Tonight was the opening of our second weekend. The show was sold out--literally, from wall to wall not a seat was left. The audience was quiet to start with, but from my vantage point in the balcony, on the edge of their seats. What a gratifying experience. It is difficult to describe, difficult to assimilate, difficult to process, but so lovely to feel! People are moved by our show, and that is AWESOME!
As I watched from different places in the house--standing because there were no seats--I can sense the cast spreading out and filling the spaces in each scene. (What an incredible opportunity to be able to do this show two weekends!) They continue to feel their way through the story and to adjust appropriately. There were a few minor technical glitches tonight--but even so, no one lost focus or pulled out of the story.
It's wonderful to be able to chat and unwind with these smart, creative and thoughful people. I enjoy spending time with all of them...and I especially enjoy hearing their perspective about what's happening on-stage. The silliness, the saves, the near-misses, the comraderie, the hand on the back--they are really beautiful inside and out. I am so lucky to have crossed paths with every one of them!
We have another 4 shows in 48 hours coming up. It's brutal. Exhausting: emotionally, physically, creatively....I will try to gather people into the moment. Remind them that that is where their power is...staying with the story. I think we'll be fine until Sunday. Bloody Sunday!
Back to...
The Barricades!
xo
Kelly
Friday, April 11, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
To the storytellers!
Today we return to the Flynn for our brush up rehearsal. We are running through the show with full set, props and sound set-up--no costumes and no make-up--for the specific purpose of "freshening" things up before we re-open on Thursday. Fight call will happen; we will tech Mark's fly again, and make sure that Abby's hair/wig combo is secure. I will check spacing and business as the cast and crews run through their on stage work. Sean will double check the timing of his cue calling. Cheri and Tom will talk with Jeremy about the projection cues and where they need to be tightened up. Corey will continue to work on mic cues and mix. All of the familiar procedures and pre-show business will happen on the same schedule that we have grown accustomed to since last week-end.
Returning to the security of the structure and the story that we built feels like a tremendous relief: the storm of emotions from the weekend has left me drained and exhausted. Don't get me wrong! I am beyond happy....I don't really have words to describe the flood of feelings: joy and pride that our concept works so beautifully; fierce pride in the work of my cast; humble gratitude for the "buy in" of the crews; more gratitude for my design teams' trust and vision...I've looked at 1000s of photos of the show, of the party, of backstage shenanigans (Oh yes!), and what I see is beauty, joy, commitment, ownership, camaraderie, honest pride and love. I also saw the show 4 times this weekend, and was blown away by how beautiful it is. The carefully crafted moments are working! The lights, the projections, the costumes, the make-up, the sets, the movement--all are so beautifully integrated. My cast and crews are hitting their marks and telling their story and I can hardly take it in. Really, I can't. I hope to take more in this weekend--to really see things and appreciate details in a calmer and more right-brained way....I'll try anyway!
We--Lyric Theatre--don't have a lot of experience doing two weekend shows. The "old-timers" do, but most of the cast/crew is too young to remember when that was standard. How to prep them? How to lead them and make them feel confident and present in THESE moments of story telling? It's so easy to get knocked off kilter by the accolades that we have received. I want to shake them up a bit and remind them of what they have done and can do again. I want to remind them of why they were picked to do this show and to be in this cast. Doing that will get them to the frame of mind that best delivers this story...This "brush-up" rehearsal isn't in place to refresh and remember the business or the stage work; it's in place to remind the cast and crews of who they are, to center them and refresh them, to clear away the debris of moments that are now in the past, and to break away from the hypnotic siren songs of praise...
Having real work to do makes me feel so much better! It's hard to stay present with praise. I really don't know how--other than to say thank you to the person offering it. Getting back to "center", feeling grounded and open--that's where I want to be and where I want my cast to be.
To the storytellers!
xo
Kelly
Returning to the security of the structure and the story that we built feels like a tremendous relief: the storm of emotions from the weekend has left me drained and exhausted. Don't get me wrong! I am beyond happy....I don't really have words to describe the flood of feelings: joy and pride that our concept works so beautifully; fierce pride in the work of my cast; humble gratitude for the "buy in" of the crews; more gratitude for my design teams' trust and vision...I've looked at 1000s of photos of the show, of the party, of backstage shenanigans (Oh yes!), and what I see is beauty, joy, commitment, ownership, camaraderie, honest pride and love. I also saw the show 4 times this weekend, and was blown away by how beautiful it is. The carefully crafted moments are working! The lights, the projections, the costumes, the make-up, the sets, the movement--all are so beautifully integrated. My cast and crews are hitting their marks and telling their story and I can hardly take it in. Really, I can't. I hope to take more in this weekend--to really see things and appreciate details in a calmer and more right-brained way....I'll try anyway!
We--Lyric Theatre--don't have a lot of experience doing two weekend shows. The "old-timers" do, but most of the cast/crew is too young to remember when that was standard. How to prep them? How to lead them and make them feel confident and present in THESE moments of story telling? It's so easy to get knocked off kilter by the accolades that we have received. I want to shake them up a bit and remind them of what they have done and can do again. I want to remind them of why they were picked to do this show and to be in this cast. Doing that will get them to the frame of mind that best delivers this story...This "brush-up" rehearsal isn't in place to refresh and remember the business or the stage work; it's in place to remind the cast and crews of who they are, to center them and refresh them, to clear away the debris of moments that are now in the past, and to break away from the hypnotic siren songs of praise...
