AVT's Technical Director, Jeremy Gruca, at Sagebrush Cafe for this interview.

Jeremy Gruca sat down at Sagebrush Cafe one afternoon to talk about the many challenges and unique aspects of staging plays for a garage theater.  As AVT’s Technical Director, Jeremy is responsible for integrating the overall technical effort and interfacing with the Artistic Director on how best to support the actors and the overall artistic vision for the production.  Jeremy also has complete purchasing authority for technical materials and infrastructure upgrades once the Producer has approved an overall budget for a particular production.

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AVT is on an ongoing mission to post spontaneous interviews with cast, crew, fans, and innocent bystanders.  This is the third in our series of (what I hope are) interesting podcasts, focused on personal experiences with the project.

Want to hear more?  View all posts with embedded podcasts, or search for “Antelope Valley Thespians” on the iTunes podcast directory to subscribe for automatic updates.  Enjoy!

Community Theatre Heroes is the AV’s weekly podcast on theatre and the arts.  Tune in weekly for audition notices, reviews, commentary, and interviews.  We are also pleased to be able to host the latest episodes from CTH on our website… check out our side navigation bar for an RSS feed of AVT’s own podcast, as well as the latest from CTH via their BlogTalkRadio player.

Thanks to Courtney’s sound engineering skills, AVT is on an ongoing mission to post spontaneous interviews with cast, crew, fans, and innocent bystanders. The goal is a series of (what I hope are) interesting podcasts, focused on personal experiences with the project. If you would like to be interviewed about your thoughts and experiences with AVT, please let me know!

Our podcasts can be streamed from our website, or you can search for “Antelope Valley Thespians” in the iTunes podcast directory for the auto-updating feed.

AVT's costume designer, Anna Delrosario, during tech rehearsal for her recent role as the spirit of Jeanne d'Arc.

I had the wonderful opportunity yesterday to sit down with Anna Delrosario, costumer designer for AVT and co-star of our first production.   Our conversation ranged from her experiences with the start of the project and her role as the spirit of Jeanne d’Arc in “Voices” to what’s coming up in the costume department for “Crime and Punishment” and the rest of our 2010 Season.

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This podcast was recorded at Best of Europe Deli, on the corner of 50th St West and Avenue M in Quartz Hill.  A genuine local establishment, this family-owned importer of European meats, preserves, teas, coffee, and eclectic soft drinks has been in business for 10 years!  Stop by for their excellent sandwiches, fine imported goods, and friendly atmosphere.

AVT is on an ongoing mission to post spontaneous interviews with cast, crew, fans, and innocent bystanders.  So here is the second in our series of (what I hope are) interesting podcasts, focused on personal experiences with the project.

Want to hear more?  View all posts with embedded podcasts, or search for “Antelope Valley Thespians” on the iTunes podcast directory to subscribe for automatic updates.  Enjoy!

Nalin A. Ratnayake, Producer and Artistic Director for AVT, lounging at Sagebrush Cafe during this podcast.

Courtney and I met up this afternoon to interview each other at AVT’s favorite coffee house, Sagebrush Cafe, on L-14 and 50th W in Quartz Hill, where we have most of our production meetings.  You can probably find me hanging out there a few times a week!

Having recently figured out how to embed podcast capability into our blog posts, we thought it would be a great idea to start posting spontaneous interviews with cast, crew, fans, and innocent bystanders.  So… here we go!  The first installment in what I hope will become a series of interesting podcasts, focused on personal experiences with the AVT project.

AVT's Business Manager and genius behind the podcast recordings, Courtney Marietta.

Don’t worry, we still intend to listen and call in occasionally to  Community Theatre Heroes, a weekly podcast on theatre happenings in the Antelope Valley.  These podcasts we are doing here are solely focused on the AVT project, and our cast, crew, and fans.

This first podcast is about how the project got started and where we are right now.

You can listen to last night’s episode on demand from their website.  I called in around 10 minutes into the show… and accidently entered the queue earlier than I expected!  I thought the interview went well though, and I’m glad we have such good support from them.

This weekend will be proof of concept.  Proof that yes, in a small space not designed for the purpose and with common materials, we can indeed display fine acting, creative scenic design, innovative light and sound, and stunning costumes.  Proof that we can indeed make art in a garage.  Proof that in some things, beauty really does lie in essential simplicity.  Thanks to many hours put in by a very dedicated team, we are READY.

This the phase that is nailbiting for a director… one has already let go of the wheel, and now paces the deck nervously, waiting to see where the ship will sail.  Yet with this team, I know I need not worry; “Voices” is in good hands.  So I will just pour myself another glass of Merlot, and revel in it!

Playbills printed, still need to fold them.  Next show flyer and patronage solicitation printed.  All seats laid out and theatre space swept. Just some cleaning of the downstairs area and setting up for the reception, and my list is done.

Thanks to AV Press staff writer Julie Daniel for a wonderful article in today’s “Showcase” magazine!

We have one seat remaining for tomorrow’s show, and two left for Sunday at this time.

Ooof, exhausted… signing out for tonight. Though what’s the point?  I’m too excited to sleep despite my tiredness!