Archive for October, 2008

It was a dream come true.  That’s the best I can describe it.  Farmers Alley Theatre is open to the public and our first weekend went off without a hitch. The doors opened Friday night for A FEW GOOD MEN and the audience poured in with a buzz surrounding them.  By the end of the night the buzz was still circulating in the air.  And when the audience left and the lights were dimmed, Jeremy, Adam, Denene and I stood on the stage, looked around and exhaled.  Slightly.

So much work was put into this theatre over the course of its construction that there are too many people to thank to be listed here.  But I do want to make mention of several names without whom we could not have done this.  Brenda Ryan, Joe Pendowski, Ted Dent, Roy Richardson, and Jerry and Janice Stifler from Continental Construction were instrumental in making our space look as beatiful as it does.  Megan Zumwinkel, Derek Menchinger, Kyle Waterman, Lissa and Kristin Hartridge, and Lanford J. Potts carried the torch for us behind the scenes in not only our production of A FEW GOOD MEN but in crafting our space, and giving advice on all of our techincal needs.  And of course our board of directors who represent a great combination of business smarts and artistic vision.

Have you seen our outdoor sign?  I’m in love with it.  Literally.  I want to shout it from the rooftops. ” I LOVE FARMERS ALLEY THEATRE’S OUTDOOR SIGN!!!”  I’m not ashamed.  The love between a man and a sign is pure and true.  It’s a silver marquee that has vanity lights that move and flicker.  Plus our name and logo are backlit so at nightime if you walk down Farmers Alley, you’d think you were passing a theatre in Chicago or Toronto.  Sorry, I just had to gush a little.

Our opening performances went exceedingly well, and I’d like to thank the Kalamazoo Gazette and the Western Herald for such postive reviews.  I do hope anyone reading this gets a chance to see our inaugural show, because it really does transform you into the military at some points, while at others you feel like you are right on top of the action in the courtroom.  Tickets are still available for shows on 10/30, 10/31, 11/1, 11/2, 11/6, 11/7, and 11/8.

What we are really excited about this week at Farmers Alley Theatre is the spoken word duo KINETIC AFFECT (Kirk Latimer and Gabriel Giron) and their collaboration with us titled SPEAK IT FORWARD.  To say they do slam poetry is to stereotype them into a corner.  They are word weavers and so much more.  Their shows incorporate music, dancing, lights, interaction, power, sensitivity, the whole gamut of emotions.  KINETIC AFFECT is bringing in musicians from across the Midwest for their show including a renowned Sitar player.  Plus, if you come to their Friday night show you get free food in a reception catered by Full City Cafe! (yum)  So in honor of KINETIC AFFECT I’ve written a poem.  Here it goes.

don’t hesitate     before it’s too late    get your tickets yo     for this slammin’ show

call the box office don’t be a slob      tell em i sent ya, you know me….Robby Rob

Ya like it?  I spent all of 28 seconds on it.  But the message is powerful.  CALL 343-2727 for tickets.  Their shows are 10/24 and 10/25 at 8pm and 10/26 at 7pm.

Hope to see you at the show!

Hey FAT fans.  Rob here again with another blog entry.  We are getting so close!!  I look around the theatre and I see light fixtures and drapery ready to be hung.  Go into the rehearsal room and I hear shows getting ready for stage.  Smell the paint fumes drying and I get lightheaded and…I….(thump).

I’m back!  Sorry, I just had to ventilate for a moment, but I’m good, seriously.  The buzz is building and the first show is off book and picking up steam!  For those of you unfamilliar with the play A Few Good Men, we’re going to do a little review and preview of the show that kick starts Farmers Alley Theatre’s inaugural season.

The 1992 movie poster.

Many people are familiar with the film version of A Few Good Men.  Released in 1992, it starred Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore and was nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Picture.  Jack Nicholson’s infamous portrayal of Col. Nathan Jessup is well known as are his famous words, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!”  This was the 29th most memorable quote in movie history by AFI.  The film also starred Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland and Christopher Guest.

Does he think you can handle the truth? Answer: no.

What many people are unfamiliar with, is that Aaron Sorkin (writer of The American President, and creator of TV series’ The West Wing, Sports Night, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) wrote A Few Good Men as a stage show in 1989, before the movie was produced.  He based the story on a real case involving his sister, who was serving as lawyer for Navy’s JAG Corps after she graduated law school.  The broadway version starred Tom Hulce (Animal House, Amadeus) as LTJG Daniel Kaffee and he was subsequently nominated for a Tony Award.  Other famous actors who have been in the show include Rob Lowe as Kaffee and Hellboy’s Ron Perlman and La Bamba’s Lou Diamond Phillips as Jessep.

Who knew Amadeus was in the Navy?

There are several plotlines, characters, and scenes that are altered slightly from the show’s transition from stage to screen.  The characters of Dawson and Downey, the two marines accused of murder, are much more fleshed out.  But aside from a few lines here, and an extra scene there.  The scripts to both the film and stage play are strikingly similar.  Very rarely do you see an adaptation that aligns so closely to the original.  Maybe that’s because Aaron Sorkin wrote both the script and the screenplay (for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe).

Just try to subpeona him.

Some other fun facts about the movie include the casting of Wolfgang Bodison as Dawson.  Rob Reiner (The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally), the director employed Bodison as a film location scout.  But he liked the look and acting abillity of the young man so much he was cast he cast Bodison in his first motion picture.  It just goes to show you never know were talent may be lurking.

A Few Good Men opens two short weeks from this Friday.  Call our box office at 343.2727 to reserve your seats today.  It’s not everyday you get to chance to see a brand new company open the doors to a brand new theatre.  We all want you to join in the celebration of this one of a kind opening.