Jim's Notes

Costume note:

“No substitutions”. While you may ask a waiter if you can substitute one thing for another at a restaurant, this can’t happen with costume design. I was informed that some actors were trading coats, or deciding not to wear some part of their costume. Please know that the costume designer really has thought out the look of each person and we want you to wear exactly what she has designed for you.

Dressing room note:

We’re still having some problems with people going into the dressing rooms who don’t need to be there. Unless you’re using the bathroom there, please stay out of the dressing rooms if you aren’t supposed to be there. We have a lot of accessories that can easily be bumped or misplaced. Also, please make sure you stay where you’re supposed to be so that you don’t miss a cue. We will have a new person cueing the show starting tonight, assistant director Anika Kulander. This will hopefully solve some of our problems with people not being cued last night.

Music note:

I’ve never worked on a show when we said, “Could the orchestra play a little louder.” Last night was the first night we had the full orchestra and we had a lot of times when we could not hear people. We’re adding some mics and we’ll continue to work on a balance between if the orchestra can play any softer, and if we can project more. One challenge is simply the space… it’s not a great auditorium when it comes to spoken or sung word. We’ll do our best.

Performance time note:

Reminder that we have a total of 8 shows: Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings as well as Saturday afternoons. Call time for evening shows is 6:00 for a 7:30 curtain, and 12:00/noon for a 1:30 matinee.

Notes from Act 1

Connor: Please make sure you speak with the house manager about our plan for you to cue Mr. Barnes to enter and that being how we start the show each night.

Orphans: I had a hard time hearing your “goodnights”.

TECH: The grand drape did not seem to be opened all the way which was a problem. If you’re trying to use the grand to obscure the view backstage, we can’t change where we have blocked dances and other movement. The drape needs to open as far as we’ve previously rehearsed.

The dog-catcher scene yet again did not happen. Reminder for tech and actors that we have NOT cut this scene, but for whatever reason it has not happened the last couple of nights and needs to happen.

FLIES: Have you worked out the problem with the street drop?

LIGHTS: Why weren’t the burning barrels/lights on? I’ve never seen the SL one operating. Connor, please let me know what’s up with this.

Mr. Barnes: Hooverville was slower than usual.

ORPHANS: speak up when in your line with Miss Hannigan infront of the curtain.

TECH: The radio was facing the wrong way. Also, please tape the cords inside of the radios so that there’s no way the cord will dangle or be in the way.

PEPPER: Where’s the your doll for the Hannigan scene?

HANNIGAN: You jumped past the instrumental and went right to the last verse.

HANNIGAN: You forgot the spit take when Officer Ward comes in.

ORPHANS: don’t start to enter/get into place until Grace has gone on.

MRS PUGH: you need to project more

ANNIE: I could not hear the line about cleaning the floors first.

SERVANTS: In general I don’t hear you when you’re singing. Even with mic problems I should hear you better than I am right now.

CONNOR: Why is the grand still too far in? If you see something wrong on stage, make sure to tell Colleen so that it can be fixed at the first scene change/opportunity.

The Sandy scene finally worked! Good job!

GRACE: When you enter Hannigan’s office that second time, you need to time it so that you’re the reason Hannigan turns off the radio.

HANNIGAN: Did you have your tweezers?

TECH: Hannigan’s desk was facing the wrong way.

TECH: What can we do to get the Warbucks scene set up faster?

WARBUCKS: It was hard to hear you on your solo. Can you project more?

SERVANTS: You have to listen to the orchestra. Twice you were completely off from their tempo, and it’s not as if you can’t hear them…. One benefit of their volume. WE NEED TO RUN “YOU WON’T BE AN ORPHAN FOR LONG” AT 6:30 TO WORK THIS OUT, RIGHT BEFORE MIC CHECK. You don’t have to be in costume but we need to work this out.

GRACE/ANNIE: Can Grace help Annie with her locket to speed that up?

ANNIE: sit more “side saddle” when you’re on the stairs.