Opening!

We open High School Musical this morning at 10 am to a sold out school matinee audience. Wednesday nights rehearsal went well. The actors all focused and had a good final dress rehearsal. Every time we get to this moment I'm always surprised, even after a life time of opening shows. When you start rehearsals opening seems like a long time in the future. Then as you get closer it feels like you are running out of time to get everything done. As the play opens, all the hours of hard work begin to pay off and scenes that only a week ago seemed like they would never work out begin to flow. The music takes on a life of its own and begins to soar. The dance steps that never seemed to mesh now feel like second nature. Then you think- we open tomorrow! It seemed so distant just a few weeks ago and now that moment is here.

This show has been very difficult for me on several levels due to all the hats I'm wearing. Trying to run out from back stage and sit and watch as a scene designer and lighting designer, so I can make notes and fix problems. Running backstage to be the floor manager when all of the big scene changes happen so I can help if we have a problem. Then grabbing my props and walking onstage trying to remember my lines and have some semblance of character as an actor.


The joy at the final dress was to watch as the teen actors came off the stage from a scene and high five each other because they knew it went well. Sitting in the wings watching them perform, watching them take the stage and make this their show. A show as good and sometimes better than the adult shows the theatre produces. Thirty performers dancing to choreography by Mary Kathryn Dorr and Emily Hensel who have done an outstanding job on the dances. It does feel like a music video sometimes. April as always has driven everyone hard to get the best out of them and like a great team they come together and do a great job. Cindy Miller as music director is always pulling and shaping the sound to make it absolutely wonderful.

Curtain is in less than 1 hour so it's time to get my head in the game! Hope you get to see the show. It will definitely be worth the effort.