Closings

For those involved in theatre: Endings stink. For all those involved. You put so much of yourself into every moment. The closer the production is, the more of your life that is immersed, the more of a family everyone is, the more fun is had....and then: it's over.

As a director (and probably as an old person) I am no longer "affected" by the closings. But that is probably because it is "over" for me before it is those involved. Once we go up, it is no longer my show. It belongs to the kids: in the cast, the crew, the orchestra. During our three night run of Thoroughly Modern Millie, I only ventured backstage twice: once to check on an injured dancer and another time to check on an actress that was upset over a missed cue and wardrobe malfunctions. (OK...I WAS there before the show, during intermission and at the end....but that doesn't count.)

To lessen the blow of closing night, I announce the next "mainstage" productions. I'm actually already fully immersed in them. Three class one acts and the show we take into competition will develop simultaneously. There will most likely be overlap between casts as well. As long as I've SOMETHING to be working on, I don't "jones". (I don't even know who knows what that means anymore!) The announcements were met with positive reactions...even the show that no one's ever heard of.

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The closing announcements on B'way continue, and I STILL expect a few more to fall. The shows scheduled to close now include:

13 - 1/4/2009
*All My Sons - 1/11/2009
American Buffalo - 11/23/2008
Dividing the Estate - 1/4/2009
*Equus - 2/8/2009
Hairspray - 1/4/2009
*Irving Berlin’s White Christmas - 1/4/2009
*A Man for All Seasons - 12/14/2008
Monty Python’s Spamalot - 1/11/2009
*Pal Joey - 2/15/2009
The Seagull - 12/21/2008
*Speed-the-Plow - 2/22/2009
Spring Awakening - 1/18/2009
Young Frankenstein - 1/4/2009
Gypsy - early 3/2009

* = PLANNED Limited Engagement

It would not suprise me if some of these end up closing earlier then posted...it's happened often lately.

Add that to the frightenly DISMAL list of shows ALREADY closed since the TONY Awards:

Cry-Baby: June 22, 2008
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: June 22, 2008
Curtains: June 29, 2008
*Sunday in the Park with George: June 29, 2008
Top Girls: June 29, 2008
*Les Liasins Dangereuses: July 6, 2008
November: July 13, 2008
*The Country Girl: July 20, 2008
Passing Strange: July 20, 2008
A Catered Affair: July 27, 2008
A Chorus Line: August 17, 2008
Thurgood: August 17, 2008
*Cirque Dreams: August 24, 2008
Rent: September 7, 2008
Xanadu: September 28, 2008
[title of show]: October 12, 2008
Legally Blonde: October 19, 2008
A Tale of Two Cities: November 9, 2008
*To Be or Not To Be: November 16, 2008

* = Planned limited run...but some ran shorter OR longer than originally planned.


Sigh. 'Tis sad.

Opening Night!

Well, it's finally here. After weeks of creativity, disappointments, frustrations and rehearsals...it's opening night for Thoroughly Modern Millie.

The school has suffered a horrid setback. A much beloved staff member was tragically killed in an early morning car accident. The school was in a fog all day, either people were personally affected by the news or KNEW someone that was in pain over the accident. And of course, during it all: still work to be done.

I am not one that outwardly handles grief well. I deal with things by working. On anything. In this case, I had a set to finish. I had technology to fix. I had a million things to take my focus from the sadness. The strange thing for me: I will cry like a baby when moved by literature, art, theatre. Reality? Cannot deal. Which is why theatre works so well for me. I am the living example of how catharsis actually works. (Look up the word: catharsis. It'll be worth your time.)

In spite of everything our final dress rehearsal on Tuesday night went truly beautifully. The orchestra has truly mastered incredibly difficult music and sound wonderful! The backstage crew, which has an incredibly large and cumbersome set, has gotten total of control of things. The actors have truly created some wonderful characters and can sell the hell out of their songs. My light and sound crews are feeling the show. Even the technology worked well. (After all my worries...the translations were actually an easy fix.)

I have surprises for the cast over the next few nights. I can't divulge all the info since some of them check out this blog (which I love!) The culminating surprise is that I will announce not only the title of the next show (the piece we take into competition) but the spring play. (Usually only the NEXT show is announced.)

Break a leg to all the students involved with Thoroughly Modern Millie!!!

Casting Thoroughly Modern Millie

Well, the deed is done. After sign ups, auditions and callbacks: a cast list has been made and posted. We even got in a few scant rehearsals. All is good.

For those that have never been part of the casting process, let me assure you: it is not fun. My best analogy for the casting process is a huge jigsaw puzzle...where every piece fits....but you have no picture to guide you. Then add to it that you are casting high school kids and mix into it how well you KNOW most of them and how much it means to many of them: it turns into a hot mess of sleepless nights. Truly. I never sleep better then the night AFTER a cast list is posted.

There are always a few you worry about for a variety of reasons: will they be upset to have gotten a smaller part than they hoped? Will they be anxiety ridden upon finding out how big of a part they have?

Is part of "show biz" learning disappointment? Naturally. But as a public school educator, I am always concerned with the whole student. And to be honest; it is more important to me to keep their love for theatre alive, along with their drive to create than it is to teach them about the harsh reality of life. Don't get me wrong...I cast the best show that I can (and I can say that in 15+ years of casting, I have only doubted ONE decision). I just worry.

This is the first year I've had to be physically present at the high school when the cast list was posted. Previously, my (newly retired) colleague would put up the list while I was safely hidden at the middle school. In all honesty, it wasn't as bad as I'd thought it might be. In fact, watching what seemed to be true joy for friends that had fared well was inspiring.

I haven't heard of any tears or anger...and I am always certain to ask around. Most of the feedback seems really positive. I'm always willing to talk to a student that needs to. I don't mind if kids are dissappointed...it just means it meant a lot to them. Tears? You can't help how you feel. I think the "getting over it" is more important than the initial knee-jerk reaction.

Millie is an odd musical: MANY more roles for the girls than the guys. And even the parts for the men are less visable then their female counterparts. Once you get past the leading roles the pickin's are slim. Most of the men's remaining are one or two liners. Which left a lot more disappointed guys then girls. (From a purely sexist point of view: it's about time!!)