Executive Director's View: Reviews

Ever since Sarah Desti Miller left the area, the paper has been limited in its ability to review local performances which unfortunately includes KNOW. So what do you do? Well one of our patrons decided that you write one on your own and publish it on http://www.pressconnects.com under "YOUR STORIES". This was unsolicited, but welcomed. AND if the paper is no longer going to review local arts presentations, it is the only way any of us are going to get reviewed. So I encourage you to all write your own reviews. Not only for us, but for any group in town that isn't getting covered by the press. All of us can work together and still be successful.

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The Review:

November 2, 2008

KNOW THEATRE'S "Doubt' A Must See

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Reader Submitted

On Saturday night I attended John Patrick Shandley's Tony Award Winning play, “Doubt: A Parable,” directed by James B. Nicola, as it heated up the Binghamton City Stage at the KNOW Theatre at 74 Carroll Street. The controversial story evolved when doubt is placed upon a priest, brilliantly portrayed by Michael Shepard. His adversary a nun, equally matched in the role played by Judy McMahon.

While a controversial and a current subject at best, “Doubt” places the audience in a passive role as judge as the parish priest fights accusations against him by the Sr. Aloysius, the strict and unforgiving principal of the parish school.

The theme is dramatic, but carefully woven with humor which helps to lighten a difficult subject matter. The supporting role of Sr. James superbly portrayed by Leanne Mercadante, a bit of flibity-gibit like Maria in the “Sound of Music” was a wonderful balance to the austere Sr. Aloysius. Shirley Cothran as Mrs. Muller, the mother of the only “Negro” child in the school, was excellent in her role as a woman who was in a difficult place in her life and recognized her child's fortune in attending the school.

This definitely is a must see. It runs for one more weekend and played to a sell-out crowd this past weekend!

The Show runs November 7th-9th, 2008. Go to www.knowtheatre.org to reserve tickets or call 724-4341.

(Copied from PressConnects.com)

Executive Director's View: A SOLD OUT performance

If you were at Know Theatre on Saturday November 1st, you witnessed an incredible performance of Doubt, you also saw us running around like crazy to deal with a completely sold out house. Like everyone else, we took a beating on Halloween, I admit, handing out candy to kids is fun, but it does kill ticket sales. But for some reason 80 people decided Saturday was the night to be at the theater. All day reservations were pouring in on the internet, through BrownPaperTickets, through the phone lines, via e-mail and we scrambled to put everyone in the best seats possible until it became obvious that we had to focus on finding enough seats and some would be better than others. Which is why season tickets are a great idea. You pick your seats and they're yours. So if you haven't subscribed yet, let me take this moment to encourage you to buy one today. We'll even discount it to make up for the shows you missed. Regardless of how you plan on getting your seats, if you haven't yet, you need to. The show is amazing! There's only one weekend left.

An Actor's View: Second Weekend

Hey all, Leanne here. With the second weekend of shows approaching, I'm feeling pretty excited and nervous at the same time. We just had a brushup rehearsal on Tuesday, literally running through the entire play with just text and scenes, no costume or lights. We have another brushup on Thursday before our second Friday show, and we'll be running through lines and blocking (movement on the stage) just to refresh our memories. Running though a play like this is like remembering an old dance -- you move at specific moments, and the more specific those moments and movements are, the more story there is to tell. That's why it is so important to do these brushup rehearsals.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend at "Doubt: A Parable." Enjoy the show!

An Actor's View: Research

I did some research on saints which ended up being very interesting. Judy's character's name is Sister Aloysius -- it turns out, St. Aloysius is the patron saint of youth. Keep that in mind as you watch this show. My character's name is Sister James -- I didn't find out too much on St. James other than that he is both the patron saint of Spain as well as the supposed 'brother' of Jesus, according to several passages in the Bible. This kind of research helps me dive into the playwright's vision of the play, and it gives me insight as to what he sees for his characters and their relationships to other characters in the play.

