Standing Still Standing

WINNERS!

2009-07-16T17:06:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to:

Maelyn

Alisha

You each won 4 cupcakes + 2 tickets to Standing Still Standing

Please email us at sss at bluelightstage dot org to claim your prizes!!

TODAY ONLY - 25% off tonight's performance!

2009-07-16T09:21:00.003-06:00

Check out one of our production stills! (He's taking meds, not drugs.)

ANYWAY...

We've got a reviewer coming tonight and we'd love to pack the house. So...today you can purchase tickets and use the coupon code "THURSDAY" for 25% off your order. That means a student ticket at $10 is only $7.50; an adult ticket at $12 is only $9. Basically, you could recruit three friends to buy tickets and yours is free!

If you can't buy tickets in advance don't worry. Just mention this offer at the Box Office and we'll give you $2 off the price. Not quite as good as 25% but still a great deal.

Hope to see you there!

GIVEAWAY!!

2009-07-13T09:00:00.003-06:00

In honor of a fantastic opening weekend, we're doing another GIVEAWAY!

Two lucky winners will win 4 delicious Cupcakes by Melanie Hess as well as 2 tickets to a performance of Standing Still Standing.

HOW TO ENTER:

There are three ways to enter the giveaway drawing. If you want to increase your chances of winning, enter the drawing multiple ways!

comment on this blog post (you don't have to have a blog to be able to comment)
reply to/follow us on twitter
or post our blog as your status on facebook (and then post the link below).

DEADLINE:

The giveaway will close at 5 pm on Thursday (MST) when we will do the drawing and post the winners!

Good Luck!

Justine Trotter

2009-07-11T01:00:00.000-06:00

Stats

Nicknames: Teenie, Teen, Teener Weiner, Teenie Weenie, etc.
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Favorite Fruit: strawberries
Pepsi or Coke: Coke
Home Town: Las Vegas
Dream Job: High School Teacher
Favorite TV Show: House
Favorite Actor: The sexy one in the movie
Justine's Aura is: azure skies-ish
Guilty Pleasure: Gossip Girl
Pet Peeve: Calling me teener weiner
Weirdest Dream She Ever Had: Slimer from Ghost Busters and Mary (Jesus' mother) were in a tent that I peeked into and then Slimer chased me up a tree, wrapped me in a picnic blanket and pushed me off.
If Justine Could Vote Off 2 Letters of the Alphabet, She Would Choose: W, because it takes too much effort when singing the alphabet song (3 syllables, really?!) and X because it's impossible to come up with words when playing Scattegories/Boggle etc
If Justine Had to Get Rid of a Sense She would Get Rid Of: My sixth one because it's freaking me out
Justine can't live without: food and water and neither can anybody else.
Most Played Song in her iTunes: Dare by The Higher
Cool Word that Rhymes with Justine: Philippine-o?
Favorite Line From The Show: "Well roast my chestnuts and call me Albert."

The Winners!!

2009-07-07T01:09:00.002-06:00

We are excited to announce the winners for our drawing!

NICOLE
Cupcakes by Melanie Hess
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

NIKKI
Ice Shaver Package
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

Please email SSS@bluelightstage.org to get your prizes!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

We will be doing giveaways every Friday until the end of July, so stay tuned!

Hillary Straga

2009-07-04T00:00:00.001-06:00

(giveaway below)

Stats

Nicknames: Hill, Hills, Bufa
Marital Status: Happily
Favorite Number: 53,798,162
Least Favorite Vegetable: Anything can taste good with enough butter and brown sugar
Dream Job: Night Club Singer
Favorite TV Show: SYTYCD
Favorite Actress: Cate Blanchett
Pet Peeve: disappointing produce - as in the produce disappoints me, not that it bothers me when I don't live up to my produce's expectations.
In 5 years, Hillary sees herself: out for good behavior
If Hillary could acquire one skill in one day and be a professional at it, she says it would be: well, I can pretty much do everything so...
If Hillary had to get rid of one sense, she would get rid of: Touch. Then I would be impervious to pain which would be cool until I lost an important body part because I couldn't feel it.
Hillary's Motto: Meh. Whatevah.
Hillary's Patronus: A dove - I don't know why but I took that facebook test.
Hecka or Tight: Hecka but I'm answering under duress
Mac or PC: PC
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Line in the Show: "Is your Wookie really Bent?" (At least I think this line should be in the show.)

(giveaway below)

Free Date Friday!

2009-07-03T00:00:00.001-06:00

FREE DATE FRIDAY!

First Giveaway Package:

Cupcakes by Melanie Hess

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

Second Giveaway Package:

Ice Shaver Package

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

HOW TO ENTER:

There are three ways to enter the giveaway drawing. If you want to increase your chances of winning, enter the drawing multiple ways!

comment on this blog post
reply to/follow us on twitter
or post our blog as your status on facebook (and then post the link below).

DEADLINE:

The giveaway will close at 7 pm on Monday (MST) when we will do the drawing and post the winners!

Good Luck!

(if your interested in partnering with us on a future giveaway, contact me for info at ssss at bluelightstage dot org)

A Cold Day in July

2009-06-30T17:41:00.005-06:00

It was a clear, sunny day; only wispy thoughts of clouds passed overhead. Despite the sun, the morning was rather cool. Grace sat in the parking lot for a long time — nearly half an hour just sitting — looking at the ring on her finger. Occasionally looking up at the wrought iron staircase leading to the battered green door. Behind that door, Ben was probably still asleep. If she waited much longer, she would be late for work. The thing was, part of her didn't care.

