Mostly the same

Last nigh we played Wii with the cast and crew again. This time only until 3am.
Always a good time.

On Sunday the garage building company called to say that they were ready to do cement prep on our yard, and that we should take down our fence. So we spent the day taking down the fence that we put up two years ago at this time.

This morning around 8am they pulled up with all of their loud trucks. They have cleared the area and we should see out cement pad poured tomorrow.
Very exciting.

Opening Night Reception

It started as a joke. One of the crew guys was chatting with the Technical Director about purchasing a games table (air hockey, Foosball etc) to keep us entertained during this slow show. The Technical Director then said that he would pitch in half of what ever we raised. So the large crew (including myself) pitched some money. We started researching the tables and some how is morphed into a Wii.
So for Opening the boys went out and bought a Wii, 4 controllers, Band Hero, Mario Kart and a couple of other games.
During intermission we gathered all of the couches from the green room and the boys office and gathered them in the backstage area. Following the show we set up the office projector onto the large cyc at the back of the stage. For those of you that haven't been onstage before, a cyc is a large piece of white fabric that is usually used for lights. It is at the back of the stage in all dance shows and changes colours. More recently, with the increased use of projectors, show project onto them.
We had a very large screen, couches, booze and a large group of people.
I stuck around at the reception to talk to all the people that I only see at openings. When I went backstage there were over 20 people playing and singing and enjoying themselves. The group slowly thinned out.
There were five die-hards that stuck around until the very end. 4am.
Great fun!

Today is opening. Another opening. On days like today I wake up with a couple of songs in my head.

Think The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show. See Daffy and Bugs in tails doing a time step across the stage. They know the feeling.

This Is It
Overture, curtains, lights,
This is it, the night of nights
No more rehearsing and nursing a part
We know every part by heart

Overture, curtains, lights
This is it, you'll hit the heights
And oh what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it

Tonight what heights we'll hit
On with the show this is it


From "Annie Get Your Gun". A great little ditty.

There's No Business Like Show Business
The costumes, the scenery, the makeup, the props
The audience that lifts you when you're down

The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops
The sheriff who escorts you out of town

The opening when you heart beats like a drum

The closing when the customers won't come
There's no business like show business
Like no business I know

Everything about it is appealing
Everything that traffic will allow
No where could you have that happy feeling
When you are stealing that extra bow

There's no people like show people
They smile when they are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far
That night you opened and there you are
Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star
Let's go on with the show


By Musical Theatre composer Cole Porter from "Kiss Me Kate"
This one might capture the feeling the best.

Another Opening
Another openin', another show
In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo'
A chance for stage folks to say hello!
Another openin' of another show.

Another job that you hope will last
Will make your future forget your past
Another pain where the ulcers grow
Another openin' of another show

Four weeks, you rehearse and rehearse
Three weeks, and it couldn't be worse
One week, will it ever be right?
Then out of the hat it's that big first night

The overture is about to start
You cross your fingers and hold your heart
It's curtain time and away we go-
Another openin'
Just another openin' of another show!

Spelling Bee

I am a terrible speller. I have always known that. My mother has always told me that.
This recently has been spot lighted. The show I am working on right now is called "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Every show we call up 4 audience volunteers to be apart of the spelling bee. In recent days we have volunteers from the office etc. But in the beginning he would just call some of us from the production table to hop up and spell. I am out every time! Every time!
To add to the spelling embarrassment the choreographer decided that it would be a good idea to have an actual spelling bee (not scripted). So yesterday afternoon we did. I was the first speller and I failed, again. Not that I was the only one. Of the 13 of us in the bee all but three got their first words wrong. But mine was pretty easy. I don't even want to admit what the word was. Oh well. If there is anything I have learned working in this business - I have no shame. Oh well. Got the word wrong. Moving on.

This show has been a delight. The rehearsal days is filled with laughter and very little stress. We are nearly finished week 3. We move onto the stage next week. I am sure the usual stresses will follow us there, but I am really not worried. I have been "Beyond Eden", everything seems like a picnic now.