Has the summer been full of traveling for you too?
Along with Amy and Shannon, I spent a week in Denver at the TCG conference - WAAAY back in June. Two weeks later I traveled home to Massachusetts for my little sister's wedding (a WONDERFUL day - with frisbee played just outside the reception tent - including my sister in her wedding dress!) and then just got back from a week in Florida with hubby and babe.
Today it is back to work, and preparations are in full swing for
Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter - with rehearsals starting tonight at 6:30pm.
This is always the moment for me as a director that is a little terrifying.
For those of you who snow-ski - it is like that first run of the season, where you stand at the top of a VERY tall mountain, in the snow, wondering what the hell you were thinking when you strapped tiny sticks to your feet and willingly ascended this zenith laughing and thinking it would be fun. You stare down the slope and grasp your poles in your hand and forget entirely that you have been skiing since you were 4 years old, and instead wish you were curled up by the fire in the lodge with hot chocolate firmly in hand.
Wait. I'm in Atlanta. Is this metaphor lost on everyone?
Leading up to first rehearsal is always like this for me. No matter how much preparation, research and planning I've done...No matter how confident I am of the cast, designers, crew...I still have sneaking suspicion in the pit of my stomach that I've never done this before, and in just a few moments...everyone will realize I have no idea what I'm doing.
But then.
You grab your poles and push off, and in that moment of breathless terror, anticipation and delight, you remember that for you, skiiing is like breathing. The wind starts to whistle past your frozen ears, and the crisp bite is delicious. Your eyes start to water and your legs find the familiar rhythm of smoothly shuushhing down the slope. And you feel free and confident and full of joy.
So talk to me around 7pm tonight, as we've gotten through the introductions, and the contracts and paperwork and other business...and the actors have turned the first crisp white page of the script and begun to read. And then I will relax and remember that this is what I do, what I love, what I live for. And I will look around the room at this amazing assembled talent and spirit...and the joy will blossom forth.
Nice.
By the way - did we mention to you that rehearsals are "open" to visitors this season? If you want to drop in on any rehearsal - just send me a note at
rachel@synchrotheatre.com. We'd love to have you.
Peace,
Rachel