A Gunman and Bad Backs!

As is the case with many shows, ours has been plagued with setbacks.  A week or so back, Poppy and I showed up for rehearsal.  The street up ahead of us was blocked off with 5 or 6 police vehicles.  I thought there was an accident perhaps...  Come to find out, there was a lone, elderly, drunken gunman in the building where we rehearse.  Our director, Jeff, had a gun pulled on him.  Alas, the building was secured and the 77 year old man was hauled away.  We cancelled rehearsal.  Although, my best friend, and director of the first Mr. Silver production, Terry, told me there was a dead body outside of their rehearsal space and they still met.  Weird.

Yesterday I received word from one of our leads that a herniated disc prohibits her from much movement at all, let alone being in a musical, and she had to drop out.  Auditions, like I said before, were sparse, a month in and we still haven't filled one of the male roles (I think we may have now... and it's a GREAT ROLE), etc. etc. 

A cast member asked me if we were cursed!

We're not.

I think perhaps all shows are cursed in a way, but also blessed.  I think staging a musical is a test for those of us who are called to do so.  If any of you have been on the production end, you know it's wall after wall that you have to bust through... hurdle after hurdle you have to jump...  It's A LOT of WORK!  I've been really pushed to keep a steady head and I'm guessing, there'll probably be a few more trials before we open on October 27th to test my steadiness.  But, as anybody who's ever done a show will be able to attest, some of the shows that are an absolute MESS on tech week turn out to be  some of the best.  We're actually sitting pretty compared to some productions I've been involved in. 

And... I'm surrounded by a team of not only competent people, but amazingly talented, hard working people.  From the very beginning of this project I told Poppy that I had to have a team of people who are great and are in love with this project.  I have that!  Thanks God.  That's them up at the top of this page.  We're having a little coffee and a meeting of the minds.   Good people!  And the cast... well they're committed to putting on the best show we can.

So... trial after trial, we keep on keeping on, knowing "it'll all work out."  Am I doing the right thing? Doing what I'm supposed to be doing?  I believe so, and I believe actually fulfilling your purpose, you will be blessed.  Mr. Silver sat on a shelf for about 15 years.  I dusted him and the other ghosts off, and told them to get back to work.  And so, on we go... we persevere, taking down one gunman at a time!