Time I’ll Talk About the Tempest

Posted on September 5, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I can still do a Mental Meanderings Monday even if I did have the day off.  Judge me if you like, I’m doing it.  I have had the most delightful lazy three-day weekend imaginable.  I know, I know, not everybody had a three-day weekend.  I’ve had plenty of jobs where I did not get all the traditional Monday holidays off. I’m not gloating, I’m APPRECIATING!  Sheesh!

Now where was I?  Ah yes, about to share a picture I just saw on my Facebook newsfeed.

Robbie the Robot, what’s not to like?

I’ve seen Forbidden Planet, and I have to say: not the cheesy delight I was hoping for.  The movie took on new meaning for me when I was cast in LiFT Theatre Company’s production of The Tempest (I believe I have mentioned that play once or twice), because I have always heard that Forbidden Planet was based on or an update of that play.  I even heard on one of my monster movie Facebook groups (I forget which one) that William Shakespeare is even listed in the end credits of the movie.

Well, I don’t remember a whole lot about the movie (I may have written a blog post about it, and I may muster the energy to look for it), but I gotta say, I do not see a whole lot of similarities.  And I am not real anxious to re-watch the movie to look for them.  Oh, I don’t rule it out.  I’m just not going to seek it out.

I’ve shared this picture before, but I don’t mind seeing a shirtless young man more than once.

This is our Caliban, for whom Robbie the Robot is the ostensible parallel (don’t you just love the word “ostensible”?).  I can’t say the resemblance is striking, unless I am indulging in irony (although, admittedly, many of us do not get enough irony in our diet)

Look how happy we all are!

I close with a picture of our Tempest cast, immediately following our final performance, at the Herkimer Elks Lodge, this past Friday.   One may observe that this is kind of a thin post.  Then again, it is Monday, albeit a holiday Monday for me.  Well, what do you want from me?  I’ve had a lazy weekend and I’ve got post play let-down!  Please tune in tomorrow, when I will strive NOT to have a Tired Tuesday post.

 

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No, I’m Not Going to Act and Type!

Posted on September 2, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I tried that before.  Shit happens, as we all know, then I don’t type at all. And as Truman Capote once said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing.”

Where was I?  Ah yes, about to make an especially Lame Friday Post before I go back to either frantically chopping vegetables or thrusting my hot-flashing body into pantyhose (sorry if that gives you an unfortunate mental image)  (not real sorry) (OK, not sorry at all, ha ha on you!).  I’m thinking, this is actually a Flustered Friday post.  You’ll have that when you’re in a play.

And here they are: my acting friends!

Yes, I’ve shared this picture before.  It is one of my favorites.   I actually think it is kind of good I am so flustered, or I might begin to become melancholy.  This will be my last performance with a cast I have grown very fond of.  As I observed before in this space: not a stinker amongst them, and none of them seems to mind that I am kind of a stinker myself (not literally, mind you, it’s an EXPRESSION, don’t be so didactic!) (you know who you are).

As regular readers may remember, tonight LiFT Theatre Company will perform The Tempest at a dinner theatre at Herkimer Elks Lodge.  Who knew the Elks were so cultured?  They were a great audience last year for Much Ado About Nothing, so we have all been looking forward to this performance.  For another reason, it is indoors.  No worries about rain and it is just a little bit easier to make ourselves heard.

I have been saying my lines all day at work, sometimes to suitably impressed co-workers.  There is nothing to do now but get into costume and remember to breathe (which is not as easy as it may sound) (either one).  And hit Publish, because, lame as this may be, it is my Friday post. Have a wonderful evening, everyone.

 

 

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It Ain’t Over Till… Well, Friday

Posted on August 29, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I bet you thought I was going to say it ain’t over till I sing.  Indeed, when I sing, it is over.  It is almost like my super power: the ability to clear the room and/or induce snide remarks.  But never mind my waistline and singing abilities:  we’re here to talk about The Tempest!  Did you think All Tempest All The Time was over?  Oh, you poor misguided blog reader, you.  More astute readers will remember we have one more performance, at the Herkimer Elks Lodge this Friday, Sept. 1, with a spaghetti dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Thespians in their natural habitat.

I shared this picture before, but I think it is a good one.  It is our “in character” shot taken after the performance at the Utica Zoo Saturday before last.

Yes, we look pretty, but not nearly as much fun.

We took this picture just before the other one, with us all smiling nicely.  I smiled nicely in both shots, because, well, that’s my character.

Yes, I’m the maniacal-looking one in the yellow tights.

I hesitated to share this one, because I think I look pretty ridiculous, but then, that’s what makes it entertaining, no?  It is the very end of the play.  Everything ends so happily that my character gets a little carried away.  After this performance, the actor who plays Alonso (that’s the guy with is hands clasped, apparently wondering if he should send for the King’s Physician) (they didn’t have the men in the white coats in Shakespeare’s day) said he hoped there were no audience members who kept kosher, because of all the ham onstage.

“Are you referring to me?”  I asked.  “I’m only a little ham.  I’m a Hamlet.”

I was pretty proud of myself for that one.

For more information on The Tempest dinner theatre at the Herkimer Elks Lodge, call 315-866-1439.

 

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