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Just finished our first full dress rehearsal of Rent with lights, sound, band, costumes, make-up, the full nine…

IT ROCKS!

I know I’m biased … I’m in it. But when all of the pieces of the puzzle come together you don’t just feel the magic for a moment or two, you feel it for the whole show. And that’s amplified even more because the whole cast is on the stage for the entire performance. Even when it’s not your song you are still a part of the show and the experience.

That has actually been the more interesting twist to the show, being in the moment even when the moment isn’t yours. There is a song in the show called “Support Group,” and that has been the metaphor for the entire show.

We all need each other.

As the characters go through their ups and downs, fighting with a lover, learning to trust a new relationship, keeping your body strong, they can’t do it alone. So the soloists need to feel the cast behind them to support their journeys.

However, there’s still one cast member that hasn’t shown up yet. The audience.

We had some of the crew in the audience at our dress rehearsal to offer themselves up to the claps and the whoops, but it won’t be the same until there’s a packed house.

So some notes for you audience members out there:

No. 1: It’s going to be LOUD. The acoustics in the Performing Arts Studio are awesome for this kind of show and we plan on taking full advantage of that.

No. 2: If you feel uncomfortable being pointed at, stared at, or personally addressed by the performers … don’t sit in the first five or so rows. Think of it like the musical theater equivalent of the splash zone at Sea World. The cast plans on making this show as intimate and interactive as possible with the audience.

No. 3: Get your tickets now! You won’t want to miss it!

Thursday, September 30, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 1, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 2, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 3, 2:00 p.m.

For more information, call 404.727.5050 or visit www.arts.emory.edu.

-- Becky Herring 08C, events coordinator, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts