My knees hurt. My hair is longer than it has ever been in my whole life. I'm a tad hungover. I have 5 days worth of stubble on my face. I think I bruised my heel. My abs are sore from laughing. My tear ducts are dry. I have microphone tape residue on my neck hairs. My voice is tired. My sleep patterns are off. "And I wouldn't change a thing about it. No, I wouldn't wanna change a thing...."
High Fidelity closed last night. I'm not quite sure where to start, and I may have quite a bit to say, so please forgive me if this gets a little long...
So, we knew early in the week that Thursday and Saturday were going to sell out. Would you believe Friday (the 4th of July) sold out as well?! That is truly a surprise... Who knew that a full-house of people would come sit in a dark theatre on a gorgeous holiday evening, and during primo fireworks time?! Hopefully we gave 'em some fireworks onstage, though...
I'd humbly venture to say that we did. These last three shows really rocked...
Let's start with Thursday. We all arrived at the theatre excited to perform as usual, but maybe with a bit more energy and excitement than most Thursdays, since almost everyone in the cast had the next day off from work. The show moved like clockwork - very cool, rock-and-roll clockwork - and we had a great audience response. After the show, part of the cast went to the Loop and part went to Denny's, I believe. I was unfortunately able to do either, but it was cool because I got to go to a friend's birthday party. This was a theatre friend, Alice, and there were lots of great friends there enjoying the awesome weather and excellent food and drink. Several had either been to see HI FI, or were attending this weekend, so actually the show was the topic of several conversations. That was kinda cool...
Friday was an awesome day all around. I love the 4th of July - it's always been one of my all time top five holidays. I love the fact that we get to celebrate our great country and the freedoms that it offers, I love fire(works), and I love beer and grilled meat! I slept late in the morning, which was fantastic, and just enjoyed some downtime at home for a change. Then in the early afternoon I went to a pool party at my good friend John's house. More theatre folk and more very cool comments about the show. Some of the revelers were headed there that evening, actually. I stayed only for about an hour so that I could get home and shower up, etc. before heading to the theater. Another great show. A huge shout out to our band director, Chris Petersen. A couple of the other band members had other gigs or commitments on the 4th, so Chris beautifully made the magic happen in their absence. After the show, we had a great cast party at Trisha and Mike's very cool pad (thanks, guys!). Zachary and Peanut live in the apartment upstairs from them, so I got to see their cool place too. We had tons of food and beverages to enjoy, and even a firepit with s'mores and stuff. It was a great night...
So that brings us to Saturday. I woke up knowing that it was going to be a very full day and very late night. Mine started with a rehearsal at 11:00 for a cabaret benefit I'm part of with Stray Dog Theatre next month (shameless plug: Aug 2 at Tower Grove Abbey, www.straydogtheatre.com). Then, believe it or not, I went to another pool party in the afternoon! This was a surprise party for my friend, Mara - she was totally surprised, which always is so funny to watch... Again, I stayed only for a while, but I enjoyed it. So then on the way home, I stopped by the Record Exchange. I was looking for some sort of trinket or momento to give to the cast and crew, and I had no idea what that would be. But I found something cool - little album cover photos that had been turned into pin-on buttons. Perfect! I was selecting a whole bunch of them when the owner, Jean, walked up to me and asked how the show was going. This guy is so cool, and has been so great about helping us to publicize the show. Scott had given him some comps and he attended during the second Friday, I believe. He couldn't stop raving about the show and how much he could relate to it. He said "I know all of those characters. And then some." I found out that he had created these buttons by hand as well - awesome!
We all arrived at the theatre between 6:30 and 7:00 as usual, and you could sense the mixed feelings we all had. We got dressed, did our vocal warm-ups, sound checks, and all the other prep. Show time arrived and the house was packed. I really believe that everyone took it up a notch with this one. All of the performances have had major energy, but this one was just that one step further in the right direction. A final standing ovation and lots of hootin' and hollerin' (sorry, I'm from Arkansas...) - what a way to end it...
