<![CDATA[                 Cougars! The Musical - Big Cat Blog]]>Wed, 12 May 2010 00:28:49 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[One down...]]>Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:48:22 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/04/one-down.htmlWell, we did it.  We had a sold out show.  Press was there.  We brought it.  People loved it, and now we are gonna do it all again.
So...our first review posted this morning, and they HATED it.
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/Event?oid=1593104
I guess that's the thing about art.  You put it out there, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.  We are waiting on reviews from Windy City Times and TimeOut Chicago.  They may not see eye to eye with the Reader.  Let's hope not. :)
It's strange. I don't really know what to do with myself without ramping up for the show.  I guess start working on the next thing right?  I could do the office ping pong tournament...that is a real thing.  We are really having an office ping pong tourney.  Those are my choices, create or ping pong.  Anybody have an opinion about that??
]]><![CDATA[Opening Night!]]>Sat, 03 Apr 2010 15:39:34 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/04/opening-night.htmlTonight is opening night...deep breath.
I feel like this maybe how planning a wedding feels.  Everything is leading up to one day.  You coordinate people, shell out cash, find outfits, find a venue, depend on your friends for help and everything is being funneled to this one day.  Granted we have 7 more, but you get the point.  I told my mother that analogy and she said it was more like a birth, because we have created something.  Having gone through neither I don't really know, but I'll just say it's like both. :)
We were in today's Red Eye, on the front cover and with a feature and picture inside.  We were also in yesterday's Sun Times Weekend section.
Timeout Chicago, The Reader, and Windy City Times are all coming out tonight...no pressure.  So we should have reviews on Monday.  Fantastic Reviews!
Also, a friend just called to say she bought the last ticket.  So it seems it will be a sold out show...
Everything felt like it was taking forever.  Now it feels like it won't slow down.  I hope you all get to see it.  It's magic!
-gillian

Let
Chuck
 
]]><![CDATA[This is it!]]>Sat, 03 Apr 2010 11:17:02 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/04/this-is-it.htmlSo tonight is our last rehearsal.  My chest goes tight at the thought.  We're ready.  We are so ready.  We have press coming for opening, and hopefully a few producers to check it all out.  We finally got the pipe and drape built.  So two shout outs:
Brie Madrid and Jim Vozella
Holy crap!  This two people saved the show.  I would not have been able to build the set without Jim, and I wouldn't have been able to sew the curtains without Brie.   In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, we essentially had to build a backdrop to cover up the set we are on top of.  However not a simple task.  Turning 41 yards of material into usable curtains, tricky.  Math...no thank you.  Tools...uh...I have a screwdriver.  Did I mention Math?
Then there is Monty Montgomery, our stage manager, holy hannah...this man also saved the show from a tech place.  He built in the cues, runs the sound and lights, keeps track of transitions, makes sure everything is shut down.  Indispensable.  I might have been able to be taught this stuff, but I might have lost my mind if I added something else to my list.  So this is it...  Below are some pictures from tech. :)
]]><![CDATA[Tech Week!!]]>Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:57:39 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/03/tech-week.htmlOh man, we are in tech week. 

Muses: Gillian did you have a 5 hour rehearsal yesterday?

Gillian:  We did.  It went really well.  A lot of junk food.

Muses: So are you ready to open right now.

(Gillian laugh hysterically and burst into tears and then laughter again)

Gillian: Uh...close.  Muses, have you ever tried to build a pipe and drape backdrop?....Turns out the is one heck of a beast.  41 yards of material is more than I can carry.  And you know, there is that minor detail that I only know how to operate a sewing machine is someone who knows how to operate a sewing machine is standing next to me.

Muses: Well seems like it's a good thing that you are worrying about pipe and drape rather than worried about the show.

Gillian: Touche Muses!  We are gonna rock the hell out of the show.  It's just all the little pieces have to come together.

Muses: They will Gillian.  Have faith.

Gillian: Well, I have faith that the people around me are going to rally.  Which is such a gift.  I'm going to pin the curtains during the day and our costume designer Brie is going to sew them for me while I am at the theater.  Now that Brie Madrid, she is a class act.

Muses: Gillian no one says "Class Act" anymore.

