March 29, 2012

Alpha, Beta, Gamma...


This week at Goddess Wheel has just been flying by!

We've done some amazing work, gotten some great publicity and even received a brand new version of the script!!!


Earlier this week, we took some time to add our wonderful Goddesses to one of the Oracle scenes; enhancing the story and adding yet another layer to the incredible work everyone has been doing!


John Jamiel, our Oracle, surrounded by our Goddesses (from the bottom left going clockwise: Allie Dufford as Thalia – Muse Goddess of Comedy, Erica Wiederlight as Athena, Heather Kirschenbauer as Afro-Dite, Caroline LaTorre as Hera, Bronwyn Whittle as Alethia, Jaime Maraviglia as Melpomne – Muse Goddess of Tragedy).

Danielle Dallacco, our Lysistrata, was interviewed about the show and her involvement for our facebook page! Check out the video:


Last night Matty Selman, the book writer and lyricist, came by rehearsal and talked through the new script with the cast.

Matty talking with the cast

Don't forget to check out our facebook page for even more behind the scenes information and to call our box office at 718.390.3259 to order your tickets -- opening night is only 20 days away!!!!





March 26, 2012

Updates All Over!

There have recently been many updates here at Goddess Wheel!

For starters, check out our FABULOUS new poster:
This past weekend we had our design run where we presented all of the material we've staged so far to our entire creative team as well as a few special guests! It went incredibly well and everyone is very excited about the direction we are heading in.

We also filmed a few of our actors this weekends for the projections that are going to be used during the show. One of the actors who was filmed, Tommy Joscelyn, the understudy for both Hades and the Oracle, had to shave their head before the filming could occur!  

                
               Tommy's Hair Before
The Shaving in Process



                                                                                                                                
                 
                   Cast member Max King helping Tommy
               
                  Tommy seeing his head for the first time


A few cast members have also made visits to the band's rehearsals! They've all said it was incredible to hear the music with the full band and that singing with them was great fun. Some pictures from one such visit are below.
Cast Members(from left to right) Matt Sydney (the Chancellor), Danielle Dallacco (Lysistrata),  Ilana Bolotsky (the Young Widow) and Ryan Cole (the Soldier Ghost and Spartan Envoy).

Composer, Galt MacDermot, plays the piano as Matt Sydney sings with the band.
Music Director, James Higgins, leads the band and the performers.




I hope you enjoy these behind the scenes blog updates and if you're looking for even more information and up to the minute updates be sure to like our facebook page
And don't forget, Opening Night is less then a month away (April 18th!) so be sure to get your tickets while you still can by calling our box office at: (718) 390-3259. 

March 20, 2012

10 Things You Might Not Know about "Goddess Wheel"

At Goddess Wheel, we've been having a lot of fun working with the material! So, here's a little fun for you:

10 Things You Might Not Know About Goddess Wheel:
1) The script has gone through three drastically different versions with additional minor changes along the way.

2) Director, Rusty Curcio, directed Hair (which also has music by Galt MacDermot) for Wagner College in 2006!

3) The Spartan women are wearing 4 inch heels as part of their costumes!

4) Goddess Wheel is an ensemble piece; our cast is made up of 45 people! 20 Athenians, 16 Spartans, and 9 other worldly beings!

5) The Spartan army is being played by 10 men from the Wagner Athletic Department!

6) The design for the production will utilize AMAZING projections by our multimedia artist, Tony Brown.

7) Our Lysistrata, Danielle Dallacco, played the character Kalonike in Wagner College's production of Aristophanes' Lysistrata this past fall.
Photo by Karen O'Donnell Photography

8) The Goddess Aphrodite is being represented as Afro-dite and will played by Heather Kirschenbauer. Part of her costume, you guessed it, will be a giant afro!

9) Galt MacDermot's New Pulse band will be playing for the show!

10) Opening Night is April 18h – Only 29 days away! Tickets are available by contacting the Wagner College Theatre box office at 718.390.3259

March 8, 2012

What You Need and Desire


Last night at Goddess Wheel  we accomplished a lot of good work!

One scene we worked on finessing was the reunion of Lysistrata, played by Danielle Dallacco, and the Chancellor, played by Matt Sydney, in which they sing the song, “Desire”.

It's a beautiful scene and our leading couple are doing an incredible job!

Here are some pictures from the rehearsal:

Our director, Rusty Curcio, works with Danielle and Matt before they dive into working on the scene.
  

The first instant Lysistrata and the Chancellor are alone together after he's been away at war.


“Desire” is a song about pursuing hopes and wants even though you might be in the midst of overcoming difficult struggles.


Danielle and Matt work wonderfully together as Lysistrata and the Chancellor. 
They have wonderful chemistry and

           
are able to have fun as they work while 
still being in the moment and doing what they need to do.


 








 In Goddess Wheel, Lysistrata owns and operates Aspasia's Gynaceum, a “house of women” in Athens. Though the girls who work for her take clients to keep the business afloat, Lysistrata only sees the Chancellor.
 
Despite the war which keeps them apart, Lysistrata and the Chancellor's love is real and it carries them through the storms they must weather.  

We at Goddess Wheel continue to work and make improvements on the show every night and we hope you will join us when opening night rolls around (April 18th)!

In the mean time, stay tuned for more behind the scenes updates!

March 2, 2012

Show and Tell


Last weekend we at Goddess Wheel  had a 'show and tell' for some of our creative team! 

It went incredibly well and we got to see everything we've been working on in succession. We still have a lot of work to do but what we've done is looking great!

Some pictures from the day are below!


The cast working through the opening scene as the Young Widow (not shown) sings 
"Stranger to Children" and the Chancellor (played by Matt Sydney) 
is reunited with Lysistrata (not shown)  

The cast rests as the story progresses and Lysistrata (played by Danielle Dallacco) 
and her women develop a plan

Almost the entire cast, with Lysistrata and the Chancellor at center, as they sing
the final song of the piece, "The End Song"

Here are two members of our creative team, Kari, our physical dramaturg, and Tony, our multimedia artist, who drove down just to be with us for the show and tell!


Besides for the show and tell we've been doing a lot of great work on the individual scenes and songs!

John Jamiel, who plays Hades as well as the Oracle, works on a lift with some of the boys
who act as The Dead. 
Boys in the photo (from left to right) include:
Zach Fenoff, Rob Keir, Keland Sarno & Jurdan Payne
 

Some of the girls review music they've learnt with our music director James.

Our director, Rusty Curcio, works on a scene with actresses Leighann Colin & Beth Miller

And don't forget to order your tickets to Goddess Wheel so you can come join us and see the finished product in April! 

More information is available on the Wagner College Theatre website.