Monday has been a long and involved day. First of all, the cast has finally all arrived - we've had one person arriving each day. I'll tell you more about each of them later. Tonight is the second "mob" rehearsal with chorus, supers, dancers, props, and music. With all of these PEOPLE to coordinate, the job of the stage director is so crucial, not just that they all know where to go, but also to develop the right attitude and the dramatic progression of the whole scene. In a few minutes we'll be starting to work on Act III, which includes the famous Bacchanale scene and a FABULOUS ballet. Because of the rules from the various unions I cannot take any photos of rehearsals in progress. However, I CAN show you the rehearsal hall.
It began as a long and narrow hotel ballroom. Then the crew laid wood flooring in the dimensions of the stage. On top of the wood floor pieces is laid a protective coating for the dancers called a Marley floor. Then on top of that, stage management lays lines of tape delineating different areas of the set, such as steps, walls, platforms, and doorways - in a different color for each act. The music stands and wooden posts have signs taped to them letting the cast know what they represent: columns, statues, fountains, etc. 
We rehearse on this mock stage until Thursday when the set will be loaded into the theater and we'll move over there to the actual stage. To the left in this photo you can see the piano (my domain!) and the conductor's stand and beyond that the table where the stage director, assistant director, and stage manager sit during rehearsals. Mary Yankee Peters, the production stage manager, is walking the rehearsal stage in preparation for the arrival of the large cast, making sure everything is placed correctly, that the floor is clean and smooth, and that we will make efficient use of everyone's time tonight. The mirrors you see in the very back are placed during ballet rehearsals so the dancers can see themselves - they're offstage tonight with the warm-up barre behind them.
Keep checking back - I'll talk about more as we get into the theater and further along into the rehearsal process! I miss you all - K
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