Weather headache

With the weather forecast we are all holding our breath. With opening night Thursday bad weather can really hurt the box office. Sometimes just the threat of bad weather is enough to effect attendance. Even if we have good weather on Thursday we still have rehearsals, today through Wednesday before the opening. Each of these rehearsals is critical to getting the show open. Each night the actors and tech crews refine and polish the show. I absolutely hate weeks like this when bad weather is predicted for an opening. It's tough enough opening a show without the added element of weather.

Saturday was spent setting the lights, sound and special effects for Southern Comforts. Jim Keeney has built a rain unit so that during the play when a rain storm comes up the audience will see it rain outside the windows of the set. The only problem we had, was the rain unit really sounds like rain and the actors on the stage have to talk really loud to be heard over it. We are trying to adjust the volume of water falling into the plastic tray that recycles the water back to the pump and up to the pipe above the windows. We are using an old sump pump that I donated to the theatre to pump the water through a hose up to the pipe.

We are having to work to reduce glare on the windows we used for the set. They are reflecting all of the stage lights into the audience. If we cover the windows with drapes then you don't see the rain and we are back to square one. Jim is building a tombstone today which is used in the show. The character Tom Dolan plays is a stone mason. We are also trying to figure out how to get large bookcases loaded with books on and off the stage easily.

Kelley Elder came in yesterday to help Tom with his age makeup. Kelley has lots of experience doing a one man Mark Twain show and is very experienced with age makeup. Pam Benzing is stage managing the show for the first time. She is learning all the ins and outs of calling cues and the timing of special effects. Susan Anderson who is a veteran light board operator and Jaimie Smith who is also a veteran sound board operator are working the show. Betty Wise will fill in for Jaimie on Sundays. There are 7 people who need to be here every night this week to get the show open besides the actors Tom Dolan and Renie Barger. Tom and Renie are doing a great job with the play, but still need those last couple of rehearsals before opening to get the final bugs out.

A big thank you goes to Dick Holland, Don Barger and their committee who prepared a great meal for the cast and crew after yesterdays Tech rehearsal. The food as always was great!

There is a board meeting on Wednesday evening. This is the final board meeting before the big fundraiser auction on Feb. 13. Lots of last minute details are still being finalized for the auction. I'm hoping the weather is okay on that night as well. April is rehearsing Ramona Quimby every day at 5pm so the weather is involved for the 30+ kids cast in that show as well. Two of the staff- Marsha and Janice live out of town and are making alternative plans for traveling to and from work if the weather turns bad.