Rehearsals and Ball Games

We have now had several complete run throughs of the show. It has gone really well. Everyone continues to grow and improve each week. Martin seems pleased with where the show is and everyone is beginning to really work together as a team. This is not to say that there isn't still work to be done. It can always get better and we still have a great deal of polishing to do as well as reaching a level of consistency that is acceptable. But things are going great.

We had the day off Sunday (yesterday) and Zander (Rooster) and I went and watched the Titans vs. Bears ball game on TV. Zander is a Bears fan so I don't think he had as much fun as I did but was great to have someone to watch the game with while on tour.

Today we had our final run through before we begin tech. Tech begins tomorrow. This is when we add in sets, lights, sound, props, etc. to the show. For a show of this nature it can be a very tedious process. Every move on stage has been mapped out and know has to be rehearsed so that scene changes happen quickly and safely and that light changes, sound cues, etc. happen in such a way that the audience isn't really aware of them. It is really amazing to watch if you haven't seen them before. The tech for us will begin about 1:00 in the afternoon and we will finish around 11:00 at night. And that is just ACT I. Then on Wednesday we will do the same thing for ACT 2. The last step is to add costumes and orchestra in our first and ONLY dress rehearsal on Thursday. All of this is a little overwhelming as last year we had more rehearsal on stage with all aspects of the show including 2 FULL dress rehearsals.

Needless to say everyone is a little anxious about putting it together but I have full confidence in our cast, crew and creative team. I know that it is going to be a fabulous show!

Rehearsals and St. Augustine

Tuesday we had our first day off. Cheryl, Ricky, Jeff and I drove down to St. Augustine to see the oldest continually settled city in the USA. It was good to get away from rehearsals and spend some time doing something other than thinking about the show. It was also a good distraction from the election process. This is a picture of the oldest continuously active church in the USA.

Here we are standing outside the oldest wood school house in the USA. If you have never been to St. Augustine it really is a neat place to visit. Lots of history, shopping and good food. Jeff bought a hat and we all tried aligator tail. It was really chewy.

Wednesday we blocked act 2. Things went well. Everyone is really focused and working really hard. Today we finished blocking at 2 and then ran act 2. We had notes afterward and I received the fewest notes I have ever received during a Martin Charnin notes session. Don't know whether to be flattered or worried.

I am still getting to know eveyone. The girls that play the orphans are really cute. This picture was taken of them at the theatre where we are rehearsing. They are from left to right (Back Row) Ivy, Siara, Madison (front row) Sidney, Tiana, Mackenzie, and Dominique. They are all very cute and talented. They are a lot of fun to watch and work with.

Tomorrow we have our first full runthrough. It will be good to get all the pieces put together and still have a week to work on things before putting the show on its feet in front of an audience.

Act One

Today we had our first run through of Act I. This is always a little nerve wracking as it is the first time you get real notes from director, choreographer, etc. For a first run through after only 4 days of rehearsal it went amazingly well. Everyone had all lines and songs memorized. No one had to call for a line! That in and of itself is a miracle in live theatre.

It is also fascinating how quickly folks learn new things such as choreography and how well they remember what they are taught. Even the kids (the youngest of which is 7) remember things amazingly well and are able to apply them. I can't express how impressed I am with every one's abilities.

We have changed several things from last years show. Most of it is very small and would go totally unnoticed by the audience who sees it but is big for those of us doing it again and makes it a lot of fun. Most of the changes concerning me have been blocking with a few line delivery changes. All of them work well and of course fit with the overall flow and context of the show. It is mostly a result of those I am now working with and some bad habits I developed over the course of 260+ performances last year.

I am really excited for Cay, Ashlea, and Alayna to get to meet my new friends on tour. They are all really great and we are having a blast so far. It is amazing to me how people from different parts of the country with totally different backgrounds, beliefs, and opinions can come together for a common cause and perform miracles together onstage. Maybe our politicians should take lessons from us actors! Something might actually get done in Washington for a change besides name calling and finger pointing. Enough of that.

We are looking forward to our first day off on Tuesday. I plan on driving up to St. Augustine and spending the day seeing sights, on the beach, and eating sushi while relaxing and preparing for what will be a very intense couple of weeks of rehearsal and tech.