After weeks of hard work opening night is finally here! The cast are getting ready in the dressing rooms. The girls doing their hair and makeup and the guys getting help from the girls to do their hair and makeup. 

Everyone arrives early at the theater to get ready and do their pre-show checks. For example, the stage manager sets out all the props, the light board operator checks that all of the lights are working, the sound board operator checks that all the speakers are working, and the mic technician puts mics on the actors while they do their vocal warm-ups. The theater is a buzz with activity - a mixture of excitement and nerves as everyone prepares for opening!

We hope to see you in the audience!

That title may or may not have been intended as a pun…  Anyway, with a hectic rehearsal week and successful opening night behind us, it seemed like it was time to hear from some of the voices that the audience DOESN’T hear – because we’re playing our instruments instead!

Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Eric Engler, and I’m playing trumpet in the pit orchestra.  As was mentioned in a previous post, our pit orchestra is a small-but-mighty six players – two violins, two “reeds” (who switch back and forth between different woodwind instruments), trumpet, and our music director, Charlotte Evans, on piano.  Even though you may not see us, we’re certainly having just as much fun as the cast!  Shows are always a joy to play as a musician, and Sondheim was certainly one of the greats.

For anyone who’s curious, the orchestra is situated behind the curtain upstage right (or audience left).  A major shoutout to the cast for a SUPERB opening night, and here’s to a great run!