To quote a “Dilbert” cartoon: the employee of the week award goes to Alice for boldly trying the door knob.” Thank heavens for my friends and especially for my friend Stephanie. Without them I would be nothing.

I started the load in process for “Strange Fruit” yesterday. The redone Memorial Hall is just posh. I remember it from my days as an undergraduate at UNC, and it was awful: no real dressing rooms, almost no back stage space, no fly system, no pit… the list of nos continues. Now, fantastic dressing rooms with lots of light and makeup mirrors, large bathrooms with showers, two “star dressing rooms” for individuals. Having read some of the contract riders for musicians that are posted on the Smoking Gun website, I can tell you that some stars demand a dressing room all to themselves. Shades of Virginia Woolf, I guess. There is a large area for meeting or a lounge near the dressing rooms.

Now that the encomium for Memorial is done…

My friend Stephanie agreed to help me with load in last night. With my Mother temporarily out of the game recovering from her hand surgery, I knew there was no way I could handle it all on my own. The first thing I did was make my LOTOD (List Of Things tO Do). I noted where all of the costumes for “SF” were, be it my house, Mother’s, or my car. I listed what I needed to bring from various locales like my sewing machine, an iron, seam rippers, scissors, etc… I made sure I had time to snuggle with the Tiger Kitten before I left the house, because I knew it was going to be a long night ahead of me. I got to Memorial and there was no one around that I could see, and no doors open that I could find. I did not, however, try the one door that I was told in an email to try. I made some phone calls, I left some messages, I started the crossword puzzle in the “Daily Tar Heel” while waiting for Stephanie. I thought about food…

Stephanie arrived and we went to dinner. I like Franklin Street Pizza and Pasta, so I know where I am going to have dinner tomorrow night as well. While we were walking back to Memorial I worried about having to start late if the building was not going to open until 7.00. We got to our cars, and Stephanie looked at the loading dock and asked “did you try that door.” Up she goes, turns the knob, and the rest is history—hence the “Dilbert” reference above.

The first thing we did was go downstairs to the dressing area. There is one huge dressing room that can be split into two spaces. We will do the split and the choruses will be housed there. For right now, it is my base camp. We walked around, counting dressing rooms and locating rolling racks. Then we unloaded my very full car! We used one of the rolling racks and made trips back and forth. Then I started to separate out the costumes on to racks so I knew what I needed to do with each one, what needed fitting, what needed alterations, what was ready to go, and the like. I had a ton of shirts and pants I had purchased at various places for the men in the show. Those all got hung up and I put out the shoes I bought on my Saturday shopping spree. Then I started getting people down in my lair so I could do fittings! Charles is now done! Robert needs one pair of pants altered, I need to sew buttons for braces on Jermaine’s pants…. All of the things I need to do are written in my trusty notebook. The most important thing that needed doing was that I needed to fit Jason McKinney in his costumes. He is stepping into the role of Big Henry with a short notice. Jason is a large young man, but it was so easy to work with him. I have to locate another pair of tux pants (found!), a larger tux shirt (found!), larger tee shirts, but the white coat I have will have to do. Vintage white coats are a rare find. This one just fits. The problem is that they yellow with age. From the stage that is okay with the lights. Now I just need to find a … wait, I do not want to give anything away! To find out what else I need to find for Big Henry you will just have to come and see the production.

One member of the chorus came down stairs to look at things and saw all of the racks. "Did you do all of this on your own?" she asked me. "It is like loaves and fishes." I am amazed at the amount of stuff for this show. So many dresses and pants and shirts and suits.

I got the dressing room assignments done and emailed Corwin the list so he can tell the cast members where they will be living for the next few weeks. I cannot believe that our first dress is a week from yesterday! I put out the costumes that I could in the person's dressing room. My work space looks a little emptier!

Stephanie and I got lots of things done, and I have a long list of things left to do. I know how I am spending lunch today and tomorrow and the next day…

Have a super day folks!
David