Today’s Date: July 14th, 2025

Show Title: Richard III

Director: Austen Bell

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

What we did……………………………………………………………………………..

Happy Playhouse Monday! Today’s rehearsal began with a fun improvisation game led by our fantastic assistant director, Scarlett. Afterwards, we jumped right back into blocking beginning with Act 4 Scene 3. We yet again did our process of table work and blocking all the way through Act 5 Scene 3. With the remaining 30 minutes of rehearsal, we ran the show from Act 4 Scene 1 onwards. At the end of rehearsal, Austen played the show song for the campers. Austen then closed out rehearsal with a circle of reinforcement and clap out. Additionally, tomorrow we will finish blocking and begin learning stage combat!

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

• From the director: “Everybody is ready to take a big bite out of Richard!” -Austen

“More frat boy energy” -Austen

•  From the cast: “Well guess what! I’m all out of sons for you to kill!!” -Olivia

“I escaped!!! Now I have been dragged into frat bro-dom.” -Ezra

“How might you rizz her?” -Olivia

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

It was such a joy to watch the blocking take life in the Playhouse today! Grafton library is a good rehearsal space, but there is nothing like working on a Shakespeare show in the Blackfriars Playhouse. Watching the entrances and exits actually occur from curtains and doors feels so right. We are about two weeks away from the show and are in such a comfortable place. The show is coming together very nicely. We are just about done blocking, so this upcoming week will allow time for detailed work! I am getting so excited for this show!!!