Having real work to do makes me feel so much better! It's hard to stay present with praise. I really don't know how--other than to say thank you to the person offering it. Getting back to "center", feeling grounded and open--that's where I want to be and where I want my cast to be.
To the storytellers!
xo
Kelly
Monday, April 7, 2014
Hit your marks, tell your story!
What an opening! What an incredible experience to sit in the house and listen to the audience hold their collective breath, to hear them gasp and cheer and cry as our story unfolded. It was amazing, joyful and stunning--overwhelming. We had a standing ovation at the end of Act 1! Unbelieveable!
WE have 5 more shows to do--Thursday through Sunday of this week, and I think, I know it will be equally wonderful. My cast is so solid and ready to be present in each moment as it is happening. They appreciate all the details and support each other even more than I guessed or knew. The crews are equally tuned in and strive for perfection. There is a sense of comraderie and teamwork back-stage as the show unfolds--it really is something special. Everyone feels owenership, pride and a sense of responsibility to do their best...Not to be perfect, but to be the best that they can be: To hit their marks, tell their story, solve their problem. There is a remarkable sense of clarity about what their job is, and everyone feels equal to the task.
AMAZING!
Resting for now, but soon...
TO THE BARRICADES!
Kelly
WE have 5 more shows to do--Thursday through Sunday of this week, and I think, I know it will be equally wonderful. My cast is so solid and ready to be present in each moment as it is happening. They appreciate all the details and support each other even more than I guessed or knew. The crews are equally tuned in and strive for perfection. There is a sense of comraderie and teamwork back-stage as the show unfolds--it really is something special. Everyone feels owenership, pride and a sense of responsibility to do their best...Not to be perfect, but to be the best that they can be: To hit their marks, tell their story, solve their problem. There is a remarkable sense of clarity about what their job is, and everyone feels equal to the task.
AMAZING!
Resting for now, but soon...
TO THE BARRICADES!
Kelly
Friday, April 4, 2014
BIG FEELS!!!
(Yesterday)
Today is our final dress rehearsal before we open. It's almost too overwhelming to think about...how do you end a process like this? I really don't know. I suspect that it's a transition to another phase, but I'm not sure what the other phase is. I am so looking forward to the cast having an audience. I'm looking forward to hearing the audience respond, although I think I have some centering to do around that. I don't want to rely on the audience for validation--although it is certainly a huge piece, their emotional response, their applause and discussions after. I want my feelings of success to be separate from that though, and that feels difficult right now. I don't know how to get there.
My cast is buzzing and happy. My crew heads and designers are settling in, trouble-shooting and keeping calm amidst the chaos. It's truly an amazing feat that we are pulling off here! When I try and pull my thoughts together to prepare to speak to my cast I get very weepy. I guess that is a good thing!
Okay, we're starting. Hard to type in the dark.
Oh My. Ian is pulling out all stops. WTF! He is magnificent! Look...IT'S JEAN VALJEAN!
NO more notes! This story is alive and unfolding before my eyes!
(Today)
Today is Opening. Holy Crap. I've sent my last set of notes to my fabulous crew. Cast members are buzzing on FB. I am so excited to have an audience and to feel the show! Oh How Glorious it will be!! The energy will be electrifying.
I feel good, finally. Peaceful and excited. The show is in their hands. There will probably always be tiny tech things that will need to be adjusted--it'll take the crew time to feel their way through things, but even with that-things are solid. Now to see how my cast takes the audience. It will be so interesting!!
I want to talk about gratitude. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who put their blood, sweat and tears into this project. What an honor to be trusted with this story and this production...No words. Just lots and lots of joyful tears!
Here we go...
TO THE BARRICADES!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Kelly
Today is our final dress rehearsal before we open. It's almost too overwhelming to think about...how do you end a process like this? I really don't know. I suspect that it's a transition to another phase, but I'm not sure what the other phase is. I am so looking forward to the cast having an audience. I'm looking forward to hearing the audience respond, although I think I have some centering to do around that. I don't want to rely on the audience for validation--although it is certainly a huge piece, their emotional response, their applause and discussions after. I want my feelings of success to be separate from that though, and that feels difficult right now. I don't know how to get there.
My cast is buzzing and happy. My crew heads and designers are settling in, trouble-shooting and keeping calm amidst the chaos. It's truly an amazing feat that we are pulling off here! When I try and pull my thoughts together to prepare to speak to my cast I get very weepy. I guess that is a good thing!
Okay, we're starting. Hard to type in the dark.
Oh My. Ian is pulling out all stops. WTF! He is magnificent! Look...IT'S JEAN VALJEAN!
NO more notes! This story is alive and unfolding before my eyes!
(Today)
Today is Opening. Holy Crap. I've sent my last set of notes to my fabulous crew. Cast members are buzzing on FB. I am so excited to have an audience and to feel the show! Oh How Glorious it will be!! The energy will be electrifying.
I feel good, finally. Peaceful and excited. The show is in their hands. There will probably always be tiny tech things that will need to be adjusted--it'll take the crew time to feel their way through things, but even with that-things are solid. Now to see how my cast takes the audience. It will be so interesting!!
I want to talk about gratitude. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who put their blood, sweat and tears into this project. What an honor to be trusted with this story and this production...No words. Just lots and lots of joyful tears!
Here we go...
TO THE BARRICADES!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Kelly
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