After two minutes that felt like twenty she got out of the car and headed up the stairs. She took out her key and carefully unlocked the door, sucking in a breath as the hinges creaked. She hesitated, but heard nothing from within. She slipped in, gently pressing the door closed behind her.

Normally Ben slept sprawled across the futon, his face pressed into the mattress, arms and legs frozen in mid-flail, the covers in disarray. Today he was on his side, curled like a child, holding the blankets up under his chin. Grace shook her head. Just looking at him made her —

She turned away, pacing. Get it over with, and be quick about it, or you’ll just stand here all day. Just stand here all day, watching him sleep… Grace rubbed at her eyes. Was this what her life was going to be from now on?

The wedding was just weeks away. They had been to the King County courthouse, had done all the paperwork, had picked up the license. A single sheet of paper that gave them permission to marry within the state of Washington. A single page, thin and delicate; even slight pressure would crumple it. A single match would make it disappear in moments. How could such a fragile thing hold so much weight?

Kneeling beside the futon, Grace let out a breath that gently rustled Ben’s hair.

“Hi,” she said. “This is probably a little ridiculous, but I just need to say…” She sat back on her heels. What? What did she need to say? Leaning her cheek on one hand, she reached out with the other, smoothing his hair between her fingers.

Instinctively his hand moved up and met hers, tucking it possessively under his chin.

Grace smiled for a moment, then bit her lip. Her eyes clouded over and she could feel a familiar tightening in her throat.

“I have to go,” she said. “I’m sorry. I just — I have to — ” She stood suddenly, pulling her hand away. Ben did not move, and Grace fled into the sunshine.

*** *** ***

It was past one when Ben finally awoke. His eyes were dry, their lids like sandpaper. A familiar scent was in his nostrils; perhaps from a dream? Perhaps not. He pulled himself to a sitting position.

“Gracie?” He looked around. Nope; he was alone. His shoulders slumped a bit; it was always a welcome thing to wake up with Grace close by. It wouldn’t be long till it was a regular occurrence. He stretched and glanced at the clock. Yikes. He should probably check in with — Where was his phone? Usually with his wallet, which today was —

Something bright caught his eye. His gaze moved to the door, and he saw his phone and wallet sitting on the table beside it. He stood and crossed to the door, reaching for the phone. But his hand stopped suddenly, hovering just a moment over the table top.

On the corner of the table was a folded piece of paper labeled “Ben” in a familiar hand. With it was a key and a ring set with a modest solitaire.

He had the strangest sensation in his chest: like it was packed with cotton, draining all the fluid away, blood and water and bile, so that all that was left were his organs, dry and brittle to the touch. It was suddenly hard to breathe. He didn’t touch any of it, the ring or the note. He just turned and went back to bed.

The Winners!!

2009-06-29T22:43:00.002-06:00

We are excited to announce the winners for our drawing!

JENN
Bubble Fun Package
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

KELSEY
Sleepless in Seattle on DVD
popcorn & candy
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

Please email SSS@bluelightstage.org to get your prizes!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

We will be doing giveaways every Friday until the end of July, so stay tuned!

Matthew Meese

2009-06-27T00:00:00.001-06:00

(remember to enter the giveaway below!)

Stats

Nicknames: Mattypants
Eye Color: lovely shade of hazel
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Pepsi or Coke: Dr. Pepper
Dream Job: Zoo Keeper
Is Pluto a Planet?: It always will be to me
Matt's Aura is: Blue?
Pet Peeve: Not sayin', cause if you know it, you'll do it.
Weirdest Dream: It involved a trip to Ireland, a talking horse, and a herd of velociraptors.
If Matt had a million dollars and had to spend it in a month, he'd: Buy an elephant and a storage shed to keep it in.
If Matt could vote off two letters of the alphabet, he'd vote off: J and K just so no one could say "JK!"
If Matt had to get ride of one sense, he would get rid of his: sense of impending doom. I don't think I need to explain why.
Matt's Motto: Don't panic
Matt's Patronus: Puma
Hecka or Tight: Hecka, fo sho.
Morning or Night: Night please
Favorite Season: Fall of 2003
Favorite Line in the Show: "I think the croutons have gone south."

(remember to enter the giveaway below!)

Free Date Friday!

2009-06-26T05:00:00.000-06:00

FREE DATE FRIDAY!

First Giveaway Package:

Bubble Fun Package

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

Second Giveaway Package:

Sleepless in Seattle on DVD

popcorn & candy

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

HOW TO ENTER:

There are three ways to enter the giveaway drawing. If you want to increase your chances of winning, enter the drawing multiple ways!

comment on this blog post
reply to/follow us on twitter
or post our blog as your status on facebook (and then post the link below).

DEADLINE:

The giveaway will close at 7 pm on Monday (MST) when we will do the drawing and post the winners!

Good Luck!

(if your interested in partnering with us on a future giveaway, contact me for info at ssss at bluelightstage dot org)

Our Bad

2009-06-26T00:41:00.003-06:00

Dearest Readers,

We would like to apologize for our lack of blogging this week. I know it won't make it better, but let me explain.

We open in 2 weeks.

Not enough of an explanation for you? Here's what we've been doing this week! Jake, Dave and Landon have been selling ad space in our programs. The whole cast and crew have been passing out postcards (that are also $2 off coupons! Do you have one??). Various people have been working to clean up PTC. Hours and hours of rehearsal for Landon, Amelia and the cast. Plus most of us have class and work and such.

We're not trying to neglect you, I promise. In fact, Mel has been working on the most brilliant yet of Ben and Grace stories. And Landon is focusing on the making the show brilliant! Hoo-ray, everyone wins!

