Repetition

Repetition is good for refining and perfecting, as in; a dance number for a musical review. What I am experiencing is the wrong kind of repetition. Repeatedly missing cast members, beginning rehearsals late and leaving the piece unfinished.
Yes, yet again, the rehearsal did not go as I would have liked. I had two hours promised to me on Monday night so I could finish Some Enchanted Evening (you know, the one that I was supposed to be able to finish Friday night). I arrived early, as usual, but had to start late, as usual, because the rehearsal before mine ran over time.
No one had been able to print out or even view the choreography attachment I had sent in email form to everyone the week before, so no one had been able to review any steps. I thought ahead (for once) and brought printed copies, so everyone now has one and there's no excuse for next time.
I was short two cast members and, lo and behold, had a brand new girl in the piece! Fortunately for the health of my nerves and my blood pressure, Chuck had suggested I pray and give the time to God before I entered the building. What a novel idea! I did just that and I think it helped immensely.
I was able to just roll with it, say "Oh well!" and keep working. I got the whole piece blocked, which means in theater lingo that everyone now knows where they are supposed to be on stage at any given moment, even if they have no idea what the steps are that get them there. I was not able to go over left and right turns, which make up about half the choreography, but I was able to go over the other move and everyone pretty much has that one down except for the timing.
It was a huge relief just to get the blocking finally finished and to make sure that every cast member had a copy of the choreography to study. I'm confident that at least a few of the couples will rehearse outside of scheduled times. The extra girls who are not coupled have their parts perfectly and the main couple have their parts down, as well.
For the most part, it just needs some (major) polishing. My next rehearsal time with them will be tomorrow and it's supposed to be full cast, come heck or high water, disease or you-fill-in-the-blank.
This has been an exercise, not only in choreographing and teaching for theater students and non-dancers, but also in perseverance, patience and retaining hopefulness. I know I would have regretted not participating and will look back on this with gratitude.


9 pm addendum: My next rehearsal with the cast will NOT be tomorrow, in fact, it may be never. I just got an email from the director telling me not to bother coming because she doesn't have time for me to do anything with my piece. She says this is her only time before dress rehearsals with the full cast (which means no more rehearsals for me to attend, I guess) and she needs to just run the show without stopping. Fine, run the show and continue to let two-thirds of my piece look like complete CRAP! The prayer isn't working this time...

Question -

When do I qualify for a "baby-making" trip... you know, they recommend taking trip to get away from the stress that is hindering making a baby. How many months of trying before I'm qualified?

Try, Try Again

I'm not pregnant... again. I spent a mopey day today. Chuck's getting what seems to be our monthly bottle of wine after his workout in a few minutes. I'm not handling this very well. I know I'm being a baby about it, but that's still the way I feel.
If at second you don't succeed.... ??

Enunciate Please

Eden's had the sniffles, so last night, before putting her in her crib for the night, I said "Let's ask Jesus to help you sleep well tonight." She lit up, raised her eyebrows and pressed her palms together. She thought I said "cheesus." haha! That girl loves her some cheese.

Frustrated Friday

I don't know how much more I can take!
I was called this evening, 20 minutes before I'm supposed to be at rehearsal, by the stage manager. She told me that only 3 of my guys were there. That's half my male cast not present! Plus, I already knew from earlier in the day that my main guy was gone because of a family matter. I was given no explanation or apology and my entire, much anticipated, much needed two hour rehearsal was gone in a matter of seconds.
I'm so upset, I just don't even know what more to say. I HATE unprepared performances. If my name is on it, I want it to look decent, maybe even good. I have three, count 'em, three more rehearsals scheduled right now before the show. There's not enough time to learn it, much less perfect it... and God forbid any thing else would happen to prevent a full cast rehearsal on one of those nights. There's now no wiggle room, no time, no hope.
I'm trying to get on the phone with the director tonight so maybe she can shed some light on how I should feel about this and where we go from here. I know how I feel. I feel like the folks that can't devote the time to this required (from the very beginning) shouldn't be able to participate. I feel like the piece should probably be demoted now to another (there are already several in the show) singing piece, instead of a dancing piece. I'm curious what the director is feeling about it, though. She's kind-of my barometer.
It makes me mad that, if it does have to change now, to something simpler, or no dance at all, that I will have done all that work over the last few weeks and the latest labor of writing out the entire piece for NOTHING!! AAAAAAAugh!

More Musical

Rehearsal on Monday went ok. I still have not been able to finish setting the "Some Enchanted Evening" choreography. The director was dissapointed that I couldn't set the whole thing, but I get two hours tomorrow night. Hooray! I took the time to type out all the choreography, complete with letters to designate couples and a key to help everyone understand the steps as completely as possible. I wrote which foot was moving, which direction it moves and the count for each movement. It took a lot of work, but I suppose if I ever want to re-set this on another group, I will be able to. I had the stage manager send a copy to the cast and I'm hoping everyone will have a chance to look it over before tomorrow's rehearsal. All choreography must be learned by Monday, I think, so this is mine and the cast's last chance.

Musical Update

I have finally come up with an ending for Some Enchanted Evening that I like. We got to the very last chorus during last week's rehearsal and we didn't have time to go on, which was good since I didn't quite know what I wanted to do from there.
I'm hoping that everyone will be present and on time this evening and that there will be no new people to teach the steps to. I'm praying for divine choreography retention and miraculous ability to execute the steps we've learned thus far. It is now February and the show is going to be performed in this very month!
I am excited about tonight and I'm determined to keep the excitement and good attitude. I can see the finished product in my head. If everyone catches on and remembers their parts... it has the potential for awesomeness and I'll be proud to have a video of it (hopefully). If it ends up looking like poopy, I'll just chalk it up to a learning experience.