kats.org.za

The Hot Mikado is nigh……..!!!!!0
Super_Thespian posted in Uncategorized on January 31st, 2008

OMG! Who coulda thunk it!  TWO WEEKS and we open on stage with the BIGGEST, and I mean BIGGEST production we have EVER tackled.  If only SANCTA and Miss van Nispen could see me now!!!!!!!

The cast are acting and singing their guts’ out for this one, and despite all the set-backs with loss of cast, running out of rehearsal time and having to postpone the show from Oct 07 to Feb 08, and numerous other hiccoughs, WE’VE DONE IT, we’re there, and it’s going to ROCK SOUTH AFRICAN community theatre!!!  If only the rest of the country could see us and appreciate it!!!! Damn but bookings are slim - people, what is it with attending live theatre, why don’t people have the faith in their community players???

Anyway…..can’t wait for the technical run on Sunday, it’s going to be a BIG test, lights, costumes, make-up, sound - hopefully the stage is done by then, as we’re still working on an unfinished stage.

Well, my nerves are shot, my ankle is sore (tore all the ligaments in a bad fall about two weeks ago….have to see an orthopeadic surgeon!), work is wel……work!

Saturday we’re recording our CD for Nightmusic, a soiree we did at the beginning of the year, what a show that was.  Taking it to Swaziland for two shows at a supper club theatre in Mbabane!!  How exciting!!!

Well, let me get back to work and try calm my nerves for the Hot Mikado.

Need to find someone to video this production properly (no offence to Bluebird who does all our filming), this one has to be done kosher.

S_T over and out

New Year, New Everything!0
Super_Thespian posted in Uncategorized on February 1st, 2007

Well well, here we are, 1st of February 2007 and it’s a new year. So far I’ve done nothing but veg. I’m supposed to be organising the murder dinner for the last weekend in Feb, first weekend in March. Somehow I don’t see that happening. Then it’s “Christmas in June” (still to be officially named) and then it’s “Hot Mikado”!!!! What an ambitious year I have planned for the society! I truly hope I’m not biting off more than I can chew, especially with the way things are going at work. I’m in for a bumpy ride!
Well, I got a new car on Friday last week - YEEHA, a beaula samba red Hyundai Matrix. I’m driving up a storm. I know that has nothing to do with the society, but I just felt it was worth mentioning.

Ok, so…whilst the ideas for the murder dinner ain’t going so well, we have been working on the Christmas show. Found a few numbers, parodies of carols actually, which are going to be HYSTERICAL. Butterrouge and I CRIED with laugther the other night whilst singing the songs….one of which is called “Grandma got run over by a Reindeer” - we’re doing it Afrikaner style, “Ouma got run over by a Reindeer” wif bad lankwich, grammar and accent and all. I was breathless singing it out loud, had a stitch in my side. Lord knows how Nightingale will keep a straight face with what I have planned. Oh lord, then there’s the three kings from Orient, puffing on a rubber cigar. It involves explosives and a mop-up crew! Ai ai ai, my sides are hurting again, just at the thought of it all!
I think we’ll be calling it “Jingle Bells in June” has a nice ring to it, hehehehe, pun intended.

Then comes Mikado - hhhhhhmmmmmmmmm. Audition notices went into the papers today, so I’m hoping we can get some fresh voices in, we’re going to need good voices to bulk up the chorus, and may need a lead or two. HOLD THUMBS!!!

Well, I know I haven’t blogged in a while, and should really be saying more here, but it’s bed time, eyes are burning from staring at computer screens all day long (I’m an IT geek for those who didn’t know).

