(It's been a while as well as hectic...)
Today marks the second day into the last week of rehearsal before tech week!!!!!
SO much has been accomplished in the last few days...towards the end of last week it became apparent that my actor on wheels needed railings to help him get up the ramps on either sides of the set. Thanks, once again, to my awesome parent volunteers, those were able to go up this weekend, and the actor is now in full swing!
I have noticed, rather unfortunately, that the students have begun to develop a knack for tuning out what I have to say the SECOND after I am done speaking. Perhaps this is a misgiving on my part, and maybe I am not communicating as effectively as I could, but I have noticed a trend that more often than not the students know that since the techies working on the set or backstage are allowed to talk that they find it easier to get away with chatting amongst themselves if they feel like it can be disguised as techies talking for necessity. I HAVE noticed, in the past few days, however, that if I reward their work on stage that they talk less...I find this very interesting.
I think, also, that they become rather bored just sitting backstage/in the audience waiting for their turn on stage. While I give many of them the option of going to play a theatrical game with one of the stage managers, many would rather stay and watch the show or have entrances soon. So, it becomes a problem of how do I occupy them when I cannot send them out of the room? I have yet to actually answer this question.
The students have REALLY delved into their characters lately. One actor in particular presented me with a rather extensive character analysis, using several different methods and including the work of several other actors as well. Ever since the off-book date from the last post, I have been able to delve deeper into the story and really work out some details and deeper work.
I have been told by my students that they really enjoy my directing style...this made me feel beyond incredible :) One more big checkmark next to the reasons why I love what I am doing and hope to do it forever!
I have had two students drop the show at the last minute unexpectedly in the past few days, both for different reasons. Although I have had students drop the show earlier on, I have never had one leave so close to opening. So, again, another learning experience for me (as well as for the students who now have to accommodate for their now absent cast member).
I have chosen, because of absences, to cast two understudies. Both of which, have been an amazing find! Each of the students has taken their roles as understudies very seriously and put a lot of hard work into their added responsibilities. Today I was able to see them both in their roles, and each of them has had only a few days to put it all together, and they really surprised me with how much they've already learned. It kind of makes me wish I had another role to give them too, because they've more than done the work to deserve it!
I have been told that I will have costumes tomorrow. Apparently a good majority of them were picked up today, and the rest will be in on the 4th. I'd like to be able to have more time with them in their costumes because they are large object pieces, but because of renting them a week at a time, the budget simply does not allow for it. So, we will do our best with the time that we have!
The set is (with the exception of one small piece) complete! Other than needing to paint the library/fireplace flat and attaching one more backing flat, we are done! I cannot wait to see it all come together! :)
We have begun to run through the show as much as possible. Although I do some stops and starts, at least I can have this week to do much tweaking and allow the students to fall into a routine of how the show will function on the "big day".
We are having a large group of children come in to see the show the morning before opening night. While they have been promised the entire show, in the future I would like to show them only half the show (since they are seeing it for free) and that way it would encourage them to come back and see the rest of it later on that evening. Again, things I would do differently if I were to do this once more,
That's all for now-more to come later!
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