1 Down, 2 To Go (or 4 for some folks)

A big part of my life this week has been BRBC Christmas Play. I really started getting in deep almost two weeks ago when I attended rehearsal for the first time. For the past several years, I've helped with costumes--making sure the costume changes went smoothly during performances and helping check back in all the costumes after the last performance. I figured I'd be doing the same this year. Even when I was sharing ideas for the tech side at the Saturday rehearsal, I figured it was just for the rehearsal and I'd end up doing pretty much the same as in the past.

About a week ago, Sunday afternoon, the borrowed set was assembled. I showed up to help (and drug JM along with me). It took about three hours to put up the set. Towards the end, one of the co-directors/actors (He plays the lead of Joseph, as well as directing. His fiance is the other co-director and plays the lead of Mary.) asked me and one of the other crew members--Mrs. L--to take over the details of directing for the final rehearsals and performances, so they could concentrate on being in character. I would have responsibility for back-stage and Mrs. L would have responsibility for on-stage. I agreed.

The only tech rehearsal was scheduled for Wednesday. When I arrived for rehearsal on Wednesday, I had only seen about half of the scenes....and they had been practiced out-of-order, so I knew there was a lot of catching up....but it didn't help when I found out that I had seen as much or more of the play that practically everyone else working on tech--lights, costumes, or prop crew. Tech rehearsal ended up consisting of few to no costumes on-stage (though almost all the costumes were distributed), no props or set pieces (except a couple of chairs and what characters picked up for themselves), and the lights were worked out as we went (as is to be expected).

When I asked, "Who's in charge of set?"
"You are."
uummmmm...yeah. "Who's been collecting the props?"
"Angie."

"Angie! Where are we with the props?"
"I'm not sure what I'm doing."
That's real hopeful! *light sarcasm* Turns out, she had essentially been given a list of what was needed without ever having seen the script or rehearsal. Based on that list and the props that had been gathered for the previous productions, we had almost everything we would need, though some of it wouldn't arrive until a later date.

By the end of rehearsal, sound had tried several different approaches to trying to place (or not place) microphones in front of the stage. An issue had been raised with the lights; primarily trying to decide if the characters could be sufficiently mic'd or if the spotlights would have to be dropped due to noise concerns. It was decided to take advantage of some wireless microphones--the co-directors would have to lay out a sheet of who would have which mic for each scene.

The final and only full-dress rehearsal was scheduled for Thursday night. Thursday morning, a copy of the script was e-mail'd to everyone on tech that didn't have one. By late Thursday morning, it was sleeting, which turned to snow, and then turned, finally, into freezing rain. Thursday afternoon, the evening's dress rehearsal was postponed to Friday afternoon, 2:00. Performance at 7:00.

Thursday afternoon/evening, I went through the script and made up a cue sheet for the scene changes and props. Friday, just before noon, I made a quick trip home to pick up a couple of things I'd forgotten. By 12:30, I was in Town Hall working on what still needed done--putting up the skirting around the stage extension, hanging the curtains over the set entrances, and laying down glow tape. By 1:45, both Angie and Christa had arrived, along with most of the remaining props and set pieces. We talked through the cue sheet I had made up, making additional notes and deciding where we would be. There was only one set piece that didn't arrive as expected.

About 2:45, the dress rehearsal began. It went amazingly well. A few glitches in the timing of set changes (before or after particular narrative sections or interlude songs). One person missing on lights. Those were the major problems.

In the hour break between the rehearsal and call for performance, Angie ran home and found something that would work for the missing set piece. A few more tweaks to the cue sheet and confirmations about how things would work. I made sure key people were on walkie-talkie radios. And a few more prayers that the two rehearsals that we had would be enough.

At 6:40, the cast & crew had their final announcements and prayers. At 7:10, the opening announcements were made on-stage, followed by the BRBC Choir. By 7:30, we were heading into the first scene. The evaluation after the first performance: "It went incredibly well." With the help of the radios, we hit all of the set changes and all of the characters were as ready as they could be to go on. There were only a couple of moments (3-4 MAX) that pauses were longer than ideal, but it was only due to people needing to change their mic's--something that really can't be changed. And none of them were exceedingly long pauses.

I believe all the crew is in complete agreement (and probably the cast too), that this production is only as good as it is through the blessing and grace of God! I don't say that lightly or in a self-effacing way because it is the expected thing to say. I say it because to go from a first full-rehearsal to performance in 48 hours with a production that involves over 30 characters and a dozen crew members--many of these who are children or working people who are only volunteering their time--requires a lot of work and cooperation from everyone involved. And for it to go so smoothly is simply a miracle.

Tomorrow. Well, the main characters, and other characters as they are able, will travel to the local juvenile detention center and give two performances--10:00 & 12:00. They'll grab something to eat and be back at Town Hall for two more performances--3:00 & 7:00. Due to limited staging and other restrictions, the crew and set aren't used for the performances at the detention center. The actors, especially the main characters, are the ones that have my complete admiration--4 performances in less than 12 hours; 5 performances in just over 24 hours.

Heavenly Father, I ask that you bless the performers with the strength and energy they need to deliver all four performances with the vigor and excitement that will tell Your story in the way that will best glorify you.