The First Rotation Comes to an End!

Well I think we have officially postponed starting this blog long enough, and now as we end our first rotation we have run out of excuses. So here goes - I'll be the brave one to break the ice.

Today marks the opening of our first round of plays. We do four rounds throughout the summer, with each of the four of us directing in three of the rotations. This first cycle I was the Lab Producer, meaning I spent the time supporting my fellow directors and overseeing the lab company while Kerry, Mikey and Tamara directed their shows. Kerry's kids show, The Ant and the Grasshopper opened this morning at 10am to 370 hyperactive children, but nonetheless proved a wonderful success. Tamara's production of Naomi Iizuka's Language of Angels was the next up at 5:30 this evening, and then Mikey's adaptation Juliet and her Romeo opened to a fuller-than-full house at 10pm. All in all a day of a LOT of theater for the Hangar (the mainstage, show, Doubt, still played at 8pm, as did a second performance of Ant at 12pm). It's amazing how much good theater we all are able to cram into one day.

Also amazing is how unbelievably fast everything happens around here. Our first day of this rotation was something like eleven days ago. The actors arrived just over two weeks ago. We spent the first couple days gettting to know them, teaching them "master classes" (no complaints from us on this whole "master" business), and holding auditions. After three days of this we arrived at the longest day of our entire lives, in which the four of us, with the help of Kevin Moriarty, had to cast the 26 members of the Lab Company in the season. All 26 had to be in 4 shows, one of which had to be a kids play...AND each actor had to have at least one large role and one small role. The five of us literally sat in a room for eight and a half hours working and reworking the various lists. At the end of the day, bruised and bleeding, we emerged from our secret lair and ran as fast as we could to our absolute favorite location in Ithaca. A place we like to call...Applebee's...and sucked down as many margaritas as humanly possible. The next morning, with hangovers from the casting as well as the tequila, we began rehearsals.

(note: yes, you have heard right, ithaca is one of the sleeper culinary hits in the northeast, and yet somehow - and i'm naming kerry whigham as the major culpable party - applebee's has become "our place". i've tried to protest, but to no avail. so, if you can't beat em...try the fiesta lime chicken).

I'll let the others write about their individual rehearsal processes, but what I will say is that it's been a true pleasure to watch my fellow directors create three incredibly unique and really excellent pieces of theater. I was a little uncertain about this whole lab producer gig, but it's given me such a great opportunity to observe these three passionate, talented directors. I have taken something away from each of them. From Mikey, I've been reminded of how important it is to find a personal message in your work, no matter how risky or controversial - and that pushing out of your comfort zone is a constant struggle, but a necessary and rewarding one. From Tamara I've learned what a gift great casting is, and how to constantly push (or allow) the actors to live in the characters without pretense or condescension. And from Kerry - that a strong concept can really revolutionize a show, even when it's a play for 7-year-olds, and that sometimes the things that appear simplest can be the most intimidating, but even then if you allow yourself to feel the fear, that you can push through it and really exceed your expectations.

So all in all, the first quarter of the summer has been a smashing success (she said modestly). We have some real standout designers and a brave, talented company of actors. On Saturday we begin rehearsals for the next rotation - when I will be directing Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman. Today I found out we can rig up a swing in the Wedge, and a hammock (no, i'm not using any water, so we're thinking outside the box) so I couldn't be happier. See you at the end of Rotation 2 with a few more gray hairs, even less sleep, and maybe a bit of newfound wisdom.

Kate Pines