Off and running

Story Theatre had its first performance at Clark school last Friday. April is continuing to do some adjusting here and there with how the performers interact with audience in order to minimize the "boot scooting" as April calls it. Times in the show when the kids start to scoot or get unfocused. Sometimes it can be as simple as a big gesture to replace small movements that get the kids attention back. Story theatre performed this morning at Maple Grove Elementary by the Joppa Power plant. This afternoon they performed at St. Marys. April said the few small changes they made after the morning show really made a big difference in the afternoon show.

Jim and I went to the warehouse this afternoon and brought back a couch, dining room table and a couple of flats for the set for Greetings. Tonight was the first night on the main stage with the show. We have set up the basic wall structure and platforms for the show.

Play selection met today and the committee members reviewed several plays under consideration. We are still about a month and a half from selecting the final season. A discussion was held at the meeting about audience members accepting certain shows. It will be critical for the theatre next year to select plays that actors want to audition for as well as audiences want to see.

I recently read an article in drama biz magazine discussing that theatre should have a freedom of expression policy. Some of the questions in this policy would address how we respond to complaints from audience members, the use of warning labels on promotional materials, what criteria the theatre uses to judge whether a play can be presented on our stage. Last year the selection committee looked at several plays that were popular in other community theatres around the country. One of the surprises was that plays like The Full Monty were big hits- even in what was considered conservative areas. Another popular play is Urinetown, a very funny and provocative musical about a water shortage where a local utility company charges people to urinate. One of the big production numbers is "You gotta pay to Pee". Plays like La Cage Aux Folles which has a large list of gay characters (many people know the story as The Birdcage with Robin Williams from the movie adaptation) have been big hits for several years. Avenue Q is available to community theatres now. Avenue Q is a big musical that has puppets like Sesame street but with a definitely adult theme. One of the big opening numbers for Avenue Q is "It sucks to be me!" The age old question is still- do we select a season to sell as a package of shows for season tickets or appeal to single ticket buyers on a show by show basis? With all these questions selecting plays is not something that is taken lightly. We can recover from one or two badly attended shows, but not three or four badly attended shows. Our next meeting is 2 weeks from today.

Doubt had its tech rehearsal last night and its dress rehearsal tonight. The cast has been working hard and doing a good job. We still have several technical details to finish before the show opens Thursday night.