Well, dear readers, it was another very long day of trying to get our little show into shape. Of course, I’ve been trying to get back into shape for four years, but that’s another story for another day when it actually happens. I arrived for our eleven o’clock first run-through, which began at 12:15 or thereabouts. One missing cast member – apparently an e-mail was sent about it but not to me. So, we had to have someone read the role. It was rough but we got through it and our stage manager ran the board for lighting and only missed one cue, which was pretty amazing. There were parts of each act that were weirdly entertaining, but we’re still struggling with lines and pacing, although I do think the running time came down again. I gave extensive notes afterwards, then we had a one-hour break and pizzas were brought in. I only had one tiny slice and didn’t eat all of it. Then another actor had a conflict and missed the second run-through AND photo call. Again, I will never ever cast another actor at this theater who has conflicts – just don’t want to deal with it ever again, especially when it’s multiple conflicts for every single week of rehearsals. So, scene changes were not smooth because everyone in the cast does them, there were missing lines, blah, blah, blah. Add to that, one of our actresses felt faint and stayed out of the run-through until the very end. But it was good to get in two run-throughs. I didn’t give notes after the second run-through, just told everyone to have a great day off, to study lines and blocking and to come back tomorrow to have a great final dress. We had sound and costumes for the second run-through – most of that was fine, but we still have some issues for both to address. We’re hoping for a modern major miracle with the show so send some along. After the rehearsal, I stopped at Subway and got a sandwich, came home, and ate it. That was at nine o’clock. Then I had a lot of stuff to catch up on, so I answered a lot of e-mails and the like. And suddenly, it was time to write these here notes.
Prior to rehearsal, I’d gotten about seven-and-a-half hours of sleep. And that was pretty much it and it was pretty much that, not necessarily in that order.
Today is a ME day and I don’t care who knows it. I need to relax, catch up on a few things, but I have to clear my head, get myself in the right place to get us through this week, and that’s it. I’ll eat, I’ll check and see if there’s anything at the mail place, I’ll get some Diet Coke, do some errands and whatnot, but mostly I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, we have our final dress rehearsal with sound, lighting, and costumes AND the band. Oh, I did block the curtain call yesterday and it’s pretty fun. Wednesdy is our first preview, but I don’t think I want an audience, although Doug and I may invite a few friendly folk. Thursday’s preview will stand, I think, because I don’t want to open cold without having had an audience. I’ll make all these decisions on Tuesday after the dress is finished. Then we open on Friday, play Saturday night, and then Sunday matinee with a talkback after. Sunday’s pretty full already.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a ME day, catch up on a few things, clear my head, see if there’s any mail, eat, do errands and whatnot, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What opening night of any musical in history would you have wanted to attend the most? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy we made it through a two run-through day.