Asclepius just finished it’s first of a three week run. We’ve been in the theater for about thirteen days (and nights) straight with tech rehearsals and the performances. Today is out first day off. Even though we were tired, last night’s show the tightest yet. The chorus and music is really coming together. Those in the business know that even though you rehearse your butt off, the magic doesn’t happens until it’s performed in front of a live audience. Here’s an excerpt from a review...“with totems of experimental theatre, including puppets and masks, a winging pageant unfurls…Go to Asclepius to see swirling colorful patterns of dance, movement, and acrobatics.  Then look up at the sky:  In punishment for raising the dead, the god of medicine was killed, but finally taken into the heavens as a constellation. At 91 years of age, and for all she has weathered and done for and in the downtown theatre scene, Ellen Stewart should be given a constellation herself.  - Bob Schulman.
Read the full reveiw here at -Stage Voices Review

A rehearsal shot with Eugene the Poogene (left) as Hades and Micheal Lynch on the golden throne as King Midas.

The wonderful thing about performing is that it puts you in the moment and the experienced artist is forced to keep it real. Otherwise, it’s uninspired at best. This is a lesson learned from all my shakuhachi teachers. Yukio for example, plays something different on the flute every night. In last night’s performance, during a quiet outdoors night scene, the usual sound of wooden block frogs was joined by Koro Koro for the first time. They blended perfectly and flavored the scene so well. It’s wonderful to be around this kind of player - sensitive, inquisitive and open to the universe.

Aside from imitating your teacher, which we should all do, we should also put time aside to go out side and converse with the natural world. This would develop the necessary listening skills required of performers. It would also be a lot of fun at the very least!

Off to the work bench!