So after this week of blog neglect, I promise that we will be back and running on our regular schedule. Keep checking the blog! Keep telling your friends! It's only going to get better from here!

Loves,

Landon and Company

Jen Vlogs Again

2009-06-25T22:00:00.000-06:00

Dear world, sorry this is getting posted not on Wednesday. Ben and Grace have crappy internet, which makes no sense since Ben is the nerdy gaming king. Whatever. I'm house sitting and their apartment is a hole and has totally thrown off my groove. Hope your week is better than mine!

Grace, come home already.

Peace, Jen.

The Winners!!

2009-06-23T00:34:00.002-06:00

We are excited to announce the winners for our drawing!
(sorry this is late - we were in rehearsal until 11 pm)

DAVEY
Uno Game Night Package
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

LINNEA
Sense and Sensibility on DVD
popcorn & candy
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

Please email SSS@bluelightstage.org to get your prizes!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

We will be doing giveaways every Friday until the end of July, so stay tuned!

William McAllister

2009-06-20T01:00:00.002-06:00

(giveaway below!)

Nicknames:	Kweesh, Doggie, William Wallace Macgregor III
Zodiac Sign:	um....
Favorite Color:	All of them. Seriously.
Least Favorite Vegetable:	Can't say. I like 'em all. It's like asking me to pick a least favorite son or daughter.
Favorite TV Show:	Beverly Hillbillies
Is Pluto a Planet:	If it's not, all I believed as a child would be destroyed
Will's Aura is:	Light brown, almost gold, with a beam of sunshine and a white spot
Pet Peeve:	When people don't take 10 seconds out of their lives to put the shopping cart back in the cart return. Come on people, let's make the bagger's life easier.
In 5 years, Will sees himself:	teaching film in high school, one baby, and hopefully a wife along with that
Weirdest Dream He's Had:	I had this one dream when Billy Joel came and sang Piano man whilst playing a guitar from Guitar Hero. Then Jen physically assaulted me and a lady shoved cheese down my throat and I thought I was going to choke to death but an army man tackled me.
What's a Cool Word that Rhymes with William:	McWilliam (thank you ChaCha)
If Will could have a superhero power, it would be:	Beatboxing like Courtney
Will's Motto is:	The ultimate perhaps the last freedom is the right and power to decide within how anyone or anything outside ourselves will effect us.
Hecka or Tight:	Dang!
Favorite Line in the Show:	No more cheese, please -

(giveaway below!)

Free Date Friday!

2009-06-19T00:00:00.002-06:00

FREE DATE FRIDAY!

First Giveaway Package:

Uno Game Night Package

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

Second Giveaway Package:

Sense and Sensibility on DVD

popcorn & candy

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

HOW TO ENTER:

There are three ways to enter the giveaway drawing. If you want to increase your chances of winning, enter the drawing multiple ways!

comment on this blog post
reply to/follow us on twitter
or post our blog as your status on facebook (and then post the link below).

DEADLINE:

The giveaway will close at 7 pm on Monday (MST) when we will do the drawing and post the winners!

Good Luck!

(if your interested in partnering with us on a future giveaway, contact me for info at ssss at bluelightstage dot org)

Auditions and Casting

2009-06-18T12:25:00.005-06:00

For this director, the most difficult part of the whole process of putting on a show is auditions. I never know for sure who is going to show up, who will work well together, or who will work well with me. When I've held auditions during the school year, lots of people have shown up (which makes sense, because there are more students here during the school year...) but auditions during spring or summer have been less well attended. Before auditions for Standing I was quite anxious.

Auditions happened. I was blown away by the talent that showed up. And then we sat there and tried to cast. We tried and tried for over an hour and the pieces just weren't falling in to place. I left auditions frustrated. Frustrated at my inability to cast this show. We had the talent, why couldn't I cast?! I started praying to know who needed this show, who did this show need, who would work well with one another, who would work well with me, etc. My heart sent, oh I don't know, thousands of prayers up pleading for the Lord's assistance.

Mel gave me a ride home and in the car we started talking about casting. I was still frustrated with myself, but suddenly the Lord stepped in and made up what I was lacking. All of the pieces fell in to place. Over the next few days as we came up against setbacks, the Lord was there holding my hand and leading me the way I needed to go and the way the show needed to go.

We had our first read through on Memorial Day. Everyone crammed into my living room (and I mean literally crammed). There was a lot of laughter and nervous energy in the air as we passed out copies of the script. We opened page one and started reading. I looked around and felt chills up and down my spine as I realized that each person brought an individual and important skill set that the show wouldn't be incomplete without. It was fantastic.

We have been in rehearsals for 2.5 weeks now. The Lord continues to make up what I lack as a director (which is a lot). Through this cast, this story is coming to life. And it's awesome!

Jen Vlogs

2009-06-17T05:00:00.003-06:00

My life is a desert. Hope yours is better. Or not.

Peace, Jen.

There Was This One Time...

2009-06-16T11:56:00.007-06:00

Ben’s palms were sweating. It felt like he was wiping them down his trousers every two minutes. He couldn’t remember ever sweating this much in his life. At least it was dark in the theatre. He kept checking his jacket pocket, to make sure the box was still there. Ugh, if he lost it… Mom would kill him, for starts. Who knew what Gracie would do.

He glanced over at her; she was looking up at the screen, completely enthralled. There was even a slight smile on her face; it was a good smile, one of his favorites, not at all self-conscious; in fact, she probably didn’t even know she was smiling at all.

