In Rehearsals for SLOWGIRL!

By Alexander Coddington

We’ve just begun work on our second week of rehearsal for SLOWGIRL.  As Michael Wright’s assistant director (and friendly neighborhood MCT Audience Development Coordinator), I will be providing eager Chamber-holics, as some of our biggest fans like to call themselves, at home with a glimpse into the magic that goes on inside Rehearsal Hall 5B.

Our first week kicked off with a meet-and-greet reception where many of you had the opportunity to mingle with the artists involved with the show.  (First rehearsal meet-and-greets are just one of the many perks of being a member of the MCT Friends – contact me for more information about joining the Friends at alex@milwaukeechambertheatre.com!!)

Scenic Designer Keith Pitts' model of Sterling's Costa Rican hut

We got to hear some insights into Michael Wright’s directorial vision for the play, which follows a girl and her uncle through an emotionally tumultuous week in the Costa Rican jungle, look at beautiful preliminary design renderings by costume designer Kimberly O’Callaghan (COLLECTED STORIES, CRIMES OF THE HEART) and an intricate miniature model of the set made by scenic designer Keith Pitts (‘ART’, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS), and heard actors Peter Reeves and Sara Zientek read Greg Pierce’s play aloud.

Peter returns to MCT after appearing in THE SWEETEST SWING IN BASEBALL in 2010 and A WALK IN THE WOODS in 2007. He is currently the Communications Director for Pius XI Catholic High School in Milwaukee. However, after SLOWGIRL closes he will be moving to Pennsylvania – so this may be his last appearance on stage in Milwaukee. He has appeared in numerous films and commercials and has performed with Next Act Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, First Stage, American Inside Theatre and Next Generation Theatre.

Sara made her MCT debut in MAURITIUS in 2011. She was part of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater Emerging Professional Residency. She has also worked with First Stage, InTandem Theatre, Splinter Group, Umbrella Group and Optimist Theatre.  She has been a teacher for First Stage, Waukesha Civic Theatre and Next Act Theatre, and was also a part of an educational tour of ROMEO AND JULIET with Utah Shakespeare Festival. She received her BA in acting from UW-Milwaukee.

Peter Reeves and Sara Zientek rehearse a scene from SLOWGIRL

So far, it’s been smooth sailing down to Costa Rica, but that doesn’t mean we’re not hard at work!  It’s an emotionally challenging and structurally interesting play that has been a thrill to experience in the rehearsal room.  Salud!