So...the day before opening! This past week has been amazingly civil in terms of readiness for the play. I'm not talking about the acting of the play but all the OTHER things that must be done in preparation for the show -- the design elements, the state of the physical building, etc. It has given us the luxury to be nit-picky with our final touches on the play. More time to adjust lights, more time to play with sound cues, more time to go back and investigate the play. It almost feels like we are not doing enough because we aren't rushing to get things accomplished!
I think the actors are ready also. There is the the cliche that comes at a certain point in the process where it is said a show "needs an audience" to take it to the next level. It is true. During our two "previews/dress rehearsals" it was certainly useful to have even a few people in the audience to engage and have them respond to the piece. I am very excited for opening night. Our final dress rehearsal tonight will be about attacking the play and driving the pace and rhythm of the piece with attention to actions and intentions. I think it is also a rehearsal for the actors to dive in and to a certain extent let go of my direction. They must trust that they have invested the text with thought and emotion. They must have faith in their ability to be present on stage. They must have the strength to let go of my hand and take the next few steps on their own.

Breath.