And we’re back!  In New Haven!  At Yale!

The sudden afternoon showers did not deter playwright Cory Hinkle, director Davis McCallum, actors Dane DeHaan (of Sixty Miles fame), Jennifer Lyon, Carter Gill, Barret O’Brien and Erica Sullivan and our amazing producing associate Dan(iel) Hammond from putting in about 4 hours of work on Cory’s new play Little Eyes.   After a brief introduction, we left the Little Eyes folks and walked over in the rain to grab coffee and talk shop with Sam Hunter about the play that he’ll be working on while at Yale and his numerous other project (this man is busy). I don’t think it’s fair to say much about Sam’s new play – he only has a couple of pages written.  Here’s the brief (very dry) description of the piece that we included in the welcome packet distributed to all residency participants: “… the play… [is] about a woman who pledges to continue work on her husband’s book on genocide in the XX Century after he inexplicably commits suicide…”

Rehearsals were followed by dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant (Bangkok Gardens), where  much Singha Beer was consumed.  Five of us (Cory, Dane, Dan(iel), Sam and Asher) headed over to Bru Bar for more beer (this time, we opted for pitchers of the house pale ale and “damn good stout”) and more talk of Sarah Palin, the Michael Jackson (never-ending) extravaganza, summer blockbusters (Up gets thumbs-up; Transformers not so much) and theater in Minneapolis.

Tomorrow, the Spookwater crew arrives: playwright Kara Lee Corthron, director Kip Fagan, 6 amazing actors and 1 percussionist.

Also!  David Adjmi was spotted crossing a street near the Yale Rep; word is that Kate Walat is in town; Tory Stewart (from our first summer residency at Yale) is trekking over on Friday; and Heidi Schreck (fingers crossed) is magically going to appear on campus on Saturday.  Crazy.  We’re so having our very own Michael Jackson extravaganza when everyone reaches New Haven.  Tory Stewart is on “I’ll Be There” and Heidi Schreck will duet with David Adjmi and belt out “Dirty Diana”.   Take that, Joe Jackson.

Very nice New York Times review – although the New York Times is so random.

The Times hits the nail on the head when it acknowledges that Dan LeFranc is expanding the “playwriting box”, which (admittedly) sounds a little perverse.

They’ve started trickling in.

Here are two very nice reviews:

• Variety

• AP

We’re very proud of this production.  And hope that you’ll come see it.

It only runs until February 8.  So don’t miss it.

Annie Kauffman and Alice Reagan consider the Car

The view from  the tech table

We’re in the theater. Deck is up (or down). Part of the car went in.

Look!  Tyler Micoleau’s in the driver’s seat, for once.

We’re off with a bang.

Performances for Sixty Miles to Silver Lake by Dan LeFranc and directed by Anne Kauffman start in 11 days.  The theater is getting prep’ed for the actors’ arrival on-stage this coming Thursday.  First run-through today.  Engines are revved up — and we’re all ready to go.  Don’t forget to buy your tickets today!

After reading over 200 applications, we have a new fellow: Heidi Schreck.  This is an always unbelievably exciting time for us.  It’s also a bit sad – since it means that our time working with Tommy Smith (as our P73 Playwriting Fellow) has come to an end.  Thankfully, Tommy’s in Interstate 73 this year so we’ll get to see him for a little bit longer.

And now it’s Heidi’s turn (cue Gypsy).   We narrowed it down to 6 unbelievable finalists and it’s always a huge struggle to pick one.  But here she is, boys.  (Must. Stop. The. Gypsy. Reference.)   Most people know Heidi’s work as an actor.  Very few know her work as a writer – it’s tremendous (her writing).  And smart.  And funny.  And we can’t wait to work with her.   So we begin today.