Beginning a Brand New Adventure!

Hello Everyone!

My name is Suzanne Lenz and I was asked to write this blog about the process of the Davidson Community Players production of Little Women the musical. One of the main reasons we wanted to start this blog was to illustrate for people how a theatre production is created from beginning to end. There's a lot of hard work and dedication from all sides of the theatre that goes into assembling a really great piece of work. So many actors, directors, technicians, crew members, designers, producers, and many others all come together to create a piece of theatre that is meaningful, moving and of course, entertaining!

I am a junior theatre major at Davidson College and I've had the opportunity to participate in many theatre productions over the years, but I am especially excited about this show. I have never stayed in the town of Davidson over the summer so I've never been able to see DCP's big summer musical. While I was talking to different community members about past show experiences I realized that this show was really going to be something special. So, I was especially excited for our first introductory meeting on Monday night, April 21st. The moment I walked into the church building on Armour street (that they are converting into their very own theatre!) I felt the sort of excitement you get on your first day of school. I hardly knew anyone there, so I was anxious to meet new friends. Of course, many people involved with this production have worked together before so it was like a wonderful reunion for them. Melissa Olhman-Roberge, our director, began the meeting by having every one in the room introduce themselves and say what part of the production they were contributing to. Next, Melissa handed out a bunch of papers regarding possible rehearsal schedules, contacts sheets, and DCP's philosophies about theatre and the community that it creates and builds.

The technical director of the show, Jim Nash, or "Big Dog" as he's knows in the Davidson Theatre department, said something of great importance during that first meeting. He talked about how this is the only time this production will ever be done in this way with these particular people. That is something that makes each theatre production you participate in special and unique. The fact that the company you are a part of is special and the piece of theatre you create for a finite amount of time will never happen in the same way again. It really makes you appreciate the rehearsal process and subsequent performances, because you have only a finite amount of time with the company and you want to enjoy every moment you do have.


Since that first meeting we have had two music rehearsals with our music director Jane Cain. It was exciting to hear everyone sing for the first time together because everyone sounds so good! All the cast members have different voices and qualities to offer but we are beginning to blend together very well. There are many harmonies to learn in the group numbers and I was definitely having a little trouble finding my part right away! I know I will be working on my harmony parts on my own, and I know the other cast members will as well. When working on any theatre production it is very important to go home and work on your songs and dialogue on you own time. That makes it easier on the director and you can get a lot more accomplished at rehearsal if you always come prepared. On our first music rehearsal I was feeling a little under-the-weather and coughing up a storm while I was trying to sing, and Chrissy, one of our stage managers was sweet enough to fill up my empty water bottle for me. It was very nice of her and helpful because I stopped coughing as much once I had the water.


Our next rehearsal is tomorrow, Sunday May 4th. We will continue learning songs and perfecting the harmonies, and of course, getting to know one another. This was a very long post, and I will try to post more frequent and shorter blogs in the future. It's finals time at Davidson College right now, so bear with me!



Talk to you soon!

Suzanne