Early blocking and choreography rehearsal

We're in the preliminary stages of mounting the BANNED show now. Fortunately, we're at the same venue in Edinburgh as last year and we have all the basic dimensions of the stage and understand the subtle nuances of our theater's footprint. It feels like we're more comfortable locking our moves in this year, but early rehearsals always seem to go through scheduling conflicts.

Here's a short video of the first chorus.

It's important to take videos of your rehearsals so everyone in the troupe can review the progress. Typically, directors start with scene 1 and go from there so it's easy to setup a secure video directory with straight forward filenames. The song "The World Wide Web" is near the beginning of the show and it's all hands on deck. Everyone in the cast has a "mobile phone" and can be seen texting online throughout the song.

BANNED! mobile phone props for Edinburgh Fringe

Making theatre props is always fun and the BANNED show has several interesting challenges. First, all the characters use their cell phones to txt one another and we needed a prop to highlight the activity. The timing on these sorts of things is critical so it was important to give each actor the ability to turn on their phone as well as a theater tech the ability to flip all phones on and all phones off.

Here's a video of the final prototypes working in unison.

Making a realistic phone was pretty easy, we found some relatively thin puck lights that fit nicely between two electrical wall plates at Home Depot. It was like making a puck light sandwich! Using wall mounting machine screws and a nut to fasten them together, we added some foam padding to reduce vibration and stress. Then, it was off to the local arts and craft store (Michaels) for some personal design paper with an adhesive backing to differentiate each phone.

Please see our BANNED! website to purchase tickets and learn more. See you in Edinburgh!

BANNED tickets now available!

Tickets for our Musical BANNED are now available on the Fringe's website, use the "Find Shows" menu option or use this link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/banned-the-musical to go directly to our page for more information.

BANNED tickets now available!

The Fringe's online ticketing system has lots of options and the Fringe organization has been super helpful with explaining all the ins and outs. Our venue is Riddle's Court and the theater is Willow Studio. It has a three quarter thrust stage and roughly 60 seats. We've tried to set the ticket prices at a reasonable price to accommodate everyone who wants to see our show. During the preview week we have all sorts of specials, the weekdays have some special offers too and of course the weekends are crazy. Hope we see you there...so excited!

Quad Rail Boards for the Edinburgh Fringe

With over one million people visiting Edinburgh’s festivals during August, outdoor posters are part of many participant’s marketing campaign toolbox. Working in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, Out of Hand, a major outdoor advertiser, have built a wide range of highly visible, centrally located advertising sites throughout the city for Fringe performers to promote their shows.

BANNED Quad Rail Board Mockup

Their sites are positioned for maximum visibility around the Fringe performance areas, with sites outside the main venues, busy pedestrian walkways, main traffic routes and transport hubs. With over twenty different formats, there is something for all budgets and sizes of show to make a real impact on the streets of Edinburgh during.

BANNED Rail Board Concept

Their properties go real fast though, so you have to be ready for the kickoff in March. They launched there availability at noon in Scotland (6AM in Colorado) on March 26th. We had already gone through their media package beforehand and selected the best options for us. Their site opened right on time and after getting acclimated with there latest software we were able to secure several Quad Rail Boards right in the thick of things around Edinburgh.

It's now or never, it's something we can't ignore

The "Organized Confusions" rehearse  and write songs at Frank's Tavern, a family owned watering hole that has a stage and several empty living spaces upstairs. The group has got together to write a number that tells their story to others out there that have the same sort of feelings. It all starts with playing around with la-la-la-la and turns into a really cool song that talks about their journey as a group. You can play the song with the rehearsal track below and here's a link to the sheet music for the Fringe version of "When it Rains it Pours."

When it Rains it Pours
BANNED Version

April Alsup · BANNED Rehearsal Track: WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS

ANA & ENSEMBLE (mix it up)

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

IT’S NOW OR NEVER

IT’S SOMETHING WE CAN’T IGNORE

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

IT’S NOW OR NEVER

IT’S SOMETHING WE CAN’T IGNORE

WHEN AT LAST MY FRIENDS WE STOOD CONVINCED

THAT RACES NEED TO BE RUN

WELL WITH HIS SMILE AND HER GENTLE STYLE

WE KICK THE BLOCKS AND WAIT FOR THE GUN

AND RACE WE WOULD, WITH ALL WE COULD

THE PEDAL ON THE FLOOR

WE’LL MEET THE TEST AND WE’LL GIVE IT OUR BEST

AND LEAVE THE REST AND NOT ASK FOR MORE

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

IT’S NOW OR NEVER

IT’S SOMETHING WE CAN’T IGNORE

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS (Suspense)

(DENISE enters, JOE receives an eMail and they learn their entry to the festival has been BANNED and marked as too controversial by a major advertiser, they lament then some exit.

