Re: More Good Things
It's opening night. I'll admit it...when the Power That Be said they wanted a show built around a live rock band on the stage with the singers, I had my reservations. A LOT of reservations. And if the band members had been cast wrong, I think it could have been a disaster.
But the band is awesome, the singers are great (and with only a couple of exceptions, are learning how to make the most of having a live band on the stage with them and interact with the band instead of acting like the band is set dressing and the music tracks are still pre-recorded), and I'm more excited for this show to open than I've been for opening a show at the park in a LONG time. Even though about half the music is stuff that we've used in other shows, earlier, I actually feel like we've created something new, rather than just recycling the same stuff again and again. It helps that we've got new choreographers this year...who actually believe that even if the song is something we did before, we should try and make it SOMEHOW a little different (the choreo we've had for the past eight or so years just remounted the old numbers, without bothering to figure out a different dance routine...)
But I'm excited about being excited, even...sometimes I worry that this job gets me jaded, that I get so tired of the same stuff that I stop caring as much and stop trying as hard. It's good to know that I can still be hyped for opening night, as opposed to coming into it thinking, "Well, thank goodness we made it through dress rehearsals without me wanting to shoot anybody..." THIS feeling is part of why I got into theater...the joy of coming up with something new and original. I've missed it, here.
Welcome back, old friend...