NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Enter Laughing With Kate Shindle (or "The Night the Lights Went Out at Bay Street")Broadway favorite Kate Shindle agreed to document a recent day backstage at the Bay Street Theatre production of Enter Laughing, The Musical for Playbill.com... only to get more than she expected when the theatre experienced a sudden blackout the evening of shooting.
By
Matthew Blank
August 29, 2011
Still, as they say, the show must go on. The actors and Bay Street staff continued their pre-show activities as patrons waited patiently for power to be restored, which it eventually was.
Armed with a camera throughout, Shindle offers "The Night the Lights Went Out at Bay Street."
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Enter Laughing With Kate Shindle (or "The Night the Lights Went Out at Bay Street")
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Enter Laughing With Kate Shindle (or "The Night the Lights Went Out at Bay Street")
Broadway favorite Kate Shindle agreed to document a recent day backstage at the Bay Street Theatre production of Enter Laughing, The Musical for Playbill.com... only to get more than she expected when the theatre experienced a sudden blackout the evening of shooting. Not to be deterred, Shindle offers "The Night the Lights Went Out at Bay Street." Read the Playbill.com story.
24 PHOTOS
Welcome to Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, New York, where Enter Laughing is the final show in the 20th season.
Kate Shindle
One of the problems with working at Bay Street is that Sag Harbor is so ugly.
Kate Shindle
I mean, really. They should be embarrassed.
Kate Shindle
That’s my yacht. I just park it behind the lobster shack so I don’t make anyone feel bad.
Kate Shindle
Because of the unusual beach-friendly schedule, we get a lot of free meals. Saturdays, 4 & 8, anyone? Ray DiMattis and Emily Shoolin are happy to dig into a massive plate of meat.
This morning, overachiever Josh Grisetti roped us all into shooting a video he wrote... and is directing and starring in. Show off. But at least Eric Mann gets to look hot holding the boom mike.
Kate Shindle
Because I am the bringer of the most products, I become the de facto makeup artist and turn Gerry McIntyre into a pretty girl.
Kate Shindle
Pretty much everything in Sag Harbor is appealingly weathered.
Kate Shindle
Walking into the green room, I sense that something’s different. Michael Tucker hides in the shadows and offers no clues.
Kate Shindle
Hmmmm. This is not how the stage usually looks at half-hour. Ruh-roh. Welcome to the night the lights went out at Bay Street!
Kate Shindle
While we wait for the power to be fixed, we have trouble telling one cast member from another. There’s Jill Eikenberry... but will the real Emily Shoolin please stand up? (Oh, wait...she already is.)
Kate Shindle
Gina Milo gamely attempts to find her own head... although the work lights do help.
Kate Shindle
The crew usually has a wee bit more light when they’re doing their presets.
Kate Shindle
There’s a wall backstage that everyone who works at the theatre has signed...
Kate Shindle
... what would you do, Gary Sinise/Terrence McNally/Edward Albee/Roddy McDowall?
Kate Shindle
This is the lobby. Note our PSM Chris Clark, all the way over on the left, holding a flashlight so musical director Phil Reno can see the keys and provide a little mood music.
Kate Shindle
... because without the flashlight, the lobby looks like this.
Kate Shindle
As usual, Richard Kind finds a way to exploit the situation, while Michael attempts to intervene. Or get in on it. Not sure.
Kate Shindle
At about 8:30, Chris comes in and tells us we may be able to start by 9. Clearly, we are all happy to hear this news.
Kate Shindle
While the audience waits and drinks discounted cocktails, co-artistic director Murphy Davis wonders if the ceiling beams are strong enough to hang himself from.
Kate Shindle
With some time to kill, I wander outside and past a very important truck...
Kate Shindle
... and stop by the 7-Eleven to explore the local pasttimes! (Then they throw me out for taking pictures. In 7-Eleven? Really?)
Kate Shindle
And then just like it never happened, all the lights, sound and air conditioning are back... which is enough for Josh to break into a spontaneous arabesque.
Kate Shindle
As for me, I’m good... except that my wig has apparently decided to do its own show tonight. Ah, live theatre.
Inspired by the early life of writer Carl Reiner, who is among the producers of the Broadway-aimed production, Enter Laughing was seen in an extended run at the York Theatre Off-Broadway in 2008. It has a book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba) with music and lyrics by Stan Daniels ("Taxi").
Grisetti (Broadway Bound), who originated the role of aspiring actor David Kolowitz, reprises his performance alongside Jill Eikenberry (Into the Woods, "L.A. Law") and Michael Tucker ("L.A. Law") as Mother and Father, respectively. They are joined by Richard Kind (Bounce!, The Producers) as Marlowe and Kate Shindle (Wonderland, Legally Blonde) as Angela.
Completing the cast are Gina Milo, Erick Devine, Eric Mann, Paul Binotto, Gerry McIntyre, Betsy DiLello, Emily Shoolin, Ray DeMattis and Phil Reno, many of whom also appeared in the 2008 York engagement.
Off-Broadway director Stuart Ross directs and choreograph the production that runs through Sept. 4. "The production comes to Bay Street Theatre before continuing on its journey to Broadway," according to producers.
The 1930's-set musical "tells the story of young, hapless David Kolowitz, a shop boy from the Bronx who pursues his dream of becoming a leading man on stage while facing mounting pressures from his despondent girlfriend, dismissive boss, distracted best friend, disgusted acting coach and disapproving parents," according to Bay Street.
Enter Laughing is presented at Bay Street by special arrangement with Dan Whitten and Tiger Theatricals in association with Reiner. In 2009 Whitten announced plans to bring Enter Laughing to Broadway as part of the 2010-2011 season. The musical was first seen on Broadway in a short-lived 1976 run with the title So Long, 174th Street. Stein and Daniels had revised the work since its premiere.
Tickets can be purchased by calling (631) 725-9500 or by visiting BayStreet.
The production will include Bernstein’s incidental music for Lillian Hellman’s adaptation of The Lark, and Menotti’s The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore.
Based on the novel and film by Frank Cottrell Boyce, the new musical will reunite Guettel with Tony-winning Light in the Piazza director Bartlett Sher.
