A Director’s Thoughts On Opening Night for Fiddler on the Roof

“Are they ready?” Are you excited?” “Will it be good?” These are the questions I hear most often before the curtain goes up the first time for an audience. The day of opening is always a bit strange for me. I make notes for my actors, little things to adjust and improve. I write opening night cards trying to thank the many many people involved in getting a production ready. Mostly, I wait. It is actually sort of a lonely day, like when you send your child to school for the first time. We have had 5 weeks of intense time rehearsing, adding sets, lights, costumes and a full symphony orchestra this time around).  Theatre truly is an amazing collaborative process.   With the symphony, cast and backstage crew,  almost 100 people will be backstage or in the wings for this show.   But now though I’ve enjoyed working with this incredibly talented group of artists,  now I have to step back and let it go. I will go to the backstage tonightand  answer last minute questions, offer encouragement and sneak in a few last bits of direction, but then I will leave backstage and join all of you in the audience. I will watch the show for the 50th time, but this time I’ll be watching the audience too, listening for every laugh, watching for a tear or two and yes making a few mental notes of things that could be improved.  So, to answer those questions “Yes, they are ready and yes, I am excited and yes, I am pretty sure it will be wonderful” See you at the theater. 

Marybeth Clark, Director, Fiddler on the Roof