As if she knew what he was thinking, her left hand crept into his. He looked at it, brushing her fingers lightly with his thumb. Part of him wanted to just put the ring on. It’d be so much easier here, in the quiet dark. But what if she said no? I’m such a mess, God. She is totally going to say no.

Grace turned her hand, interlacing her fingers with his so their palms touched, her forearm resting atop his. What do I do if she says no?

*** *** ***

After the film, Grace asked, “What did you think?”

His mind was a blank. “Um,” he said.

“Did you fall asleep?”

“No, promise.”

“Then what did you think?”

His palms were going again, so he balled his hands into fists and shoved them into the pockets of his jacket; the knuckles of his left hand bumped against the box.

“I don’t know,” he said. Lame. He wanted to bang his head against something. “I wasn’t watching the movie,” he said, finally. “I — I was watching you watching the movie.”

He didn’t know what her reaction was; he was too embarrassed to check it. After a moment she put her arm through his, and they continued walking. It was a Friday night, and the megaplex had been crowded; the Jeep was parked on the far edge of the lot. Just past the asphalt was a sudden drop, a hillside that rolled down to sprawling, undeveloped acres of brush and scrub oak.

“What did you think?” he asked.

“About the movie? It was all right.”

“Just all right?”

It was a little — I don’t know. Easy for him. He just asked her, you know? Just proposed, like ‘please pass the salt.’ Totally out of nowhere. No spark.”

He shifted on his feet. Tried leaning against the door of the Jeep to look cool, but realized too late the angle was bad and that his knees were too bent. She cocked her head at him, and he stood up. “My back is — you know,” he said.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Sure. Yeah. Peachy. Today was a good day.”

“Because you seem a little — ”

“Do you think it was easy, really? For him to propose?”

“It seemed that way. I mean, it didn’t seem to mean much to him. Like he was going to be fine whether she said yes or no.”

Ben rubbed his forehead. “Huh. I guess that makes sense.”

She was next him, her hand on his arm. “You’re flushed.”

He swallowed, and it felt like he was eating dust. “I think the curry was a bad choice.”

“We should get you home — ”

“No. I mean — I have to ask you something, and I just — ” His breath stopped, and something in him gurgled. Literally. “Oh, that’s not good.”

He turned too quickly, tripping over the low cement barrier and flying headlong down the grassy incline.

“Ben! Are you okay?”

His chin stung from skidding across the grass, and his shoulders and knees were not happy. Slowly he pulled himself to his feet. He half-ran, half-stumbled toward a clump of bushes where he leaned over and vomited. Great, that’s just great. He stood there for a minute, his back slightly bent, his hands on knees.

“Ben?”

He didn’t want to turn around. If he had been a mess before, he didn’t know what to call this.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just — ” He straightened up and without thinking his hand went to his pocket. The box was gone. Oh, no. He patted himself down. Where the — ? He turned to look the way he had come.

Grace was standing at the bottom of the incline. The box was in her hand, and it was open, the modest solitaire winking at him.

“Oh, good,” he said. “I thought I had lost that.”

“It’s lovely,” she said.

“It’s yours, if you want it,” he said. “It was supposed to be a surprise. I don’t know how to do this but — ”

“Yes,” she said. She was smiling, just a little. That sweet, almost smile.

“Yes?” he repeated. “Do you mean…?”

“Yes.”

The Winners!!

2009-06-15T19:02:00.002-06:00

We are excited to announce the winners for our drawing!

CINDY JENSEN
Mini Spa Package
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

NOLA
My Big Fat Greek Wedding on DVD
popcorn & candy
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th

Please email SSS@bluelightstage.org to get your prizes!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

We will be doing giveaways every Friday until the end of July, so stay tuned!

From Rehearsals 2

2009-06-14T19:12:00.010-06:00

(don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY below!)

"She's telling me I'm a toolbox with her eyes." -Will

"And then I go, 'No, my poor baby!' ...No I don't! Ahahahaha! (cackle)" -Hillary

"I can feel the powers of the universe flowing into me." -Heidi

"Wow. You stabbed me in the back. My back was turned, and you stabbed it." -Will
"Well, I was going to rub it, but you ran away." -Heidi

"Apparently girls don't like it when you pat their heads." -Will

"It's a little stronger than 'apparently.' " -Mel

"You'll smell like Sparkling Melons." -Heidi

"The Holy Ghost in my heart is a princess." -Moira (quoted by Hillary)

"I always read the smoochies." -Dave

"That's right. You choo-choo that train." -Courtney

(don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY below!)

Courtney Jensen

2009-06-13T01:00:00.008-06:00

(giveaway below!)

Nickname:	Court-short, Courtnizzle, BEATS, Mighty Mouse
Zodiac Sign:	Gemini!
Favorite Number:	4 (four)!
Favorite color:	GREEN!
Least Favorite Vegetable:	eggplant!
Pepsi or Coke:	Coke (from the bottle)!
Hometown:	SACRAMENTO!
Dream Job:	Beatboxer --!!
What Color Is Her Aura:	ORANGE!
Guilty Pleasure:	TRASHY TV
Weirdest Place She’s Slept:	Bathtub!
Pet Peeve:	bad drivers, people who come into movies halfway thru and then begin to ask questions...and then they leave!
In 5 Years, Courtney Sees Herself:	With Landon, herding small children onto a stage and fixing their costumes. We will change the WORLD!
Weirdest Dream She’s Ever Had:	I had a dream once that a long haired Tongan midget man was chasing me and my best friend through a parking lot. He jumped into a VW Van ad tried to hit us.
Motto:	Anything ‘K’ can do ‘C’ can do better.
Most Played Song On Her iTunes:	“If You’re Out There” – John Legend
PC or Mac:	Mac
Favorite Line From The Show:	“And muppets like having hands up their butts.”

