Back from read through...

Back from the read through and it really went well. I'm pleased with everyone I've chosen for the cast. Tomorrow will be the first day of rehearsal. So now all the motions will start to come into play. I can tell the cast is very excited about getting into this and just working to do the best they can for this play. :) More updates soon!

Auditions Day 1

Well I got back from auditions a few hours ago. The auditions were from 7pm-9pm. All in all it went good. I got there around 6pm. There were a few actors already ready to audition! Jeff had them 'sing in' with an audition sheet and put a number on them so I could match the number with the person/sheet. I mingled around for awhile as more and more people started to file in. I'm sure at this point they thought I was just another actor waiting around as I hadn't been introduced to them as a director. Was talking to a few of the people that were auditioning and getting some history on them and how they came into the "arts."

So once everyone got there the auditions started at 7pm and Jeff introduced Connie Willis(The Christmas Story director who was auditioning the same time I was) and myself to the group of actors/actress that had shown up. We had most of the people wait in the rehearsal hall while we called them down in groups to audition in the Missouri Theater. That's right we got to do the auditions on the stage we'll be preforming on!

I would have been "lost" if I didn't have my assistant Jennifer helping me. She was so wonderful in going to get people to come down and audition and just anything I asked her. I missed her on the way out so I hope she comes back tomorrow as I really wanted to thank her for all the help she did for me. Plus I hope she'll help me the 2nd day of auditions.

The auditions themselves went good. We had 2 males, 4 females and about 12-15 kids try out for The Miracle Worker on this first night. More auditions will be held tomorrow night so hope to see more talented people in the area. Everyone I saw tonight does have talent! That's so great to see in a small town. All of them were very nice to me as well.

Here to a good first night of auditions...Keep that curtain open!
-CP

Set Design meeting

Just got back from my meeting with set and lighting designer Frank Polleck. Frank had some good ideas and is going to be making a great set for us. We looked at the set design layout in the back of the script book, but Frank thought changing a few things would help for the audience to see everything going on stage better. His ideas were good and I think they are going to help for the audience to see everything. He's going to draw it up for me to see it all together. Then I'll sign off on it and he'll get started. After we have auditions this weekend( 14th-15th), he's going to tape down the set on the rehearsal hall floor so we can block all the motions and not be running into walls.

After the meeting stopped by to talk with Jeff. We're still looking for light/sound operator and stage manager. Also I've got to get him pages from the script that we'll be using at auditions for the casting. Jeff has been promoting casting and getting the word out about it. He went on our local news this morning to talk about his upcoming production, but I guess got roped into talking about the auditions for this and the other play they'll be casting for at the same time. Sorry about that Jeff. :P

Till next time, don't raise the curtain, lower the seats...
-CP

Weekend update

Greetings all. Just wanted to give you a small update on what's been going on. I've be reading over the script and making notes about it. This is a highly dramatic play indeed. Casting will be very important. Speaking of casting, auditions will be held Oct 14-15th with the 16th a day for call backs. Then after that I'm sure we're going to have to go right into rehearsals due to the short time we have before performance time.

Tomorrow I meet with set designer Frank Polleck to talk more about sets and all that good stuff. Will give a report of how that goes tomorrow.

Till next time, keep the spotlights hot!
-CP