On Saturday, May 31, we had our last rehearsal with Celeste Miller, our lead Movement Designer.  We created the "pole dance" that accompanies the scene where the community renovates the Grillo’s house, to make it accessible to their son who uses a wheelchair.

In four hours, we created four minutes of movement.  The "Finally…" segment is for the company’s use – we were tired after four hours, but we got through it (with occasional glitches in memory and rhythm).  Two days later, on our first music rehearsal (June 2), we sang the song at its actual tempo.  Watch the video, and then imagine that leisurely, deliberate set of movements sped up to the real tempo – it will be a ferocious, astonishing machine.  This ends the first act, and will send people out to intermission all  charged up.  Oh yeah.

Celeste has handed over the movement reins to Wayne Smith, who will spend Sunday nights "cleaning" the movement segments, and adding texture to our transitions.

Rehearsals have begun in earnest: six nights a week, three hours a night.  We’re moving fast, and accomplishing a lot – the June 2 music rehearsal gave us harmonies and correct tempos for Turn the World Around, the River Round, Working on a Building, and I’ll Fly Away.  More music work this week – a suggestion from last year’s company, please let us learn the music early in the rehearsal process – and time with the bears.   With their heads at a jaunty angle.

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