In the begining.....: The Closing of "The Drowsy Chaperone"

I am sorry it has been a while since I posted here. I have been a busy boy. I just finished a 4 week run of "The Drowsy Chaperone" at weathervane playhouse. The cast was jam packed with talents. The 16 member cast was singing, dancing and changing costumes into my heart.

Michelle Chaho as Kitty, Kevin Kane as Feldzieg

I have had experiences where a person or two and I would connect. I have never worked on a show where I have liked every singel person so much.

I know in the theater world we rehearse a show, perform a show, close a show, then audition for the next show. Thats just the cycle of life. I am sad today because my daily interactions are now overwith. Here comes the next show.

"Chaperone" is its own entity. It has heart, spunk, sass, and its just a fun time. Today I was still laughing at jokes Ihave heard 20 times. I watched scenes that I have seen so many times. I felt pride.

Danny O'Donnell as Gangster #2, Jonathon Merechant as Gangster #1, Kevin Kane as Feldzieg

Last night an audience member told me that I should be in the greeting line with the cast as well. I told her I was. Everyone of the cast was wearing a piece of me. That is one of the great things about what I do. I take fabric, thread and imagination and stitch it all together and then an actor breathes life into the garment. And sometimes the garment transforms an actor into a character.

My favorite day of all days in tech week is first dress. For those of you who do not know, the week prior to a shows opening is called tech week or tech. Saturday is usually Dry Tech (no actors) the lighting, sound, scenic designers, the stage manager and director sit down and write into the stage managers script where the light and sound cues will be called, and where any scenic changes will occur. Then they run through all of the light cues.

Molly Weidig as Jane, Adam Vigneault as Reporter, Danny O'Donnell as Gangster #2, Michelle Chaho as Kitty

On sunday in the afternoon, the cast arrives and a cue to cue occurs. Basically they start at the top of the show and run from light cue to light cue, sound cue to sound cue, and any scenic changes. Then fix anything that needs fixed. Then a dinner break.

After the dinner break we have First Dress, this is the first time the actors are in full costume, hair and make-up. We run the show full through doing all lighting, sound, scenic and costume changes.

Amanda Davis as the Drowsy Chaperone
I love this night because it is a time when we can see ourselves diffrently. You may have been a blonde with long hair when you sat down, but now you are a red head with short curly hair. Its a night of transformation. I love watching the final piece of the puzzle come together. For weeks the actors have been creating a charcter and this is the piece that breathes a new life into the performance. I love watching the actors transform, and comment to each other about their new looks. It is transformative, if the actor likes how they look, they have a zip in their step and it becomes a small part of their performance.

Molly Weidig as "Janet Van De Graaf
My absolute favorite is watching the children get ready. They are so young and happy. the squeals of delight echo down the hall. In 2 weeks we start the tech weeks for "Annie" The hours of work start to get longer, but its all worth it.

Here are some more pics for you to enjoy.