Hello and welcome to the Writers’ Theatre blog!  I’m Carolyn Nelson and I play the Colored Woman & Matron in our production of Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire.  Here’s a backstage look at our show.

We thought it appropriate to start where we start: at the beginning.  We have a large cast of 12 people.  This gives us many ways to warm up and get ourselves ready for the production everyday.  The most popular way seems to be “4 Square.”

( Clockwise starting left) Ryan Hallahan, Estaban Andres Cruz, Ed Flynn and Patrick Holland

( Clockwise starting left) Ryan Hallahan, Esteban Andres Cruz, Ed Flynn and Patrick Holland.

(Starting bottom left) Patrick Holland, Danny McCarthy (waiting to rotate in), Estaban Andrews Cruz, Andrew Porter, Matt Hawkins.

(Clockwise starting bottom left) Patrick Holland, Danny McCarthy, Esteban Andres Cruz, Andrew Porter and Matt Hawkins.

As it gets closer to curtain time, our warm-up takes on a different twist.  It’s calmer.  Actors now concentrate on the characters they are becoming.

Stanley Kowalski ( Matthew Hawkins)

Stanley Kowalski (played by Matthew Hawkins)

Stella Kowalski (Stacy Stolz)

Stella Kowalski (played by    Stacy Stolz)

Steve Hubbel ( Loren Lazerine)

Steve Hubbell (played by Loren Lazerine)

(From the left) Our stage manager, (David “Coach” Castellanos,) The Mexican Woman (Rosario Vargas) Eunice Hubbel (Jenn Engstrom)

(From left) Our stage manager (David “Coach” Castellanos), the Mexican Woman (played by Rosario Vargas) and Eunice Hubbell (played by Jenn Engstrom)

Blanche Du Bois (Natasha Lowe) makes sure that everything is ready for her departure to New Orleans.

Blanche DuBois (played by Natasha Lowe) makes sure that everything is ready for her departure to New Orleans.

So there you have it.  A little peek into the pre-boarding process of A Streetcar Named Desire.  We hope you get a chance to come see our show!