Sunday, April 21, 2013

Knights of the Round Table

We open Wednesday! Tickets here.

Brave Sir Robin is almost finished, I added the red and black last night so it is dry for our run today, another picture tomorrow.

Robin2

King Arthur's painting is complete.

Arthur3

Sir Bedevere (+ Lance and Robin) has a finished back but needs his symbol on the front.

Bedevere2

Galahad is the simplest so he was finished first.

Galahad1

Lance needs a red eye and his front piece done but I want him to wear his in the run this morning, so I will paint it later.

Lancelot1

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Spamalot Press Release

April 17, 2013

Media Release

For Immediate Release

London’s Original Kids Theatre Company raises silliness to an art form with
Monty Python’s Spamalot


From April 24th to April 28th, the Original Kids Theatre Company presents the first local production of the 2005 Tony Award winning Best Musical, Monty Python’s Spamalot, in the intimate Spriet Family Theatre. Based upon the popular 1975 film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this hilarious send-up of the Arthurian legend features flying cows, flatulent Frenchmen, killer bunny rabbits and a chorus line of dancing knights.

Lovingly “ripped off” from the internationally famous comedy team’s most popular motion picture, Monty Python’s Spamalot features tunes catchier than the plague including “He is Not Dead” Yet, “Knights of the Round Table”, “Find Your Grail” and of course, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”

Most of the films and television series of Monty Python was done on a shoe-string budget, opting for creative solutions to some big challenges. The OKTC production has embraced this “do-it-yourself” or “poor theatre” storytelling. “Part of the fun of the original film was Python’s use of scarce sets and ramshackle props,” comments artistic director Andrew Tribe, “Rather than hiding cost-cutting measures, we wanted, much like the Pythons, to stay true to the film’s spirit and allow homemade, cardboard-built props and set pieces to become a part of the show’s hilarity.”

Monty Python’s Spamalot features a book by Eric Idle, based upon the screenplay of Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, with music and lyrics by Eric Idle and John Du Prez. The OKTC production features direction by Andrew Tribe, musical direction by Alex Baerg and choreography by Emilee Nimetz.

Tickets and show schedule are available online by going to the Original Kids website www.oktc.ca, visiting our Box Office at the Spriet Family Theatre, Covent Garden Market or by calling 519-679-8989. When unsold seats are available, they are sold at our box office prior to the performance.
The production runs April 24 at Noon, April 24-28 at 7pm, April 27 & 28 at 2pm at the Spriet Family Theatre, Covent Garden Market.

About the Original Kids Theatre Company
Since 1991, Original Kids Theatre Company is a non-for-profit charitable performing arts organization where young people can grow and flourish without the fear that taking a risk is wrong or dangerous. It’s a total theatre experience where our youth can blossom as performers. The learning extends further than that. Original Kids is an attitude of support and a standard of behaviour. It is an environment in which kids can feel safe expressing themselves without fear of ridicule. After all, they’re among friends.

Our carefully chosen artistic staff has found a way to produce fine results on the stage, while maintaining the natural spontaneity of the child. They nurture a love of the arts by sharing their knowledge and passion with anyone who will learn and listen. Original Kids Theatre was not formed to create stars. Each child already shines in his or her own special way. It is hoped that through exposure to the arts, youth will more easily share in the joy of life with a heightened appreciation for themselves and those around them. The company extends with its Main Cast, Summer Camp and Original Kidlets programs.


Contact:
Andrew Tribe
Artistic Director
Original Kids Theatre Company
andrew@oktc.ca
519-432-4991

Friday, April 19, 2013

"They Don't Dance Like Carmen no More" or How to Make a Carmen Miranda Hat

Only fellow Buffett fans will understand that reference right away.

I spent a whole day singing that song while I created this,

Carmen Miranda Hat for Spamalot

for Phil Johnston to where in the OKTC production of Spamalot. It was a bit of a challenge not to create something too heavy and to make it nice and sturdy + to cover the base hat, it no longer looks anything like a dollar store cowboy hat does it?

If you want to make your own: I cut off most of the brim, sewed the grapes on down the sides, glue gunned 2 apples and a banana to the top, filled in the spaces on top by adding flowers from 2 leis I took apart. Then I sewed flowers from the leis on down the sides to fill in the rest of the spaces as they are so much lighter than fruit.

Today I am home painting robes for the Knights of the Round Table. I've enjoyed being involved in an entirely different view of Camelot.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Spamalot

I have been away for quite a while this time.

Went to NYC and came back with pneumonia, which didn't get diagnosed for a few more weeks. Finally feeling better now.

Saw Matilda, Once, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots and Newsies, loved all except Newsies, in which the dancing was great but the story lacked something. I also saw the Allman Brothers Band with guest Steve Earle.

Came back and still trying to catch up at work. Did costumes for an awesome production of The Laramie Project.

Working away on costumes for Spamalot, last day for a great ticket deal! This is my most challenging set of costumes yet but I have a great team and things are coming together. Today we tested the Black Knight costume ("It's just a flesh wound!"), I spray painted grails and shoes, altered a couple pieces and got parts ready to add to another. Up next painting robes for the Knight of the Round Table.

Knitting? Well I made my friend Kerry a hat for her pirate birthday (see skull hat on right) and I'm about to start knitting an awesome sweater from the new Vogue Knitting. Scroll down to see it, it is the last one in the cotton soft section. I am knitting it in black.



Sunday, February 17, 2013

Packing

OK! I have been looking forward to this trip for a year.

Doing the first pack tomorrow, need to buy some new items thanks to a 35 lb weight loss but am going to wait make those purchases in NYC.

The question is what do I take to knit for a week.

1. Jimmy's hat is going for sure.

2. I'm thinking, the 2 balls of Noro Kureyon I bought yesterday to test knit the Best Friends Fingerless Gloves in size large, the small & mediums were successful and I'll have some gloves for my next sale or gift giving.

3. The orange yarn I got for my Envirobats investment - I want to knit up a gift for a special kid.

But....

2 hats and two sets of gloves doesn't seem like enough for a week.

I am planning to buy yarn for the ride home that isn't a consideration but do I need another small project or shall I wing it?

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Envirobatts

This week I received this lovely skein of yarn as a thank you for donating to a great cause (I think I got a bargain!).

Yarn

It will either become a hat or a pair of fingerless gloves in the near future. I must learn to spin so I can become a customer.

Quickly grabbed a picture of Jake's cowl/hat, I quickly made this one up when we found some natural alpaca in a bulky weight at the local yarn shop, it keeps him cosy.

Jake's Hat/Cowl

Friday, January 25, 2013

AN "OK" COFFEEHOUSE

What a perfect place for our OKs to showcase their talents to our community. Anything goes -- music, variety acts, skits and scenes, dances...

AN "OK" COFFEEHOUSE is a one-night only event!

Saturday, January 26 at 7 pm.

Tickets will be available through the OKTC Box Office starting Monday January 21st. Call the Box Office at 519-679-8989 or visit www.oktc.ca.

An "OK" Coffee House is an event to come out to see your fellow original showcase their talents. At the "OK" coffee house you can see some very original acts from some very Original Kids.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS: http://oktc.thundertix.com/
$5 each, General Admission.

We will also be doing a "pass-the-hat" at the end of the coffeehouse to raise funds to be donated the OKTC "Stairway to Love" Gala.