Notes from Last Night...

First of all, please congratulate your cast member on getting through the show last night. We were able to run it...it was rough, and I know they could see the stress on my face, but WE GOT THROUGH IT!

It's difficult when we're trying to move set pieces on, tweak sound issues, figure out entrances and exits and adjust to the big stage area after being in The Biz rehearsal space since July. I am proud of them for powering through! I will continue to say it...I have high expectations, but they are rising to the occasion, and I know that by Friday we're going to have one killer show! The notes below are only slight corrections. I will personally be sharing all of the wonderful things they did, too! For every opportunity for improvement, there 10 great things that I witnessed!

1. Does anyone have a staple gun? If so, can you bring it to rehearsal tonight? THANK YOU in advance!

2. Please ask your cast member to count their stickers. I will have a sheet at the entrance of Harmony with everyone's name on it - please ask them to write down their number of stickers when they arrive.

3. Remember, we'll start at 5:30pm again tonight. This week's schedule:
Tuesday: 5:30-9:00pm
Wednesday 5:30-9:00pm (soft dress rehearsal, just costumes - no hair/makeup)
Thursday: 5:30-9:00pm (FULL DRESS with hair/makeup)

Friday - OPENING NIGHT: Call time for mic'd characters 5:30pm, other characters at 6:00pm
Saturday - PERFORMANCE: Call time for mic'd characters 5:30pm, other characters at 6:00pm
Sunday** - PERFORMANCE: Call time for mic'd characters 1:30pm, other characters at 2:00pm
**please be reminded that after the Sunday performance we will strike the set and costumes. Everyone is kindly requested and required to stay and help. We will have jobs for everyone, and usually finish within an about hour.

4. Notes from last night:
EVERYONE:
SLOW DOWN!
Be intentional with your movements and actions.
Sing out and project!
SMILE!!!! Especially during the Opening Number and Closing Numbers - THIS IS FUN!!!!
Consciously think about and make a mental note of your entrances and exits. We missed several cues last night, and people were entering and exiting through incorrect places.
KEEP UP THE GREAT ENERGY!

Ava: in the opening of the show, walk to the hat before you start talking. approach the hat curiously and work on questioning (in the rhythm of the rhyme) what is actually under the hat. :) This sets the tone for the show!
Vivian: let us see you approaching Vivian before you say "CAT"! We'll work on this tonight!
Gracen and Ella: Don't run throughout your different parts of the show. Especially with the water. We will practice it tonight. The "Things" are silly and when you run, I lose all of the fun things you are doing. Be deliberate and settle in to having fun with the characters.
Let's work on the TV camera tonight, too. You need to be down on the floor, and being up on the platform seemed to be blocking what was going on in Center Stage last night.
Nathan: Let's talk tonight about when you come in and out for "Help!!!!" I don't really want you to be seen before you do it and then disappear after!
Jungle Animals: Remember - stay in character! You're doing a great job, but you're on stage for a LOOOOONNNNG time!
Wicks: Let's work on our circle tonight at the end of "Biggest Blame Fool" I have an idea that will make it easier. We're going to do a semi circle around Horton, with no running or movement. It will work much better!
Horton: After "Biggest Blame Fool" don't get up and walk so soon. I want Gertrude to be passing behind you as you get up to go over to Stage Left. We will work on this.
Vivian and Ava: After Nathan says "Help!!!!" and Ava gets ready to go into Whoville, let's work on that transition. You were walking during all of those lines last night, and I lost what was happening there.
Nathan and Sophie: Let Ava come to you in Whoville when she enters the story, don't move to her. Remember, greet her like she's your kiddo coming home from school!
Also, when you two are singing, cheat towards each other. Do not turn directly towards each other. Keep your bodies open to the audience!
Whos: During "here on who we live in fear...," we're going to keep you up on the platforms so I can see you. We'll work on this tonight!
Paul: Let's get you to the mic so that I can hear your line. Let's work that out tonight!
Vivian: We need more playfulness with JoJo during the lines when he is being scolded. Also, your exit point is through Whoville after the "Oh The Thinks (Reprise)" before you come back on for "It's Possible."
Sebastian: Let's confirm your spot where you will stand for "Alone in the Universe" tonight. I want you between the mic and the monitor so the audience can see you.
Vivian: When you go to wake JoJo up, enter through Whoville and sneak up on her. Where she is laying on the risers makes it awkward now to come in from upstage right Jungle.
Shaelyn: Don't forget your reactions when Mayzie is singing and awkwardness to "fit in"...also react when Mayzie says "Well...almost"
Let's work on the transition over to Dr. Dake the first time. You and Vivian need to get closer to each other, and further downstage. I don't want to miss any of your lines as you're traveling over.
Chasing the Whos Song: Let's review staging and places for this tonight. Jungle Animals you enter after Becca and then are in your spots by "ten thousand feet high".
Maverick: "Vlad Vladikoff" very loud and then follow with a crazy laugh! Then fly around and drop the clover into the clover patch which will be center stage.
Jungle Animals: react when you leave after Horton is taken to auction. Air high fives, silent celebration, if not...seems awkward because we're essentially creating this transition to allow you time to change. :)
Vivian and Ella: let's work on what happens after the auction. Vivian exits upstage left and Ella exits upstage right with the podium.
After "Sold...." Wicks exit upstage left. Vivian, Brooklyn, Ella and Gracen, enter from around the beach. We will talk about this change tonight.
Circus Performers/Jungle Animals: we will stage you for your numbers and explain what exactly you will be doing tonight.
Sebastian, Abram, Becca, Vivian, Shaelyn: I need to adjust your position during "The People v. Horton..." I will show you tonight.
Becca: don't lose lines "from now on" 2x in final monologue. It will help you draw that out a bit...