Today, we had our first Production Meeting.
Today, for the first time ever, I sat down with Designers, Staff and Stage Managers and discussed the plan of attack for a play at Williamston Theatre. In the scheme of things, it was a little later in the calendar than I would’ve liked, but we HAD it!
For those who aren’t familiar, a Production Meeting is a big part of the creation of a play. They happen regularly before and during the rehearsal process for a play. The Director, Designers, Stage Managers and Producers all get in a room and talk.
The Producers and Stage Managers deal with the nuts and bolts of things; “This is our schedule, this is the budget, here are your contracts.”
The Director talks about the “feel” of the show, throws onto the table what he/she wants to do with the play, the “concept” (a horrible word, often a horrible directing choice, but appropriate for this conversation.)
The Designers share their thoughts on the play, and how they see their department contributing, what the design they envision is.
Then everyone bounces ideas around, some decisions are made, some are postponed, discoveries are made, the play begins to take shape on paper. This process leads up to rehearsals, where the director and actors do their creative/interpretive work and actually stage the play in 3 dimensions.
Today, this process began. In a building that’s not quite a theatre yet, but will be in a few more weeks. The process began with a company that’s building it’s own infrastructure as it builds a play. The process BEGAN!
In our meeting, I had a “moment”.
Michelle, our Stage Manager, opened the meeting with the scheduley/detailey stuff, as she should. Then she said “Next on the agenda, Artistic Director; any opening comments?” and she looked at me.
It took me 3 seconds to realize she meant me.
I’ve been in, literally, hundreds of production meetings. Nearly 2 dozen professional shows directed, nearly that many stage managed, plus a whole bunch of miscellaneous design or producing responsibilities have put me into a lot of production meetings. Always before, when the Stage Manager would say “Artistic Director”, I would listen with the rest of the table to the Artistic Director’s opening Rouse The Troops speech.
This time, she meant me. And for a second, I was lost in a realization. “Artistic Director.” The only thing I’m Artistic Director of is Williamston Theatre. And it was my turn to talk. At our first Production Meeting. Which means only one thing:
We’re making this work.
I was sitting at a table in a building that we moved into 4 and 1/2 months ago.
There were designers there, with ideas about a show that we were creating.
There were people there, collaborating on a play.
A play that will have an audience for the first time exactly one month from today.
In one month, I get to say “Welcome to the first performance here at Williamston Theatre.”
There are obstacles. Oh, boy, are there obstacles. “Opportunities in work clothes”, as my friend Dana would say.
Opportunities is right. Obstacles, challenges…and opportunities.
Today I sat in a room, and collaborated with a Production Staff.
Today, we began the process of making a play.
Today we had a Production Meeting.
It was marvelous.
Tony Caselli 
Congratulations, that’s really great :). I love your enthusiasm.
Thank you Allison – it’s a pretty exciting time right now!
…Of course, let me get 3 and 1/2 weeks into rehearsal and be panicking about getting everything done – then we’ll see how “enthusiastic” my posts are! š
You are marvelous. Congratulations, friend.
Thanks Mr. Anonymous! I believe in you!
Damn myself being broke.
DAMN MYSELF TO HELL.
LOL
I think damning yourself may be a little harsh for not being at a meeting you weren’t required to attend!
Next week is gonna be great!
I know, but….I wanted to be there.
I hate being broke. š¦
I am excited about next week!!!
That is so beyond awesome, I can’t even tell you!!
Congratulations, Tony.
You so deserve this.
Thanks, Kate! I sure hope you get a chance to come out and visit before you head off to Texas forever!
We need to video-tape the rest of this process and send it into “True Life” or something equivalent.
Reality TV at it’s most real.
We supply the drama.
(I can’t WAIT to see what Williamston brings us!! YAY!!!)
Yep, some of the moments have been certainly dramatic. Why, just the other day, I almost fell down the steps because I wasn’t watching where I was going! High Drama, all the time around here!
š What a wonderful feeling. š Congratulations on your first meeting!!!
Thanks happybunnydin! I hope YOUR next big project goes well! You’re sure gonna have fun, I know that!
Thank you! I know I will have fun…it’s coming up fast, too. Thursday’s my last day as an Apprentice and Monday I go on contract as an Equity Stage Manager. Crazy!!
Hey! That’s how I got my start, way back when the earth was cooling! (Except I actually closed a show on a Sunday, and then started Stage Managing the next day! Talk about weird!!)
Good luck! It’ll be great!
That’s amazing!! š And thanks, again!
That is so great. And you capture it so well. Can’t wait to sit in the seats and see the show.
Thanks Beth!
And be ready, cuz I’m gonna expect you to come early and give me some feedback!
Yaaaaaaaaaay!!!! I am so happy for you!!! Woot!
Thanks Deborah! You’re gonna have to get a bunch of EMU people and come see the show!
Hells yes!
See, I comment. This is fabu news. I hope you took pictures to mark the occasion. Seriously, you are making history.
Annie
Hey, it’s Annie Martin! Star of Local Magazine articles, and playwright of the upcoming smash-hit FLAP!
We actually didn’t take photos at the meeting…but we’ll take some next time! š
And right now…it’s all more of a mystery than it is history!
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