(giveaway below!)

Free Date Friday!

2009-06-12T05:00:00.001-06:00

FREE DATE FRIDAY!

First Giveaway Package:

Mini Spa Package

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

Second Giveaway Package:

My Big Fat Greek Wedding on DVD

popcorn & candy

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

HOW TO ENTER:

There are three ways to enter the giveaway drawing. If you want to increase your chances of winning, enter the drawing multiple ways!

comment on this blog post (you do not have to have your own blog to do this - anyone can comment!)
reply to/follow us on twitter
or post our blog as your status on facebook (and then post the link below).

DEADLINE:

The giveaway will close at 7 pm on Monday (MST) when we will do the drawing and post the winners!

Good Luck!

(if your interested in partnering with us on a future giveaway, contact me for info at ssss at bluelightstage dot org)

Meet the Team

2009-06-11T22:08:00.005-06:00

It's truly a blessing to be surrounded by brilliant people.

Mel, our playwright, is a keenly intuitive writer. She paints a beautiful picture of this couple, Ben and Grace, with small strokes leaving room for choices, interpretation, and playing. Mel's writing goes from hysterically funny to poignantly tender and heart wrenching. The ride she takes us on in this show is wonderful and, while we may not have experiences like Ben and Grace's, we can learn a lot.

Dave, our producer, is the best to work with. He is very on top of our numbers, our needs, etc. I don't even know the number of hours Dave has put in on this show, but his work is wonderful and we would be lost without him. I trust and value his input. Not only does he keep us on track financially, but I trust him artistically as well.

Amelia, our stage manager, is my saving grace! I would be lost in rehearsals without her there! She takes care of my cast and me, making sure our needs in rehearsal are met. She records rehearsals with detail, blocking and character work, and keeps us all laughing. She finds solutions to problems that I would be banging my head against a wall about. Without Amelia, I think my head would've exploded by now!

Jen, our costume designer, is so fun! Her ideas are creative and fresh and awesome. I completely trust her ability to make everyone look fantastic. She is a fantastic communicator and I love getting emails from her keeping me up-to-date about how hot everyone is going to look. She's excellent and multitalented - she'll be taking our production photos so watch for those!

Mike, our lighting designer, is thorough and efficient. He is awesome about putting in the time to make this show the best. He spent hours at PTC fixing sound for us and he's not even doing sound! His lighting concept is awesome and I'm so excited for his input in making this show cohesive and fluid.

Sarah, our sound designer, is enthusiastic and hard working. She is dedicated to doing her best work and won't settle for anything less. Her enthusiasm is contagious she brings a life and energy to her work that is admirable.

Heidi, Grace and our set designer, is multitalented! She is creative and inventive. She has reinvented the space at Provo Theatre Company in a way that is engaging. She has totally blown my creative box out of the water! I have been consistently impressed with Heidi's brilliance and dedication.

Jake, an ensemble actor and marketing associate, offers a grounded perspective on how we can best advertise this show. He offers realistic advice and practical experience to help us improve our marketing so that we can reach a wide audience and share our story.

The people working on this show are fantastic. Literally brilliant. I totally trust my production team's ideas and insights. It's really fun! All of these people I'm working with, without exception, are multi-talented. I feel very humbled and honored to be working with them and I would be lost without their assistance!

Now that you know how awesome town all these people are that are working on this show, be sure to come see it!

Jen Vlogs

2009-06-10T22:08:00.003-06:00

Here's the installment for week 2. I think I'm deeply in like. Enjoy my exciting life.

Peace, Jen.

A Beginning

2009-06-09T11:52:00.008-06:00

Grace preferred to be driving. She knew she was a control freak, and she wanted to be at the wheel. But she was the guest, the add-on, the afterthought. So she was in the backseat, trying not to make it too obvious that she was holding herself up against the door to avoid making any physical contact with Bo. Bo, who had already this evening tried to put an arm around her like they were fifteen and going steady. Bo, who was an artist in the sense that he slept all day and partied all night. Bo, who smelled of PBR and even cheaper grass, and had the teeth of a eighty-year-old though he was only twenty-five. Jen said he was brilliant, a mixed media sculptor teetering on the brink of fame and fortune. Grace figured he was simultaneously teetering on the brink of failure and oblivion. Should be ideal for this toolbox, she thought, glancing over at Bo; no one really cares what you smell like in oblivion. Well, unless you’re pressed up too close against someone else in the backseat of a purple Dodge Neon with the windows rolled up.

Grace could feel a headache forming behind her eyes, and her right side was starting to cramp from being held so rigidly off the seat. She glanced up at the sound of Jen’s laugh — a laugh that could either warm your soul or cut glass — but Jen was still flirting with Peter, the driver, and Grace quickly lost interest. She knew Peter was gay; had known it from the first day she met him in staff meeting. He was driving a purple Neon, for crying out loud; a flaming stereotype. Grace knew she should have told Jen, should have brought it up, but it was Jen’s fault she was going to this stupid party — and it was Jen’s fault that Bo had her cell number. So Jen went on flirting with Peter, and Grace set her jaw. Oh, I hate Seattle. Two and a half months to go…

