King and I Opening

We had our first performance today, a matinee. Well it was a matinee when it started, at least. This show is long. The running time hasn't changed very much at all through tech, but the show has always felt so fast that I would stare at my notes checking and double-checking my math, thinking there's no way it can be 2:42 without intermission. It's now down to 2:40, but the house generally requires a 20-minute intermission, and God help us if we go up late. Today we started at 2:12, which was not the best way to begin a 3-hour show. We had some latecomers, a lot of whom were elderly and in various stages of disability, there was a line for the wheelchair lift, and by the time everyone was settled in, our estimated end time was approaching Les Miz proportions. And I'm not talking about Les Miz after the cuts.

Also at the performance were the students from Reagle's summer theatre camp. There are about 80 students for the camp's second year of operation. The camp is taught by members of the Reagle staff with master classes from visiting artists and technical personnel from the summer shows. Earlier this week the kids had a class with choreographer Gemze de Lappe, along with some of the show's dancers, where they learned choreography from the show. We had a talkback with them after the show, which was attended by more cast members than I expected, enough that we couldn't all sit on the edge of the stage. The kids were very enthusiastic, asking good questions. I can tell from these events that before they see the show they have spent time learning about it. Next week they will have their master class with me, which will be held at the theatre and include a backstage tour. I have a great time with that kind of stuff, and I can tell they'll be a good group.

The show itself went very well, and we had a larger audience than I was expecting. I had heard numbers like 800 being thrown around a couple days ago, but I don't think I believed them. In my very unscientific estimate out the booth window, I'd say it was closer to 900. Anyway, it's already a bigger house than any on the last show. We've got a few production photos up on the website now, which were taken at our dress on Tuesday (minus a final coat of paint on some of the set), courtesy of production photographer Herb Philpott. This one captures best what I sometimes stop and gape at in certain cues:Set: gorgeous. Costumes: gorgeous. Lighting: gorgeous. And all gorgeous in harmony with each other. This show is pretty. It's not fast, it's not difficult, but it just looks so good I feel like I'm still doing something helpful.