Grinder's Grumblings

Just a quick note to let you know that Hans Brinker is now well into rehearsals. The set is up, the actors are learning lines, and we're all looking forward to getting onstage in just a few short weeks. The director seems to have a good hold of things too... which is a welcome relief for me - I'm getting a much-needed break from the Director's chair while we tool up for the winter season. Also, if you're going to be coming to the Elora Santa Claus Parade tomorrow night watch for the Grinder float! The cast and crew will be there, handing out information on the show and spreading some Christmas cheer. Feel free to come out and join us!

I thought today I would give you some more information about the characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and what I am thinking of in terms of casting for them. If you or someone you know might be interested in getting involved in this show, please e-mail me at grinder@grinderproductions.org. The Athenians: These are the upper-class characters in the play. Theseus - The Duke of Athens, a middle-aged, battle-hardened warrior-ruler. Hippolyta - Theseus' bride, whom he fought in battle to win her over. She is a Queen of the "Amazons" - an all-female tribe of warriors. Egeus - Helena's father, a bit old-fashioned - either his daughter wed's the man of his choice or she is banished - or killed. Lysander - A young man of Athens Demetrius - A young man of Athens Helena - A young woman of Athens Hermia - A young woman of Athens Philostrate - Theseus' Master of the Revels, a civil servant responsible for gathering entertainment for the Duke's weddin...

I've been a little inattentive to the goings-on of the "theatrosphere" lately, so I've missed this big brouhaha that is apparently going on among theatre bloggers. I guess we're talking so much about the practical side of putting on plays (business models, rehearsal techniques, etc) that the people who are focused on the content of theatre are feeling left out. "The play's the thing" after all, isn't it? For my two cents worth, I don't think you can separate form and content in theatre. One of the things I noticed many years ago when I was an over-worked, under-paid, borderline-slave of a Production Assistant, was that the conditions of production became the production. If we had to spend all night working onstage for four days straight then the show looked like crap. If we were able to go home and get a good night's sleep it meant that things were going well enough that the show generally looked pretty good. The harder you have to ...

I'm happy to report that both of our final shows in 2008 are now into rehearsal/preparations, and the company is still in strong enough financial shape that we can now begin to look ahead just a little be to the start of 2009. Now January is one of the most difficult months of the year to put on plays - the weather is terrible, it's hard to get out to rehearsals and shows, people have usually had enough "social time" over the holidays and are staying at home, and money is at its tightest as the holiday bills come in. So usually there isn't much going on in theatres at this time of year: it's often the time to re-group, do some maintenance, and get caught up on chores, and perhaps even take some badly-needed vacation in a sunnier climate. At Grinder we don't quite have the luxury of a week in Bora Bora (not that the thought hasn't crossed my mind), and we will have programming January, as well as programming in February and March, so as to ensure tha...

I know you're likely getting sick of seeing Hans Brinker posts - don't despair! There are other things going on at the company, and we will have more to tell you about them next week. But we lost a couple of actors at the last second and are still looking for some cast members for this show. If you or someone you know might be interested, please have them e-mail grinder@grinderproductions.org or call 519-780-7593 ASAP. This show is open-ended enough that we can take either boys or girls in their teenage years, and possibly a couple of adults as well. Please pass this along to anyone you know who might be able to help us out. Thanks!

Dutch Christmas Classic at the Fergus Grand Theatre For Immediate Release Grinder Productions is pleased to present Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates, a Christmas show for the entire family, December 18th, 19th and 20th at the Fergus Grand Theatre. This classic Dutch Christmas story is known to many, about a poor but noble family, a deep secret, and an incredible act of kindness, but for those who aren’t familiar with the events this story the play will serve as a wonderful introduction. Written in a light-hearted, easy-to-understand manner, this show is perfect for children and families. Its large cast of performers young and old features some of the best and brightest at Grinder Productions, as well as some new faces coming to our stage for the first time ever. Grinder Productions Creative and Executive Director Eric Goudie is very happy to see this show coming together this Holiday season. “When I first chose the show, the economy was doing fine,” he says. “Since then, things ha...

Just thought everyone might like to look at my burgeoning portfolio on Helium. I know I've referenced individual articles in the past, and I'll be putting as much time and effort into writing more articles in the days and weeks ahead (so as to have my efforts rewarded with lunch money), so I encourage you to check out my thoughts on such riveting titles as: Why it is important to introduce children to theatre The Best Elizabethan Plays and Playwrights Technical Theatre Appreciation or other non-theatre titles such as... Home Electricity 101 Why training in trades might be better than colleges for most Small Business Ownership: Trials and Joys That, plus a few titles I've written for surrounding political topics (that are actually in the "marketplace" on the site and are in consideration for wider publication) makes up my current portfolio, but I'm still very early in this new process and will be adding more articles every day. Click here for the link. Thank...

