The making of 'The Producers' post by post

Rehearsals for Arizona Onstage Productions’ “The Producers” began June 1 — the planning and casting started even earlier.

A Facebook page was created to keep cast and crew informed about what was needed and where and when rehearsals were.

These excerpts from posts on the page give a glimpse into the hard work, commitment and humor that goes into staging the play:

Annette Hillman (director)

June 2

Let’s play three questions.

1. Does anyone play piano? Thinking of having a live piano for the audition scene.

2. Can anyone help store one inside till August?

3. Anyone want to help move one to Ashley’s car or someone have a truck? We are looking for the smallest one possible.

Ashley Hendrickson (stage manager)

June 5

We also need a wheelchair.

Kevin Johnson (producer)

June 5

Who can pick up a 3’ x 3’ ottoman this evening or tomorrow in Sahuarita ? It is a Craigslist find. I have the cash. ... it’s 85 bucks...

Annette Hillman

June 6

Wrangling with stereotypes is one of my politically correct challenges with this show and I expect yours. I listen to “Pop Culture Happy Hour” as one of my regular podcasts. Listen to the one on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt;” it’s just great. Point is, Glen Weldon who is a journalist for NPR and out, says that flamboyant characters are part of the gay movement and should be considered strong, sexy and important in diversity. ... The point is easily taken with the fabulous “Make it Gay” scene. ( Like “If you don’t have Jews” (editor: a line from the song “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway”) from Spamalot, or “All American Prophet” from “Book of Mormon”). So there.

Also, ensemble members, if you are unaware or unexposed to the musicals of Busby Berkeley, I urge you to at least watch the musical numbers on youtube. That is the style man.

Ashley Hendrickson

June 5

Hey everyone! We are in need of walkers and canes for our LOLs. We will need 13 of them (I think). They can’t have any wheels on them. Please check with your parents, grandparents etc.This is our first prop priority because we need them for choreography. If you have any or access to any let me know.

Maria Alburtus Gawne, cast member

June 16

I went to the Goodwill on Catalina Highway and Tanque Verde today and they had 3 walkers and one cane. I’ll go back tomorrow morning for the sale and buy them out. In the meantime all goodwill stores are 50% off the whole store tomorrow. This will make the walkers $2.50 each. Everyone be on the lookout.

Justen Zhang (prop master)

June 17

Just to make it easier, could everyone comment how many walkers and canes they got? Thanks!

I have Annette with four walkers and a cane, Steve with four walkers and a cane, Maria with three walkers and a cane, Kevin with five walkers I believe, Ashley with three walkers.

Ashley Hendrickson

June 20

Who knows a set builder?

Ashley Hendrickson

June 21

We are in need of 5 chairs or stools that look something like this for tomorrow’s rehearsal. Does anyone have 1 they can bring?

Annette Hillman

June 21

I just searched Craigslist in case there was the remote possibility that someone in Tucson had showgirl headdresses for sale and only found these beauties. Don’t toy with me craigslist.

Annette Hillman

June 22

Don’t forget a rolling stool or chair if you have one for just tonight!

Annette Hillman

June 24

Hey guys, costumes are going to be awesome. Shana Nunez is going to give the showgirls a two hour make lesson! You don’t have to wear heels! TBA. If you have grey wigs or men’s boots, like riding boots up to the knee. ( Big polo crowd, right?) Don’t buy yet. There will be a longer list coming soon.

Carrie Ragsdale-Silverman (actor, co-choreographer)

June 26

Does anyone have a pair of handcuffs I could borrow? He he It’s for ‘Prisoners of Love.” Bring ‘um tonight if you got’ um. No questions will be asked lol.

Justen Zhang

June 26

Can everyone check if anyone you know might have some Stormtrooper Rifles? Like maybe a huge Star Wars geek you happen to know.

Carrie Ragsdale-Silverman

June 27

Ummm don’t forget to bring handcuffs, so we can practice with them tonight. All types welcomed. Thank you kindly.

Annette Hillman

July 5

Please bring in costumes tonight if you have some you want to use or loan out. Also, we need 7 more grey wigs and one “not you” girl wig. Also, if people have extra wig stands, we will need them for the dressing rooms.

Ashley Hendrickson

July 9

Please bring along your personal make up bags for tomorrow’s class. Specifically, you will need eyeliner, mascara, and a darker lipstick.

Ashley Hendrickson

July 11

IMPORTANT!!

The start time for rehearsal TOMORROW night at Tucson Boys Chorus has been changed to 7pm. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you. :)

Jim Klingenfus (actor)

July 12

I’m at the Boys Chorus Hall and no one else is here...

.. what did I miss?

Ashley Hendrickson

July 12

Looking for 2 follow spot operators & 1 projection operator. Please let me know if any of your theatre friends have experience and would like to be part of our show.

