i'm back! It was an amazing day: people started getting into character, things that hadn't jelled began to, and everything is righting itself. We had a runthrough and a half in the morning session; the show lasts around 75 minutes, and that's about the length we wanted.
We have a pretty, very young actress with a wonderful voice playing the young, pregnant wife, and she has the smallest part of the eleven actors. For most of the first part she sings offstage with the music in hand. She doesn't play an instrument, she has three numbers: two duets, and one solo, and she still doesn't know them! We've got cast members who play guitars, accordion, bass, fiddle, harmonica, and also have to deal with singing and some dialogue for nearly twenty numbers and they've got most of it memorized. The MD went ballistic on the young lady today. It was harsh but she deserved it. If she wants to play in the big league, step up to the plate.
Those who have are these fantastic folk:
Deb Lyons: great great lady with a phenominal voice
David Lutken: if it's a folksong, he knows it, and besides being a charming laid back Will Rogers type, he plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, and dulcimer
Michael Hicks: harmonica, accordion, bass, and great rock'n'roll piano and he acts as our onstage conductor for some of the ensemble moments
Julie Foldesi: not just a fantastic singer and actress, she plays guitar and mandolin, and she's beautiful
Jared Sampson: he's our offstage voice and orchestra during those moments the cast onstage can't get to an instrument, and he's charming as the Prodigal Son/Joseph character
Scott Moss: we are so lucky he heard there was a spot open and pushed DJ for the job; he sings really well, knows the territory, being from Tennessee and North Carlina, and he plays guitar and bass
Steve McIntyre: fantastic bass player who is really funny as the local moonshiner
Rob McCaffrey: great voice and charm; not everyone needs to play. Rob just needs to break hearts with "I Wonder As I Wander." I think he will.
Around 10 years ago or so, I saw a lovely actress in THE RED MILL at Ohio Light Opera, and I told her to send me a photo and resume because some day we would work together. Megan Loomis is playing fiddle for us and playing the old maid daughter. She's as wonderful now as she was then. She and Steve McIntyre were in the SWEENEY TODD tour with Judy Kaye.
I have an evening to myself! I can watch tv, catch up on LARKSPUR TO CANDLEFORD, and get an extra hour's sleep before seven AM and the laundry tomorrow morning.
Color me happy today.
