You're The Flop is almost here!

About one year ago my partner with Music Theater of Madison, Meghan Randolph, came up with an idea to write a show about flop musicals. After sketching up with a few ideas, we brought in my friend Robby Sandler to help flush out a story. He and I worked for months on putting together songs that fit with our story idea. We wanted to tell the story of a group of theater artists who try to put a show up on Broadway, but it becomes a flop. After the songs were in place, Meghan put together the facts that she wanted said about shows that were flops. About a month ago we started rehearsals, and the actors helped shape the exact wording of the monologues, and the script was complete! After three and a half weeks of hard work, we are in tech. The show is really delightful, fun and touching. It is more then we ever expected it to be! It is thrilling to work on a production from its inception to its completion for the first time ever. Madison Magazine wrote a nice article and interviewed Meghan about the process. One note, the article list me as the music director of MTM, but I am in fact the associate artistic director.

Amadues was a great success!

Amadeus closed last night, and the show was an absolute hit in Milwaukee! We had numerous sold out preformances, standing ovations and great reviews! Russ Bickerstaff wrote a really amazing review in The Shepard Express, saying "the production as directed by Catie O’Donnell does a tremendous job of bringing forth the very real visceral emotional side of the story of this man's life and the lives of some of those he came into contact with." 

We were also honored to have Mike Fischer from the Journal Sentinel give us an amazing review with the headline "McDaris' Mozart his right notes in World's Stage Amadeus". 

In the end this has been one of my most successful productions!  I am so thankful that I was able to cross off one of my top shows from my bucket list, and with pride! 

Amadeus Has Begun!

I am thrilled that tonight I get to open a show that has been on my "bucket list" for years, Amadeus! Third Coast Digest wrote a great article about the show, including an interview with myself and a few of my cast. I have to say this has been one of the best casts I have ever worked with. Our rehearsals were productive and fun, and they all went above and beyond for this show.
Besides the cast, the next best part about this production is the setting. We get to stage this show in the beautiful and magical Villa Terrace in Milwaukee. I was truly inspired by this setting for the show. It is an old mansion on the lakefront that was built in the style of an 18th century villa. It is now an art museum filled with antiques and art, all approperate for the Amadeus setting. We are preforming the show in the main hall, and we are using the antique furniture as our set pieces. The audience will be seated in the hall an arms length away from the actors, which is my favorite way to stage a show.
Overall, I am truly excited about this production! What a great way to start the spring!

Hostage Song Reviews are fantastic!

Hostage Song was a great success! We had a great run, and we had the audiences and reviews to prove it. Madison Magizine's Aaron R Conklin said "Director Catie O’Donnell artfully deploys clever details to amp the mood, like the actors delivering the microphones to the blindfolded leads in a tender way when they’re playing loved ones, and ripping them away rudely when they’re dressed as terrorists." and more. Sarah Marty from Four Seasons Theater says "The indie rock approach to musical theatre and the subject matter fit well in the small back room of The Frequency. It's a very different experience as an audience member." in her blog review. Finally Jeff Turk from Fresco Opera had some wonderful things to say about Hostage Song here, including " I would highly recommend anyone with an interest in theater to take the opportunity to see this unique work, in this unique setting. Music Theatre of Madison’s “Hostage Song” demonstrates how powerful and moving modern theater can be." 

Hostage Song at MTM

I know I have not posted in a while, but it is because I have been very busy! My show, Hostage Song with MTM opens tomorrow night! This show has been one of the most challenging pieces of theater I have directed, but also one of the most rewarding to see the results. I have grown a lot during this process, and I am now more acutely aware of directing a show with a true "concept", and how important it is to keep the concept as clear as possible. When you are working with limited technical capabilities and a very small stage, you have to be extremely careful with how you present a complicated piece. You can read a little more about how I have presented this show here. Hostage Song has turned out to be beautiful, honest and truly powerful. Now we hope audiences feel the same way!

A geat weekend for theater

This weekend was wonderful. We opened The Belle of Amhurst, and audiences were enchanted by this beautiful show. And although the show is now over, my work is not finished! As assoicate director, the understudy and I still have rehearsals before our own show on the 4th of November. Its  nice change to not have opening night be the end of rehearsals.
The other great thing about this weekend was the first production meeting of Hostage Song at MTM! I dont want to give too much away, but this show is going to be awesome. We have put together an amazing (almost full) production team. Its so important to surround yourself with people you believe in when you are a director, and I believe that is what I have. Auditions are in just under 2 weeks, and I cant wait! I also get to meet with a few special people about the show next weekend, but more on that later...

Belle Tech Week!

Tech week for The Belle of Amhurst at Renaissance Theaterworks starts tonight! I am excited to see the show finally have all of the pieces put together.