Emmy Alcorn

Loading the van for the tour

How satisfying to see that a first draft script that I fell in love with two years ago is now fully realized and connecting with people everywhere. Opening night of BINGO! was so gratifying. A twelve year old boy was just as excited as the 72 year-old woman. Sold out in Halifax and then we came to Guysborough, where we doubled our audience projections. People drove 3 hours from Halifax and Sydney to see the show. Local businesses are thrilled that Mulgrave Road Theatre is bringing people to town. And now tomorrow we will head to the Savoy in Glace Bay. Over 700 seats. Now that will tell a tale.

Opening Bingo! tomorrow night at the Neptune Studio in Halifax. It’s been a great ride so far. Really looking forward to putting it up for an audience. Then Guysborough on the weekend, which will be a completely different experience. New (larger) venue, different audience. Then its on to the Savoy in Glace Bay. Bigger venue again. And the audience members will be, for the most part, from the same vicinity as the characters in the play. Now that’s scary/fun/exciting. If you’re anywhere near those places, check out the info at www.mulgraveroad.ca and come on down. You will not regret it.

End of the second rehearsal week of BINGO!. Did a run-through for the designers today. We seem to be in a good place. Daniel is happy with the script changes that he made over the last two weeks. It’s a solid play with depth, humour and humanity. Tomorrow is off-book day. Only minor changes from here on – “ands”, “buts” and “yeahs” and maybe a comma or two. Everyone still doing great work. So invigorating to be in the room with them all.

John, Marty, Ryan, Heather, Emmy, Daniel

The play is now blocked. Some additional writing from the playwright yet to come. I’m loving this play, and the people involved in it. Still wearing more than one hat. I’m in the show but also trying to act somewhat as production manager – making sure that communication between all departments is clear, that we stay on budget and that nothing falls through the cracks. Also doing the lay-out for the programme – hope to have that completed by Tuesday. Then I would like to focus strictly on my character. We’ll see if I stick to that little promise to myself.

First day of rehearsal for Daniel MacIvor’s new play BINGO!, produced by Mulgrave Road Theatre. It’s a comedy about the night before a 30th high school reunion, so there’s a little ‘drama’ in there too. Today was the first day we had the cast together. A great energy in the room. Everyone is perfect for their part. Feels like a company already.

L-R: (assistant director) Richie Wilcox, (cast members) John Beale, Marty Burt, Emmy Alcorn, Ryan Rogerson, Heather Rankin

On my way back to Nova Scotia after a week in Ontario. Spent a couple of days at Obsidian Theatre working on a new play by upcoming Nova Scotia writer Tara Lee Reddick, ably assisted by dramaturg Mel Hague and four lovely actors. I appreciated the welcoming, easy-going and supportive environment that I encountered at the company and all who were connected to it. Immediately following the workshop I hitched a ride with Howard Jang up to Barrie for the PACT theatre conference, where Phil Akin (Obsidian’s Artistic Director) won the coveted Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award. I immediately understood why. Saw many long-time much loved colleagues at the conference but had to bow out after two days because my mother is having her birthday and my brothers are all coming home – along with many grand and great grandchildren. A bit of a family reunion, the first in many many years. Ah, there’s the boarding announcement. Gotta fly.

It’s the night before election day. No matter what happens I know that I have done my best to promote the kind of Canada I would like to see; a compassionate one that works for the good of all people, where we take care of the weakest instead of kicking them to the side of the road. I want a country full of leaders who bring us together instead of driving us apart. I have seen many examples of that in the last few weeks. They were ordinary Canadians standing up for what’s right and speaking out about love and humanity. Maybe there is hope after all. We’ll see on Tuesday.

Home from the ECMAs. Bag unpacked and put away. Have the beginnings of 3 new songs swirling around in my head. And I have set some dates to begin collaborating with musicians/creators who I connected with there. Back to the MRT office tomorrow to begin promoting our summer show “Bingo!” – a new comedy by Daniel MacIvor. With cast members Heather Rankin, John Beale, Marty Burt and Ryan Rogerson (and yours truly), it’s gonna be a blast.