Go Tech Yourself - The Tech Weekend

I am writing this update on the afternoon of the day following the Cue to Cue (Q2Q) technical rehearsal. I would have written it last night, but I wanted to think about how far we've come, how fast, and have a good sleep before I report and muse. This time to mull was good, because it gave me the distance and perspective to really feel good about the whole weekend work.

This is a precarious time in any rehearsal process, but when we've been coping with production side issues as well, there was the potential for this weekend to blow out and limp off to the corner. Instead, we had two days of solid, focused work, and I think the show made several key jumps forward.

On Saturday, no actors were called, and it was basically sound and lights, with operators, looking at/listening to where we were and setting up what we could have in place for the Q2Q. I wanted as much ready to go for SM Sarah's sake, because there are some key areas for cueing that she deserves a chance to rehearse and set. I was very happy with the looks and feels both sound and LX are acheiving. While we have a few sound and a few more lighting looks to be completed, the direction the designers are working in dovetails with the actors and set remarkably well. It is interesting to note that the sound has kept a driving edge, but also found some softer notes and slowed tempos. The show will unfold with the sound and lights in a simple and deliberate fashion that works very well with the minimal set.

Ah, the minimal set. Hee hee hee. Alumnae hero Michael has been a godsend in the build, but we teched with 2/3 of the moving set pieces constructed, and no screens covered. Gulp! It still takes a large leap of imagination to see what this show will look like when fully executed. That said, I can see it much better now than last weekend. There is a skeleton in place, and when I squint I can fill in the blanks.

After the levels on Saturday, Sunday was the big big show: 10 am call, started working cues closer to noon (ish). By the lunch break at 1 we were 7 cues into the show. Now, this is where I start with the mitigating "But"...

First I want to publically and forever thank the cast on the internet where no file ever truly disappears for their work and patience. It is hard work to be the object of a rehearsal when you are accustomed to being the subject, and I appreciate your diligence and relative composure throughout.

Second, mad props to all the crew who joined us this weekend! Moving set, rear projections, actor quickchanges, food props, twelve time and location shifts - this show has a lot to offer in terms of interesting challenges! I appreciate how walking into a process that has embraced a great deal of chaos can make all those challenges even, um, spicier - and your work this weekend was exceptional.

Once we got the ball rolling after lunch, the afternoon went extremely well. We did work until 6:30, but took a break and managed to get a great deal accomplished. The biggest acheivement was in the area of backstage management. PJ and Ellen and Sarah worked very well to get that sphere in control, and Raizie and Roz have our props table set and running. It is a great relief to walk through the wings and see things put away in their place. Makes me want to clean my closet...

Sound had a cheeky joke that broke up the room late in the afternoon - at the transition at the end of Scene 11 Hotel, there is still a sound slot outstanding. I was expecting to dry tech it, but instead Angus slotted in a Prodigy track "Smack My B**** Up", which, while appropriate in terms of time period, was perhaps a bit too "on the nose" as a final selection. Difficult to share this joke without dropping spoilers, but let's just say it was COMPLETELY inappropriate and TOTALLY hilarious, in a black humour way. Was great to have a good laugh at that late moment of the day.

All areas are moving forward: costumes have a parade set, set is getting built, painted and finished, sound and lights are well on their way to execution. This week we have act work and runs...time to raise the baton and start conducting. Beginners, please...

Resurfacing

Coming up for air to say there are blog updates a-coming, hopefully later tonight. This is my only day off until next Sat, and I am trying to be all things to all people. But never fear, production chronicles are in the crockpot of my brain, simmering until the fall off the bone.