The First Week

The first week always starts out slow. But it’s a good slow. A necessary slow. We sit around the table, read and talk through the play. I ask questions as we plod through, and we stop for discussion at the end of every scene or unit. Discussions include things like:

• What is the trigger - word or line said to another character - that sets him/her off to act the way they do
• The magical question of “what do you want?”
• Sharing our knowledge about the subject or personal experiences that apply

All of this creates the back-story, as well as the story in front of us and allows different ideas to be put on the table. This table work is vital in getting us all on the same page and to start seeing the play as a group instead of individuals.

Vincent Hoss-Desmarais & Brian Dooley in reheasal

After a few days of table-work, I like to then go super fast with the blocking, (if possible), and do what I call a rough pencil sketch of where we’re coming and going and how the scenes start. Other than that, I try to let the actors find their way through as they hold onto their scripts, experiment, try things and make choices. I like to say “go ahead and try anything,” but I'm also capable of then saying “you can’t do that!” when certain rules of the human condition are broken. For example, if you just met someone you would not suddenly start rubbing their back and neck unless there was a real reason.

With Michel & Ti-Jean, we were able to not only get the play ‘blocked’ (as we say in the theatre), or up on its feet but we also then stumbled through the whole play on our last day. That’s when we invited the production team to see what we’d accomplished, so they could start working on the lighting and sound. We always have a production meeting immediately following the first rehearsal with the production team. It’s important for us to discuss what’s happening, and ensure that we’re all moving in the right direction as we upgrade ideas.

The First Day of Rehearsal

It’s like the first day of school. With food.

The excitement is the same. The butterflies in your stomach. The anticipation of seeing old friends and meeting new people. There’s plenty of coffee and snacks – our wonderful stage manager Cheryl keeps everyone buzzed and happy with pastries, cookies - and fruit, of course. (We’re big on health here at the Roxy.)

We have a tradition at Theatre Network - borrowed from the Gods of Theatre - where cast, crew and the office team all gather in our intimate Roxy lobby on the first day. We introduce ourselves and state what we do on the play or for the company itself.

“I am Brad, and I am the Director of Michel & Ti-Jean.”

Next up, the Set Designer gives the first presentation. In this case, Cory Sincennes is actually the Production Designer, so he gives the Lighting and Costume Design presentations as well. Then our Sound Designer, Matthew Skopyk, reveals his approach, his sound palate and influences from the play. (Admission: During all of these presentations, I can never help myself from adding my two cents here and there. It’s just too tempting.) Then it’s my turn. I share my connection to the play, why we’re gathered and what we are attempting to create.

Next is an essential part of the morning - pee and smoke break. (And more snacks, obviously.)

And finally… we read the play! We turn off the phones and read the play amongst the sounds of street traffic, people walking in front of our door, tea being made, and the construction sounds of the set being built on stage. But amongst all of these distractions is the charm of reading the play aloud for the very first time. It truly is magic. And very often we can spend the entire rehearsal process working to get the same spark that we get during that first read.

This is my favourite day of the process.

Beginning with a Blog...

Me. Bradley Moss.

Hi.  My name is Bradley Moss. I'm the Artistic Director of Theatre Network in Edmonton Alberta – www.theatrenetwork.ca - where we create challenging, contemporary plays.  We operate out of a really cool 1938 Cinema called the Roxy – see picture of our Marquee. This blog is intended to share the inside track of our company and the people who work here. The bulk of the blogging will come from myself and our Marketing and Communications Coordinator (and a local playwright) Nicole Moeller. The idea is to share what happens or give you the inside scoop of what happens here in the office, during rehearsals and anything else we think should be shared.

First up is the photo of our Marquee as we sell subscriptions to our upcoming season of 2011/2012.  Although I started planning this season somewhere last year this is a great starting point for the blog of a Day in the Year.