Set the Stage & Light the Lights...

It’s opening night! I can’t believe we started rehearsal just 2 ½ weeks ago.

During rehearsal, as a director, my job is to lead and inspire the actors, designers and technicians to bring to life the playwright’s words. By opening night, my work is done. It’s time for the production to stand on it’s own, without my support. It’s kind of like raising a child; you hope you do all the right things, say all the right things, but when it’s time for the child to stand on it’s own, you must let it go and hope that you’ve been a positive influence and that it leads a successful and productive life. So, as of today, the child is grown and it's time for it to go out there and be all it can be.

Tonight I turn the production over to the cast, crew, and most importantly, the audience. People are often surprised when they find out that the director is not part of the day-to-day running of a play after opening night. The stage manager is put in charge of running the show and making sure that all aspects of the production remain consistent through out the run. As much as I have enjoyed this process, I am really looking forward to some time away from the theatre at home with my son and my TiVo. =)

Many thanks to everyone who has worked so hard on this show; Michael S for a great set design, Susan W for her spectacularly beautiful lighting, Curtis C for the awesome sound design, Costumer Michael R for those awesome uniforms, Mark O for his guidance and insight into baseball, Scott, Jason and the build crew for ….everything, Stage Manager Jeff F and the backstage crew for keeping it all running so smoothly, and finally to my actors for their courage and talent. No show is possible without the dedication and support you have all brought to the process of putting Take Me Out together.

So, ready set, go! Let’s hope for a home run! We’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope that all the lights, the plumbing (for the showers), and the sound cues work on time and that the play works as well before an audience as it seemed to without one. All that work, and then after four short weeks it’s gone. It kind of makes me depressed. But not for long; in a month or so, we’ll be in pre-production for Man of La Mancha and we start all over again.

Ah, life in the theatre…gotta love it.

Terry Martin
WTT's Producing Artistic Director & Director of Take Me Out