OPENING NIGHT

We officially opened on Monday. It' s been great having these preivews. The cuts we gave on Sunday shaved a little more time off the show and officially the script is frozen. Of course, today I woke up thinking of more stuff, but we'll save them for the next go round. I'll include some of the cut outs in the blog.
I was inordinately nervous. Probably b/c my work is not officially done. I thanked the cast for their spectacular work. To tell the truth, I've got a little post partum depression going on.
The show itself is solid despite the fact that five minutes before we were to open the house we noticed that we had lost a dimmer. Can someone please give WINGS some money so it can give itself a tune up?
It was really cold outside on Monday, so I was happy to see the turn out. Ray Klausen was in attendance as was special surprise guest, Edward Albee! I got to meet Edward Albee! He really enjoyed the show and Chris said he was thrilled to be getting feedback from the man who wrote Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
We had a casual pizza/cake and beer reception for folk afterwards that was really nice. It moved across the street to Gaetano's. I went home. After busting ass pretty solidly since Saturday of Thanksgiving week, the next two nights of no show are going to be great!

Preview update

dress rehearsal photos:

Sorry I haven't posted for a while but have been busy in dress and previews.
As Wings was passing the basket before the first preview, someone from the audience asked me what the toughest part of putting this show up was, something that made me thing "oh, it'll never happen." Now that we've had three successful previews, i can answer that questions honestly...the tech.
Tech is always tough. Everyone's exhausted and on edge. I'm always insecure going into tech because though I can tell you tech-wise what I want, I can't tell you how to get it there. I also came to directing from acting so I'm always apologizing for keeping people waiting around. Its always trying teching in an unfamiliar space and though i'd worked in the Wings Theater before, it's been as an actor or playwright never as a director. It's a nice facility but like most theater spaces that have been around awhile it's very idioscratic. just figuring what connects to what and what actually works and what doesn't was really time consuming. Tuesdays was a really late night. Wednesday our first tech was really really late night. The dress was arduous b/c though most (definitely not all) of the lighting cues had been written, only about half of them had been run. So there was a lot of button pushing and finger crossing going on. We had a small invited audience that night and if any of you are reading this blog I invite you to come back and see what the show really looks like.
Morale was pretty low after the dress. From out front, the show was all there it was just floating around in a sea of tech and tentativeness. I gave some notes and we regroup for the next night Friday (our unoffical opening)
I hate to believe in that old addage that if you have a crummy dress then your show will be brilliant b/c i think it belies the work that goes into making a show happen after a really tough dress. But happen it did. We had a great turnout. The technical and performance elements snapped into place. I dedicated the show to Tina Howe--this show's patron saint. The audience had a good time and, in short, we did it! I had an acting teacher at school who referred to big breakthroughs like this as "shitting the grapefruit". That's what we did--though thankfully not literally. The nice part was everything that Chris and I got to see on stage what we had been working on for the past 3 weeks on stage and could make constructive textural and technical cuts. As solid as everything was, it was running too long.
Second preview was an even tighter show. All the technical glitches had healed and the actors, having one show under their belts gave even sharper performances across the board. Didn't want to give them the cuts Chris and I were talking about until after the second show b/c i wanted them to experience running the show in it's entiretly without the pressure of opening night jitters. But we did cut off six minutes.
Before the third preview I met with Chris at the theater and went through the proposed script cuts. The largest one was cutting an entire scene which though we loved it and through nobody's fault, just wasn't playing. The rest were internal cuts to help move the action along. Everyone was fine w/ the cuts, and the show lost four minutes! I expect it will get even tighter as the show picks up its own rhythm and momentum.
So tonight is our official opening. Script is locked down and frozen, though we may try one technical element later on. We're planning a little reception in the lobby afterwards for the actors and crew. Nothing fancy just a "thank you for all you really hard work and enjoy your two days off". For me, I feel like it really is my opening since my work is essentially done. I'm in that awkward letting go place. My director friend Jeff Seabaugh said the night before the opening is always his least favorite night in the process b/c he's so invested in the play and now has to let it go. Often I'm so exhausted by opening, I can't wait to get it open so I can relax but this time, I'm totally getting what he means.

so far so fast

First a testimonial: If you have any sound needs go to cdm studios . They are awesome. Went there Tuesday and Wednesday to put together the sound cues which was kind of challenging since they come from a variety of different sources and also required some live in studio recording. Eric, our sound technician, was awesome! Seriously, if you need anything sound-wise check these guys out. Convenient, knowledgable, friendly and affordable. Tell them Finberg sent ya!
Anyway, Tuesday was the actors Equity day off. Michael (TD) and Chris (playwright) spent the day in the theatre working on the set, Ahmed was installing lights. Jen and I arrived to help out, look out cues etc.
Yesterday, we finished up loading lights, checking out resident equipment and discovering all its idioscycracies. We called the actors at 7 for a 7:30. Um. We meant well. We didn't go at 7:30. I think it was closer to 8:30. Okay, it was nine. The first few cues in the show are the most complicated and had to be written a number of times. But we eventually got past them and soldier on through the 1st half of the play. At this point all the sound cues had been captured and I wanted to give the actors a chance to work w/ them having never heard them before. Because of the hour, we switched over to a cue to cue and but we did finally get them all written. Okay, almost. We're going to redo the final cue and the curtain call at 7 tonight.
I have to say (again) how much I LOVE this cast. Everyone was game to press on and though stressed remained focussed and in good spirits. Unfortunately, Michael had to leave early b/c after adjusting the hay bale he stepped back and there was so stage there. I talked to him this morning and he is feeling a little better but still in pain.
Tonight is our dress rehearsal. We'll have our first audience on Friday.

and...we're back!