Nite nite, sleep tite, don’t let the Reindeer Bite! Oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR (I know it’s a tad late being 1st Feb and all!)
S_T

(That’s Systems_Techy to you all)

Another show, another year0
Super_Thespian posted in Uncategorized on December 10th, 2006

Been really bad at blogging, there hasn’t been any time!  Work has been keeping me busy till all hours and the show as well.  Finally “Ali, Barbara and the 4 Tea Thieves” is over and done with.  I never thought we’d pull it off to be honest, but the proof is in the DVD!  Yes, me of little faith, I apologise to each and every cast member and techy whom I doubted!  We did it, you did it.  THANK YOU!!!!!  And people have been raving about it as the best show to date!  How do we manage to just go from strength to strength!  I guess it would be like this without the great cast and crew I have!!

Well now it’s year end, Christmas is fast approaching, I’m going on two weeks leave soon and hope to re-charge my batteries and prep for the new year.  EXCITING year ahead, as we’ve gotten the rights to do “Hot Mikado” and I’ve found the backing tracks for this overseas.  Going to cost a pretty penny, but WHAT A SHOW this is going to be!!!!!!  I can’t think of anything else that would top “Ali, Barbara and the 4 Tea Thieves”.  Then butterrrouge has suggested we do Christmas in June as a soiree.  Nice idea.  Early on in the year we’ll be doing a murder dinner.  Always wanted to do one of those.

Must say congrats to Nightingale who recently got married to the love of her live Bluebird (we won’t mention names here, save to say he does all our DVD filming and will from now on, seeing as he’s joining MODDRAM, our technical arm).  We wish her and Bluebird centuries of happiness together.  We love you guys and hope the two months sabbatical you are taking will re-charge your batteries.  You need it, considering you’ve not had a break in 10 years with KATS!  U go girl.

Well, Sunday morning, no rehearsals, going to see “Nutcracker” at the State today.  Been trying for 8 years to see it, FINALLY!!  Can’t wait.

It’s strange not having rehearsals on weekends (or on Monday and Wednesday evenings), but then hey, a break is a break.  Give it another month and I’ll be whinging and want to be back at theatre, despite my previous ranting about wanting to murder people, LOL!

To my entire cast and crew, a blessed and wonderful Christmas, and a superb New Year.  May all your wishes come true.  See you all in Feb for the Murder Dinner (or somewhere thereabouts) and March for “Hot Mikado” rehearsals!!!!!

Love

S_T

(Still_Typing)

Next up0
Super_Thespian posted in Now Showing on October 9th, 2006

Today is the 9th October.  We open a new show in four weeks time, our year end Panto.  Had a full day rehearsal yesterday and wanted to just plain walk out.  Nothing is fitting together, the singing is shocking, the sets aren’t finished.  Everything’s just A MESS!!

I need a cigarette, haven’t had one since lunchtime Saturday the 8th and it’s starting to wear on my nerves now.

Tired of having to shout at people, push people, draw blood from stones.  Have had enough, and this show is just not doing it for me.  Maybe it’s because it’s so huge and there’s so much still to be done to it.  I don’t know…….

Maybe I just need a LONG holiday away from everyone and everything, before I actually murder someone *sigh*.

Well, 4 weeks to show opening, and I’m very nervous, VERY nervous.

Someone, PUT MY MIND AT EASE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

S_T over and out
(That’s Stressed_Thespain to you all!)

Bye-bye Broadway…0
Nightingale posted in Uncategorized on August 21st, 2006

Well, it’s over!! What more can I say?  The glitz, the glamour, the raving reviews, the butterflies - everything.  What does remain though, is the sheer satisfaction of having done an outstanding job, having gone against all odds in learning to dance and the memory of the beaming faces of the audiences - which I cannot emphasize enough, made it totally worthwhile!!

Having said ‘bye-bye broadway’, I guess it’s safe to say ‘hello Rooibossistan?? - it’s going to be a major change, but once again, I’m looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead - bring it on Mr. Director, bring it on!! I mean, after appearing on stage, with more than just a ‘little’ cleavage, and bearing more flesh than I ever imagined, very little can really scare me now!!

So, in a week today, I’ll see you all at the first rehearsal of our new production. Rest well until then, and remember, to be a hit in this next one, we’re going to have to work even harder!!

