Last Blocking Rehearsal

Yesterday’s rehearsal was cancelled due to Ryan being really sick, a few of my actors feeling under the weather. Since we are really far ahead a normal blocking schedule, I figured we could all use a day off. Today was also our first official production meeting. We talked about scenery first. We listed the furniture props so we could figure out what we wanted to pull from other storage. So far, we are looking for a large bed, a big dresser, nightstand, vanity and bench, sitting area with straight back chair, armchair, settee, with a table. We will not be able to get a stair climber, but we do have a stationary bike in storage. We also discussed other costume props that would have to be pulled such as the bustier for Georgeanne, clothes for the closet including the summer dress that Mindy pulls out, leather jacket for Meredith, and purses for the girls. Scott discussed his lighting design. We will be adding a gobo with a beautiful window outline to help the façade of the bay window as the fourth wall. There will also be a special at the end when the picture happens. Since the play happens in the afternoon, there will be just a general soft wash over the stage. When we discussed the set design, we are no longer going to actually have a back wall, but instead, have the big fancy windows in the back. We did research big fancy houses that would be designed in such a way that there would be windows on opposite sides of a room. Our rehearsal today was to finish blocking the rest of the script. We had to block the final scene in which all the girls are drunk and/or high and they want to take a picture. I did the same process that I have been using throughout the blocking rehearsals where I let them wing it once, and then take it back and specify blocking for them. They actually all had pretty good instincts with their characters and I did not change much. Francesca is hilarious as portraying Meredith being extremely crossfaded after spending two acts smoking weed and drinking. She keeps Meredith very calm and only moves when another character gets her attention. It also is funny how she just pushes Tripp around. After blocking it, we ran just that scene two more times since the lines were pretty rough. Then we attempted to run the entirety of Act II, however, we had to cut it short since Janice had double booked the space. Apparently Jared Klein had wanted the directing studio for the Improv troupe auditions and had booked the space for 7:30, even though our rehearsals are booked until 9. He had contacted us to ask us to be out of the space by then. So I wanted to run my rehearsal all the way up until 7:30, but since he needed to set up and they wanted to start right at 7:30, he definitely kept coming into my rehearsal and tried rushing it. So I eventually gave up and ended the rehearsal and had the kids clean up. I was too annoyed to continue and try to fight him for it. Plus I knew that a couple of my cast members wanted to audition. I took them out into the hallway to give notes so Jared could set up his auditions. Hopefully, in the future, scheduling conflicts will not happen with student productions. Things go on a calendar for a reason.