One down... 04/06/2010
 
Well, we did it.  We had a sold out show.  Press was there.  We brought it.  People loved it, and now we are gonna do it all again.
So...our first review posted this morning, and they HATED it.
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/Event?oid=1593104
I guess that's the thing about art.  You put it out there, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.  We are waiting on reviews from Windy City Times and TimeOut Chicago.  They may not see eye to eye with the Reader.  Let's hope not. :)
It's strange. I don't really know what to do with myself without ramping up for the show.  I guess start working on the next thing right?  I could do the office ping pong tournament...that is a real thing.  We are really having an office ping pong tourney.  Those are my choices, create or ping pong.  Anybody have an opinion about that??
 
Opening Night! 04/03/2010
 
Tonight is opening night...deep breath.
I feel like this maybe how planning a wedding feels.  Everything is leading up to one day.  You coordinate people, shell out cash, find outfits, find a venue, depend on your friends for help and everything is being funneled to this one day.  Granted we have 7 more, but you get the point.  I told my mother that analogy and she said it was more like a birth, because we have created something.  Having gone through neither I don't really know, but I'll just say it's like both. :)
We were in today's Red Eye, on the front cover and with a feature and picture inside.  We were also in yesterday's Sun Times Weekend section.
Timeout Chicago, The Reader, and Windy City Times are all coming out tonight...no pressure.  So we should have reviews on Monday.  Fantastic Reviews!
Also, a friend just called to say she bought the last ticket.  So it seems it will be a sold out show...
Everything felt like it was taking forever.  Now it feels like it won't slow down.  I hope you all get to see it.  It's magic!
-gillian

Let
Chuck
 
 
This is it! 04/03/2010
 
So tonight is our last rehearsal.  My chest goes tight at the thought.  We're ready.  We are so ready.  We have press coming for opening, and hopefully a few producers to check it all out.  We finally got the pipe and drape built.  So two shout outs:
Brie Madrid and Jim Vozella
Holy crap!  This two people saved the show.  I would not have been able to build the set without Jim, and I wouldn't have been able to sew the curtains without Brie.   In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, we essentially had to build a backdrop to cover up the set we are on top of.  However not a simple task.  Turning 41 yards of material into usable curtains, tricky.  Math...no thank you.  Tools...uh...I have a screwdriver.  Did I mention Math?
Then there is Monty Montgomery, our stage manager, holy hannah...this man also saved the show from a tech place.  He built in the cues, runs the sound and lights, keeps track of transitions, makes sure everything is shut down.  Indispensable.  I might have been able to be taught this stuff, but I might have lost my mind if I added something else to my list.  So this is it...  Below are some pictures from tech. :)