I talked afterwards with a bunch of friends and co-workers who were in the audience - it was so humbling to have at least a few folks there that I knew each night... I reluctantly left them to go help with striking the show. I was reluctant not only because manual labor is not on my top five list of favorite things to do, but also because it was going to be very weird for me to tear this set down. Anyway, everyone pitched in and we actually got it done in about an hour and a half or so. Not bad!
Then on to the final cast party at Kimi's. What a blast! Kimi and Jim have an awesome home, and damn, this girl can cook!!!!! We enjoyed another night of unseasonably nice weather on their great patio. Now we didn't even arrive until almost 12:30, so it was destined to go late. And it did. I had never before sung "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen with about 12 other people at 4:00am, nor did I think I ever would, nor do I think I will likely ever again, but I did last night. And then I got to watch Zak and Peanut do their dance for the first part of "Conflict Resolution." My back was always to them at this point onstage, so this is the first time I saw it. Dudes, I almost wet myself laughing...
I just got up a little while ago and obviously the show is in the front seat of my mind. Words cannot describe what the entire experience was like for me, and I think truly for everyone involved. I told some folks last night that when I walked into the dressing room after the final show, I felt like I had exhaled for the first time in about three months. I will absolutely miss the show and the people immensely, but it was just a huge sense of relief and satisfaction that we had made it through with no major disasters, with intact voices, and with this great audience response... Kudos to all involved.
Again, I can't really put words on what this has all been like. What I do know is that I am so very thankful to have had this amazing opportunity, and to work with these incredible people. I'm not going to post to this blog after I finish this (long) entry, although I think I might do this for future shows because I've enjoyed it so much and it's given me a chance to revisit all of the cool moments.
Okay, I've been sitting here for several minutes and I can't think of how to end this. I could keep going for a while, but I doubt anyone has actually read this far, so I'd better stop. I have loved playing Rob Gordon in High Fidelity. The experience was daunting and trying at times, but so very rewarding... I don't think I've ever poured so much of myself into a character before, so to have the response that we've had is very humbling. Rob is an incredibly complex man. So is Jeff Wright. I think we're going to keep hanging out for a long time to see what else we can figure out together...
Rock on, folks.
Jeffrey
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
"My Cup Runneth Over..."
Hi, all -
This title is another lyric from the song "Nine Percent Chance." In that song, Rob comes to the realization of several things - primarily that he might still have a chance with Laura. I have to say that the last week has brought realization to me about several things, one of which is that this has been probably the most amazing theatrical experience I've ever had, and that I will miss it terribly when it's over...
Last weekend was once again surreal on so many levels. Thursday night we had another packed house, many of whom were good friends and colleagues. Many stayed afterwards to offer their congrats and kind words, which was so nice. I grabbed a couple of drinks with good friends Mara and Jeffrey in our neighborhood after we left the theater, and we laughed a lot as we caught up about everything.
Friday night was indescribable... This was probably our best performance thus far. It was particularly cool for me, because I knew that 10+ of my daytime co-workers were there, as well as some other good friends. There was just a ton of energy in the theater that was actually palpable. The laughs and cheers were more intense than they had ever been. So, when the show ended on a very high note, I headed down to the dressing room to change, as usual. Our director, Scott Miller, was waiting down there to tell me that the NYC-based lyricist, Amanda Green, was in the audience and loved the show! WTF?!!! Unbelievable... So I tried to absorb that thought as I changed clothes, slapped on some deodorant, threw in some gum, etc. I headed upstairs and spent a few minutes with my co-workers and some other friends in the audience. And then I met Ms. Green. What an amazing woman... This is someone who has achieved so many successes in the art form that I pursue. And she was so down-to-earth, so gracious, and so pretty! She gave such unbelievable compliments to the cast and production that I still don't quite know what to do with... Needless to say, it was a true pleasure to meet her. She even went out with the cast afterwards for food and drinks. Now, the other cool thing about Friday night was that my brothers had driven up from Arkansas to spend the weekend and see Saturday's show. They were at my house, so I was anxiously waiting to get home to see them and head out for a night on the town. So this meant that I couldn't go out with the cast and Amanda, which was certainly fine. I asked her if she would be in for the weekend, and she said that she wouldn't because she was back to NYC to dine with the original "Laura" from HI FI on Saturday, and LYLE LOVETT!!! on Sunday!!! Again, WTF?!!! Unreal that this amazing woman took time out from a schedule like that to fly to St. Louis to see our little show...
