'OF MICE AND MEN' Officially Opens in Macon, Missouri

Sadly, I've been neglecting this blog for a while now. It's now been almost 4 weeks since I first arrived in Macon, Missouri earlier in June to begin the journey with OF MICE AND MEN.  The rehearsals definitely putting me through the wringer, both physically and emotionally.  I really don't do anything half-assed. I totally commit to the storytelling and bringing life to a character. Lennie Small was no exception. From day one I worked with the text and then began to create him through physical gestures and posture, voice and then deep child-like emotional core and spirit.  Once I discovered who Lennie Small actually was to those around him then the play really started to reveal itself to me.  It was a powerful yet emotionally exhausting experience.  Ontop of everything else with daily rehearsals inside an old, hot and muggy rehearsal hall I was doing graduate research for my Masters Degree and working hard at getting my lines memorized. It's astonishing that we created this show with technically only 10 days of rehearsals. Pretty amazing if you ask me. The show officially opened this past Friday here in Macon, Missouri and it was pretty well-received by the local theatre-goers and community. My only concern and hope is that people don't shy away from the play because of its heavy subject matter. We definitely need more butts in the seats and hopefully a strong word-of-mouth will spread about the show. OF MICE AND MEN is not a musical so it asks something totally different from its audience. The play asks you to think deeply about issues concerning your own life, friendships, community, poverty, the dream, the hope, etc.  With musicals it can often times be so easy for audiences to escape within the feel-good and uplifting music. I have nothing against musicals, they are just something totally different from a classic dramatic play like OF MICE AND MEN.  Audience members have been very warm and receptive to the show, some even contacting me directly via my website to express how much the show has meant to them. I am deeply humbled and honored by the feedback and comments.

OF MICE AND MEN runs until July 17th at the Royal Theatre in Macon, Missouri. Help spread the word and come back to see the show again if you so please. We'd really like to get more people in the seats.  Miigwetch/Thank you!

Pictured Above: The set design for OF MICE AND MEN with the Maples Repertory Theatre.