This is my life, I can't live it like yours

Towards the end of the show Denise asks the "Organized Confusions" to play an upbeat number and to tell everyone how they really feel. She's a little tipsy and flirting with Carl. They agree and knock it out of the park with "The Sweet Bell that Tolls." The performance is recorded and posted to social media and the word starts to get out about their new ensemble. You can play the song with the rehearsal track below and here's a link to the sheet music for the Fringe version of "The Sweet Bell That Tolls."

The Sweet Bell That Tolls
BANNED Version

April Alsup · BANNED Rehearsal Track: THE SWEET BELL THAT TOLLS

HIGHER AND HIGHER THE AIR GETS SO THIN
STILL WE PLAY THIS GAME, AND WE ACT AS IF WE COULD WIN
THE PAST WELL IT CLOSES,
THE FUTURES BEDECKED WITH THE SCENT OF RED ROSES

IT'S FOOD FOR THE MIND, AND REST FOR THE SOUL
I'M IN NO HURRY FOR THE SWEET BELL THAT TOLLS
CAUSE THIS IS MY LIFE, I CAN’T LIVE IT LIKE YOURS

Dance Sequence

IT'S FOOD FOR THE MIND, AND REST FOR THE SOUL
I'M IN NO HURRY FOR THE SWEET BELL THAT TOLLS
CAUSE THIS IS MY LIFE, I CAN’T LIVE IT LIKE YOURS

BANNED Creative Strategy Document

Creative Strategy
Author: April Alsup
Client: BANNED the Musical
Project: Brand Identity
Website: www.banned.show
Date: 2/21/24
Revision: 1.2 

(Download the PDF)

Project Background: BANNED the Musical is scheduled to debut the first week of August at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The discussion of gender can be a divisive and sensitive topic these days. Our show appeals to the masses by developing empathy for a small group of vibrant and creative young people who challenge those boundaries and are marginalized as a result.

Project Objective: Create a logo and image identity for the show that draws you in, is memorable and makes you think, that establishes the brand’s image while providing the underlying premise for the show. After first seeing the logo people should momentarily wonder and then be able to easily articulate what the image said to them at least a week after seeing it.

Target Audience: United Kingdom (UK), just about everyone, performed by Millennials and Gen Z.

Assumptions: We have an entertaining and compelling show about gender norms. People in the UK are familiar with gender issues and probably know someone who is non-conforming or transgender. Most have already developed opinions on the subject. People will read through the Fringe program multiple times between now and August, but this isn’t about selling tickets through special offers.

Positioning Statement: Musical theater’s gender-bending forerunners like Angel (Rent), Lola (Kinky Boots), Hedwig (& the Angry Inch), Priscilla (Queen of the Desert), and Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Rocky Horror) are so “Sassy” and “Vegas Fabulous”, our show is less about making an icon than it is about presenting a group of non-conforming individuals with common talents and struggles, who are marginalized for not abiding by today’s gender norms.

Strategy: Rethink Gender. Following a small group of artists who meet at a gender identity therapy session to their debut at the New Horizon performing arts festival, provide elements that show the broad spectrum and various dimensions of gender and speaks candidly to an audience of all ages.

Design Considerations: The visuals should be simple and use a minimal color palette. Not too serious, use playful colors and elements. Social media is a prominent element in the lives of young adults, use electronic devices and gadgets like phones, tablets, and/or a watch. Find a background element that shows gender diversity in the public space and can be reused.

Tactical: Look for an element that accentuates one’s gender, (stereo typical) women use makeup accessories like hair pieces, jewelry boxes and mirrors, for men it could be a moustache or a tie, break the barrier between male and female here. Find an abstract artistic treatment that captures the spectrum of gender, include the use of electronic gadgets and create a modern genderless world.

Single Net Impression: This seems like a real show about real people succeeding in spite of adversity