PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "From Rehearsal to Opening!" Behind the Scenes With Diane Phelan and the New Musical Frog Kiss | Playbill

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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "From Rehearsal to Opening!" Behind the Scenes With Diane Phelan and the New Musical Frog Kiss

Welcome to your behind-the-scenes tour of <i>Frog Kiss</i>! Join me as we journey from our first rehearsals to the world premiere Opening Night!

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "From Rehearsal to Opening!" Behind the Scenes With Diane Phelan and the New Musical Frog Kiss

The new musical Frog Kiss, a major hit at numerous festivals, is receiving its first fully-staged production at Virginia Stage Company. Cast member Diane Phelan lends her photographic talents to Playbill.com, documenting the journey of the show- from first rehearsals in NY to opening night in Norfolk. Read the Playbill.com story.
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Welcome to your behind-the-scenes tour of <i>Frog Kiss</i>! Join me as we journey from our first rehearsals to the world premiere Opening Night!
Welcome to your behind-the-scenes tour of <i>Frog Kiss</i>! Join me as we journey from our first rehearsals to the world premiere Opening Night!
We started rehearsals in New York at the Roundabout Theatre rehearsal space off of Times Square. Here we are with the whole gang.
This cast liked each other from the start. We snuggle on couches on breaks.
Soon after the new year, we left NYC to travel and begin rehearsals at Virginia Stage in Norfolk, Virginia. On hand to greet us are composer Eric Schorr, producer Tamara Tunie, VSC artistic director Chris Hanna, and writer Charles Leipart.
Music supervisor Zane Mark & choreographer Lorna Ventura!
Upon arriving at Virginia Stage for rehearsal, we discover they had prepared mugs with our names on them. First of many small touches the company gave to let us know how welcome we were:).
…And we continue to snuggle on breaks...
Rehearsing at Festival Hall- spacious and full of light.
A week into rehearsal, we are ready to meet the band for our sitz-probe! It's one my favorite parts of the rehearsal process as we get to hear the music in it's full glory.
On our breaks we're treated to jazz concerts by music supervisor Zane!
Cutie pie cast mates Katie Hagan & Lisa Finegold during music rehearsal.
More snuggling on breaks...
Paul Tazewell's team built our costumes from scratch so we get called into fittings throughout the week.
After rehearsal we travel as a pack to our apartments- or out for a drink- usually with cruise director Preston Boyd leading the way.
Letting Norfolk have it with their fierce post-rehearsal strut.
Composer Eric Schorr & writer Charles Leipart see their poster up at the theatre for the first time!
I was also onhand the next evening when my castmates saw the show poster for the first time!
After weeks of rehearsal, it's finally time to move into the theatre!
Getting to work on time is of utmost importance and the team runs a tight ship. Here is PSM extraordinaire Beverly Jenkins ready to spank me as I walk in a minute past call time…
However, ASM Phil Perez shows no mercy at the call board and is ready to circle my name in red!
At the coffee set up I meet Katrina Epps of the VSC Stage ops- she gives me the full low-down of the rich (and haunted!) history of the 100 year old Wells theatre!
Management helps us get acclimated to the new theatre.
Music director Bart Kuebler checks out his territory.
More cast snuggling as we get our first tour of the theatre.
Stage manager Matt Marholin gives us the lay & law of the land.
The day we discovered Preston (Claus) and Curtis (the Frog) liked to dress alike.
Aisha de Haas and James Beaman (the Queen & the King) share a giggle onstage.
Snacktime with pretzels goes wrong and we all try to help how we can.
Say hi to our awesome drummer Bob!
Wait, I thought it's like this.
Curtis & Preston decide it's another day for Twin Day.
Tech has begun and the only way to get by is more snuggling... (with Lisa Finegold & Jamie Beaman)
…and these... (with PSM Beverly Jenkins & Curtis Holbrook)
…and these pants...
…and more hugs… (with director Ken Roberson & dance captain Eric Stretch)
…And a lovely yummy spread by our amazing company management Kelsey Rudiger.
…who maybe needed a little more sleep.
Emily Drennan demonstrates how we employ the use of cat-naps to cope.
What tech looks like from the stage.
What tech looks like onstage.
What tech looks like backstage.
All the various design teams (sound, lights, creatives, sets, costumes, management) take up residence in their sector of the house.
Cross section of the house, pit, and stage
The gorgeous Wells Theatre. It was originally built in 1913 as a Vaudeville house.
Good news: Zane's still smiling!