I apologize for not posting this yesterday - I was "kickin' it old school" and working offline. The following was written over a cup of coffee, surrounded by madness, just like in the old days before I could afford a laptop: I've finished an article recently at Helium.com about "Discouraging Trends in today's Theatre." ( click here for the link ) I encourage you to read the article, but if you've been in this business for any length of time at all you can probably come up with your own laundry list of complaints about the state of the theatre business as easily as I did. There's so much we don't have to be proud of. Like George Bush's America, theatre is a waning superpower, but without the mixed-race messiah. I ended my article asking why we, as a community, were simplly lamenting the situation, instead of actually doing something about it. So why aren't we? Why are we letting things get so far away rom us that Time Magazine c...

Hans Brinker Those of you who have been around Grinder for a while may be familiar with the “Christmas curse.” Every year since the company’s inception we have chosen to bring our patrons some holiday programming. But every year Fate has gotten in the way. Let’s not let that happen again this year! Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates, is the stage adaptation of the classic Dutch children’s Christmas story. It has all the excitement and high drama you would expect of any Christmas story, with a moral heart and beautiful story woven in. It is the perfect holiday entertainment for the entire family, and with our children’s price of $5 remaining intact it’s still an economical choice in these difficult times. The show will go up December 18th, 19th and 20th at the Fergus Grand Theatre. We are still looking for a few boys ages 13 to 16 to help us out with this show. If you or anyone you know of would fill the bill, please have them get in touch with us at grinder@grinderproductions.or...

Poverty Anonymous Somewhat ironically, we are a company in financial distress that has a play coming up about being in financial distress. This show is a presentation of several individual stories, none of them true but all of them plausible, by people who are at a “poverty anonymous” meeting, where the format is similar to any other “anonymous” meeting. June, the plucky, determined moderator, is steadfast in her belief that poverty is a crime, and that only through showing these poor, unfortunate souls the errors of their ways can she make them productive, prosperous members of society once again. Little does she realize, however, that just maybe the “criminals” that have come out to this particular meeting have a thing or two to show her… This is a light-hearted, very satirical look at how the rich and poor get along. I’ve at a ringside seat to this for several years now to this subtle farce, so I thought it would be interesting to bring it to the stage. But, we need your help… ...

Here, as promised, is all the information you'll need to register for the 8 week course I'll be co-facilitating this winter at the Elora Centre for the Arts. It's going to be a fast, fun, funny experience, and one you don't need any special skills or training to be good at - just an open mind and your imagination. I really would love to see you there. Click here to go to the ECFTA Website for more information. Improv Group Ages 16 & up Mondays, January 19 – March 9 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. $60 Member / $75 Non-member An eight week course that can change your life! You don’t have to be funny to take part in this group, nor do you need to have experience in acting. A willingness to think outside of the box would be a great asset! You will enjoy 8 weeks of theatre games, team building exercises and trust exercises, as well as, situational and improvised games and activities, all within a relaxed and supportive environment. Please wear comfortable clothing & shoes –...

Good Monday morning to you all, You may have noticed that over the past couple of weeks things have been a bit choppy here on the blog, and those of you who have any insights into my personal life will know why. The past two weeks have been filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for me and for the company. I'll spare you all the sordid details, such as they are, but suffice it to say that I've been a bit of a mess this past little while, and it has shown itself here and in other places. I am now in the process of cobbling things back together, and you, gentle reader, are only one of a great many people I would like to apologize to, and to thank for putting up with me over the past couple of weeks. We have a lot of work ahead of us here at Grinder. Just like last year, we've had some pretty un-spectacular box office returns this fall, and we are once again in some pretty dire financial straights. So, in an attempt to improve the bottom line I have retur...

Just a quick note today to let you know that next week we will be launching our extensive holiday season promotional and goodwill campaigns. Please see next Thursday's posting for all the details. I want the next six weeks to be a very special time for our company and its membership, a chance for us to share with others the very best of what makes Grinder Productions what it is - you and your talents. Season's Greetings from Grinder Productions

Come on down to the grand and check out this important show! See info here.

I'm teaching a class this winter! The Elora Centre for the Arts is offering a class in Improv that will begin in January and run for 8 weeks, concluding with a small performance. We'll cover all the basics of improv, through games, trust exercises and other activities. Please check out the ECA website for all the details.

In case you hadn't heard, the economy has gone to pot. The stock market is in shambles, unemployment is rising, credit is "crunched" and the world appears headed for a significant recession. A few of the darkest prophets of death are almost ready to utter the d-word. No, not deficit: depression. It won't be long before we begin to hear more and more people make comparisons between the 1930's and the present calamities. Perhaps these claims are overstated or perhaps they are justified - I don't claim to have the head for figures necessary to say with any certainty just how bad the coming months and possibly years will be. I do know that through all the doom and gloom there will continue to be live theatre. Wherever you can find "two planks and a passion" you will find theatre. So don't despair theatre lovers - the sets may be a little shabbier, the plays a little more obsucre and the venues a little more rudimentary (maybe next summer will se...

Get your copy of the November Newsletter right here , folks. Enjoy!