Day 399: Gay Marriage

I know I said I wouldn't focus too much of my blog on gay topics but this needed to be said.

Today was a monumental day in history when the American government declared all people equal allowing same sex marriage to be equal in all states. Love is the most important thing in the world. People just want to be happy. People just want someone to grow old with and want everyone to know that they have a lifetime commitment. Everyone should and now has that chance. I started quoting golden girls there but I digress. Being in the theatrical community, everyone in my news feed has changed their profile pic with the rainbow and has also made some post about it. We aren't blowing up Facebook to rub it in or to try to change the mind of the opposition. We just want to emphasize that love is leading the nation toward the future.

It's like they say in our Addams Family show:

"Love triumphs at last."

Day 398: Opening Night

Tonight was opening night of The Addams Family. I can't begin to describe how amazing it went. I now have no doubt in my mind that I want to do this forever. I've played several shows, but this is the most fun I've had and the most satisfying from playing this show. There are so many musical flavors and it just puts you in a good mood. We finished playing the opening number and all of the orchestra members turned to each other. We were all grinning from ear to ear. We were having a blast, the audience was enjoying it, and it was a great start to a perfect evening. Of course, there were some technical flubs but who cares. All of our hard work paid off. We were having the time of our lives. Most importantly, the audience was giving a great response. It got to the bows and we played the TV theme and people snapped in audience participation. That's just more of the magic of theater. Everyone is sitting being entertained and even though we are all different the theater has somewhat of a unifying effect even for just a little while. The other magic, as I've mentioned before, everything on opening night just clicks. Everything works and everyone is connected just like the perfect family. Below is a photo of the family reveal:

Day 397: When You're in Costume

Today, we added the final element as we entered dress rehearsals: the costumes/makeup. I was talking to the actors, and they were explaining that they can now truly embrace the character and feel realistic in the moment as the person they are portraying. Morticia needed her dress, Fester, needed his bald head, and the ancestor ensemble needed their ghost makeup. Below are some photos. The final two shows one of the ensemble members without and with costume/makeup to show the extreme change.

Day 396: Another Tech

Today, we had another tech day. This time it was for The Addams Family which opens on Thursday. There are so many special effects, puppets, scene shifts, props, quick changes, lights, fog, etc. that the tech rehearsal was long, tedious, frustrating, and very complicated. It is so involved that we couldn't even finish in one day. Luckily, because I have a wonderful assistant, we have been able to alternate the tech rehearsals, so she played for this one and I'll play for the next one. I stayed for most of the afternoon and knew it would be a long evening for everyone and it was. However, I know that it will work out somehow and everybody in the crew will make it happen. Also, it doesn't hurt to have the national tour sets, costumes, and props to make our show look phenomenal. Here's some photos:

Day 395: Some Random Things

Some varied topics for today:

Inside Out is the Greatest Disney Pixar film in history.

Spy was pretty good.

The Alamo movie theater is the happiest place on earth no matter what Disney says.

My Father's Day shoutout was to all the single moms who play father and mother and do a damn good job raising kids that turn out just fine.

My late Father's Day shoutout is to my late grandfathers. They were like a dad to me. I miss them everyday.

Lastly, when you leave rehearsal you never know what you'll see outside. Once I saw a wedding, once I saw a rainbow, once I saw a double rainbow, once I saw an auto show, and once I saw a hot air balloon.

Day 394: Conducting

I had the greatest day today. I was blessed with the opportunity to conduct the final run through of The Addams family before we started dress rehearsals. Both our musical director and assistant musical director have church jobs and couldn't be there. They asked if we would be okay playing without a conductor and that's when the bright idea hit me that I could conduct and Olivia, the other pianist, could play. I figured I had watched them enough and was enough of a musician to be able to manage it. However, the thing standing in the way was the musical director, but more importantly my fear of asking if I could conduct. I was sure she'd say no. But one thing my Papa always said was that the worst someone could say was no, so I took a chance. She said I was more than welcome to give it a go. Also, she said that the actors would probably appreciate someone cueing them and helping with entrances, vamps, etc. I was stunned and ran around all day in elation. Granted, when I was conducting, I was terrified because I was flying solo with a professional company even if I was just acting as a sub. The actors were depending on me. I was so nervous that some of the tempos were a little brighter than normal but the director actually liked that. It was a great experience and just proved that I definitely want to play for and conduct musical theater as a career. I already knew; this just confirmed it. I had a blast and am so grateful for the opportunity. I can't wait for the masters program where I'll be able to study musical theater conducting as my graduate program of study.

