From the Desk of the Music Director...
Thursday, I arrived at the theatre in time to see some of the yet-to-be-revealed technical elements. Theatre is such an amazing environment. For all of the spectacular illusions available through film, and I do love film, there is absolutely nothing that compares with theatre. The designers for this production have created magic.
Our wonderful actors are tired, which is typical for this stage of rehearsal, but you would never know it. They work very hard. As is typical with a Stephen Sondheim opus, there are a lot of words, spoken and sung very quickly, within rhythms that repeat but not exactly. I’m a stickler for articulation and rhythms. In anticipation of a cast-plot to steal and destroy my metronome, I carry 3 with me …. Just in case. These are nice people, but I’ve seen the way they look at my metronome.
Saturday, I work with the musicians for the first time as a group. Whee! The percussionist is in a little booth big enough for a Hobbit. You should see all of the instruments in there. He has timpani (both of them), xylophone, chimes, a bass drum, full drum set, and a host of other toys. We will have 3 keyboards plus acoustic piano, double bass, flute and clarinet.
So. At this point in the process, the theatre space is a-buzz and a-twitter with hammering, painting, hanging and focusing, vocalizing, and cow maneuvering. (Don’t ask.) For all of the hard work involved, ITW is really a fun show to do. Perhaps that’s why there is so much laughter in the theatre as we work. There are few things more satisfying than working with people that love what they do. The end result is almost always a high quality product. That is what audiences will receive when they see this show. My sincere thanks to everyone involved, especially the cast.
-Janice Franklin
Music Director for Into the Woods
Our wonderful actors are tired, which is typical for this stage of rehearsal, but you would never know it. They work very hard. As is typical with a Stephen Sondheim opus, there are a lot of words, spoken and sung very quickly, within rhythms that repeat but not exactly. I’m a stickler for articulation and rhythms. In anticipation of a cast-plot to steal and destroy my metronome, I carry 3 with me …. Just in case. These are nice people, but I’ve seen the way they look at my metronome.
Saturday, I work with the musicians for the first time as a group. Whee! The percussionist is in a little booth big enough for a Hobbit. You should see all of the instruments in there. He has timpani (both of them), xylophone, chimes, a bass drum, full drum set, and a host of other toys. We will have 3 keyboards plus acoustic piano, double bass, flute and clarinet.
So. At this point in the process, the theatre space is a-buzz and a-twitter with hammering, painting, hanging and focusing, vocalizing, and cow maneuvering. (Don’t ask.) For all of the hard work involved, ITW is really a fun show to do. Perhaps that’s why there is so much laughter in the theatre as we work. There are few things more satisfying than working with people that love what they do. The end result is almost always a high quality product. That is what audiences will receive when they see this show. My sincere thanks to everyone involved, especially the cast.
-Janice Franklin
Music Director for Into the Woods
posted by WaterTower Theatre @ 2:40 PM
1 Comments:
Gurrrll....I feel your pain! I'm in the middle of FULL MONTY rehearsal here in Maine. I am certain you will do your usual stellar job with this piece! Stay well and keep those metronomes a'clickin'!!
Lurve U
M
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