Here are a few local news clippings from the Omaha World-Herald about The Borrowers.

1. http://www.omaha.com/article/20121018/GO/710189988

My favorite part of this feature article is a quote from our incredible director:

Young audiences are the best, because they'll go with you anywhere... Adults sit back and analyze what they're seeing. But young audiences will go with you anywhere — as long as you do it in an honest way.

2.  Review: http://www.dealsomaha.com/article/20121020/LIVING/710209938

Enjoy!!

A dynamic summer of teaching is complete!  I taught Classical Scene Study for 8 weeks at Springer Theatre Academy.  At the end of a session, the students are asked to submit an anonymous evaluation.  I've included some quotes from those evals.  I also sat in on 2 weeks of class at the brand new WildCat Theatre Conservatory and spent a lot of time with C2s (4th-5th graders) and the C3s (6th-8th graders).

Enjoy these photos and quotes from 10 weeks of incredible humility, generosity and learning!

"Classical lets me calm down and find my self.  I'm glad we had this class." - a 7th grader

Springer Theatre Academy: Rehearsal for "Julius Caesar" in the ruins of the Actor's Arena

 "I felt really pushed in this class, which I REALLY enjoyed." - a 9th grader

"This class is wonderful!  Kyle & Katie REALLY focus on classical scenes.  They challenge you, but it's fun challenges that make you want to accept them." - a 6th grader

WildCat Theatre Conservatory: John and I make our best lizard faces at Banquet.

"Very fun, Kyle explains things well and Katie gives the swag in it." - a 5th grader

"I love how the teachers made the work of Shakespeare funny and enjoyable." - an 8th grader

"I loved this class.  Teachers communicate well.  Great experience.  I learn something new every year." - an 8th grader

WildCat Theatre Conservatory: Front Page News!  Doing the negative space exercise with 4th and 5th graders!

Some photos from the DCRT production of Phoenix I directed this past Spring.  More photos can be found under The Director tab in the Gallery.

Enjoy!

Three weeks down, five to go at the theatre academy this summer!

I'm teaching Classical Scene Study and, in addition to the joy innate in reading Shakespeare half for fun and half for work, I'm enjoying the process of students slowly filling the Bard's words with meaning for themselves and opening their mouths to speak them to an audience.

My team teacher and I began this summer with certain objectives in mind - students engaging their bodies in heightened movement as a tool to endow the heightened text, telling stories with aforementioned movement and text...

But it is a daily revelation to witness the other skills they are absorbing - commitment and responsibility for their actions, trusting others, the value of teamwork and collaboration.  I come away from each day thankful that I have the opportunity to teach students these skills in a world where these skills are sometimes undervalued.  It feels really good.

The reviews are in!

Here are a few excerpts from the three reviews of Phoenix, which ran in Albuquerque from May 10th - 20th.

From the ABQ Journal:

"Director Katie Becker uses the play’s simplicity to its advantage... 'Phoenix' is presented in 75 minutes without an intermission, but its images linger."

From Broadway World:


"Organ’s quick-paced, witty dialogue always appears true to character and is deftly delivered by the two principals. They - and director Katie Becker - get extra hurrahs for creating a world of their own within the confines of a very small theater, where the ‘stage’ is simply a part of the floor...

The professional, core company, draws talent from around the country (Katie Becker is based in Chicago) and they clearly operate to a very high standard. I look forward to their next season."


From Talkin' Broadway:

"A playgoer never knows how much of the interpretation of a role depends upon the actor and how much upon the director (in this case, Katie Becker), but there must have been some magical synergy going on because this is the best performance I have ever seen by Frank...

The play is enjoyable, with several laughs, some drama, and a satisfying ending. I've been purposefully vague about the plot, hoping that you will see the play for yourself. The performances make it well worth the effort."

Oedipus photos are up!  Check out my Acting Gallery for the full spread.

But here's a couple to whet your photo-viewing appetite:

The production photos from Wooden Snowflakes are in!  The show was produced by Duke City Repertory Theatre and ran from December 8th - 18th, 2011.  More photos with headings can be found by clicking on "The Director" box above and then selecting "Gallery" from the green bar.

But here's a smattering for now!

I've been in Albuquerque for four weeks now, rehearsing the pants off of Oedipus the King.  The process has been energizing and transformative in that every artist working on the production is committed to risking daily in rehearsal and learning as quickly and effectively as possible; but also because I've had the good fortune to live in actor housing with my main squeeze (who is playing Oedipus) and the director, who is a mentor, a friend, and a scientist of acting.

Rehearsal spills into our living room conversations.  And what we ate for breakfast becomes fodder for rehearsal.  For the past four weeks, it seems that we have been having a continuous conversation about the art and craft of creating theatre and how many of the common practices in the theatre community are not necessarily the most effective practices.

Like memorizing.  Why would we try to remember our lines?  A character will never do that.  Instead, we can rehearse needing the words to get to the next moment.

Or the read-through.  Or the off-book rehearsal.  Why have we condemned those rehearsals to being "just" this or "just" that?  Instead, we can allow them to be as risky and compelling and illuminating as every other rehearsal.

We go into tech tomorrow and I am excited to continue the experiment of making character-driven choices whenever possible.  Allowing my character to live in the clothing, the space, with the new light.  Allowing myself to follow each impulse I have in order to navigate the pestilence-filled square of space that equals Thebes.

And remembering constantly: I, the actor and the character, am capable of much more than I think I am.  Always.