Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: So I said, "Why don't we do a play?" HELP!!

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totoks
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Posted: 11/30/07 at 11:21pm

After last night, I really was ready to give up the ..., throw in the ..., whatever. However... I think it was a great deal of wah, wah, wah, on my part. We had cheese in the green room so I saw fit to throw in a large amount of my not-even-a-real-playwright whine. Um, yeah.

Tonight, it went a great deal bettah and I'm thinking this might, just might, maybe, just maybe, turn into a pretty good experience.

The blocking went well (enough that I could make a few minor tweeks). There were some "lines, please", but ad-libbing virtually disappeared. "Sleigh Bells" is still a disaster, however, we managed to get the crew "outside" where they belonged and now, maybe, we can address the singing problems. There were moments when I actually started to believe the players - this is a first, for me.

Nine days and counting - we will do this thing we've committed to...

theatre... [t]he natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster. (from "Shakespeare In Love")

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neilfortin
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Posted: 12/03/07 at 10:17pm

When you start to beleive whats goin on on stage...its the best feeling!!! THAT is where the magic starts to happen, and the reason that we all involve ourselves in this world of theater! We'd love to see some pre-production pics!

Community Theater makes us smile

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totoks
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Posted: 12/06/07 at 9:09am

Update: Tuesday, we had a complete run-through of Shenandoah: A Christmas Story or as known that night: Shenandoah: The Everlasting Basinet Hound.

Someone brought in, as a prop, this white (white?) basinet for the baby to sleep in during a scene. It stayed there for the entire play. Center stage. White. Ugly.

Thursday: Small tech run-through to get the d--- props where they belonged. Who brought it in? Who takes it out -- not while the singer is singing!!!

Dress rehearsal. It went well, well, it stayed on the tracks. Changed basinet to brown period type basket - looks much better. (And it disappeared after the baby scene!) Breath of Heaven was awesome. Worked on bows at end of play.

Edit: Took pictures and will try to post if I can figure out how

Tonight: tighten up.

Tomorrow: same

Saturday: rest (or suicide)

Sunday: Opening

theatre... [t]he natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster. (from "Shakespeare In Love")

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jayzehr
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Posted: 12/06/07 at 3:25pm

Originally posted by totoks

Edit: Took pictures and will try to post if I can figure out how

Maybe you could post them to a Flickr account or something similar.

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totoks
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Posted: 12/09/07 at 9:01am

Well, tonight's the night: Opening/closing. We've done all the rehearsals, a major tech, a tech this last Friday, everyone "knows" their lines (at least enough to where I'm not hounding everyone except to say 'study your lines'), the props are in a row, the costumes are ready, the sets are waiting, the music has been gone over at least a zillion times, and the SM has been officially handed the 'book'.

I guess there is not anything left to do.

Oh, I will watch the play, tonight, as a punter, up until my little Hitchcock cameo as a soldier walking across the field while Josh Porter hides, clutching his rifle. I pause, look slowly out and then continue stage left. An award wining performance, I'm sure.

There is a certain sadness to realize that this time tomorrow it will be over. That, good or bad, it will only be memories. The hours of going over and over the same scenes will disappear and the audience will never know what effort these players have put in for their 3 minutes of fame.

For all of the stumbles, and fumbles, and argghhs, and and certainties that this was a big mistake, this cast, at this time, means more to me than any other groups of peoples I have ever known.

theatre... [t]he natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster. (from "Shakespeare In Love")

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neilfortin
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Posted: 12/09/07 at 10:19am

And that sir....is exactly why we do this! Exactly why at three AM the night before a performance someone is hot glueing something to somebody's costume becuase they ripped it during dress rehersal. Thats is why you are out 45 minutes before the show trying to buy a brand new light bult becuase of your light fell out of its lodging during a cast picture! Its why we love the fact that blocking just turns into "just don't bump into the furniture". Its why you have dreams about failure two months before the show even goes on!! Its why we love community theater. But just remember tonight HOW AWESOME its gonna be to see your creation live, it makes it that much more real, and even at christmas time it makes it THAT much more special. Break a leg tonight, its been wonderful watching you learn and grow in this process!

Neil

Community Theater makes us smile

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Aimee
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Posted: 12/09/07 at 11:44am

We start our Tech rehearsals for our Christmas show today. We've not put the set together yet (i hope to get my crew to do that today) and the last time I was on the stage the platforms for the set were being built and that was Thursday. The director has already "warned" everyone (mostly the newbies) about our first tech rehearsal seeming like the show is a train wreck and hearing some say opening night can't be THIS Friday...you know all the disasterous thoughts you have during rehearsals ....until FINALLY somehow it all comes together on performance nights. Yes that is a grand feeling.

Enjoy this night you've ceratinly worked hard enough...then afterword,

go have a drink

break a leg!

Aimee

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totoks
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Posted: 12/09/07 at 10:51pm

This was it.

It is a helpless feeling. There is nothing that could be done to change whatever was going to happen. If someone forgot their lines. If they froze, deer-in-the-headlight looks at other players, who helplessly watch the meltdown. If the ugly prop stays on forever. If the singer forgets the second verse, again. If the glass lantern gets knocked off, breaking into little pieces on the stage. If, if, if. Nothing I could do to solve any of these "if"s.

All I could do is put on my seat belt and hope for a safe landing.

All went well.

It was totally wonderful. These not-ever-gonna-be-prime-time-players delivered. I was so damn proud...

I will probably never do this again - my heart couldn't handle it, never mind my spouse! I will never forget this and will always wonder if I had started 30 or 40 years ago ...

And you guys -- the encouragement and the willingness on your part to offer knowledge to someone who is obviously not of the theatah!!

Well, thanks. I can't even try to imagine doing what we did without you.

Phil Ireton

Shalimar Presbyterian Church

Shalimar, FL

theatre... [t]he natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster. (from "Shakespeare In Love")

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jayzehr
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Posted: 12/11/07 at 12:19pm

It is always amazing what happens when the lights come on and there's an audience watching. You have to fight to remember that in the last stages of putting a show up when everything frequently seems to look dismal.

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