Bravo

Well, again I am wishing that appreciation for crew was taught in the universities. I recall having a discussion with my cast (when I directed BLWIT) about not going out to meet their friends and family until they had removed their costumes and microphones, as these crew members had worked all night and it was rude to just assume they could wait to pack up their departments to go home until after the actors had gone up to receive accolades for their performance. I was surprised that I even needed to say this, and even more taken aback by the attitudes that were thrown back at me, accompanied by statements of "Well I have people here to see me..., Can't they wait a few minutes? Isn't that what they are paid to do?...
   Why is theater etiquette only taught to theater majors, and musical theater/voice majors have no idea, and no respect for the hard work of others around them? (I realize this doesn't apply 100%, but in my experience at ASU, it applies to about 95%) I feel like they felt so entitled, and it was all about their moment to shine and be given kudos for their amazing talents.
   I bring this up (firstly because I don't really have to worry about anyone reading my blog) but because I was reminded of this Sunday night in rehearsal. The crew are working fifteen hour days to make this production work. They are constantly on alert for safety issues, to keep the show running smoothly, and in this arduous tech process are resetting sets and cues again and again to make it right. I am also so impressed by my cast. No one their work for granted. No diva attitudes, everyone stays in position and repeats these cues ad nauseum until they are perfect. I was especially impressed with our Valentine (SP) who was folded into a doll house on and off for over a period of two hours. Every so often they would open it up to let him have some air and release his upper body, and a few times he was able to get out and stretch. There was no complaining, no eye rolling, and no sense of self importance and "poor me", also JT in the jack-in-the-box sitting in there waiting for his cue to emerge. These actors realize that it is all part of a whole, and without the crew who is working tirelessly to create our world, we would have nothing.
   I do realize that youth and arrogance can bring all of this about, but I feel like it is a disservice not to ingrain this in the department early on.
Cheers
MB

Kitchen Magic

Whew! Long day in the kitchen, but it is going to look really good! It is a crazy thing to gaze out in the audience and see all of the stations set up for the different departments. It is just like looking out upon the starship enterprise, with various voices (god mics) giving direction. There is a table for the music team (conductors and their seconds), swings table, creative team table, sound, lighting stage management...etc I will post a pix later as I am still on the search for a camera, not having much luck:(
Today a group of us (the Mary Poppins Historical Society) went to visit the famous Middleton Plantation, and took a tour of the gardens there which were designed by the same designer of Versaille. It was Gorgeous!!!! Lunch there was not so fantastic, but the cornbread pudding was delish!!!! Even better, I am not called to the theater until 9:00 tonight so I got to take a nap.
Cheers
MB

Hurry up and wait

That is really what tech is all about. A tedious, but necessary, process that is all about the show looking marvelous. Which it does! The set is just beautiful. Everything is designed to look like it comes straight out of a pop up book. The detail is incredible. The house looks like it is a pencil/ink painting and I can't help but keep staring at all the walls and admiring the DETAIL! The fireplace that the children's letter gets sucked up through is ingenious. The nursery for the children is just charming and really looks like it is up in the attic.
I have a nice dressing room that I am sharing with E.B and Q, and it has a leather sofa, chair and coffee table in it. The Life:)
Our hotel here in Charleston is very nice as well, and as I slept for 12 hours straight the first night we got here, I think that speaks for itself. I am very excited to go out and see the city, especially as it is restaurant week... yum!
Cheers
MB

bye bye

This week we finished up our run throughs for the producers and for Disney theatricals, and everyone seemed very pleased with the results. The company went together to go and see the Broadway Company, and it felt like we were watching a different show. The tempo was much slower, and the interpretation was a little different as well. It was a lot of fun though, and I think everyone left feeling excited about what we are doing, and just happy to be a part of it all. The producers also threw us a little party afterwards which was a nice way to end our time here in the city. I am really interested to get to tech next week, and see the new set and lighting design that we will be working with.
Cheers
MB

Building it

We are into runs of the show this week, and it is going very well. We did a little restructuring of two of my scenes with Blake, and I really like the direction they have taken. There is a lot of really great work happening. The ensemble is just so talented and creative, and they seem to have boundless energy!
   I really like the way that Antz gives notes to actors. He actually comes up after we have finished running the scene and gives the notes personally, which helps keep you from feeling like you are being called out in front of the cast, and also is helpful as you still have a clear idea in your mind about what you did, and what he is asking of you. Again, the collaboration of our creative team is just wonderful. They all have such a clear and concise idea of what this show is about, and what it should be, and they clearly respect and enjoy each other so much, it makes for a delightful and productive process.
Cheers
MB

Bobbing along....

