Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I am thankful for ...

1. My family and friends.
2. Abraham Lincoln.
3. My new job and the chance to be part of something super exciting with our world premiere.

I figured I had to put my family before Abe. I'm not sure they would have understood if I hadn't.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Springfield trip.

We're back! We returned from Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday night. It was a great trip and we had a lot of fun ... good staff bonding time. Sites we visited included:

1. Lincoln Tomb
2. Old Illinois State Capitol
3. Lincoln Home Historic Site
4. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
5. New Salem Historical Site

So of course I took a lot of pictures and I'll post a few below for your viewing pleasure.

The picture below was taken at the Old State Capitol. At first when I took the picture I didn't notice the Lincoln that "appeared" in the mirror on the wall. You can clearly see an image of Abraham Lincoln in the mirror. For a moment I got really excited thinking "It's the spirit of Lincoln!!" Then I realized it was really a statue on the other side of the room that was reflecting into the mirror. It looks good though!


This was taken at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. We couldn't pass up a chance to pose with young Abe! Left to right we have Steve, our executive producer, myself, young Abraham and Eric, our managing director.


And lastly, this was taken at the Lincoln Tomb.


It was a great trip. I fully plan to return with my family because now that they've heard me talk about it for two days, they want to go!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Are those our seats?

So now that the roof is all finished they've started on the seating. The seats look like they may be missing a few components. Maybe the main component ... the part that you sit on.



I know what you're thinking ... "Um, Laura ... those don't look very comfortable. Where exactly do I sit?" Well, they're aren't finished yet. Right now they are just taking the seats apart to clean and maintain them.

In a few of the seating sections it looks like we've had a strong windstorm and the seats just got pushed over. Or maybe they are just taking a break.



Even though they look a little rough at the moment, I promise that we'll have them upright and ready to go for opening night.

Tomorrow some of our staff will be headed to Springfield, Illinois. We'll be touring some of the Lincoln sites. It is about a four and a half hour drive so my iPod will be riding shotgun. I'll be sure to snap some pictures and post those when we return.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Sneak peek

So one of the fun parts of theatre is the auditions right? We've been working on selecting some sites around the U.S. for auditions for our new production, "Lincoln."

It's a work in progress, but here is a sneak peek at the audition list so far. Mark your calendars!

Audition Schedule

UPTA - United Professional Theatre Auditions
February 6 - 9, 2009
Playhouse on the square in Memphis, Tennessee. For information or to register click here or contact (901) 725-0776.

Chicago Auditions
February 14, 2009
Palmer House Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. For more information or to register click here or contact Lincoln Amphitheatre at 1-800-264-4ABE or (812) 937-4493.

MWTA - Midwest Theatre Auditions
February 20 - 22, 2009
Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information or to register click here or contact (314) 968-6937.

SETC - Southeastern Theatre Conference
March 4 - 8, 2009
Birmingham, Alabama. For more information or to register click here or contact (336) 272-3645.

Of course you can also find all this information on our website; it's listed on the Meet the Cast page, under the audition link. You will also fill out the online application there. Too easy right?

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Paddle Wheeler

Recently Spencer County, Indiana, re-created a flatboat journey from Rockport, Indiana, to New Orleans, Louisiana. The trip was a re-enactment of a similar trip that Abraham Lincoln took in 1828 while transporting produce for a local merchant.

A few days ago as I was walking around the stage I noticed that our stage was sporting some lovely boats all in a row. Paddle boats from Lake Lincoln. It started me thinking ... flatboat versus paddle boat. Hmmm...




They sure are shiny. I think the purple is my favorite.

Think Abe would have enjoyed traveling down the mighty Ohio and Mississippi Rivers on a purple paddle wheeler? Not likely.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Our artistic director


In our search for an artistic director we looked for a professional with the ability to bring Lincoln's years to life. We found that quality in R. Scott Lank. Scott has the passion and talent to tell the story of Abraham Lincoln and an artistic vision that will captivate and inspire our audience.

Lank is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and the National Congress of Actors and Acting Teachers. His productions have been featured at the Toledo Repertory Theatre, the Lark Theatre, Northern Illinois University, Canadian Stage Company and the University of Evansville. A theatre professor at the University of Evansville, Lake is a 21-year veteran of the university's theatre department.

Lank has directed more than 60 productions, including many at regional and national levels at the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival. He resides in Evansville with his wife, Janet. Their daughter, Leslie, is a freshman at Butler University.


Friday, November 7, 2008

Phone fun

Earlier this week we had a new phone system installed. What fun! It's great to have the phone on my desk now, although I may miss the exercise of getting up and running around our office with the cordless phone. The cordless is still connected so I suppose if we get the urge to roam we can.

The fun aspect of a new phone system is figuring out how to use it. The technician, who was very helpful, took the time to train us before he left. That training lasted for all of five minutes and then I promptly forgot how to transfer calls and put people on hold. Melissa, from our visitors bureau, called and Eric and I couldn't quite remember how to put her on hold. Was it the red button ... ? So he told her that if we hung up on her we'd call back. Then (with fingers crossed) we pressed the button we thought it was. Hey, it's the only way to learn right? Thankfully we got it right; it was the red button. So far I have been able to transfer calls and check my voicemail without any major mishaps. I consider that a small victory.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Meet our playwright ...


We have selected the playwright that will pen "Lincoln," Indiana's new theatrical tribute to Abraham Lincoln. Ken Jones is an accomplished playwright whose work has been featured Off-Broadway and in theatres throughout the country.

Jones is an award-winning playwright and screen writer. He is the three-time recipient of the prestigious Delauney Playwriting Award as well as the Post-Corbett Award for Best Literary Artist.

His list of successful works includes "A Red Eagle Falling," which was performed Off-Broadway, and "Darkside," with more than 300 performances to date throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Jones resides in Kentucky with his wife, Christine, and their three children.

Monday, November 3, 2008

A facelift

And no, it's not anyone on our staff that is getting a new look ... it's the amphitheatre.

This morning I arrived to some renovations. The workers were just starting so I didn't have a clear view of what was being renovated just yet. When I went out for lunch and saw some of our old shingles laying on the ground I realized that we were getting new roofing. It was either that or the wind had really picked up since this morning.

So far one of our restroom buildings is getting new shingles. Our stage has temporarily turned into storage for some of the roofing.


I have to say that the workers have much better balance than I obviously do. They are up and down that roof at record speed. I have a feeling that I'd be teetering along.

This is just one item in the long list of renovations we'll be doing. I believe our seating may be next in line. I'll keep you posted.