Today’s Date: July 8th, 2025

Show Title: Richard III

Director: Austen Bell

Staff Crew: D. Scarlett Darling and Sara Bateman (RDAs), Alexa Palena and Allison Monfalcone (Production Interns)

What we did……………………………………………………………………

Today’s rehearsal began with a fun warm-up game led by our fearless and fabulous director, Austen. After our warm-up we jumped right blocking Act 1! Austen led the group of campers who appear in the first scene and started with breaking down the scene/characters through table work. Once everyone in the room had the same understanding of what is going on in this scene, Austen began blocking the action of the scene. You may be thinking, “what is blocking??? Are they playing with blocks??” No! Blocking is the movement and placement of people on stage. It includes mapping out the stage and assigning specific locations for each actor to be at throughout the scene. During this time on stage, our lovely assistant director Scarlett, began working on world building with the other campers. As the morning progressed, this process continued with each scene in Act 1. Twenty minutes prior to the end of rehearsal, Scarlett and the campers showed the rest of us what they created while we were blocking. Austen then led the group in a quick cool down. 

Quick and Quotable…………………………………………………………

• From the play: “…since I cannot prove a lover, I am determined to prove a villain.” -Richard (1.1)

 “Was ever woman in this humor wooed? Was ever woman in this humor won?” -Richard (1.2)

• From the cast: “How do we feel about Richard?” -Austen “BOOOOOO!” -Campers

Production Insights……………………………………………………………

Time for formal introduction…. Hi! My name is Alexa Palena, but my friends know me as Lex. I am currently earning my BFA in Musical Theatre from Catholic University in DC, but I am originally from Tampa, FL. I love all things theatre, music, and Shakespeare! This is my first time at the ASC and it has been such a blast. I previously served as the stage manager of 1 Henry VI last session. As an actor, getting to play with blocking and try things on your feet is always such a privilege and you could just feel that excitement in the room today. It is so cool to see all the creativity flowing in the room! All the kids have such fascinating and fun ideas that make this show its own entity. No two productions of Richard III will ever be the same because every person brings something different into the room. I must say, this particular production is going to be so unique and amazing and I cannot wait to see it all come together.