Ria Peth Stunnning in Hello Dolly

hello-dolly-ria-peth.gifLa Conner Schools and Community Presents Hello Dolly! November 17-19, 2006.

“Stunning” is the word for Ria Peth’s role as Dolly in this production of Hello Dolly. She came out on stage with energy at TEN and stayed there through to the final bow. Ria is very versatile, but this role of Dolly simple “is” Ria Peth. Her delivery was so natural it did not feel like watching a show.

She was well supported by the cast – with many of them standouts in their own right. Steve Burks as Horace Vandergelder also seemed made for the role, his acting ability is on par with any equity performer in my opinion.

John Baker as Cornelius Hakl and Luc Van Pelt as Barnaby Tucker were solidly cast as the well meaning, good hearted, bumbling dynamic bachelor duo. Both roles were very believable and they played off each other like seasoned vaudeville performers.

The Maitre D’ was side splittingly funny – I apologize I don’t know the name of that role. It was a great surprised to have such a strong actor appear in the second half of the show.

My hat is off to pianist Ramon Hayes. I never heard a moment where music was off from the singers, he guided well and has a seasoned commanding presence at the piano. Bravo!

I’ve only lived in Skagit County now for 8 months, but this is the funniest show I’ve seen up here yet. NO dead spots in the show.

Ria, you are incredible – the room was full of your fans this evening (myself included!) and deservedly so.

Hello Dolly Cast

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Ria Peth as Dolly

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Dolly Gallagher Levi – Ria Peth
Horace Vandergelder – Steve Burks
Cornelius Hackl – John Baker
Barnaby Tucker – Luc Van Pelt
Minnie Fay – Courtney Blunt
Irene Molloy – Jacqueline Monaghan
Ambrose Kemper – Justin Woods
Ermengarde – Kendall Dubuque
Ernestina – Sara Harlan
Rudolph Reisenweber – Lawrence Welk
Stanley – Dave Hedlin
The Waiters – Dave Ehman, Jon Skifflington, Dick Painter, Ed Markus, Steve Vanderpool

Cook – Sally Dixon
Judge – Brendon Huddleston
Policeman/Paperhanger – John Markus
Court Clerk – Mary Hedlin
Mrs. Rose – Jan O’Leary
Townspeople – Linda Nelson, Mary Hedlin, JoAnne Mason, Turine Higgins, Gail Bruce, Dave Hedlin, Ed Markus, Steve Vanderpool, Dick Painter, Brendon Huddleston

Children – Bailey Cunningham, Patrick Filler, Anna Bruce, Cydney McFarland, Alex Wirth, Kyle Wirth, Dylan Watkins, Ashley Watkins, Shane Berrios, Aubrey Stewart, Sam Dixon, Jack Dixon, Grace Malcomson, Morgan Harlan, Emily Markert

THE CREW

Producer – Tim Bruce
Director – Maureen Harlan
Music Director – Shegay Vanderpool
Pianist – Ramon Hayes
Stage Manager – Jennings Hart
Choreography – Cyndee Meister
Seamstress – Mary Ann White
Dressers – Anne Van Pelt and Debbie Blunt
Hairdress – Marianne Meyer
Set Construction – Charles Talman, Lyle Johnson, Marty Chamberlain, Mike Holt, Bob Coe, Bob Strickert, Mit Harlan, Michael Harlan

Lights – Vicki Jones, Charles Talman, Susan Erickson
Program and Publicity – Sara Harlan, Leah Chamberlain

Ideas from an Apple Tree

apple-tree.gifThis is an apple tree in my backyard. The apples have fallen from it over the Summer and now in the Fall only a few apples remain. I get in trouble because I don’t pick the apples up and throw them away. I just can’t make myself do it. The apples on the ground are beautiful and I love to look at them. Even with a couple worm holes the color is still beautiful.

And that is the start of a wonderful and exciting magical children’s adventure…….I’ll post in this section to document progress.
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Peter Pan Costume and Set Design Photos

Here are costume and set photos from the Theater Arts Guild (Skagit County, WA) production of Peter Pan at Skagit Valley College.