*** *** ***

The house was crowded. Couples were making out in the hallways, on the stairs, on the porch. It was a nice night, so a number of people had moved out onto the lawn. Ben came into the kitchen looking for batteries, and possibly food. Instead of food, though, he found Guinness. Artsy people and their artsy ale. Too bad 360 controllers couldn’t run off alcohol; he’d be set. When they arrived at the shindig, Matt had pointed him toward the 360 and the plasma TV and disappeared, likely to get all cuddly with his flavor of the month — some violinist named Amy. Which was fine; Ben had his niche; he had Halo to play. Except that his controller was now out of juice. Ben started going through drawers. He didn't know whose house it was, but he figured no one would notice; everyone was too busy macking. At least the music didn’t suck too bad. He opened a drawer, rifling through candles and flashlights and — Glory be, double AA's. He took a handful, slammed the drawer shut, and spun on his heel to —

Knock his elbow right into this girl and her drink. Rum and Coke all over everything. All over her. Looking at her, his first thought should have been remorse. But his very first thought was: She is the most beautiful being God has ever put on this earth. And following pretty quickly after that: “Oh, man, I am so sorry. I didn’t — Wow. I’m such a klutz. I mean — I really am sorry.”

She hadn’t really seen him yet, too caught up in looking down at her Coke-soaked blouse and skirt. Shaking her fingers away from her body as if she had just finished washing the dishes. “No, it’s all right. It’s just — ”

“Paper towels,” Ben said, turning back to the counter to grab a roll of Bounty. “We need paper towels. Here we go — ”

“No, really, I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry. You have to let me help you. I can’t just let you — ”

“I’m fine. I’m fine, I promise.”

He looked at her for a moment. He could hear something familiar in her voice: tears and disappointment. Story of his life.

“No you’re not. You’re going to — Please don’t cry. Oh, man. Please don’t. I’ve got too much guilt already. If you cry, it’ll kill me, I swear.” Instinctively he took her hand.

The music stopped then. At least, it did in Ben’s head. Her hand fit into his so perfectly, it was like — He couldn’t think of how to describe it. Like those little Lego bricks that snap together and stay until you take them apart. He guessed there was probably a prettier way to say it, but none was quite so true. She looked up at him then, and her eyes held worlds in them.

“Hi,” he said, “I’m Ben.”

“Hi,” she said, “I’m Grace.”

“Hi,” he repeated. Before his brain could plan it his mouth said, “What do you say, we get out of here?”

He meant to hold his breath, but she nodded before he could. “Yes, please.”

Still holding his hand, she turned and made her way to the door.

The Winners!!

2009-06-08T19:10:00.005-06:00

We are excited to announce the winners for our drawing!

JULIE ANN
Sidewalk Chalk and Squirt Guns
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

MISS NESSA
13 Going on 30 on DVD
popcorn & candy
2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th

Please email SSS@bluelightstage.org to get your prizes!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

We will be doing giveaways every Friday until we close, so stay tuned!

From Rehearsals

2009-06-07T00:00:00.014-06:00

"I feel SO frustrated right now! ...Can we hug it out?" -Courtney

"You bonded over my drunken body?! I could have prevented this whole thing?!...D@$%" -Courtney

"I change. To become an azure sky." -Will

"Will, you do need a personal assistant." -Landon

"I know. I don't know how I've lived this long." -Will

"I'm the most awesome Ben ever." -Will

"The cheese lounge is not conducive to cuddling." -Landon

"Why do you want her to stay?" -Landon

"Why? To...do married people stuff?" -Will

[later:]

"That's trickery!" -Will

"That's married people stuff." -Mel

"Matt, you're all sorts of bombardment." -Landon

"Jake, you're like a lighthouse." -Landon

"Will, what is your marital status?" -Hillary

"In real life? Because in the play, I'm married to Gracie." -Will

"Is your Coke talking to you?" -Hillary

"Yes. It's surprisingly active in there." -Matt

"...and the kitchen is in the sink!" -Jake

Heidi Hathaway

2009-06-06T00:00:00.006-06:00

Nickname:	Hi'D
Relationship status:	Single
Zodiac sign:	Sagittarius
Favorite color:	Blue
Hometown:	Greenville NC
Dream job:	Film director
Weirdest place she's slept:	A park in Harlem by St. John's Cathedral
In 5 years, Heidi sees herself:	On Pluto. The PLANET
Heidi can't live without:	Cheese
Heidi's patronus is:	A rubber duck
Morning or Night:	NIGHT!
Pepsi or Coke:	Coke
Hecka or Tight:	Tight
Favorite season:	Spring
Most-played song on her iTunes:	Black Star by Radiohead
Favorite TV show:	30 Rock
Favorite childhood memory:	Catching frogs in the culverts near our house.
Guilty pleasure:	Chuck - the TV show...not a person
Favorite line from the show:	I have your back. I always have. Since Rodney Paul stole your Care Bear thermos and peed in it.

(giveaway below!)

Free Date Friday!

2009-06-05T00:00:00.005-06:00

We loved our first giveaway so much that we've decided to do a giveaway every week:

FREE DATE FRIDAY!

First Giveaway Package:

Sidewalk Chalk and Squirt Guns

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

Second Giveaway Package:

13 Going on 30 on DVD

popcorn & candy

2 tickets to opening night of Standing Still Standing (July 10th)

HOW TO ENTER:

There are three ways to enter the giveaway drawing. If you want to increase your chances of winning, enter the drawing multiple ways!

comment on this blog post
reply to/follow us on twitter
or post our blog as your status on facebook (and then post the link below).

DEADLINE:

The giveaway will close at 7 pm on Monday when we will do the drawing and post the winners!

Good Luck!

