Catching up on where we’ve been
It’s been a while since the last post and it feels a little disorienting to be back after such a break. Thinking back on where we’ve been I’m reminded of that wonderful glossary that helped bring us into the language of the play, the stories from Carol about her favorite thrift stores, Kurt’s model photos, and Rob’s riff on tone – all critical elements being developed to help us feel and see the world that our characters are feeling and seeing. But, as I knew would be inevitable, the need to create actual representations of the things we were dreaming finally became the priority and we took off to handle tech, previews and opening night.
Here’s a picture of one of the tech tables, computers at the ready. We had two 6′ers set up – Rob and Mike on one side, Becca, Alex and Michelle on the other, with space in between for Jen, our fearless director, to come up and chat with them, watch and listen. Dry tech, which coincidentally occurred on a fantastically rainy night, was held at Elephant and Castle, much to the delight of all involved.
One of the best things about everything coming together is the arrival of the show crew. For a few blissful, chaotic, intense days we have not only all the designers, but all the actors, backstage hands AND front of house crew running around. It seemed like every time I opened a door I was walking into someone, like Laura here, who’s hauling shoes from the costume storage to the dressing room.
Then, at the height of intensity, we suddenly realized that it was “no more changes” day – the last chance for making corrections and adjustments to the design before we had to be satisfied and let the actors settle in what we had created. There was a collective deep breath, held until the curtain fell on Satuday night. And then we had a party.
It was a lovely party, well, two parties – the first at our partner restaurant, Trattoria #10 (look on the back of your ticket stub for a 20% discount from them!) , and the second at the home of a friend of the playwright.
And now that the parties are done? I just got the performance schedule reminder, sent by the stage manager to the cast and crew to keep us on track. I’m making photocopies for tonight’s Theatre Thursday reception. There’s a line through for the actors, and an understudy rehearsal, and 2 post-show discussions… basically, no shortage of things to keep us busy and in good spirits and we head into the run.