PETER PAN 2006 – Cast Photo

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PETER PAN

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NANA – DOG

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PIRATES

CAPTAIN HOOK

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SMEE

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CAST PIRATES

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FEMALE PIRATES

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INDIANS

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MERMAIDS

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LOST BOYS – TWINS

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PETER PAN’S SHADOW
See through gauze with sprinkles cut in shape of Peter Pan

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CROCODILE – Tick Tock

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FLY RIGGING

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PETER PAN STAGE SET DESIGNS

UNDERGROUND

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DARLING HOUSE STAIRCASE

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DARLING HOUSE SET – VIEW FROM BOX SEATS

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My Sound Effects Station
Using Kontakt Software triggering custom sound effects

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MICROPHONE CUE SHEET FOR SOUND ENGINEER

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McIntyre Hall – Skagit Valley College
View of Peter Pan Stage from Sound Control Booth

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McIntyre Hall Sound Booth from Box Seats

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Jerry Fortier – Sound Engineer

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Brian Hurst Vocal Overdubs

captain-hook.jpgThank you to Brian Hurst for doing website vocal overdubs for me. We were recording overdubs for a production of Peter Pan; he plays Captain Hook in the show. His Hook accent is just too much fun not to use for other things. I’ll keep the overdubs up for a while until I get too many complaints.

And for the record, Brian Hurst is the ULTIMATE Captain Hook actor. Pretty incredible. Check my Peter Pan section for pictures from the show.

Nocturnes for Piano

085407410126.jpgMy Piano Nocturnes! I had forgotten about them. While doing sound effects for Peter Pan I needed a melancholy lullabye played on piano for the final scene – didn’t quite have time to compose a piece for it and then I remembered: The Nocturnes!

These were all improvised live in a church sanctuary deep in the night. These are my original pieces. One starts off like Moonlight Sonata, but takes a different path.. You will definately hear the Bach influence on the pieces. I am very proud of them and if you don’t like them, then you are a stinky codfish.

My favorites are #1 and #2 – I put them first so I wouldn’t have to waste time on the CD to hear them.

Piano Nocturne 1 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 2 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 3 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 4 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 5 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 6 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 7 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 8 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 9 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 10 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 11 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 12 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 13 – MP3

Piano Nocturne 14 – MP3

My friend Deb Carole sat in the Sanctuary while I played these and would give me input. It was a great evening and a memory I treasure. I improvise a lot like this late at night in a sanctuary, but this is the only time I recorded. Someone asked me recently if I ever practice at church late at night and just go nuts. The answer is yes, all the time. When I’m finished it’s a feeling like no other, always a feeling of peace and serenity – like what a Marathon runner must feel after a good workout.

My favorite is to do Bach style improvisations, they get very fast and would probably not please most ears I think. But at those times I don’t have to play for anyone else, just me and Thee.

Peter Pan 2006 TAG – Cast and Credits

pp-web-400.jpgPeter Pan – Presented by the Theater Arts Guild (TAG) at McIntyre Hall (Mount Vernon, WA), November 17-26, 2006.

Flying effects by ZFX, Inc.

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CAST – In order of appearance

NANA – Hydee Garman
Michael Darling – Alyssa Nelson
Mrs. Darling – Nicola Pearson
John Darling – Alex Ragusa
Wendy Darling – Taylor Frizzell
Mr. Darling – Brian Young
Peter Pan – Sarah Tsinger
Tinker Bell – Carly Stewart
Liza – Andrea Talley
Faires – Molly Frahm, Connor Nelson, Corin Pierce, Kaytin Rooney, Sophie Stewart

Wolves/Audience/Cabin Boys – Eva Givens, Hayden Idom, Gus Kidane, Trevin Rudy

Lost Boys – Emma Eliason, Cameron Frahm, James Matson, Jason Miller, Annie Murray, Alice Pollock, Greg Pollock, Reid Wells

