Monthly Archives: March 2013

Quiet Monday

Doot, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door.

Doot, doo, doo, lookin’ out my back door.

Hmmm. A huge performance weekend with a snow day the following Monday? And it’s almost April?

I don’t think that’s ever happened to me. But I’m glad it happened today. A gift!

It’s a great morning for quiet time, reading, coffee, and getting showered, dressed and to work on some long-shelved projects (like deep-cleaning the bathtub and cleaning out a closet). But the “work” part can wait a little longer. And I don’t have rehearsal tonight. Whatever shall we do about that?

Oh yeah — cook dinner! What a concept. :-)

Enjoy your Monday, fiends — I know I will, if only to take time to breathe and reflect on (and recover from) the last 10 weeks before going on to the next “thing…”

FO

Allons II

And away we go again.

Great opening night — one of the best ever. Two shows remaining today, then tonight around 10, it’s another one in the books.

Stoney and I play the same record every year after opening night. We look back at all the hair pulling and sleepless nights and frustration and “if only they’d love it as much as we do” conversations, and realize that it was all worth it. They do love it as much as we do. I submit that there are few experiences quite like watching a group of 14-18-year-olds come together as a committed group of actors, singers and dancers and “give back” to their community. There’s not a diva in the bunch, and we couldn’t be prouder of how they pulled this thing off in front of a sellout crowd of awesome parents and friends.

Perhaps the best part is how this rural (and I do mean out in the middle of nowhere), small community completely and enthusiastically supports the performing arts, with their dollars and their attendance. The theory that only larger, wealthier districts have that kind of support is consistently disproved, year after year out here in Hooterville.

Now to match the magic of opening night this afternoon and tonight…yikes.

But hey…there’s food. Lots and lots of glorious food after the matinee and before the final show. I don’t know about anyone else, but that makes me sixteen kinds of happy. Bring it! Eat! Laugh! Sing! Laissez les freakin’ bon temps roulez.

;-)

Allons!

Hey wait...what's wrong with this picture?

Hey wait…what’s wrong with this picture?

Go, go, go, Joseph. 

After a disastrous beginning to our final rehearsal last night, we’re ready to open. (I achieved critical mass once again. I gotta knock that off.)

We’re basically on schedule. It’s been a grueling rehearsal run, but as a cast member said on Facebook last night, it’s gone quite fast. Mid-January music rehearsals seem like a long, long time ago, though.

I remember thinking when I received my conductor’s score in the mail, “They’ll never learn all this music.” Well, they did, and now it’s time to put rubber to road.

Yikes, and it’s 6:05 a.m. Time for me to get ready to do the same.

See you on the other side of opening night. Oh, and happy Finkday – YAY!

Thursday shout-out

A big “dobrodošli doma!” to BFF Kay and Bob, who return from Slovenia today after spending three weeks reconnecting with family and friends in Bob’s ancestral homeland. We are looking forward to getting together with them when the dust settles to hear some great stories and see pictures. And Drago misses his parents, so it’ll be fun to see his reaction when Bob walks into the house. (Picture a white fluff ball, bouncing on a trampoline.)

Another shout goes to my partners in crime and fellow Finkites Stoney (stage director) and Greg (tech director), who have managed once again to both put up with my insanity and still do their jobs, without murderizing (or muzzling) me. Props! One more rehearsal tonight, then it’s on.

I wonder sometimes if my RtB fiends say to themselves, “ENOUGH already with the musical theater stuff.” I wouldn’t blame them. Still, it’s good for me to get it off my brain, and I thank you for your patience while it all clears out to make room for future nonsense.

OK, enough aimless rambling for one morning. There are notes and rhythms to kill.

Fink, doin’ work

The weirdest day. Ever.

This was my face yesterday.

Suffice it to say that Tuesday was bizarre in so many ways, it would take a long time to explain. I am sorry to be all “Vague-book” here, but that’s all I’ll say about it. J’ever have a day/experience that was so odd, it was all you could think about for awhile?

Strange days, fiends. Strange days. But last night’s rehearsal went quite well, all things considered, so I’m happy.

Anyway — something besides this show. Lessee here…

Take four minutes today (especially if you are — or you love — someone who is, say, over the age of 50). Yay. Go arts.

Well of course he does, dearie. 

I wonder how Bando is doing with preparations for her show. If she checks in today, I hope she’ll inform us.

How is your week going? Did you know it’s half over with? Yay. Go weeks.

And speaking of going — there’s a price to pay for hitting the snooze on your alarm, whether by accident (the first time) or on purpose (the next two times). Have a great Wemsday — see you on the other side!

FO