What a weekend! Our last rehearsal was Wednesday. I can't speak for everyone, but I got some much needed rest, recreation and food. Then Saturday morning rolled around. Company members Rick Hinkson and Paul Batchelor met Chris and I over at the storage space at ten am and started moving the set out of storage. Then we met Ray at the theater. He moved in props and set dressing and taped out the floor as we lugged the set into the space. Then the walls went up. I was amazed at how fast they went up and they look great. Actors arrived at 7 and did a line through in the lobby as the crew finished up on set. Then actors got a chance to walk the set and spaced out some of the larger or more complicated scenes on the set. We broke at 10:30.
Last night, crew went back in at 10 and worked until five when actors arrived. We reblocked a couple of the scenes and did a run through that went really really well. Steve came by to talk w/ actors about costumes and try some pieces on. Ray finished dressing the set and will be back on Thursday for the final dress. He's dividing his time b/w us and Liza Minelli at the Palace (I love saying that.) Ahmed came in to look at lights saturday and will be back tuesday. We record sound cues tomorrow. Actors have an Equity day off tomorrow so we will use the time teching. So it's coming together!
I know I've mentioned here that I'm constantly impressed by how resiliant and focussed this cast is. Did I also mention they're funny and smart? Here's an interview that Jesse May did for United Stages: nice!

AND...BREAK!

So last night we picked up where we left off scene wise and worked through the rest of the play. Then we took a break and ran the whole show. Wanted to plant the whole picture in everyone's heads before we left for our three day break. I feel like we're right where we need to be. Honestly, though, that's not always the most comfortable place to be. The play will come into sharp focus suddenly and then two minutes later its just not there any more. Which is right where we need to be right now. And what rehearsals are all about. Yadda, yadda, yadda. And really, this is what I like about making theater--the live-ness of it--that you work on this medium with other people--it's not you and your words or you and your footage. But but like I said, it's not always the most comfortable place to be. Also, it might be wise to bring some in some Clif bars or something to munch on. Interestingly, the further we get into the piece the more I'm discovering how complex it is under the surface which is, of course, what gives it it's depth. Chris is seeing that too.
My brain is starting to turn into a hunk of fudge though (and I suspect I'm alone in this experience) so I'm glad we're getting a breather. Friday I'm going to record all the internal sound cues. Saturday we load the set in and start putting it up. Cast will meet again at 7.
Our good friend Ed Bodey did some pig tale images. Check them out.
I love them both. The first one is...strangely inspiring....

Pig Progress

Last night was our first night in the theater.
Wings Theater on Christopher Street has long been a home for ground breaking off off broadway theater--particularly gay theater. Incredibly, this is the first time TOSOS has partnered with Wings though I've been fortunate enough to work there as an actor and a writer.
So we were on the stage for the first time last night. We spent hour working through the first couple scenes, since they are the most complicated and fitting them onto the space. We did some really great intense work and once again, I'm impressed by these actors' concentration and stamina. I'm also excited to discover that my staging works! Fits the stage like a glove. Then we went back, connected the first five scenes together and began working through the rest of the play. We got into the second half of the play but had to stop. We'll pick up there tonight, continue to work through. Then we'll run it one more time before leaving it alone for three days.

We got our cards last night and they look great! Very slick and glossy. United Stages does good work. Am coordinating w/ Ray on loading the set in and setting it up this saturday and am hoping to pow-wow with Ahmed the lighting designer at how best to use the upcoming week.

It's around this time when a split personality would come in very handy, if one of me could continue to work with the actors, one of me could work with each designer and one of me could work with the staff, I'd be a happy man (instead of just a tired one). But I have to remind myself that it's always like this. I'm lucky to have a terrific staff (and cast of course) to keep things in perspective.

Time flies when your working your a** off.

Where does the time go?
We met three times last week and had our last 2 rehearsals at Hunter College -- where PIG TALE was born.
On Tuesday we worked the 1st 1/2 of the play. Wednesday took some time to just do Kyle's monolouges and picked up the last 1/2 of the play of Thursday. Friday we had off. Then Saturday we picked up at noon with where we left off on the work through on Thursday. Then we worked through again until 5. Sunday we did our first off book run. Broke and cleaned up some smaller sections of scenes.
Tonite we're in the theater, expanding what we've done onto the actual stage. We'll be running and doing scene work tomorrow. Then we're off for Thanksgiving.
The publicity machine has been hard at work this whole time. Tracy has got our press releases together. Barry has compiled our press photos. Matt is going to come back in and take some action shots next week. The cards will be in our hot little hands today.
I'm excited to get to the theater b/c it's the final development stage. But it also means the opening is just around the corner. Which hardly seems possible. But there it is! I think everyone's looking forward to the Thanksgiving break for a little breather. (except for Jen who's working on the Macy's parade and doesn't really get a breather). After that, though, it's going to be all systems go!