new coins of the realm, and opening night ahead

[chelidon]

Thanks to veedub, a good one:

Bush Creates New U.S. Coinage

Would be even funnier if it wasn't just a wee bit plausible.

Good production value, but the lighting is off in places, sound needs work in two spots, there are some transitions that need to be tightened up, and the tempo really drags a bit here and there.... Oh, whoops, that's a flashback to last night... Good dress rehearsal, pretty clean, but with enough small flaws that I don't have to worry about opening night being a disaster (just one of those things, a dress rehearsal that goes too well can be a harbinger of disaster for opening night). The producer always gives out several hundred invitation-only comp tickets for the dress rehearsal to local charities (children's and women's shelters, hospice facilities, retirements homes, etc), so people who wouldn't ordinarily be able to see the show can go, and so we have an audience for dress rehearsal, which really adds energy, sometimes needed by this point in the week ;>

We're supposed to get 3-5 inches of snow tonight, which might drop the size of the house a little, but ticket sales are very good overall -- it's looking like somewhere around 4300+ seats sold so far for the entire run (out of a bit under 4800 total), and the weekend matinees are sold out already. We're running nearly 20 min over the target running time, though, so even with tightening up the transitions, somebody's probably going to have to get trimmed. We've already cut three choral pieces earlier in rehearsals (including a duet I was in...c'est la vie), so it's probably time for some of our lovely and talented guest artists to trim a bit.

I have to say, I like the show in general, and I think the audiences will really enjoy it, but as a performer I'm finding it fairly musically uninspiring, most of the pieces are just not grabbing me. There's just not much that really stretches me, or the company as a whole, and the whole production is less theatrical than in past years -- there's certainly a story arc and drama (heck, we're working with the Kalevala), but far more "set-piece" numbers (walk on, perform a piece, walk off), and if I really wanted to do that, I'd go back to doing classical music performance or jazz ensemble work. Next year we're going to be doing a Scottish-themed show (*w00t*), and I think it's likely that I'll get more involved in the production end of things as well as the performing side, if for no other reason than I've got the background, it's one of the core genres I know and work, and quite selfishly, perhaps I'll be able to help get us some pieces that are more interesting and challenging to perform, and in a more coherent theatrical context. We'll see.

Off to work for me, then opening night! (*humming Another Opening Another Show*)

Comments

[blue-sky-48220.livejournal.com]

Would be even funnier if it wasn't just a wee bit plausible.

I thought about posting it to my journal, and then I thought, "No... It's funny, but too depressing." Although the part about September 11, "Lest they forget, we'll remind them," was priceless.

[ravenedgewalker.livejournal.com]

here's hoping it all goes well.

remind me to tell you some of the Finn's thoughts on the kalevala when you come up for air

[mglamb.livejournal.com]

My boss was in West Leb last night and told me it was deserted. I hope they were at the show! BTW, our predicted "trace to 3" in Montpelier turned into about 6", exceptionally slippery, soapy stuff.