So I did catch up with the little bros, Mark and Steve, and we spent a few hours at Lumiere Place Casino downtown. Saturday morning we chilled around my pad and then hit Hurricane Harbor, the water park at Six Flags. We got back home in time for me to grab a quick nap, and then they dropped me off at the theatre while they grabbed quick eats/drinks before the show. I can't quite say what it was like to know that they were in the audience... There is some sort of cosmic connection to this show or something... The last time it played (on Broadway), we were all in the audience on a Saturday. The next time it played, they were watching me play the lead in St. Louis on a Saturday. Interesting to say the least... They joined me at Mary's cast party afterwards which was a ton of fun (thanks, Mary!). Sunday we slept in, had some lunch, and then they were on their way. The weekend, like the whole run of the show, just flew by...
So now we're down to our final weekend - just three more shows... I can't believe it's coming to an end, but I'm also so excited to do this three more times... It's getting late tonight - almost midnight. So that means that I need to go to bed, but also that I get to do HIGH FIDELITY later this date, so to speak. If anyone is still trying to come, please know that Thursday and Saturday are essentially sold out. There is availability on July 4 (understandably), and there's even a 2 for 1 deal for that night with the official postcard. I've got some of the postcards, so contact me about that if needed.
As always, peace to all who read this. Happy 4th of July, too!!!! Take many moments this weekend, not only to enjoy family and friends, but also to remember how lucky we are to live in this great country. Eat some good BBQ, too! Unless you're a vegetarian, of course...
Rock on,
Jeff
This title is another lyric from the song "Nine Percent Chance." In that song, Rob comes to the realization of several things - primarily that he might still have a chance with Laura. I have to say that the last week has brought realization to me about several things, one of which is that this has been probably the most amazing theatrical experience I've ever had, and that I will miss it terribly when it's over...
Last weekend was once again surreal on so many levels. Thursday night we had another packed house, many of whom were good friends and colleagues. Many stayed afterwards to offer their congrats and kind words, which was so nice. I grabbed a couple of drinks with good friends Mara and Jeffrey in our neighborhood after we left the theater, and we laughed a lot as we caught up about everything.
Friday night was indescribable... This was probably our best performance thus far. It was particularly cool for me, because I knew that 10+ of my daytime co-workers were there, as well as some other good friends. There was just a ton of energy in the theater that was actually palpable. The laughs and cheers were more intense than they had ever been. So, when the show ended on a very high note, I headed down to the dressing room to change, as usual. Our director, Scott Miller, was waiting down there to tell me that the NYC-based lyricist, Amanda Green, was in the audience and loved the show! WTF?!!! Unbelievable... So I tried to absorb that thought as I changed clothes, slapped on some deodorant, threw in some gum, etc. I headed upstairs and spent a few minutes with my co-workers and some other friends in the audience. And then I met Ms. Green. What an amazing woman... This is someone who has achieved so many successes in the art form that I pursue. And she was so down-to-earth, so gracious, and so pretty! She gave such unbelievable compliments to the cast and production that I still don't quite know what to do with... Needless to say, it was a true pleasure to meet her. She even went out with the cast afterwards for food and drinks. Now, the other cool thing about Friday night was that my brothers had driven up from Arkansas to spend the weekend and see Saturday's show. They were at my house, so I was anxiously waiting to get home to see them and head out for a night on the town. So this meant that I couldn't go out with the cast and Amanda, which was certainly fine. I asked her if she would be in for the weekend, and she said that she wouldn't because she was back to NYC to dine with the original "Laura" from HI FI on Saturday, and LYLE LOVETT!!! on Sunday!!! Again, WTF?!!! Unreal that this amazing woman took time out from a schedule like that to fly to St. Louis to see our little show...
