Need Advice!! Play Three Days Away!!!

SWK78 · 08-19-2008, 08:33 AM

Hello, my play will enter into performances this Friday, and I am so nervous for the main reason that some of my actors, only two that I'm really worried about, do not yet have all their lines memorized. I had to recast one of these roles just yesterday due to someone dropping out on me at last minute. He doesn't have too many lines and some can even be read off. But my main worry is our lead role which was recast just halfway through production. He has a few scenes memorized well, but for the rest he still relies on his script a bit. Is there ANYTHING I can do? Or at least anything I can do to make myself stop worrying SO much? With my nerves being shot to hell, it's made me sick--literally. I woke up a few days ago and I had a bit of what I thought was a cold, and it still hasn't gone anyway no matter what medication I take. I know its my nerves making me this way. So, I ask--this being my first directing job for the stage--is there anyone that could possibly give me advice on the matter?

justgroovy · 08-19-2008, 11:40 AM

Oh wow, you must be so incredibly stressed right now. The only thing I can think of is two sets of cue cards with people holding them off stage on either side. I think it can work if your cue card people are on top of things.

Please please please take a deep breath, otherwise you'll give yourself a stroke worrying about all of this.

Keep us updated!

SWK78 · 08-20-2008, 12:07 AM

Whew.... Ok, breath taken. LOL. But yes, I am feeling a lot better, actually. After today's rehearsal, my lead surprised me by knowing basically all his lines. He (we all did really) needed prompting here and there, but it is coming along nicely. He is more so along that what it appeared from his script-clingy hands the other day. My newest cast member is proving good as well and is taking his instruction well. The entire cast has taken him under their wing and when I miss telling him something, they step in for me. It's great to have these people to work with. It truly is. I am grateful to have them on the project. I only hope getting more people for my stage crew is just as easy and well. I have several but not enough yet. I still need at least three or four more people to really do it well come this weekend.

I thought of the cue cards as well, but I am going to have a prompter behind stage instead for everyone, for it seems at this point a few may need prompts at one point or another. I am very proud of myself on this producting as well. Not only am I the director, but I wrote it, am acting in it, and most of the costumes and props are from my own stores that I've collected over the past year. For my character, one of the monologues I wrote came out to be page-long and every time it's time to do that scene, I first go "Ugh" but then I smile, cuz I actually memorized the whole thing. I'm actually pretty great at the whole memorization thing.

We're going to have another dress rehearsal tomorrow, and then two on Thursday, the second one with make up as well. But I have taken that much needed breath you suggested and I can now rest much easier. Several phone calls to make tomorrow and then I am basically in the clear as far as some areas go. Whew, now it's the excited nervousness settling in, cuz my producer (who is also the editor of the newspaper) put in the last article for our show announcing its shows this weekend. If I can scan it on, maybe I'll post it up somewhere for you guys to see.

But definitely, I'll keep you updated. I'll be posting some stuff up on youtube in the ensuing days and will also post up the entire show up there for all to see. I wanted to post up a "sneak peak" from some footage a few cast members shot today but I can't seem to find the cord that connects my cam to the USB. Oh well, later then I suppose.

Thanks for your reply and deeply appreciated. Talk at you again soon!

justgroovy · 08-20-2008, 08:31 AM

Looking forward to the youtube stuff, also where exactly is this taking place? Maybe some of our lurking members are in the area and would like to come by for support?

SWK78 · 08-20-2008, 10:28 AM

I doubt many if any are in the area. I'm in a small town. Petersburg, West Virginia. We're having it at our high school's old gymnasium.

But ARGH! My last minute replacement called up at 8 this morning to tell me (after he'd attended two rehearsals, one being a dress rehearsal) that he just couldn't do it. My god! But I called up the first actor and gave him some guilt in saying "hey i'm sorry to call. I'd rather not call since you said you were busy but i really have no other option. it's already been announced in the paper and i'd rather not cancel it" blah, blah, blah. But at any rate he said yes. That's all that matters to me.

justgroovy · 08-21-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWK78

I doubt many if any are in the area. I'm in a small town. Petersburg, West Virginia. We're having it at our high school's old gymnasium.

But ARGH! My last minute replacement called up at 8 this morning to tell me (after he'd attended two rehearsals, one being a dress rehearsal) that he just couldn't do it. My god! But I called up the first actor and gave him some guilt in saying "hey i'm sorry to call. I'd rather not call since you said you were busy but i really have no other option. it's already been announced in the paper and i'd rather not cancel it" blah, blah, blah. But at any rate he said yes. That's all that matters to me.

Oh dear lord. Ok this officially has to be the one of the worst production stories I've heard.

And you never know who's in Petersburg, West Virginia or wherever. I wonder if there should be a "Hey come see me," "Pssst come see my play" or "My movie is playing here" type forum.

Anyway, wishing you good luck seems like it's not quite enough, but it is all I can do from here

Just think of it this way, it's a great story to tell James Lipton when the time comes!

justgroovy · 08-25-2008, 10:39 AM

update? how did it go?

SWK78 · 08-26-2008, 02:20 PM

Whew, well, I'm still here, and after all that summer craziness, we pulled it off! Friday night's show was cancelled because we needed to rehearse more especially with our lights (since they were only just finished put up on Thursday night, Friday morning). My cancellation sign said "due to technical difficulties" though. That's always a nice and vague reason and you can get away with it. At any rate, I can't write a whole lot about it all right now, but yeah, this production definitely went into hell and out again.

I am starting to upload the play to my youtube. My username is violetandsilverskies if you would like to stop by. I'll be posting both versions from both Sat and Sun's shows. I have up to about 3 or 4 scenes up at the moment. I should have Sat's entire show up in the next couple days.

Thanks for all your support throughout this past week. It's been absolutely insane, and just knowing that people are out there wanting me to succeed was just about the best medicine ever. See you later. I'll write more about the shows later when I get the time.

justgroovy · 08-27-2008, 09:07 AM

I am still working on being able to post youtube videos here. Hopefully that will get done soon!

I checked out your youtube site and watched some of your play this morning, I'll go back and watch some more after I get some cg work done =)

carviator · 08-28-2008, 04:13 AM

It's always worth trusting yourself and your actors. If you are happy that there is a living breathing story on the page, then trained actors will bring out the truth. You've lived with the people you've created, now you have to let them go and allow them to breathe via your cast....Good luck
J