Ashley Hendrickson

July 14

Who left their walker at Tucson Boys Chorus on Wednesday night?

Kevin Johnson

July 16

Just had a dress fitting for Roger and the Chrysler Building — girl can WORK those heels....

Kevin Johnson

July 17

Prisoners of Love costumes are in and TACKY!!!

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Ashley Hendrickson

July 20 at 7:27pm

Who knows how to rig a kabuki curtain ?

Taya Lancaster (cast member)

July 21

Hey I just saw these at party city for $3.99.. idk if that’s in our budget or if we still need handcuffs but these shackles seem pretty efficient for what we are doing in prisoners of love.

Annette Hillman

July 26

Can I get any volunteers, while you are not rehearsing to change this beauty into a chrome patchwork piece with HVAC silver tape? Don Fox, am I explaining this right?

Annette Hillman

July 26

Prisoners of self destructing shackles.

Annette Hillman

July 26

Stormtrooper costumes: Black long sleeve shirt, black ties, men black pants, women black booty shorts and fishnets,. If you have any of these items, can you PM me?

Annette Hillman

July 27

... Follies girls costume fittings, mostly headdresses tonight! Also, does anyone have any bras with prosthetics sewn in for the male LOL’s? Think Halloween, think whatever. ...

Anyone good at making a large stencil? We need to make those arm flags.

Annette Hillman

July 28

For the audition scene, can you all provide 1960 dance audition wear, with the exception of Donald, Jason and Jack? Sweatshirts, not hoodies, or sweatpants would be Ok too.

Dolly Spalding (AOP’s business manager)

July 28

Annette, should Justen and I go to the rummage sale tomorrow at the UA surplus warehouse of the stuff the students left behind last semester that is now going to be on sale? Is there anything we could look for that hasn’t been found yet?

Kevin Johnson

July 28 

I wanna be showgirls costumes in! Now to work on headdresses.

Annette Hillman

July 29

Women-tapping stormtroopers... what do your tap shoes look like now or what do you have at home?

Annette Hillman

July 29 at 5:35pm

Need to know which women have high waist booty shorts for Springtime. Also, if you have black character shoes any heel height!

Annette Hillman

August 2

Tonight...tonight....

clean:

6:00 Keep it Gay tag, Xander Mason to run with tag team.

6:20 Along Came Bialy intro with swinging purse people and scene change ( I don’t know who, but if you are in Bialy come at 6:20...no Dennis Tamblyn)

6:45 Clean Bialy with Dennis Tamblyn

7:00 Clean I Want to Be A Producer

7:15 try to go for Act 1 run

If there’s anything people are concerned about cleaning before, let me know. Accountants bring black trousers, bring empty boxes for (rehearsal hall) move, Morgan Smith, there is a ticket taker jacket for you to try on.

Kevin Johnson

August 3

Besides figuring out how to pay for everything as a producer and dealing with contracts, negotiations, begging for discounts for marketing, etc ... I get to do some fun things. Booking catering for our double show day on the 26th. Any vegetarian peeps? Vegan? Right now it is chicken fajitas, Borracho beans, guacamole, tortillas, mini chimichangas..... I can add things based on dietary or personal needs. Maybe a big pan of grilled veggies? Ya, let’s do that too.

Kevin Johnson

August 4

Thanks for pushing, everyone! We have sold over $500 in tickets today and it ain’t even noon!!!!

Ashley Hendrickson

August 7

Monday: Run through full show

Tuesday: Run through full show

Wednesday: Run Through full show

Thursday: Run Through full show

Friday: Not sure yet. :)

Kevin Johnson

August 7

These are the colors I am trying to make work with the 12 showgirls vegas style hats. Lots of glue and spray paint coming my way!

Dennis Tamblyn

August 8

Hey guys! We’ve been have a modest surge in likes for the Bialystock & Bloom page. If you all could keep pushing it that would be awesome to get the word out...we’ve got some fun stuff coming up. Thanks all!

Annette Hillman

August 9

Great rehearsal last night thanks to the best ensemble ever. ... I can’t believe how good everyone looks. We got so much done.

Annette Hillman

August 9

Those missing handcuffs are still missing. Anyone near Party City to buy 5 more? Keep and submit the receipts

Annette Hillman

August 10

LOL men, ask Mom for knee high stockings. I might have some and they may be at dollar stores. Keep on the eye for large grey wigs to hide those big brains of yours.

Annette Hillman

August 12

Saturday Dilemma: does the tiki table and Quinn’s pink pants deserve their own curtain call? Discuss.

Steve McKee (actor who plays the gay director Roger De Bris)

August 13

… for Roger...I have foundation and blush...thinking false eyelashes? The ghetto -ier the better?

Kevin Johnson

August 14

One of my 4th graders left this on my desk this morning.....