Captain Hook – Brian Hurst
Smee – James Lindsey
Gentlemen Starkey – Brian Young
Cecco – Thomas Young
Billie Jukes – Brydie Landreth
Noodler – Jeff Huschka
Mullins – Matthias Struck
Cookson – Pete Grace
Pirates – Kevin Cobley, Susan Cook, Nathan Hamer, Kraut, Roger Ragusa

Pirate Wenches – Kathy Dean, Ann Klitzke-Nelson, Susan Watson

Tiger Lily – Felisha Palomera
Panther – Stefan Vanden Kooy
Warriors – Mikalah Barem, Shelby Burkhart, Rose Drummond, Rachel Huschka, Madison Idom, Maria Matson, Francesca Ragusa, Lourdes Young

Mermaids – Alisha Anderson, Ann-Kristin Becker, Sarah Damstra, Demi Fair, Chloe Roberts, Rachael Young

Crocodile – Dave Needy
Older Wendy – Alisha Anderson

TECHNICAL CREW

Producers – Ellen Palmer, Bruce Vilders
Director – Dianne Goddard
Assistant to Director – Kathy Dean
Stage Manager – Brian Paxton
Assistant Stage Manager – Emma Lynn
Set Coordinator – Steve Craig
Technical Director – Don Willcuts
Carpenters – Philip Brown, Steve Craig, Howie, Don Willcuts
Costume Designer – Cathy Pfahl
Light Designer – Seajay Winters
Sound Designer – Jerry Fortier
Sound Effects Designer – Conrad Askland
Prop Designers – Shari Lindberry, Carole Lindberry, Fred Hastings
Make-up Designer – Seajay Winters
Tinkerbell Engineer – Martha McDade
Sound Engineer – Adam Lynn
Light Board Operator – Steve Fisher
Spot Operator – Wes Furlong
Paint Crew – Howie, Carrie James, Dave James, Sharon Litton, Suzanne McLamb, Norman Rogue, Ellen Palmer, Dorothy Peth, Jen Spence, Bruce Vilders, Seajay Winters

Fly Rail Crew – Spencer Desmarais, Howie, Dave Mumford, Nate Young
Running Crew – Spencer Desmarais, Alisha Huschka, Suzanne McLamb, Jim Nelson, Kelly Pollino, Emily Watilo, Wes Furlong, Jordan Lange

Aerial Crew – Spencer Desmarais, Jim Nelson, Roger Ragusa, Matt Struck, Dave Mumford, Nate Young

Props Crew – Amanda Curtis, Carol Garman
Hair/Make-up Supervisor – Patty Idom
Make-Up Crew – Daniel Davidge, Esther Ramirez, Amy Vermulm

Costume Crew – Jann Barem, Jill Eliason, Lu Parker, Leslie Crawford, Anne Clarke, Cast and their families

Volunteer Coordinator – Ann Klitzke-Nelson
Fight Choreographer – Bruce Vilders
Aerial Choreographer – JoAnne Craig
Warrior Choreographer – Lourdes Young
Poster Design – Scott McDade
Bio/Underwriting Boards – Jann Barem and Mikalah Barem
Flying effects provided by ZFX, Inc.
Thank you to Russ Morgan from ZFX
2006 Theater Arts Guild
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cathy Pfahl – President
Scott McDade – Vice President
Ellen Palmer – Secretary
John Cheney – Treasure
Harold Paige
Conrad Askland
Molly McNulty
Ann Klitzke-Nelson
Susan Watson
Brian Paxton
Carl K. Turner
Jane E. Skinner
Roger Ragusa
Jann Barem
Bruce Vilders
Eileen Butler
Pat Shreve
Karen Marshall
Dianne Goddard
Clarence Holden

HTML Code to Auto-Play MP3 Audio Files

Autoplay of audio files has long been considered bad form for websites, but I just can’t help myself. It’s just too fun. I’ve set a piece to play at the entrance of my site and will setup a short audio sample to play on the front of my blog.

You don’t have to embed in a flash player, and you can call up whatever audio format you want (.wav, MP3. .ra, etc.). If you are super evil like me you can set the file to “hidden – true” so no one can turn the music off. My front page is a splash page so if people don’t like the song they can always click to another section.

