What the ... Hell Week?

Well, when did we get here? Sunday. The last Sunday rehearsal. And we open on Friday.

The Thanksgiving break was desperately needed, although we didn't have access to the theater for four whole days and therefore had no rehearsals. And one actor has been gone all week, so we have to put him back in Sunday night.

And we have no live accompaniment on Monday night, and we don't start with the band until Tuesday night.

Yeah, I'm worrying about a few things ...

The good thing is, the show is so short we can run it twice a night, so we actually have ten run-thrus instead of just five. Also, since my stage manager and I are both unemployed, we can set lights during the day. The only advantage of being under-employed.

The set and costumes are coming together, sound is being set the next two nights, so I think if I can finish making all the props we need, we just might pull this off.

My youngest older sister Patty is coming to town from Colorado this week and will be coming to see the show (and what her brother does with the time he should be using for something else a little more financially stable).

I'm just about past the final panic push and into the "calm acceptance and get the show up there the best it can be" point. I usually don't get to the calm point until Wednesday of Hell Week.

But I have a ton of real life stuff accounting for the stress lately. Just no more room for any stress about the show.

The kids are doing a really good job onstage. I just need to give a little more guidance so the general staging has a little more focus.

And so I shall. And so shall I continue making the props and painting the set and theater at all hours for our Friday opening.

So ... yeah, I'm pretty calm. And I'll hold off on the excitement until Friday night.

Almost there. From one night in March when I challenged myself to write a whole show in one month, to opening night.

One question: what happens after we close on the 12th?

The Worst Part

Two weeks from opening. Usually a hectic time when just directing show.

But when you're directing, vocally directing, finding and building props, designing and executing the set, finishing up last-minute staging and not even begun the lighting or sound plots, it can be a wee bit daunting.

Cast is doing well. The performances will be fun.

Getting there this weekend isn't.

So much to do ... so little time ... so little manpower. And my brain and energy are shot.

"So ... why am I talking to you?" -- Hedley Lamarr, Blazing Saddles. (Well ... a slight variation thereof).

At Least Fate Gets to Laugh ...

So ... I have most of my cast last night. One is late without calling and misses getting measured for costumes. Still some sniffles and coughs here and there, but overall, everyone seems better.

My cast is healing.

This morning I get an e-mail. My scheduled accompanist has been sick for four days and can't make it. (And for her to not make it she must be really sick.)

So I initially put out an e-mail to my other accompanists who, months ago, said they could not play this particular date. One replies he "might" be able to juggle his schedule (bless him).

Then I remember one of my cast has filled in before and is a brilliant accompanist, so I tell the others to relax. I have it covered.

Five minutes later, I get an e-mail from that very same cast member saying he's been called in to a mandatory meeting at work tonight and can't come to rehearsal.

Some days it just doesn't pay to get up ...

Shoo, Flu, Shoo!

Yes, it's been over a month since I've made an entry. Real life has been bl*gblocking me.

So ... where to begin ...

The good news: I am guaranteed to keep a roof over my head until at least Thanksgiving weekend, the week before The Poptimists opens.

Wouldn't it be a wonderful story if the guy who wrote and directed this show was living in his car on opening night?

No. I don't think so, either.

Two weeks into rehearsals and half my cast is out with the flu. (Various kinds, one of which isH1N1.) So I gave them all four days off to stay home and get better. I'm feeling fine, so that means I'll get deathly ill during Hell Week (the week of opening).

It always happens that way to me. Something really bad happens (usually health-related) a few days before something really good happens. The result: I can't enjoy the good thing.

We resume rehearsals tomorrow night. First off, measuring for costumes.

I went fabric shopping with my seamstresses today. (And I can guarantee, I've never typed or uttered that sentence before in my life.) I actually found the fabric we ended up buying at the second store we went to. And we got 20% off! And why am I so excited about that?

And yes, I got a lot of looks in line while waiting to get the fabric measured and cut. It looked like I was with my two grandmothers. (Extremely sweet, generous and talented ladies, they are.)

Also, I found preppy sweaters for my male cast members who will be wearing white pants and deck shoes. So I think we're just about set on the costumes.

Now, just sets, lighting, sound and construction. Oh, yes ... and staging the rest of the entire show, too!

My swine flu cast member is not allowed to return until Tuesday. And I never got the tenth cast member I needed, so I'm writing his part out as we block the show.

I've been blessed with a friend who is sharing vocal director duties with me for a few rehearsals. She's been a tremendous help and really gets the cast singing wonderfully. (Another wonderful, generous friend who's helping me get this show mounted.)

There are other things going on that I can't talk about here that are driving me crazy! (Cast and staff, it's none of you). And on top of it all, unemployment is now gone, I have no money coming in, and am just about completely, utterly, flat broke.

And I'm producing a show.

For a comic writer, sometimes I have lousy timing.

At least my cast is still laughing at all the right places during rehearsals. And they catch on to everything very quickly.

We open in a little under four weeks.

It's going to be a very interesting month ...