So I did catch up with the little bros, Mark and Steve, and we spent a few hours at Lumiere Place Casino downtown. Saturday morning we chilled around my pad and then hit Hurricane Harbor, the water park at Six Flags. We got back home in time for me to grab a quick nap, and then they dropped me off at the theatre while they grabbed quick eats/drinks before the show. I can't quite say what it was like to know that they were in the audience... There is some sort of cosmic connection to this show or something... The last time it played (on Broadway), we were all in the audience on a Saturday. The next time it played, they were watching me play the lead in St. Louis on a Saturday. Interesting to say the least... They joined me at Mary's cast party afterwards which was a ton of fun (thanks, Mary!). Sunday we slept in, had some lunch, and then they were on their way. The weekend, like the whole run of the show, just flew by...
So now we're down to our final weekend - just three more shows... I can't believe it's coming to an end, but I'm also so excited to do this three more times... It's getting late tonight - almost midnight. So that means that I need to go to bed, but also that I get to do HIGH FIDELITY later this date, so to speak. If anyone is still trying to come, please know that Thursday and Saturday are essentially sold out. There is availability on July 4 (understandably), and there's even a 2 for 1 deal for that night with the official postcard. I've got some of the postcards, so contact me about that if needed.
As always, peace to all who read this. Happy 4th of July, too!!!! Take many moments this weekend, not only to enjoy family and friends, but also to remember how lucky we are to live in this great country. Eat some good BBQ, too! Unless you're a vegetarian, of course...
Rock on,
Jeff
Monday, June 23, 2008
"You're Riding The Wave, Or At Least On The Beach..."
This title is taken from the lyrics of "Nine Percent Chance," which is one of my all-time top five favorite songs of HIGH FIDELITY. I have to relate that line to the experience of the past couple of weeks: it really has been a wave to ride - a wave of fun, emotion, exhaustion, laughter, tears, unexpected moments, and extreme creativity.
So we've finished our second weekend of the show. Halfway done. That seems unbelievable to comprehend... It's exciting to know that we still have two weekends to perform, but concerning to realize how quickly it has gone so far. I will miss this show immensely when it closes...
Seems like it was another great series of shows. Friday and Saturday night were completely sold out (word to the wise - get your tix IN ADVANCE if you are planning to see the show). Lots of friends and colleagues in the audience, which was very cool. All of the written and verbal reviews of the show have been overwhelmingly positive, which is always so encouraging. It seems like the crowds not only enjoy the show, but they really "get it," too...
I've had a lot of folks tell me some really encouraging things after the shows, too. There is a very talented local actor, whose work I respect immensely, who grabbed me in a bear hug while saying: "You made him so real." That made my night, to say the least... To borrow from Rob's view of the world, those are probably the top five words I've ever been lucky enough to receive about a performance...
I've enjoyed having some downtime last night and tonight, but now I'm itching for Thursday to roll around again, so that we can revisit this complex and fun world again. My brothers, Mark and Steve, are driving up from Arkansas to see the show on Saturday night. I'm extremely excited for that, and so grateful to them for making this effort. Cool side note: we are three of the only folks who saw the show on Broadway in 2006. Mark was living in Stamford, CT, and Steve and I went to visit during the holiday season. I insisted on seeing one show since we were going to be in NYC, and they agreed. I picked this one, thinking that it would be perfect for three young, single guys who love music. We all enjoyed it a lot, and were surprised when it closed so quickly. Once they found out I was playing Rob in the first post-NYC production, they were all about trying to get up here to see it. I'm thrilled that they are coming, and I can't wait to get their feedback after seeing this very different take from the Broadway production. It will be fun to hang out together, too. Look out, St. Louis - the Wright Brothers are in town...
