The theater group I work with is performing Frankenstein this weekend and I will not be there. They are performing next weekend as well and I may not be there then either.
This is seriously weird.
For the past 10+ years, if there was a show, I was there. Working the lights, running the sound, stage managing, house managing, emergency managing, mentoring, running for coffee, whatever. Even the year I had heart surgery I managed to participate. I did manage to participate this time around, don't get me wrong. I worked on building lighting and setting up the tech area prior to the show, but I have never missed working most, if not all, of the performances. I feel strange, but it is probably for the best. The new parents that have stepped in to take over the jobs I usually do are doing remarkably by all accounts. The program, something I have done exclusively since the first season, looks great. I have always said that the greatest compliment you can give someone is to trust enough to let them have their shot at things and not assume you are the only one capable of meeting the challenges. That is especially true when you are working with young people. So, after last nights performance, I got the email reports of how the show went and I was very proud to hear that the tech crew got kudos for a good job. I was kind of rooting for them.
The parent liasion (whom I think of as the producer/stage manager) is remarkable. This is her first time out as far as I know, and she has organized "everything". If you work in theater, then you know what a blessing someone like that is. I hope we can keep her for many years.
The acid test is tonight; the director will not be there. In many theater groups, the director is finished after the dress rehearsals are done, but with a youth theater, especially ours, the director usually calls the show, with help from the stage manager. This is due in part to the fact that all of our crew are volunteers, no one except the director is 100% familiar with all of the entrances, exits and cues. So tonight the rubber meets the road and the stage manager and the tech crew will be running the whole show on their own.
This is also a good thing. A scary thing, but a good thing.
We are dependant on our regulars and if they are not available we are uncomfortable. It is good to stretch ourselves like this. I will be waiting to hear how tonights show went. I have every confidence that it will turn out well.
This would be an excellent spot to put some pun-nish Frankenstein reference to "creating a new life from the old" but I would never do something that corny. It will be enough to say that the "creature" which we call Michigan Youth Theater is ALIVE.
This is seriously weird.
For the past 10+ years, if there was a show, I was there. Working the lights, running the sound, stage managing, house managing, emergency managing, mentoring, running for coffee, whatever. Even the year I had heart surgery I managed to participate. I did manage to participate this time around, don't get me wrong. I worked on building lighting and setting up the tech area prior to the show, but I have never missed working most, if not all, of the performances. I feel strange, but it is probably for the best. The new parents that have stepped in to take over the jobs I usually do are doing remarkably by all accounts. The program, something I have done exclusively since the first season, looks great. I have always said that the greatest compliment you can give someone is to trust enough to let them have their shot at things and not assume you are the only one capable of meeting the challenges. That is especially true when you are working with young people. So, after last nights performance, I got the email reports of how the show went and I was very proud to hear that the tech crew got kudos for a good job. I was kind of rooting for them.
The parent liasion (whom I think of as the producer/stage manager) is remarkable. This is her first time out as far as I know, and she has organized "everything". If you work in theater, then you know what a blessing someone like that is. I hope we can keep her for many years.
The acid test is tonight; the director will not be there. In many theater groups, the director is finished after the dress rehearsals are done, but with a youth theater, especially ours, the director usually calls the show, with help from the stage manager. This is due in part to the fact that all of our crew are volunteers, no one except the director is 100% familiar with all of the entrances, exits and cues. So tonight the rubber meets the road and the stage manager and the tech crew will be running the whole show on their own.
This is also a good thing. A scary thing, but a good thing.
We are dependant on our regulars and if they are not available we are uncomfortable. It is good to stretch ourselves like this. I will be waiting to hear how tonights show went. I have every confidence that it will turn out well.
This would be an excellent spot to put some pun-nish Frankenstein reference to "creating a new life from the old" but I would never do something that corny. It will be enough to say that the "creature" which we call Michigan Youth Theater is ALIVE.
