Today was perhaps the biggest writing day of the year. I got up, made a strong pot of coffee and went to work on getting to the end of the play. As I said yesterday, I've been laying a foundation for the last section for the last couple of weeks, today I had to finally 'get there'. Trusting in the process is always the key element of working on a play--I knew it would arrive, I just didn't know when. Kurt and I had a lock date of this Wednesday, which means I had to have the final script by then, so we can begin 'locking it' down. 'Locking it' just means that the changes made are minimal from Wednesday on, so that we can finish the blocking, and get completely memorized-- so that we can move onto other parts of the production. Even though I feel like I got to the end of the play, and have the structure and the text in place, I have tomorrow morning to get one more pass at the third section. I'm pretty picky how the script looks and feels with the words on the page, so I will also continue to insert my break-downs, which are really helpful in the final shape of the play. Breaking down the 'finished' parts of the play allow you to see if the rest of the text is in 'the kind of shape' to take on the extreme form of the finish. It is exciting. I'm really excited about the third act or section, which was once the weakest link in the play, now I feel that it is the strongest, which it should be. I learned early on that so many plays in the world have the strong first act and a weak second or third act. Its because its always easier to create conflict and raise questions than it is to get resolve and answer the questions. I think that pertains to life as well. Fighting often becomes what is normal and easiest for most of us to do. Anyway, I'm probably preaching to the choir.
On the production side of things, we finally have our projector which will be used to project some photos into the mix. That will be a great production challenge. Saturday, Kurt, Scott, and myself had a production meeting about the set and production design. We went through lots of possibilities, but still did not make a final decision on what it will be. We sent the script off to Kurt's cousin, Lance, an artist and designer at The University of Delaware for some possible sketches or ideas. We haven't heard back yet. Luckily, we are not lacking for design experience, and so I'm thinking that the design will come together 'going down the wire' as I believe it should doing guerilla style theatre. That's what gives it its vibrancy---RISK!
Although I'm spending much of my time sequestered here in the apartment working the last few days, I took time out to watch the Super Bowl, one of the best in recent memory. The Cards lost but respectfully so, Arizona football can at last hold its head up high! We ordered some pizza from whole foods (really good!) and watched the game from beginning to end.
Tonight we will go to the gym and get in a good work out, have a little dinner, and hit the sack, and then one more writing session in the morning before rehearsal starts for the week. As I mentioned, the rehearsals have intensified since the middle of last week, and now every minute will be used from here on out. With this show, we have to perfectly execute precisely to bring the show in to opening with a professional sheen on the stage. It will definitely be a challenge! Once again, if you are planning on coming, you can buy tickets or make reservations at plays411.bohemiancowboy. We'll talk soon.
3 comments:
I am getting excited about this production as you complete the end.
I know what work goes into a play that is already written, blocked, and ready for you...let alone doing all that while you memorize!
Don't let it ever be said that you are not courageous. You have nerves of steel!! (what better compliment in view of the Pittburg
Steelers)
I must echo Ann's remark about nerves of steel, but I know how those nerves of steel developed, through years of producing new plays, and now you will need every bit of this experience in the biggest theater risk you have ever taken. An inexperienced theater person could not do this, could not imagine doing it, so all the previous risks you have taken with each new play has made this one easier. I can remember many an opening when you had to sweat out the verdicts of those who came to judge. Would critics who are not enthusiastic about new plays (they have to watch them, when they prefer Tonys and Pulitzers with the risk now cut to a minimum somewhere else) still give this production enough of an okay to make the risk worth it? Critics can and do chase new playwrights right out of town. They did in Phoenix. I went to the Internet. You went first to Utah and now to Los Angeles, the city of your birth. Seems destiny now for you to be back there and ready to bid for supporters.
Yippee, light at the end of the tunnel. The more you write the more I wish I could see your LA performance. Will it be on vidio for us fans to buy? Surely hope this is a possibility. Keep trucking. I'm sure you will be a hit.
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