New York Fringe





Rosie arrived from Vancouver to help me with the postcard distribution. We are seen here in front of the Washington Square Arch with our matching Stripes t-shirts.
During the preview at Bloomingdale I gave away a tshirt to the little girl who named three bad habits…(seen in photo above).
She was at Blooomingdales with her Mum who is in Hip Hop High, another FringeNYC show that previewed at Bloomies Soho. My stage manager Jana is their director. It’s a high energy hip hop show and their energy is off the charts.
Found Cherry Lane Theatre….seen in photos above.
Opening Ceremonies this morning. Performing Nun number then going to Times Square to busk.
Saw first fringe show last night…PJ Walsh Over There, great show, about his experience as a Medic in the Marines and later as dental technition to the president and then comedien entertaining the troops in Afghanestan. I predict it will be a big hit with HBO Special to follow!

New York First Two Days


First night in New York, two and a half hours sleep, took red eye (now I really know what that means …red eyes). Met Rod Menzies for coffee and a tour to Tish NYU rehearsal space, on Broadway at 8th St. which he very kindly arranged for me through a friend.
Performed 5 minutes of the show, the Nun character – ‘Habits’ song, for a Fringe Preview and fund raiser for Generations Theatre Project. Gave away a free Stripes t-shirt to a man who answered a skill testing question…name three bad habits (his answer were doozies). My ACR (Acredited Company Rep) John Johnson was there to help promote and distribute postcards for the show.

Posted by Picasa

Closest corner to Cherry Lane Theatre Greenwich Village…where I open Stripes: The Mystery Circus on Aug 20th, in The Studio.
Had my first rehearsal with my Stage Manager Jana, AJ. She is super organized and masterful…she is also directing a play in this Fringe Festival- Hip Hop High and just finished directing a film called Afirmative Action. She has taken my prop suitcase home tonight to make some repairs. We have a second rehearsal tomorrow then a preview performance at Bloomingdales Dept store in Soho.

Taking off for New York…The Nun is Flying

Do you think Blogging was invented so we would have something to do with the three hour wait time at the airport?
I am very excited the day is here when I take off for New York City and FringeNYC. I’m all checked in, ready to go to the International Fringe Festival NYC. It was a year ago I started this blogg with the prompting of my good friend Peggy…we decided to call it Stripes The World Tour Begins, a wishful thinking kind of start, little did i know I’d be headed to NY year later.
Had a very busy day today, Birkam yoga at 8, Marguerite for two hours vocal brush up, then met with Tara for a little choreo and pep talk! Then Rolfing with Steven. I was so tired I actually fell asleep on the rolfing table, and that’s hard to do what with the pain and all.
Speaking with Marguerite and Tara I was remembering one of my inspirations for creating Stripes, it was something Peter Gzowski said on the CBC, years ago, when asked if there was one thing he could do, but it was not possible, what would it be? He said it would be to take his mother to lunch. Fortunately my own mother was alive at the time and so I took her to lunch as often as I could remembering Peter’s words, and consciously grateful for our delicious time together.
Some of the material in Stripes that was written from my own experience and allows me to do just that, re-visit my family again and re-experience some of those times.
I am so thankful to all those people who encouraged me, coached me and helped Stripes move forward. I’m heading to the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station to take a big bite of the Big Apple.

Rehearsals Going Well


Had a great rehearsal today with James Fagan Tait at the Roundhouse. Went over costumes with Marguerite yesterday at her studio and cuts for song for Opening Ceremonies. Meeting Tara tomorrow to go over Choreography. Met with Peggy last night to discuss NY publicity, press release, press package, program, Facebook and web pages.
Very excited about opening in New York @FringeNYC at the Studio @ The Cherry Lane Theatre August 20th at 2pm.

Article in Behind the Fringe.com @Fringe NYC

FAQs: “Stripes: The Mystery Circus” @ New York International Fringe Festival

Wednesday, 28 July 2010

Sarah Hayward answers our Fringe Asked Questions on her solo play “Stripes: The Mystery Circus” which can be seen at The Studio @ Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City from August 20-28. Ticket info and performance times are available here.

BTF: Will you tell us about your show?

SH: Stripes: The Mystery Circus is a 60 min solo play with songs. People-pleasing Pollymnia [named for Greek Muse of song] will do “anything” to get into the Circus. She brazenly reinvents eight iconic circus acts, including The Two-Headed Lady, The High-Wired Act and The Bittersweet Bearded Lady. Secret theories, mysteries and Leonard Cohen are just a few of Pollyhymnia’s passions.

BTF: How and when did it come about?

SH: The germination for “Stripes: The Mystery Circus” began at The Banff Centre for the Arts, at the International Extended Voice Workshop with Richard Armstrong. It began as a personal archeological dig and with the help of my vocal coach, Marguerite Witvoet, who teaches with Richard. We turned-stories into songs. I call it a play with songs because it’s not a traditional musical. For example, the juggler “juggles” work, medication, hospital visits, extra fluids, wheelchairs. The Halloween Party at the Old Folks Home was created from an experience when I dressed my mother as a bride for the Halloween party at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.

BTF: What’s your story?

SH: I grew up in Halifax Nova Scotia, and loved theatre from an early age. My mother was named one of the 10 best-dressed women in Canada in the 50’s so I had a big dress up trunk to play with. After graduating from Acadia University, I went to theatre school in Montreal at the Dome Theatre School. When I was 13 years old, I played Modesty Clean in a modern morality play about pollution, Modesty Clean Meets the Devil. We toured to National Arts Centre. I guess that early theme of “The Devil” continues to influence my work now coming through my Nun character in Stripes: The Mystery Circus. The Nun refers to Stripes as “The Devil’s cloth”. I worked part-time at the Vancouver Public library and acted in film and tv as I created Stripes: The Mystery Circus. I’ve always loved solo shows and wanted to create my own traveling show. Performing in New York is a dream come true. Barely making the application deadline, I was thrilled to be accepted to participate in the FringeNYC and look forward to a great adventure at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre.

BTF: How bare bones is your show?

SH: Two Suitcases, one filled with props and another with photographs and one chair, plus some inventive costumes.

BTF: Do you have any influences?

SH: Artistic influences include: Nigel Charnock, the astonishing solo show artist and triple threat from London, Fred Curchack who has written and performed over 52 one man plays, and Richard Armstrong and Marguerite Witvoet, who encourage their students to “release into action”.

BTF: If you were meeting your prospective in-laws for the first time, how would you describe the work you do?

SH: I’m an Intern of the Intangible. Perhaps that is why I’m still single.

BTF: What shouldn’t an audience expect from you?

SH: An audience shouldn’t expect any real circus acts…most of my acts are unexpected interpretations, reinventions of traditional circus acts. Stripes: The Mystery Circus is more of a “Mystery”.

BTF: If this is your first festival, what do you think you’re in store for? If you’re a pro, what is it you’re in for?

SH: Adventure, travel, fun at FringeNYC! I toured the Canadian Fringe Circuit in 2006-2007. I expect lots of handing out postcards, seeing shows, meeting amazing creative people…quick changes. I look forward to finding my people, people who love theatre, who create theatre, who attend theatre, who promote theatre, who volunteer to help make a Festival happen…they will be the highlights of FringeNYC. That and I’m looking for a producer to present my show at the Edinburgh Festival next summer!

behindthefringe.com