West Side Story-My Space! by Director Marybeth Clark

This weekend we began spacing rehearsals where the actors get to use the set for the first time and we adjust their spacing.   For this show it is a really a challenge since this set has fences to climb on, sewer pipes to dive into and balconies to climb—none of which we had in our rehearsal hall.  Though we lost a rehearsal due to Hanna, the cast worked diligently for 16 hours this weekend to get their spacing right—a challenge since some of the rousing dance numbers have upwards of 30 dancers onstage at the same time. Many of our costumes include knee pads, but there were still a few bumps along the way.  Set designer Stefanie Christensen promised me an “urban playground” and with over 100 feet of chain link and even more steel pipe she really delivered. That’s all for now, there is a can of spray paint calling my name. What’s an urban playground without a little graffiti?!

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(Actors rehearse for the first time on stage at the Sottile Theatre while Director Marybeth Clark and Choreographer Kevin P. Hill work with spacing)

 

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(Actors dance and rehearse for the first time in costume while staging the big dance off at the gym.)