The Best Kept Secret Is Out!

When visitors come to Upstart Crow Studios there is always a familiar refrain, "We never knew you were here. This must be the best kept secret in Eugene". If that be true, Suzi Steffen of the Eugene Weekly, has single handedly "twittered" and "blogged" the secret all over town.

Thursday, March 4th, marked the first time in Upstart Crow Studios 10 year history, that print media has sat up and taken notice of the work done at the Studios. Perhaps it is fitting that the Eugene Weekly has been the rumor monger that spread the word about an organization that embraces diversity and the talents of the individual. One who breaks molds rather than fits into them.

Along with a cover story on the current production of Annie, Upstart Crow is also in contention for the Pepsi Refresh Project. A voting booth was set up for opening night and inserts placed in all the programs to get the word spread farther than the borders of Eugene and Springfield to vote for Curtain Call in this month's Pepsi Refresh selection. The people will speak out and hopefully be heard. We may be a small community but each of us has the power to be heard.

Thank you to the Suzi Steffen, Todd Johnson (the photos were outstanding!) and to all of you who have supported and are now voting (everyday, remember!) to get this best kept secret out there!

Rehearsals Are Over!

Sets and props at the ready. Costumes neatly lined up backstage. Final clean-up rehearsal last night. We are in countdown mode.

Opening night is always a wild card. Jitters, butterflies, tech glitches and just plain nerves sometimes cloud the landscape of the stage as we approach the opening overture. From here there is no turning back and perhaps that is the most exciting challenge of all. No matter what happens, as they say, the show must go on.

Coaching cast members to pick up lines, look to the audience, stay in character...all come into play in but a single moment. You hope that everything they have worked on for the past 3 months is in the queue and ready to burst out on stage with confidence and resolve. With so many being in and out with sickness, I think everybody in the almost 90 member cast for Annie could pick up anybody's line and move on.

The Eugene Weekly did an outstanding job of reporting the truth and nothing but the truth as they covered the show from audition to final curtain. That along with our entry into the Pepsi Refresh Project, hopes are riding high that the best kept secret in town (Upstart Crow Studios) is finally going to burst out and be heard!

Doors open at 6:00 pm, we "Green Room" at 6:30 and the virtual curtain for Annie goes up at 7:00. With community support, we hope that next year, there is an actual curtain to go up in the Crows Nest Theatre and demonstrate what creative expression is really all about!

If you are reading this...stop and go vote for Upstart Crow Studios Curtain Call at the Pepsi Refresh Project for Arts and Culture. Make a difference without spending a dime! Set computer alerts - you can vote everyday!

Break A Leg!