I'd missed the part of Friday's rehearsal when Liz Larsen's keys were set. So, I'd no idea whether the songs might sound screechy or shrill. Sure enough, when we got to her first big number, we heard an unbelievably loud and assertive, piercing sound. This turned out to be the fire alarm. So, we all had to leave the building and wait as two hook-and-ladders pulled up. Within a half hour, an alarm malfunction had been declared and we resumed our run-through. It still lasted less than two hours - with the time lost for the false alarm.
Turned out the keys were great for Liz, who sings with such warmth, the sound of her vocals ensures her character has the requisite "lovability" I'd been concerned about during casting. And, speaking of lovable - Shannon O'Bryan. In the cartoon version of today, there'd be all these hearts flying in her direction.
There's plenty of room to fly here: 25-foot ceilings, windows on two sides - sound and west to the river. But no one's distracted by the view - or the alarm bells: These are experienced professionals knocking heads together to make sure every beat's as funny as funny can be. A great day.
