On the Cusp

We're almost there. The Grinder 2025 season is almost upon us. This year, we have show posters:

Sets, props, and even some sound are all in place - lighting and costumes will have to wait...

  

... but the assistant director has given everything a good look over, and he seems to approve.

While there's clearly more work still to be done, I'm very happy with how I've managed to turn things around this year. There are no guarantees, but with any luck this summer I won't be scrambling to build something at the last minute, figure out a major blocking problem, or waste time working on something that could have been done months ago. I hope, instead, to focus on other things, like rehearsals. 

To do that, of course, I must overcome my greatest challenge, finding actors who fit my roles and are available in the summertime. Even there I've made more progress this year than in the past but still, with just a few weeks left to go before rehearsals, I have some roles that I still need to fill. But instead of throwing my hands up in anguish, as I've done in the past (and, regrettably, have vented about far too often on this blog) this year I am remaining calm, keeping an open eye and an open mind, making regular overtures to people, and most importantly, asking for help from my friends in the local theatre community, who have been very helpful with suggestions, connections, and e-introductions. During the rest of the year casting is a different story (I'll talk more about my "Fall Surprise" next month) but during the summer I find it generally takes three to five "no's" from people for a role before I get one "yes," so I have to work a lot harder, and having the community's support has been a major part of my success to date. I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me out, and I encourage anyone else who thinks they or someone they know would be a good fit for a play this summer to get in touch with me. 

So between now and the first rehearsal I'm going to keep working on the sets, keep going over my blocking notes, and keep asking actors to be in my plays. I am on the cusp of another summer of making theatre. Here's to keeping on doing the things I need to do in order to make it a good one.