Week 4 - Tech or "Hell" Week.

Well, we've made it to tech week.   It has been a good rehearsal process thus far.  The only choppiness has come from some actor scheduling-conflicts and sicknesses that could not be prevented which caused some absences...  My character is the link between all the other characters (well, me and the dead guy) and it's no exaggeration to say that I am desperately in need of a few solid runs of the show with everyone present and with lights illuminating our stage-world.

I get that wish granted this week.  

Tonight is a Tech cue to cue.  That's when set changes, lights and sound are added.  These are plentiful in number.  I expect it to be a very long evening.

Tuesday we add costumes.

Wednesday we run the whole thing with all hopefully-finalized technical elements together for the first time.  This is also the night when the show is photographed by Buddy Myers, our resident photographer.

Thursday is our first audience.  It's a preview, which means no critics.  Stage West does 2 previews per show.  (Only $15 each!!!)  Some theatres have even more!  I think the Dallas Theatre Center has  6 or 7.  It depends on how much "time" you have in your financial budget...

You see,  the previews allow the directors and the actors to see what works and what needs some tweaking.  We gain this information from the audience which makes up the final character in a show.  It would be great to have TONS of previews but we small, professional theatres need the critical reviews to help us get the word out to our audiences.... That in turns, helps us to sell tickets.  (Single and season tickets sales make up nearly half of our production budget!!!)

The "All Mighty Review" is, of course, a double edged sword.  We are depending on ONE PERSON'S opinion to dictate the success of a production.  How crazy is that?   Critics are human, after all, and come with biases and personal preferences and prejudices like everyone else.   If a critic pans our vision/efforts, we depend on the AUDIENCE to get their own opinions out there.... Word-of-mouth is sometimes the most important part of keeping a non-profit theatre such as Stage West alive and healthy.  

That said, i hope you have purchased your ticket to the show by now!  Remember, it's only a 4 week run.  :)