3 posts tagged “opening night”

I took the day off yesterday. From everything. Work. Showering. Walking. I just sat on my couch and flipped through the channels. It was divine.

The show opened on Tuesday night and went off without a hitch. We had a nice house that wasn't all made up designers and technicians, which I'm sure the actors appreciated. The majority of them stuck around afterwards for the free food and booze that was donated to us from places like RJ Grunts and Cru Wine Bar. Plus, Zoe, the Assistant Director, had taken some of the photos we took of Nathan with each girlfriend and created a couple of posters of what the photos might look like after the break up. It was fun stuff.

 

 

It was a pretty fun day, all in all. There were lots of well-wishing phone calls and emails and text messages. My friend Brendan even sent flowers to the theater. Of course, there was no message of any kind from the very vocal "Maureen". But I'm sure she'll have a good excuse. It did my ego good.

After the show, the cast presented me with a telescope so I could "see the stars in the city". It was a very sweet gift and as soon as the skies clear up here, I'll be testing it out. We made some toasts to everyone then we got down to the eating and the drinking.

 

 

 

After we'd gorged ourself on pasta salad and wine and cheese and chocolate covered everything, I broke open a box of cigars I had purchased for the occassion and a few of us stepped outside to light 'em up. I'm not a smoker. Never have been and most of the time I think cigars smell like a dead skunk's stink-star, but it just seemed like the thing to do.

 

 

 

It was great opening night. The kind every writer should get to experience at least once in their careers. Hopefully, it won't be the last one I attend as playwright. I'll keep you posted.

 

P.S. Many thanks to Amy and Emily who jumped in as guest photographers so I didn't have to spend the whole time behind a camera.

Well, here we are. Opening night.

At the moment it doesn't feel that different from any other night. I've been in lots of shows and had lots of opening nights. I know how they work. But at the same time, this is the first time that I am responsible for the content of the evening. I'm sure when I get to the theater and see the hordes of people clamoring for a seat I'll start to sweat. Hopefully I won't get that nervous-stomach-flatulence and drive everyone away. Then again, that might be a good defense if I feel the crowd turning on me at any point.

This show has been a long time coming to this night. Almost four years ago I wrote the first scenes that would eventually become the play we present tonight. A lot has changed in that time. But the essence of the story has remained the same; A man learning to live his life for himself.

It's not been an easy process. But it has been a rewarding one. It seems kind of funny to me that it's over. And maybe a little sad. But I'll save the sappy speeches for later. Right now I have to make sure I've got all the cat hair off my pants. I'm sure Arthur Miller never showed up to an opening night with cat hair on his pants.

Unless you count Marylin Monroe's...nevermind.

 

 

Just a little over 24 hours until the lights go up on opening night for The Past's Present. (Cue sphincter pucker.)

Over the weekend we had two preview nights, where people could pay five bucks and check out the show. These are basically glorified dress rehersals. We were still taking notes and still tinkering with sound cues. At least I hope there was a little tinkering with sound cues. Or a cue. Just one. You know who you are.

But everything looked good. I think the only thing we need now is a sold-out house full of buzzing energy for the cast to feed off of. Hopefully, we'll have that for tomorrow night. I mean, we're giving away food and booze after the show. What more of an incentive to people need?

I'll save all the mushy blubbering for after opening night. But I would like to express my deepest gratitude to The Cast and Crew of this show. All in all this has been a very painless procedure and it is all thanks to your hard work and dedication. Perhaps in the coming weeks I'll do a little one-on-one interviewing with all of them so you can get to know them better. They deserve all the recognition they can get.

Everyone has tonight off to get a little rest. Or to work at their other job. Me? I'll be trying not to obsess about tomorrow night too much. My new apartment still needs a little TLC, so perhaps I throw myself into some furniture re-arranging or shelf building. Or maybe I'll just head over to my local watering hole and distract myself with a nice, cold beverage or seven.

Here are some pics I snapped last night that we're hoping the local press will be using when they sing their praises of us.