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The first sentence I wrote today…
I've been a bit slack on these entries, but I have a good excuse: this is opening week for Persephone Theatre's Beauty and the Beast, so my focus has been pretty much entirely on the show. We had our first show in front of an audience Tuesday (an invited dress rehearsal), then previews Wednesday and last night, plus a school matinee yesterday afternoon (a lot of fun with a show like this; the kids loved it).Tonight is opening night, which means this afternoon we had our final rehearsal. Which also means that starting tomorrow I'll have a lot more time free during the day, which is good, because I have writing that needs doing: both ...Photo of the Day: The New Persephone Theatre
We moved into the new Persephone Theatre today. It was certainly an interesting experience, since construction continued unabated while we checked spacing for Beauty and the Beast on stage. Dust hung so thick in the air that, as you can see in the second photo below, many of us were wearing dust masks most of the day. Various power tools, mixed with hammering, made portions of songs and dialogue completely inaudible at times. The power went out to the piano a couple of times. But we carried on regardless, and noticeable progress was made on construction while we were there. Here's the theatre as it looked at 2 p.m. today (well, yesterday, actually, since it's almost 1 a.m. ...The first sentence I wrote…
...Sunday.See, when you're working on a professional theatrical production (I'm in Saskatoon working on Beauty and the Beast at Persephone Theatre, if you're joining this blog already in in progress), Monday is your day off. So after I worked on Terra Insegura at Starbucks on Sunday morning, I rehearsed until 3 p.m., when I headed home.We'd normally rehearse until 6 p.m., but we knocked off early, after running the first act, because the Saskatchewan Roughriders were playing in the Grey Cup game in Toronto that afternoon. I made it home before the end of the first quarter--yay!--watched the Riders win--double yay!--and then spent yesterday doing my science column and an entertainment feature for the Regina ...I’m a caryatid!
The stage version of Beauty and the Beast, as presented on Broadway, had a cast of roughly two million (that's just a guess). At Persephone Theatre here in Saskatoon, we have a cast of 14. This means all of us poor players must play in our time many parts.I, for instance, play the Narrator, the Baker, Monsieur Dark, Crony #4, Ensemble #2, an animated rug, a bit of dancing flatware, a wolf (the alpha male, in fact, since the other three wolves are women)...and the Caryatid.A caryatid, Wikipedia informs me, is "a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her ...Rehearsals have begun!
Sorry for the brief hiatus right after promising to post more. I headed up to Saskatoon on Friday and spent the day in rehearsal for Beauty and the Beast at Persephone Theatre (great cast, all-Saskatchewan--or at least all from Saskatchewan originally; it looks to be a lot of fun), and discovered I didn't really have the Internet access I expected at the place I was staying.I hope to have it when I go back up on Tuesday to resume rehearsals and will post more in the evenings, I expect, although the vagaries of rehearsal and going-out-with-people and, later, running the show itself means, really...who knows?By the way, if you're in the Saskatoon area and haven't ...Beautiful singing starts with science
Download the audio version.Get my science column weekly as a podcast.As I mentioned last column, I spent last week singing with the Canadian Chamber Choir in southern Ontario. In addition to concerts, we also took part in several workshops with musicians ranging in age from eight to 80.Our director, Dr. Julia Davids, who teaches and conducts choirs at Loyola University in Chicago, would usually lead workshop participants through the same vocal warm up she used with the choir. During that time, one question she liked to ask was “What’s the equation for singing?” In other words, if x + y = “singing,” what are x and y? The answer: “breath” and “space.”...Well, it was nice while it lasted…
...but it turns out there was an error in my Persephone Theatre contract and I really am playing Monsier D'Arque, as I originally thought, not Maurice, in the upcoming production of Beauty and the Beast.That's life upon the wicked stage, I guess. It makes more sense, though; I thought I would be an odd choice for Maurice, but I was willing to run with it.C'est la vie!Canadian Chamber Choir itinerary
Live in the Hamilton area and anxious to see a real-live science-fiction writer sing in a top-notch chamber choir (and who wouldn't be)?Here's the itinerary (thus far) for the Canadian Chamber Choir tour I'll be part of in October:Tuesday, October 16Choral Collaboration Workshop hosted by Appleby CollegeWorkshop with Oakville Children's ChoirWednesday, October 17, 7:30 PMConcert at Christ's Church Cathedral252 James Street North, HamiltonAdults $15.00 Students/Seniors $12.00.Advance tickets can be purchased from the church office. Contact for tickets & information is Alison Meredith at 905-527-1316, ext. 240.Thursday, October 18Workshop with University of Western Ontario conducting studentsFriday, October 19, 12:30 PM"Fridays 12:30" Concert ...Musical months ahead for me
I mentioned a while back that I'll be part of the cast of Persephone Theatre's Christmas production of Beauty and the Beast in Saskatoon. I thought I was playing Monseiur Dark, but I received my contract today and I'm actually being signed on to play Maurice, Belle's father. I'm pleased, to say the least, although of course I'm really much much too young to play the father of a grown...oh, who am I fooling.I don't remember if I've mentioned my other musical adventure for fall. In October, I'll be joining the Canadian Chamber Choir for their project in Vineland, Ontario, with a number of workshops and concerts planned for the area. I've received the music, ...Coming soon to a theatre near you…
...(if you live in Saskatoon, that is)...me!Looks like I'll be part of the cast for Beauty and the Beast at Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon in December. Should be fun, and it's also exciting because this will be the show that launches the brand-new downtown theatre: I gather our first preview will also be the theatre's grand opening night. Very cool!I auditioned for the Beast but didn't get that; instead, I'll be playing Monsieur Dark, who runs the asylum Gaston tries to get Belle's father committed to, and "as cast," which could mean anything from villagers to wolves to animated dinnerware--or all three.If you're in the vicinity, hope to see you in ...
