Week 7:
Rodeos and Repertory

July 4, 2016

This week, we began rehearsal for CRT’s annual KID show. This year it is an original script called Rodeo and Juliet, about the rivalry between the rodeo and the circus. I am an assistant stage manager for this show.

I was a bit nervous going into the first day of rehearsal. I don’t have a lot of experience working with kids, and I was a bit worried the kids wouldn’t be super invested. But I was completely wrong. Every kid in that room is there because they absolutely love theatre–which makes me love theatre even more! I love seeing a passion in the kids similar to that I have always had. They remind me of myself when I was younger and doing community theatre shows.

The first day of rehearsal was kind of an audition. The show wasn’t cast, so we did a read through of the script, some basic movement work, and then a round of callbacks where kids would read for the different parts they were interested in performing. By day 2 the show was cast and ready for blocking.

It’s a short one act play with 13 scenes, and in the first full week of rehearsal we managed to block 7–we are more than halfway done! We have one more full week of rehearsal, and then the next week we have a few days of rehearsal before we open. I can’t wait to keep seeing these kids grow and shine.

One of the most exciting aspects of the KID show is that we are incorporating trapeze. Two company members, John and Bethany, come into rehearsal when they can to work with the kids who will need to perform trapeze during the show. As someone who has never done trapeze, I thought this was extremely ambitious. But to my surprise, the kids are picking it up extremely quickly. Our little Juliet already looks like a beautiful dancer up there on the trapeze.

Of course, my week wasn’t only Rodeo and Juliet because that simply isn’t the nature of repertory theatre. I am still running performances of both Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and The (Curious Case of the) Watson Intelligence. This was an exceptionally exciting week for me because on Thursday night, my girlfriend Hana arrived in Creede. She came to see my shows and see Creede and we have been having a lovely time adventuring between work.

This week, another show opened–a play called History Room written by Cornell alum Charlie Thurston. On Thursday was the preview, so Hana and I went to that.  It was an incredibly beautiful show about Alzheimer’s. Christy Brandt, the actor I made tech dinner with many weeks ago, portrayed a woman who had begun losing her memories. It was heartbreaking, honest, and thought provoking.

By far my most difficult, most repertory filled day, was yesterday.  Technically, there was a workshop all day for Rodeo and Juliet, but neither me nor the stage manager Dana could be there because of other responsibilities, so the kids were in the trustworthy hands of directors and designers.

I woke up bright and early for a changeover at 8 am. We had to get the History Room set out, and the Watson set in for a performance that evening. This was the first time we would be changing out the History Room set, which means it took a long time to figure everything out. By 11:30, there was still a lot of work to be done, but I had crew call at 12 so I escaped to get a super quick lunch.

After changeover, I had a two show day. First was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the main stage. Hana was in the second row which meant I could see her from the grid, where I run the rail cues. Being able to watch Hana see it all for the first time was like watching a whole new show.

After that, I had a dinner break, then it was on to the Ruth for Watson. We haven’t performed Watson in over a week. The actors had a pick up rehearsal earlier this week to get familiar with the show again, but the crew did not. So I was a little nervous going in–what if I completely mess up all of my transitions?

But as soon as I got into the space, I wasn’t worried anymore. Watson is like an old friend.  As soon as I was back on that set sweeping and mopping, it felt like no time had passed. It felt good to be back on that show again, the first show I worked on when I got here. I’m in charge of consumables at the top of show, so I was in the green room using caramel coloring to make water look like tea or alcohol.

Hana was in the front row, so every time I went on stage to move a set piece, I could see her. I really love this show and was so excited to share it with her.

After the show, I was technically scheduled for another changeover. We had to get the Watson set out and get the Reading! And Other Superpowers set in. At the suggestion of one of my coworkers, I went out on a limb and asked my boss if there was anyway I could be excused from changeover after already doing one changeover and two shows that day.

She talked to the stage supervisor, Polzy, and he agreed I had had a long day and they could get by at changeover without me. I slept like a baby after my 14 hour work day.

That leads us to today. It’s the Fourth of July, and as soon as I’m done writing this blog, Hana and I are going to go explore all the food carts that have set up for the holiday. And of course, find a place to watch fireworks tonight.

After another long week here at CRT, I feel accomplished and proud. I am here doing what I love to do and I wouldn’t want it any other way.