(if your interested in partnering with us on a future giveaway, contact me for info at ssss at bluelightstage dot org)

Breath of Life

2009-06-04T13:00:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite professors took a trip overseas this past fall semester. While there, he met with a famous director there. My professor asked, "If there's one piece of advice I could take back to my students from you, what would it be?" This director teared up and said, "We do not live to talk. Our talking comes out of our living!" My professor shared this with me and it was like a bright light beamed on! Truth!

Here's where this statement gets funny and very complicated. When we start work on a show, all we have is the script, what the characters say, their words, their talk. The lives that we create through the rehearsal process is based solely on their words. We have to construct their lives, make them real, believable, likable, etc.

And then there must come a shift. We must have constructed these character's lives so well that the words that were originally used to construct their lives then come out of their lives we've constructed. These characters must embody what that director said - their words must come out of their living!

Right now, with Standing Still Standing we are doing the character work. We have the words that Mel wrote and now we are working to construct the lives of these characters. We're asking a lot of questions, the most frequent of which is, "why?" And we're searching to find answers. We're laying a foundation so that these characters can live.

It's exciting work! I might even venture to say that it's my favorite part of the whole rehearsal process. I love the epiphanies that we all have as we discover who these people are, learn to love them for who they are, and learn to step into their lives. Let me tell you, I have gotten chills watching the sparks of life happen in rehearsal.

It's awesome watching this show spring to life. :)

Jen Vlogs

2009-06-03T13:00:00.000-06:00

You may like me, but you probably won't like me. But you know what, I don't care. Keep watching my videos and I will dedicate one to you one day if you're faithful. But not if you're Starla.

Peace, Jen.

Ideally

2009-06-02T12:52:00.001-06:00

Hey, you fine folks out there in the Blogosphere. This is Mel, otherwise known as the writer of Standing Still Standing. We just started rehearsals for the show, and I’m tremendously excited, at the same time that I’m rather exhaustified. Then again, I tend to not sleep when I’m bumping up against deadlines, and what other deadline is as intimidating as handing a new script to actors to read for the first time? Yikes. I’m not always good at hearing my stuff aloud (oh, I’m well aware of the irony, so we’re not going to dwell on it) because it makes me forty-nine kinds of nervous. But the first read let me breathe a sigh of relief —— the play is (mostly) funny, the cast is fantastic, and we have a staff to die for —— So. Whew.

The play is a little nuts. Maybe I should prepare you. See, it’s about a couple whose marriage is struggling because he has chronic fatigue. They love each other desperately, but it’s a hard thing to deal with. The story, to me, needed to be told. This wasn’t an ordinary love story —— and yet it was. Is. So how do you tell it? How do you express the angst and joy and frustration and intimacy all at once? How do you show these people to be real people, and this problem to be a real problem? A lot of people in the world think chronic fatigue is a woman’s disease; who knows why, but it’s assumed by the general population that more women suffer from it than men. So before I even got started, there was a strike against Ben’s character: he’s a man suffering from a woman’s illness. Strike two was that he sleeps. A lot. How do you make a play about sleeping interesting? Yikes. Mel, why are you telling this story? Really, why?

The first time I drafted the play, I had just got back from study abroad in London way back spring 2001. While there, I saw some of the most amazing theatre I’ve ever seen in my life. Saw the RSC in Stratford, saw big musicals on the West End, saw shows at the Royal Haymarket and the National Theatre. I also saw a lot of tiny shows in random places. One of these was Marsha Norman’s ‘Night, Mother. I saw it with several friends (three cheers for Mark Ailshie, who found the listing in Time Out and suggested that we go). The show is a small one to begin with: just a mother and a daughter, in a unit set playing in, I’m pretty sure, real time. So it worked amazingly well in a bare, low-ceilinged room above a bar in Greenwich. The show was really very good; I was moved by how real and raw everything about it felt. My eyes smarted for a long time afterward. So one of the early drafts of Standing Still Standing, at the time called Ideally, was modeled on ‘Night, Mother: two characters on a unit set in real time. Grace comes home from work to find Ben dozing. It’s like any other day for them. Their ordinary conversation spirals into an argument, and it turns out Ben has been planning for sometime to move out. He loves Grace so much that he thinks it’s in her best interest for him to leave (no spoilers here, I’m not saying jack about the current version’s anything, no worries).

Back to my earlier question: How do you make a play about sleeping interesting? Yeah, Ideally was not interesting. It was SO boring. Ben, set up to be a difficult character to like anyway, was an impossible person to like. He whined and dragged his feet and whined some more. Grace was too much the saint: it was not believable these two got married in the first place. Ben and Grace, who were such flesh and bone people in my brain, were talking in circles on the page. Not real, not grounded, not interesting. Exchanging barbs about Lara Croft and Mrs. Fields. Whatever. I cringe to look back on it. So while it had been a noble idea to try to be Marsha Norman —— Yeah, wow, Mel crashed and burned. Which happens a lot when you first write down an idea. The crashing and the burning leads to good stuff later on, I promise. I hope? Hmm…

So I tried a different tack. I tried to get inside Ben’s brain. To see things the way he saw them. To go online with him, to see him chat it up in CFS support groups. To see him dream about losing Grace and not be able to win her back. To feel the confusion and frustration that has to come with one being so out-of-control with one’s physical being.

That brings us to the play where it is now. Ben and Grace are still the core of the story. All the craziness surrounding them —— not to mention the weird dreams that fill Ben’s head when he’s sleeping twenty-two hours straight —— just serve to make Ben and Grace that much more solid and real. I think it’s easier now (at least, I hope it is) to accept Ben’s plight and to sympathize with his cause. Ben and Grace’s marriage is still in a precarious spot; but then, truthfully, whose isn’t? You always have to work to maintain what you have; Ben and Grace just work harder than most. It’s the fight that makes me like them. And they’re adorable together, so that’s bonus points. Rock on.

