TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!!!!

IT'S OPENING NIGHT! It's almost time for all of you to shine before a packed house! We're at well over 200+ tickets pre-sale, and I believe we'll have a TON of walk-ins. It's going to be the best kind of magic you'll ever experience - THEATRE MAGIC!

I want to thank everyone for sticking last night and allowing us to get through the entire show - start to finish. I know it was a late night for the kiddos. Parents, thank you for your understanding. This is a fully-packed 2.5 hour show (with Intermission). The timing we experienced last night is essentially what our patrons should expect. 1 hour 20ish for Act I, followed by a 45ish minute Act II -give or take. Since we started the show after 7:00 last night, we did really well! THANK YOU!

Tonight's schedule: Mic'd characters are called at 5:30pm, everyone else at 6:00pm. I would recommend you arrive early. When I get into the school I will send everyone a text through Remind that I'm in. My plan is to try to go when school gets out. :)

We will start mic check at 6:00pm. Warm Up with Linda will immediately follow. Circle time will be at 6:15pm. The house will open at 6:30pm. Everyone must be on stage for mic check, warm up, and circle time. THANK YOU!

GENERAL NOTES:
I will keep saying this - ENERGY is the difference-maker. Your adrenaline will be pumping tonight and you'll be excited - CHANNEL that into the energy of your performance. ENERGY helps with the PACE of our show.

PACE: we're doing much better here, but we can't let scenes drag. Stay on top of your lines and songs. Don't allow pauses to happen, and hit those lyrics and dance moves with a punch. You can do it! Be thinking about keeping things moving with ENERGY and EMOTION.

Set changes are happening MUCH more smoothly. I know this is a ton of work. STAY DILIGENT. I always say to my kiddos - "See a need, fill a need." Thank you all for filling this need. Help each other where you can. Great job last night.

The beds are a little rickety - the Sets Team asked me to stress the best way to move the beds is pushing rather than pulling, if possible. Also, please be extra careful of trying not to move the red curtain when you're moving sets. I know you are all doing your best and I can't say THANK YOU enough.

LIVE MICS - Once the show starts, NO TALKING. Your mic could be on! Last night there were SEVERAL instances where we were picking up backstage conversation. At least 10++ times. You cannot just rely on the fact that your mic is off when you are offstage. Please adhere to this rule!

All of you need to remember your audience sight lines/perspective and STAY OPEN! No full profile. No turning your heads or backs completely to the audience. We still are having a habit of doing this in some places - across the board.

Ensemble - if you miss your scene/cue, you CANNOT run on in the middle of the scene. This particularly applies to the Orphans. Pay attention and be ready!

Music notes from Linda - SING OUT LOUISE...EVERYWHERE! Watch your entrance on "the shimmer of Times Square: in NYC! Pay attention to the lyrics for the Bows - Tomorrow. "ONLY a day a way"

Final thought from me: SMILE! HAVE FUN! BE IN THE MOMENT! - these are the most important things to me! I am SO PROUD of all of you.

Some specifics:
SERVANTS - please let's get on stage tonight and talk through the Christmas transition. Let's solve the problems of what goes on, what goes off, where you come in. Perhaps after circle time, before the house opens?
BERT HEALY SCENE - See me and Linda for instructions on where to come in at the end of Intermission/beginning of Second Act. Bert/Donald I would also like to chat about changes in tap scene.
ANNOUNCER/HANNIGAN - let's clarify one more time on the changes for both of you since we have no sound effects.
ORPHANS - SEE ME for spiking on the stage for the last scene

Annie - I am proud of you for all of the work you have put into this. STAY JOYFUL and EXCITED throughout. Keep building on this now through next weekend
Warbucks - keep building on the crusty I'm going to keep pushing you on this. It is there. I'm seeing what I need - the hardened to the softy, but stay tough. You are doing a wonderful job. Your acting touches me each and every night.Not too smiley in NYC...you're having fun, but it's still a little buttoned up
Warbucks/Grace/Annie - I love the connection between the three of you. You are all fantastic!
Grace - don't soften to him too quickly. We start to see a peek during Mrs. Pugh and at the end of the first act. Daddy W is easy to love, but it's all business until it's not!
Hannigan - I love the comedic aspects you are adding to the character. I believe you. Terrific. Don't get too drunk - Easy Street?- I think that's when you went back to the file cabinet to drink?
The Cabinet Scene - the best energy ever last night. You guys are fantastic. Keep playing off of one another.
Bert and Boylans- FUN! Keep fighting for attention and playing it up. I was smiling a ton last night
FDR - GREAT!!!! I love your characterization. You've got it. Always loud and proud.
Rooster and Lily - You two have great chemistry. Love seeing how you've put it together. Hide a bit more from Hannigan the first time you come in. The differences between Rooster and Lily / Ralph and Shirley are fabulous acting-wise
Servants - You are fantastic. Remember how it's your job to add the layers to the scenes you're in. Continue those reactions, energy, and those feelings we're trying to communicate to the audience
Oprhans - I LOVE YOU GUYS! You know what you need to do!
Ensemble - Proud doesn't even begin to describe it. You make the show great. Keep staying connected to what is happening. React. Energy. Pace. Keep things flowing!

Miss Hannigan/Annie/Naomi - watch that first entrance when Annie is pushed to the floor. It needs to happen in front of the orphans. Naomi, back up so you Annie doesn't fall on you!!!!
Orphans - be where you need to be on Center for Hard Knock Life
Orphans - your line up should always be shoulder to shoulder - don't forget Annie needs room at the end of the line
Mr Bundles - don't go so far SR for Hannigan to grab you. Bring the sheets in. Stop so the orphans can grab them. Then go meet her on center.
Hooverville - more noise. find windows to be seen. Make room for Jan and Jeff during the soft shoe. They are hidden. Maybe Laura and Joey move over a bit?
Orphans - you should be in a line when you come on stage for the mouse scene!
Grace - be charmed by Annie - don't rush when she's convincing you to pick her behind Hannigan's back
Orphans - when Hannigan whistles in the Grace scene, Orphans against bed in line up
Warbucks - open up on "orphans are boys..." line
NYC - MORE VOCALS and excitement! Smile! Have fun! Be big! You're excited to be in NYC!
Star to Be - are you supposed to join the tap late?
Orphans - look busy when that curtain opens before "nits" scene
Rooster - chair on Easy Street so curtain can close
Annie - keep your feet flat on the floor. Ankles crossed, legs together when sitting when Warbucks is talking to you
Annie - continue to look like you've been crying when Drake tries to comfort you before "League of Nations"
Servants - What are you feeling during "Won't be an Orphan for long?"
Orphans - what happened during the staging for the foot stomp with Duffy? We looked really jumbled!
Warbucks/Annie - move in more quickly to meet Howe in the Cabinet scene
Grace - no bracelet until pretty dress
Annie - cheat to audience on "Dusenburgs on the walls, etc...."
Annie - Think, turn SR, and grab necklace before you agree to be adopted.
Annie - react with surprise on "flowers, champagne"
Mrs Greer- I want to see you and Drake unplug those trees together. <3 p="">