Well, isn’t that JUST the way…

Today was our first 10 out of 12!! Such an early morning and lots to do.

There was rumblings among crew, designers, and actors that we wouldn’t make it to Act II. BUT we did and got through the first 2 musical numbers so HELL YEAH!

I mean that may have been a bit overdramatic, but sometimes we don’t even get through half a show the first 10 out of 12. I’m always suuuuuper excited when we get through the first act.

Although that wasn’t the only excitement today. It’s never a good sign with the Assistant Stage Manager actively finds you to tell you something instead of asking over the headset. But that’s what happened to me.

I was waiting to assist actors with a large prop and we were paused for spacing, lights, and rail (the people who fly flats and drops up and down on stage). The ASM crossed the stage to tell me that security said a tree branch fell onto a blue VW bug…..MY car. I’m the only one in the cast and crew who drives one so immediately everyone who heard this knew it was my car.

Unlike most people I didn’t freak out. I simply said, “of course it was my car.” The ASM suggested I check my car and move it. He covered for me while I ran to where my purse was, grabbed my car keys, and ran outside (also while I doing this, over the headset was a lot of chatter about the incident). A lot of the House Crew followed me out and (thankfully) one even made sure I took pictures in case I needed to call my insurance company.

LUCKILY, and by some miracle of karma…there was no damage. I and about five house crew members circled my car and found no damage. The branch wasn’t that big, but a huge branch was ready to fall from the tree. I moved my car to a spot under NO trees and went back to work.

The Stage Manager was still talking about the incident especially after our Crew Chief (who also followed me outside) suggested any cars near the tree should move. She decided it was a good time for a break and everyone ran out to make sure their car wasn’t one of the other three still parked under the tree.

And that was it. The first 10 out of 12….what, you thought I’d go into more detail? Now, now, you know I can’t….plus, soooooooo much happens during tech week it would take book lengths of posts to share all of them.

Anybut, tomorrow is only a half day of rehearsal, BUT we also have our first rehearsal with the orchestra which is honestly my favorite part!

Zero days until Tech Week…

Okay to be fair, today was more of an ease into tech week. We were in the theater for the first time and got to space some of the opening scenes and songs.

Tomorrow though…10 out of 12. 11:30 to 11:30. Full day of tech rehearsal.

Here we go.

One day until Tech Week…

Last day in the rehearsal hall. Last run through without the full set and costumes and lights and sound and everything else!

Tomorrow we’ll be in the theater for a short rehearsal before it all begins.

I’m very excited.

Two days until Tech Week…

W’re reaching the point in rehearsal where I’m ready for the theater. I’m tired of the rehearsal hall. I’m tired of not seeing more of the show.

I enjoy watching the show get better in regards to the actors, but until they get on the stage, get in microphones, get in costume, etc….there’s a wall that can’t be overcome.

I’m ready to break down that wall and let this show evolve to the next level. It’s time to add the details, add the extra spices that will make this show even better.

Two days….

Three Days until Tech Week…

Today was the Designer Run. All the Designers were there to see all the work we’ve been doing the past 15 Days.

First half of the day was cleaning some last minute things, then an hour dinner break (which was actually a half hour lunch for me since I had to set for top of show).

Then we ran the show for the Designers with no stops. It went very well. Everything made it onstage when it needed to and there were few fumbles. It wasn’t perfect, but it got laughs, some tears, and cheers.

HOWEVER!! During one of the most emotional parts of the show…..I accidentally leaned against a light switch and half the lights shutoff, but I quickly fixed it. But I was the only one on that side of the rehearsal hall. All the actors were either onstage or on the other side of the rehearsal hall about to enter the scene…Needless to say, it was very obvious I did it….

Anybut, rehearsal Saturday is going to be first half notes from the Designer Run and second half cleaning/another run-through. The need to do run-throughs as much as possible before tech week is important. For one, the actors build the stamina for the show before needing to build stamina with costume changes and other factors. For another, our Director is actually not going to be attending tech week. We have the Assistant and Associate Directors who will be filling in, but our Director wants to do as much as he can before he leaves.

Sunday is going to be….no, I’ll leave that to be a surprise.

But FIRST, I get a day off! Hooray!

Four Days until Tech Week…

We did a run through today. It went well….especially for not actually practicing a few transitions between scenes. Though it’s still hard to gauge the timing of things without the full crew and shift move pieces.

Tomorrow though…is the Designer Run Through (yeah, I capitalized that shizz). This is where we do a full run through for, you guessed it, the designers. They get a chance to see the show and ask questions before we get into tech week.

I love/hate Designer Run Throughs. On the one hand, we tend to get out early. On the other, I’m running around like mad trying to make sure the run through goes as smoothly as possible…it always does, but I get stressed about it anyways.

Anybut, fingers cross it goes well!!

Five Days until tech week…

Excitement today.

Recording happened for a tap dance to add a little more sound where needed.

Finished props were brought in.

Apparently an actor was offered a dog by a homeless person at Chipotle….I don’t know the full story only what I could glean from passing conversation.

Personally, I fixed props that needed some updating to help out the prop designers.

…I also had a little bit of struggle today. It’s hard sometimes to be in rehearsals when it’s a struggle day. Sometimes it’s hard to watch people singing, dancing, and performing while I do legitimate work for the show, but nothing physically demanding. It makes the Imposter Syndrome grow stronger…kind of like the Dark side…except not as fun.

But I power through the struggle. I power through the thoughts trying to bring me down.

It doesn’t hurt that there are a few actors who go out of their way to make everyone laugh. And a few who always ask me how I’m doing. Sometimes that’s all I need. Just an acknowledgement that someone is happy I’m there.

Anybut, enough of that. Going to be doing something special tomorrow! Well, the actors…not me. But I get to write about it.

Six Days until tech week…

We’re going to begin doing stumble throughs and run throughs today. Time to put this behemoth together and see how much actual time there is between scenes. See who has to do what…at least in the rehearsal hall.

We’ll also see if there will indeed be enough crew backstage…we can kind of tell in rehearsal, but until we actually have all the moving pieces it’s still a guessing game.

Anybut, that’s all I got for today.

Like I said yesterday…

Today we only had 3 actors in rehearsal. And rehearsal was only 6 hours instead of 8 so it was a shorter day. Holes were filled in my paperwork (except for one but I think we’re finally going to get to it next rehearsal) and a lot of work got done.

BUT! There’s still so much to do and quite frankly…I don’t know how smoothly this week will go. There are still props needing to be worked on, set pieces still needing to be painted, puppets still MIA, and costume quick change rehearsals still needing to be scheduled.

Tech week is one week away…[insert squeal of stress].

Anybut, fingers crossed next rehearsal goes well…

Quick….but sloooooooow.

That’s how I would describe rehearsal today. It went by quickly but also soooooooooo slowly.

I can’t even really remember what we did…I mean, I CAN, but I’d have to stop and think about it. But I know we did a lot. Every rehearsal we do a lot.

Tomorrow, though…..we’re going to do A LOT. But with less people. Only 3 actors are called tomorrow and instead of the 8 hour rehearsal, it’s only going to be a 6 hour rehearsal. Which is fair. Only 3 actors and really only working their scenes and a few of the songs….yeah, don’t need 8 hours for that…plus, 2 of the 3 have already done this show before.

BUT, I’ll be able to fill in the holes in my paperwork so hooray!

Anybut, on to the grind.