I had a cast party on Saturday night. I think it was a success, based on the time of morning that it wrapped up, as well as the amounts of trash produced. Seriously, it was a good time. I always love filling up my house with a bunch of crazy theatre-folk. We ate and drank heartily, and the conversations quickly went south, which is always hilarious... My dog Roxie loved the company and the scraps that she was fed. Thanks to everyone for coming over!
That's all for the moment. Best to all who read this.
Rock On,
Jeff
So we've finished our second weekend of the show. Halfway done. That seems unbelievable to comprehend... It's exciting to know that we still have two weekends to perform, but concerning to realize how quickly it has gone so far. I will miss this show immensely when it closes...
Seems like it was another great series of shows. Friday and Saturday night were completely sold out (word to the wise - get your tix IN ADVANCE if you are planning to see the show). Lots of friends and colleagues in the audience, which was very cool. All of the written and verbal reviews of the show have been overwhelmingly positive, which is always so encouraging. It seems like the crowds not only enjoy the show, but they really "get it," too...
I've had a lot of folks tell me some really encouraging things after the shows, too. There is a very talented local actor, whose work I respect immensely, who grabbed me in a bear hug while saying: "You made him so real." That made my night, to say the least... To borrow from Rob's view of the world, those are probably the top five words I've ever been lucky enough to receive about a performance...
I've enjoyed having some downtime last night and tonight, but now I'm itching for Thursday to roll around again, so that we can revisit this complex and fun world again. My brothers, Mark and Steve, are driving up from Arkansas to see the show on Saturday night. I'm extremely excited for that, and so grateful to them for making this effort. Cool side note: we are three of the only folks who saw the show on Broadway in 2006. Mark was living in Stamford, CT, and Steve and I went to visit during the holiday season. I insisted on seeing one show since we were going to be in NYC, and they agreed. I picked this one, thinking that it would be perfect for three young, single guys who love music. We all enjoyed it a lot, and were surprised when it closed so quickly. Once they found out I was playing Rob in the first post-NYC production, they were all about trying to get up here to see it. I'm thrilled that they are coming, and I can't wait to get their feedback after seeing this very different take from the Broadway production. It will be fun to hang out together, too. Look out, St. Louis - the Wright Brothers are in town...
I had a cast party on Saturday night. I think it was a success, based on the time of morning that it wrapped up, as well as the amounts of trash produced. Seriously, it was a good time. I always love filling up my house with a bunch of crazy theatre-folk. We ate and drank heartily, and the conversations quickly went south, which is always hilarious... My dog Roxie loved the company and the scraps that she was fed. Thanks to everyone for coming over!
That's all for the moment. Best to all who read this.
Rock On,
Jeff
Monday, June 16, 2008
One Weekend Down, Three To Go (I Wish There Were More...)
Hi, gang -
Wow. Opening Weekend is now behind us. Hard to believe that this time last week, we were just doing our first full tech/dress rehearsal. And while that evening went fairly well, it wasn't all that hot yet... The shows this weekend, though, were in fact hot. Based on my sweaty T-shirt at the end of them, at least...
Seriously, it seemed to be a fantastic opening. Congrats to the cast and crew, and many thanks to the audiences!! We opened with a Preview Night last Thursday, and got some great response from the average-sized (expected) house. Afterwards, most of the cast went to Joannie's in Soulard to celebrate our success over food and drinks - good times, especially since I had taken Friday off from work... How nice it was to sleep in a little bit after such a long week!
