Opening Night

It's opening night of Cloud 9 and for Theatre UNI's 2007/08 anniversary season at the Strayer-Wood. We have a sold out crowd in the Bertha Martin Theatre, 140 people. The majority of the crowd seem to be students, many of whom probably have to see it for a class (this guess is based on the number of notebooks that I saw). Intermission comments were quite positive. I think it's a show for all involved to be proud of.

This is always a wonderful reward after the long process of rehearsals and building. The past week has been a busy one. In addition to the dress rehearsals for Cloud 9 and finishing touches on scenery, costumes, lights and sound, we began technical rehearsals for A Midsummer Night's Dream, which opens next Thursday evening. We are a little behind where we should be and would like to be just seven days before opening, due mostly to the fact that we've been producing two shows in the same time period. However, great progress has been made in the past couple of days and we've made a few adjustments to the schedule to allow more time for painting, the writing of light cues, and the sewing of costumes. Now that Cloud 9 has opened, the attention of some of us can turn fully to Midsummer to make it's opening as successfull.

Design meetings have begun for our February production of the opera version of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Designs are due in just two weeks and the build will begin the following Monday. Because we open less than four weeks after the holiday break, much of the build will happen prior, as well as many rehearsals. The music for the orchestra arrived earlier this week and Sandra Walden, the director, has begun rehearsals. I haven't had an opportunity yet to listen to the music from the show but I've been told by many colleagues that it is quite beautiful. I love good opera.