Scene notes from Wednesday

In order to not keep you late, the team is giving you these notes online. Please read this, and any music or choreography notes below as well.

You have a fabulous show and you've all worked so very hard. Here is where all that hard work pays off. I do want to say that I really liked the way some of you were able to continue to strengthen your character Wednesday.

Captain: Thank you. You were much stronger at the beginning, and the coldness was a nice contrast to your later character. I love the way you take the smallest suggestion and run with it. You could be even more rigid at the beginning.

Mother Abbess: I really liked the softer, kinder character you showed me on Wednesday. Show me as much motherly love and gentleness you can.


NUNS/NOVICES/POSTULANTS: All of you will enter through the mural hallway.

SOUND: Please make the opening chimes loud enough to feel like we are in the church.

LIGHTING: I think I do want the opening light cue to include the wall sconces.
Nuns' makeup: Foundation, some blush, some mascara and light eyeliner. A little light (not white) shadow under the brow line can open up your eyes. Mother Abbess, The white makeup under your eyes was distracting.

Lights came up too soon in "Sound of Music" Start the music, then bring up lights just before Maria sings.

Maria, I think we're going to have to leave you on the stairs. It looks wrong to have you singing the song in what we have come to see as the abbey. I'd like to be able to close the grand after the nuns leave, but the light that hits you on the stairs is apparently coming from the stage.

Mother Abbess: You called Sister Berthe Sister Margaretta.

SET: We need to figure out how to keep the pictures straight on the turning platform.

Sister Margaretta should always be smiling.

Sister Berthe's chair was blocking the door. Overall, the new position of the desk worked very well in the scene.

Sound cue was a smigeon late on "outpester any pest" - need to work it with the nuns

Mother Abbess: It hurts a bit to have to give hard news to Maria. This is the reason you sing the song, to try to build rapport. Be ever so gentle as you say, "It seems to be the will of God that you leave us."

Mother Abbess: I loved the softness as you came and gently said, "I'm not sending you to his battleship."

Postulants who help Maria: Be there to interact with Maria. Help her, listen to her, give her someone to talk to. Even as you take the screen, look back at her as if to say "good luck, we'll miss you"

Maria/Costumes: Maria's hat appears to be a problem in "I have confidence". Leslie, you keep holding your hat. Do you need to carry it longer, and put it on later, like when you say "Oh, help" ?

SET: As a general rule, all pieces of a set come out at the same time and at the same pace. table and flowers should be in hand at the end of the scene, so that they walk on at exactly the same time as the couch. The bench and tree and the turning platform should all happen together.

Franz: You went over to the table with the plant. It was off center and I had hoped you would move it.

Frau Schmidt: Your line is not "They've got a telegram for you." It is "They have a telegram for you." Try to be a little stiffer and a little less Texan in your speech. I do hope you're OK. We may still have you adjust pieces during scene changes, but generally it will be walking on with a small piece that someone has handed you. Please let me know if I need to remove blocking that goes up the big stairs.

Franz: Cut the "too bad" after Frau Schmidt says she wasn't in the navy.

Captain: A little more sarcastic on "This is what you call a worldly dress??"

Kurt: Step forward, THEN say your name. Don't talk as you're stepping. Thank you for saying it right away and not standing there thinking of what to say.

Louis: Nice giggle after Maria calls Fredrich almost a man.

Kids: We may have to move you higher up the stairs on Do-re-mi, like one step higher. The couch is blocking you.

Kurt, don't go over there and then decide where you're supposed to be. Currently, you sit on the bottom step. If I move the kids up a step, you'll be on the second step.

CAST: It's really FUN to see places where I've given a note and at the very next rehearsal it's fixed! I love you all!

Rolf/Liesl: I made a new bench today, so you'll have a sturdy one for your number.

SET: Bench will come out in every Terrace scene

MARIA/SET: Can Maria put up her own screen in the bedroom? Looks like we will be using a screen (green & white) rather than a curtain rod

Frau Schmidt: I liked what you were doing with the notes I gave you. Please sit down on the bed a little earlier and stay a little longer.

