The boys are back in town

If I had to choose one word to describe the first rehearsal for "The Boys Next Door" it would be "thorough".

I had plenty of time to think about this during the read through tonight. First there were the introductions - Phil, the director; Becky, the stage manager; George, the Board Liaison; the props and costume chicks, the cast. Everyone discussed who they were, what purpose they will serve in this show. Paperwork was handed out. Schedules, forms for bios, the air was filled with the sound of shifting paper. Phil talked about his visions for this show. Becky told us how it has touched her life, and how it will touch all of ours.

Another word that came to mind was "anticipation". We are all filled with nervous energy. Ready to read through the script for the first time as a complete group, ready to get started working on putting together a production we hope will impact viewers, ready to be done with the introductions that went on for forever and just get into the script already. We are hopeful - another word I came up with sitting there. We hope this show does well. We hope people like it, that the actors will find the meaning and weight behind all their lines to make the words as significant to patrons as they are to us.

Sitting around the table tonight was the usual mix of old and new faces - those who know their way around, and those who take the backstage tour to learn helpful things like where the bathrooms are (and those who take the tour just for the fun of it). We can look forward to an interesting ride, getting to know the new people, reconnecting with the old friends, all working toward the common goal of getting a show from the rough beginning of the first look at the scipt to the finished product people will want to come enjoy.