The Blue Flower: Journal/News

NEW YORK, NY:  On November 27, 2011 "The Blue Flower" completed its Off-Broadway run at Second Stage Theater, Carole Rothman Artistic Director, Chris Burney, Assoc. Artistic Director.  Enhancing producer:  Stephen Schwartz.   Directed by Will Pomerantz, choreographed by Chase Brock.   Music Director:  Dominick Amendum.  Stage Manager:  Diane DiVita.  Asst. Stage Manager:  Neil Krasnow.

CAST
Max:  Marc Kudisch
Hannah:  Meghan McGeary
Franz:  Sebastian Arcelus
Maria:  Teal Wicks
Mr. O:  Graham Rowat
Sewing Machine Man:  Aaron Serotsky
Typewriter Man:  Joseph Medeiros
Gramophone Girl:  Julia Osborne

MUSICIANS & SOUND
Music Director/Piano:  Dominick Amendum
Assoc Music Director/Piano:  Paul Staroba
Music Dpt. Associate:  Jacob Combs
Pedal Steel Guitar:  John Widgren
Drums:  Patrick Carmichael
Guitars/Banjo:  Lou Garrett
Bassoon:  Damian Primis
Bass:  Steve Gilewski
Cello:  Summer Boggess
Accordion:  Carl Riehl
Sound Design Assistant:  David Bullard
Sound Board Engineer:  Nick Pope

DESIGNERS
Sound:  Dan Moses Schreier
Lighting:  Don Holder
Set:  Beowulf Borritt
Props:  Susan Barras
Projection:  Aaron Rhyne
Costume:  Ann Hould-Ward

CAMBRIDGE, MA:  "The Blue Flower" had a 41-performance run at A.R.T.-The American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA with a first preview performance December 1, 2010 and final performance January 8, 2011. 

CAST
Max:  Dan Jenkins
Hannah:  Meghan McGeary
Maria:  Teal Wicks
Franz:  Lucas Kavner
Fairy Tale Man:  Tom Nelis
Typewriter Man:  Conner Christiansen
Sewing Machine Man:  Paul Shafer

MUSICIANS
Conductor/Piano:  Mark Rubinstein
Pedal Steel Guitar:  John Widgren
Drums:  Patrick Carmichael
Bass:  Mike Rivard
Cello: Emileigh Vandiver
Bassoon:  Doug Quint
Accordion:  Peter Bufano
Guitar:  Steve Latt

DIRECTORS
Director:  Will Pomerantz
Movement Director:  Tom Nelis
Music Director:  Mark Rubinstein
Vocal Music Directors:  Charles Peltz, Dan Rodriguez

DESIGNERS
Lighting:  Justin Townsend
Set:  Marsha Ginsberg
Costume: Carol Bailey
Sound:  Clive Goodwin

STAFF
Stage Manager:  Katherine Shea
Asst. Stage Manager:  Ryan Anderson
Dramaturgs:  Ryan McKittrick, Joe Pindelski
Asst. Dramaturg:  Jenna Clark Embry

A.R.T. PRODUCERS
Artistic Director:  Diane Paulus
Producer:  Diane Borger
Line Producer:  Ari Barbanell

BLUE FLOWER ENHANCING PRODUCERS
Stephen Schwartz
Andrew Levine (Flying Maching Productions)
Steve Tate (Tate Theatrics)

New York, NY:  The members of the original Weimarband reunited from near and far to record the CD "Songs of The Blue Flower", the first full recording of all songs from the show, with Weimarbander Mark Rubinstein engineering and mixing the recording at KMA Studios in Manhattan.  See the "Buy" page of this website for more information.

NEW YORK, NY:  The Prospect Theater Company, with Flying Machine Productions, produced an Equity Showcase production of The Blue Flower with 28 performances at The West End Theater running from February 2 to March 2, 2008.  After seeing the production, Stephen Schwartz (composer/lyricist Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) joined on as a producer with Andrew Levine (Flyine Machine Productions) and Steve Tate (Tate Theatrics) to carry the show forward.

