Inside the Young Company Studio...

An exclusive update from JIMMY MAIZE, the director of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING:

"We are nearing the end of week two in our rehearsal process for MUCH ADO and making great strides. We devoted the entire first week to table-work, where we we were able to read through every scene and parse out each character's intension, making sense of any confusing language, and then come up with the characters' individual histories and relationships. We also spent some time looking at New Orleans of 1920 (which is where I've set our production) so we can better create the distinct world of the play. To this aim, the design team provided images and sketches of both the proposed set and costume designs, and we played recordings of the jazz music that will eventually be provided by the live band.

This past week we have been working fast to block the play (meaning we decide where and when the actors will move on stage), and in a few days we will put the pieces together to have our first stumble-through (the first time we try out all of the blocking at once.) The cast is working incredibly fast in the hopes that we will be able to run the show, fine-tuning and expanding on the scenework, with run-throughs (where we'll rehearse the show from start to finish without stopping) for the entire final week before tech (where we'll stop rehearsing in a studio room and start rehearsing in CSC's theater instead, adding all of the technical elements like lighting and sound cues.)

Meanwhile, tomorrow is the first full rehearsal with the band, and they will eventually be incorporated with the actors (adding choreography, aka planning our dance moves) in that final week. The music will be such an integral part of the staging, so we are all very excited to put these two elements together!

We are off to a tremendous start, and looking forward to seeing how the play grows in the few remaining weeks!

- Jimmy"

2012 Teaching Artist Training Recap

This past January The Young Company held its annual Teaching Artist Training bootcamp! It was a vigorous, exciting, and educational week where the Young Company teaching artist members rehearsed and refined the curriculum implemented in schools throughout the 5 boroughs of NYC.

The Young Company teaching artists are comprised not only of Columbia University MFA actors, but also with a diverse group of theatre professionals who have worked with some of the most renowned theatre companies around the United States! While each teaching artist brings their own experience with them, their common bond is a passion for Shakespeare and especially for sharing that passion with students!

Much Ado Rehearsals Begin!

The auditions are over, the actors have been cast, and the day finally arrived…

Monday was the first rehearsal for The Young Company’s production of Much Ado About Nothing!

This is always an exciting day for any production, as it is usually the first time the entire creative team is assembled to begin the hard work required to mount a play. Usually, the first rehearsal consists of a read through. This means that the actors, designers, stage manager, and director sit around a table and read the play in its entirety. Typically the design team (set, lighting, costumes, etc...) will explain their plans for the production at the first rehearsal as well. For example, the set designer may show a model of the set and the costume designer may bring in sketches of the costumes. This helps the actors visualize the setting they will be in, and helps them make acting choices that are in line with the director’s approach for the play.

For instance, the setting of our production of Much Ado About Nothing is in New Orleans during the 1920s!

Over the next few weeks, we will be updating you with rehearsal updates so you can have a front row seat to the process. Stay tuned!!