Countdown to Opening

With a week to go, the word is getting out in the greater Moscow area. The banner above hangs in the University Commons, emails have gone out to the entire student body as well as faculty, and posters for the show hang all over campus, in Moscow and neighboring cities of Pullman and Troy. Media coverage also begins this week with articles to be published in the Arognaut (UI newspaper), Moscow-Pullman Daily News and the Inlander in Spokane. A videographer and still photographer are lined up for dress rehearsal, and respondents are scheduled to judge the show for possible inclusion in the regional American College Theatre Festival.

Sound, light and images are slowly making their way into the rehearsals, the projection surface is nearly done, and stitchers are sewing furiously to complete costumes by Tuesday's first dress rehearsal. Hair and make-up tutorials begin tomorrow, and some of the actors are coloring/cutting their hair today. The propsmaster has solved the problem with the trunk, the knife and some other tricky props, and yesterday, actors had an opportunity to rehearse with cigarettes (herbal). The dramaturg has completed the program note, and the program is being finalized for the printer.

Tech begins Saturday, so that's when all the pieces will come together, and everyone on the team will spend 10 of 12 hours locked in the theatre coordinating their efforts. Lots of details still to work out, but by all accounts, it appears that we're going to pull this off! More news to come soon. In the meantime, spread the word so we pack the house. Audiences are going to love this show, and I wouldn't want anyone to miss it. And thanks to everyone involved. I'm so honored working with you every day.