Truth Through Choreography: Inside “Spamalot” with Shanna VanDerwerker

Truth Through Choreography: Inside “Spamalot” with Shanna VanDerwerker

Shanna VanDerWerker takes us inside her process as choreographer for “Spamalot.”

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TAKING THE HELM, and Other Boat Puns: Inside “Poseidon!” with Derek Van Barham

TAKING THE HELM, and Other Boat Puns: Inside “Poseidon!” with Derek Van Barham

Pictured: Director Derek Van Barham in rehearsal. Our “Inside” series takes you behind the scenes of productions through blog posts written by the artists in the trenches. To read past “Inside” pieces, click here.  By Director Derek Van Barham How do you create something new out of something that desperately wants...

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A Tale of Two Voyages: Inside “Poseidon!” with Elizabeth Lesinski

A Tale of Two Voyages: Inside “Poseidon!” with Elizabeth Lesinski

Pictured (left to right) Brittney Brown, Shane Roberie, Elizabeth Lesinski, David Lipschutz, and Caitlin Jackson in Hell in a Handbag Productions’ revival of “POSEIDON! An Upside Down Musical.” Photo by Rick Aguilar Studios. Our “Inside” series takes you behind the scenes of productions through blog posts written by the artists...

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Upside Down with David Cerda. An “Inside” look at POSEIDON!

Upside Down with David Cerda. An “Inside” look at POSEIDON!

David Cerda takes us behind the scenes of the remount that started it all for Hell in a Handbag.

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Understanding the Monster: Inside LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS with Puppet Coach Matthew Sitz

Understanding the Monster: Inside LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS with Puppet Coach Matthew Sitz

Our “Inside” series takes you behind the scenes of productions through blog posts written by the artists in the trenches. To read past “Inside” pieces, click here.  By Matthew Sitz I’ve been a part of eight productions of Little Shop of Horrors at a myriad of theaters – and no...

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Off to Camp: Inside LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS with Costume Designer Serena Sandoval

Off to Camp: Inside LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS with Costume Designer Serena Sandoval

There are some designers, some theaters, that don’t dare to embrace the tacky. But there are some shows where tacky just works. In the case of “Little Shop of Horrors,” one of the most famous campy-horror films ever created, leaning into the nature of the tacky, of the camp itself, is essential for pulling off the production.

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This Isn’t Kansas Anymore: Inside COSMOLOGIES with Darci Nalepa

This Isn’t Kansas Anymore: Inside COSMOLOGIES with Darci Nalepa

Our “Inside” series takes you behind the scenes of productions through blog posts written by the artists in the trenches. To read past “Inside” pieces, click here.  (left to right) Darci Nalepa and Kenny Mihlfried in The Gift Theatre’s Midwest premiere of David Rabe’s COSMOLOGIES, directed by Artistic Director Michael Patrick...

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Chase the Impossible — Inside COSMOLOGIES with Michael Patrick Thornton

Chase the Impossible — Inside COSMOLOGIES with Michael Patrick Thornton

Gift Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton takes us into his relationship with Playwright David Rabe, with a slew of advice for producing work that is “Impossible. Slippery. Colossal. Relentless.”

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Inside PIPPIN: Video Design with G. “Max” Maxin IV

Inside PIPPIN: Video Design with G. “Max” Maxin IV

Photo: Sawyer Smith and the cast of PIPPIN | Brett Beiner By G. “Max” Maxin IV Traditionally, theater is rooted in suspension of belief. When an audience walks into a theater, they check in with the box office, they might see the set before the actors come on stage, they...

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Inside COSMOLOGIES: David Rabe on Script Changes in Rehearsal and Working with The Gift Theatre

Inside COSMOLOGIES: David Rabe on Script Changes in Rehearsal and Working with The Gift Theatre

Playwright David Rabe talks about the process of getting COSMOLOGIES on its feet at The Gift.

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