Rehearsal #9: Run Through

Last night we introduced ourselves to a new musician: Kristen. We've never worked with her before, and she's never really done exactly the kind of improvised music we're asking her to do. She did a great job! We'll have to get used to working together, but I'm looking forward to doing a show with her.

Then, after the musical introductions, we did something we've never really done before at Un-Scripted: We ran an entire show in rehearsal. Normally the first time we do a whole show from beginning to end is preview night. This can be highly nerve wracking, going up in front of a paid audience never really having done the show before. You never know what's going to happen.

Years ago when I directed Fear, I attempted to set up rehearsals where we would run an entire show, but every time we ended up inviting an audience or selling tickets for it, making it an actual show and not a rehearsal.

I did not play. I will play on Tuesday when we run a whole show again in rehearsal. Instead I was treated to a wonderful show in the style of playwright Lorraine Hansberry filled with beautiful songs and poignant moments. Perhaps more importantly this was the first time we ever tried playing characters of other races on such a scale, but they pulled it off quite well.

The key to playing a different race is the same as the key to playing any character different from yourself: play truths not stereotypes.