Two things needed from you for this to continue coming together, and then some general requests
1. Be alive on stage. There are too many of you for me to individually block, speak with, suggest acting ideas. I hereby grant you full artistic license, which you have earned through auditions and showing up, to ACT on stage. Add to what's going on, further the story, be alive and responsive. Get out of the bad habits of talking, whispering, and not being in character because those will seep over into performance. Lots of energy on stage, always! Don't slump or drag your feet "because it's rehearsal" but start raising the bar now of how far we want this show to go. When I do get a moment to focus on you individually, realize that if you give me a full effort to work with we can really start adding the fun stuff, but if my time with you is spent on what you already know (look at who is talking, pretend you're interested, don't look bored) we aren't growing that much at all.
2. Get off script and off libretto. Heads have been down in the scripts even when you don't have lines for pages. Those of you cast with singing and speaking, now is the time I need you to earn that role. Bobby was off two weeks ago -- you all need to get there.
Generally: Say Thank You. Mr. Munderloh, he's new and working hard, Chrissy and Courtney, who are helping me tremendously, light guys for making it happen and taking the initiative, set crew who is showing up even without Joel and getting it done, Mr. Jarvis for getting us a rock band, Paul Cox for getting us some funding and providing me with more support than ever. . . .you get the idea. Look around at how many people are cranking away so you can do this fun show.
Reach out to other cast members. Seniors, you deserve this show, but just as some elders reached out to you when you were starting TheatreJM, please don't get too cozy with those you already know, but help everyone feel welcome. Underclassmen, if you're serious about continuing on the JM stage, build those relationships you'll be sharing shows with for the next couple years.
Support each other, hold each other up academically, personally, socially, and on the stage. Most of your time will be spent with each other for the next three weeks, so you might as well be their bff for a while.
Feel free to play on stage, try something new and creative and out of YOUR personality as you try on a new character.
posted by erdecker @ 6:51 AM
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