... 'til there was you.....

Sometimes I love technology.
Sometimes it doesn't love me.
Today...
We have a mutual love and respect for one another....
We purchased a new printer today.
Not because we needed to replace our old standard but hearty printer, but because we discovered we have growing needs that it couldn't fullfill.
Needs like copying.
And scanning...
And, perhaps, even faxing.
After rushing out of the theatre and a third day of theatre duties, I went to the wonderful MART of WAL with my dear mother to get a few groceries and our newest piece of technology.
Despite the myriad of unhelpful employees, mom and I were able to successfully whittle our choices down to a Lexmark model.
Simple enough, it is exactly what we needed.
I wanted a machine that had a control panel, but it had to be easy enough so mom would wig out everytime she had to scan something....
LOL.
Once we got it home I almost instantly pulled it out of the box and started the installation.
After 25 minutes of waiting for the disc with all the answers, bells, and whistles to decide to upload, I was able to connect the printer to the computer.
Voila!
It's fabulous!
I've been scanning paper like crazy for the past hour and half.
I have a new love.
And it's a printer/scanner/copier...

Blocking.... the bane of my existence....

Little Johnny Jones opened last night.
All I'm going to say is that it lived up to all the expectations I had gained through peeping in on rehearsals...
Yep.

So Treasure Island rehearsals start on Monday.
How amazing is that????
I am excited to get started just so we can get the blocking over and DONE with.
Ugh.
I don't think anyone really likes blocking....
It is so tedious.
Plus, everytime we've done blocking in the past (as an assistant Director), I couldn't give real notes.
AND I HATE THAT!
I want them to start thinking about volume and emotion always!
However...
I know they have get the blocking first.
THEN, the REAL acting can begin...
UGH.
We'll be blocked by the end of February...
That may change depending on how these first two weeks go....
And by change I mean we may be blocked sooner than that and have moved on to doing rehearsals act by act...
We WILL be COMPLETELY blocked by the end of the month.
My actors will know their blocking by the end of this month.
Hopefully they will know their lines too.....
One might think that is pushing it a bit, but I know for a fact it can be done.
I had to memorize 120 lines in a two week span to fill in for Junia a few years ago.
And last year, I had to learn a part in Pinocchio.
I found out Tuesday and had to do the character Friday.
It can be done!
And I'm going to work with all of them to learn their lines.
These people will either love me or hate me...
Then, as soon as Little Johnny Jones is finished, I'm going to tear that theatre apart looking for costumes, props, and set pieces.
I really want to be prepard ahead of time so the actors can get used to using their props and working around a set.
I'm even planning on making/building a camp fire.
AUGH!
It's going to rock if I can get it just right.

Another thing I need to learn is DELEGATION.
I'm going to be very hands on with everything, but I need to remember that I have a lot of people willing to help.
Plus, James will need stuff to do.
lol
I'm going to ask him to find Pirate-y music to play during before and after the show, and during intermission.
I've already to everybody that we're all getting together on the 28th for set building and painting.
That's going to be fun.

It starts.....

Tonight is opening night for Little Johnny Jones.
FINALLY.
I say that because we wanted to take the girls to see it last week, and had to postpone.
That is the worst thing in the world to me, cancelling or postponing plans with Madison and Grace.
Because they NEVER forget...
Ugh.
BUT, I think we're going to take them this Sunday.
YAY!
Another reason I'm pleased that the show is starting is the sooner they get started and over with, the soooooooooner I can really dive into Treasure Island!
THAT will be thrilling.
I'm going to go nuts with costuming and everything right away.
Oh yeah.
We're going to get EVERYTHING done early.
THEN, everyone is going to get together on the 28th and we're going to build the set and start painting.
And when everyone leaves, I'm going to paint the stage.
I'll probably have someone like mom with me just because I don't fancy staying by my lonesome in the theatre....
It can sometimes prove to be a little spooky....
BUT that's another story entirely.
Now, I'm off to the Tuscan Table with an ability to convince strangers that I love it when they call me Ma'am, and a pocket full of dreams....

Today's auditions

Auditions were today.
It was awesome, with the exception of a few hiccups.
One of the younger kids (7 years old) got up and did her monologue and whatnot, but, when it came time to read, her sister announced that she didn't want to read BUT she still wanted to be in the show.
If they show up tomorrow, I'll try and get her to read.
Otherwise, I can't cast her.
I mean, it wouldn't be fair to the other kids who went through the entire audition process and whatnot if I did cast her....
I hate that, but I have to be fair.
The second hiccup came about 5-10 minutes before we wrapped it up.
First, I heard the whirl of the lift as it started up, and I knew it had to be Susan, who's directing Little Johnny Jones.
As I tried to figure out why she would be there, James and I shot each other a look.
Then, her and Robert came around the corner, down in front of the stage.
Keep in mind, there were kids on the stage getting ready to read as they entered.
Then Susan made her way up the center aisle as Robert stationed himself right in front of the stage, and began flipping through one of the scripts stacked on the edge of the stage.
Then, as I had the kids begin to read, he STAYED THERE.
When the children finished, Robert turned to me and said, "Tahrea, is there a part that for me to read for?"
My mind was reeling as I tried to stay poised.
I was furious at the way they entered, but I couldn't be as rude because I had 30 faces boaring into my own as he asked....
So, I simply answered, "Sure Robert; you can read something."
I had three or four kids go back onstage with Robert, had them read a scene, and wrapped up the auditions...
We had started around 2:30 and it was then 4:30, and I could tell parents were getting restless.
Now, it wasn't their presence that made me-no us, James, Vera, Mom, and I- angry...
It was the fact that they came in soundly and literally RIGHT in the MIDDLE of everything.
I wouldn't have minded if Robert had grabbed a script then had a seat, or asked to fill out an audition sheet.
BUT he didn't...
And I could see the kids onstage at the time were slightly put off by it.....
Argh.
THEN, as mom and I tried to get our stuff out of the box office, we discovered that after Susan went into the office, she had LOCKED the door.......
with our purses and KEYS inside.
DOUBLEARGH!
Luckily, Junia and James got the window shutters to the box office open, and I was able to climb in and unlock the door.
PHEW!
BUT, the show must go on.
And if they come back tomorrow, I will kindly ask Robert to fill out an audition sheet and do a monologue like everyone else, lest I appear to be unfair to the other potential actors.
It was frustrating, but I'm not going to obsess over it.
Stuff happens.
And, like I said, the whole process went really well.
:o)
I'm really pumped to see what tomorrow night holds....
hopefully James' fears will be in vain, and the auditions won't suffer because of the superbowl....
Hopefully....

Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in Heaven has in store...

Tomorrow.
My auditions are tomorrow.
In 12 hours I'll be sitting in a meeting for the dance studio attempting to focus on the matter at hand, with my eyes drifting to the clock every five seconds.
I printed off a million audition sheets for those auditioning to fill out...
I got my calendar squared away and printed off five copies to post for folks to check out.
I'm
I'm expecting a good size crowd to show up...
And....
I am so excited.
It's like Christmas Eve, when I want so badly for Santa to come and to wake up and open presents...
Only it's better...
My present is two months of non-stop theatre!!!!
And with KIDS!
Withkidswithkidswithkidswithkids!!!!!!!!
AUGH!!!
I've been trying to decide how to go about running the auditions.
Normally they have a certain formula...
-Set a table up in the lobby with the audition sheets and pencils.
-When people come in, greet them and have fill a sheet out per potential actor.
-Once they fill out their form, send them into auditorium to have seat.
-Once everyone is finished, collect papers and put them in order, youngest to oldest.
-Call out names in order in groups of 4 or 5.
-Send group up onto the stage to stand in line.
-Each actor states name/age/grade/etc, and does monologue.
-Once that business is complete, start the cold reading.
-Send everyone home.
-Discuss the auditions with production staff.
Now, there will be dead time while we're putting the papers in order.
In that time, I was thinking about talking to the kids and parents, introducing myself and the others, blahblahblah...
THEN, I think I'm going to get the kids to their feet and get them loosened up by a crazy warm-up of some sort...
Something silly that will get them giggling and comfortable.
Plus, it'll give everyone new a chance to see how insane I really am...
lol


I'm going to bed soon just so the day will come faster......

My wintery afternoon.

I donned a sweater, coat, gloves, hat, scarf, and boots.
Stepped outside.
It was snowing.
As I stepped off the porch, Aidenn pranced about, his heavy pants almost overpowering the crunch of snow and ice under my feet.
I looked around, marvelling at the yard, transformed into crystalline perfection.
I stomped my way towards the nearest pine, and gently ran my fingers along the frozen needles.
On other trees, buds and leaves were encased in a crystal cocoon.
Overnight, everything was glazed over and now sparkled as I walked by.
Walking into the small woods behind the barn, I saw that the usual thistles and barbs that guard the entrance had been glossed over.
I still cautiously bent low to avoid any contact or snag as I entered the trees.
The only indications that I was not the only one in this white world were the cheery chorkle of a nearby Nuthatch and Aidenn's constant panting.
Looking down, I saw that sometime in the day a rabbit had taken refuge in this small wood, leaving only his footprints behind.
Raising my eyes, I breathed in the cold air and was gently waved back into reality.
I shivered and began my trek back to the house.
I looked back around the yard, gazing over my footprints in the snow.
I wished I could've flown so I could sail over the yard and not mar the glistening facade.
As I walked back onto the porch, I took one last glance over my shoulder.
I had wished I brought my camera, but then resigned that no picture would've done the sight justice.
My memory would have to do.

Not my play, not my problem....

It is the 27th...
Auditions in four days.
WOW.
I realized yesterday that I could now use one hand to countdown the days...
fantastic stuff....

I went to check on the box office earlier, around 8 pm.
They were rehearsing, so I peeped in to see how the show was faring, and whether it had improved from last week.
...
...
...
Um...
Yeah.
I, once again, left the theatre, chanting, "Not my play, not my problem.. Not my play, not my problem..."
It didn't help.
My biggest problem is this...
The first scene I saw involved a group of kids, mostly girls, from ages 6 to.... 9 maybe.
They were playing bellboys at a hotel.
And they were doing a stellar job, a harsh juxtaposition to that of the adults in the scene.
There is also a group of older girls, 8th-11th graders, who were doing an equally fabulous job at their parts, thus outshining the adults.
I'm not saying this out of bias for the kids.
I love the majority of the folks in the play.
I'm saying this because it angered me because these kids put their hearts and souls into whatever production with which they are involved, and I know it won't matter a hill of beans because the adults kept messing up.
Depsite my personal opnions, I honestly pray that a miracle takes place before Friday...
Two days.
Because not one child had a script in his or her hand, but several adults held scripts and paper onstage, or just didn't know their lines and blocking.
It's very disheartening especially since some of the kids involved are brand new to RTP, and theatre itself.
This being their first exposure to theatre makes it even more sickening to me....
Those kids are the future of our theatre community.
Whatever rules and example we instill in them now will be carried for years to come.
I just would hate to see this play become yet another black spot to mar RTP's reputation in our small community, what with the drama of GREASE last year...
No wonder no one wants to do a musical...
What a mess.

But, as I said...
I'm praying for a miracle.