After months of preparation, the Rupert team took off for Washington D.C. over the weekend. And we weren’t the only ones sending them off with a big cheer: on their way through Melbourne Airport a customs official commented that he had seen one of the last Melbourne performances of Rupert, and that he wants a return season!
scottysheridan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/simon_gleeson">simon_gleeson Guyedmonds</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Bebstock">bebstock MelbTheatreCo</a> Washington here we come <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rupert&src=hash">#Rupert</a> <a href="http://t.co/vAkW0WiBhp">pic.twitter.com/vAkW0WiBhp</a></p>— bert labonté (BertLabonte) March 8, 2014
Having arrived in the US capital, the team took in some of the local sights before heading to the Kennedy Center.
Just arrived at digs in Washington with virginia_lovett</a> for RUPERT tour. Seems our rooms aren't ready yet! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mtctour&src=hash">#mtctour</a> <a href="http://t.co/EFZksFdNv7">pic.twitter.com/EFZksFdNv7</a></p>— Brett Sheehy (brettsheehy) March 9, 2014
If you look close you can see Obama…. Or maybe it's a guard scottysheridan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/simon_gleeson">simon_gleeson MelbTheatreCo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rupert&src=hash">#Rupert</a> <a href="http://t.co/bvuHfjYyhl">pic.twitter.com/bvuHfjYyhl</a></p>— bert labonté (BertLabonte) March 10, 2014
MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy explores the Kennedy Center
And then it was time for bump-in. Our precious cargo was unloaded in just 55 minutes thanks to the lovely crews at the Kennedy Center, though they were a little confused by our references to ‘taking the lift’ – sorry guys, we meant ‘elevator’!
The trucks have arrived at Kennedy Center in Washington DC as MTC's production of RUPERT bumps-in. pic.twitter.com/r1BpiolW3F
— Brett Sheehy (@brettsheehy) March 9, 2014
As we type our technical team will be setting up the lighting and AV in the Eisenhower Theatre, while members of the creative team, along with Artistic Director Brett Sheehy and Executive Director Virginia Lovett, are enjoying a Welcome Dinner hosted by the Kennedy Center.
Tomorrow it’s time to rig up the kabuki silks, unpack the wardrobe containers and plot the audio and lighting, then head to the Ambassadorial Residence for a special event.
You can learn more about the World Stages International Theatre Festival on the Kennedy Center website and follow updates from the Rupert team on Twitter and Facebook, using the hashtag #mtcTour. Here’s one of our favourite tweets from Brett, a reminder of President Kennedy’s legacy to the Arts in America.
My fave of the JFK quotes etched into walls of Kennedy Center. Was there really a time when this could WIN you votes? pic.twitter.com/9Re2Bhpngs
— Brett Sheehy (@brettsheehy) March 10, 2014images courtesy of Brett Sheehy, Virginia Lovett, Bert LaBonté and Michele Preshaw
Published on 10 March 2014