This is an opportunity for the adventuresome theatergoer to participate in Theater Schmeater’s Theater Adventure Reward Program (TARP – unlike the Fed’s program, you don’t have to give it back!).  By attending this preview of The Twilight Zone:  LIVE!, each audience member will receive One Dollar!  This offer is limited to “first-come, first-served” at the box office (no reservations), and the box office will open at 7:00 p.m.  Theater Schmeater offers this program to encourage dedicated theatergoers who thrill at the excitement and occasional danger of being in an audience for a production’s initial public performance.

Actor Rob Jones and Theater Dog Sophie

This past week we had our designer run.  Seems like only a couple of days since we had our first reading.  Very soon now, we’ll all have to make good on the promises we made when we signed those contracts with The Schmee.

I arrived somewhat earlier than I needed to, demonstrating a couple of the disadvantages to coming in from the boonies to do theater.  The first being that when you’ve got to cross the lake to get here and you leave a bit of extra time just in case, often you don’t need it.  The second being that if you leave early, in order to leave extra time, you may get out of the house before the message from the stage manager saying that the plan has changed slightly.  No matter.  I got to see some of the fight work and meet Sophie, the theater dog.

Members of the Cast Working with Paul Ray

The designer run is an opportunity for the designers to see what the director is doing with the show.  As a lighting designer, it gives me an chance to make sure I’m planning on having light where the actors are going to be (among other things).  At this one, I also got to see a preview of some of the set pieces.  Things look to be coming together well.  There weren’t any big suprises, although the stage looks mighty large in this configuration.  I’d forgotten how wide Theater Schmeater really is.

One final thought before I go back to battling the dark forces of technical writing and (un)productivity software.  On any given walk across Capitol Hill it’s not unusual to see something odd or interesting, and this was no exception.  On my way back to my car, I passed by the display windows at Brocklind’s Formal Wear, Theater Schmeater’s upstairs neighbor.  In one of the windows, I saw the following sight, which lends new meaning to ‘Brother can you lend a hand.’

Brocklind's Formal Wear's "Lend a Hand" Window Display

’til next time.

-daveh