See you on the 9th. Until then, I’ll be making cameo appearances right here every Tuesday. How’s that for a dill pickle?

Meet the Cast!

2009-06-01T17:16:00.000-06:00

We wanted to introduce you to some pretty awesome people involved with this show: the cast!

In alphabetical order:

Heidi Hathaway - Grace

Courtney Jensen - Jen/Ensemble

Will McAllister - Ben

Matthew Meese - Ensemble

Hillary Straga - Ensemble

Justine Trotter - Azure_Skies_80/Rachel

Jake Welch - Ensemble

To help you get to know these people better (and who can blame you for wanting to) we'll be doing a little "Meet the Cast" video blog every Saturday! And then all your burning questions like "How did each of these people come to be involved with this show?" "What color is Will's aura?" "Who is Heidi's favorite muppet?" and "What's Justine's motto?" will be answered along with so much more! Stay tuned...

Thoughts

2009-05-29T14:10:00.000-06:00

(For the record, I hate coming up with titles for blog posts. I always want them to be witty or clever, and they never are. So please forgive that shortcoming of mine now.)

When I first started to direct, I was taught to choose a show you are passionate about sharing. That rule was fine and dandy then because we had the luxury of choosing our scenes and our shows. One (very smart) student asked our professor, "What do you do if you don't get to choose your show?" Our professor responded, "You find something you love, something that's true in the show and you hold on to it!"

After the first show I directed, I had all sorts of ideas of what kind of plays I wanted to direct, themes I wanted to explore, messages I wanted to share. But I quickly learned the lesson my professor was trying to teach when I was asked to co-direct a show (Ladybird and the Strawberry). I had to find something that was true, something that I loved about that show, so that I could do my best co-directing.

Since that experience, I have been asked to direct several other shows. Just as with Ladybird I had to find something true, something I believed in, in each script. And as I was able to find truth, I learned that that is why I do theatre - to share truth.

After Mel and I worked on Little Happy Secrets in March 2009, we decided to collaborate on another project (a decision that was reached over the phone while I was sick as a dog in California, but that's another story). She pulled out Standing Still Standing and I was really excited about it. I read the first draft of Standing, laughed, and fell in love with the story and the characters. We figured out dates, moved forward with auditions, rewrites, gathering people around us, etc. Everything fell in to place (with a few little happy bumps in the road, of course). But while I loved the story and loved the characters in Standing, I was still searching for the truth that needed to be shared! We did a read-through with our (awesome) cast on Memorial Day and there was something about hearing the play that triggered something within me. I sat and wrote for several hours afterwards and reached this conclusion:

We all want that illusive happily ever after (thanks Mel). But happily ever after isn't an instantaneous thing that comes with marriage, or graduating from college, or buying a house, or having a baby. A happily ever after must be constantly chosen and worked for. Yeah, that's right - happily ever after is our choice! And it takes work! And that is why I love this show, that is the truth in it. Ben and Grace are at a crossroads in their marriage: they are so in love with each other, but their relationship, their marriage takes more work than they realize. Do they choose their marriage? Do they work for it? Is it worth it if Ben has CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and sleeps 3/4 of the day?

As I've reflected on my own life (especially on my marriage), I've been able to recognize the points at which I was at a crossroads like Ben and Grace. Sometimes I chose not to work for what I wanted. I wonder what I lost. But sometimes I did. Sometimes it's been a repeated choice I've had to make, once a month, once a week, once a day!

I believe that happily ever after is worth working for, even if the work isn't always easy. :)

The Winners!!

2009-05-25T21:08:00.000-06:00

We are excited to announce the winners for our drawing!

Christie Clark and Jennifer Sudweeks

Please email SSS@bluelightstage.org to get the tickets!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

First Post with a GIVEAWAY!!!

2009-05-22T15:42:00.000-06:00

We are really excited to not only launch our blog, but to launch it with a GIVEAWAY!!!!

First, a little bit about who we are: Standing Still Standing is a new comedy by melissa leilani larson that will be opening in the Utah Valley on July 9th at Provo Theatre Company (105 N 100 E in Provo)!

Ben and Grace, a couple that has been married for 3 years. The problem is, he's been asleep for 2 of them! The play moves between the waking world, the online community and dreams as Ben deals with his chronic fatigue. Standing Still Standing is the story of a man and woman whose lives and marriage are under siege from illness and insecurity.

(For more information about the show, visit our facebook page!)

This brings us to our GIVEAWAY!!!! To celebrate the romantic comedy nature of the show, we're giving away...

2 sets of 2 tickets to an advanced screening of Pixar's new movie UP! on Tuesday May 26th! (more info below) So this is the perfect opportunity for you to take that special someone out for a date, on us!

To enter the giveaway...

comment on this post! We'll put your name in the drawing.
link to our blog! We'll put your name in a second time (comment with the link to your post so we know).
follow our blog! We'll put your name in a third time (click follow at the top of this page).

Winners will be drawn and announced on Monday the 25th at 9 pm (Utah time) so you'll have all day Tuesday to email us to get the tickets for Tuesday night!

GOOD LUCK!

Ticket Info:

Tuesday, May 26 @ 7 p.m.
Megaplex 12 @ The Gateway (165 S. Rio Grande Street)
All seats are first come first serve. There are only as many tickets as there are seats. You'll get a seat; just arrive early for the good ones. NO LATE SEATING.

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Fox 13 for providing us with these tickets.