Backstage Blogging: Mary Poppins

This week, we have dived right into rehearsals. In five days, we have relearned the entire show. And, six new wonderful cast members have joined us, so they have learned the entire show in five days! Let’s just say, “professional” and “rockstars” doesn’t even begin to describe them! It has been a blast being in a room with my family from this summer, as well as welcoming new members to our clan. From group warmups in the morning to sharing laughs throughout the day, the amount of love and support in the room is abundant!

Returning to the show has been such a unique experience. The first day of rehearsal is always a storm of excitement, uncertainty, and a lot of new information. You are trying to learn everyone’s name, tricky vocal parts, understand what the show is, and run to a costume fitting! However, entering a show you know by heart, with tailored costumes already on hangers for you, and knowing not only the majority of casts’ names, but the names of their spouses and pets too, is a totally different experience—a liberating one. I have been able to enter this process with an open-mind, with a confidence and ability to explore further. It has been the most rewarding rehearsal process I have ever been a part of.

Of course, there have been challenges! While we did this show for 10 weeks this summer, that was four months ago, and a lot of life has happened in between! So, dusting off the cobwebs was a bit tricky at times, but ultimately, the music always brings back the movement, because it is so ingrained in my body (at varying levels of depth!). Also, our wonderful choreographer, Lisa Stevens, has changed some choreography (wait until you see “Jolly Holiday”!). This is great, and learning new dances is always a treat, but trying to forget something you have done for months and remember something new is the ultimate brain challenge! But it is a new adventure, and who doesn’t love that?!

One of the true treats of this rehearsal process was breaking down the dances again, something that hadn’t happened since the beginning of the process last time when the dances were originally taught. Over time, the dance becomes about your track, so you don’t necessarily see what is happening elsewhere, because you are quick-changing, running to a new spot, and so forth. The amount of times someone has said “Oh, that happens?!” in these new rehearsals reaffirms how much magic happens on stage every time we perform. This past week of rehearsals has been about rediscovery, a truly beautiful thing!

Speaking of change and rediscovery, Ogunquit is totally different in the winter! Barren, snow-covered paths have replaced the sandy, bustling, trafficked roads of the summer. But one thing remains—Ogunquit is home. I am so happy to be back, and I look forward to talking to you soon! But first, it’s time for tech! Get some rest for all of us!