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May 12, 2016:

THE FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we’ve had our final dress rehearsal and had a small but appreciative group of folks in to watch. I just thought it would be good to have some new energy in the room. Only one really major lighting hiccup right after the opening number, when the board op jumped two cues, causing the first verse of the second song to be sung in darkness. Other than that, though, lighting cues were faster and better throughout, and the costume issues have all been taken care of now. The show looks really good, and the set, save for the black floor having a new coat of paint today, was fully painted and looks great. All the projections are now in and wonderful, too. I didn’t really have all that many notes for act one, but had too many for act two – mostly pacing notes, notes about the sketches (when they were rapid fire machine gun delivery they worked great – any time the pace slowed or cues weren’t picked up they slacked), and just nitpick stuff here and there, and some band things.

Basically I told the cast what I always do at the final dress – they’re now in the driver’s seat and it’s their show – if it doesn’t work, it’s on them, if it does, they get full credit. They have to take charge, own the show and the stage, and hopefully our audiences will come along for the ride. Lanny was with us and made a few adjustments here and there. Overall I was pretty pleased by it, and we just have to make it tighter and keep the show’s internal pacing high and always moving forward. I did a variation on what will be a short curtain speech, so I got used to that. I’ll try to keep it VERY short. And we knocked a minute off act two.

Prior to that, I’d had a rough and bad night, only getting about three to four hours of actual sleep. I hate when that happens. Once up, I just wasn’t in the mood for food, so I answered e-mails, had telephonic conversations, and did stuff until it was time to mosey on over to LACC. I got there at three, thinking I would be with our set designer, but he was gone so I just sat around until our call time of four-thirty. Once cast were in mics and our band was there, we ran a few things for levels, then they went and got ready to do the show.

After the show, I came right home. I hadn’t eaten anything all day so I had a few bagels and that was that.

Today, I will hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep – I can safely sleep till eleven. Then I’ll arise, get ready, and go tape a radio show at 12:45. After that, I’ll probably get a bite to eat, then relax until I am on my way to pick up Lanny at five and arrive for our five-thirty call. We’ll do a sound check and a band check, give our notes to the band, and then we do our preview performance. I’m told we’ll have a nice-sized crowd. Sami’s mom will be with us taking photographs. After the show, I’ll give whatever notes I have and them maybe grab a bite to eat.

Tomorrow I have a lot of opening night cards to write, and then I’ll just relax and be on my way to LACC around six-thirty for our eight-o’clock opening night, which I’m told is pretty much sold out. Saturday we have our matinee and then our evening show. Sunday I’m seeing the show Barry Pearl directed in North Hollywood. Monday I have to finish choosing songs and getting the Kritzerland cast its music. At this point in time we have no musical director, which is a problem.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a radio interview, hopefully pick up some packages, eat, and have our one and only preview. Today’s topic of discussion: What kinds of things do you like on your bagels? Classic cream cheese? Exotic cream cheeses? Sour cream? Sandwiches? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a pretty good final dress rehearsal with some nice folks in attendance.

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