Wow! Three weeks are done, one week left. I knew this time would fly, and yep it did!
We started out this week with a much needed day off. I dont think the four of us got out of bed until after 12 noon. We spent the day prepping for the next few days. Tuesday was our first 10 out of 12. Which means that we spent 10 hours at the theatre on stage working lights and costumes and spacing. We had a two hour lunch/dinner/meal break. I took a walk around the area during that time. We were able to fully tech the show in one day with a few minor details the next day. (our second 10 out of 12).
Thursday was our first day with an audience!! We did have rehearsal in the mid day, then time to get ready for the show. I was VERY nervous. An interpreting mentor told me once "No one is going to die, so no need to worry". Well that was true but I still could not get the nervousness out of my head. No one died! :) The show went well, I am my own worst critic.
Friday's show was even better. Friday night we had a post show reception. The show is sponsored by Citizens Bank and they hosted a post show party. I got to pull out a fancy new dress for the occasion!
The dressing rooms to the theatre are underneath the stage and lobby area. When we arrived upstairs our director from the Ivoryton Playhouse told us there was a young girl who wanted to meet us and get a picture with us. Of course this is my favorite part of my job! The young girl had come with her grandmother who worked for Citizens Bank. This was the young girls very first time seeing the National Theatre of the Deaf. Her very first time to the Ivoryton Playhouse. Her very first Theatre experience!! (my heart skips a happy beat) She had fallen in love with Chrissy. She was so enamored by her. She could not take her eyes off her. Chrissy and I talked with her for a good 10 minutes. We told her that when she went back to school on Monday she had to tell her teacher and ask her teacher to bring our company to her school. Her eyes got so big she looked at me and said "Will Chrissy come too?" Chrissy got a big smile and nodded and I said "yes, and Joey and I, the three of us." The little girl was so excited! Later when we were walking off the stage and back into the lobby area, she turned to me and said "wow, Chrissy is the best, she was SO good, the boys they were eh, but wow I really like Chrissy!!" Her Grandmother turns and says "you cant say that in front of her!" (meaning me) and I reply with "No if she liked Chrissy so much, and I am her voice that means I did my job correctly, Thank you so much, I will tell Chrissy you enjoyed her performance."
Saturday was a two show day. After the first show the 4 of us, quickly changed out of costume and zoomed back to the house for food and a nap.
Sunday we had a show and then another reception from the NTD board. So excited to pull out the fancy dress again! I think this was also the largest audience we had had so far. During the second act we have a bit of audience participation. During our first show (thurs) we had received a few interesting suggestions, for Sundays show we had some great suggestions. I will post all the suggestions in a blog post after the show closes. During the reception I as able to get a picture of one of the first voice actors with NTD. I have met him a few times now and was able to snag him for a few words of wisdom and for a photo. At the end of the reception there was so much food left... yep you guessed it, the actors took most of it home! That night we celebrated by going out to dinner and enjoying the rainy but mild weather.
We have one week left, one day we will have 60+ ASD students attending, one radio interview (eh?) and 5 shows. After we close we clean up the house and all head in different directions for the holidays.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
No pictures
Well I guess I have used all my free space for pictures on this blog. Guess I will have to figure out a way to upload more pictures during my holiday break. Sorry.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Second week
Our second week was a lot like the first week. Rehearsal Rehearsal Rehearsal! I would come home my brain all mushy. It was a lot of work and I was enjoying every minute of it. We started the week filming a promo for Citizens Bank, who is the primary sponsor for this show. Then we were giving 12 new pages of dialogue for act one. Ekkk! Back to the translation and memorization work, then to re-block the first act with the additions. Mid week we were able to get on stage for a full day of rehearsal. This was great! The rehearsal room is not the same size as the stage and did not have the platforms. It was a full day of gathering our bearings and making all the work we had done in rehearsal polished on the stage. We could not be on stage at the end of the week because Ivoryton had a big festival and they have Santa and all the lights around the city get turned on and there is music and food and the streets are closed. After rehearsal we were able to enjoy the city festival and have our picture taken with Santa! (I will post pics in another blog).
I have greatly enjoyed this experience so much!! The director we are working with is VERY knowledgeable and knows how to work with both the deaf and non deaf actors and how to make the voices and the sign language flow together seamlessly- even when the voice actress cant remember her lines! (yep thats me!) He has worked with the company and was a voice actor with the company for a few years. He understands the frustrations of working in two languages at one time. He also understands the play inside and out. When I was a student at DePaul one of my classes I was required to take was a directing class. I saw this class as something I had to do, and took it serious enough but did not put in any extra effort. YET, what I remember from that class and what has stuck with me, where the requirements for a GREAT director. Not only does the director need to read the script (yes I know this sounds like a no brainer!) but the director needs to KNOW the script. From front to back, needs to have a knowledge of the playwright and the reasons behind what was written and the time period etc etc. Our director has this and also has the plays memorized, so when I do flub a line he is there to back me up! Which also means when I do flub a line he knows! haha Not only is he a great director he is also a great teacher. I have learned so much from him. I have learned about physical comedy, and intonation techniques and stress words and memorization skills (so I don't flub a line-yes slight reoccurring theme). Hearing about his experiences with the company and some of their tour logs has added to me becoming more aware of my role in this company and my job and crazy enough my legacy. Never really thought I would say that but crazy enough it is true.
These past two weeks have been some of the best weeks so far in this lifetime. I look forward to seeing what the next two weeks brings!
I have greatly enjoyed this experience so much!! The director we are working with is VERY knowledgeable and knows how to work with both the deaf and non deaf actors and how to make the voices and the sign language flow together seamlessly- even when the voice actress cant remember her lines! (yep thats me!) He has worked with the company and was a voice actor with the company for a few years. He understands the frustrations of working in two languages at one time. He also understands the play inside and out. When I was a student at DePaul one of my classes I was required to take was a directing class. I saw this class as something I had to do, and took it serious enough but did not put in any extra effort. YET, what I remember from that class and what has stuck with me, where the requirements for a GREAT director. Not only does the director need to read the script (yes I know this sounds like a no brainer!) but the director needs to KNOW the script. From front to back, needs to have a knowledge of the playwright and the reasons behind what was written and the time period etc etc. Our director has this and also has the plays memorized, so when I do flub a line he is there to back me up! Which also means when I do flub a line he knows! haha Not only is he a great director he is also a great teacher. I have learned so much from him. I have learned about physical comedy, and intonation techniques and stress words and memorization skills (so I don't flub a line-yes slight reoccurring theme). Hearing about his experiences with the company and some of their tour logs has added to me becoming more aware of my role in this company and my job and crazy enough my legacy. Never really thought I would say that but crazy enough it is true.
These past two weeks have been some of the best weeks so far in this lifetime. I look forward to seeing what the next two weeks brings!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
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