And here we are at the end of the year! How did that happen?? I, for one, have started listening to Christmas music already (it IS next month, after all!) and not just at home! I've been surrounded by Christmas music at work too, learning all the music for my next show, 'A Christmas Carol' at Flat Rock Playhouse. It's the classic story that we all know and it's told in a lovely, heartwarming, musical way that's sure to please the whole family (You'd think I want you to come see it or something...) The cast is just wonderful and I'm excited to be a part of it. Most of all, I'm excited to be at home for the holidays. I've loved touring and having work out of town the last few years, but as we all know, there's no place like home...for the holidays or any other time of year. We run from November 20- December 21 and then I'll have the rest of a busy year off! We're in tech right now, working long days and nights to make sure the show is perfect for you! In the meantime, I'm already preparing audition material for the 2015 season! My first audition for next year is for Barter Theatre in VA on December 8th. Keep your fingers crossed!
In the meantime, come see the show! Bake cookies and make fun crafts! Happy Holidays! Here's a shot from backstage during our hours of rehearsal in the last few days...

Well, well, well...it's been quite a while since my last update! Since I closed The Fantasticks, I rehearsed, opened and closed Charlotte's Web (playing Fern and wearing lots of plaid) and have started rehearsals for 101 Dalmatians at Children's Theatre of Charlotte. I've also learned how to spell 'dalmatian', which for years I thought was spelled 'dalmation'. Something about the 'o' seems better to me...maybe because it looks like a spot. :-)
Anyway, I've worked with this theatre before and am happy to be back for this show which is a world premiere! I'm playing 'Missis'. The character is named 'Perdita' in the Disney animated film (one of my favorites), but in the book, the mother dog is named Missis, and Perdita is the wet nurse dog that is brought in for all the puppies! Confusing. In this production, she's Missis (and there's no character named Perdita) and that's all you need to know. I've been working on humanizing puppy characteristics as well as walking on a leash...which is not something I'm used to.
I'll update sooner next time, but for now, I'll leave you with my very favorite scene from the 1961 Disney movie (of course, I own no rights to this, not a single one. Not a right, write or wright....but this was on youtube, so now it's here)  :-)  Enjoy. And come see the show! We open Sept. 18 in downtown (uptown) Charlotte, NC.

Well 'The Fantasticks' opened and closed just like that! After eight days of rehearsal, four days of tech, two cast changes, one put-in rehearsal, and lots of bumps and bruises, I have better biceps than I had going into the show which is suddenly a distant memory! Closing a show is always bittersweet, and some are harder than others to let go of, and this is one of those. From the cast to the music to getting to watch the entire show every night from onstage, I really did love it and will miss it.  I'll miss my dressing roomies too! Carly (Louisa) and Katie (our cello player) were pretty fun gals to hang around for seven shows a week. Here we all are at intermission on our last Saturday show...I'm the one in the white face and headdress.  :-)

'The Fantasticks' has opened! We have one review out...here's what they have to say about my work: "As the Mute, Maria Buchanan displays impressive upper-body stamina..." The reviewer did go on to mention my "wonderfully expressive face", but what I really care about is the nod to the fact that in the first act, I stand holding a pole above my head for a solid 15 minutes.

We have today off! After three 10 out of 12 tech days, previews, and opening night, I'm so happy to be at home for a bit.
So what am I doing on my day off, you ask? Oh, just learning this fantastic song for a callback for 'Evil Dead the Musical'. Wouldn't have it any other way.   : )

Whew, rehearsals for 'The Fantasticks' have been super busy. A whirlwind of blocking and dancing and singing...well, I'm not singing, but everyone else is! Anyway. With only eight days of rehearsal and four days of tech, we have our work cut out for us. The show is coming along despite a few roadblocks and is going to be beautiful. The poetry of the songs and the script, the lighting, the set, and the costumes are really....fantastic. (I'm here all night, folks)
Speaking of costumes, mine made a 180 change during the course of rehearsal! It's gone from sort of steam-punk-bohemeian-circus-ring-leader to other-world-sparkly-futuristic-fairy- creature...interested? You should be! This will, indeed, be unlike any other production of The Fantasticks. And here is yours truly on the website banner for the show. Hah! Oh my...
Visit flatrockplayhouse.org for your tickets! Special pricing for previews running 4/17-4/19.

In March, I was honored to be a part of 'Schoolhouse Rock Live! In Concert', a fundraiser for Asheville's newest (and only) professional children's theatre company, Asheville Creative Arts; and was even more excited that my husband Russell played guitar for the show! We love to sing and play together at home, but don't get much of a chance to do so onstage. Other than that, 2014 has been a season of auditions for me so far. Waiting to hear back from theatres is always the hardest part, but I try to keep my mind off of it! The payoff from the first of those auditions starts on April 3 when I begin rehearsals for Flat Rock Playhouse's production of the Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt musical 'The Fantasticks'. I'm playing 'The Mute', which I'm super excited about for a number of reasons including the (fairly obvious) fact that I won't be saying or singing a word through the show! My character helps to tell the story in a completely silent, pantomime role. I've never had a part like this, so I'm looking forward to the challenge and the experience I'll gain. On top of that, this particular production is going to be very unique in its staging and concept. Really anxious to get started on this one! More about the show here: http://www.flatrockplayhouse.org/shows/the-fantasticks/
Hope to see you there!