“And away we go!”

After a productive week of tech we're definitely ready for an audience. We spent the week adding details to the set, figuring out the workings of a few “tricks” within the set, and adding the beautiful period costumes by Alejo Vietti (if you're in NYC, he created the costumes for a new play opening off-Broadway called, Tryst). The cast has really embraced the 1950s, especially now that they're wearing their newly-created vintage designs. After seeing the show in full, I decided to keep the music in the period of the ‘50s. We had a small invited dress rehearsal on Sunday night for the staff and friends. I was glad to hear they felt the play had more “meat” than they were expecting and was not only funny, but thought-provoking and moving as well. Much of that credit goes to a superb cast who has taken the plight of this American family seriously and honestly. They’ve taken the delightful nature of the production and infused it with real life experience. This week we have a few hours of rehearsal a day to tighten cues and moments in the production based on audience reaction. Preview audiences are extremely helpful, especially with a comedy, in that it allows the cast and production staff to find the rhythm of the play and discover the humor in the story once again.

I want to make a public thank you to the production staff at Signature for all of there inspiring hard work in getting this deceptively complex show to the stage. Hopefully all of our hard work will make it seem as easy and breezy as the 1950s could be.

And so... bring in the audience and I’ll see you in the theater!

— Michael

P.S. John Boal took these photos during tech week of sound designer Tony Angelini and lighting designer Mark Lanks, and the one with stage manager Kerry Epstein gives you a great view of the set.