Another Sold-Out Show

By the time people started arriving to buy tickets, we only had 20 available seats because so many tickets had already been reserved online. Like last night, I set up extra chairs at the ends of aisles and in the back to accommodate the overflow. What a thrill it is knowing that our theater is not even big enough for all of the people who want to see SHREK!

A clip of a typical pre-show "warm-up," which we use to calm nerves but increase energy and focus. Tongue-twisters like this one are an excellent way to get the actors thinking about diction and enunciation:

Here are some highlights from tonight's performance:

Shrek trying to convince the fairy tale creatures to leave his swamp

The Dulocians performing "What's Up Duloc"

Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey's first meeting

Pinocchio: "Sometimes, being a fairy tale creature sucks pine sap!"

Gigi, who played the bishop in this scene, filled in for a student who could not make tonight's performance. Another student, Paige, also got sick today and we had to prepare an understudy to go on for her at the last minute. Anything can happen, so you need to know how to roll with the punches!

Johnny (playing Grumpy, Lord Farquaad's father) was one of our high school additions to the middle school cast.

The wedding scene, when Shrek finally confesses his love for Fiona and prevents her marriage to Lord Farquaad.

Representatives from the Moss Hart Award Foundation came to review tonight's performance. One of the parents spoke to them afterward and definitely received positive feedback. The judges were very impressed by how talented and well-developed the students were at such a young age, as was I! Hopefully, they will consider us for the Moss Hart Award for Best Youth Production.

I sat in the first row of the house with Rachel (sound board) and Matt (sound effects). I observed and took over the sound board for a couple of scenes. I practiced the cues for the sound effects as well as switching mics on and off because I'll need to help Rachel tomorrow when my cousin, Matt, is not there. I have gotten all of the timing down for the dragon roar and Shrek's...err...fart. In addition, I've practiced adjusting microphone levels and turning them on at the right time, so I feel confident about doing it without Matt's help at Sunday's performance.

A couple of microphones were not working, which made the actors' voices too soft for the audience to hear. I realized that the batteries had probably died in the mic packs, so I snuck backstage with new batteries so the mic crew could replace the old ones. That did the trick!

In addition, I e-mailed customers the form to order DVDs so that everyone has the opportunity to buy a copy. 

Only one more performance of SHREK to go. I am devastated that this journey is about to come to an end, but I cannot wait for the cast to impress another audience tomorrow afternoon!