June 21-22

TUESDAY (21)

I finally managed to get a more direct understanding of one of my lead's work schedules.  Knowing now that she will have to miss many rehearsals, I cast an understudy.  I now have two understudies for two different lead roles, which is apparently a really exciting experience for both girls.  Each of them is proud to have not 3, but now 4 roles to play in the show!

Having so many chorus members meant I had a choice-I could have split all of them into about 6 different groups, one for each of the choral numbers of the show.  However, I decided to make sure that each of them was in at least 4 of the numbers (making sure they were all in the first number and the last, and splitting up the younger ones to be in either one of the 2 groups or the other and having the older chorus members in all 6)  It also means that more often than not, I have a LOT of students working on one number at a time, and it makes me extremely thankful for the large auditorium that I have to use.  I had forgotten just how big that stage was, after working in the Wells Theatre at Monmouth for the past dozen shows or so, and it was a pleasant surprise.

The large stage allowed me to have a much more straightforward set design.  I was able to use the front half of the stage for a majority of the scenes, including the village, the tavern, and the forest, and I used the second half of the stage to have a stationary platform for the castle.  This way, I do not have to move the 16 foot wide platform, and could simply open the curtain to reveal the bigger, more elaborate set piece.

WEDNESDAY

I'm not sure if I will come to regret this decision or not, but I have decided to work my rehearsals, as much as possible, around the availability of my actress with the work scheduling issues.  I have understudied her, but I still want to make sure that I give her every opportunity to perform her given role.

Set construction, with the extremely generous help of my own family and friends as well as that of those of the cast, has made great progress in the last few days.  As of now, we have to attach and paint the backing platforms of the castle, make and attach the ramps, and finish painting a few details on the periactoids before we'll be DONE with the set!! Which is extremely exciting!

We have pulled all of the props needed for the show-I only have to acquire a glass cover for the rose and find a way to make it stand up in the casing, which, if I create a false bottom shouldn't be too much of a problem.

We are meeting at 4:30 today to hopefully finish some more set construction as well as again tomorrow after rehearsal gets out.  I am beginning to get more and more excited!  Only 2 and a half weeks until opening night!