Some of you astute readers may have noted that I have been off the normal schedule of posts this week. So kind of you not to point that out. LOL
So today I thought I would share with you the reason my “best laid plans” have gone awry. Every year for the past four years, I have been involved in mounting the production of “Scrooge” at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts. I adapted the script from an old radio show from the 1930s that starred Orson Welles and have directed the show for three years. Last year I was in the production as the Narrator, and John Milligan, Scrooge, took the reins as director. BTW, what an incredible actor he is. He is pictured here with Maddy Nittmo, a high school student, who is also very talented. The dark ghost in the next picture is Ashland Tipton, who is also in high school. She is a dancer and it is wonderful to see her glide across the stage “like a mist coming out of the darkness.”
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| Scrooge and The Ghost of Christmas Past at Rehearsal |
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| The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come – The Scariest Ghost of Them All |
In addition to six weeks of rehearsals, there are so many little details that have to be taken care of to get a show to opening night, and I envy professional companies that have production and tech staff. We have our troupe of actors, a few people at the Art Center who can help, and me, so needless to say I have been very busy this month.
Every year as I get into the last two weeks of pressure to get the set finished, the props, the playbill, advertising, costumes, posters, and pictures, I wonder why I do this year after year. Then I get my answer on opening night when the magic happens. Anyone who has been involved in performing, professionally or as an amateur, knows what it feels like when the curtain goes up and the show begins. We are transported into another world for a little while and there is nothing quite like being on stage.
We open tomorrow, Friday, so most of the pressure is over. Still I won’t be posting my usual Friday’s Odds and Ends. There are always some last minute details, like maybe working on my lines. LOL
I want to publicly thank my cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication. It has been a real pleasure to work with everyone.
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| Ebeneezer Scrooge, We have come for You |
There is also magic when a professional photographer gets an amazing shot. I love this picture taken by a local photographer, Jim Dyson, of Mr. Jim’s Studios.
This sounds really wonderful-break a leg!
Wait a minute, if you’re the director, what “lines” do you have to learn?
Helen, I’m playing a role, too. One of the actors had to drop out a couple of weeks ago, so I stepped in. I was so busy with directing duties, I didn’t work on lines the way I normally do when I am just acting and not directing, too. I did get the lines down. We had a terrible dress rehearsal, but opening Friday night was wonderful.