Day 393: A Comedy of Evolution

Just to clarify the origins of the title of this post, in case you couldn't figure it out, there is a Shakespeare play called A Comedy of Errors, so it is a play on words of that title.

Anyway, tonight I saw a second weekend performance of A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum. It's amazing how much the musical comedy evolved over the week and several performances. Not that there were big differences, and even if a standard audience member saw the two shows I saw they wouldn't have noticed the changes. For example, there is a bit with confetti, and I noticed that they used a different type of confetti that was less distracting when it was strewn over the stage. Several of the line readings were different so the jokes would land better. Lastly, the actors were comfortable enough with the show to know when the appropriate times for ad libs were and they were hysterical. Comedy is never the same twice just like no two performances of live theater are ever identical. That's the funniest and most exciting thing about theater. You never know what you are going to get. You just have to learn to expect the unexpected. That is why it is key to have improvising and ad libbing skills.

Even if you were to go see Phantom of the Opera on Broadway 27 years since it opened, it would have evolved from what it was on opening night. That's just another aspect of the magic of theater. It promotes change and spontaneity. Theater is live and active and it will evolve throughout the years forever just as great comedy does.

Day 391 and 392: Orchestras

Thursday and Friday before opening are the orchestra rehearsals for the upcoming show. One day we run act one, and the next we run act two. It is followed by a sitzprobe on Sunday where the cast sings through the show with the orchestra before dress rehearsals. I wasn't in the orchestra for Forum, and all of the orchestras during the school year I was in were just little quartets or quintets. Therefore, I forgot the magic and real quality of a full orchestra and the amazing ones we have here for SSMT. When you see a musical, the primary portion is music, so it's such a blessing to be in a place where so many talented instrumentalists join together to accompany some talented performers. It all works together like a great symphony and produces magical performing arts and I love being a part of it. I love it here!!!

Day 390: Pics

As we start the second week of performances, I want to share the blog post of the photographer that shows several pics of the show and talks some about the awesome show the photos capture. Check it out at:

http://ckingphotography.com/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-forum/

Day 389: I Ain't Got Rhythm

The Gershwin brothers wrote in their classic song that they had rhythm. Well, after today, I don't know if I have rhythm, but I still love music. This show was written by a challenging composer and has pop, rock and Latin influences. All of that combined makes for a show that would not be a simple forte for me. Also, the fact that the self proclaimed "rhythm nazi" is our musical director. One of the worst songs is Crazier than you. It's a good song but difficult because the rhythms are crazier than anything I've ever played. However, as I work on it and play it several times during rehearsals I grow more confident with my rhythms and syncopations. Maybe by the end of the rehearsal period or more likely by the end of performances, I will have a better feel for these styles of music. Then I can sing with the Gershwins that I Got Rhythm.

Day 388: My Name Part 2

Last Monday, I had a post about my name and I'm following it by sharing a new story about it a week later. I have made it. My name and bio are on the SSMT website and their Facebook page. I'm going to tell you how to see it on the SSMT website. Go to www.ssmtva.com. Under about us click on meet the performers and go to the second page of performers. You will see my picture and my name. Click on my name and you will be able to read my bio. Also while you are browsing around the SSMT website, take the survey that talks about what you'd like to see in upcoming seasons. Even if you won't see them, pick some good ones, because that survey will determine what shows I play in the upcoming summers.

Day 386 and 387: New Rehearsals

This weekend we started staging and choreographing our next production: The Addams Family - A New Musical. We have rented the costumes, sets, and props from the national tour so this show will be the real deal. Not to mention we have an incredible cast. Of course, since it's an abnormal family and a slightly bizarre show, strange things happen at rehearsal. Kids get tied up, people randomly tango, birds get their heads popped off, rats and iguanas talk and move beds, and a guy has an affair with the moon. The photos below show the typical day of rehearsal for an atypical show.