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Magebane
“Spectacular” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Evil wizards, multi-level conspiracies, hidden kingdoms…Lee Arthur Chane…has done a marvelous job…Magebane is a very entertaining book and well worth the time.” – A.M. Donovan, Night Owl Reviews
I happily recommend Magebane and I’ll certainly give Chane’s next novel a try based on this one.” —Bill Capossere, Fantasy Literature
“…an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love…” – Errant Dreams Reviews
Eight centuries ago, the world changed. A devastating war swept the lands, and the MageLords, who had long ruled by virtue of their spell powers, were driven to a distant place, separated from those they had ruled by a magical Barrier. With magic banished from the rest of the world, the MageLords became mere legend and people turned to science to improve their lives. But if one man has his way, all that is about to change….
Written as Lee Arthur Chane (the middle names of my older brothers, Jimmy Lee and Dwight Arthur, and myself, Edward Chane Willett).
Marseguro
Winner of the 2009 Prix Aurora Award for Best Long-Form Work in English
Water world Marseguro is home to the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from human DNA. When an unmodified human seeks revenge on a Selkie by activating a distress beacon taken from the remains of the original colony ship, a strikeforce is sent from Earth to eradicate the genetic abomination. Yet Marseguro will not prove as easy to conquer as the Earth force anticipates…
Terra Insegura
Finalist for the 2010 Prix Aurora Award for Best Novel in English
Marseguro, a water world far from Earth, is home to a colony of humans and the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from modified human DNA. For seventy years the colony has lived in peace. Then Earth discovers Marseguro, and a strike force is sent to eradicate this “abomination.” But Marseguro has created a genetically tailored plague to use against Earth’s Holy Warriors. With the enemy defeated, the people of Marseguro feel they are safe. But Chris Keating, the traitor who signaled Marseguro’s location to the Holy Warriors, has fled to Earth, unknowingly carrying the deadly plague within him. The people of Marseguro feel they must send a ship to Earth with a life-saving vaccine. Only time will tell what awaits them when they reach their destination.
Lost in Translation
Kathryn was a human empath whose world and life had been destroyed when the alien S’sinn slaughtered her parents before her very eyes. Jarrikk was a young S’sinn, an unproven warrior who’d seen his flight mates slaughtered by the humans who’d sought to colonize his world.
As humans and S’sinn found themselves on the brink of war, these two Translators had to work together to find a common ground and avert catastrophe. But whether their Translators’ oath and training could overcome the enemies leagued against them was very much in doubt…
Archives
Song of the Sword
My new YA fantasy novel from Lobster Press
Before the Lady called her, Ariane’s life was a mess. Two years ago, her mother disappeared. She bounced around different foster homes until her aunt finally took her in. The meanest clique at her new high school has decided to make Ariane their prime target. And to top it all off, she is having frightening premonitions, and they are becoming more intense. The moment water touches her skin, she sees visions of a lake, a lady, and a sword. When a staircase opens up in the middle of Wascana Lake and the water begins singing to her, she has no choice but to answer the call….
Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw
Ten walks to points of historic and architectural interest in the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw (eight walks for Regina, two for Moose Jaw).
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black
When country music legend Johnny Cash took the stage at Folsom State Prison in 1968, he solidified the public’s perception of him as a rebel who followed his own path. Born in Arkansas during the Great Depression, Cash endured poverty, the death of his older brother, and a difficult relationship with his father. He turned to gospel and country music to express the pain, and after many years of struggling, his songs of hardship and hope would finally reach the ears of those waiting for an artist who represented them, ordinary people fighting to survive.
Andy Warhol: Everyone Will Be Famous for 15 Minutes
“Paintings are too hard. Machines have less problems…” In the 1960s, Andy Warhol became the most famous creator of a new style of art called pop art, which transformed mass-produced items of popular culture into fine works of art. From Campbell’s Soup cans to photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Warhol’s willingness to use anything and everything from the mass media in his work expanded the range of subject matter available to artists. His avant-garde films, artistic usage of American icons, and unconventional social life made him a controversial figure, both greatly admired and deeply reviled. A trendsetter rather than a trend-follower, a dispassionate observer of both the seamy and celebrity sides of life, Warhol was a true American rebel.
Disease-Hunting Scientist
The true stories of six real disease hunters. Epidemiologists travel the world trying to keep us safe from deadly diseases—from high-tech labs in Canada to remote villages in Africa. Learn how these “disease detectives” are coming up with new ways to fight disease, and find out if you have what it takes to become an epidemiologist, too!
The Bounty Mutiny
The Bounty was a British ship visiting Tahiti in 1789 when some of the crew overthrew the captain, William Bligh, and set him adrift in a tiny boat with sailors loyal to him. The mutiny resulted in a number of trials–both of the men who mutinied and of Bligh for losing command of his ship. These fascinating events have been the source for numerous Hollywood movies, most recently The Bounty. The Bounty Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie explores the famous case and the movies it inspired.
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