Posts Categorized: Blog

Sweeney Live Blog: T-26

Thursday 7/21 – 6:10 pm We hit the New York Times Temp: 98 (it has to drop soon, right?) I had the pleasure this morning of speaking with Daniel Wakin of The New York Times, and he just filed a lovely blog post about our Hottest of All Operas.  

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Sweeney Live Blog: T-27

Thursday 7/21 – 5:24 pm Rolling out the Gatorade Temp: 98 (still… really?!?) We bought all of the lemon-lime Gatorade in northern Virginia. It is currently deployed in all dressing rooms and under every NSO player’s chair. (Product placement, anyone? I could use an underwriter… “Gatorade! Not Just for Sports!”

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Sweeney Live Blog: T-28

Thursday 7/21 – 4:14 pm Walk the Stage! Temp: 98 (still…) Opera in a multi-use venue has both assets and liabilities. Biggest challenge? One rehearsal. One dress rehearsal? One technical rehearsal? One onstage orchestra rehearsal? Yes. All at the same time. Thankfully, we were set in time for the singers to “walk the stage” this

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Sweeney Live Blog: Intermission

I’m taking a moment to step away from my riveting blow-by-blow of Hot Opera, and I welcome you to spend two minutes with some rehearsal audio and video, interspersed with images from our video projection design. Featuring the rock star Wolf Trap Opera Studio.

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Sweeney Live Blog: T-30

Thursday 7/21 – 2:45 pm Load-in: Props, Costumes, Wigs (& Screens) Temp: 98 Hanging the conductor monitor on the balcony rail. There’s this pesky problem with the conductor upstage of the singers. They’ll be able to catch his cues in the monster monitor on the balcony, or on one of two TV screens in the

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Sweeney Live Blog: T-31

Thursday 7/21 – 1:50 pm Lunch Break Temp: 97 View from backstage right, my satellite office for the next 36 hours. Grabbing a few minutes for a sandwich, some Tales of Hoffmann schedule negotiations, prep for next week’s Instant Opera rehearsals. Oh, and birthday cake. (HB, Babs!)

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Sweeney Live Blog: T-33

Thursday 7/21 – 11:47am Search for this year’s installment of freezable bandanas begins. Temp: 92 Stage management is onstage, trying to make the spike tape stick to the humidity-soaked deck. Company Manager is proceeding to buy all of the available freezable bandanas from sporting goods stores in the metropolitan area.

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