Gillian: Shut up Muses!  I'm in tech week!
]]><![CDATA[Hook is back...]]>Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:35:11 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/03/hook-is-back.htmlIn Cougars news, Chuck Malone is finally back from the cruise ship!  Horray!  Below is a video of Chuck working with Brian and Paul on Dick to Dick time.  Brian really rocks it out!
The thing is when you rent a theater on a late night slot, there is NO storage.  The other thing is when you drive a compact Mazda Protege.  The entire set does not fit it your car, and it is in fact pretty difficult to also fit an amp and piano. Sometimes you just have to stick the piano out a window.  See picture below.
Picture
]]><![CDATA[11 days. 11 DAYS!]]>Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:01:42 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/03/11-days-11-days.htmlOh man, things are heating up!  Sun Times called and asked for a picture.  That seems like a good sign. :)  I am doing a pre-interview with reporter Travis Truitt today. 
Chuck Malone has finally returned and we have our first rehearsal with him today. 
Jim Vozella, the set designer, has theoretically finished building the pipe and drape for the space.  Saturday I buy the material and sew the curtains with Brie Madrid, our costume designer.
We ordered more postcards, posters are up, Facebook is groovin'.  Now we just have to hit the right beats, the right lines, the right notes, and the right moves and all will be well.
I think I'm moving into a place of less panic and more excitement.  This is really happening.  My words, our work will be on that stage and what started as an idea has become so much more.  We have created the circle between artist and audience.  We will participate together in the creative experience.  I get excited before improv and stand up shows, but not like this.  This is like being 13 and going to a school dance.  ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!  Yeah!  I'm a 13 year old girl.  Super awkward and adorable.  Let's do this thing...
]]><![CDATA[Costumes more like Bostumes...]]>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:45:24 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/03/costumes-more-like-bostumes.htmlI had the amazing honor of accompanying our costume designer, Brie Madrid, to Unique Thrift store on Sheridan and Montrose.  Oh man, it was half price Monday and were things kickin' in Unique.  The knee high stripper boots hanging at the front we already on hold.  Dang it!  It was packed.  There is almost so many clothes that there wasn't room for people with their tiny shopping carts.  We were all moving into the piles of clothes to get out of each others way.
But we still managed to find some sweet treasures.  I mean if you need a wind suit...look no further than Unique.  If you need a fanny pack...unique.  Cat in ribbons sweatshirt...unique.  Bad Bad granny outfits that make Brie laugh out loud in the store when you put them on.  Unique!
And thank heaven it was half price Monday becase our $114 bill went down to $57.  TGI Unique! :)
]]><![CDATA[2 to go...]]>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:32:55 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/03/2-to-go.htmlWe are coming to the home stretch.  We have less than three weeks.  LESS THAN 3 WEEKS!  It's gonna be great.  Sold out run, extension, options.  Let's make this happen people.  The costume designer, Brie Madrid, and I are shopping for costumes tonight.  Nothing like thrifting for gold. 
I'm somewhere between excited and panicked, but that seems like the right place to be.  We have a full choreography rehearsal on Wednesday.  My friend and acupuncturist, Molly Cofman, will be coming in to watch and give notes. Then we have music on Sunday to prepare for Chuck Malone's return. 
Chuck Malone is almost back!  Thank heavens.  Cause this lady doesn't speak music very well.  Well, at least in a way that other people understand it. :)  I still need to hang posters, but amazingly most of our marketing is in place.  We just need to focus on the show.  This is going to AWESOME.
]]><![CDATA[Rehos and Vids]]>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:13:58 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/03/rehos-and-vids.htmlOnly a few more rehearsals left...I AM CALM?
I am mostly.  I have only brief moments of freak out. Like how do I fit our set pieces in my car, when they literally can not fit.
It's gonna be okay right?  It's just gonna work itself out. Right?
We shot another vid.  I find it amusing.  It's below.  I also made sure to take a sweet picture of Maddy in her old lady earrings.  Those clip-ons go a long way with the boys.  I sure know I was attracted to her in full costume.
There are a couple of pics of rehearsal too.  Those Cougars look so good.
]]><![CDATA[Art Haus....]]>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:12:56 -0800http://www.thecougarsmusical.com/1/post/2010/03/art-haus.htmlSo we are little over three weeks away from opening.  Eventually I will stop hyperventilating.  I think.  My friend Adam Guerino, a Chicago producer and comedian, produced an event at Chicago's Berlin, called Art Haus.  He invited us to do a promo for Cougars.  Art Haus started with two workshops for musicians and comedians to work material.  Then they perform things they have been working on.  There is also a part of the show called "Around Town", where shows display part of what they have going on.
It's always a bit odd to take a show out of context and plop it in the middle of a bar. We did well considering the environment, but there was some adjustment due to mics and limited space.
Justin stood in for Maddy and looked very smashing in her costume.  Rebecca made her first appearance as a Cougar, and we preformed the Blanche Devereaux rap from the first incarnation of Cougars! That song hasn't made it into this show, but it's so great we don't want people to miss it.  :)  Below are pics of the show...
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