Contributed by Jude Dowell
I play an illegitimate beggar boy named Cohen. I am a rude and obnoxious boy. I make everyone mad. No one cares for me and I don’t care for them either.
Well, today I worked on a song called, “She’s Crazy.” It was a lot of fun. I had to dance and sing of course. The dancing was kind of hard because I have never danced before, but soon I will get the moves down. I also worked on Act 2, scenes 8 and 9. In scene 8, I was at the end of the scene and I was trying to talk to Mary about Yeshua, but she wouldn’t listen, so then I had to sing to her. After that I went to go find Yeshua. In scene 9, I did – wait! What I did next I can’t tell you! You’ll just have to watch the play! Ha ha!
Well, after the scenes, I helped out by cutting out fish and counting 25 flyers. I did that for a while, then I put rubber bands on the flyers. After that, I was looking at some of the other fish. Some were big and some were small. I thought, “Since I get fish in the play, I would want the big ones, not the small ones since I need the food because I am a beggar.”
Well, that’s all that happened with me at the rehearsal. To find out more about the play you’ll have come and see it. You’ll be glad you did.
March 10, 2010 by larry ·
contributed by Anna Dowell
It is not easy.
Demon- “comes from the Greek word, “daimon”, which means “intelligent.” According to some passages in the New Testament, Satan has a personal army of demons to asist him in attacking humans and accomplishing evil tasks. They roam the world looking for people to destroy. And devour.
In Estranged Identity, that is exactly what I, Anger, have to portray along with the other six of my fellow demons. We are a “cluster” of demons sent out to turn Mary away from everything and everyone she has ever known. To make her completely under our power.
Tonight we worked on our own individual characterizations of each demon. We discussed among ourselves what each demon would look like in our own eyes. For instance, when Revenge sets a goal in his mind, he will destroy anyone or anything that gets in the way of his path! On the other hand, Selfishness is completely absorbed in herself and what will benefit her. Personally, I think Anger is probably one of the easier characteristics to portray. We all experience anger quite often, whether being frustrated with customers/clients at work, or fighting with siblings at home. It is, sadly, one of our more frequent emotions.
But this isn’t just a, sudden burst of anger and then I forget why I am even angry, I am carrying on this characteristic through my whole life as a demon. 
Hating, yelling, and screaming at everyone and everything, and influencing those around me to imitate me. It’s interesting how each of the seven demons carry a little bit from each characteristic. Insanity has his angry moments, prideful /selfish thoughts, and revenge on his mind, etc.
So yes, it may seem somewhat easy, but we have to keep in mind that by our actions, facial expressions, and voice inflections, the audience should be able to easily distinguish between each demon. We are going to have a lot of fun with this; especially seeing that we can be as inhumane has possible. And I know you want to see me angry, so come watch Estranged Identity!
by Bryce Barclay
Tonight we had our cast photo taken. It went rather well and was fairly painless. Get in a line, stand on the stage, smile, click and done. After the photo was taken we began running through some scenes.
As the character Jaden, it was a little hard to go from taking a photo to acting some of the later scenes in the musical. Jaden is rather complex and has a lot of conflicting emotions at times. This can make it rather hard to get into character, to portray the lines and make it seem that Jaden actually believes what he is saying. There are times that what he is saying goes against what he has either said or how he acted in earlier scenes. Let me give you an example of what I am talking about.
Jaden is thinking, “I hate rainy days!” but he says “I love the rain!” This is hard. How are you suppose to say a line that your character does not agree with? Why can’t acting be like a photo? A photo is cut and dry, a freeze frame of what was happening at that point in time. But acting is not a stop-motion art. Acting is movement, thought and feeling, alive. So how does one bring life to the stage? How can you make your character feel, think, move, live? These are questions that I ask myself before I step onto the stage.
Jaden going to be a fun and hard part to play, and I am going to move, feel, think and try to bring him to life on the stage. This is my challenge. Yours is to come and see this show.
Filed under Blog · Tagged with
February 27, 2010 by larry ·
Contributed by Taylor Reavely
The worst part about learning how to stage fight is the learning. John Armour has made stage fighting a beautiful, interesting, exciting art form, and I am thrilled to be able to fight Grant Barclay in several of the scenes of Estranged Identity. The learning isn’t hard because fighting isn’t enjoyable. The learning isn’t hard because the choreography is impossible. The learning isn’t hard because the actors and trainers are boring. In fact, the opposite is true! Fighting is enjoyable; the choreography is very doable; and working with John and Grant has been phenomenal. The worst part is the learning. Let me explain.
The worst part about learning how to fall is the learning.
