Our revels now are ended...

This is the Shakespeare Garden in Central Park. It's where I worked on memorizing the last bit of Act I on Friday.  It's magical.

Whelp! Moving on to bigger and better things! I am so excited about The Tempest and Prospero and this whole show experience that it is washing the community theatre/cult taste of Martyr'd Signs out of my mouth completely!

Last night we staged Act V, and, like I said, I am mostly off-book for that scene (more so after working it a bunch yesterday). It's the first scene where we're all onstage together at the same time and a few of the actors who had yet to meet, finally got their opportunity at rehearsal.

I've loved the way the production team has approached this whole process and it feels professional, respectful, and knowledgeable. Really, it's been a dream. Obviously, there is a TON to do in a very short period of time (only 4 weeks of rehearsal, with many, many, many conflicts. Including cast members being out of town for extended periods of time... I am guilty of many of the conflicts between work, and Martyr'd Signs, and teaching...), and the weather isn't helping. We don't particularly want to rehearse at night at Summit Rock when it's 40 degrees out...

Honestly, I'm feeling pretty good about the lines, too. I know there's a lot more to do, but tackling the bookends of the show was a great way to go about both understanding Prospero, and feeling like I have a good grasp on the shape of the play as a whole. Since he really is the orchestrator of the entire series of events. It's gonna be good. Every rehearsal gets me more excited for the next one. I am loving the language, the characterization we are all finding, the sense of play and work in the room. It's just lovely.

Besides tonight, I have rehearsal all week, including a movement workshop with the dancers (yes, we have dancers!) on Friday. I can't wait!