Publicity seems to be on the right track. In all my four years here at UCD, I haven't seen students and staff alike so excited and dedicated to selling this show. The display case was finished today, and the publicity team did an excellent job completing it by hooking up a TV inside that plays a loop of our trailers. Also, the cast took over poster distribution for the Denver metro area, and will be reporting back this weekend how it went. We have posters, tons of bookmarks, and we'll even be mailing out postcards here in the next week or two. We managed to even cut a deal with our box-office to great buy one, get one, deals for turning in specially marked bookmarks. T-shirts for the production are being made, as a special donation, and all the cast and crew will be receiving them.
In terms of the technical elements, we're also moving right along. Stephanie, our props designer has located all the props and is in the process of assembling and collecting them all. The set is coming along beautifully, and the bridge is almost finished being constructed. From the sounds of it the costumes are also going well. Janetta, our costume designer, is working away and it looks like she will be getting some extra help in the shop coming in soon. I saw our little Michael, played by professor Nate Thompson's daughter, Lydia, in her fitting yesterday; it looked like they were having fun! In terms of audio and visual projection design, today was a huge breakthrough for us! We had a long meeting in which we story-boarded the show and talked concept and content for each part. Some wonderful ideas emerged. We are using inspiration auditorily from Eyes Wide Shut. We've also identified 5 major video sequences that will be in production this week.
The cast is doing remarkable work. It seems that this week was a bit of a turning point. The actors are becoming more comfortable and confident with the story, their characters, and this world that we've created. Even their once apprehensive approach to the music has become stronger and less inhibited. They've been spending a few hours a week rehearsing music with Dixie and Carol, and have learned all the group songs. Now, it's just a matter of fine tuning and practice. There is a camaraderie and energy that is unique with this ensemble, and it has been wonderful watching them learn and grow in their own work. All of the elements from the first 3 weeks are starting to add up. It has truly created a language and world that we're playing in; and, the actors are responding and working in it just beautifully. I am anxious to see their progress once we start running the show with the staging.
One challenge right now is just remembering that this show is extremely complicated. With what feels like 15 artists collaborating on it, it's important to try to hone in on the one same vision. This next week is going to be full of gathering the content and ideas we've come up with, followed by cutting anything that is going to serve the vision of the play. This is a task that is not going to be easy, but in the end it will contribute to a well done production. I'm thrilled to be moving into the last 3 weeks before we open, for this is when the most exciting and challenging work begins. Theatre is anything but easy, and with this show specifically it's a bit of a mantra for us that this is hard, and we shouldn't forget that as we forge ahead.
I must say that this has been one of the best productions I have worked on thus far. What sets it apart from others, is at its core the cast, crew, director, and designers are inspired by the work and by each other. There is an investment from those involved that is rare and hard to come by as a collective. Even when you're working with people who are truly dedicated to their craft, you don't always find artists that are invested in the same vision. There are more artists, and student artists especially, working on this production than ever before. There are also more freshman in the ensemble than we have had in a production in a long time. I read an essay by producer Rocco Landesman in which he said, "You have to be ready to throw your heart and soul in it, and be prepared to give your all to the people you will be collaborating with. You have to believe that the show you're doing has the potential for greatness." This seems to be exactly what has happened with UCD's production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle. From the beginning those involved believed it had potential, and so far it seems to be rising to that aspiration.
-Felicia Marti
assistant director
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