Technical

So it has begun. Yesterday Nalin, Cam, Anna, Noah and I started to paint Nalin’s Garage black. Soon it will be a true black box theatre! We started off with a Primer, which took forever to do; and our spirits got kind of low because of it. However, once the black paint started to go up everything changed and soon the garage was half way coated in black paint. We bought eight 1 gallon cans of paint thinking that it will take that much. However, after painting about half of the garage we soon realized that we just started on the second can; with 6 more to go. Did we buy too much paint? We will soon see, and if we did. . . well, black paint tends to come in handy with theatres. Plus, we still need to finish the walls (trim, details and finish the walls we didn’t get to), We have the ceilling that needs to get done and from the looks of it a second coat of paint in some areas so that will eat up some more paint. So far the garage looks great! Once everything is painted I want to run lighting tests to see how the light will react to the newly black garage and see if we need to do anything. So far it just makes the theatre look so much better.

Congratulations to the cast of Crime and Punishment. Auditions went very well, and we had several surprises. Karen and I had some tough decisions to make, and, to be frank, we took some risks in the casting; but after the first read-through, I am quite convinced that we chose a well-balanced team with a LOT of potential. I am very pleased to be able to work with such a passionate and talented group of people on the stage adaptation of one of my favorite novels.

Rehearsals will begin in late September / early October.

True to AVT’s core principles, the production will be focused on depth of character and delicious dialogue. Technical elements will be artfully sparse; they will be subtly and carefully composed to supply just the right hint of effect to support the actors – any more is a distraction and a waste in our staging philosophy. Jeremy and I agree that our small space is actually an excellent platform for this production; Crime and Punishment is being designed for a very “in your face” and “up-close and personal” effect.

We have done some trade-off analyses on moving out to external space versus staying in my garage. While we agree that we would like to move out eventually, for the time being it makes more sense to stay where we are. In my garage we have full control of the space, do not pay rent or deposits, and can make modifications. The current plan is that, at least for the 2010 Season, we will remain in my garage.  The only thing that could foul this up is some potential legal and liability issues, which we are currently looking into.

While this study is ongoing, the Tech Team and I are planning some serious upgrades to the infrastructure. We have reconfigured the garage for “Crime and Punishment” to accommodate 30-seats and a slightly wider stage area. We will also be painting the entire interior black, rigging additional curtains, upgrading to a fifteen-piece lighting system with overheads (up from the nine used for “Voices”), hanging a sound system, and providing additional airflow and ventilation. The new configuration will also now provide easier access to the bathroom and “lobby” for this longer show.

Rest assured that when we do move out, I plan to maintain the “garage theatre” ambiance… close spacing, small audiences, simple sets, etc. The goal is to be moved out and operational in our own small, commercial, blackbox space in Quartz Hill by 2011.

Jeremy and I just rigged the curtain today, looks good though it still needs some pins or clamps to keep the panels together.  We also tested out the evap cooler and the lighting heat output.  Further, a smoke detector with emergency lighting system has been installed.

The set is about 85% complete.  IT LOOKS AWESOME!!!  Lucas did an amazing job on that while I was away.  He’s built a decrepit, bombed, and shot-at wall using broken cinder blocks and spray paint.  The dirt he laid out plus the plastic foliage that Jeremy and I just put in makes it look very much like forest ruins.  Still left to do on the set is the church wall, I think Jeremy and Lucas plan to finish that Thursday afternoon… a taller ruined wall of posterboard over an old entertainment center, complete with stained glass windows (can we say, electric candle light effect?!) and a cross.

Costumes are GO, thanks Anna!

Sound is in process, being mixed.  The music selection is perfect, and we’ve timed it out for all the cues.

Makeup is GO.

Lighting is close… 95%.  Maybe a couple more gels, we’re not quite sure yet, and some placement issues, but nearly there.

1 rehearsal left tomorrow before entering tech on Thursday.  We will be going over the final, nitpicky, touches of posture, body language, and movement, especially getting used to the space.  Courtney may post an update from the last rehearsal as well, I’m not sure.

Still on my list: finish front landscaping, clean the master suite for use as the dressing room, and acquire the Bordeaux, cider, and hors d’oevres for Saturday.  Oh yeah and direct a rehearsal, photograph tech, finalize/print the playbill, and flame-protect the curtain material.  Ah, the hell of tech week….

WOW, excellent rehearsal last night. These ladies have definitely been spending the time and effort outside of rehearsal to delve into the characters and the beautiful, beautiful language in “Voices”. With the exception of minor stumbles in two or three places, judging by acting alone I would have put what I saw tonight on a stage… well done actors! This leaves us with two more rehearsals to really hone the nitpicky things that get us as close to perfection as we can go, and then two tech rehearsals and we’re live!

The music and costumes that the tech team have selected are brilliant; the lighting concept is great, but yet to be tested, as the equipment is not quite finished (it has been expanded to a 9-piece setup instead of 6). We just mounted the rope line that will carry the curtain fabric, and measurements have confirmed a 25-seat house. We also purchased an evap cooler for these summer evenings… it’s a bit loud to leave on during the show, but I plan to start it up an hour and a half or so before curtain and let it cool the place down.

I had expected that about $500.00 would get us to our first opening night, and that it would level off a bit after that, as the infrastructure (lights, etc) would be mostly done. Well, we are well over budget, at $742.95 spent so far… and the curtain fabric and any remaining chairs we need after begging/borrowing still have to be purchased. Ooof! I can’t help but be even more committed however when I see how far this crazy idea has come, and the beauty of the art we are creating. WELL DONE, TEAM!!!

T – 15 days and counting to opening night…

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