Friday night was the "official" Opening Night, and it really seemed to rock! The crowd laughed and clapped (love that!) in all the appropriate places, and even some that we didn't expect. Most folks even stood up at the end of the curtain call. Many of the local critics and reviewers were in the crowd that night as well. So far, we've seen reviews in the Post-Dispatch and the KDHX website, and both were very positive. I guess we're expecting to see more this week in The Riverfront Times, Ladue News, www.talkinbroadway.com, and also in the next local episode of Two On the Aisle. Should be some great publicity (one hopes...). After Friday night's show, the cast gathered at The Cheesecake Factory for more food and drink, and then I went home and crashed hard. It's amazing how draining this show is. I don't believe I've ever done a show where I've never left the stage (except intermission, that is). I love it because it requires constant focus, which is great, but it is definitely tiring as well...
Saturday night was show #3. Also a good one, with a few little flubs here and there. Of course, that is the magic of live theatre and the show always goes on. I don't think the audience noticed anything. Again, a successful show and a responsive crowd. Cast party hosted by Peanut (Aaron/"Dick") and Zak ("Barry") afterwards, which was loads of fun. A late night and a zombie-like sleep for me again...
Yesterday was a luxuriously relaxing day after such a long week. I did some crappy house chores, but mostly just chilled out. It was fantastic. I had been invited to a couple of parties to watch the Tony awards, which was very nice, but I declined to continue some peace and quiet at home. There's a lot to be said for a couch, a cold beer, and a friendly golden retriever. The awards were entertaining as well.
So now we have three nights off, before picking back up again for weekend #2, Thursday through Saturday. Honestly, I'm ready to do it again right now, but I will also enjoy the time off. I'll try to keep posting at least once after each weekend. Every performance of every show is different, depending on the energy, the audience, and about 1,000 other factors. I'll try to keep a good log of that kind of stuff.
As always, best to all who read this. Enjoy your week!!
Rock on,
Jeff
Wow. Opening Weekend is now behind us. Hard to believe that this time last week, we were just doing our first full tech/dress rehearsal. And while that evening went fairly well, it wasn't all that hot yet... The shows this weekend, though, were in fact hot. Based on my sweaty T-shirt at the end of them, at least...
Seriously, it seemed to be a fantastic opening. Congrats to the cast and crew, and many thanks to the audiences!! We opened with a Preview Night last Thursday, and got some great response from the average-sized (expected) house. Afterwards, most of the cast went to Joannie's in Soulard to celebrate our success over food and drinks - good times, especially since I had taken Friday off from work... How nice it was to sleep in a little bit after such a long week!
Friday night was the "official" Opening Night, and it really seemed to rock! The crowd laughed and clapped (love that!) in all the appropriate places, and even some that we didn't expect. Most folks even stood up at the end of the curtain call. Many of the local critics and reviewers were in the crowd that night as well. So far, we've seen reviews in the Post-Dispatch and the KDHX website, and both were very positive. I guess we're expecting to see more this week in The Riverfront Times, Ladue News, www.talkinbroadway.com, and also in the next local episode of Two On the Aisle. Should be some great publicity (one hopes...). After Friday night's show, the cast gathered at The Cheesecake Factory for more food and drink, and then I went home and crashed hard. It's amazing how draining this show is. I don't believe I've ever done a show where I've never left the stage (except intermission, that is). I love it because it requires constant focus, which is great, but it is definitely tiring as well...
Saturday night was show #3. Also a good one, with a few little flubs here and there. Of course, that is the magic of live theatre and the show always goes on. I don't think the audience noticed anything. Again, a successful show and a responsive crowd. Cast party hosted by Peanut (Aaron/"Dick") and Zak ("Barry") afterwards, which was loads of fun. A late night and a zombie-like sleep for me again...
Yesterday was a luxuriously relaxing day after such a long week. I did some crappy house chores, but mostly just chilled out. It was fantastic. I had been invited to a couple of parties to watch the Tony awards, which was very nice, but I declined to continue some peace and quiet at home. There's a lot to be said for a couch, a cold beer, and a friendly golden retriever. The awards were entertaining as well.
