Pictured: The cast jamming out to their song.
Today’s Date: 7/23/2019
Show Title: The Taming of the Shrew
Director: Kim Newton
Assistant Directors: Austin Harleson & Taylor Lamb
Production Intern: Margot Flanders (Dramaturg) & Jules Talbot (Stage Manager)
Rehearsal Room: Hunt
What we did
Today was a logistics and production heavy day. We spent the first hour and a half learning the music. The cast got it down super quickly and it is sounding amazing! Then we moved on to trying on costumes and just like that the show got a whole lot groovier. After that, we broke down the fight and movement scenes.
Quick and Quotable
From the play
“I know she taketh most delight in music, instruments and poetry”
—Baptista, Act I
From the director
“I hope that will simplify it and make the storytelling more clear”
From the cast
“This outfit makes me feel even more like Kate.”
—Marielle (Katherina)
Production Insights
Our rainy Tuesday morning rehearsal began with us circling up to work on music. I do not want to spoil our song, but it is connected to 10 Things I Hate About You which is (in my opinion) the best adaptation of Taming. Our arrangement includes ukuleles, melodica and a lovely little tamborine. The introduction of music always (in my two sessions of experience) lifts the spirits of the team. It is a change of pace and a reinvigorating force to be able to just jam out with your friends. The addition of costumes is always an exciting day. To be able to see our cast decked out in the zany florals and bright colors of 70s made it start to feel like a real show. The cast was running around showing each other how excited they were about their pieces. It was beautiful. Tomorrow we have the day off, but will begin working the show on Thursday and Friday.
Margot Flanders
Margot Flanders was born and raised about fifteen minutes from Staunton in the small town of Fishersville, VA. She is currently studying English and Theatre (and possibly studying Classics and/or Geology) at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. She has spent her first year of college as an Assistant Director, Assistant Production Manager, Dramaturg, and Assistant Stage Manager for Shakespeare in the Dark (W&M’s Shakespeare Club), The Sinfonicron Light Opera Company (W&M’s Gilbert and Sullivan based musical company) and the school’s theatre department. When she is not locked in a rehearsal room, she loves to hike and play with her dogs.