Opening Night
Friday evening, March 10, 2017.
I walked from my lighted dressing room into the calming chill of backstage. The blue lights dimly illuminated the back of the set. The drop was down and, although I couldn't see it from where I was, I knew that the projectors were displaying the giant Jonah design on the other side. It kept the audience from seeing gorgeous set that was waiting for the show to begin. Wally Calderon and Dan Deal stood on the apron of the stage, welcoming the audience to the show. I took my place and waiting for my cue. My costume swished around my ankles. I reached up to adjust my headpiece. Other cast members passed by, wishing everyone a great show and the traditional, “Break a leg!” I smiled to myself and took a deep breath. A surreal thought passed through my mind.
I’m about to perform at Sight & Sound.
With such long days throughout the rehearsal process and constant runs of the same scenes over and over again, the magic of the show can be forgotten. But opening night brings back all of that excitement. I looked at the sets, the lighting, the costumes in a new way, reliving what I had felt when I first saw them. They’re amazing. It’s a GOOD SHOW.
And I get to be apart of it!
I was honored, humbled, and overwhelmed with anticipation. The music started, the drop was rolled up, the lights turned on, and in another moment I was on stage, singing, dancing, and playing a small role in the telling of this big story. The house was full of eager spectators, and the applause was invigorating. From Gath Hepher, to Joppa, to Nineveh...I loved every moment of that night.
The drop came back in after the Finale. I relaxed my final pose. And I couldn’t help but stop for a moment, closing my eyes in the post-show darkness. I thanked the Lord that He has allowed me to be apart of an amazing ministry for this year.
I doubt I'll ever forget the excitement of our very first show. And since the run has officially started, I can finally share some pictures of my favorite part of any production: the costumes!
The first scene in the show takes place in Gath Hepher, Jonah's home village. The colors are bright and the sets and costumes were all designed with a whimsical feel in mind. I got a few pictures of several different Gath Hepher costumes. It's a fun, lighthearted, colorful scene.
Another awesome segment is Under The Waves, which kicks off Act II. I wrote a post about our rehearsal day for this scene, and you can check that out if you'd like to see more pictures. We use a lot of creatively designed props to transport the audience beneath the ocean. But to maintain the illusion, the actors can't be seen. Hence, the Ninja Blacks. They're super comfortable, but once someone has their mask on it's hard to tell who they are. I think this is a picture of Emma, Abby, JT, and me...but who knows for sure? ;)
One of my favorite scenes in the show is Nineveh. Watching the repentance and transformation of the characters is very touching. But at the beginning it's pretty fun to play a villain. This costume makes me feel like I'm ready to start a war. As you can see, Bethany stopped to help me model the austere, watch-out-because-we're-going-to-conquer-you attitude. ;)
One of my favorite costumes is one that I actually haven't been able to wear very often. It's my Fisherman Swing costume. The wig makes me feel a bit like Jack Sparrow. :)
What do I mean when I say "swing costume"? Well, I'm glad you asked. :) Sight & Sound performs 11 shows per week (to give you some perspective, most professional theaters will only do 8-9). As Conservatory students, our schedules work slightly differently than the other actors. For starters, we’re all double cast, so we have what is called a “track partner.” This is another student who has the same primary track. (“Track” just means the path I take through the show. Stand here in this scene, be at this number in this dance, enter here, exit there, etc.) I’m double cast with Ellie, so on the shows I'm not performing, she'll be in.
What do we do if we're not appearing in the show? That depends on the day. But an awesome opportunity we have is "swinging." Even if a scene isn't part of our primary track, we were asked to learn the other people's tracks so that we could step in if needed. With 11 shows a week, there's almost always rotations happening. If one person takes time off or calls in sick, that causes a trickle down effect for the rest of the cast. Having "swings" available to fill in throughout the show helps to maintain consistency.
Being a swing isn't an easy task. You're required to know a lot of details that you don't get to practice very often. So we were pretty honored when we realized that the Stage Management was trusting us to take up some swing roles. It's hard to jump into a role that you haven't actually walked through in rehearsal, but it's an incredible skill to have as a performer. I'll be available to swing 2-5 shows per week. Even though the thought is daunting, I'm glad to be able to learn such a valuable skill in an environment that is gracious. I'm looking forward to wearing my fisherman costume on stage for the first time in the coming weeks!
So yeah! Jonah has officially set sail. Although the thought of an eight month run ahead of us is daunting, I'm looking forward to seeing what God does through the show and the message. This is theatre with a purpose and I believe with my whole heart in the message of forgiveness, redemption, and hope. I'm finding that lines that I've heard dozens of times will jump out at me in the most unexpected moments as the Lord continues to teach me through the show.
Something else exciting about our opening night was the announcement of Sight & Sound's newest production, which will be live on stage here in Lancaster next year. Jesus promises to be a beautiful show, giving audiences a glimpse at the humanity of our Savior. But it will also show His divinity through the amazing miracles found in the gospels. I've gotten a few sneak peeks into some of the special effects that will happen in this show and I can personally guarantee they're going to be awesome. I hope I can make it back here next year to see it!
With the show run begun, we’ve started back to classes! I’ve really been missing that part of our experience. The rehearsal process was fun to be apart of an incredible opportunity, but I’ve been so excited to get back to the training and learning how to hone my skills as a performer. I’m also looking forward to sharing those experiences with all of you as the weeks pass!
