The Nutcracker

I am in the Washington Ballet's production of The Nutcracker for my third year in a row. This year I am a party boy and Ben Franklin.

In the party scene I play the big brother in the elegant family. The party scene is really cool because there is so much action. There are lots of company members and kids doing group dances such as the Virginia Reel and the March. The party scene is also very beautiful. The girls are wearing fluffy skirts and colorful dresses. The boys are wearing suits made out of silk and velvet with short pants and spats. We also have to put on lots of makeup including powder, blush, eyeliner and lipstick. The scene is very funny. When the grandfather puts the mistletoe over his head the little boy does the same thing and gets kissed. The grandfather also tricks the maid into getting more champagne. I am very happy to be in the party scene because there is lots of movement and jumping and if feels like you went to a real party.

I think the most exciting scene is the battle scene where I play Ben Franklin. In this version of the Nutcracker, the battle scene is based on the Revolutionary War. The rats are the English and the soldiers are fighting them. The Nutcracker is George Washington and the Rat King is the king of England. It is scary when the rats lift me up in the air because it feels like they are about to drop me! When the cannon is fired in the beginning of the battle it is also scary because a big cloud of gunpowder comes out of the cannon like a real cannon. The scene is really cool because the audience gets to see the battle starting to form and the soldiers make sharp angles and march perfectly on count. Compared to the Party Scene which is lovey-dovey, the Battle Scene is very harsh.

Please come see The Nutcracker!

The Nutcracker Audition by Malin

Malin's first grade class has been working on writing about "small moments." Small moments are detailed descriptions or stories about events that really happened. Here's Malin's:

I tried out for the bee and mouse. I got the part of the bee. I got the part because I had a big smile and because I practiced at THEARC. Mice have to be 7 because the helmets are so big and heavy. The bee costume has curly turquoise wings. It is yellow and tourquoise. It is the cutest costume in the Nutcracker. I was so happy.

I learned staging. I can't wait until the dress rehearsal! It is like the real thing because it is with all the characters and some audience with tickets. Mr. Weber, the director, could can only stop the show if he really needed to.

I am in the Ruby cast. I can look up and see the cute fox page. Its helmet was adorable. Everyone could take a now!

At Nutcracker rehearsal this afternoon, Kai was told that he got the part of Ben Franklin. Ben and Betsy Ross are life sized dolls that burst out from under the Christmas tree and get caught up in the battle between the rats and the toy soldiers. Kai is excited about it, but it also means extra rehearsals. Unfortunately, extra rehearsals mean that he can't do the St. Mark's Players show of Assassins. Kai is very disappointed about it -- he really wanted to do it and was excited about it. I'm feeling very sorry about leaving them after we all had made the commitment that Kai would do it. Now they need to find another 9 year old boy and fast. We need to chalk this up as a lesson that Kai -- our whole family, really -- has a bit of a tendency to over-commit.

Two Shows, One Fall

This fall I am in two different shows: Assassins and the Nutcracker.

Assassins is being put on by the St. Mark's Players. I am in a few different scenes, but I always play the son of an assassin. In my main scene I delay my mom from trying to kill President Ford by whining and screaming about money to buy ice cream. In my audition last week I met the director, Kevin, and I had to read through that scene. My first rehearsal was yesterday and it was really fun.

I am also in the Nutcracker which is put on by the Washington Ballet. I am a party child. In yesterday's first rehearsal they put us in lines and measured and compared us to the other kids. I was put into the Elegant Family. This is my third year in the Nutcracker and I was in the Elegant Family last year. I'm the bigger brother this year. There are too many Nutcracker rehearsals -- I have another three hour one again this afternoon.

The next "adventure" on 11th Street

A Post from Dad:

Just after Kai wrapped up his Shakespeare Theater show, an email came from his friends at the Kennedy Center Opera House. This time, they were looking for Dad. Sure, Kai's been an extra in three operas over there on the big stage, beginning with Madama Butterfly when he was just 4, but I'm catching up! (Thanks for the coattails, Kai!)

