Yearbook: The Recap

One week ago, I closed the first full-length show, first musical I've ever directed. Technically, I didn't do it all myself - Phaidra started off the whole thing, staged entire numbers, and got things going with great concepts and ideas. She's all about telling people it's my show, but she really does deserve more credit than she's taking (which is none). She really is fantastic to work with - she brings the ideas, and I polish them up, whether it's Shakespeare, musicals, or the awesome skit we worked up for the End-of-the-Year Drama Club Banquet (it's going to be EPIC). Her work doesn't necessarily NEED my polish, but she always makes room for it and is always appreciative when I offer it. She's an amazing person, truly.

Anyway, we all made it through the show - though after Friday's performance with the cast at Applebee's, Chance did tell me that, in reality, this show was a "sin against God". Snerk. I stood up and very seriously announced that with this rather severe condemnation in mind, we would instead be staging "Charlie Brown" the following evening - and as an experimental piece, each part would be triple cast, and all three actors for the respective roles would all be on stage at the same time. I think it could work.

All joking aside, the show really did turn out pretty well - the music was never anything to write home about, but some of my actors injected real emotion and connection into their parts, to the point of choking up the audience a couple of times. Also, my set really was incredible. I'll get production shots soon, but in the meantime:

I know it's a little dark, but doesn't it look like a shot out of "High School Musical"? All the kids coming together to pull off a miracle and make the show happen, the cheesy lights hanging from the first electric (complete with mirror ball), the dramatic lighting on the rest of the stage, the cameraderie... Ah, high school.

It was a very clean set, with long lines and interesting angles, and had a very cool balance even though it was technically asymetrical. The ramp coming down from off-center was painted by one of my students with the "school mascot" and logo, and it looked terrific. It was honestly tough for all of us when we had to tear it down - up until the last minute my tech crew was still asking if we could leave it up, and save it for next year. Those boys will destroy anything they can get their hands on at the drop of a hat, so that's really saying something.

Some backstage shots:

(This one gets the "bad director" award for taking flash photography backstage in the wings. Oops. Also, "Sue me - I'm just the substitute!")

Quite frankly, for a substitute, I think I'm doing a damn fine job. There, I said it.

And one last time:

Ah, Yearbook - I don't think I'll miss you, but I'll certainly never forget you!