75 days 'til Curtain...

Under 100 days...it's exciting. So far, I have most of the cast in place, and am pleased. It was a really tough call with the Nika character, we had two really good performers to choose from. We're still looking for a Roman now, we had a really good one who wasn't able to commit to the schedule. So I have a couple of auditions this week. It's really exciting.

Next week, we start music rehearsals with our singing cast. The Audrey, Nika and Daja characters all have songs--although it is not a musical. Our Claudine is also a exceptional vocalist.

One thing I find interesting is the reaction to Roman's character. His character isn't an angel, but it isn't my vision to create to create some "Ike Turner" type character. Roman, although I do not agree with what he does, is human--has flaws...and still is a whole person. I think that is when you end up with nuances in characters that are easy to judge as bad. No doubt he does things that we consider bad, but I as a director cannot perceive him as a bad man. Both the actor and I have to see the humanity in his character to give and direct a meaningful performance. And that is one of the most important things with this piece...the humanity of the characters.

90 days 'til curtain...

AUDITIONS AUDITIONS AUDITIONS!!!

Oh, there is something that I love about the audition phase. I love seeing different people's interpretations of the work, and sometimes seeing how they just butcher it...yikes!! We had some great auditions last week, well...there was the good, the bad, and the ugly...lol, but I feel so honored to be a part of this process, to see things going to the next level in this work.

This weekend, who knows what to anticipate, but I will be there with bells on. I enjoy the play of auditions, trying things with people in new ways, because there's absolutely nothing to lose. I also respect how much courage it takes to stand in front of someone and pour your heart out. It takes so much to do that. I love to be a part of this process.

104 days 'til curtain

1st day of the new year...so exciting. now it's really real. the show opens in a little over four months. auditions begin next weekend...and the song, i've been working on it all morning. the lyrics have been just flowing, so grateful. i'm really excited to see how it turns out, especially when we have some real singers singing the scratch track. it's gonna be so moving and lovely. it really is capturing the emotion and love that i feel the family has for one another. now onto breaking down the script...