A Griffin's Tale

In the Can…

Donald — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:03:01 +0000

We completed our last practice on Saturday April 12th. We have worked hard but have changed the format of how our board goes together, it’s been a relaxing year with very little drama [the bad kind]. The chessboard is good but I’m always nervous about the show till we hit the ground. We boil the jokes over and over till the don’t seem funny anymore.
I’m pleased we are done with prep, lets do this show and have a good time. We live for the crowds and the energy level goes up from here.
This upcoming weekend is dress rehearsal for OKRF and we will have actual face time with John Auld aka King Henry the VIII. The cast is tight and have had several weeks to rest, absorb and make ready.
Six weeks from now it will be done and year 10 for RGP will be history and year 20 for me personally we will be a new milestone.
Everyone break a leg…
D~

A Busy Spring Season

Donald — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:32:00 +0000

A bit of an update for those wondering what has happened these past few months.

Red Griffin Productions has been hard at work with the Oklahoma Renaissance festival. We started in February with heavy emphasis on OKRF activity and character development. The last several weeks we have jumped into high gear on Chess Board rehearsal. We are off-script, in-steel and working in costume. The board comes in at 60 minutes+ but this will continue to boil down. We are a mere three weeks from dress rehearsal at the Castle and hope to get good reactions from the rest of the OKRF Cast.

The entire process has been far less stressful this year. We have started later, practiced only on Saturday and have had far more regimented practices. I think we will peak at festival this year as opposed to years past where are energy was spent before show started.

In addition to practice we had some photo opportunities with an incredible artist. Dana Roehm is a close friend of Nicole Whittlesey and did some lovely stuff for us at RGP.

Look for more of Dana’s work on the site as time permits.

The Blitz begins…

Donald — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 03:59:19 +0000

In November I began formulating a plan for OKRF & TrollCon and it met with a lot of unsettled schedules and possible conflicts. In an effort to get scheduling moving and scripts written it is time to get commitments.

I will be sending a blanket email to all of the participants from last year and possible participants for 08’ so we can have scripts written and ready before our first rehearsal.

You will be asked one simple questions:

Do you wish to participate in RG 2008? The expectation is for the entire season, OKRF and TrollCon.

If you answer No…

You will be asked a few follow-up questions.

Do you intend to be involved in the future?
Do you wish to be removed from contacts and email distributions?

If you answer Yes…

You will also be asked a few follow-up questions.

Are you able to do In-town Rehearsals?
Are you able to do Academy?
Are you able to do the full run of Festival?
Are you able to do TrollCon?

Based on your answers we will begin writing a script around your level of participation. Obviously those able to fully commit will be written with more important roles and in fighting positions. That does not mean we don’t value everyone’s involvement. Our Chess Board comprises a very small part of the day. Many of you are Icons in our streets and we need the strength.

It’s going to be a better year, more fun and less work. We are looking at streamlining practices on Saturday to be more efficient.

Please respond to individual emails your email and let me know ASAP. I would like everything set by Christmas.

RG & OKRF Leadership Retreat

Donald — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:25:36 +0000

This weekend many of RG’s best stepped up and participated in the Annual OKRF Leadership Retreat. This event takes the 28 people that make up our leadership and focuses them as a unit. 13 of the 28 member of OKRF cast invited to this event were RG members. These performers added to the amazing logistic miracle that takes 200 street, support and site cast, another 200+ stage act cast, 9 days loaded with 3 nighttime events and 8 daily events and turns it into a steady operation. Without these resources RG’s participation would be a more painful endeavor. So thank you to Chris Ryan, Jeremy Stevens, Jeff Yenzer, David Howell, Richard Howell, Duwayne Mills, Tom Ball, Nicole Whittlesey, Deb Billingsly, Alexander Adamcik, Derek Shaw and Erin Dethlefs for the extra effort and commitment.

These folks were exposed to 7 hours of teaching 101 with a focus on the psychology of teaching and the way the brain absorbs knowledge. Our own Pink Griffins Diane Walker and Michelle Behrens facilitated. These members of OKRF cast teach at Ben Franklin in Muskogee, they are both Nationally Board Certified Teachers as well as participants in Great Expectations. The tools they give us work hand-in-hand with tools the Gary Izzo imparted several years ago. They allow us to develop our leadership as good mentors and coaches, its good for OKRF and great for RGP.

After they were done with one of the best sessions they have ever had I was given a few moments to layout the 2008 strategy with all of the subtle changes. We went over till nearly 5:30 and everyone was exhausted.

The next morning we started anew with Interactive Tools. This year I wanted to create a better tool box for the Peer and Area leaders and insure that IP exercises [Interactive Performance] were strong and understood. We have given lots of tools to our new leadership. We will cover these next weekend at OKRF Open Orientation.

We had a lot of personal break-through moments, I know I learned a few more things than I did before and I know this foundation sets the stage for a better year.

After this upcoming weekend [November 17, 2007] we will all enjoy the holiday season and focus towards the coming year and RGP activity.

Upcoming Events for November

Deborah — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 06:03:06 +0000

November is shaping up to be a very busy month for RG.

November 3rd the new Red Griffin website is scheduled for launch. Deb Billingsley, with much input from Donald Ryan, has retired the original web design put together by Stephanie Sasaki over five years ago. Relatively unchanged in that span, a new look is being introduced with more interactive features. If you have any suggestions for the new site please let us know. Also, we are looking for pictures from the early years of Red Griffin.

November 10th and 11th is the leadership retreat for the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival. Many of RGs best and brightest will lend their efforts, and spend two days in instruction, development and focus to bring a cohesive effort to the Academies and Festival.

November 17th will be a big day for Red Griffin. Saturday morning and afternoon is OKRF Open Orientation. Open Orientation is a big moment for OKRF and an opportunity to look for crossover talent. Many of the RG leadership will be present to help in inagurating and placing the new talent. This event is an opportunity to sneak a peak at the major changes to site and systems that support the festival.

That evening will be Boars Head Feast. Boars head is the annual fundraiser for Red Griffin. RG functions from project to project, with the funds from each being divided amongst the participants. The feast support operating requirements and expenses like the website, barracks needs (refrigerator, beds, etc.) and anything else that might pop up.
Feast is fun, but work. We have 14 tables, the bar and miscellaneous support. Please let us know your ability to be a part of this venture.