A Plague Upon Them!

Apparently the GCP plague has resurfaced with a vengeance and is wreaking havoc on the "Pippin" cast and crew. The community cold happens in almost every show, but it is especially bad during this time of year, when the weather can't decide what it wants to do. To everyone who has even the slightest symptom: wash your hands, drink plenty of fluids, get some rest, and start stocking up on the Vitamin C, Airborne, or whatever you need to do to keep from getting it! It's hard to get rid of once you have it.

Of course, the show is going on in the middle of all this, with blocking and choreography rehearsals for the cast as well as costume, lighting and set design for the production staff. Set construction begins on Saturday, so if you have some free time or need to put in your hours, your help would definitely be appreciated. Cast bios for the program are due this week, and each cast member is drawing an icon to be incorporated into the set by our new set decorators, Alex Mrazek and Justin Slack.

In the meantime, here are a couple of photos from rehearsal this week, courtesy of Brian Erickson. See you around!

xo xo GCP Girl

Leading Player Confirmation

Darn you GCP Girl... I've been outscooped. Ah well good news gets around fast I guess.

Yes we have our Leading Player in Malik Grady and the cast is very excited to have him on board as is the production team. I would however like to thank everyone who auditioned especially for coming out on such short notice. One of my favorite things about GCP is the family feel of the theatre. Between my cast giving Malik such a warm welcome, the support that my production team has been giving me through the past few days of stress, and the actors coming out of the woodwork to audition even when they've already told me that they're just too damn busy, I really want to thank my GCP family for being such a wonderful group. I hope that our production of Pippin makes you all proud to be a part of the GCP family.

-Keith

So the Drama!

It's been a big week around "Pippin," although maybe not in the way we all expected.  No one expected a HUGE shakeup in the cast so soon.  The show was turned on its head at the beginning of the week when our Leading Player had to leave the cast.  Now, if you know anything about "Pippin," you know the Leading Player is the thread that runs through the entire show, and requires a triple-threat performer with stage presence and personality to pull it off – making that role the hardest to replace in the cast.  The production staff certainly lost some sleep over this one.

Some possible contenders were invited to rehearsal last night, and we are pleased (and relieved) to announce that the role will be played by Malik Grady. Malik has been involved with the GCP for the past two years in such shows as "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "Hot Mikado," "Hello, Dolly!," and "Jane Eyre," and also appeared in the Star Center production of "Into the Woods."  Congrats to Malik, and here's hoping he brings some of that Ben Vereen-style "razzle dazzle" to the part! (Different show, still Fosse – it works.)

Now that the uproar is settled, maybe the cast can get back to those dance rehearsals!

xo xo GCP Girl

Pippin News Coming Soon

Some big news regarding Pippin coming soon... as long as GCP girl doesn't outscoop me.

-Keith

Rumor has it...

Okay, okay, so I've been gone for a few days, but I have returned, so you may rejoice.  You know you missed me.  

This week's "Pippin" rehearsals were brought to you the letters S, O, L and... O, as in solo vocal rehearsals. (That was funnier in my head.)  The whole cast and production staff will get together for the read-through on Sunday, and then ensemble vocals and choreography begin for real next week.  "Pippin" involves Fosse-style choreography and an early 1970s pop music-style soundtrack, so our cast should have some fun next week.

Now that's out of the way, let's monger some rumors, shall we?  It's nearly time for the selection of the shows for next year, and I am interested to hear your opinions on some of the shows in consideration.  The musicals I have heard so far (and some are unconfirmed) are "Gypsy," "Aida," "The Producers," "Anything Goes," "Sweeney Todd," "Kiss Me Kate," "Singin' in the Rain," "All Shook Up," "Damn Yankees," "1776," "Chicago," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Comment with your opinions, rumor confirmations and anything else you've heard! I might even forward the input on to my sources on the selection committee...if I agree with you! 

xo xo GCP Girl

Rehearsals Week 1

So I know I'm not GCP girl, but I'll also be posting to her blog once in a while during the Pippin rehearsal process. Unfortunately he or she has not been able to show up for rehearsals yet, so you're stuck with me giving you a rundown.

First of all neither Kristin nor I nor Carolyne nor Ashley are GCP Girl (That would have been too easy). Secondly I'm so excited about our cast. Our vocal rehearsals have been going great so far and I can't wait for Sunday's readthrough with rough vocals. We should have pictures from the auditions and callbacks up soon on the Facebook group and maybe a few on here as well.

Stay tuned. GCP Girl should be back soon and ready with the gossip. I've heard that she's planning to talk about play selection for next year as well as what she sees at Pippin rehearsals.

-Keith