I need a road map!

In about an hour I will be heading to the theatre to start getting ready for our 1st full dress rehearsal tonight. I think we are aiming for an 8 o'clock start time for the run. I plan on getting there at around 5:30pm. I know that may sound early but I want to give myself as much time as possible to prepare for the show. I realized yesterday that I was not as prepared as I thought I was for all the technical additions to the show. It is somewhat difficult to remember everything you need to do for a show, especially a complicated one such as this. Today I wrote down absolutely everything I need to do during the run of the show. This list includes, exactly what I wear for each scene, what props I need and where to find them, where I enter and exit and when I have quick costume changes so I can be prepared for them. In the theatre world a list such as this is referred to as a road map. Really, every person in the cast should have a list like this. As you begin to do more run thrus of the show you need to refer to the list less and less because it eventually becomes second nature. However, when you’re just beginning the performance runs it is a good idea to have this kind of a list to help you guide you through the play. Last night I realized that my original road map was not nearly comprehensive enough to include absolutely everything that I needed to remember. I became really stressed out because I was feeling like I didn't know what I was doing! I am confident that tonight’s run through will go a lot better for me and I am sure for everyone else as well. I am pretty positive that I have figured out all the little details that I need to do in between scenes so hopefully it will go much more smoothly. I am sure that other cast members feel the same way. It is always a little stressful figuring out the timing of transitions, costume changes and the placement of props. I can’t believe that we are opening in two days!! It’s a little scary but I know we will all be very excited to have an actual audience to perform for. I must say that I really enjoy working with all the people involved with the show. Gino, the actor who plays Mr. Lawrence, is constantly making me laugh because he is so funny and outgoing during our song together. Chrissy and BJ are two of the best stage managers I have ever worked with on any show. Stage managing is difficult because you have to be in charge of so many things and keep everyone in line. These two women are not only very organized and keep the show running smoothly but they are also so nice and thoughtful! And Melissa, our fearless leader, has created a really beautiful and moving production. I don’t know how she manages to keep it together all the time, but she does. Everyone involved with this production, whether they are a part of the cast or crew or design team offers something very special, and when all of us are brought together we create a very wonderful production that I hope many people will get the chance to see! Well, I need to get ready to go to the theatre for tonight’s dress rehearsal so I will say good bye for now.

Suzanne
PS – The picture is of me and Amanda (Amy) in the green room during a rehearsal. I think we look a lot like sisters with our hair this way!