It’s been a fantastic last couple of months!! Well done my fellow thespians, thanks for all your hard work and dedication. I love you all, but have to run.

Hugz and kisses,

Your ever-faithful Nightingale

xxx 

The Final Countdown0
Nightingale posted in Uncategorized on August 17th, 2006

Well, 6 shows are behind us and now the final show looms - I’m so sad to see the end of this one.  It’s been so much fun - all the hard work paid off and we have really been such a hit with the audiences.  Young and old alike have marvelled at our costumes, our script and our stars!!  As much as the audiences have asked us “so when’s the next show”, this show is going to be a very difficult one to get over - and in doing “The Best Little Brothel Off Broadway” we have set a suprisingly high precident this time ’round, and my guess is that it’s going to take even more hard work, blood, sweat and tears to come even close to this production.  This has been the best production for me by a long shot. It just worked.  From day one we got along well as a cast, the numbers were good, the dancing was fabulous - and the witty script when it was completed, just finished it off perfectly….sigh…. 

Well, 2 days to final curtain of the final performance.  Once again to all, break a leg, enjoy it and let’s give it our all, one last time.

Love you all,

Hugz and kisses,

Your Nightingale 

Halfway Mark0
Super_Thespian posted in Uncategorized on August 8th, 2006

Halfway, three more shows to go….Only three   I could do this for three months, not just for three more shows.  This has to be one of our most fabulous productions, the wittiest of scripts, the best songs.  If only SANCTA could see us now!  Eat your heart our NMcD and AB!  This show could be staged at the Civic, the State, The Theatre on The Square, The Barnyard.  Shall I continue?…….  I know we’re fabulous and all that keeps us apart from our professional counterparts is MONEY, FUNDING, SPONSORS!

Ag well, for now I’m happy doing this as a hobby, as tiring as it is to juggle a day job as well as rehearse three times a week and then perform, it’s great, it’s marvelous, it’s thrilling!  There’s no business like show business!

One of my cast members (the newby to stage) remarked to us in the dressing rooms after Sunday’s show “I now know what you mean about instant gratification”…”I can see why you do this”.  We’d been trying to tell this particular cast member why we do what we do for NO PAY, just for the recognition and instant gratification.  No one can ever imagine what it’s like, what satisfaction it gives a performer when he has an appreciative audience, what a thrill it actually is, unless you’ve been on stage and experienced it first hand!

I think I’ve said this before - “God I love SHOWBIZ”!

It saddens me to know that this show is drawing to a close, but there’s always the DVD of the show to bring back the good memories, the laughs shared with cast backstage (well, watching it, only we’ll know what ACTUALLY went on BEHIND the scenes!), the agony, the sore backs, knees, hoarse voices.  Talking of which, all I can do is type at the moment!  Have accute Bronchitis and NO VOICE! And I have two shows in 4 days time!  Oi, oi, oi…..the thrills, the spills, the ups, the downs.

This has been a particularly nasty winter for me, been sick for 4 weeks now with flu and bronchitis.  And it’s not just me, the rest of the cast have had their fair share of the sniffles and barks.  How we’ve managed to pull this show off without sounding like a bunch of loggers working at a sawmill, lord alone knows.

In any event, my fingers are tiring, pity I couldn’t dictate this and leave an audio file, but then you’d have heard nothing but a rasp, a wheeze and a splutter or two

Roll on weekend, I can’t wait to be on stage again, as much as it will sadden me to know it’s one show less before closing night.

As always, your S_T, over and out!
(S_T is a Silent Talker today!)

