Stage Management Apprentice Rehearsal Experience

Each week, Joanna asks our Apprentices to keep journals about reflections in and out of rehearsal. Below are some excertps from our Stage Management Apprentice, Matt Mullen, a Darien High School Senior.

Friday 6/1: Rehearsal after school. Super awesome moment was when we looked up 'yew tree', a term in the text. Turns out it has a totally deep meaning behind it. I was reaffirmed of why I love Shakespeare. We are truly working with a text that transcends anything that has succeeded it. Working with Shake/Sound has also given me a new appreciation of his work by putting so much emphasis on the importance of text and understanding and using the most pertinent text. This is a new way of working with the classics.

Saturday 6/2: Rehearsal all day in preparation for run-through on Sunday! There is lots to be done but the actors have worked so hard it's not going to be a train wreck.   I'm beginning to see our apprentice meetings as class periods with Joannna. I am learning so much about the real world of theatre outside CT! So much more to learn....

Sunday 6/3: Run-through! It was a huge success, in my opinion. I was on book and the actors hardly ever called for lines and the blocking was relatively smooth without seeming overly rehearsed and formulaic. I had to keep reminding myself that we have only been in rehearsal two weeks! The actors exude confidence on stage. 
 
Wendesday 6/5: Rehearsal after school. So much is being worked upon and changed just since the run through. Certain scenes have already become so much more clarified with better blocking and text work. If I'm learning one thing from this, it's that real theatre production moves fast! The actors, the crew; everyone has to keep up with the constant evolution. At first I was overwhelmed by this but gradually I am keeping up better with the fast pace. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be exposed to this so I can learn how to navigate this experience for the future, even in other fields. 

Matt Mullen is a senior at Darien High School and is proud to be attending Emerson College next fall, where he will major in Journalism. Although he wants to be a writer, theatre is his second passion and he is delighted for this wonderful opportunity to be working with such dynamic and talented people here at Shakespeare on the Sound. Matt has been part of community theatre for his whole life and loves every moment of it.

Editor's note: Here are more details on this year's performances of Shakespeare on the Sound in Greenwich and Rowayton.