Yesterday (Saturday) was tech Saturday for Les Miserables. For those not familiar with our process, we worked through the entire show starting at 1 p.m. and added all scenic moves (which we roughed in on Thursday and Friday night), all lighting and sound issues (microphones) and props. This process will be repeated today (Sunday) - hopefully more smoothly - and then we will add costumes on Monday and hair and makeup on Tuesday. Then, we should be ready for an audience on Friday. More updates on Monday...
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Les Miserables - Working for the weekend
We started technical rehearsals last night (Thursday). For this show, we're doing it a little different than past opening musicals. On Thursday night, the cast went back downstairs and ran Act One with Charles while I was working with the tech crew on all of the tech moves for scenery in the show. Around 8:30 p.m., the cast moved upstairs and we worked cue-to-cue on the scenic moves - reviewing when actors were moving pieces, when technicians were moving pieces, where pieces should be placed, etc. Rehearsal ended last night at 10:40 p.m. - later than I would have liked to have a non-dress rehearsal end but earlier than I thought it might end due to the length of Act One in Les Miserables. Tonight, we will work on Act Two with the same plan. However, it should be a little easier as Act Two is shorter than Act One.
This weekend is tech weekend - a long weekend for eveyone involved in the show. We will be working on some technical elements on Saturday morning, and then actors will come in around Noon to put on wireless microphones. We'll run the show starting at 1 p.m. with lots of stopping for light cues, sound issues, set changes and prop issues - no costumes until Monday night. The Saturday afternoon tech is draining on everyone involved but it must be done in order for the show to move forward. On Sunday afternoon/evening, we'll run it again, and be ready to add costumes on Monday night.
While the show is getting ready to open, there are lots of other people getting ready for our new season. The Box Office is busing selling 2009 memberships along with tickets to Les Miserables. Marketing is preparing the Prompter - our program - and the first one of the year is the hardest with all the new ads and all of the information for the opening musical (cast bios, musical numbers, letters, etc.). We're also cleaning the theatre and dressing rooms and getting ready to open the theatre to our patrons on February 13th for the opening of the show.
This weekend is tech weekend - a long weekend for eveyone involved in the show. We will be working on some technical elements on Saturday morning, and then actors will come in around Noon to put on wireless microphones. We'll run the show starting at 1 p.m. with lots of stopping for light cues, sound issues, set changes and prop issues - no costumes until Monday night. The Saturday afternoon tech is draining on everyone involved but it must be done in order for the show to move forward. On Sunday afternoon/evening, we'll run it again, and be ready to add costumes on Monday night.
While the show is getting ready to open, there are lots of other people getting ready for our new season. The Box Office is busing selling 2009 memberships along with tickets to Les Miserables. Marketing is preparing the Prompter - our program - and the first one of the year is the hardest with all the new ads and all of the information for the opening musical (cast bios, musical numbers, letters, etc.). We're also cleaning the theatre and dressing rooms and getting ready to open the theatre to our patrons on February 13th for the opening of the show.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Les Miserables - upstairs rehearsals
On Tuesday, many of the people involved in the barricade scene went to the police shooting range, and watched an expert load and shoot a black powder gun - CBS 7 covered this activity:
WATCH
Many thanks to Jim Reynolds - a member of the Midland Police force and a cast member who organized this event!
On Tuesday night, we continued to adjust the blocking to the stage. There were some adjustments to the Rue Plumet units - especially Marius climbing over the gate - but we can make it work. In addition, we have some people missing on Wednesday night due to conflicts - church choir, out of town meetings - so we moved ahead and ran more than originally scheduled. Tonight (Wednesday), we will finish reviewing and adjusting the rest of Act II, and then move into technical rehearsals.
The final 10 days of working on a show are the most stressful. The relaxed atmosphere of early rehearsals disappears when we move upstairs and the sense of the upcoming opening night - and the audience watching - sets in. There is a lot of work to be done before we are ready to open, but we can make it if we work together.
WATCH
Many thanks to Jim Reynolds - a member of the Midland Police force and a cast member who organized this event!