Maybe it was my great acting as one of the 75 walk-on Russian Solders in their 2010 production of War and Peace? Anyway, the Opera's upcoming Tosca performance (Sep. 10 to the 24th) ALSO needs 'a few good men' - and, well, some clergy, too. [FYI - Tosca will be simulcast FREE to the Nationals Stadium's huge high-def screen on Sep. 22 for Opera in the Outfield]

In Act One, my big part is to stand on stage dressed as a Deacon and hold an incense pot that hangs from a chain. The assistant director told me tonight at rehearsal, "Don't swing it, just stand there. You are really just eye candy." This is a big adjustment for me, because at the first rehearsal last week they had me doing all this blessing and crossing of the choirs and audience. Later I found out I was standing in for another guy who couldn't make that rehearsal. Bummer. Still, any good Deacon knows that the Director giveth, the Director taketh away.

My big break happened at rehearsal for Act three. I was SUPPOSED to be a member of the firing squad that shoots the lead singer at the end of the opera. The director, though, had not picked a Sergeant. After a brief chat with all of us, I was moved up in rank. The costume staff were alerted. My rifle was traded for a sword and pistol and I was sent home with a CD and sheet music so I could practice the downswing with my scabbard at just the right moment - signaling the other guys to pull the trigger. As a good friend pointed out to me today, "... but you can't mess that up at all, right, I mean, isn't that sort of a key moment in the opera?!" Yeah, I've listened to that darn CD 50 times already.

It's been a blast so far - and I'll let you know how it goes.

Kai's Dad

Last Show

It was the last show on Sunday afternoon. After the show on Saturday there was a cast and crew party on the third floor of the theater lobby. There was drinks and pizza and everybody was happy to talk about how the show went and what's happening next. I was saying hi to everyone in the cast and taking pictures. I got home at midnight and didn't fall asleep until 12:30.

Sunday's show was a big success and everyone was happy to go home. But there was some sadness about the show ending. I felt like it was really over when I took my last bow. I'm going to miss everyone in the cast. This was one of the best summers I ever had.

Turn your cell phones off

During the show last Thursday night, someone forgot to turn off their cell phone. It started ringing in the middle of scene 2.1a. This is the scene where Portia and Bassanio are dancing before Bassanio chooses the casket. The phone kept ringing so Bassanio stopped the show. He said "is anyone going to claim this device?" Nobody did. Finally, a lady sitting in the front row on the right side checked in her purse and then ran out of the theater. She was found in the bathroom by backstage management crying because she was so embarrassed. The moral of the story is: Turn off your phones!

The Set

I think the set in the Merchant of Venice is a harder set to act on than usual plays because the scenery stays the same throughout the show. It doesn’t change but the actors are in a house, on a sidewalk, on a street and in a court. There also is a big huge staircase in the center going from cue light 12. During the show it is the stairs to Portia’s second story in her house, an entrance to a train station and even a balcony where Portia sees a plane go overhead. You have to really act like you are in each place or the play will get messed up.

Cue Lights

At the Shakespeare Harmon Theater, cue lights are very important. They are important because they tell people when to go on stage for their scene. There are thirteen lights total and one is at each entrance to the stage. The lights are the opposite of when you drive a car. They flicker green when you are supposed to stand by, and then when they turn off, that’s when you go on stage. Actors also listen for lines which is very hard. The cue lights are much easier.

Jobs Backstage

There are a lot of jobs backstage. Backstage management is one of them and Bonnie is in charge. Erin is the child wrangler and her job is to watch me and the other kid in the show. Wardrobe takes care of all the costumes and helps with quick changes. They keep the costumes clean and fix anything that breaks. The show has lots of props and people are there to take care of them. The props include pretzels, croissants, “champagne”, apples and large knives. All of the above plus actors equal the show.

