Michael John Casey (actor) on Tech Week
I'm Michael John Casey and I am playing the role of Falkor among others in The Neverending Story. I have been acting professionally in the DC area for about a decade, and I am very happy to be back at Imagination Stage. This entry is just to touch on the experience of technical rehearsals and provide an inside scoop to the character of Falkor, the luck dragon.
Now truth be told, many actors don't care for technical rehearsals, mainly because they are long days and sometimes amount to a good deal of waiting. But I have to admit that I love technical rehearsals. Having worked my way through college and graduate school in scene shops and occasionally as a theatrical electrician, I got to see both sides. When tech rehearsals come around, I see it as the time when all the different elements and artisans of the theatre come together for the one goal of creating a successful theatrical experience. Getting to really experience the set as the world of the play opens the doors of discovery like very few things do. One gets to see not only how the lights will actually light the play but provide focus and tension to a particular scene. This goes the same for sound. The added level of puppetry with this production makes the experience in my opinion, all the more exciting.
For the role of Falkor, I started with the book and what playwright David Craig has adapted. Falkor has a mischievous quality that makes him charming. He's a bit of a trickster, but has a good moral compass. When Falkor is aware that Atreyu is responsible for the helping in saving his life, Falkor chooses to devote himself to a bond of friendship with Atreyu which becomesan adventure aiding Atreyu on his quest regardless of what dangers that might mean for the both of them. We all have "pals" but it those people who will stand by us in good times and bad that are the ones truly bonded to us as friends. For the physicality of the character, (as the design had gone away from the "flying dog" image of the 1984 movie) I looked to images of dragons and watched a few movies where dragons and their movement was featured prominently. It has been a great deal of fun in the rehearsing and I hope that reads to the audience.
Please come and I hope you enjoy it!
Now truth be told, many actors don't care for technical rehearsals, mainly because they are long days and sometimes amount to a good deal of waiting. But I have to admit that I love technical rehearsals. Having worked my way through college and graduate school in scene shops and occasionally as a theatrical electrician, I got to see both sides. When tech rehearsals come around, I see it as the time when all the different elements and artisans of the theatre come together for the one goal of creating a successful theatrical experience. Getting to really experience the set as the world of the play opens the doors of discovery like very few things do. One gets to see not only how the lights will actually light the play but provide focus and tension to a particular scene. This goes the same for sound. The added level of puppetry with this production makes the experience in my opinion, all the more exciting.
For the role of Falkor, I started with the book and what playwright David Craig has adapted. Falkor has a mischievous quality that makes him charming. He's a bit of a trickster, but has a good moral compass. When Falkor is aware that Atreyu is responsible for the helping in saving his life, Falkor chooses to devote himself to a bond of friendship with Atreyu which becomesan adventure aiding Atreyu on his quest regardless of what dangers that might mean for the both of them. We all have "pals" but it those people who will stand by us in good times and bad that are the ones truly bonded to us as friends. For the physicality of the character, (as the design had gone away from the "flying dog" image of the 1984 movie) I looked to images of dragons and watched a few movies where dragons and their movement was featured prominently. It has been a great deal of fun in the rehearsing and I hope that reads to the audience.
Please come and I hope you enjoy it!
Labels: 2007-2008 Season, Actors, Neverending Story
posted by Imagination Stage at
10:27 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home