At this point in the rehearsal process, having performed three shows, one might assume we’ve been through it all, and have it all figured out.
One would be wrong.
Last night, we tackled a scene that seems to have gotten some wacky feedback… turning our play into a very different show indeed. (One that involves murder… which was very different from my intention. The character is actually mourning the memory of her mentor, and his spark.)
Realistically, we are under time, budget, and space constraints… we had to pare this production down a bit to make it work for this incarnation. And so the single line in the scene, which I had originally envisioned following quite a bit of action, isn’t translating the way it needs to.
I explained my intention, and everything wrapped up in the scene to my wide-eyed actress. (She’s so cute… she gives the bunny a run for his money.) She looked at me and said, “Oh my God, I never got that…” and then just sat there, letting the meaning of it wash over her, contemplating the weight of it all.
It was the end of a long night for all of us… and it was the last bit of business for the evening.
I think something wonderful will happen at Thursday’s rehearsal to bust this scene wide open!
You may have seen the adorable videos on You Tube featuring babies dancing (and in one case below singing) along with Beyonce to her “Put a Ring On It” video.
What’s so great is watching the pure joy these babies experience… They can’t even help but dance and sing.
It might make you laugh, or coo, or smile… But it’s not just because they’re cute… it’s because you recognize a piece of yourself in those dancing tots. There was once a time when you did what you loved just for the fun of it, and felt amazing for it.
More than what you did, it was the follow through that made it fun… Not just watching, but jumping in and doing.
I hope her parents keep this video… Ava could be her generation’s Beyonce.
The famous Broadway Flea Market (where you can find playbills, posters, props, and even win prizes) is happening this Sunday.
One of the prizes sure to garner the most attention is the set of theatre seats used by President Obama and First Lady Michelle on their date night (having seen “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” last spring).
It’s a great idea for a wonderful cause… and one lucky person will be bringing a piece of Broadway home.
Last night we started rehearsals for our upcoming extended run of “Disillusioned.”
We put everything we had into the first run, and it was great, but there were little things that we felt we could make even better. (The audience didn’t see or realize most of these, but being so close to the work, we saw every single one.)
We started talking about those things, and other new things, that we’re going to explore during the next few weeks to make this run even better than the last.
I, and I believe everyone else on the project, feel really blessed. It’s not often in life that you get a second chance. (This “theme” comes up in almost every play I’ve written. I think it’s something most people wish for, since oftentimes, things rarely turn out the way we plan them… What I’ve learned from writing these plays, and through living my own life, is that sometimes, things end up turning out even better than one could have planned or expected them to.)
For those of you who’ve already seen the show, we invite you to come back and see if you notice the changes. For those of you who’ll be seeing it for the first time, we hope you enjoy the show in it’s new incarnation.
I’ve spent much of my day going to contacts from my past and organizations with which I have an affiliation to sell tickets for our upcoming run of “Disillusioned.”
It’s something that has to be done, shaking the tree so the fruit will fall. But, it takes a lot of strength, and patience (as most anything worthwhile does).
I typed “Shaking the Tree” in Google and came across Peter Gabriel’s song of the same name.
I’d never heard it before… But I don’t think I was ready for it before. You’ll find the lyrics below…
Still Shakin’,
–Sue
Shaking the Tree
Souma yergon, sou nou yergon, we are shakin the tree
Souma yergon, sou nou yergon, we are shakin the tree
Waiting your time, dreaming of a better life
Waiting your time, youre more than just a wife
You dont want to do what your mother has done
She has done
This is your life, this new life has begun
Its your day – a womans day
Its your day – a womans day
Turning the tide, you are on the incoming wave
Turning the tide, you know you are nobodys slave
find your sisters and brothers
Who can hear all the truth in what you say
They can support you when youre on your way
Its your day – a womans day
Its your day – a womans day
Souma yergon, sou nou yergon, we are shakin the tree
Souma yergon, sou nou yergon, we are shakin the tree
Souma yergon, sou nou yergon, we are shakin the tree
Theres nothing to gain when theres nothing to be lost
Theres nothing to gain if you stay behind and count the cost
Make the decision that you can be who you can be
You can be
Tasting the fruit come to the liberty tree
Its your day – a womans day
Its your day – a womans day
Changing your ways, changing those surrounding you
Changing your ways, more than any man can do
Open your heart, show him the anger and pain, so you heal
Maybe hes looking for his womanly side, let him feel
You had to be so strong
And you do nothing wrong
Nothing wrong at all
Were gonna to break it down
We have to shake it down
Shake it all around
Souma yergon, sou nou yergon, we are shakin the tree
Souma yergon, sou nou yergon, we are shakin the tree
Souma yergon, sou nou yergon, we are shakin the tree
Delicious Orchards is an institution in New Jersey. You can read up on their history here. In addition to their wonderful apples, they also sell produce, cheeses, coffees and teas from around the world — and their cinnamon apple cider donuts are to die for!!!
I know about them from my hubby, who has been telling me about this place as long as I’ve known him (a little over three years, yesterday was my first time visiting the store). My father-in-law told me that he took his sons when they were little to see the characters who would greet families during the holidays, and that traffic cops had to direct cars in and out of the lot and on the road every Thanksgiving. (Turkeys for the holiday are also on their list of specialties.)
Reading about their humble beginnings reminded me that a product can be great, but it’s really about taking those chances to keep expanding, pushing, and growing that help a business flourish.
I’ve been thinking about how I can play bigger in my own life, and with our company… I’ll keep you posted as things develop.
Avenue Q had it’s final Broadway performance this past Sunday, September 13th.
In an unorthodox move, it will be moving BACK to Off-Broadway in the next few months.
The history of the show is outlined on their site as follows:
Avenue Q opened off-broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in March 2003, where it gained rave reviews, and was extended four times!
It won the 2003 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding New Musical, as well as a nomination for the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical award.
It began previews at the Golden Theatre on July 11th, 2003, with a July 31, 2003 opening. Avenue Q played its final Broadway performance on September 13, 2009.
Avenue Q will re-open Off-Broadway at New World Stages later this fall.
I think it’s a BRILLIANT move! They already have the brand that’s on the tip of tourists’ tongues… and now they don’t have to have the pressure of filling a Broadway house.
Plus, it’s an intimate show (except for the giant baby in Act II… which always felt a little out of place to me), and a smaller venue would probably suit it well.
