Welcome to Hit the Wall Wednesday. I'm not sure if it is because of the change in weather or the lack of sleep or the fast paced nature of producing a Broadway show, but, whatever the cause, I was not having the most productive day. Sometimes the art of making art involves no art and that can be hard on one's soul.I'm happy to report that the show saved the day! Being over at the theater today for tech was exactly the cure I needed. Even though the technical rehearsal process is a stop/start, hurry up and wait, fix the lighting cue, reprogram the set change, kind of experience, watching it come together is ridiculously reinvigorating.
There is magic around every turn, like taking a trip to the restroom and finding August (dance arranger) and Edgar (Associate choreographer) using the piano in the downstairs lobby working out some new ways to pump up the "Stand Up" number in Act II.
You see scenes like this in the PBS documentaries they do of Broadway shows-capturing an idea at the moment of creation. It's pretty awesome to bear witness to these moments all over the building. The creative electricity in the Shubert is overflowing and was exactly the jolt I needed to get over the wall.
Plus, actors are fun to watch during tech as they find ways to amuse themselves during the "holds."
Chad and Derrick, acting:
Chad and Derrick during a hold:
Still holding:
Yup, still holding:
Plus, I will never tire of Derrick Baskin's smile.
Here are some more photos from the tech of Act II today:
Favorite Photo of the Day:
Brad Bass makes me laugh.
(And you have to love the guitar print shirt. Paul Tazewell=genius)
Thanks Memphis. Looking forward to Thursday.
