Mid-Way Point in rehearsals

We've hit the mid-way point in rehearsals for The Sweetest Swing In Baseball. I'm pleased to say that things are coming along well. It's only my second time to direct but I feel good about my instincts. I doesn't hurt that I have once again been able to cast the play just right. That's 90% of the director's job!!!

What I have to keep forcing myself to do is exercise patience. The director in me wants to get heavy into the philosophy and subtext of the characters from the beginning. The actor in me knows that I need to give my performers some time to get used to the blocking, get the lines more in their heads, before I hit them with major notes.

When a director does that to me, I'm thinking, "YES. I KNOW. I'M NOT THERE YET. THANK YOU."

(And in caps, too, just like that.)

In any case, we are on target. The actors are nearly off-book. The set design is interesting and fun to work with.

I should also mention that I have a stage-veteran as my Stage Manager. Our resident SM is going out of town during this show so he stepped up to the plate. He is extremely cautious of stepping on my toes as a director. However, I've told him that I'm open to suggestions here and there as I'd be crazy to ignore his 40+ years of experience. As such, he has contributed a few staging ideas that have worked out quite well.

(In all fairness, I should say everyone working on this show has brought great things to the table. I feel like a very lucky director.)

Tonight we continue working through the show.