CAST:

Max:  Marcus Neville
Hannah:  Meghan McGeary
Maria:  Nancy Anderson
Franz:  Robert Petkoff
Fairy Tale Man:  Jamie LaVerdiere
Sewing Machine Man:  Jason Collins
Typewriter Man:  Eric Starker

MUSICIANS:

Mark Rubinstein, music director/piano
John Widgren: pedal steel guitar
Drums & Percussion:  Patrick Carmichael
Bassoon:  Erik Holtje
Accordion:  Carl Riehl
Bass:  Alden Terry
Cello:  Katsura Mori
Guitar: Jeff Widenhofer

DESIGNERS

Set:  Nick Francone
Scenic Artist:  Bert Esenherz
Costumes:  Sidney Shannon
Lighting:  Cory Pattak
Sound Design:  Jeffrey Yoshi Lee
Video System Design:  Dickie DiBella

DIRECTORS:

Director & Choreographer:  Will Pomerantz
Stage Manager:  Marcie A. Friedman
Artistic Director (Prospect):  Cara Reichel
Managing Director (Prospect): Melissa Huber

 JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater, NYC:  After a hiatus of several years, the original Weimarband assembled for a reunion concert at Joe's Pub in advance of a new production of The Blue Flower to be produced by Prospect Theater Company.  On the stage together again were Jim Bauer (vocals, guitar, piano), Meghan McGeary (vocals), Jen Chapin (vocals), David Driver (vocals), Mark Rubinstein (accordion/piano; pictured below), John Widgren (pedal steel), David Rozenblatt (percussion), Patrick Carmichael (drums), Stephan Crump (bass) and Ann Kim (cello).   Coming in off the bench to sit in for a touring Martin Kuuskmann was honorary Weimarband member and power-bassoonist Erik Holtje . (in photo: Mark Rubinstein; photo by Mike Rothschild)

New York:  The Blue Flower participated in the first annual New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF), presenting six performances of the play. (in photo: Todd Alan Johnson; photo by Andrew Hammer)

Cast:

Max:  Todd Alan Johnson (pictured at right)
Hannah:  Meghan McGeary
Franz:  Clayton Dean Smith
Maria: Jean Arbeiter
FT Man:  Jamie LaVerdiere
Sewing Machine Man:  Andrew Dawson
Typewriter Man:  Marc Geller

Musicians:

Piano:  Andrew Levine
Accordion:  Mark Rubinstein
Pedal Steel Guitar:  John Widgren
Drums:  Patrick Carmichael
Percussion:  Pablo Rieppi
Bass:  Stephan Crump
Cello:  Christine Kim
Bassoon:  Erik Holtje
Guitar:  Skip Krevens

Director:  Will Pomerantz
Music Director:  Andrew Levine

Ruth and Jim Bauer were awarded the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Grant for their work on The Blue Flower.

PERRY-MANSFIELD SCHOOL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Steamboat Springs, CO:  In 2003 ASCAP, with the support of music theater composer/lyricist Richard Adler had the opportunity to select one of the dozen or so shows that had passed through the workshop program that year in NY, Chicago and LA, to participate in a two-week workshop directed by Stephen Schwartz at the Perry-Mansfield School for the Performing Arts in Steamboat Springs, CO.  The Blue Flower was selected.  At the conclusion of a two-week work period with Stephen Schwartz, the play was given its first full workshop production in two performances at the "New Noises Festival" at Perry-Mansfield.  It was through this program that Andrew Levine was introduced to and became interested in The Blue Flower.

Performers in the production:  Jim Bauer (Max), Meghan McGeary (Hannah), Benjamin Schrader (Franz), Alice Moore (Maria), Marc Geller (Fairy Tale Man and Typewriter Man), and Mikey Thomas (Sewing Machine Man).  Erik Sniedze, director; Will Pomerantz, directing consultant.  Music was provided by pre-recorded Weimarband tracks and Jim playing piano live.

ASCAP Foundation, NYC:  The Blue Flower is selected to participate in the ASCAP Foundation Musical Theater Workshop, directed by Stephen Schwartz.  Four new musicals in development are selected to give two minimally staged presentations before a panel of industry professionals and a live audience.  The first is a twenty minute segment of the show, followed by critique by the panel.  The second, several weeks later, is a 40 minute presentation, again critiqued immediately by the panelists.  It is through these workshops that Stephen Schwartz first became interested in The Blue Flower.  Will Pomerantz directed the two workshop excerpts.

HERE ARTS CENTER, NYC:  Jim and Ruth Bauer direct the final workshop performance of the Blue Flower at the annual HERE CultureMart festival.  Performing are Jim Bauer (Max), Meghan McGeary (Hannah), Jen Chapin (Maria), Andrew Dawson (Franz and Sewing Machine Man), and Marc Geller (Typewriter Man).  Along with Jim Bauer playing piano, Weimarband members John Widgren (pedal steel guitar), Mark Rubinstein (accordion) and Stephan Crump (bass) perform live on stage.

HERE Arts Center, NYC:  Jim and Ruth Bauer direct a second workshop performance of The Blue Flower, continuing to develop the story and theatrical elements.  Performing are Jim Bauer (Max), Meghan McGeary (Hannah), Jen Chapin (Maria), Andrew Dawson (Franz and Sewing Machine Man), and Marc Geller (Typewriter Man).  Along with Jim Bauer playing piano, Weimarband member John Widgren joins in with some live pedal steel guitar.

