Raconteur Theatre Company

Straight off of our production of Ghosts we have launched into rehearsals for our December production: Mom and Pop by local Columbus playwright Sarah Tobin.  Part of my duties as director is to share my concept of the play with the production team.  This is what I recently sent out to everyone.

Mom and Pop
Written by Sarah Tobin
Directed by Jill Ceneskie

Every generation must choose its path.  Do we follow our dreams or do we follow tradition?  Do we support the family owned businesses of our neighborhoods or do we opt for the convenience of the large corporate mega stores?  These are the issues I want our audiences to leave with in their minds.

Hendrick Hardware is warm and inviting, but should also appear as though it is lacking something as each generation we see is lacking.  The present day generation lacks direction in the face of too many options; our 1958 characters lack options in the face of unexpected events; our 1937 characters lack family unity in wake of a new generation being born.  With each generation we see a little warm disappearing but it is never gone.  There is love for the store, even if they don’t want it for their own lives.

Some scenes will contain very similar blocking to reflect that idea that although each generation has its own dilemma, at the very core of it, struggles are all the same in many ways, and we all face these problems in our own time.   We can also see each character’s level of connection to the store through blocking.  We see, for example, that Franz, Bart, Ed, and Gus are comfortable in the store and will wander in and out of the aisles for various purposes.  Luke will walk straight through the aisles but take no notice of them.  Eda, on the other hand, is at home in the store but avoids a commitment to its function, as she is never seen walking through any of the aisles.  Gerda, Gail, and Becky avoid the area where the aisles are, showing their disconnect from the store (each has her own reason for this disconnect).

All in all, we see how the early generations affect their children and the complications that one man’s dream can cause for generations to come.

*****

And that’s that.  Now I’m working on scheduling one on one meetings with each designer.  It’s nonstop from here to December 4th when we open!

Jill

Raconteur’s After the Afterglow Makes it Easy to See a Show!

Columbus’s new Raconteur Theatre Company theorizes that one reason people don’t go out to see local theatre is because of its total inflexibility! That’s why they are premiering with After the Afterglow, a show in a flexible format.

After the Afterglow allows patrons to choose from viewing one of two one-acts or enjoying both for a discounted price. Board member Jill C. Hartley explains, “In an increasingly hectic world, this gives our patrons options. If they’re booked until 8 o’clock, no biggie- they can catch the second piece. We want people to see theatre as a real option for their weekend.”

After the Afterglow consists of Roulette by Douglas Hill and Aster, Holger Gunn by Columbus’s own Justin Toomey. Roulette follows Janine (Jill Ceneskie) and Matt (JT Walker) as they decide to divorce after four years of a painful marriage. But when the couple embarks on a final road trip to drop off Matt in Las Vegas, they start to question their decision as strange, inexplicable things start happening. In Aster, Holger Gunn, Holger (Andrew Cronacher) is unable to let go of his love for Aster (Molly St. Cyr), and turns to writing a dialogue between the two of them in the hopes of working through his attachment to an obviously dead relationship. Despite having complete control over every move Aster makes and every word she says, Holger cannot change the ultimate destiny of their relationship.

After the Afterglow runs May 29-June 14 at Kafe Karouac (2250 N. High St., Columbus). Shows are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 & 9:15pm and Sundays at 2 & 3:15pm. Roulette will start at 8pm Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 pm Sundays. Aster, Holger Gunn is at 9:15pm Thursdays through Saturdays and 3:15pm Sundays. Tickets are $5 for a single one-act or $8 for both. Local singer songwriter Andy Ceneskie will provide music before each one act and Kafe Kerouac will sell beverages and snacks from their menu.

For additional information visit www.raconteurtheatre.com/currentshow.html.

Wednesday will mark the first ever rehearsal held for Raconteur Theatre Company!  It’s going to be a busy one.  The casts and directors for both one acts will be meeting, and we will be covering the following bases:

-introductions of all present

-read thru of each show

-actor headshots and publicity photos taken

-bios collected

-costume measurements taken

Hopefully we will be videoing the rehearsal as well in order to post some of the fun for you on our website (assuming some fun is had!).  Keep an eye out for updated actor info off our current show page and for video of this rehearsal and upcoming guerrilla marketing stunts!

With endless tasks to tackle,

Jill

The scripts and location have been selected!  Our grand opening show will be the first of our “Flex Series.”  Our Flex Series is an evening of two one-act plays allowing our patrons to choose to attend just one of the two or for a discounted ticket price, to attend both.  Here’s the line-up:

Roulette by Douglas Hill

Aster Holger Gunn by Justin Toomey

The show will be at Kafe Kerouac on the following dates:

May 29-June 1, June 5-8, and June 12-14

Thursday, Friday, & Saturday shows at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm

Audition announcements will be posted soon as will information for purchasing tickets.

Excited to share our stories,

Jill