I get to tap too!!! Thankful today for all of my training. It is nice to be asked if I tap and to be able to say yes... with trepidation, but yes. So I get a little Irish jig with the sweeps and to dance around like a looney! I had yesterday off, so I went with Danny on a little jaunt to Coldwater Spring, and it is aptly named. Freezing! Now, granted I was probably not wearing enough clothing, as I still have a Phoenix mentality, and if it is clear and blue and sunny outside I naturally assume it is warm... WRONG. Anyway, we found a little English import store and I purchased some Lemon Barley Water. The significance being that the kids refer to their perfect nanny not smelling like barley water. So I bought a bottle and brought it in today for everyone to taste.
   Tried on a few pairs of shoes, none of which fit (I have fat hobbit feet) they had me try on a pair of tights that are like thick lycra leggings that don't breathe at all, not sure why that is the choice, but I will sweat in them and am thankful that laundry gets done every night.
   We finished blocking the end of the show, and tomorrow are going to put together Act 2. I can't believe I am only here for another week, and then it is on to Charleston for tech weeks. Crazy fast.
Cheers
MB

Brill's Ballet

A semi shasay turn, a sort of polka waltz... letter shaping at a lickety split pace... today I was a sweaty Betty! But boy did we have a good time doing it. It is not often that I have to do much movement in my shows, so this little bit of dancing is very fun for me, and an opportunity to use some of my training. I was not completely horrific, but was asked gently to try and stop leading my partner :(  I CAN'T HELP IT! I am not even aware if I am doing it or not.
It is a lovely number. Another heart warming piece to be sure. I love the line
"Go and chase your dreams you won't regret it"
We had to move the rehearsal down to Pearl Street studios today, but are back (thankfully) tomorrow to the 42 street studios. So we were doing the dance numbers in 1/3 rd the space, CRAZY!!!! Supercal was just face, and the body shaping is an exercise in mental gymnastics. FUN!!!
Cheers
MB

Bringing it to life

What an incredible way to close out the New Year! We spent the day doing a work through of Act One. No pressure (right) as the entire cast was finally there. But it was so fun! Everyone was so supportive of each other's talents (take note of this college students who protect themselves by acting like they are not impressed by anything any of their colleagues are doing) and boy was there a lot of talent up there. Our dancers are just phenomenal! They are not only technically great, but great actors and performers and are creating such interesting characters. And they have so many to create!!!! Each scene is something different and exciting. The amount of energy they are using, makes me hope that they are going to have plenty of snacks in their dressing rooms to keep them going!
   The children in the show are really to be admired. They are in EVERY scene in the show. The amount of work they have is enormous. Not only the acting and singing, but the dancing as well! And seeing them get up and deliver Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious with such panache, with big grins on their faces was absolutely delightful!!!! Our Bird Woman 'Q' tears your heart out, and Feed the Birds is exquisitely beautiful... I am so happy for it all. My stuff is really starting to take shape, and it is such a nice feeling to really have the time needed to develop it all.
   Then it was over, and it was on to New Years celebrating. Danny and I (my friend Danny who's couch I am staying on, and am anxiously awaiting the day I can be in a bed again:) had dinner, and were chatting about the differences in getting to rehearse a show from the bottom up, and landing a show that is already running and doing the put-in process. What a difference between the two. It isn't just the rehearsal time, but the bonding with the rest of the cast that is so important. Finding those connections is so important to the telling of a good story. We went to an amazing party at the apartment of Jessica (a dresser at Danny's show Sister Act) her home is to die for, and has a rooftop deck that looked out over the city. The weather was great as it was only 47 degrees outside, and the company was so interesting. Lots of musicians as Jessica's husband Trevor is a trumpet player and that is his circle... great conversations to be had.
   So looking forward to 2012 and all it will bring!
Cheers
MB