Small Murders- Company Run

We're in crunch mode now!  We've had our first company run-throughs, and seeing everyone's plays was so exciting!  Seeing my play next to the others of Panel A gave me some ideas for how I could improve my own, and after having an impromptu rehearsal where we did three fast and loud speed throughs, I immediately saw improvement, both in their line pickup and the choices they made.  Having them go fast and loud really opened up their mental dams, and it made me realize I should have done so earlier.  But the fact we did it at all is going to help them in the long run I'm sure.

This Saturday we start tech, Sunday dress rehearsals, and then on Wednesday we open!  I hope to see you there!

Happy Face - "Put A Brave Face On It"

Hey there again,

This term has been an absolute whirlwind. With this show, Sense and Sensibility before it, classes, graduating, and everything in between, there has been a constant flow of EVERYTHING going on at once.

I want to say first and foremost, I feel so honored to have been able to ride this ride and direct such a wonderful play. It has been an absolute dream, albeit a terrifying one at times but overall a good one. And not terrifying because of my actors and anything to do with the play, no no no.

In all honesty, I have never been the most confident director. When taking Liz’s Into to Directing last term, I was horrified. I never ever thought I was good enough or even nearly as good as my fellow classmates. So I thought I just didn’t have it in me. Then that next term Liz approached me and asked why I wasn’t in her current class ( the class last year for directors directing a one act) and I said because I didn’t think i was good enough, because I wasn’t confident enough in my directing skills. She simply says to me, “Well, you’re taking my class next year” and that was that. So here I am now, sitting on the first day of run throughs, having now directed an EXTREMELY well written show (thank you, Cole) and still feeling terrified. Still scared that my piece still isn’t good enough. I’m sitting in my chair in the audience shaking looking around at the faces of my peers, hoping they’ll like what I’ve put on stage. And you know what? My actors got up there, with their full set and props, and absolutely killed it. They knew all their lines and they had all their blocking. We worked as a team and created something wonderful. Something that honestly, after seeing them, I’m not even worried if others really like because I am so proud of it. I mean I’m still worried a little but not as badly.

So please, come out next Wednesday, opening night, and watch all the hard work all of us students have put into creating this production. And then come out Thursday. And Friday, and Saturday, and Sunday and all the days! Because this is going to be a wonderful One Act festival. Tomorrow morning is tech and then Sunday is first dress and I couldn’t be more pumped! I hope you all are as well!

-Sam

Golden Raspberry: Company Runthroughs

This week is particularly stressful because besides the run through, there’s also final fitting and other tech aspects going on. Since we were still changing the ending a little bit last week, the whole company run though, especially the second run though feels a bit weird. Thursday was just a day when the whole energy is low and everybody is tired. One thing important I did notice is that since we just switched to the new rolling chair, the casts are not used to how hard they should push it. I think during next weeks runs, we are going to have a fight call before the house opens. Also, we will do group warm-ups to bring up the energy. At this point, of course, there are tiny issues that we have to work with but overall I think we’re in good shape! I’m really excited to see everything come together at tech and dress!

Drinking that Taylor Sibling Kool-Aid

Salutations to one and all,

SO MUCH IS HAPPENING!

Oh my goodness, it is crazy right now y'all. But a great kind of crazy. I'll begin at the beginning and when I come to the end I'll stop (paraphrased Lewis Carroll quote, in case you're curious). Anyway, so we had a run through last Sunday which started out rather sluggishly. Adam had just come from closing Sense and Sensibility, Genesis was rehearsing for two shows, and Maia was swamped with work and school work. Everyone was there physically, but not mentally. Totally understandable. Totally happens. After the second time through the show, Mack asked if he could lead the cast in a focusing exercise. I won't get into the specifics, but good golly gracious me was there a difference afterwards. Everyone was in the zone, making discoveries, finding new ways to make the script and the characters their own. It was our most productive and satisfying rehearsal to date.

Then.

THEN.

Yes, there is a then.

Then, we began company run throughs on Monday where we divided into our panels and rehearsed transitions. For the first time we got to see how The Three Snap Shoe Swap would fit in with the other two shows in Panel B (The Last Person on Earth and The Golden Raspberry). These rehearsals were also very helpful for firming up lines and blocking. I can see the cement beginning to harden as we plunge head first into Tech Rehearsal on Saturday and Dress on Sunday.

I'm so excited for everyone to see these shows (and also see Panel A cuz all the One Acts are a hoot and half...well, I mean you might cry during one or two but you'll also laugh so it's fine).

Until next time,

an increasingly-impatient-for-opening-night playwright

Sasquatch Company Run-Throughs

This week, we had two company run-throughs on Monday and on Wednesday. Sasquatch is in Panel A, and it is the last play in the panel. Our show will be be playing next week and I could not be more excited. Our cast did an amazing job both nights of company run-throughs and got a great reaction from the audience. The actors comedic timing has consistently gotten better through rehearsals. Amy did a really nice job directing, and it shows. Each character has a moment to shine in this play, and they all have a great dynamic together. Watching the show, I believe that they are family. This week in class, we also worked on sound cues. We decided that the intro song for our play will be Vacation by the Gogos, and the outro song will be We are Family by Sister Sledge. We also made a sound cue for the bear that is offstage in our play. This weekend, we have tech and dress rehearsals on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. I am looking forward to seeing the play with the additions of lighting, sound, and costuming.

The End of the Beginning

Well, that went by quickly..

This term's been fast paced and super busy. Between everything that's been going on and the mountain of work I've had to balance, Put On a Happy Face's production has been a breath of air as I can now relax a bit more. Having seen the company run throughs, it's crazy to think we'll be showing next week. With such little time it can be a bit nerve wracking, and I've found myself making more nitpicky notes for my actors to make things just right. It's hard to take a breath and let things go, especially since they and Sam have done such an excellent job.

My momma's gonna see it on the Saturday, and some friends from high school may get drunk and go see it. As I'm going to see every performance, I might just do the same.

The Guardian: Growing Strong

This week was marked by company run-thrus and one other rehearsal. The run-thrus went pretty well, and we only had a few little things to change following up on them. We added the curtains after the elimination of my “nature circle” idea, so we then had to get used to using them in the show. I think I’ve fixed all the blocking issues with them, but I’ll have to wait for tech to know for sure.

Olivia sent me most of the sound cues this week, too, and there are only a few adjustments we need to make for them before they’re done. Most of them sound perfect, there are just a couple more we have to get ready and then we’ll be good to go!

I know that my show is the most technical out of all the shows in the festival by far, and I need to make sure I’m prepared and focused for tech rehearsal this weekend. There’s a lot of things I need to ensure are just right, and that will require some work on my part both before and after tech. I have faith that it will go well, but I am certainly a bit anxious about the sound and light cues, mostly because I know they are complex and have to be just right.

I do need to let go of a certain degree of control with the tech aspects. Everyone is working super hard and I absolutely love how efficient they’ve been in this process. I am the director and it is my show, but it’s not only my show. It’s a collaborative process, and I know everyone is going to work as hard as they can to help my vision become realized. If things aren’t exactly how I pictured they’d be, that’s perfectly alright.

Everything will turn out exactly the way it’s meant to.