Well, I'm a week out from my last show ending.
It was an experience, let me tell ya.
I find it interesting how the decisions of others can make so much work and stress for someone else! I wonder if people realized the impact their decisions made on others, if they would make the same choices.
Probably.
Anyway! Footloose was definitely a "make it work" show. Now, if you don't know what that means, or even who the guy is in the picture at the top of this post, I'll tell you. That is a picture of Tim Gunn. He's one of the hosts of Project Runway, a TV show where clothing designers compete for prizes and money to start their own clothing lines. When the designers competing on the show get stuck, Tim comes in, gives them advice, and ultimately tells them to "make it work" - which they do. Whether it is good, or bad isn't the point, the point is, they got it done!
So, with that little bit of trivia in your pocket, here's my "make it work" moment:
On Sunday of the first weekend we were open, we had 2 shows - a matinee at 2pm, and an evening performance at 7:30pm. Before the 2pm performance, a church service takes place in the theater. They tend to take awhile getting out of the building, so it was a mad dash to get their items, removed and everything else in place and ready for our show. In the process of restoring everything, and due to a lack of communication, some feathers got ruffled. This small thing ultimately led to a series of events that at 1:45pm (remember, my show started at TWO) left me without a music director! (He walked out, never to be heard from again.)
Well, that left me in a bit of a pickle. It's kind of hard to have a performance without a keyboardist; especially since a lead guitarist was never obtained, in a ROCK show. (right?!?) So, as wonderful as our drummer and bass player were, there was no way the two of them could carry the entire musical score.
LUCKILY, we were able to find a wonderful girl to help us fill the void and complete the show! She was AMAZING! 18 years old, just graduated from high school; she was in the pit, SITE READING by 2:45pm. It was truly a blessing! The kids were happier then they had been up to this point in the show process! They were actually excited, and there were harmonies we hit that had never been hit before. What started out as a possible disaster, was the best thing that could have happened. Plus, our new music director was able to work with the kids during intermission and between shows, AND she was available to play our Thursday show as well!
The second "make it work" moment: I had a cast member that was in a small fender bender on the way to the theater one night. She munched her car, hurt her shoulder, was kind of sore, and in a little bit of shock. About an hour before curtain, she was leaving urgent care (just to get checked out) and called to tell me that her mom told her she couldn't perform that night.
Now, you have to understand something about theater. The term, "The Show Must Go On," is very serious. Unless you're DEAD, you're expected to be on stage. Even in my show at the Playhouse, we had one night where two of the actors got into seperate car accidents, and they were both still at the theater and on stage for the performance. So, when she called to tell me she wasn't performing, I was not amused. She is 18, so I could have made her come (and she wanted to come) but I had to take her parent into account. So, with an hour to spare, I had to look through my cast list, find someone from the ensemble who was available, willing, and could fit the costume without major alterations, to memorize her lines and do her part cold.
This adorable girl (only 12!) was willing, and did a FABULOUS job! She was so nervus about the quick change and the blocking, but she did great! I was really grateful for her willingness to help and all she did for the show. It was her first show EVER, and she saved me! It was especially cool because I had asked someone else - a bit more seasoned - to do it first, but they were a little "above" the challenge. Oh, well. They'll learn. :)
So, there's couple of stressful "make it work" stories for you!
The kids in my show were great. They worked hard with what they had and with what they were given. But the rest... I'm just glad it's done!