Packing Away the Homework

I am now one week away from the auditions for my annual production. This year the play is Shadow Box. This play has been on my nightstand for over seven years, and I felt like this year was the year to take the jump. It had been on my nightstand for that long because I was waiting for the right group of males to match my always-ready group of females to create a balanced production. Shadow Box works so tightly on a series of small relationships, that I had to insure that I could cast ALL of the roles. Although I would never be so foolish as to precast the play, this year, I feel confident that I will have more then enough possibilities to get the job done.

Since moving from the nightstand, the script has worked itself to the “active pile” on the desk. I have read this play over and OVER. I have journaled, researched, explored, drawn, colored, clipped, and pasted thoughts on this play into a monster-sized version of the script that I call my Shadow Box Dream Book. I have schlepped this dream book on planes, to the beach, on vacations to NYC, and secretly to a few faculty meetings. My backpack has permanent indentions where this script has taken residency. This book also has a complete set blocking for both a proscenium and for a in-the-round production – – proposed directors notes – – even a closing night’s speech to the cast – – everything!

But now that dream book for the show is getting tucked away never to appear until the production is over and done. In essence, I am going to throw away ALL of my preparation. I’m getting rid of all the research, staging, and notes. All of it is going away tonight !

This Tuesday when I have auditions, all that will be in front of me will be a completely BLANK script. I believe that the show must be completely re-created with the arrival of my cast. I do not want to bring anything to that first read through other then that blank book to begin writing my staging and my realization of the play WITH THE CAST – with their work driving the production. I work with the believe that if any of my planning was actually useful – it will reappear with the cast in hand. If I can not recall the blocking or the ideas, then they are likely best forgotten.

I feel it is so essential to do any and all of the homework and planning you can for a production. This is so much fun for me. BUT, I also must be willing to toss all of that homework into the trash before I greet my first cast member. They need to write a new book WITH me.