Here’s the code to autoplay MP3 audio music files on your website page:
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embed src=”http://www.yourwebsite.com/audiofolder/youraudio.mp3″ loop=”true” autoplay=”false” width=”145″ height=”60″></embed

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NOTE: You will need to put a “<” at the beginning of code and a “> ” at the end. I couldn’t post it with the tags because my blog think’s it is HTML code (which it is).

Autostart – is to automatically start the song playing.
Hidden – is setting for audio controls.
If control is hidden then dimensions are not shown anyway.
Replace URL with exact location of your audio file.

Test Your Musical Skills in 6 Minutes

histogram.jpgCheck out the Online Pitch and Hearing Test by Jake Mandell. It’s fun and very difficult. Over 15,000 have taken the test online, so you can see how your ears fair against other people.

No, I’m not going to post my score – because like most other people I’m embarrassed by my score. In order to retain my musical dignity I need to point out the obvious – that the tones used in this test are not timbres and patches normally encountered in music production or performance.

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ABOUT JAKE MANDELL AND THE TEST

While working at the music and neuroimaging lab at Beth Israel/Harvard Medical School in Boston, I developed a quick online way to screen for the tonedeafness. It actually turned out to be a pretty good test to check for overall pitch perception ability. The test is purposefully made very hard, so excellent musicians rarely score above 80% correct. Give it a try!

In our research, we were looking for neuro-anatomical correlates of tonedeafness (called “congenital amusia” in the scientific literature. We gave several dozen subjects a high-resolution MRI scan and used a statistical package to analyze the images. This technique, called VBM (voxel-based morphometry), has been used to study the changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer disease and many other neurological conditions. The test you are about to take was used as a screening test to roughly characterize patient’s pitch discrimination and musical memory abilities. Even though musical memory is strongly tested here, we have found that people who are tonedeaf tend to have normal musical memories.

ABOUT JAKE MANDELL
I am currently a medical student at UMass. I have a musical background, having composed several electronic music albums under my own name. I formerly worked in Berlin, Germany, for Native Instruments, and was involved with the Reaktor and Absynth instruments. On the medical side of things, I am interested in using radiological technologies, such as anatomical and functional MRI, to investigate musical perception.

Peter Pan Opens at McIntyre Hall 2006

pp-web-400.jpgPeter Pan opens at McIntyre Hall (Mount Vernon, WA) on November 17, 2006 for a two week run. More info at the Theater Arts Guild website. Peter Pan will fly and battle Captain Hook!
Tickets: 360-416-7727
www.mcintyrehall.org
Friday Nov 17 7:30 pm
Saturday – $10 bargain show* Nov 18 2:00 pm
Saturday Nov 18 7:30 pm
Sunday Nov 19 2:00 pm
Wednesday – $10 bargain show* Nov 22 7:30 pm
Friday Nov 24 2:00 pm
Friday Nov 24 7:30 pm
Saturday Nov 25 2:00 pm
Saturday Nov 25 7:30 pm
Sunday Nov 26 2:00 pm

*Important Bargain Show Limitations: Festival Seating. No Advance Sale. Tickets are sold at the box office ONLY, 2 hours prior to show time.

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Recording Studio Open Again

ozzie_don_rugg_2small.jpgRoad Records is back open again after a very long hiatus. The gear was brought up from California back in August and it’s all setup, but I kind of kept it a secret because I was enjoying working on my own projects. I’ve signed contracts on the first Road Records album to be produced iup here in Washington, so I guess it’s officially open now. Visit the Road Records recording studio website.

I won’t be advertising, will just be word of mouth. I’m happy to work on any original music, corporate soundtracks, film scores, remixes – basically anything that’s original and creative. No demos, karaoke, duplication or cheezy things of that sort this time around. Just serious original music.

beethoven_cool.jpgThe studio is set up very well for doing complete orchestral soundtracks and hip hop music. The work that I’m REALLY into is working with solo artists and songwriters on CD projects, doing soundtracks for video and film, sound effects and specialized foley for theatre, and working on new music works for church and theatre.

Many artists contact me to help with promotion, but that’s not my thing. I’m into audio production.

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