I’m sitting at school, internet streaming through my laptop, music in my headphones, a book at my side. Doesn’t sound like work, does it? Well, that’s because the work is done. The students have gone on holiday, the exams have been marked, the grades calculated. Now we’re just waiting for the bell to ring at 4pm so we can go home and start the holidays!
But this blog is not about the holidays. It’s about most important reason that I have my book, music and internet by my side. It’s because our production of “The Wiz” is finished.
Ahhhhhh….
After the months of rehearsals, of giving up lunches and hours after school, of stressing and sweating, of choreographing and teaching dances, of getting frustrated at students, of wondering whether this performance would be ready, of struggling to get answers and support from the admin, it’s all over.
Last week, after exams were finished, we met the students to discuss the schedule. We hadn’t rehearsed in almost two weeks, not a good way to prepare for a show. I was nervous the students would have forgotten about the work we had done. We organized costumes and props, and told the students to be at school the next morning at 8am.
The next morning, a spattering of students came on time. We had to call the rest of them, chase after them, and practically drag them into school. Frustrating. We couldn’t rehearse on the stage because it wasn’t yet made. Annoying. We couldn’t practice with the lighting because it wasn’t set up yet. Erksome. We couldn’t use the microphones because they weren’t working properly. Irritating.
That’s how the entire day went. By 4pm I was ready to throw in the towel and cancel the performance.
The next day rolled around, however, and suddenly we had the full attention of everyone. The stage had been set up overnight, the lights put up, the musicians ready to practice, the students ready to give us their commitment. We practiced on stage. We worked with the microphones and lighting. We ran through songs, practiced dances, and repeated entrances and exits. And by 9pm that night, 13 hours after we had begun, we were ready to go home and rest up for the next day – showtime!
Another 8am start, but this one much different than the other two. From the moment I arrived, I was impressed with the students. They were all there, many already practicing their dances and scenes, getting in costume, and preparing for the show. We helped with makeup, we warmed up with them, and we talked to them about things they should try to remember. And when 12pm came, we welcomed students and teachers into our “auditorium” (really a gymnasium) for a sneak preview of what they would see later that night, if they bought a ticket. It went well, but the students were definitely looking much more forward to that evening, when friends and family would come.
And boy, did they come. We had an audience of over 400 people! I couldn’t believe it! The students were definitely nervous and excited and I was so happy that their work for the last 4 months was going to come down to this special moment. I stood backstage, walkie-talkie in hand, and helped students with their microphones and entrances, helped them calm their nerves, and smiled at them as they got off-stage and went to the dressing room to prepare for their next scene.
And it was great! I mean, I didn’t get to see the show like the audience, and I was frustrated that our microphone people couldn’t seem to ever turn the right mike on at the right time, but I felt happy. All the struggles and all the work felt so worth it. To see the students succeed and have this experience, and to feel their appreciation and love for me after – to pose for the pictures, receive flowers from them, or share a hug – was the best gift ever!
The weekend came, and boy did I sleep. It had been an exhausting week and I didn’t want to do a single thing. I was happy the musical was finished, but I was more happy that I had made the relationship I had with the students, and that together we had created something worthwhile.
But this blog is not about the holidays. It’s about most important reason that I have my book, music and internet by my side. It’s because our production of “The Wiz” is finished.
Ahhhhhh….
After the months of rehearsals, of giving up lunches and hours after school, of stressing and sweating, of choreographing and teaching dances, of getting frustrated at students, of wondering whether this performance would be ready, of struggling to get answers and support from the admin, it’s all over.
Last week, after exams were finished, we met the students to discuss the schedule. We hadn’t rehearsed in almost two weeks, not a good way to prepare for a show. I was nervous the students would have forgotten about the work we had done. We organized costumes and props, and told the students to be at school the next morning at 8am.
The next morning, a spattering of students came on time. We had to call the rest of them, chase after them, and practically drag them into school. Frustrating. We couldn’t rehearse on the stage because it wasn’t yet made. Annoying. We couldn’t practice with the lighting because it wasn’t set up yet. Erksome. We couldn’t use the microphones because they weren’t working properly. Irritating.
That’s how the entire day went. By 4pm I was ready to throw in the towel and cancel the performance.
The next day rolled around, however, and suddenly we had the full attention of everyone. The stage had been set up overnight, the lights put up, the musicians ready to practice, the students ready to give us their commitment. We practiced on stage. We worked with the microphones and lighting. We ran through songs, practiced dances, and repeated entrances and exits. And by 9pm that night, 13 hours after we had begun, we were ready to go home and rest up for the next day – showtime!
Another 8am start, but this one much different than the other two. From the moment I arrived, I was impressed with the students. They were all there, many already practicing their dances and scenes, getting in costume, and preparing for the show. We helped with makeup, we warmed up with them, and we talked to them about things they should try to remember. And when 12pm came, we welcomed students and teachers into our “auditorium” (really a gymnasium) for a sneak preview of what they would see later that night, if they bought a ticket. It went well, but the students were definitely looking much more forward to that evening, when friends and family would come.
And boy, did they come. We had an audience of over 400 people! I couldn’t believe it! The students were definitely nervous and excited and I was so happy that their work for the last 4 months was going to come down to this special moment. I stood backstage, walkie-talkie in hand, and helped students with their microphones and entrances, helped them calm their nerves, and smiled at them as they got off-stage and went to the dressing room to prepare for their next scene.
And it was great! I mean, I didn’t get to see the show like the audience, and I was frustrated that our microphone people couldn’t seem to ever turn the right mike on at the right time, but I felt happy. All the struggles and all the work felt so worth it. To see the students succeed and have this experience, and to feel their appreciation and love for me after – to pose for the pictures, receive flowers from them, or share a hug – was the best gift ever!
The weekend came, and boy did I sleep. It had been an exhausting week and I didn’t want to do a single thing. I was happy the musical was finished, but I was more happy that I had made the relationship I had with the students, and that together we had created something worthwhile.