We open on THURSDAY with Pay What You Can night! It's so soon, I can't believe it. Hope to see you there!

-- Leanne

From the Executive Director: So much to do, so little time!

Wow. Three weeks in between shows is not that much time. We need costumes, the website unexpectedly went down this week (my fault) and had to be re-built in days, printing had to be done in California and shipped here so we just got the materials, press releases need to go out, the program needs to get finished, volunteers need to be coordinated, and there's plenty more. BUT...rehearsals are going well, the cast is great, and the show is wonderful (that's why it won a TONY and a PULITZER). So it will all come together. But it still makes you sit back sometimes and think "Wow, there is a lot behind getting a show together"

An Actor's View: Doubt

Hi all, Leanne here. As you may have heard, rehearsals for DOUBT are in full swing. Having just closed "Glass Menagerie," starting up with DOUBT so quickly has definitely been challenging, but in a unique, exciting way. First of all, the writing styles of Williams and Shanley are so different. Where Williams is poetic and flowery, Shanley is blunt, yet strangely indirect. Rehearsals for "doubt" started, quite literally, an hour after "Glass Menagerie" closed. Honestly, jumping from one show to the next is like jumping in between worlds. It's as though I was gliding along smoothly and then I suddenly hit this brick wall that is the world of Shanley. His characters are incredibly complex, and so real. Even in this play, "Doubt," the members of the clergy have specific, definite flaws that get in the way of what they want from the world.

Rehearsals are very focused and intense. We're breaking the scenes down into sections that we call "beats," or energy cycles. It's a very efficient way to discover the flow of the scene from one subject, or beat, to the next.

Sister James -- her heart is genuine, but she loses sight of what's best for her students when Sister Aloysius (Al-o-wish-us) plants the first seeds of doubt. After that, she does all she can to restore her faith in herself, her teaching and her school, but those seeds can never be erased. Once something is learned, it cannot be forgotten. This play is very much a journey into adulthood for Sister James. As children we are complacent, and adults hide from us the difficulties and fears of the world in order for them to live happy, innocent lives. Sister James wants to give that to her children while at the same time remaining free and happy herself. But as Sister Aloysius says, "It is not our job to be complacent... that's what we give them."

--Leanne

A Message from the Executive Director: KNOW THEATRE ANNOUNCES AUDITIONS FOR BENT

Running a theatre company never stops. Just as you close one show, another starts rehearsing and another starts casting. Doubt rehearsals are in full swing and production plans for Bent are already happening. Below is the casting notice we sent out as a press release. I hope all of our actors in the audience can come join us on October 25th to be considered for this deeply emotional and powerful show.

The Know Theatre will hold auditions for their February production of BENT by Martin Sherman, Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Binghamton City Stage (home of Know Theatre)74 Carroll Street, Binghamton, NY.

No appointment is necessary. Please prepare a 1-2 minute, contemporary, dramatic monologue. We are seeking 11 adult male actors. Piano, violin and/or cello skills are a plus.
One role is for an experienced drag performer with singing abilities. Rehearsals begin in December with a holiday break. Performances begin Feb. 5th with a 10 show run.

The production will be directed by local writer, actor, and director Tim Mollen with original music by Santino DeAngelo.

For more information e-mail info@knowtheatre.org

COMPANY INFO: In its third season at the Binghamton City Stage, the Know Theatre, founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Tim Gleason, is a semi-professional theatre company whose mission is to present, innovative, contemporary works.

Welcome to Know Theatre's Blogspot!!!

There is so much that goes on behind the scenes in creating the gripping works you see at the Know Theatre. This is your chance to see what happens behinds the scenes. Over the next few weeks you will learn about Doubt: A Parable from those who are rehearsing it. Throughout the year this blog will be your source for information about all the happenings at the Know so YOU can stay In the know! As Tim always says, the audience is the final part of our work; you are part of our family.

Welcome.

Matthew Edwards
Executive Director
Know Theatre
Binghamton, NY