Well, dear readers, everyone pulled together and delivered a pretty great show for our second preview. We had about forty people there and they were a great audience and having that energy out there was like manna from heaven for the actors. All the horrible issues from the night before were almost all gone – lighting was much better (still a couple of small things to adjust), sound was actually excellent, and the projections worked but were on the opposite walls, which has to get fixed before tonight. There are also some old images that need to go away and that has to also get fixed before tonight. But boy did the cast deliver and the audience ate it up. Big laughs throughout, hefty mitts throughout, the two long monologues are much better now, and the songs are all landing beautifully, including the three new numbers. In fact, the new Michele Brourman/Amanda McBroom song got one big laugh after another. The act one closer, the wrestling match, was, as it always was before, a huge audience pleaser and the one major change I made in it – not having anyone who could play Freddie Blassie so I used one of our Japanese actors and made it into another favorite wrestler of mine, Mr. Moto (aka Harold Sakata aka Odd Job in Goldfinger) and that change is bringing us huge laughs. The show’s pace was perfect, and it was a real elixir to finally see it working as it should. Band sounded great, too. So, send your strongest most excellent vibes and xylophones for a fun opening night performance and a fun run. Afterwards, I gave two small actor notes, two small lighting notes and I sent everyone home with love and affection. Once home, I had a few little candy things – not fattening – and that was that. But hold on just a darn minute. Has anyone noticed that April just replaced March, just like that? Yes, you heard it here dear readers, it is April and it is my fervent hope and prayer that April will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
Yesterday began poorly – I did get eight hours of sleep but awoke to a text from the sound guy, who’d promised to be with us for the final preview for the entire show and who cancelled due to a schedule change. I was not happy. As it turns out, the woman who’s running the sound for performances did a great job and is getting used to how that all works. I had a Chinese chicken salad for lunch, then I did some stuff on the computer. Then I got ready and moseyed on over to the mail place and thankfully all the important envelopes were there, including one I didn’t think was coming for a few more days, so that was great. After that, I went directly to the theater and sat for forty minutes with the projections guy and went through every cue with him, which is when I noticed that the stage right images were on the stage left wall and vice versa. Nothing to do about it that close to a performance, but it’ll hopefully be fixed for tonight’s opening. Then we did some sound tests with cast and band and then I was happy to see we had a decent-size audience.
Today, I’ll be up by noon, I’ll eat something fun, I’ll write thank you cards, I’ll do some of my banking, I’ll shave and shower, and then when it’s time I’ll mosey on over to the theater, probably around six, and then it’s opening night. I do hope we have a nice crowd, although I personally know three people who cancelled and I’m not so thrilled about it. They’ll come to another performance, but when people cancel the day before it just isn’t a good thing. After the show, there’s a little after party and that should be fun. I will, of course, have a full report for you.
Tomorrow, I can sleep in, I can relax, and then we do our second performance with someone new running the sound – she’s been shadowing the woman who’s doing it and will be there shadowing again tonight, so hopefully that will be okay. Then our regular woman does the rest of the run. Sunday, we play our first matinee, and I’m hoping to go have a really nice dinner somewhere afterwards. Then this coming week is maniacally catching up with all the stuff I’ve let slide and that is a LOT o’ stuff.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by noon, eat something fun, write thank you cards, do some quick banking, shave and shower, and attend our opening night and after party. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, plowing through the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra set. Blu-ray, nothing. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, so happy that the show finally took shape and was the show I know it should be and do remember that it is my fervent hope and prayer that April will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.