Theatre In The Nam

The email traffic went something like this.

E: "I have this show I'm working on. You interested?"

LD: "Of course."

E: "Great. I'll have the AD get in touch with you about contract and stuff."

Months go by.

LD: "Still have not recieved a contract (or, for that matter the second act). Whose cage do I need to rattle?"

E: "I will get on them about that."

Weeks go by. I get the second act, but no contract. Also no scenery groundplan, section, or lighting inventory.

LD: "Still no contract. Somewhat nervous about getting on a plane at this point."

E: "I will talk to their production manager."

Finally get a contract. I get on a plane and fly to California.

I arrive at the theatre and venture into the house just in time to unplug an extension cable that has a connector in the process of melting. The cause: far too many flood light fixtures plugged into it, drawing more power than the cable and connector are rated for.

The staff technical director does not even know the names of the lighting units in the theatre's inventory, let alone know how they are used or know better than to plug four 1000 watt worklight fixtures into one cable.

The theatre, like many converted spaces, has lighting positions and circuits in all the wrong places. It is a proscenium house with a solid ceiling over the stage.

I began hanging lights yesterday morning. I lost the stage to the actors for eight hours, and resumed hanging around 9:30 PM. I was there until 3:30 this morning. I went to my accomodations ( the Artistic Director's mother's house) and sleot for four hours, then returned for tech rehearsal this morning.

We ran the show this afternoon, and by some minor miracle the thing held together. I have a fair amount of tweaking and poking still to do, but we are not nearly as badly off as I was afraid we would be. The show should be in really great shape by the time we get to previews.

Off to collapse. ECAG has tagged me with a meme, but I am afraid it will have to wait for a few days.

Peace in yer crease.