John Armour
There are several parts of the choreography where we get thrown to the ground. There are ways to make the fall painless and exaggerated, but those ways are not easy nor natural; thus, they must be practiced. I’m just going to be blunt, practicing falling is worse than just falling. I would rather fall one time, stand up with a bruise, and get on with the rehearsal. But, to be the best, the fall must be rehearsed, and that simply means that we must fall the wrong, painful way enough times to teach ourselves the right, painless way.
The worst part about learning how to fake punch someone in the gut is the learning. Simply put, actors don’t get things right the first time all the time. Grant has done well at not destroying me, but the first few hits were pretty hard, I’m not gonna lie. Now that things are coming together, the gut-punch isn’t hardly noticeable. But, like I said, learning it was the worst part.
I’d like to say the worst-part about sword-fighting is the learning, as well, but thankfully I can’t yet complain of anything more than a bump on the head.
February 15, 2010 by larry ·
We have an all new video about the experience of a Trueheart Productions world-premiere from the view point of the directors, cast, and audience. Coming soon!
Filed under Blog · Tagged with
February 15, 2010 by larry ·
We are happy to announce our redesigned website. It has been a while coming and will continue to have new features added over the next week. Come back often to see what’s new at Trueheart Productions.
Filed under Blog · Tagged with
Through the eyes of a director: Monday, February 8th
Week one of rehearsals for Trueheart Productions started with a complete read-through of the script. It was the first time the entire cast would gather. After a short welcome and introduction by our stage manager, seventeen actors trooped up onto the stage to sit in a large semi-circle for the undertaking.
What were these thespians feeling? Understandably nervous? (“This would be a good time for the earth to swallow me up.”) Arrogantly confident ? (“Everyone is going to be so impressed when they hear me read my lines.”) Or condescendingly lifelesss? (“It’s only a read-through. What a tedious exercise.”).
Several years ago I read the background story for BBC’s Pride and Prejudice. I had appreciated that film production. Its length kept it from the all too common, all too poorly done abbreviating of Austen’s work. And refreshingly, there was no transposing of contemporary values on these classic literary characters. Relief, joy.
So what was their read-through like? With many seasoned professional actors, it was endearing to read that Jennifer Ehle (Elizabeth) considered it a terrifying ordeal. Colin Firth (Darcy) was in the gents room groaning aloud in agony before it started. David Bamber (Mr. Collins) thought that at any moment someone would tap him on his shoulder, mid-sentence and ask him to leave, without a script.
How would the cast of Estranged Identity, a mix of student, community, and professional actors fare under the pressures of a read-through? It sounds like most actors find it a nerve-wracking experience when they are “on show” for the first time. Would our cast survive the fears of being judged prematurely by directors and fellow actors? And would they bring life and energy to this important first-time through the script?
Amazingly, the cast seemed at ease and if anyone was suffering from butterflies, he was able to force them to fly in formation. As one individual brought force and pitch to his lines, others enlivened and joined in. Many lines began to be delivered with interpretive quality and color.
It was a very promising start as the life in Tiffany Barclay’s lines began the process of taking shape as they moved from paper to stage. Next step, two music rehearsals this week run by Estranged Identity’s composer, Ms. Barclay and the show’s conductor, John Carter.
Lead actors getting to know each other
A cast of 19 actors, 4 directors and 2 choreographers look to bring a performance complete with inspiring music, exciting dances, and suspenseful swordfights. This is one show you won’t want to miss!
Trueheart Productions has officially embarked on their next adventure: Bringing the World Premiere show of Estranged Identity to the stage April 2010. It may sound slightly cliché, but this show looks to top the past two world premiere shows Trueheart Productions has brought to the stage.
Rehearsals began last week with orientation and acting training. Our first dry read was met with egger excitement. There is something very exhilarating about being a in a world premiere cast. This week we worked intensely on Ms. Barclay’s beautiful musical score. I think all involved would agree that her music is an over looked gift in Portland. Dance rehearsal begins tonight and will begin to take form over the next few week.
Stay tuned and watch this show’s journey to the stage!
Acting training
Well, today I worked on a song called, “She’s Crazy.” It was a lot of fun. I had to dance and sing of course. The dancing was kind of hard because I have never danced before, but soon I will get the moves down. I also worked on Act 2, scenes 8 and 9. In scene 8, I was at the end of the scene and I was trying to talk to Mary about Yeshua, but she wouldn’t listen, so then I had to sing to her. After that I went to go find Yeshua. In scene 9, I did – wait! What I did next I can’t tell you! You’ll just have to watch the play! Ha ha! 
