Gary’s Superstar Experience Part 4 – Opening Weekend [BLOG+PHOTOS]

I didn't really know what to expect.

We had all practiced our songs, learned our staging, rehearsed our dances (I say "our" in the company sense...I don't dance), and gotten a pretty good feel for the show.  All of that on the comfort of a flat surface in Stage Center's rehearsal space.  Then, a mere four days before we open the show, we moved into the Emmett Hook Center.

At first glace, the set seemed daunting. A mountain of stairs that all of us have to traverse throughout the play. Most of the cast has to dance on these things! And there's not just dance numbers. Some people do gymnastics. A lot of the cast has to fall down at some point. On the sides and back of the stage, where the audience can't see, are narrow steps of death that we have to bounce on and off quickly to enter/exit the stage...in the dark...while other people are trying to simultaneously enter/exit. We were all assured that it was safe and sturdy, so we all got on and walked the set.  The guy who built this knows what he is doing. It is strong! And it all comes apart and rolls out of the way in order to facilitate First United Methodist's Sunday service at Emmett Hook.  Pretty ingenious, if you ask me.

We had two days of "wet tech" rehearsals. That means we can wear our costumes if we want, but this is mainly for the lighting designers and backstage people to get all of the things that aren't actors to perform correctly.  And there's a lot in this production. Curtains, and moving lights, and various things that fly in and out...at this point, I'm glad all I have to do is remember three little songs.

After wet tech, we had two dress rehearsals, which is out last chance to iron out any issues before we actually let people watch what we've done. Adjustments to costumes are made, fixed points on the stage are marked (if you want to be seen in this cool rock-n-roll light show, you stand HERE at THIS moment), and the full band comes in to accompany us. We had two really good rehearsals (the pictures below are from our second dress), and we felt as though we were ready for opening night.

When the day came, I was a ball of nerves.  Robert J. Wright asked me, on a scale of one to ten, what was my anxiety level.  I answered, "Twelve."  I knew what I had to do.  I knew my songs. But what if I forgot the words right as I opened my mouth? What if I tripped on the stairs? What if...  NO TIME for "What if."

Our private Facebook group was electric with fellow cast members wishing everyone broken legs and good shows.  A 7:30 show means we get there at 6:30. Makeup...microphone checks...costumes...places...here we go!!!

The opening music kicks off with the masterful Mark Griffith playing a guitar intro. All of a sudden the stage is alive. People running everywhere, cops breaking up a riot, Jesus appears out of nowhere, then we hear the famous "BAH BAH BAAAAAAAAAA" of the theme of the show. Lights center on Seth Taylor (Jesus of Nazareth). And with that, the show has begun.

Opening night is never without a couple of hiccups, but we held our own.  I did my first two songs, and I thought I did pretty well. Then comes my favorite part, "Trial Before Pilate." It is easily the most intense moments of the entire show, and one of the hardest to perform in both a technical and an emotional way. There's a lot going on, and we all nailed it! I was so proud to be in that moment with the rest of the cast. We were ON!

Then, as quickly as it began, opening night was over.  we bowed, got our cheers, and left the stage. We hopped out of costume, and went to greet some audience members. They were gracious and complementary.  It felt very good to have had a successful opening night.

The next night was even better...same with the next.  Sunday's matinee was also pretty darn good. Each performance gets a little better, because the last one was another practice for the next one. People are adding things when they get the feel for it, and it's working.

Now that the weekend run is over, I'm antsy to get back on stage.  We have been working together solidly for almost seven weeks. Even though our voices need a few days off, it seems odd to not be at the theatre, or at least around everyone in the production.

Luckily, we have another weekend full of shows. I can't wait to see what these awesome people do.

Gary is portraying Pontius Pilate in Stage Center’s production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The production runs through Aug 8.  Click HERE for tickets.