Sunday, June 18, 2006
Bit by Bit - Putting it Together: Rehearsal Number Four
We were a little depleted in our numbers today, but made up amply in terms of our output. It seems a little odd to think that only four rehearsals into the process we're starting to piece together the episodic elements of act one, but that's exactly what we did! We've been looking at some specific song structures over the last week, and today we had a chance to put them into the narrative flow of the piece. After a little dancing (what's a rehearsal without building up a little sweat!), and workshopping two new song formats, we rolled up our proverbial sleeves and got to creating...
I think the notion of "home positions" is working well, as this allowed us to really concentrate the focus of each episode and give new players an opportunity to really find a groove. There is already a fine flow between the company and an innate understanding of how to build the dramatic tension and provide each home character with interesting story possibilities. Many memorable moments - here is a smattering:
Kate and Jay created an awesome awwwee duet entitled "Too Many Maybies" dealing with Kate as an unhappy border and Jay trying to resolve some girl issues. Kate set up a simply beautiful melody line and chorus that Jay capitalized on nicely. I love that song dynamic! (Earlier in Kate's story, Chase had created a wonderfully strange homeless man who fed tacks to the birds.)
Ron worked well with Jay and Kate in a scene/song where his loyalties were torn between his brother and his lover. There were some great story discoveries in his songs, and he attacked them with his signature strength.
I enjoyed singing a rather dark advice song to Jay's under-appreciated student character as Professor Sanchez. After commenting on an extensive list of Jay's not-so-joyful qualities as a character, I lauded his honesty in a rousing chorus of "Be Who You Are."
Finally, Chase led a highly successful episode as a Burger King worker torn between love, work and found finger nails (thanks to Kate). I particularly enjoyed the ensemble work song here and Chase's trademark love-sick crooning in his solo as Lewis.
Sunday we have Charles and Darren rejoin our ranks, and we'll put the top and bottom on the act. Today was a good confidence builder for us all. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!
Until we meet again in cyber space,
Your loudly optimistic Director, David C.
We were a little depleted in our numbers today, but made up amply in terms of our output. It seems a little odd to think that only four rehearsals into the process we're starting to piece together the episodic elements of act one, but that's exactly what we did! We've been looking at some specific song structures over the last week, and today we had a chance to put them into the narrative flow of the piece. After a little dancing (what's a rehearsal without building up a little sweat!), and workshopping two new song formats, we rolled up our proverbial sleeves and got to creating...
I think the notion of "home positions" is working well, as this allowed us to really concentrate the focus of each episode and give new players an opportunity to really find a groove. There is already a fine flow between the company and an innate understanding of how to build the dramatic tension and provide each home character with interesting story possibilities. Many memorable moments - here is a smattering:
Kate and Jay created an awesome awwwee duet entitled "Too Many Maybies" dealing with Kate as an unhappy border and Jay trying to resolve some girl issues. Kate set up a simply beautiful melody line and chorus that Jay capitalized on nicely. I love that song dynamic! (Earlier in Kate's story, Chase had created a wonderfully strange homeless man who fed tacks to the birds.)
Ron worked well with Jay and Kate in a scene/song where his loyalties were torn between his brother and his lover. There were some great story discoveries in his songs, and he attacked them with his signature strength.
I enjoyed singing a rather dark advice song to Jay's under-appreciated student character as Professor Sanchez. After commenting on an extensive list of Jay's not-so-joyful qualities as a character, I lauded his honesty in a rousing chorus of "Be Who You Are."
Finally, Chase led a highly successful episode as a Burger King worker torn between love, work and found finger nails (thanks to Kate). I particularly enjoyed the ensemble work song here and Chase's trademark love-sick crooning in his solo as Lewis.
Sunday we have Charles and Darren rejoin our ranks, and we'll put the top and bottom on the act. Today was a good confidence builder for us all. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!
Until we meet again in cyber space,
Your loudly optimistic Director, David C.
