Final Thoughts

My final thoughts on the internship with the New Minowa Players: I learned a lot, I had fun, I worked really hard and absolutely felt appreciated for it, and I would do it again. In this case, no further news is good news. The shows all went great. There were a few minor line issues right to the very end, but a lot of that was just due to over-excitement on the part of the cast, I think. I will definitely use the backstage map-system idea in the future, when I stage manage and such, because it really did make the scene changes just fly. I think I also learned that even though I didn't think I knew how to do a lot of things, ingenuity and self-confidence go a long way in getting things done (and in getting other people to get things done, too). Also, duct-tape is and always will be my friend. We all even managed to have fun at strike. Don't get me wrong; strikes are work and this one was no different, but something changes in the air when you know that everyone really does want to help, and that everyone is there because they want to or even feel they NEED to be there. I would hope that that idea, that of wanting to be a part of strike to show gratitude and be part of a group, is an idea and a feeling that I can carry with me.

Opening Night

Our final rehearsal ran "slicker than slick," according to the director, and last night we opened with almost no hitches. There was an issue with a disappearing cast member who was supposed to be helping with a scene change, and there was a little problem with feedback in the sound system during a few scenes, but other than that everything went very, very well. We had a good crowd, who caught almost everything and laughed an aweful lot. I hope that tonight goes off just as well.

Last Rehearsals

I can't believe we added another set piece last night. With one night of rehearsal left. But we did. We added a tent, held together on the inside with duct-tape and glue. Oh yeah, that tent is 6 feet by 8 feet and is 4 feet tall. It takes up about a third of the wingspace and partially blocks an entrance on one side of the stage. But everyone insisted we HAD to have a tent on stage. So they will all just have to work around it then. Tonight is the last rehearsal. The lights guy has to cue himself because the stage manager is backstage with myself and the other lonely stagehand, so he keeps missing them. If he gets himself squared away tonight, I think we will be in good shape for opening night. I just pray that they don't find something else for me to paint/build/hang/arrange tonight. It will probably happen anyway. At least, for the most part, everything is still fun!

Tech Continues

Monday's rehearsal went very well, as one would hope as we begin to close in on opening weekend. After rehearsal, however, I was informed that all the painting was NOT, in fact, done. So, yesterday, I came in a few hours early to paint signs for the Hoop-la booth, and for The Astounding Stralenko. At last night's rehearsal we finally had lights. It just seems odd to me, to wait so long to start rehearsing light cues. Blackouts were too early, too late, etc. They have two more rehearsals to figure it out, so it should be fine, but I think that the director might start pulling her hair out. At least, we have managed to shave about half an hour off of the show, and I think that's largely due to the rest of tech running so smoothly now. Woot!

Done Painting?

Yesterday was supposedly the last day of paiting for State Fair. We finished up with the farmhouse, finally, but I suppose two days really isn't that long to spend painting a WHOLE house, anyway. We also had to hang two more mics yesterday, which was exciting, because we hung one of them from the second electric, which is quite a long way from the audio jack. That mic alone has, I believe, three extension cords running to it. Today we are going into tech week. It feels like we've already been doing tech for days now, but I think the director meant that we will finally have someone running lights. I hope so, anyway. If we suddenly have more props, or something, I may have to cry.

Two Long Days

Friday night we did another run, with a sizeable amount of tech. Myself, the SM, and the other stage hand created maps with names and labels for each scene change and posted them in both wings. I think we and the cast are now on the same page, and things will run much more smoothly. Then, a mere twelve hours later, I found myself back in the theatre, and painting once again. Set pieces this time, which had been built but not painted, some time ago. I'm going back again today to finish some things that we couldn't do yesterday due to lack of drying.

Floated Home

Yesterday, the afternoon was once again spent painting. Last night at rehearsal we tried to run the whole show, with as much tech as possible, which actually quite a lot. We had all the set pieces, finally, save the drop (which will be going in on Monday). Not all of the pieces are painted yet, but that's our project for Saturday morning, I am told. As well as running the fly system, I'm one of only two stage hands. The stage manager will be back stage with us to help, but we'll still have to use of many of the cast members' help during scene changes as well. We have six more rehearsals before open, and we should have everything running smoothly well before then. We didn't have anyone running lights, but there are very few cues, anyway, and no sound cues that I'm aware of--they just need someone to monitor the balance on the mics. Finally, I did have an adventure while trying to get home. What can only be described as a land hurricane very well attacked the theatre just as we were all trying to leave. Tried waiting it out, but after no signs of a let-up, we all started slogging, swimming, sailing, or otherwise floating home.

Late Night

Yesterday afternoon was once again spent painting the drop. I think, I hope, that we are nearly finished with it. Creating a fairground is no easy task, especially once that's 20 by 38 feet (that's the official measurement, anyway). I started doing my actual job, running the fly, at last night's rehearsal--no easy task as several of the lines had been incorrectly counterweighted. After rehearsal, myself and one of the larger cast memebers fixed everything up as best we could. The grand drape frightens me. The rope isn't taut when it's locked off, but when I unlock it, it doesn't go anywhere, and it doesn't pull away, so it is balanced. But something isn't quite right. This will require further inspection tonight.

Rehearsal

My dad is lending me his car for the remainder of my internship, though I certainly hope they find mine. Anyway. I spent the afternoon working on my ferris wheel again. I then attended rehearsal for the first time tonight. I fulfilled the duties of an ASM for the evening, because the stage manager is somewhat inexperienced and so I helped her out, played the bad cop so to speak. I've also been assigned my official tech and showtime duty: fly operator (I suppose that also makes me fly chief--awesome--since it has been implied that I will be the only fly operator).

Delayed

I'm supposed to be painting this afternoon and attending rehearsal this evening. Unfortunately, my car has been stolen, along with my purse and all of my personal information. My bank account is on hold for the next week. I am without funds and without transportation. Hopefully an alternate travel arrangement can be reached shortly.

New Minowa Day Four

Today was my fourth day with New Minowa. I once again spent the morning painting. I feel that I now have a very intimate relationship with the circus tent and the ferris wheel that I have been working on for so many days, and will continue to work on in the days to come. This afternoon, I had another first. I helped to hang microphones from the fly system at the Decorah High School Auditorium (where State Fair will be performed) and helped set mics into the floor, too. I had a very interesting time trying to figure out the old patch system sound board, something I've never worked with before, and managed to only overload the system with feedback just one time. Also of note, Decorah has the strangest fly system I have ever seen. It doesn't load from the top or the bottom. The rail and all that are located sort of halfway in between the stage level and the catwalk/rafter level. Seems odd, but works just as well, I guess.