So now we have three nights off, before picking back up again for weekend #2, Thursday through Saturday. Honestly, I'm ready to do it again right now, but I will also enjoy the time off. I'll try to keep posting at least once after each weekend. Every performance of every show is different, depending on the energy, the audience, and about 1,000 other factors. I'll try to keep a good log of that kind of stuff.
As always, best to all who read this. Enjoy your week!!
Rock on,
Jeff
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Shortest Post Ever...
Hey, gang -
We've now had all of our dress/tech rehearsals and they have gone quite smoothly. Preview Night is tomorrow night, and opening weekend begins Friday. The first of 4 weekends. I'm thoroughly excited, but at the moment, thoroughly exhausted... Please come see the show if you can.
Rock on,
Jeff
We've now had all of our dress/tech rehearsals and they have gone quite smoothly. Preview Night is tomorrow night, and opening weekend begins Friday. The first of 4 weekends. I'm thoroughly excited, but at the moment, thoroughly exhausted... Please come see the show if you can.
Rock on,
Jeff
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Opening Soon: Championship Vinyl
Hi, all -
Major transitions have happened since my last post. We moved into the theatre space on Sunday. The A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre is a great space, and I think it will work brilliantly for this show. When we first arrived, we got to work putting up the risers, which was quite an ordeal, but they looked great when we were done. Next we helped to bring in the set. Our set designers have outdone themselves on these pieces - they are so artistic and cool...
Monday night was our first run-through in the space. Understandably, it was a tad rough. It's always a big challenge to try to recreate what you've done in a completely different setup. But we at least got used to the set changes and the physical layout of the theater.
Last night: run-through #2. SO much better, or at least it felt that way. I left feeling very energized and excited. One more run-through tomorrow night before all hell breaks loose. That is what we affectionately call "Hell Week." Saturday, we start a cue-to-cue rehearsal (primarily to set light and sound cues) at 1:00pm. Sunday we rehearse all of the songs with the full band for the first time. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: full run-throughs with lights, sounds, costumes. The Real Deal. Then we have a preview on Thursday and officially open on Friday. So much will happen in such a very short amount of time. It's intimidating but exciting...
My posts might be short and sweet for a while. We're all getting ready to go into hyperspace until we open...
Signing off for now. We're re-shooting some video publicity at the Record Exchange in a few minutes. More to come once that's complete...
Rock on,
Jeff
Major transitions have happened since my last post. We moved into the theatre space on Sunday. The A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre is a great space, and I think it will work brilliantly for this show. When we first arrived, we got to work putting up the risers, which was quite an ordeal, but they looked great when we were done. Next we helped to bring in the set. Our set designers have outdone themselves on these pieces - they are so artistic and cool...
Monday night was our first run-through in the space. Understandably, it was a tad rough. It's always a big challenge to try to recreate what you've done in a completely different setup. But we at least got used to the set changes and the physical layout of the theater.
Last night: run-through #2. SO much better, or at least it felt that way. I left feeling very energized and excited. One more run-through tomorrow night before all hell breaks loose. That is what we affectionately call "Hell Week." Saturday, we start a cue-to-cue rehearsal (primarily to set light and sound cues) at 1:00pm. Sunday we rehearse all of the songs with the full band for the first time. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: full run-throughs with lights, sounds, costumes. The Real Deal. Then we have a preview on Thursday and officially open on Friday. So much will happen in such a very short amount of time. It's intimidating but exciting...
My posts might be short and sweet for a while. We're all getting ready to go into hyperspace until we open...
Signing off for now. We're re-shooting some video publicity at the Record Exchange in a few minutes. More to come once that's complete...
Rock on,
Jeff
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
"What Once Seemed Impossible Is There In Your Reach..."
