Feeling nostalgic

Hello everyone, I'm back. A lot has been going on in the mean time. I also wanted to take another look at this blog and consider the possibility of resuming posting. Promethean's production of "The Last Unicorn" is over, but I still want to be able to communicate with all of you about new developments with the project (and there have been some!), as well as to talk about other things theater and life-related. In the mean time, I wanted to share with you some additional favorite photos of mine from "The Last Unicorn"- these are new ones that we haven't posted online before. All of these photos are copyright 2009 by a friend of mine, Tom McGrath of TCMcG Photography. Enjoy!



Kyla Embrey as The Unicorn considers the possibility that she might be the last of her kind.


Two scholars (Paul G. Miller and Beau Forbes) square off about the physical properties of Unicorns.


The Unicorn leaves her forest and sets out on the Road.


The Butterfly (played by three actors, John A. Lewis, Laura Skokan and Paul G. Miller)

The Unicorn is caught sleeping by Mommy Fortuna (Barbara Berndt) and her Midnight Carnival.


Rukh (Derek Jarvis) shows the gawkers (Jessica Cluess, John A. Lewis and Laura Skokan) the Midgard Serpent while Schmendrick (Nick Lake) and the Unicorn watch.

The Harpy (Christina Gorman) bides her time.


Mommy Fortuna (Barbara Berndt) disguised as Elli, the spirit of Old Age.


Mommy Fortuna to the Unicorn: "I had to give you a horn they could see!"


Even the Harpy thinks Schmendrick's a bad magician.

Freed by Schmendrick (Nick Lake), the Unicorn (Kyla Embrey) shakes off Mommy Fortuna's enchantments.


Rukh (Derek Jarvis) starts to strangle Schmendrick (Nick Lake): "I never did like you. You put on airs, and you're not very strong."



The Harpy (Christina Gorman) escapes (oh crap).



Schmendrick (Nick Lake) tries to remember what he knows about the Red Bull.


Jack Jingly (Beau Forbes) tries out the new password: to call like a giraffe.


Willie Gentle (Laura Skokan) knows he isn't that good a singer.

Schmendrick (Nick Lake) does AAAAAMMMAAAAZIIIING magic tricks!


Schmendrick (Nick Lake) gets intimate with a tree he accidentally brought to life (played by Caitlin Costello, Barbara Berndt and Laura Skokan). "There is no immortality but a tree's love."

A Princess (Caitlin Costello) performs the ritual virgin's Call to a Unicorn while her Prince (Beau Forbes) reads a magazine.


The Red Bull begins to appear.


Prince Lir (played by Brian Pastor)


Amalthea (Kyla Embrey) defeats Mabruk (Derek Jarvis, with extra monster hands by Caitlin Costello and Christina Gorman). Haggard (Jack McCabe) and Lir (Brian Pastor) observe.



As the Unicorn forgets her past and becomes more human, romantic sparks begin to fly between Prince Lir (Brian Pastor) and Lady Amalthea (Kyla Embrey). These photos were taken at one of our dress rehearsals- eventually we made the mark on her forehead a lot smaller and darker, but it's pretty big and red in some of these photos as you can see.


Haggard (Jack McCabe) confronts Amalthea (Kyla Embrey). "Do you still pretend to be human?"


In a flashback, two unicorns dance (Christina Gorman and Beau Forbes) before being trapped by the Red Bull.


Haggard (Jack McCabe) watches the final showdown from his tower.


The Unicorn grieves over Prince Lir's body, ignoring the Red Bull.


The Unicorn visits Schmendrick in his dreams as he, Molly Grue and Lir are sleeping.



At the end, the Unicorn returns to her forest and brings it back to life.


This was an incredible experience for me, and I'm so grateful for the help of everyone that made it possible, as well as to all of you that came and saw it. Thanks!

One more weekend...

It's been a blast. Thanks so much to all of you that have come and loved the show. Those who haven't yet but have been meaning to- we have one weekend left; we close Saturday 11/14. And there's a bit of exciting news- it looks like we're having the show professionally archived on 11/14 at both performances- so if you come that day, don't mind the two cameras! The final show schedule for (this incarnation of) The Last Unicorn is:

Thursday 11/12 at 8 pm
Friday 11/13 at 8 pm
Saturday 11/14 at 3 pm & 8 pm

I hope to see you there!

More good reviews for "Unicorn"

We've also heard back from Centerstage Chicago and ChicagoCritic- both of them also really enjoyed "The Last Unicorn." Here are links!

ChicagoCritic.com review

Centerstage Chicago review


Enjoy!

And here's that RAVE review I hoped we'd get...

And we get a RAVE from Time Out Chicago. Four stars! Here's the link:

Time Out Chicago Review of 'The Last Unicorn.'

Peter S. Beagle also loved it- so much that it's looking like this version might become the official version they license to other companies. Stay tuned for more info on that- nothing's set, but it's pretty exciting!

Thanks so much to everyone that has come to see the show this weekend, and took the time to tell me how much you loved it. I've never had a reaction like this to a show of mine before, and I'm humbled and grateful.

To be fair, the show hasn't been universally adored. One critic in particular has written a really scathing review. What can I say? It's kind of like in the story- not everyone can see a Unicorn. There will always be someone who looks at something unique and magical and just sees a white mare.

But if you're reading this, I think you're one of the people who will really see the Unicorn. Prove me right, and come see the show.

In honor of opening

I've just gotten home from the opening night of "The Last Unicorn," and I'm a little giddy. Possibly in part from lack of sleep- I hope to remedy that soon. In the meantime, here are some awesome production photos from the show. They were taken by friend of the company TC McGrath. Enjoy!

A preview...

After rehearsal last Monday some of the actors and I got together and shot a little preview for The Last Unicorn. The sound is a little spotty, but I wanted to give everyone a taste of what's in store, and I'm pretty pleased with the results. We decided to film the scene where Mommy Fortuna encounters and captures the Unicorn for her Midnight Carnival. Check it out!

Works in progress

Been caught up in rehearsals for a while now, but here's a status update: things are going pretty well. We've finished blocking all of act 1 and are into act 2. Also, things are progressing nicely with the puppets and mask type stuff that I'm working on. Many things are decidedly still works in progress but as we come into the home stretch I'm pretty confident I'll finish on time. Here's a sample of what I've been working on:

First, Kyla who plays the Unicorn and Amalthea, modeling the unicorn head:


















It's important to note that she does NOT wear this the whole play see my earlier post on how to represent a unicorn on stage- but we've created an intentionally goofy version of a unicorn head to be the illusory version that Mommy Fortuna enchants the Unicorn with during the Midnight Carnival scene.

Next, I've been making progress on the puppet/icon things for the Robin Hood procession- I'm not finished painting it by a long shot yet, but here's a look at the Maid Marian icon- it's put together enough that you can get the general idea at least:























I'm pretty pleased with how things are progressing, but there's still a lot to be done. I'll keep you posted!