The show must go on

This is not a joke. I cast the show in May prior to going home for the Summer. With performances happening the first week of October, we only had September to rehearse before showtime. After casting, my lead guy dropped out for a much larger role. I recast his part. Two weeks to show time, my lead girl got cast in a much bigger piece with a conflicting schedule. With only TWO WEEKS of time before opening night, Joey Ama Dio took the role of Kayla and ran with it. 

With multiple people falling through, promised donations, and crazy schedules, I had to decide that "The show must go on" or it was going to go on without me. To wallow and stress would not be worth the pain. Spending energy on elements lost was a fools journey. In the end, I think everyone who was supposed to work on that project did. It helped me learn to deal with the curveballs certain to arise when putting a project together.

 

You must get out of the way of your work 

- Traver, the actor who plays Erik, and I were not the best of friends prior to this process. It's no secret. But coming into the recast, I knew I had to get someone that would be dependable; someone who would bring a bit of himself to the role. When he came to mind, I first thought, "Well, we haven't always gotten along the best." But who was I to let a little ego stand in the way of the play? I put it aside, had a great time working with him, and Traver and I are actually better friends for it.

- Initially I had this idea that all of the sound and music was going to come from within the space. My sound designer, Michael Finke talked me out of it, mostly for logistical reasons. Thank god he did. Again, the show was better for it. (That being said, my favorite part of The Eskimo play is still the live harp played by Carolyn Emery. If and when I go back to live theatre, there will be live music.)

 

Allow yourself to ask for help

Awake & Dreaming was the first project I ever made that I really felt was mine. There was a certain amount of entitlement and responsibility that came with that feeling. Part of it was the feeling that if it was my undertaking, I shouldn't burden any others with it. For the most part, I didn't, and honestly I think that showed up a bit. Things fell between the cracks. Issues were overlooked before the run. But we continued on with it because the heart of the piece was there. Afterward, I saw the huge teams of volunteers that other directors were able to muster and realized that I had to give myself that in the future. There is a certain humility in knowing the value of work to other people as well.This is still something I'm working on. But when you're excited about something that you know will truly be great, others get excited as well.