Corporate America: Anxiety

Tech week is approaching a lot more quickly than I first thought, it's a little more than a week away. I've been focused lately more on fixing staging, projecting, and other basic theatre mechanics, rather than character choices and intention, which I found out last night is starting to worry the actors. They have found, as have I, that while working on these mechanics, the energy and productivity in rehearsal has been low. They much preferred making big choices and coming up with new ideas for the show rather than tediously refining the staging.They are worried that if we focus too much on the mechanics, and not as much on the ideas of the show, then the show won't be ready for tech. Upon hearing this, I gave them an ultimatum. I told them that I will gladly focus on ideas, characters, and intentions in rehearsal if it will get their energy and productivity up. That means that it will have to be their job to keep staging, projecting, and other mechanics in the back of their heads, so that I don't have to remind them. They agreed and told me that they would work on some ideas and big choices before rehearsal so they can come prepared for a run through. To make sure they are able to get through a run through, I plan on giving directions from the sidelines instead of stopping and starting the show. This way they'll be able to make conscious choices in the moment and they won't lose focus or energy while rehearsing.