Gosh darn it!  I thought we were through with this rehearsal space malarky, but turns out, nope.  We tried to book Rough House out for our Wednesday rehos but no go.  They had people already booked in them.  DANG IT!  So we are running out of choices.  I contacted the Annoyance and they have space, but it is pretty pricey.  Alaina Hoffman (plays Jennifer), suggested a place called the Solarium in Rodgers Parks.  So I sent them an email to see what's up.
I am building part of the set this weekend with our set designer Jim Vozzella.  I'm glad part of it is getting done early in the game, but I am started to get a bit overwhelmed with the financial side of things.  The set, rehearsal space, liability insurance, and costumes are all hitting at once.  Plus Chuck is paying the singers on the boat to record the music, an unanticipated expense. <sigh>
It is so clear to me why people don't produce their own shows.  I send out into the universe a vision of full houses and breaking even.

Finally we have our new Cougar!  We are welcoming to our cast Rebecca Montalvo.  A Texan, just like me, Rebecca was referred to us through Dionna Griffin-Irons, who runs the diversity casting at Second City.  John Hildreth, a Second City director, suggested I contact Dionna, and voila we found ourselves a Cougar.
So now I'm on to new obstacles, like rehearsal space.  Turns out my dining room isn't as big as I thought it was.  At least not when there is 8 people in it.  So the pursuit for a space has been interesting.  I put out feelers again.  I like the idea of these long fuzzy tentacle things reaching out into the world.  Most places run around $10-15/hr.  But when you multiply that by 3 hours and then again by twice a week for 6 weeks, you start talking a heap of cash.  My friend Scott Allen Luke, who printed our postcards, suggested I talk to Rough House Theater.  They are in Logan Square off Milwaukee and turns out they are the cheapest rental in the city.  Horray! We start rehearsing there tonight.  So it will be a grand adventure.
We got our postcards and posters from the printer today www.urbanimaging.com.  They look great, and I can't wait to put them out places.
Almost all of the music is complete.  We have two reprises to solidify and one more song, but that's it.  I can listen to our soundtrack on my iTunes and stay in a state of perpetual Cougar love.
You know, the kind the rest of you will be in when you come and see the show!  :)  Let's do this thing.