Tech Week Thursday Notes

When I was first asked to direct this show, I really didn't think I'd be able to make it funny. You can ask Lisa or Cheryl or Bob or Teri (or just about anyone else who knows me well), and they'll tell you that for a long time I dreaded directing this show because it just didn't look like I could add any business that would compliment the humorous dialogue.

Notice that in that last paragraph the word "I" was used five times. And that was my problem. "I" couldn't think of anything to add because "I" forgot that there would be a group of gifted actors who could take the dialogue they read, couple it with my blocking and turn it into something very, very funny. As Lisa has been telling me for almost a year - trust your cast, and you'll be fine. And she was right.

YOU have created a wonderfully entertaining show that I promise people will be talking about for quite some time. It has a great mix of humor, from intellectual to subtle to farce. Often at the same time! Your facial expressions and creative use of the props on stage only add to that humor. The ad-libs I've seen this week just go to prove that we could not have selected a better cast for this show. Your timing and instincts have really come out the past two nights, and I know those will only continue to improve through the run of the show.

When you realize that we lost almost a full week of rehearsals due to cast member conflicts with other shows AND replaced a cast member with barely three weeks of rehearsals left, it is a testament to your hard work and dedication that we've got such a great show.

And I would be remiss if I didn't give great praise to the production team as well. Thanks to Cheryl for keeping me on an even keel this past week; to Julie for such a wonderful job on lights; to Brendis for running sound; to Karen for the great costumes and to Loretta for the fabulous props. But I have to save my biggest praise for Lisa, who not only guided and encouraged me through this process, but who also envisioned and delivered the most amazing set we've ever had for an HFAC production.

I could go on and on, but I think I need to let all of you spend some more time in your scripts (I'll never let that go, will I?). We've got a great show, and now all we have to do is deliver it for the next four weekends.

Have a great Friday, and BREAK A LEG tonight!

Tracy