A few pictures for the record

Clockwise from top left: cast photo taken at first dress rehearsal; two of our young men dressed for the first day of races as Ascot; and a small rendering of our set, which has been executed and put into action with resounding success. Opening night was joyful and exciting. It's one weekend down, and four to go! I hope to add to the visual record as the run continues.

Pulses Rushing

With three days until opening, I can say with confidence that this show is going to look gorgeous. Set, costumes, and lighting are the most beautiful I have ever directed. That I have time this morning to sit and compose a word or two about our progress is testament to how well organized and well prepared we are. Not that we haven't worked long and sometimes frustrating hours, especially since our tech load-in officially began on May 10, to get to this point. I am just about ready to let this fledgling spread her wings and fly, and although it is difficult at this point to judge objectively how the show is playing--as entwined in it as I am--I don't hesitate a bit to say that it looks absolutely stunning.

My Fair Lady of the Van

April 24, 2008

Last evening during the rehearsal for the "Embassy Waltz," it became necessary to time some dialogue spoken by Higgins, Pickering, Mrs. Higgins, and the show's villain/buffoon, Zoltan Karpathy, to the accompaniment of underscored music. With the rest of the company hard at work in the fellowship hall learning to waltz as the elegant upperclass socialites they are, we had to find an alternate space to do our task. So, five of us--four actors and I--repaired to the parking lot and piled into my van, and by the glow of the roof lights and to the cheerful strains of Frederick Loewe's waltz on my car stereo, we hunkered down and got the job done. We did have to pause to open the windows after the first couple of times through the material (with all that hot air steaming up the windows). But in spite, or maybe because, of our circumstances, this was one rehearsal I will always remember. I only wish I'd had a video camera to record it, if one could have fit.