Onstage Now » Behind the Scenes

“BE”coming Wiley

wendy.gourley — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:51:24 +0000

The world was created with a word.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

In the Koran it says:

To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth; when He decreeth a matter He saith to it: “Be”; and it is. (al-baqarah 2:117)

Cultures the world over believe in the creative power of the word. It is found in their creation myths and folktales. It is found in their rituals.

In Wiley and the Hairy Man, we are the speakers of words and the creators of worlds. Through word and sound we create setting, mood, a moment of palpable fear, a child’s nightmare. The cast worked with musician George Grant who taught us not only how to make cool swamp sounds and vocal rhythm patterns, but how to be composers. We learned how to listen. When you come to show you won’t hear swampy chirps and croaks; you’ll hear conversations – many created improvisationally in that moment. Effects – Images – Harmony Pods – Ostinato Choir – Framing Patterns – Pulsing – Overtone Chanting – these elements and more are techniques that we employ throughout the show to create the world inside Wiley’s head.

Come play with us for:

“We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams” (Willy Wonka)

Antigone Hair/Makeup

Json — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:18:12 +0000

Hey out there,
I just wanted to throw up a quick post to let you all know about how things are going. Obviously we are still pretty early in design but things are coming together. Seeing as this is my first time designing hair/makeup for a show I am a bit overwhelmed with everything, but very excited about it.
What I can tell you at this point about the designs is that we are going with a ratio of 80/20 of ‘modern’ vs greek. What does that mean for hair/makeup? We are drawing on mostly high fashion photography and modeling for inspiration, with an splash of greek.
A really neat thing I have learned in my research of greek design is the bright and vibrant colors and detailed geometric patterns that were used.
Well that is what I’ve got at this point. I look forward to posting pictures of designs as they come along, so stay tuned.

Jason

Giggely Goop!

dan.anderson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:52:08 +0000

My name is Daniel Anderson, and I am mud.

Being mud aint easy out here in the swamplands of the tombigbee. We mudbugs have been working hard for the show, and let me tell you, it’s been quite the experience. Channeling out “inner mud” requires much of the same things required of any good actor: listening, lots of focus, attention to detail, and loads of energy; but there’s many other new things that I’ve never done in a show before. I won’t say too much because I dont want to give anything away, but know that this show will be unlike anything done here before at UVU!

One of the things Im really excited about is the great costumes that we have for this show. Jared Lewis is doing a great job at making the swamp come alive in a really textured, but simplistic way. Clothes really do make the man…err… mudman….. In fact, all the design aspects of this show are really exciting. Percussion plays a huge part of telling the story; and the lights and set make a perfect atmosphere for this show.

So pull up a stump, get cozy under the stars, and join us for a night out in the swamp with your little ones. You wont regret it!

“Wiley and the Hairy Man” Publicity Photos

chex.frandsen — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:31:56 +0000

And what did Wiley see????

morgan.fenner — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:51:51 +0000

” HE SAW THE HAIRY MAN !!!! ” Thats Right ladies and gentlemen we have ourselves a full fledged Hairy Man. With the addition of the newest member of our cast, a new pupeteer, our hairy man has gained a personality of its own. He is both terrifying and so very fantastical. Its amazing what these pupeteers can do and how much an effect it makes when all of them are on the ball. We have witnessed the hairy man do his terrible conjure, sit down on the dock, tower menacingly over wiley and even play fetch with dog. I’m certain that by opening this monster will be as alive as any of us in the show.

So you want to be a tree hugger?

morgan.fenner — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:04:13 +0000

We are now starting our third week of rehearsals. To bring you up to speed on what has happened these past two weeks of rehearsal. 1) We Trees , the saps, are finally somewhat comfortable on the stilts. Meaning we are stable enough to not feel like we are going to “timber!!!” . 2) We have bits and pieces of the hairy man that are in fact quite terrifying, that is when you are about to get hit by one of these neon green noodles. and # 3) We finally have a dog and she has already made such an effect on the show for the better in the two rehearsals she has been to so far. After last nights reahearsal we have blocked about half the show and its really coming together. I feel that we are really getting the shape of things and the more comfortable we get with what we are doing the more creepy and unreal things get. This is such an incredible process that will result in a fantastic show.

Much To Do About… Much Ado

Json — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:59:17 +0000

I know the title is cheesey, but it’s true. We are coming down to crunch time and there is so much going on. This Saturday, the 21st, is the first day of tech. And everything is really looking good.

DYEING TO MEET OUR AUDIENCE

admin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:40:47 +0000

Mr. Cooger fears not the hazard of the midnight hour nor the loss of his luscious locks. Stout-hearted, he is dedicated to perfecting the performance of one fiery redhead. Our man of many faces will get a little closer to his audience with a cut and color by Amy.

SOMETHING WICKED makeup preliminaries

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:49:55 +0000

Have you noticed the storms brewing in the air. The leaves on the trees are turning The clouds in the sky are swirling, as the yellow sun fades to shades of grey. The hair on your neck stands on end in the bracing winds. By the pricking of my thumbs, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES. This year, Halloween is coming early.

Come one; come all. Come and see the show. Stay an hour; stay forever. Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show is coming soon to UVU’s Noorda Theatre. Mr. Dark invites one and all to see the show or follow your heart on one of his wild rides.

And if you’re unsure which whimsy to follow, come and let the Dust Witch probe into the innermost desires of your heart. But, BEWARE, once you walk into her web woven of secret wishes, desires, and dreams, you may never want to leave.

‘Charlotte’s Web’ fun to see

isaacwalters — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:31:04 +0000

by Sharon Haddock

OREM — This stage adaptation of E.B. White’s favored children’s tale is a most entertaining show.

With animal puppets made of wire, metal and fabric that are surprisingly full of expression and personality, this story takes on a unique flavor and is just plain fun to watch.

Read the rest of the review here.