As we near the final stages of rehearsal and production, I’ve been bad about blogging to update what’s happening.  I’m pleased to report that we’re having very successful full run-throughs of the show with both of our sets of leads (the show is somewhat double cast, just to confuse everyone). 

On Tuesday night, 6/26, we scared a few folks by running  a "speed-through" - the whole show at double time, except for the music.  And speaking of the music, the SNOrchestra is in residence, and playing fabulous tunes.  The performers are ever so grateful to have live musicians instead of a CD to work with, and the musicians are having a terrific time under the direction of Barbara Luhn.

Last night, Wednesday 6/27, we had a rehearsal I’ve been looking forward to since we began this process - the diversified direction rehearsal.  Tommy Deadwyler and I took a look at all the scenes that needed work, and divided them up so that different cast members could act as "director" and work one-on-one with scenes or performers.  I worked on the Woods Colt and Honor and Dignity monologues with Erin Watson and Ryan Baker, respectively.  Jeff Kelly worked on the Joey’s Dance sequences, Barbara Brady coached monologues and Rivers 2, Tommy worked with Skip, Harry and Stephen on Fishing 3, and so on.  At the end of the rehearsal, we had a "show what you know" where people performed some of what they’d worked on for the rest of the cast.  It felt like chaos by moments throughout, but people really appreciated the close up work and individual attention, plus getting to see parts of the show they might otherwise miss.

Tonight, I leave the rehearsal to go to Canopy Studio in Athens and work with the aerial artists, who will begin to join the show tomorrow (Friday).  I hope to spend a moment on Friday afternoon in Atlanta at the US Social Forum, a gathering of 10,000 activists and artists from around the world who are meeting about ways to work together better.  It’s an event I would have attended throughout, had it not been for Headwaters.  During the check-in last night someone questioned the juxtaposition of "activists" and "working together better."  I was pleased with my retort - that’s what it took to build this Center, and it worked.  It can work on a regional, national and global scale too.  Slightly more slowly, however.

This weekend we dive into tech rehearsals and put all the magic together, and then next week, there will be audiences.  After that, hold on tight, it’s gonna be quite a ride.

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