Day 385: Papa Rodgers

For those of you who know anything about me, you know that on my mothers side, I had two grandfathers. They were papa a (Rod) and papa B (Theo). I just finished reading the autobiography of Richard Rodgers entitled Musical Stages. It's a fascinating book, and I highly recommend it. But I digress. I noticed that my papa B should be called papa b Rodgers because I had no idea how much he had in common with Richard Rodgers. Not only were they both great musicians, but they were both outstanding businessmen. However, the weren't sly, shrewd businessmen. They were kind and generous. Although, the had just the amount of stern push to get things accomplished just right and promptly. Also, they both pressed through heart issues. They both pressed through times when chapters of their lives ended and new ones began. They both have meticulous daughters and talented grandsons. Also, sadly they are both gone from this earth. However, I know just like in his iconic song that I'll never walk alone. Just as in the final quote of the book their spirits live on forever. To Papa B and Mr. Rodgers you truly both were something wonderful.

Day 384: Opening Night

I've lost track as to which number opening night this is, but tonight we opened A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum. It's the first show of the 32nd season of SSMT. It was a special evening. The show was spectacular. There was a gala before and a party after. People were dressed to the nines. SSMT alumni, conservatory administrators, the president of SU, and so many others were in attendance to witness the magical evening. There was so much fun and excitement in the air. It was the perfect way to kickoff the summer. However, it was slightly bittersweet because once one show opens you know that the summer is just going by that much faster. Time flies when you're having fun. Here's a pic from opening nights performance.

Day 383: Dress Rehearsals

Today (Wednesday), we had two dress rehearsals. There is no piano in the orchestration, so I was lucky enough to just sit back and watch the rehearsals. It turns out it's much easier to watch a Sondheim show than to play it. Anyway, it was just miraculous to see the improvements from the afternoon dress to the evening. There were a couple of snags during the first official dress but those kinks were ironed out by that night. During the evening rehearsal, we invited some SU students who were in town to come see the show. They absolutely loved it. It was important to get a test audience during one of the rehearsals because being a comedy the cast really needs to see where people will laugh and feed off that energy to help with the timing. That timing is key in making the farce such a hilarious theatrical form. I'll talk more about the audience in a later blog post as a sequel to last summers audience post. Dress rehearsals are done though and now we just have a clean up rehearsal tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow evening is opening night. Below are some photos from dress rehearsal.

Day 382: Tech

If you read some of my posts from last summer, you will understand the process of tech rehearsals. You get on stage, roll out the sets, turn on the lights, pipe the piano through the sound system, put on the costumes, start at the top of the show and see how far we get. Granted, we generally stop every five minutes. Someone from one of the departments yells HOLD and the tediousness begins. Is it long hours and boring and annoying, but it's when all of the real magic happens and when all of the pieces fall into place. The theater becomes a well oiled machine and all the parts start working together. When people come see shows, you generally don't think that just two days before opening the show was still a fragmented blueprint, but when you stop and think about it, you just appreciate the magic of theater that much more.

Day 381: My Name

On this day off, I'm going to talk about something I've noticed at this school. They know my name. I don't mean my teachers and my friends, but the administrators know me and in a good way. When I made the deans list, the associate dean of undergraduate studies sent me an email congratulating me. I know it wasn't automated because she mentioned how she helped me through difficult times adjusting my theory times to a manageable hour. Also the dean of graduate studies says hi David to me in the halls. When my grandfather passed away, the President of the school sent a personal sympathy note to my house. A month later when I played for an alumni event she saw me and by name thanked me for playing. While I know this is a small school, I love the close, personal social connection this school offers. The people even in the administration roles care about all of the students. I LOVE IT HERE!!!

Day 376-380: Rehearsals

I wanted to call this blog post A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Rehearsal or A look inside the Rehearsal studio but both of those titles were too long. I'm also combining five days in one post because I've been so busy with said rehearsals and they are the main things that have been happening in those days.

