A message from Jim

Parents of cast and crew:

Wow!  We're less than two weeks away!  Can you believe it?  Here's an update for how things will be going for the next week, roughly.

All of this coming week will be run-throughs of the play.  When I double cast plays, the way I try to maximize the experience for everyone is to have one cast do the whole run-through, and the other cast watch the rehearsal as a reminder of their blocking and choreography.  As we are able, I will have dance captains taking orphans into the auditorium foyer to review some of their choreography.  I know we have a couple of parents who are trained in dance.  If you would be willing to help with this, please let me know, as the dance captains oftentimes need to be onstage when the orphans do not.

Regarding costumes, this is the week we really need to get the rest of the costumes brought in by those of you who have been asked to provide your own costume.  Once the costumes have been approved by the costumer, please expect that we will give them back to you and ask that your child get ready at home and come to dress rehearsals/performances, ready to go.  I know you may be wondering if you can just bring it in for the first dress rehearsal, but we'd like to see them all together to give them the final approval.  This will also mean that we will alter the call time for those who come ready to go.  Ordinarily actors are asked to be here at 6:00, but those who come ready to go will be asked to arrive at 6:30.  I don't like audience to see actors in costume, so please make sure you're not late for your call time.

We will have one big group warm up, and then two separate warm-ups:  one lead my Matt Insley for the older kids, and one lead by a parent for the younger kids.  We also have a tradition called "magic time" where I, as the director of the play, center the cast and get everyone mentally ready for the performance.  This will begin opening night and continue for every performance.

Another tradition you may want to partake in is dressing up for opening night.  All of the Lincoln students always dress up in their nicest clothes on opening night.  Even if you don't go to Lincoln, you might want to do this as a way to celebrate the opening of the play.  On the second night of the show (and opening night for the other cast) we all wear our t-shirts that day.  Naturally you want to wear your t-shirt as often as possible to promote the play, but that day it's particularly important to do so.

Regarding tickets, the school district did not give us approval as of Friday to go ahead with using Ticket Turtle to handle our ticket sales, so we're on to plan B.  We've asked the graphics teacher at Lincoln to quickly design a ticket that we'll send to the printer.  In the meantime, people can call Monday-Friday to my office extension:  503.916.5200 x438 and put in a reservation that will be waiting for them at the door.  They will have until 7:00 for evening shows, 1:00 for matinee shows to pick up their reservation before the seats are released.  It will be general seating so everyone has an equal chance to get a good seat.  We seat patrons/season ticket holders first, then general admission.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.... thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your support in making this show happen.  This is my 20th year as a teacher, and my 15th year at Lincoln, and I'll tell you... the experience doesn't always make it any easier:)  Pulling off something this huge is simply a hard thing to do and it only happens because of your flexibility, your willingness to pitch in and help, and your realization that it's not about us.... it's about the kids and giving them a quality experience.  We're coming into what will be a very stressful time for us all.  The kids will be getting less rest than we'd like, we'll be getting less rest than we'd like, and we will all need to be diligent in keeping our focus where it needs to be, and not places where that energy does no good.  Thank you for all your support.  We're going to put together an amazing show!

Jim Peerenboom