The Trial Scene

During the trial scene, I have to stand in a window up on the second floor of the deck. We have to sit very still and act like we are really interested is what everybody's saying. We can move into a different position three times and we can't fidget. Doing that, we actually have to listen to them so I've memorized the lines to make it more fun. It makes the long scene a good deal quicker when you have something to think about. I enjoy the scene because I know the lines.

The scene is over for me when a policeman pushes us off stage. He shoos the kids off because kids shouldn't be watching what they were about to do -- cut a pound of flesh out of someone.

Taxes

Kai just got his first paycheck today. Federal and DC taxes weren't withheld, but he is still not at all pleased that he has to pay Social Security and Medicare tax. His comment: "What! I'm just a kid and I have to pay the government! Totally not fair."

I think I may be raising a little Republican after all.

The Prince of Morocco

The Prince of Morocco (whose real name is Karl) is one of my favorite characters in the play because of his funny lines and actions. He waves his sword around and acts like he is the most deserving to marry Portia. He chooses the golden box and instead of a picture of Portia he finds a skull inside and gives the second speech of his scene which starts “Oh, h&*^.”

The Walker

On the last Sunday afternoon preview show (last week), the show started with a bang. I'm the first person to run out on stage. My part is to run around and play the game Kick the Can on stage. The other boy and I enter from stage left from where the audience sits. That day, an audience member put their walker where I was supposed to run out. The walker was black and it was very dark. I didn't see it but I felt it. I crashed into it as I was running on stage and it made a huge noise. I flipped into and fell. The show must go on so I had to get up and keep going. When I came off stage, Hanna of backstage management handed me an ice pack for my leg. Mr. McSweeny, the director, asked if I was OK. I've learned to look out for obstacles where I don't expect them.

Half Hour Call

In the Merchant of Venice I follow the same and simple routine when I get to the theater. I get there at half an hour before the show and sign-in on a sheet. Even Fang the dog has to sign in. Then I have to get into costume. It takes 10 minutes to get dressed. For privacy, I made a dressing room out of chairs. Next, I hangout for 20 minuets until my “call time”. Over the loud speaker Hanna says, “5 minutes!” I think there is lots of waiting in this show, but at least I have a good book.

Opening Night

The Merchant of Venice opened last night. Every one was happy the previews were over. My dad went to the show and said it was great. Everyone was saying ''happy opening." I had a great time and had a lot of applause. After the show I went to a party at the District Chophouse! The entire cast and crew and their friends were there. I drank ginger ale, ate chocolate and played pool. After the party, my dad and I took a cab home. Opening Night was a huge success!

My costume, Part 2

My costume

In the Merchant of Venice, I play an orthodox Jewish boy from New York City in 1928. My costume has an under shirt and a button-down shirt. I also wear suspenders to hold up my black knickers. My tights are black and my shoes are a brownish color. I have a vest and coat which also are black. To complete my outfit, I have a hairpiece and a small round head covering. My costume is a bit hot, but it looks good.

My Dressing Room

My dressing room is big but small compared to others. It has two mirrors facing each other and a row of lights above each mirror. Then there is a bathroom at the far end of the room which is like the ones you see at McDonald's. My costume is hung up on a pole in the center of the room. We keep the stuff we bring (like books or games) on a long table under the mirror. Finally, there is a green mat in the corner that nobody wants to sit on or lay on because a dog named Fang (who is also in the show) took it over. This summer the theater and the dressing is my home away from home.

Dry Ice

In the Merchant of Venice we use dry ice. When I "play" tag I have to run through the fumes and white smoke it makes, and then I have to sit on the stage near it. The play uses dry ice for a special effect to make the city scene seem dirty and busy. The dry ice smells like strong chemicals. It looks cool but stinks.

1:00 to 11:00!

Last night I was up till 11:00 because of a show I was in. We had a rehearsal from 1 PM until 11 PM. I had to sign my name on 27 posters for the show. All the other cast members signed it too.

The Merchant of Venice opens Tuesday.