10/25/10 - 20th Rehearsal

Tonight we blocked everything else involvng Lizzie and Danny, so there's plenty to talk about.
First we blocked a new crossover in Act I, Scene 12, where we get to see me with my band.  Lizzie tries to call me to let me know that the baby has started kicking, and when I answer the phone, the rest of the guys take my phone and run off with it.  It's cool to have that addition to my story.

Next was Act I, Scene 2 and "What Could Better."  This is such a fun scene to do, because while the first scene served as an introduction, this is where we really get to see how these two function as a couple, especially upon finding out that Lizzie's pregnant.  My nature at this point in the story is very caught off-guard;  I remain loyal and supportive, but at the same time I'm absolutely clueless on what to do.  These dynamics will definitely help out when we return to later scenes that we've already blocked.

We moved on to Act I, Scene 7, where I tell Lizzie about the audition for the punk band and put my foot down on her attempts to persuade me not to.  This is a big moment for Danny, because, while not at the same level as the one in Act II, this is the closest thing to a fight we see these two get into by this point.  This is also probably the most I've stood up to Lizzie before, powered by my sense of responsibility, my urge to do what's right, and my need to fulfill my role as the man of the relationship and the father of my child.
Finally, we blocked Act I, Scene 11, our scene at the bus station leading into "I Chose Right."  It's a nice scene for me to overcome my own goofiness in order to be romantic for Lizzie.  There's a great comedic moment where I try to command her to sit, then back down when I see I'm about to cross a line.  The look Mary Kate gives me makes it so hard to keep a straight face.

Overall, tonight felt great having everything come together to complete my story arc.  I can't wait to start run-throughs.

10/23/10 - 19th Rehearsal

Another afternoon of reviewing numbers.  Not much to report.

10/21/10 - 18th Rehearsal

Tonight was cleaned up and reviewed everything.  Marcus was back, feeling better than he did last night.  Not much to update, except for wishing Tabby's broken finger a quick recovery!

10/20/10 - 17th Rehearsal

Tonight we finally staged the "Birth Sequence" and the finale.  Marcus was unfortunately too sick to be there, so Carl had full command of the night.  I like what he's developed for my part of this number.  The main word I'd use is hesitance.  There's this big panic to get Lizzie to the hospital when she starts having contractions, but as soon as she gets me to stop and take in the moment, there's the huge uncertainty of if I'm ready to be a father.  I eventually decide that I am, making the moment I take her hand  much bigger for me.  It's a great way to finally get the character to the final stage of his journey.

And the finale...well, it's a FINALE! It's awesome!

10/18/10 - 16th Rehearsal

We blocked Act II, Scene 6 tonight, which is the scene leading into "Two People in Love."  It goes from having this initial awkwardness into a serious fight into the resolution, which leads into the song about how much they love each other...so, pretty complicated!  Marcus's direction really made something click, though.  The underlying issue with Danny in this scene is that he wants to say one thing: "I love you."  But there's a fear of saying it, and a loss for how to say it.  In fact, fear seems to what be what dominates me throughout the majority of the scene, because that seems to be what drives me to say the things I say during the fight.

The scene works, and with more time and repetition, it will have a really smooth flow.

10/17/10 - 15th Rehearsal

The only part of the night that I was called for was reviewing "Baby, Baby, Baby."  There were a few changes on my part, but not much to report.

10/13/10 - 14th Rehearsal

First order of business for the night was Carl choreographing "Two People in Love" with me and Mary Kate.  It's very playful and energetic, and a lot of fun to do.  The big challenge for me is breathing; I actually had to sit down for a minute to gather myself.  It's a lot of movement with a lot of singing, so I really need to build up some endurance.  A minor challenge was to not make it look so choreographed and make it feel more natural and playful.

We spent the rest of the night reviewing and tweaking the songs we've staged already.