Lights…Camera…and ACTION!!!0
Nightingale posted in Uncategorized on August 8th, 2006

Okay, maybe it wasn’t quite “lights, camera, action” it was more like ‘inhale,exhale 1..2..3.. we’re on!” once those curtains opened.  Week two of our performance - awesome, awesome, awe…some!!!  Well, Saturday night’s audience was one of those really ‘conservative’ types (aarrrrrgh) and that kinda put a damper on the whole performance for me.  But at the end of the show, I went out and chatted to them and they loved it - despite their total lack of verbal appreciation, they actually loved it!! Sigh!! Sunday on the other hand was a total hightlight for me.  We had three other theatre groups there in support - and I was feeling just a teensy bit nervous about that.  Then I told myself not to let anybody or anything affect my performance, and by the end of the show, I realised that the entire cast must’ve shared my sentiment on that one.  We shone like the sun!! We were as hot - as the sun (hey girls) and we beamed - like the Sun.  I had so many people literally grab me by the arm during half time to tell me how excellent the show was.  They were so impressed with us and so appreciative.  And what made it even more of a compliment was the fact that it came from strangers to our society. Not family members etc. who could be a bit biased. It makes it SO worthwile to see a smiling face or two and to hear a compliment or two.  I had a man in a wheelchair tell me that we had him crying in the one number - it brought back memories of when he was young and on stage. So to all my fellow ‘thespians’ thank you SO much for making this show what it is!! I am so proud once again to be part of KATS, to be part of another successful show, and another success story.  Each cast member and each techical hand, and each seamstress forms an integral part of making KATS what it is. So to all THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU…. have an awesome day off tomorrow and see you tomorrow night.  Mwah, mwah  - your Nightingale 

Windmills, gay hands and horses….0
butterrouge posted in Uncategorized on August 7th, 2006

To the cast, the above title warrants very little explanation especially to New Comer !!!

Yes another weekend of performances is over with and we are now officially past the half way mark. So far the audiences have loved it….the saturday night audience of this past weekend were a long time in warming up. Also alot of people have commented on the script, saying that it is very very clever and that you actually have to pay attention to what is being said as you will miss out on a lot of things and hence the humour. So far the ghost has had the best response, in terms of audience, it was such a small role and Hulme has made it into a something rather special.

There is this addiction to performing in front of a live audience….just before I get my que to go on…I am quiet prepared to actually jump of a building and convince myself that I am mad and that this is not healthy this anxiety and swear never to perform again….and then when I am on stage its all F A B U L O U S…..and wonder what i would do if i could never do it again ! Damn silly actually!

I must says that I am actually glad that we are half way. I have some other stuff that I want to do and would also like to have some nights at home or see a movie which i havent done in awhile…some me stuff….potter around the garden, finish the book I am reading and have been for the last 6 weeks or so and its not a very big book !!! And then in about three or four weeks I will be bored and want to start it all over again…(sigh). Its a nasty circle  I know but geometry was never my best subject.

Toodle pip and see y’all wednesday….I hope

Kiss kiss

Oh… the bliss…0
stage_angel posted in Uncategorized on August 1st, 2006

What a feeling! Being on stage in front of an appreciative audience. It was amazing how we all seemed to come alive when the curtains opened. Okay, so there were some minor mistakes along the way and mikes that dipped at inopportune times… but, hey we survived it!! Sunday’s show was fantastic. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that opening night nerves were a thing of the past and we could all relax (just a little) and have fun with it… One of my guests commented afterwards that it was definitely evident to him how close everyone on stage is. It seems strange to me that I do feel so close to the other members of the cast, we actually know very little about each other… What does Theo do for a living? What is Mo’s surname? Does Evie have brothers or sisters? I have no clue, and yet, strangely, we share a closeness. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that we ended up laughing at ourselves and each other in many of our rehearsals. Nothing like a gruelling dance warm up that leaves all the bits wobbling (even after we’d stopped moving) to create a bond… It seemed strange last night to be at home. When was the last time I was home on a Monday night? I felt out of place at home last night, it just didn’t feel right. Hope we go straight into rehearsals for Ali, Barbara etc straight after the show. I’ll drive my family bonkers if they see so much of me!! Can’t wait for tomorrow night’s rehearsal. Love to all…