The picture on the puzzle box...

It's feels a little bit like magic... seeing everybody together for the first time. I've had meetings with my set designer and now the promo shots; it is almost like the picture on the puzzle box is coming into focus. I can almost see what we're about to build.
I've read through 100 Saints You Should Know more times than I can think right now but the recent chances to go through it knowing who will be saying the words. I get to HEAR them in a week.

But Thursday, we had our promo shoot and it was the first time I got to see all 5 of them together. Just seeing everybody in their "costumes" (because jeans and Ts are totally costumes...) reveling in the fact that this was the first moment of many dedicated to telling this story, with each other; it gave me all those warm fuzzies. (Please, don't expect to leave the show with warm fuzzies though...) I tend to think I'm good at treasuring moments and having everybody in the dressing room getting ready... I sat and watched my cast interact with each other, already laughing. Despite the weight of the material we're about to embark on, this is going to be a joyous process.

Anyway, I snapped some iPhone quality photos for you all to check out. I've got the real shots but I can't release them until all our promo work is done. But, there are some winners. Here's some of my shots.

We started out with some shots from the more intimate moment in Act 2. You'll have to come see. ;) 

Matthew and Abby in the "waiting room" of the "hospital" 

That's my professor / mentor helping set up a shot. We had to get the Scrabble board in their somewhere! My cast had a nice time throwing together some words. Safe to say we all suck at that game in the real world. 

Our photographer and dept chair prepping some shots with Garrett and Abby. I'm obsessed with some of the shots we got from these two. They're the perfect contrast. 

Mine. 

This picture doesn't even do them justice. I snapped it right as they were coming out of a shot and obviously, I'm to the side of the actual camera.  I actually love the tableau shots we got. They encompass all 5 characters in a really striking way.

So there's just a TINY taste. Once we have the promo work done, I'll be posting that. Also, my first scene for Musical Theatre Workshop performs on Thursday so I'll be snapping photos later this week and you can look forward to a full post about that project. 

ONE WEEK TIL READ THROUGH! 

Who actually LIKES making schedules?

I am sure there are those out there who do, but I sure don't.

However, I buckled down and pounded out my schedule for 100 Saints You Should Know, today. For the 2 of you who read this, 1 of which has read the play, you know that the show has a freakishly long first act and a tiny second act. I'm not even sure if the show will constitute an intermission the second act is so miniscule.

Still, it is encouraging to see it all laid out. Maybe it is due to the fact that the last time I head directed a full length show it was a musical and we only had 24 hours. Still, to see how tangible this play is is very exciting. We're pounding out all of Act 1 in just a week and then we get leisurely with Act 2 AND I have over a week of work throughs / run throughs. For me, work throughs are where the magic happens. I'm thrilled to have all this time to work through this piece. It has moments of such intimacy. Not to mention, I love being able to give my cast time to warm up AND decompress, both of which seem to fit into our schedule.

Over all, I feel pretty good about having that no longer looming over my head.

We have a photo shoot with the whole cast on Thursday. Being peers, I've obviously seen all of them, but this will be the first time we get to join as a team building this show. I'm sure I'll snap a few of my own shots through the process and post them here at the end of the week.

Also, I've begun working on scene work for The Light in the Piazza.  You can expect a detailed posting about my ridiculous love for that piece and some insight into my directorial concept. That should make an appearance next week.

Y'all, I'm doing it. :)

Where's the INSPIRATION gonna come from?

I was going to title this post "How to Stay INSPIRED in Chaos" or something like that, but I don't have any answers here. So, fingers are crossed that I'll have a revelation along this journey.

As we're on to the second half of the first week of the semester, all the syllabi have been passed out. Schedules are uploaded to GoogleCal and I can see, at a glance, what my Spring looks like.

At this point, I'm looking at directing 6 separate musical theatre scene studies/projects; a full length, main stage play; and a full scale musical, one that will be taught in only 24 hours. This is mentally setting aside the inevitable auditions, scene work, the mass amount of Shakespeare to be read and memorized, film reel to put together and showcase to prepare for. Also, planning a New York trip, which is definitely recreational, but still. (I abuse commas.)

My biggest prayer for the semester right now will be to stay inspired. I have my scenic design meeting for 100 Saints tomorrow. That is exciting and frightening. (That's a separate blog post. MAYBE tomorrow. Maybe.) I have a plethora of work to get done on that project before we start rehearsals in February. And, my first MT Scene performs before 100 Saints beings rehearsals.

It's easy to think of 2 shows, 6 scenes and my own work as a performer and fear that the inspiration will falter. You'll probably read the phrase "creation of the Creator" a lot on this. I believe that I am an inspired creation of the most incredible Creator. I'm called to do my work to the best of my abilities. I'm sure the Lord will reveal how to do that even amongst insane schedules. I guess the ultimate Creator is a good guy to look to when needing inspiration.

We're about to begin...

And so it begins...

     I've been meaning to do this for a while now. I've found that I tend to be more successful with artistic endeavors if I am open with them, allowing others to experience the process with me. I've seen a few blogs where directors post about projects and their directorial endeavors and it seemed like it would be a fitting project for myself as well.

What better time than the beginning of my first full length play?

     This is still exciting. We just finished casting for the second half of ACU Theatre's 2013-2014 season. Right in the middle of the spring will be Kate Fodor's heartbreaking play, 100 Saints You Should Know. It's really a beautiful play and I am thrilled to have been trusted with it as my first head direction in our main stage season. (Previously, I directed a staged reading of Lee Blessing's Two Rooms in an educational setting. It was minuscule in comparison to 100 Saints but, still a nice introduction to head directing on a collegiate level.)

     I am beyond thrilled with my cast. They're everything I could want them to be and whipped out some pretty unique and surprising interpretations which, in my experience, is always exciting. I can't wait to work with them towards the start of the new year.

     Otherwise, my other directing endeavors will include another 24 HR Musical, this time in Abilene, TX and my final directing class as an undergraduate student.

     I will also share pictures and posts from previous projects and shows as we work to get this thing running but a majority of posts, for right now, will be dedicated to 100 Saints and some visiting posts on Musical Theatre Directing at ACU.

For those of you who care to follow this, I am encouraged! Bear (doesn't it always feel weird to spell it like the animal?) with me and I hope I'll have some interesting thoughts to share. If not, pictures at the very least.