Let's be real. The first rehearsal of a Broadway musical is a little intimidating. Part family reunion, part first day of school, there are a lot of people to meet. People who are ridiculously talented. I'm not great at casually meeting people who are super talented and/or that I admire.
Case in point: I was on the subway once standing next to Bebe Neuwirth on the a train from 42 street to West 4th and said nothing. Nothing.
I have no idea how many people were in the room; it takes a small, well organized army of professionals to get a Broadway show on its feet.
There are amazing changes to the set from the recent regional productions. Perhaps the most exciting development is a new technology making its debut on Broadway with Memphis. It is (I think) a projection technology software called Pandora's Box; it essentially allows for projected images to be more fully integrated into the set. For example, an image projected on a moving column travels with the set piece, even as that column swivels around. It is seriously cool and drew a lot of "oohs and ahhs" from the room.
Fun Fact: Co-Projection Designers, David Gallo and Shawn Sagedy, flew to Tenessee to take the photos of Memphis that will be the images used in the projections.
After we took a break for cake, it was time to get to the main event for the day: reading through the new script.
Cast members Dan'yelle Williamson and Cass Morgan (Gladys):
For several months, I have been privy to, not only the discussion about the script changes since the Jan/Feb production in Seattle, but have been able to read the subsequent drafts of the script as it was developing.
I forgot that it would be the first time the cast was seeing any of these changes. There are a lot of small changes to the script but none of them got by the veteran cast members. The reactions were priceless. Akin to thinking you know what gift you are getting, but then unwrapping the package and being totally surprised.
Perhaps the biggest laugh of the day came in the first scene. J. Bernard Calloway plays Delray- Delray is Felicia Farrell's brother. For seven years, Delray's name in the script has been Delray Jones; the fact that he didn't share the last name with his sister was never really explained or questioned widely by the audience. But now that they have re-written Delray's song "I Don't Make the Rules," to "She's My Sister," the authors have changed Delray's last name from Jones to Farrell.
Let's just say J. Bernard's line reading sounded like this:
Chad as Huey: "Name's Huey. Huey Calhoun."
J. Bernard: "Delray (slight pause and then as if encountering a new, never-before seen word)...Farrell???"
It was nice knowing you Delray Jones.
Case in point: I was on the subway once standing next to Bebe Neuwirth on the a train from 42 street to West 4th and said nothing. Nothing.
I have no idea how many people were in the room; it takes a small, well organized army of professionals to get a Broadway show on its feet.
Chris and Set Designer David Gallo then presented the scenic design for the show:
There are amazing changes to the set from the recent regional productions. Perhaps the most exciting development is a new technology making its debut on Broadway with Memphis. It is (I think) a projection technology software called Pandora's Box; it essentially allows for projected images to be more fully integrated into the set. For example, an image projected on a moving column travels with the set piece, even as that column swivels around. It is seriously cool and drew a lot of "oohs and ahhs" from the room.
Fun Fact: Co-Projection Designers, David Gallo and Shawn Sagedy, flew to Tenessee to take the photos of Memphis that will be the images used in the projections.
Paul Tazewell (Costume Designer) then introduced his design concept for the costumes.
I get seriously excited by costume sketches:
I do not have much more to report from the design presentations as I was totally preoccupied with getting a surprise birthday cake ready for Lead Producer and Junkyard Dog partner, Kenny Alhadeff.
Kenny is an amazing boss. He comes to the table with such heart, with such an incredible sincerity about what this piece means to him and the importance of creating art, that it is inspiring to work for him.
After we took a break for cake, it was time to get to the main event for the day: reading through the new script.
Cast members Dan'yelle Williamson and Cass Morgan (Gladys):
I forgot that it would be the first time the cast was seeing any of these changes. There are a lot of small changes to the script but none of them got by the veteran cast members. The reactions were priceless. Akin to thinking you know what gift you are getting, but then unwrapping the package and being totally surprised.
Cast member Tracee Beazer:
Leading Lady, Montego Glover:
Perhaps the biggest laugh of the day came in the first scene. J. Bernard Calloway plays Delray- Delray is Felicia Farrell's brother. For seven years, Delray's name in the script has been Delray Jones; the fact that he didn't share the last name with his sister was never really explained or questioned widely by the audience. But now that they have re-written Delray's song "I Don't Make the Rules," to "She's My Sister," the authors have changed Delray's last name from Jones to Farrell.
Let's just say J. Bernard's line reading sounded like this:
Chad as Huey: "Name's Huey. Huey Calhoun."
J. Bernard: "Delray (slight pause and then as if encountering a new, never-before seen word)...Farrell???"
It was nice knowing you Delray Jones.
