Well, dear readers, we now begin the countdown to opening night for The Brain From Planet X at NYMF. I’m quite certain the week will be filled with a combo platter of joy and fear and terror, but everyone working on the show knows that we simply must all be problem-solvers and we must be ready to deal with whatever obstacles are thrown our way (and believe me, if this past week is anything to go by, they never stop). Since we’ve been doing run-throughs of one sort or another for two weeks, the show, run-wise, is in good shape. Performances continue to grow and take shape and I’m sure that will be the case this week. So, send all your excellent vibes and xylophones for a smooth week because we’ll need ’em. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too? Speaking of too too, yesterday was a somewhat frustrating day, but some good work got done so I suppose some good came out of it. I managed to get another good night’s sleep, and then did a bunch of work on the computer and had an endless telephonic meeting. I then toddled over to the Acorn for our four hours of advance tech. We were supposed to accomplish several things only a few of which actually got accomplished. Our sound designer was supposed to have a sound tech with her, but there was some miscommunication and so the sound tech wasn’t there. Never mind that the sound tech WILL be there for all the other shows that paid to get a jump on their tech – we got screwed because of yet more miscommunication, NYMF-wise. We were supposed to get a lot of the light cues written, but the board had to be reprogrammed so that the moving lights would work properly – we took the time to do that, and the other shows that are in early will now benefit from the time we took to do it. We were also supposed to see how the projector worked, but unfortunately the idiots who sent it sent the wrong lens, despite many bold-faced e-mails telling them exactly what lens to send. Additionally, they didn’t send a manual, so our tech guy couldn’t get it to work with the computer being used. So, that was a complete waste of time. Luckily, our tech guy is doing several other shows in our theater, and he’s assured us he’ll get the right lens in and figure out the problem with the computer, so that when we start on Thursday morning, that will be the first order of business. On the other hand, we did get about seventy light cues written (the first half of the first act) and many of the cues to come use those basic setups. The sound gal did suss out the board and various equipment, it’s only a shame she couldn’t do more because of the usual NYMF problems. We’re obviously not the only show having them – I’ve heard horror stories from several others. We worked with some new set pieces, so that was helpful, and we chose our four by four storage space. Spiking the floor in this theater is going to be hilarious, with six shows’ worth of spikes, with each show having to cover their spikes with black masking tape. I’m sure confusion will run rampant.
After that, Cason and I had supper at Joe Allen, and then I toddled home, where I turned on the EMMYs and did a bunch of work on the computer.
Last night, I sort of watched the EMMY awards. What a horrid show it was, even worse than the Oscars and Tonys. It looked cheesy and cheap, and the “written” intros were smarmy and totally unfunny. I thought I’d read here that Ellen De Generes was hosting, but alas, that was not to be. There were many, many low points, with all the actors from The Sopranos (one of the most brilliantly cast shows in the history of TV) all getting shafted. The lowest of the low was Sally Field’s totally obnoxious acceptance speech, one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever viewed. At one point, after fumfering for about twenty excruciating seconds, she was censored, for what I have no idea. At least The Sopranos won for best dramatic series.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because the hour is late and I must get my beauty rest before beginning tomorrow’s countdown to the Brain.
Today we will be doing as much of a run-through as we can – we lose our leading lady at eleven due to a prior commitment. We’re going to start right at ten and we should be able to get most of act one done. Then we’ll have someone standing in for her, and we’ll make the best of it. We’ll do work-throughs of any trouble spots in the afternoon, and then we have a band rehearsal, after which I will make an appearance at the big NYMF party, which is just a few blocks from rehearsal. I know many people in the shows this year, so it will be nice to say hey before I take my leave.
Tomorrow, we should be able to do a full dress rehearsal with all costumes and the Brain head. We’ll work through any problems after, and then we have our sitzprobe with the band in the afternoon. Wednesday, we’ll have our final dress – it may be two final dresses depending on how the first one goes. Then, Thursday we’re actually getting in the theater earlier than we thought – at eight, and we’ll be working with the projector, we’ll be finishing the writing of the light cues, we’ll be getting sound ready for the band and the actors, as well as getting the pre-recorded sound and computer Powerpoint ready for the projector. The cast comes in at noon, and then we work cue to cue and, if we’re ready, we’ll do at least a speed-through of the show, just to get the cast acclimated to the stage they will be seeing for the first time – figuring out all the quick changes, and where they need to actually be for entrances and exits. And then, it’s opening night.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, rehearse, attend a band run-through, attend a partay, and then do some work on Ye Olde Computer. Today’s topic of discussion: I’ve been obsessing on Chinese food lately (New York really does have great Chinese jernts) – what are the best Chinese food you’ve had – which dishes, where, and why were they so faboo? Let’s have loads of lovely mouthwatering posts, shall we, whilst we begin the countdown to The Brain.