Happy Front Row Friday, everyone! Today we’re back with an exciting update from rehearsals for The Music Man, opening July 21st at Kenmore Middle School Theatre.
Hello, everyone! Arts Apprentice, Shannon, here. It’s been a very busy month since my last rehearsal update. Our cast has been hard at work perfecting harmonies, blocking scenes, and drilling dance steps. We even got to try on a few potential costumes pieces that Debra brought in recently! It’s all worth it, now that we’ve begun putting everything together.
We were thrilled to finish choreographing all of the dance numbers in the show (even the bows!) before the July 4th holiday. It was bittersweet, however, because our fantastic choreographer Kelsey has had to leave us to travel for her masters degree. We celebrated all her amazing work with some delicious baked goods, which we certainly needed after our final day of dance intensive rehearsal. Check out the amount of steps we logged (and I’m not even in the Teen Dance Ensemble)!
Now that all of the different elements (dance, singing, and acting blocking) have been worked on separately, we’ve begun to piece them together in what are called “work throughs.” This means that we run the show in performance order, stopping occasionally to polish transitions, review a dance piece, or highlight particular dramatic moments even further.
As an actor, I find the process of work throughs to be a lot of fun. The longer rehearsals mean more time to develop and create our characters, both as individuals and as an entire town. Our director Elizabeth has been starting off rehearsals with many relationship-building exercises for the whole cast. Even though they can feel a bit silly at times, it’s wonderful to see the specific personalities everyone is creating for their various characters.
Elizabeth and the rest of the creative team also end rehearsal with a very important practice: notes. I consider notes to be an actor’s best friend. It’s so wonderful to have people helping you to be better!
Of course, even performers have to take breaks. When the director or stage manager tells us to “Take five,” that’s our opportunity to relax, get some water, and chat with our fellow actors. Some cast members prefer to continue their quiet in-rehearsal work, just as reading, writing, or even knitting.
We do, of course, also like to let our silly sides out on occasion. I’ve been witness to a dance-off or two that leaves me wondering from where they’re getting all that energy. Some of my comrades have even taken up artistic photography as a break past time:
It’s truly been so wonderful to bond as a cast while we work to bring the citizens of River City to life. We cannot wait to share this production with you, so be sure to beat the heat and get your seat, or else you’ll be in “Trouble!” Until next time!
Photos and blog contribution by: Shannon McCarthy, 2016-17 Arts Apprentice