Top 10 cast member survival tips

How do we survive ten full-cast run-throughs, back-to-back-to-back shows Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon? Ten performances, two weeks in a row?!

What survival tips do the veterans have for the first-time AEID (An Evening in December) cast member?
I brainstormed all the tips and tricks that I have picked up over the years from other veteran cast members, and from John’s notes to the cast. That’s my mindmap on the left. Go ahead and click on the thumbnail to see a full size image.
And the top ten tips are:

1. Name that Tune

Play your practice CD all the time. Memorize lyrics early. (Lisa and I have been known to wear out several CDs…apiece…each season.)

2. Make it a Date

Double-check family and work schedules, block off your calendars, double-check rehearsals, full-cast run-throughs and dress rehearsals. Plan vacations AROUND AEID.

3. “Consider Yourself Invited”

(Yep, I couldn’t resist stealing a song title from AEID 2007.) Invite friends and coworkers early. Get tickets early. The 10,000 seats sell out surprisingly quickly, especially the matinees that are popular with the older crowd and the youngest crowd.

4. Dress for Success

candid photos from “An Evening in December 2007″

Lisa and I uploaded a hundred or so of our photos in a Picasa web album. If you’re looking for a photo from an actual show, you’re out of luck; we were on stage almost all of the time. And, we dare not shoot anything on stage, for fear of causing a flash that might distract the audience or jeopardize the safety of a dancer (even though someone in one of the audiences actually fired off several flashes during a show).

But you’ll get a good feel for what goes on during dress rehearsals, backstage during a show, in the “First N-O-E-L” minivan, and at cast parties.

Top 10 ways “An Evening in December” is like “Drum Corps International”

I’ve been a DCI fanatic since I saw a video of the Santa Clara Vanguard in ‘73. I’ve witnessed some great live performances and was one of the lucky ones in the stands at DCI World Championships in Birmingham ‘80 and Pasadena ‘07. Milt, my bro, marched in Freelancers and is one hecka lower brass horn instructor with the World Champion Mandarins. Name a song and he and his best friend Bret can identify the corps that included it in their repertoires. Milt named his first-born, Madison!

So, what are the top ten ways experiencing AEID is like experiencing DCI?

1. drum line
2. hundreds of pieces of percussion equipment and props (rain sticks, gourds, and amazing stick work) in “Sing We Now”
3. John Williams’ “Cadillac of the Skies” in our repertoire, performed by Cadets ‘02 and ‘01, the Academy ‘02, Freelancers ‘89, and others
4. plenty of fluids and chow “backstage” to feed the cast and crew

An Evening in December expressed in our faces

John’s message to the cast last night during our final dress rehearsal is succinct, clever, memorable.

introducing the cast of actors

With more than a hundred audition time slots over and done, John has cast an incredible troupe of actors to bring to life the characters in this year’s fresh, new script.

I’m not going to give you any plot spoilers on this site until well after the two weeks of performances, so you can continue reading. With that assurance, let’s see what’s in store and who is playing whom in the 2007 production.

“Say Cheese!” from “An Evening in December”

Check out aneveningindecember.com for photos from the 2006 production. From the left menu, select Gallery.

How Well Do You Know Your Christmas Carol Lyrics?

The Christmas Carol meme of the week, how well do you know your Christmas carol lyrics? hmmmm….I got 24 out of 25 right.

Top 10 Memories from An Evening in December 2006

Lisa and I compiled our lists and here are our collective top ten memories from 2006 “An Evening in December.

10. Random vocal track from “Feliz Navidad” out of nowhere.

9. The kids in “Lots n Lots o’ Boxes,” rockin’ out to “we can rattle and shake ‘em, rock and roll ‘em.”

8. Running backstage out in the rain to cross to the other side.

7. “Spirit of the Season” breaking down and starting from the beginning, de ja vu!

6. Patrick’s sideburns as Elvis.

Choir without direction, part II

continued…from part one.

So what does John do to lift the spirits of the choir?

During the lyrical “Sing Noel,” when some in the choir might be reacing an exhaustion point after 13 songs, he simply asks the ushers for a card or two…with a torn corner.

I’m back! with a quick post

I’m back from the stroke suffered Thursday afternoon (two days ago as I write this). I’m fully conversant, lost only 25% of my vision, and am fairly close to where I was before it hit me. Well, I could use this now as an excuse to cover my personal goofs (”oh, I”m sorry, did I forget something?” “no problem, Andy, it must be residual loss from your stroke.”)

Thanks to all my friends, coworkers, choir and music ministry cohorts, “fellow cast members of “An Evening in December,” and those countless prayer warriors who put out the word that I was out of commission.

Today (Saturday), I joined the cast of “An Evening in December” on stage for the final three numbers. “When I Call On Jesus, All Things are Possible””Sing Noel.” and our finale.

I celebrated what miracles God has done in my life. I celebrated the friends and coworkers who wrote, called, sent flowers, or prayed for me.

I’ll be back soon, up to my usual “no good.” I promise.

So, tonight before you fall asleep, hug a child a little tighter, and give an extra measure of thanks to God.

GeeWhiz

Related posts
For more journal entries during the recovery week, see my other blog: geewhiz.wordpress.com.)