In Rehearsal Today...

Today is a run of the first act of the play- the actors are memorized, the scenes are blocked, and the singers are choreographed in. Also, the first part of our stage has been set up and some of the floor painting has been completed:

Looks great!

The main concern during these first few runs (today is only the second time we've run the whole first half of the show) is keeping traffic flow and scenic changes clear. Our set never changes during the show, so we don't have to worry about stage techs moving scenic elements. We do have to worry about where actors exit and enter, though, so that no one gets tripped or cluttered. This is especially important, since the stage is raised about two feet from the floor of the experimental theatre and actors move in and out of the space from the four corners of the theatre on these bridges: 

Watch your step!

We are also working with some new props today:

This is an exciting point in rehearsal- for the actors, it means no more miming! Actors mime cups, bowls, or picking up sticks in rehearsals up until basic hand props are introduced. Usually, the play starts to feel a little more "real" at this point with the addition of nice, tactile stuff for the performers to handle and play with. 

Check back for more updates, including a preview of the Vinegar Tom singers in rehearsal!