First thing I have to say about rehearsal is the fact that it's super organized which is thanks to our brilliant director and stage manager. Second, the rehearsal room is freezing. Third, the rehearsal studio is where all of the magic happens. Most people think it's on the stage during performance but I personally love watching it all come together. You take a bunch of talented actors, some tech people to provide sets and props to practice with, and some leadership geniuses conduct it into an amazing masterpiece of theater. However, that makes the rehearsal hall sound serious. It is far from. You have never seen a room filled with so much fun, comedy, and joy. If you don't believe me just check out the photos below:

Day 375: Olivia

Today my coworker for the summer arrived. Her name is Olivia, and she is the incoming musical theater accompanying student. Like me last year, she is playing for the summer before she starts the school year. She is super talented and reminds me a lot of me last year. She is shy and is very work oriented, but I think she gets used to the people and her environment she will become more outgoing. We seem to work really well together and I can't wait to work with her for the rest of the summer and for the school years and summers to come.

Day 374: My Day Away

In the tradition of professional Broadway theater, SSMT provides the company members with Mondays off. My first Monday away from work I couldn't think of anything better to do than to go to the alamo. They were presenting an anniversary screening of The Sound of Music. They almost didn't show it Monday, but because I pointed out to the management that they advertised Monday and Tuesday as well as Sunday, I got it to be shown. Never take no for an answer. But I digress. (Anybody? Nobody). The movie is timeless. The music, the story, the actors, everything; it just never gets old. Also, there is nothing like watching it on the big screen. The mountain scenery scrolls across the screen and the music crescendos through the trees to that opening shot with the most famous turn in history. In a movie theater it gives you chills and with the high definition of it all you see a whole new layer of beauty in the film. I also felt like I was watching the film from a whole new lens (and not just because my glasses happened to be clean that day). I've learned so much this past year about the details in theater and the power of underscoring in a play or subsequently a film. I watched with my ears as well and noticed how themes were conveyed through what songs were attached to underscoring at certain parts of the movie. Now, I love the film even more and realize how truly extraordinary it was and is. It will continue to enchant audiences for another fifty years and when it's celebrating its 100th anniversary, I'll still be a fan and go out and buy the latest copy of the movie. Maybe by then they'll have made a 3d version of it or I doubt if DVDs will still exist but however it's released it will always be the timeless classic. The hills will always be alive with the sound of music.

Day 372 and 373: Choreography

Over the first weekend, we focused on all of the choreography. It's not particularly enjoyable playing for dance rehearsals because it's so repetitive, playing the same thing over and over under tempo watching people learn steps until it looks like a dance routine. There are three consolations to this tedious ritual: practice, dance styles, and a great choreographer. Not only do the dancers get to practice, but when I'm playing complicated dance breaks for them, playing them under tempo gives me practice and helps me understand the nuances of the rhythms and helps me think like the dancers I'm accompanying. In this particular show, there's not much dancing, but the dancing there is, is so varied. The opening number has cheesy big Broadway dance style; the courtesan dances include a contemporary ballet, a striptease, a duo lyrical combination, a wild animal like jazz combo, and the final is a more traditional jazz set with extra dancers. Also, in the show is a whole sequence of vaudeville style dances. There's even a choreographed march dance at the end of the first act. Before I came here, I could have never described dances like that. Most importantly, we have a great choreographer. He comes into rehearsal and knows exactly every count and its corresponding step. Not only that, but he knows the measure numbers so he can easily work with the pianist and musical director. Also, he choreographs not just around the basic melody of a dance break but the orchestrations. For example, there's this big woodwind and strings scale in the opening number, and during it he has the dancer doing somersaults forward matching the quality of the music. It's fascinating to watch a great choreographer at work and it makes the dance rehearsal time fly by and before you know it, you have a full musical number assembled and looking fantastic.

Day 371: First Day

Today was the first day of SSMT and it couldn't have been a better day. People came in prepared with there music ready, we had a great company meeting, there was a fantastic music rehearsal, and after lunch we were able to dive right into blocking or staging the first few scenes. The first show we are doing is A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum. It's a musical farce and it's hilarious. The day couldn't have been any better, and if the rest of the summer is as great as today then I have the best job ever because it's so much fun.