Full Steam AHEAD!

We are literally plowing through during rehearsals now.  It feels like a beast of a show at the moment.  Because we don't have any automation, flying, special effects etc., we actually have all our props and most our set that we can use during rehearsals.  So, it's as if we were doing the ACTUAL show instead of just rehearsing.  And because we are still figuring it out, we keep repeating or changing each entrance...which means we set and re-set each prop and set piece every time.  Usually, you are able to "mark" or "just act" like you are moving set pieces during rehearsal until you get onstage.  That makes rehearsing, changing the scenes, switching entrances so much easier.  Not the case with us! 

There is also quite a bit more "dancing" or "movement" in this version.  PRAIRIE isn't a 42nd Street or Chorus Line, so we don't have many dances like that.  However, we do have jigs and square dances, types of movement that normal people did out on the prairie.  It really works with the atmosphere of the show.  

After quite a full day of new material, we were asked to run all the new and old work we had done for the orchestrator.  This would allow him to have a visual idea of the song, hopefully adding even more "layers" to his choices while orchestrating.  Wow, it really makes you think on your feet.

All that said, I still LOVE my job :)  We are experiencing freedom in "play".  The creative team allows us to bring and add our own personalities and choices, many of which get incorporated into the final version.  We play until it feels right!

Play On, my friends! Play til it feels right!