Welcome to Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park!
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Sitting in music rehearsal, Dan Jenkins secretly wants to be a flute player.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Matt Castle shows Becky Ann Baker the joys of playing the upright bass as Malcolm Gets studies his music.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Scott Pask designed our set. All of the music on/in/around the stage is copies of Sondheim's original manuscript to Merrily. Here's the view from the sound booth - cleaned and ready for a two-show day.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Here's a closeup of the back wall. More of Sondheim's original manuscript!
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Malcolm Gets warms up before the first show of the day.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Jane Pfitsch warms up Leenya Rideout's violin. (Playing Beth and Gussie, they share more than just a husband!)
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Fellow flute player, Jessica Tyler Wright, watches Lee Harrington warm up her piccolo before the show.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
The equivalent of Fight Call, "Music Call" is a group warm-up focusing on material from the show. Tuning, problem spots and note checks are generally the order of business.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
The "Standbys": These guys wait tuned up and ready to go off stage right in case any of the on stage string instruments malfunction. They do not, however, get their 1/8!
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Stage Left instruments are set. At half-hour the actors leave the stage and their instruments behind.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
The center stage stacks hide the woodwinds.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Nick Pope, our sound mixing engineer, makes magic every night at the sound board. This is a tricky show to mix - note the panic in his face!
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
The dog owners of the cast have to check in with their furry friends between shows: Dave Garry with Neo, Fred Rose with Cooper, Leenya Rideout with Maya and Jessica Tyler Wright with Lucy.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
On Saturdays we don't have enough time between shows to cook - so volunteers spoil us with delicious Cincinnati fare.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Becky Ann Baker catches some well-earned zzz's before the second show.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Back at Music Call for the second show: Matthew Deming, Becky Ann Baker, Dave Garry and Dan Jenkins go through "Opening Doors."
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Mary Mitchell Campbell, our orchestrator, gives some encouragement before the second show. Matt Castle, cast member/Music Director, rejoices.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Ben Diskant (Frank Jr.), at the piano, leads the cast in rehearsing the "Merrily" transitions.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Music call also sometimes involves a physical warmup - particularly for Leenya Rideout, who carts the upright bass around the stage for most of the show.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Fred Rose (Tyler) the last one to leave the stage after Music Call and the last one ready at "places."
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Becoming Gussie. (Or "Bessie," as Leenya's mom calls her!)
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
There's Gussie Carnegie!
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Dave Garry keeps his embouchure warm with the spare trumpet in the dressing room. From the end of Music Call to the beginning of the show is approximately 37 minutes, and his first note is a high C#!
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
The Spidey Mics! Bruce Sabath and Matthew Deming have body mics both in the hair (for their voices) and on the wrists for their respective Clarinet/Oboe/Saxaphone parts.
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
Our floor is embedded with Sondheim's score as well. This is the first page of the opening number. We thank Stephen Sondheim and George Furth every night for this glorious material!
David Garry and Jane Pfitsch
