The show DOES go on...
I'm gonna tell you a little story. So sit back relax and let your imagination take you away.
It is tech week, your dream is coming true and you are to finally have one of the best shows of your life. The Set is magnificent. just imagine it. All the way upstage is a large stone bridge with a church and town behind it. further downstage is the barber shop, a gazebo and a mariana. Under this bridge is a boat that is attached to a pulley system so the boat will move seamlessly between the bridge and the marnina. There are lanterns and a large Welcome Home sign hanging form the flys. It is one of the prettiest sets you have ever seen. The stage is lit magnificently. Sure there are 145 light cues but it doesn't matter because we have everything from moving lights, to vivid colors, to lighting that looks so real you would swear it is. Now every set needs a cast. Our cast is of 21 people, two of the characters are double cast. They are dressed in 1905 apparel. the women are all in long beautiful dresses and the men in nice clean suits.
And the crew runs around dressed in all black clothing placing props and setting benches. Finally we are ready The show is AMAZING. funny sad, happy inspiring and ultimately entertaining. everyone involved can't wait for a real audience to come see it. we are two rehearsals away everything is finally done. Light cues are fixed, sound is tweeked, set is painted, costumes are built. We are ready. Shows begin Thursday.
Rehearsal ends on monday night at around 10 and every one is out of the theatre by 11, 1130 ish. doors are locked lights are off. just as always. At about 3am the following morning the fire department is called into a fire on the stage. Fire crews arrive. The fire curtain has fallen, sprinklers have gone off, and the fire is pretty much out. Your stage manager, lighitn designer and Director are awaken at 6am with this phone call. " Hi, You have to come to theatre right now for questioning. There was a fire last night and you were the last one in there." So you crawl out of bed are questioned, astonished, shocked and completely devastated.
What happened: The set is DESTROYED! the entire SL wall is compelety charred, fly systems are gone. Lighting instruments ruined. speakers in melted piles on the floor. The curtains, scrim and cyc are just piles of ash on the floor. all the ash is wet, so what wasn't burned is totally water damaged. pretty much the theatre is RUINED. So what happens next?
THE SHOW GOES ON!!
luckily the flame did not go into the prop shop, paint shop or anywhere else. props are fines, costumes are fine. So strings are pulled, hearts are broken and smiles return. They end up moving a cast of 21 to a space that has no set, sound system, lighting system, anything. The stage is about and 1/8th of the other stage. the house only seats like 146 instead of 700! Rehearsals continue. actors go on with props, costumes, smiles and a spirit that is so overwhelming that anyone would be inspired. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. The show is just as amazing as in the big theatre. despite circumstances. We are now scheduled to have performances Friday night, Saturday matinee and evening, Sunday matinee. Good news strike will only take like two seconds.
I don't htink I have ever seen such determinations, unity, strength and inpiration EVER before in my life. I am proud of each and everyone in this cast and crew. Way to go!
It is tech week, your dream is coming true and you are to finally have one of the best shows of your life. The Set is magnificent. just imagine it. All the way upstage is a large stone bridge with a church and town behind it. further downstage is the barber shop, a gazebo and a mariana. Under this bridge is a boat that is attached to a pulley system so the boat will move seamlessly between the bridge and the marnina. There are lanterns and a large Welcome Home sign hanging form the flys. It is one of the prettiest sets you have ever seen. The stage is lit magnificently. Sure there are 145 light cues but it doesn't matter because we have everything from moving lights, to vivid colors, to lighting that looks so real you would swear it is. Now every set needs a cast. Our cast is of 21 people, two of the characters are double cast. They are dressed in 1905 apparel. the women are all in long beautiful dresses and the men in nice clean suits.
And the crew runs around dressed in all black clothing placing props and setting benches. Finally we are ready The show is AMAZING. funny sad, happy inspiring and ultimately entertaining. everyone involved can't wait for a real audience to come see it. we are two rehearsals away everything is finally done. Light cues are fixed, sound is tweeked, set is painted, costumes are built. We are ready. Shows begin Thursday.
Rehearsal ends on monday night at around 10 and every one is out of the theatre by 11, 1130 ish. doors are locked lights are off. just as always. At about 3am the following morning the fire department is called into a fire on the stage. Fire crews arrive. The fire curtain has fallen, sprinklers have gone off, and the fire is pretty much out. Your stage manager, lighitn designer and Director are awaken at 6am with this phone call. " Hi, You have to come to theatre right now for questioning. There was a fire last night and you were the last one in there." So you crawl out of bed are questioned, astonished, shocked and completely devastated.
What happened: The set is DESTROYED! the entire SL wall is compelety charred, fly systems are gone. Lighting instruments ruined. speakers in melted piles on the floor. The curtains, scrim and cyc are just piles of ash on the floor. all the ash is wet, so what wasn't burned is totally water damaged. pretty much the theatre is RUINED. So what happens next?
THE SHOW GOES ON!!
luckily the flame did not go into the prop shop, paint shop or anywhere else. props are fines, costumes are fine. So strings are pulled, hearts are broken and smiles return. They end up moving a cast of 21 to a space that has no set, sound system, lighting system, anything. The stage is about and 1/8th of the other stage. the house only seats like 146 instead of 700! Rehearsals continue. actors go on with props, costumes, smiles and a spirit that is so overwhelming that anyone would be inspired. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. The show is just as amazing as in the big theatre. despite circumstances. We are now scheduled to have performances Friday night, Saturday matinee and evening, Sunday matinee. Good news strike will only take like two seconds.
I don't htink I have ever seen such determinations, unity, strength and inpiration EVER before in my life. I am proud of each and everyone in this cast and crew. Way to go!