We have put glow tape where the fixed platform meets the rotating one.

Friedrich and Kurt, when you come into the room, I liked having kurt upstage of Friedrich. That allowed us to see Kurt's face when he suddenly turns to look at Friedrich.

Kids: SMILE SMILE SMILE and have fun during "Lonely Goatherd" - some of you were serious even during the pillow fights. You were a little late getting on the bed for the pillows.

Blue nightgown needs to be on the bed so Maria can hand it to Liesl.

GRETL: After the scene in Maria's bedroom, there is music and a blackout. Do not start singing until the lights come up on you and there is a crash of thunder.

Baronness Schrader: Please be even bigger. You are the big city woman, and you should move like a famous movie star. You're a little out of your element in the country, but you find it charming.

LIGHTS: I noticed during a couple scenes that it was so bright in the house I had no problem writing my rehearsal notes. I even looked around to make sure house lights weren't on.

SET: I liked the curtains that were handing on the other side of the windows when we were in the terrace. Once we get the frosted glass in the window, we'll see if we need the curtains.

ROLF: "Heil" is up at a 45 degree angle

MARIA/CAPTAIN: The line "I haven't finished yet" should elicit a bigger response from both of you. Captain, you should be more startled and insulted. Maria, pause for just a beat before continuing.

CAPTAIN: When singing with just Maria, look out on SOund of Music, and then look at her on the line "heart is lonely" You're doing it, but a little too soon.

COSTUMES: Heather's dress is so light, and doesn't seem to go with the jewel tones. SHe's blending into the wall. It there at least a jacket or a stole she can wear? She needs some color.

SOUND: Party music needs to be louder for the Lendler.

Timing on the opening scene for party was perfect. Everyone got through their lines, and Captain sat down with Brigitta just as the music ended.

David and Amy - your entrance and your dance looked good.

BARONESS SCHRAEDER: Well, Hello there should have more suspicion in it.

BARONESS SCHRAEDER: "I've been dodging these folks" is said very lightly - you haven't really been avoiding them. You're a little nervous, and you had a headache, but it's time to face the crowd and hope they like you.

CJ - NICE JOB on the cuckoo!!! You did what I told you to do. Thank you!

KIDS: In doing so long farewell, you need to step to the right each time you go through your turn and kick assembly. That way, the line keeps moving over. This will allow Kurt room to get through instead of running into the crowd of people. It will also end up leaving Gretl in about the middle at the bottom of the stairs, which will set her apart from the crowd.

SET: Table has to come off after Maria leaves the party. They need to be gone before the nuns come on.

SET: Nuns can come on the same time as the set turns, or the set can turn after the nuns are finished. Set should turn slowly. There are some pink tape marks that can guide you so you don't bump the set against the platform.

Mother Abbess and Maria, cheat out in your scene. We can't see faces with those veils.

NUNS/POSTULANTS/NOVICES: Try pinning the veil so that it hangs behind your shoulders

MAX: on the stage of a big convert hall" not "on the hall of a big concert stage"

SOUND: Liesl's mic was interfering with blowing the pitch pipe

SET: flap on set piece is open for terrace scene, and the garden basket on the wall should hang way in the corner where it will not interfere with blocking

CAPTAIN: Show a little more pain when you say, "We do not need Fraulein Maria" - This is what Elsa is reacting to when she says she needs a walk

Boys were out of tune in Sound of Music reprise

Friedrick - when you twirl Gretl, put her on the bench, not the floor.

Maria: smile when you say we have a new postulant - it's a bit of a shared joke

Else - I love the green dress - you're gorgeous! Be bigger than life - movie star big

Captain, look out at the sunset when Else talks about the sunsets, then look at her after she says "I'm going to miss them." - by saying that, she just broke up with you.