Lighting designer Howell Binkley's program board.
Princess Clemetime (Stephanie Rothenberg) and The Frog (Curtis Holbrook) get notes from choreographer Lorna Ventura
Snacktime! Peanut Butter helps us through long days.
View from offstage.
What I'm seeing before I make an entrance… that one-sie on DC Eric Stretch is yet another tech coping mechanism.
What the ceiling looks like… halfway through the second day of tech I felt this shot was artistic...
Why our show rocks: There is flying.
Eric, Zane and Lorna check out rehearsal from the house.
Our woodwinds section is kind of bad-ass. He betta play all 4 of those instruments. (With Jim Nesbit and Roy Muth)
Music supervisor Zane Mark consults with MD Bart Kuebler.
Another reason our show rocks: The mylar curtain.
The day finally comes when we get into costume! It completely bumps our performances. Another one of my favorite days in the rehearsal process.
The King (James Beaman) looking fly.
The princess in a moment of solitude backstage.
I loved catching Stephanie seeing Jamie's costume for the first time!
… And Jamie and Steph seeing Preston's for the first time (for the spoof play within the play).
And Katie Lee Hill (Hortense) seeing Preston for the first time...
The costume has really bumped up Blakely's offstage persona… guess he's Method.
Our props are shiny.
Watching from the wings.
Joseph Byrd (Tao Master) gets into it.
Princess Clementine contemplates her next move.
Zane chats with Queen Aisha de Haas & King James Beaman.
Meanwhile on break… in my dressing room, castmates rediscover a forgotten memory from the previous night's post-rehearsal festivities.
There is some serious movement in this show, and dance Captain Eric Stretch, aptly named, shows us how to prevent injury.
Post rehearsal note session with Lorna, Kenny, and director's assistant Emma Stephens.
Managing Director Keith Stava poses with a costume piece. He personally comes backstage to wish us a good show every single day, but is so camera shy I was lucky to get this pic!
After 4 weeks of rehearsal and an intense (but cuddle-filled) tech, it's the night of the pay-what-you-can dress rehearsal! They call it a dress, but for all intents and purposes: It's the first night we get a paying audience!!
Our first run was a success and our gorgeous and generous producer Tamara Tunie threw us a congratulatory party that evening.
Cast, crew and company all joined in the celebration including associate artistic director Patrick Mullins, artistic director Chris Hanna, and company manager Kelsey Rudiger.
Charles Leipart enjoys some eats with Emily Drennan and James Beaman.
One of the hard parts about working outside of NYC is being apart from loved ones! Sweethearts Brett & Stephanie are reunited when he came to see her first performance.
Handsome guys Paul Castree & Curtis Holbrook.
The King and I. #sorrynotsorry
The Tao letting AJ Gators in downtown Norfolk have it with their ginger and ambiguously-ethnic selves.
Dream team Eric Schorr & Charles Leipart.
Hanging with Ken Roberson & Zane Mark before they cut out early to another production meeting. These guys bring such light to this show. Their smiles are contagious.
Our beautiful choreographer Lorna with Katie Hagen & Lisa Finegold. Watching each of these ladies dance is breathtaking!
Our set designer Neil Patel and his associate Caleb Levengood join the post-dress revelry.
Not so subtly photobombing Stephanie & Miss Beverly Jenkins' photo with dresser Jenn Watson.
Zane and the ladies! With Emily Drennan and Katie Hagen.
Curtis & Katie Lee ham it up.
Stephanie, Lorna & Blakely (whose hilarious characters are reasons #11 & #23 to see FROG KISS).
And Then… it was OPENING NIGHT!!! On each of our dressing stations was an outpouring of love in the form of flowers, notes, and froggie paraphernalia! The energy backstage was tangible. One of the best parts of opening a never-before-seen show.
Hapa ladies represent! Quick kudos shout-out to casting for there being two of us in one show. Hanging with the lovely Katie Lee Hill (Hortense).
The opening night party was held at BITE in downtown Norfolk, and featured bubbling green drinks and cute touches like the signature napkins advertising our show in all downtown restaurants!
Lorna Ventura with Eric Stretch and Katie Hagen.
Curtis Holbrook and gorgeous wife Patti Murin looking fly at the opening party.
With producer Susanne Adamski, Aisha de Haas, Stephanie Rothenberg and Chris Hanna.
General Managers Scott Newsome & Laura Janik Cronin of Brierpatch Productions pose with Katie Lee Hill (Hortense), choreographer Lorna Ventura, and Curtis Holbrook (the Frog).
With the lovely Tamara Tunie.
Til next time, Playbill! Thanks for joining me… it's been a blast and I can't wait to see where this gorgeous jewel of a production goes next!
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