Hey, folks -
Hope that everyone is doing great and enjoyed a nice holiday weekend! Mine was a blast. The gig at Savor last Thursday seemed to go over very well, and we had a great time. The getaway to Florida was fantastic, and just what I needed. Believe it or not, I actually did focus on the show quite a bit. I spent a lot of time in the script - okay, mostly on the plane, but I still did. The other thing I did was read the novel High Fidelity (by Nick Hornby) from cover to cover. That was probably one of the most valuable things I could have ever done to help develop the character of Rob. The movie and the stage show are both derived from this book, and the perspectives I gained about characters, lifestyles, attitudes, etc. are invaluable...
I missed being with the cast on Thursday and Sunday afternoon. Thursday the cast came prepared with all sorts of interesting "backstory" facts about their characters and their relationships with Rob. I heard tidbits about a few of these reports, and I have been impressed (and very entertained) by them. Apparently Rob has more issues than even I knew about...
Just a few minutes after I got home on Sunday night, Aaron and Zachary arrived for us to review the text for the publicity we were filming that evening. We had a hilarious and hopefully entertaining video shoot at our friendly neighborhood record store, Record Exchange. The owner, Jean, has been so kind to help us publicize this production. Go check out his store sometime - it's a very unique experience... I'll send more info about the video piece when it's done.
Monday and Tuesday we had our first full run-throughs. Overall, things went quite well. This is when you can really see true glimpses of what the show is going to be like. I'm getting very excited. I'm discouraged that I'm getting more line notes than others, but most of them are fairly minor (sort of), and the volume is hopefully proportionate to the higher volume of lines. I'm going to stay focused on that. Many thanks to Trisha Bakula, our stage manager, for her diligent and tedious work to help us with this.
One more run-through in the rehearsal space tomorrow night, then we move into the theater. That's when I really start getting pumped. There's something about rehearsing a show in the space where it will actually be performed. And when the set and the costumes and the lights start making their appearances? That's when the magic really starts happening, for me at least...
Gotta run. I must go review these lines again while I have the opportunity. Seriously.
Rock on,
Jeff
Hope that everyone is doing great and enjoyed a nice holiday weekend! Mine was a blast. The gig at Savor last Thursday seemed to go over very well, and we had a great time. The getaway to Florida was fantastic, and just what I needed. Believe it or not, I actually did focus on the show quite a bit. I spent a lot of time in the script - okay, mostly on the plane, but I still did. The other thing I did was read the novel High Fidelity (by Nick Hornby) from cover to cover. That was probably one of the most valuable things I could have ever done to help develop the character of Rob. The movie and the stage show are both derived from this book, and the perspectives I gained about characters, lifestyles, attitudes, etc. are invaluable...
I missed being with the cast on Thursday and Sunday afternoon. Thursday the cast came prepared with all sorts of interesting "backstory" facts about their characters and their relationships with Rob. I heard tidbits about a few of these reports, and I have been impressed (and very entertained) by them. Apparently Rob has more issues than even I knew about...
Just a few minutes after I got home on Sunday night, Aaron and Zachary arrived for us to review the text for the publicity we were filming that evening. We had a hilarious and hopefully entertaining video shoot at our friendly neighborhood record store, Record Exchange. The owner, Jean, has been so kind to help us publicize this production. Go check out his store sometime - it's a very unique experience... I'll send more info about the video piece when it's done.
Monday and Tuesday we had our first full run-throughs. Overall, things went quite well. This is when you can really see true glimpses of what the show is going to be like. I'm getting very excited. I'm discouraged that I'm getting more line notes than others, but most of them are fairly minor (sort of), and the volume is hopefully proportionate to the higher volume of lines. I'm going to stay focused on that. Many thanks to Trisha Bakula, our stage manager, for her diligent and tedious work to help us with this.
One more run-through in the rehearsal space tomorrow night, then we move into the theater. That's when I really start getting pumped. There's something about rehearsing a show in the space where it will actually be performed. And when the set and the costumes and the lights start making their appearances? That's when the magic really starts happening, for me at least...
Gotta run. I must go review these lines again while I have the opportunity. Seriously.
Rock on,
Jeff
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