MAKOR/STEINHARDT CENTER at the 92nd St. Y, NYC:  The Weimarband gives an alt-cabaret performance of music from The Blue Flower and assorted oddball covers.  Jim Bauer, Meghan McGeary, Jen Chapin and David Driver provide vocals and narration.

HERE Arts Center, NYC:  Jim and Ruth Bauer direct the first workshop production of The Blue Flower at HERE Arts Center.  Performers are Jim Bauer (Max), Meghan McGeary (Hannah), Jen Chapin (Maria), Andrew Dawson (Franz and Sewing Machine Man), and Marc Geller (Typewriter Man).  Video projections are introduced.  Script and staging are the focus of the work.  Music is provided by pre-recorded Weimarband tracks.

Jim and Ruth Bauer are selected to join the artists residency program at HERE Arts Center in New York for its 2002-3 residency year.  At HERE, Jim and Ruth are able to put The Blue Flower on its feet in a theater environment as opposed to musical stage, and will have the opportunity to develop the video projection elements in the show.  They will organize and direct several workshop productions of the piece over the course of the residency year.

THE BOTTOM LINE, west village, NYC:  Under the direction of Kate Chumley, The Weimarband does two workshop performances at this venerable, now deceased folk club in New York City.  DAVID DRIVER joins the band for the first time, performing in the role of Franz.  Jim Bauer, Meghan McGeary and Jen Chapin continue in their roles as Max, Hannah and Maria, respectively.

SOUNDTRACK STUDIOS, NYC:  The Weimarband records six songs from The Blue Flower as an EP to be released under the title "Sturm n' Twang".  The Weimarband is:

JIM BAUER (vocals, guitar, piano); MEGHAN McGEARY (vocals); JEN CHAPIN (vocals); MARK RUBINSTEIN (piano, accordion); JOHN WIDGREN (pedal steel guitar); MARTIN KUUSKMANN (bassoon); ANN KIM (cello); STEPHAN CRUMP (bass); DAVID ROZENBLATT (percussion); PATRICK CARMICHAEL (drums)

JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater, NYC:  The Weimarband gives another alt-cabaret performance at Joe's Pub with Jim Bauer, Jen Chapin and Meghan McGeary providing vocals and narration.

THE BITTER END, west village, NYC:  The Weimarband gives a concert performance of music from The Blue Flower and assorted oddball covers at the venerable folk/rock club The Bitter End in New York City's west village, with Jim Bauer and Jen Chapin covering vocals.  Meghan McGeary was away on tour with another show.

JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater, NYC:  The Weimarband, under the direction of Rick DesRochers, gives its first workshop performance of The Blue Flower, with Jim Bauer (Max) joined by Meghan McGeary (in her debut as Hannah), Jen Chapin (in her debut as Maria) and Tony Capone (Franz).  Additional narration of text was provided by Marco Capalbo, with Ruth Bauer providing visuals in the form of projected still imagery behind the band.  Bassist Stephan Crump and accordion and piano player Mark Rubinstein join the band.  The permanent members of The Weimarband are now all in place.

JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater, NYC:  The Weimarband, invited by the Public Theater's associate producer Bonnie Metzgar, who had seen the band at Galapagos in March, performs an alt-cabaret performance of music from The Blue Flower at Joe's Pub as part of The Public Theater's "New Work Now" Festival, with Jim Bauer and Juliette Ewing on vocals, Jim Bauer providing text narration between songs, and visuals -- in the form of still slides -- projected for the first time behind the band.

GALAPAGOS ART SPACE, Brooklyn:  In this first "alt-cabaret" performance of music from The Blue Flower Jim is joined for the first time by another singer, Juliette Ewing.   Also joining in this evening is pianist David Geist.

GALAPAGOS ART SPACE, Williamsburg, Brooklyn:  The Weimarband's third performance, its first at Galapagos, when the club was still located in Williamsburg.  Percussionist David Rozenblatt and cellist Ann Kim join the band with Mat Fieldes on bass.

PYRAMID CLUB, east village, NYC:  The Weimarband presents its 2nd concert performance of music from The Blue Flower at the post-punk Pyramid Club in New York City, with Jim Bauer again providing vocals and brief narration.

HERE ARTS CENTER, Soho:  The Weimarband gives its first concert performance of music from The Blue Flower at HERE Arts Center in Soho, New York City, with Jim Bauer providing vocals and narration.  Weimarband members John Widgren (pedal steel), Martin Kuuskmann (bassoon), Patrick Carmichael (drums) and Vince Reynolds (guitar) are joined by Christopher Renquist on bass, Jessica Cesana on cello, and Ted Cruz on piano.