Believe it or not, we start every Winter Sort of Thing program soon after the last one is cleaned up and put away. Though it starts with budget and time questions, it soon turns into an artistic discussion, and then an idea and then a plan! Those ideas are then brought to a group of summer campers who gather in one of our specialized Summer Theatre Camps (a Winter Sort of Summer Camp, of sorts) for an entire week of brainstorms, play-acting, improv, and more.
Then our resident playwright, Brooke Sexton takes the ideas and sets about writing a script. At almost the same time our composer, Sarah Butts Manzo begins writing music that will become songs. And the two of them have to work fast because we start the rehearsal process in early October. Our director, Jake Miller begins with the cast on ensemble building and choreography. Kevin Monaghan teaches the cast the songs and we rehearse sporadically before the holidays.
During the holidays, Mark Duska, our technical director, begins constructing the set we will be using. Mark Hallen, our producer along with Brooke Sexton, the Yes! And… producer continue to meet with the technical staff to get ready for all of the “other” things that need to be done. After the holidays, we put together the scenes, songs, finish the set, get costumed, and practice a lot. Opening night brings jitters, but the audience always leaves satisified.