On Tuesday night, we continued to adjust the blocking to the stage. There were some adjustments to the Rue Plumet units - especially Marius climbing over the gate - but we can make it work. In addition, we have some people missing on Wednesday night due to conflicts - church choir, out of town meetings - so we moved ahead and ran more than originally scheduled. Tonight (Wednesday), we will finish reviewing and adjusting the rest of Act II, and then move into technical rehearsals.
The final 10 days of working on a show are the most stressful. The relaxed atmosphere of early rehearsals disappears when we move upstairs and the sense of the upcoming opening night - and the audience watching - sets in. There is a lot of work to be done before we are ready to open, but we can make it if we work together.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Les Miserables - moving upstairs
Last night, we moved rehearsals onto the stage. We worked through the first 1/3 of the show - the Prologue through The Bargain. All in all, there were not a lot of major changes for the blocking, and the cast adjusted well to the space. We will work though the rest of Act I and the beginning of Act II tonight (Tuesday) and then finish the rest of Act II on Wednesday before starting tech rehearsals on Thursday.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Publicity - MCT
A couple of weeks ago, we took a publicity photo of some of the main cast members to use on the cover of a local magazine (Good Times) that highlights upcoming events in the Permian Basin - music, comedians and theatre. Charlotte Dameron - our Marketing Director and a professional photographer - come up with the idea to take this photo of the cast in costume on the rubble of the downtown building that had been brought down a month ago. Unfortunately, Jean Valjean was unavailable due to a work commitment, but I think that the photo turned out great. Kudos to the cast and Charlotte for making this work!
Les Miserables - Stumble Thru
This past Sunday, we ran the entire show downstairs in the rehearsal room. Overall, I felt that this was a good run through - the actors were prepared, they knew when they were supposed to be onstage and what they were supposed to do and they were respectful of each other in this small room. We only stopped once and the entire ensemble got a feel for the overall show. If you know this production, it is a long show on the clock but it is not necessarily a long show to watch - the music and action never stops. This will be a challenge for our tech crew - keep the scenery moving on and off the stage and not allow the set and costume changes to drag the show. Fortunately, we had many tech people in the room on Sunday to watch the run through and get a feel for the show - our Lighting and Sound Designer, the set crew chair, the dresser chairs, props people, etc. I think that the cast has worked hard to get ready for performances, and we're in good shape for this stage of rehearsals.
After a run through, I usually encourage a brief discussion with comments from the actors. One comments that struck me was the fact that this was the first time some of the actors had seen some of the scenes - in other words, since they were not in that scene, they had not attended those rehearsals and had not watched that scene. So, the cast became the audience that day - watching the show, seeing the story and learning how they fit into the overall picture. All in all, it was a good rehearsal and we are ready to move forward.
Today (Monday), we move our rehearsals upstairs to Davis Theatre I, where the show will be performed. There are going to be some adjustments to the stage, but I also think that the excitement of moving upstairs and working on the stage will add a new level of energy and urgency to the actor's performances. Opening night is less than two weeks away, and there's work to be done to get ready. Stay tuned...
After a run through, I usually encourage a brief discussion with comments from the actors. One comments that struck me was the fact that this was the first time some of the actors had seen some of the scenes - in other words, since they were not in that scene, they had not attended those rehearsals and had not watched that scene. So, the cast became the audience that day - watching the show, seeing the story and learning how they fit into the overall picture. All in all, it was a good rehearsal and we are ready to move forward.
Today (Monday), we move our rehearsals upstairs to Davis Theatre I, where the show will be performed. There are going to be some adjustments to the stage, but I also think that the excitement of moving upstairs and working on the stage will add a new level of energy and urgency to the actor's performances. Opening night is less than two weeks away, and there's work to be done to get ready. Stay tuned...
2010 Play Selection
Carl Moore - chair of the 2010 Play Selection committee - has created a blog for discussion of the shows for the 2010 season at MCT - visit it at:
http://mct-2010-play-selection.blogspot.com/
http://mct-2010-play-selection.blogspot.com/
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