Cleaning Up... The Show That Is...
Feb. 11th, 2005 12:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeansAfter four weeks off, the “Evita” company reconvened in Wallingford, CT. As The Oakdale, (the massive metal hall masquerading as a theater) is located in the sticks, the cast, orchestra and crew are staying in New Haven. We’re car pooling the 15 miles to the theater and finding out a lot about each other’s driving habits in the process:)
Speaking to “process”, we’ve had intensive rehearsals this week; four hours on Tuesday and four hours on Wednesday. The first day was about remembering the show. None of us had ever had such a long break from a show while under contract. Collectively we decided to rely on muscle memory and it stood us in good stead. After one run-through, it was like we hadn’t been away.
On Wednesday, the rehearsal was a cleanup with detailed vocal work. As the six-part harmonies in the Aristocrats numbers are the most difficult in the show, followed by the dissonance of the opening “Requiem”, the majority of the time was spent on these sections.
It was also an opportunity for the sound department to continue polishing and improving the miking in the show. We sang several parts over and over in search of just the right sound for each person ... the correct balance to make the vocals exciting ... the orchestra sound rich and full.
The performances have gone well; and even though the venue is a barn and the audiences seem far away, we’ve gotten very good response and the newspaper review was quite favorable. We have five more shows this week. During my time off, I’ve walked downtown New Haven taking pictures of Yale University, the town green and other historic sites such as the Shubert Theater and City Hall.
Our weekend includes a pre-matinee meeting on Saturday with a representative from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Tom is coming up from New York to speak with us about our upcoming benefit in San Francisco on April 4 at Club Fugazi. In addition to BC/EFA, our special performance will benefit a SF organization called REAF. (I think I have that right:)
Hal Prince and his conductor son Charlie, Larry Fuller and his assistant Kim Jordan will also see our Saturday afternoon show. Hal is giving us notes after the performance. Sunday night, the NY-based members of our cast will bus back to the city and the rest of us will return rental cars to Hartford on Monday morning, then catch our flights home.
I arrive back in Austin on Valentines Day. My romantic evening will be spent taking my sister and brother-in-law to dinner:) I’ll do the 90-minute drive back to Brenham later that evening. My month off already seems a distant memory, but I was happy helping my family and completing projects.
I think I’m most proud that, during the break, I stayed off my credit cards. Four weeks without income is challenging after the course of events in my last five years, but I think I’ve made it through the worst. Four weeks off...and cleaning....now back in the saddle with “Evita”.... and the cleaning continues.... but this time it’s cleaning up:)
Off the subject: I just heard a line from the new Debra Messing film. "I think I'd miss you even if we had never met." I can't decide if it is groaningly corny or wonderful... or a bit of both. LOL!
Speaking to “process”, we’ve had intensive rehearsals this week; four hours on Tuesday and four hours on Wednesday. The first day was about remembering the show. None of us had ever had such a long break from a show while under contract. Collectively we decided to rely on muscle memory and it stood us in good stead. After one run-through, it was like we hadn’t been away.
On Wednesday, the rehearsal was a cleanup with detailed vocal work. As the six-part harmonies in the Aristocrats numbers are the most difficult in the show, followed by the dissonance of the opening “Requiem”, the majority of the time was spent on these sections.
It was also an opportunity for the sound department to continue polishing and improving the miking in the show. We sang several parts over and over in search of just the right sound for each person ... the correct balance to make the vocals exciting ... the orchestra sound rich and full.
The performances have gone well; and even though the venue is a barn and the audiences seem far away, we’ve gotten very good response and the newspaper review was quite favorable. We have five more shows this week. During my time off, I’ve walked downtown New Haven taking pictures of Yale University, the town green and other historic sites such as the Shubert Theater and City Hall.
Our weekend includes a pre-matinee meeting on Saturday with a representative from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Tom is coming up from New York to speak with us about our upcoming benefit in San Francisco on April 4 at Club Fugazi. In addition to BC/EFA, our special performance will benefit a SF organization called REAF. (I think I have that right:)
Hal Prince and his conductor son Charlie, Larry Fuller and his assistant Kim Jordan will also see our Saturday afternoon show. Hal is giving us notes after the performance. Sunday night, the NY-based members of our cast will bus back to the city and the rest of us will return rental cars to Hartford on Monday morning, then catch our flights home.
I arrive back in Austin on Valentines Day. My romantic evening will be spent taking my sister and brother-in-law to dinner:) I’ll do the 90-minute drive back to Brenham later that evening. My month off already seems a distant memory, but I was happy helping my family and completing projects.
I think I’m most proud that, during the break, I stayed off my credit cards. Four weeks without income is challenging after the course of events in my last five years, but I think I’ve made it through the worst. Four weeks off...and cleaning....now back in the saddle with “Evita”.... and the cleaning continues.... but this time it’s cleaning up:)
Off the subject: I just heard a line from the new Debra Messing film. "I think I'd miss you even if we had never met." I can't decide if it is groaningly corny or wonderful... or a bit of both. LOL!
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