The lovely Northern Lights! (This pic is specifically over Northern Maine). Check back soon for an article about the Northern Lights!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A Man of Maine
There aren't too many fabulous pictures of people in Northern Maine garb, but here's a swell lookin' fella'
The Way Life Should Be
I think this is quite telling in regards to the play. Again, nothing is precious...rather, simple and the "way life should be."
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Cool Ideas?
Does anyone have cool pre-show display ideas?
I was thinking an "Almost, Maine" powerpoint would be really cool. Simple...but cool.
It could include...
1. Production process pictures
2. Northern Maine pictures
3. Production history/notes
4. Cast bios/pictures
5. And anything else!! :)
If this is to happen, it would be great if we could use a school laptop. I can e-mail my consumer teacher and see if he could let me borrow one of his from his classroom for a DGS-related purpose.
Send some ideas my way via blogging, facebook, or e-mail (cder1300@csd99.org)
I was thinking an "Almost, Maine" powerpoint would be really cool. Simple...but cool.
It could include...
1. Production process pictures
2. Northern Maine pictures
3. Production history/notes
4. Cast bios/pictures
5. And anything else!! :)
If this is to happen, it would be great if we could use a school laptop. I can e-mail my consumer teacher and see if he could let me borrow one of his from his classroom for a DGS-related purpose.
Send some ideas my way via blogging, facebook, or e-mail (cder1300@csd99.org)
Winter Song
Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson singing "Winter Song"
At first blush this seems like one of those "why are you posting this?" things...
It's just something to kind of get into the feel of the setting.
Winter things to think about:
1. The feeling of the first snowfall
2. (We might not experience this in DG but...) A vast stretch of land covered in snow for as long as the eye can reach.
3. Watching children create snowmen
4. Hot chocolate and all that symbolizes :)
At first blush this seems like one of those "why are you posting this?" things...
It's just something to kind of get into the feel of the setting.
Winter things to think about:
1. The feeling of the first snowfall
2. (We might not experience this in DG but...) A vast stretch of land covered in snow for as long as the eye can reach.
3. Watching children create snowmen
4. Hot chocolate and all that symbolizes :)
Press Quotes/Analyzation Notes
"Ordinary romances...take on an element of enchantment."
- I think this is something to keep in mind. Though the stories need to remaind "real" they possess a certain sense of mysticisim.
"Most romantic comedies seem rather more of the same, but ALMOST, MAINE is not like most romantic comedies."
-This quotation goes along with Cariani's whole I-don't-want-this-play-to-be-cute mentality. Nothing in the show is "precious"...it's honest and beautiful.
"It's what happens to your heart when the stars fall."
-This is so eloquently worded. I can't help but think that whomever wrote this was truly touched by the play. There is no way to describe what your heart feels like when stars fall, just like there is no way to describe this play.
- I think this is something to keep in mind. Though the stories need to remaind "real" they possess a certain sense of mysticisim.
"Most romantic comedies seem rather more of the same, but ALMOST, MAINE is not like most romantic comedies."
-This quotation goes along with Cariani's whole I-don't-want-this-play-to-be-cute mentality. Nothing in the show is "precious"...it's honest and beautiful.
"It's what happens to your heart when the stars fall."
-This is so eloquently worded. I can't help but think that whomever wrote this was truly touched by the play. There is no way to describe what your heart feels like when stars fall, just like there is no way to describe this play.
Monday, November 14, 2011
John Cariani- Presque Isle, Maine
John Cariani grew up in Presque Isle, Maine, which is in the Northern-most county (Aroostook County) of the state. We're all pretty good at inferring, so as you can guess, the setting of the play was highly influenced by Cariani's own setting. Here's some Presque Isle facts I gathered...
1. Largest city in Aroostook County (9,692) (Compare this to Downers Grove...almost 50,000...and we aren't even the largest city in the County! In other words, this place is tiny)
2. Home to the University of Maine and Northern Maine Community College
3. There are NO daily newspapers published in Aroostook County (P.S. Cariani informs us it is pronounced a-ROO-stook)
4. Average winter temperature= 10 degrees (Brrr!!)
Just some fun facts to think about when getting acclimated with the piece.
1. Largest city in Aroostook County (9,692) (Compare this to Downers Grove...almost 50,000...and we aren't even the largest city in the County! In other words, this place is tiny)
2. Home to the University of Maine and Northern Maine Community College
3. There are NO daily newspapers published in Aroostook County (P.S. Cariani informs us it is pronounced a-ROO-stook)
4. Average winter temperature= 10 degrees (Brrr!!)
Just some fun facts to think about when getting acclimated with the piece.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Questions for Consideration
When examining any work, I've been told that asking questions is the first step towards understanding it better. Here are a few to start. Have your script in hand while reading these so you'll have something to reference. Also, if you are interested, I'll take questions from you via some form of communication and add them to the blog so we can all question together and then, hopefully, answer together :).
1. What is the significance of setting this series of love-inspired vignettes in the Northern-most part of Maine? Would this play have the same effect had it been set at 3pm in Downers Grove in the middle of spring? Why? Why not? Why does this consistent 9pm on a clear cloudless winter night truly come alive and bring about more feeling in it's readers/audience?
2. Why does Cariani use the snowball metaphor? We all generally know its meaning...but do we know its significance?
3. Cariani pointedly writes "cute will kill this play." Why doesn't he want his play to come off as "cute"? Is it possibly that it's deep yet simplistic meaning speaks for itself? How actors, etc. work to make certain the audience isn't constantly saying "awwwwweeee"?
These are just some starter questions. Can't wait to get feedback!!
1. What is the significance of setting this series of love-inspired vignettes in the Northern-most part of Maine? Would this play have the same effect had it been set at 3pm in Downers Grove in the middle of spring? Why? Why not? Why does this consistent 9pm on a clear cloudless winter night truly come alive and bring about more feeling in it's readers/audience?
2. Why does Cariani use the snowball metaphor? We all generally know its meaning...but do we know its significance?
3. Cariani pointedly writes "cute will kill this play." Why doesn't he want his play to come off as "cute"? Is it possibly that it's deep yet simplistic meaning speaks for itself? How actors, etc. work to make certain the audience isn't constantly saying "awwwwweeee"?
These are just some starter questions. Can't wait to get feedback!!
Helpful Website
Here is the official "Almost, Maine" website :)
Click on the link above to explore some basic information about the production and everything behind it. This is all pretty much surface stuff, but I will delve in and get some more info. It's a good start to get our feet wet though.
Click on the link above to explore some basic information about the production and everything behind it. This is all pretty much surface stuff, but I will delve in and get some more info. It's a good start to get our feet wet though.
Hello Cast, Etc.
Here's to the first post! Hello DGS cast of "Almost, Maine"!! This blog will serve as a comprehensive database of sorts for this fabulous production process. I'll be posting pictures, articles, reviews, etc. pertaining to the show. Feel free to comment as you see fit and give me loads of suggestions. I won't put my contact information here for privacy reasons, but I'm Colleen DeRosa and you guys pretty much know where to find me. Plus I will be attending as many rehearsals as possible. I've created this blog from a dramaturgical (I think I just made up that words...oh well) standpoint and hope it benefits this exciting process. Ideas? Send them my way via facebook, e-mail, text, call, you name it. But enough introductory information. It's time to post!!
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