Season 24…Here We Come

Compiled by Jeremy van Meter

We have said goodbye to Season 23 and the period of reflection was a quick one as we are back with our noses to the grindstone.  What that means from now until the first of April is that our administrative office is abuzz with activity as each of us adds our piece to the puzzle of prep work that will eventually turn into Season 24. 

You see us onstage as actors but you may not be as familiar with what we are up to during the “off season.”  To that end,  we look in on how a few of the CW company members are spending their days this pre-production season.

Adrienne Sweeney:

My agenda for the pre-production period may sound boring to most — but is very exciting to me! I relish the opportunity to organize — clean out my desk and computer files, sort and prioritize, make lists and plans. Once the production season gets underway there’s very little time to do anything but…DO! So it’s great to have this time to look around with a clear focus, set goals and chart the course for the year ahead.

Personally, it’s also wonderful to have some time for myself to read (4 books in 4 weeks!!), catch up on movies, exercise, go to be early and sleep in a little late. I love my home and am quite a “nester” so quality time on the sofa with the pets, a good book and a roaring fire is my favorite part of the pre-production period. That and a trip to the beaches of Vieques!

Stef Dickens:

One of the first things I do is feng shui my desk and work area. I actually came in on JANUARY 1ST to do it this year! I just felt like I had to start the year immediately with cleanliness and order.  It feels sooooo good!

My other January goals are to clean up and catch up on some bookkeeping (that word looks weird if you look at it too long).  Later in January, my rock-star Development Team and I will meet for a long brainstorming meeting.  That’s where we toss around our goals for the year (or even our long-term goals for the company) and evaluate what worked and what didn’t, what we should do differently, what we can keep the same — but improve upon, of course.  One of the things we are hoping to continue to impress upon our audience is the non-profit nature of the Commonweal.  We really are a charity arts organization that relies on donations to survive and thrive.  Ticket sales only get us halfway to where we need to be each year to balance our income and expenses.  All of us on the Development Team at the Commonweal value this company, its mission and our importance to the region (heck, most of our also donors)!  It is our goal this year  to continue to spread the word of the needs of the theatre hand-in-hand with celebrating the value of the Commonweal and diligently working to support the incredible artistry onstage.

David Hennessey:

Home visits: Talking one-on-one to MDC members and season pass holders who’ve been with us for several years and catching up on voluminous notes I took on such visits last year.

Education: Scheduling emails to area teachers about the student matinee program and reviewing our matinee booking system with new Box Office Manager Daniel Stock. Preparing for Ibsenfest Road Scholar program for lifelong learners.

Costumes: Preparing special costume shop projects for volunteers, especially labeling of new costumes added to the inventory last season. Setting reminders on my calendar to pull costumes for publicity photos when each show’s rehearsal period begins.

Scripts: Planning to read or reread in advance the three plays I’ll be appearing in this season, Pillars of Society, Philadelphia Story, and Drawer Boy. 

Ibsenfest: With other company members, fleshing out ideas for activities for our annual Ibsen Festival.

Outside service: As a member of the Lanesboro Public Library Board volunteering many hours to complete and then celebrate a major renovation of the library!

Megan Pence:

During the pre-production period, I am diligently trying to wrap my head around my new job.  As of January 2, I began work as the new Company Manager. My biggest goal, however, is to get a lot of preparation done for directing the Apprentice show.  We will start rehearsals in the middle of February (which is coming much faster than I want to believe).  Mark your calendars – The Metal Children is happening March 22-April1!!!

Hal Cropp:

During the pre-production period, I have three major focusses (foci?):

1) preparing to direct PILLARS OF SOCIETY, which includes thinking about the visuals of the production, thinking sabout the themes of the production, working with the playwright to “finalize” the adaptation, and prepping for the beginning of rehearsal – scheduling, structure, approaches to creation of the piece, etc.

2) finalizing the 2012 company, which means attending a number of “mass” auditions, seeing in the neighborhood of 1200 actors over a to weekend stretch, for 5 apprentice slots and 3-4 seasonal slots

3) putting the finishing touches on the new fund raising initiative, the Common Roots campaign, the purpose of which is to assure the stability of the company long into the future. This involves meeting with stakeholders of every stripe – board, staff, volunteers, donors, possible partners; outlining the need, to be sure that the story is clear and compelling; hearing what they are envisioning for the future of the company; molding all of that into a workable plan. 

Scott Dixon:

My major goals at work are to write many successful grants for the Commonweal and to clean my desk. At home, I’m enjoying spending lots of time with Stela and Kieran before rehearsals begin again!

Jeremy van Meter:

Gearing up for the 2012 Season has me involved with several things:

• Adding the season schedule to the calendar listings of external websites such as Explore Minnesota. 
• Mapping out specific dates during the year on which certain media related things need to take place such as press release submissions, recording of public service announcements, etc.
• Exploring ways to get the Commonweal name established in more online networking areas.
• Brainstorming ideas for this very blog for the year.  Should you have any ideas or topic you would like to see addressed here, please do not hesitate to speak up.
• Preparing for many fabulous days and nights onstage this season. 

This may give you the idea that we are all buried in a mountain of work and tied to our desks.  There is some amount of freedom attached to the off season and we are enjoying that.  There is also a great amount of joy in this workplace (Adrienne and Daniel just sang a song from The Year Without Santa) as we come together each day to continue our commitment to producing great storytelling.  So, yes, we are hard at work but that work is met with a positive spirit especially following a season as successful as the last.  Cheers to Season 23 and Season 24…here we come!

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