Now that the blocking is done, we spent this past week's rehearsals running the show, at first in halves, but then the whole thing. Right now we still have stops and starts, but it's so much fun to see what the show will be like as a whole piece. It also allows Scott to see what works and what could be better. It's always fun trying out new things in terms how we play a scene! From here on out we will be running the show every night with each night bringing fewer stops. At some point before we open, the show will be "frozen," meaning no more changes.
Running the entire show also brings new challenges. Most of the cast plays multiple roles (this is intentional and how it was done on Broadway; New Line isn't trying to downsize the show) and the new characters sometimes come fast and furious. Amy Kelly, our costume designer, has her work cut out for her, but so do the actors. For instance, in one fairly short stretch of the show, I enter singing as part of the "Greek chorus," negotiate a treaty as Red Eagle, and then later have a few lines as a soldier in the Battle of New Orleans, all without leaving the stage! Still working on how all that's going to play out!
This was also the last week that we rehearsed the show in a rehearsal hall with the set roughly indicated on the floor. Even though it's only been a short time, it's easy to get used to whatever playing space you're in. From now on we start rehearsing in the theater (the set was loaded in last week). It'll be like going from 2D to 3D, which can take some getting used to. I'm sure there will be lots more to blog about next week! Until then.
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