Else: As you're leaving, turn to face the audience when you say goodbye to Maria and then look at Captain one more time, then turn back to leave

Captain - song was LOVELY! Last note was off

Mother Abbess: Marriage is a formal occasion, but you are happy for her. You had a very stern expression when getting your red stole.

POSTULANTS: When music starts, Margaret enter from stage right and cross entire stage. Others will then cross with you as you walk backwards. This will give us some time so the nuns aren't stuck on stage so long.

PROPR: We need a sheer nightgown

The scene with the mother abbess putting on the veil was lovely!

First nuns on the stage, close the curtains on the platform during the wedding

KIDS: You came down too soon. You come when the orchestra music begins, not when the nuns are singing in latin.

KIDS: Make sure you come down the middle or right side of stairs so you have room at the bottom.

GRETL: I have put a piece of tape to tell you where to stop.

KIDS: Don't be in a rush. Gretl was almost stepping on Maria's dress.

LIGHTING: Cross seems too bright

Is there enough light for nuns to get down the stairs? They seemed to bottleneck and weren't off stage yet when we went into the living room.

Max - lines on page 86 - When is Captain Von Trapp Returning

Frau Schmidt - You have to know your lines and the preceding lines well enough that even if someone transposes them a bit, you still know when to come in.

Where were Franz & Frau Schmidt with the presents?? Nice cover, J

Actors: Never stop a scene!!! You can't just grind to a halt because something doesn't seem exactly right.

I suggest putting captain and Maria's suitcases along the short wall, so that Captain has room in the corner upstairs

Kids: you cannot wave from the balcony behind the curtains - Mackenzie, I could see you. Kids, you cannot watch the show from the wings, and you cannot block people's entrances and exits. If you're getting ready to come on, stand single file so people can get past you.

ADULTS: Please be a good example to the children, and please be patient with them. If they're standing ready to go on, be glad that they're not wanting to miss their entrance. Please don't push or scold. It is appropriate to say, "Excuse me, you're blocking my entrance." Not "move!"

Franz - You missed a cue two days in a row - the same cue. You have an entrance when the door bell rings. Please check that entrance so you don't miss it.

Admiral and Captain - Bring your conversation down center.

What happened to the program? There was no program for Herr Zeller to look at. Brigintta had shown it to Captain, and he was looking a6 it when he scolded Max. But then they didn't have it later in the scene.

SET: Table and floweres were not removed going into the festival scene.

Children: Be more apprehensive and nervous as you leave - look back at your parents. This is not like when you were doing it in your own home for guests. This is to trick the soldiers, and if they catch on, you'll be in big trouble. Look at David as you go by him.

David: Great job on the commands. Don't forget to go to the top of the stairs for a better vantage point. In the dark, you can move the flag. You might have time to put up the sheers too while you're up there and while they're putting out the tomb stones.

There was too much fog.

The bench will come out upstage center into the prayer garden.

On Maria's Line "Know Mountain...Garden" = Nuns will cross with Maria's Line

A few more notes:


* Need to discuss 2nd Curtain Close/Open Call

* Frau Schmidt must rise from the bed on her line, "It Will Work Out"

* Elsa's Line, "I Like It Here Very Much" = Open up/Cheat Out during this line. Captain is Up-Stage of Elsa and she is giving a Full Back here which does not make sense with what is happening in the scene.

* Captain has been dropping his line, "Straight Line!"

* Light Cue 56 = Delete Gobo

* Frau Schmidt's Line, "Herr Deitweiler, can you help me, please" needs to be delivered faster, in more of a panic. Maybe start the line on "Morning". It will overlap just a bit - OK to interrupt

* Actors QUIET Backstage! Plus, be aware of Off-Stage Movements(some visible to the Audience)

* Microphone in festival scene needs to be moved upstage and spiked.

* Gretel's Quick Change after the Wedding = Marilyn needs more time with the change.

* No Drinks, Food, Scripts, ETC...on any Set or Prop Piece, Please.


SET: We will set every scene Friday morning and take a picture.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE AMAZING!!! Most of your shows are sold out. Tell your friends they better hurry!