Tag Archives: Theater Life

Serious Note

A Serious Note

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Someone I greatly respected passed away over the weekend.

He was a hard worker. He was an inspiration. He was someone who could work with anyone and bring out the best in others. He knew how to bring laughter to stressful days. He was a professional with so much to teach.

When we worked together there was no question he would fight for everyone. When he was crew chief there was no question the crew would be phenomenal. When he was working a show there was no question the show would be phenomenal.

He leaves behind his fantastic family (who I was fortunate to meet many times), his loyal crew, and so many others who knew him, loved him, and will take everything he taught us forever forward through our lives.

As he would say before every single show:

Oh lord. Please don’t let me fuck up. Never give up. Never surrender. And may the force be with you. Have a great show.

I’m sorry, Russ. This is the one time I can’t keep to our crew motto: You go, I go. You went, but I still have work to do here. But I’ll keep your spirit with me through every show and every hard day.

Log, That's My Job

I miss the music

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March 1st was the last time I worked in the theater. And I’m going to get a little serious here, for a minute.

I miss the music. I miss my friend(s). No need to ask me. What I prefer. I choose the music.

Any Curtains fans reading? Anyone? For those not in the know…Curtains a musical. I made a musical reference in my serious post.

Anybut, I wish there was something that can be done. I wish there was some magic spell all the artists who are out of work could cast…pun intended.

Cause I guarantee, every artist is doing what needs to be done…but a small majority seems unable to put aside politics and their own egos to buck up, do what needs to be done, so we can ALL get back to work.

But that’s just my opinion…

>vomitting at the cliche line I typed<

And to add to this serious post:

Perhaps when we all get back to work, we can accept the truth that there is no reason casting has to be so…lacking in diversity. Historical accuracy be damned. If someone fits the role, they FIT THE ROLE! If we can suspend belief to accept people randomly breaking out into song and dance, I think we’re ready (and long overdue) to suspend our belief in other things as well.

Log, That's My Job, Thinking Out Loud

Once More the Curtain Comes Down

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Another show done…

The first show of the season is done. Another bittersweet closing. The cast was good, the crew (the three of us there were) were good, the show was good, and…well, that’s pretty much it.

It was good.

Tomorrow I continue what I’ve fallen behind on.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!! Not this. The things I’ve let fall behind.

Log, That's My Job, Thinking Out Loud

Ready Steady…Lights Go

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My job is ending soon…

The reason I’ve fallen behind on my spooky drawings has been due to a ramp up of work.

The musical I’m working on closes this weekend and when I’m not there I’ve been helping to build and restore a second show.

September through early November is my busiest time. Then I get December and January off.

Just gotta make it through this show and whatever else the other show needs and then I get some rest.

Sort of.

Log, That's My Job

Deck the Seasons

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The time has come once again…

Okay, maybe not once again for this blog, but once again in my LIFE for Christmas to come tooooooo early!

For some extra cash, I help repair, build, rejuvenate props for a Christmas touring show for another theater. I mean full on painting, making jump ropes out of tinsel, and wrapping presents for nearly two months.

The pay is good. For what it is and it gets me through November, December, and January (the theater company I work for is dark during those months).

But it’s a CHRISTMAS show that I’m prepping before Halloween is even within reach.

I’m already not so much a fan of the Christmas atmosphere (the only exception is OF COURSE Christmas at Disneyland cause that shit is fucking magical!).

Anybut, just gotta get through this show (rehearsals started Monday and we open two weeks from Friday…eek!) and Rudolph work and then I’ll get a small break.

Log, That's My Job

So Many Guitars

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Rehearsal Day 1…

The next show has begun. The actors double as the musicians and today was music day.

Which means there were a LOT of guitars in the room. 5 guitars being played, 3 sitting to the side. One bass guitar. 2 Mandolins. A violin. An accordion. A small drum set. A piano. AND a melodica.

So many instruments, but definitely a LOT of guitars.

Best part:

They’re all amazeballs players! This show is going to be fun to listen to, but we’ll see how much fun it is to run…

Anybut, rehearsal day 1 in the BAG!!

P.S- I’m writing this as they’re rehearsing…but don’t tell my boss…who’s sitting right next to me…

UPDATE: There’s also a banjo.

Log, That's My Job

Once More Unto the Breach

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Rehearsals are starting again…

The next show I’m working on starts rehearsals tomorrow (Monday). Unlike the last show, this one is smaller in cast size and rehearsal time. Instead of three weeks, we’re only rehearsing two weeks.

I mentioned in a previous post about the pre-rehearsal work. But tomorrow is the real stuff. The actors/musicians are going to be there and it’ll be time to do some real work.

I’m not as familiar with this show as I was of the last one, but that makes it more interesting for me. Although, the accents used for this show are pretty thick so we’ll see how well I can follow along.

I mean I have the script, but I don’t like staring at it too much.

Anybut, I’ve been sticking pretty well to posting every day, but we’ll see how much longer I can keep it up.

If I can reach 100 days I’ll be happy…so I guess as long as I can keep this up for…two more days? I’ll reach that goal.

Log, That's My Job

Turning, Turning

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Pre-rehearsal work is happening…

The next show I’m working on doesn’t officially start rehearsals for almost a week. But today I was back in the rehearsal hall…programming the turntable!

That’s right, they trust me to program that sucker! And we got 3 cues done!

Okay, I know that doesn’t sound impressive, but to be fair it was also a spacing and choreography pre-rehearsal. There were actors there (none of the ones cast in the show) so the director and choreographer could see the moving pieces with the turntable before the actual actors arrive.

It’s gonna be a fun show. It’s smaller, but sometimes the smaller shows are the more impressive ones.

So excited!

Log, That's My Job

Performance #12 & STRIKE!!

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I know it’s today….

The end of the show! Final performance!!

And this show was ready to be over. A few more pieces fell off props, timing was off, set moves were late or almost forgotten….

She (the show, the beast, the fantasy) is done.

Strike (for me) went quick with a few hiccups, but overall it was great. Out at 6:30pm.

There was an after party in the lobby….that moved to a hotel, but I didn’t partake. I’m not one for those kinds of things. I’ll see everyone again, plus I wouldn’t really feel part of it. This show, I feel, really was more of an ensemble show and they shared moments I don’t want to interfere with.

And, again, I’ll see most of them again. I’m not going anywhere.

But now I’m on a break until September when we start rehearsals for the next show.

I’ll still be posting every day until the 31st of August….and maybe beyond that…we shall see…

Log, That's My Job

Performance #10 & #11

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Two show day…

Morning show went well….but the show seems to have decided it’s ready to be done. Things were breaking all over the place (not in the show-breaking way, but enough to be annoying).

The evening show went much smoother….except a sun flat caught on the scrim, but it was easily freed and didn’t stop the show.

Tomorrow is the final performance. Then we STRIKE!!

Bitter sweet, but I’ll save those feelings for tomorrow.

 

ALSO!! Our air conditioner went out yesterday….and of course this is a hot weekend….slap me sideways!