Opening Night!

I am feeling a bit of nausea at the moment which can only really mean one thing, it’s Opening Night. Luckily I had a brief recess from the nausea I had last night for our Preview. Generally I find that Preview night is always a bit worse than Opening, my nerves are all over the place. I have come to the conclusion that this is because Preview night is the first night with an audience. And they pay to come see the show, but also it is generally the last night that everyone is adding the final touches to this and that and I have to adapt in an instant.

I find that I can adapt well to the change that needs to occur quickly in the theater. Outside the theater change is a different story, but inside I am always ready to move, quite like a ninja! It really is no coincidence that ninjas and backstage crew both wear all black. The cat like reflexes and the ability to hold our tongue and not scream out in pain when we run into a large set piece during a show, is really no different than any movie you see a ninja in. And we all know that ninjas in movies are what it is all about.

But I digress.

Tonight is THE night and no matter how many times I may have practiced calling this show, or have actually called it last summer (well over 21 times) I find that each Opening Night my brain still seems to believe that this is my first show all over again. What the heck brain?!?

Maybe some of tonight’s nervousness is coming from the fact that we only had something like 12 rehearsals this summer. Or perhaps it is the fact that this is a brand new space which is presenting all new spatial issues. Or furthermore, maybe I am nervous that in the 29 year history of this company a show has never been brought back twice and yet here I stand, same script and cues, same cast and director, worrying that this year we might not have people come back to see the show multiple times. This year we might not sell out. This year tornado could come crashing through the theater and carry me off to a far away land. Though I imagine that that particular happening would have been more relevant last year, seeing as the company was doing Wizard of Oz as well.

So many what ifs…

Then, at the end of the show I will get to soak up the applause as well. Sometimes I stand there in the booth and just breathe in the energy of the crowd. It fills my lungs as if I had been holding my breath for the hours since the show has started. And for a brief moment I am rejuvenated. The silence will come and at that time I will rest.

And tomorrow I will do it all again.