Starting to sound like a show

The beginnings of a show are starting to come together.
Director Duncan Bockus called the whole cast to rehearse again today and focused on songs, but not before providing more inspiring words and some encouraging information.
Artist Maude Cronkite, who has worked on sets for the UU Players in the past, is back again, Duncan told the cast. He said she will be designing the set for Charlotte's Web and doing the painting.
"Maude is a wonderful artist," Duncan raved, adding that she now has her own studio in Hartford and will be doing most of the work there.
Duncan tried to explain that Maude's work will be able to be changed for various scenes and will look "like a bamboo curtain" in how it is displayed -- a task he left to Sam Lanza, tech czar. Sam tried to figure out how the heck he was going to pull that one off.
Duncan also announced that Kim Richard, a talented choreographer who has worked on many UU Players productions, will once again help the cast get all their dancing feet moving in the right direction.
The return of Maude and Kim was music to our ears, but Duncan didn't stop with announcements. He praised the group, telling them they were great last week. Then he put them to work on the music.
Most of the people hadn't seen any of the music until today, but UU Players Committee member Gretchen Fountain, who was listening, sounded pleased when she said it was starting to sound "like a show."
The songs are tougher than expected, though. Veterans, including Steve Theaker, agreed that the music is tricky.
"It's a learning process for everybody," said Duncan. "We're gettin' there. It's a process that is going to take some time."
Nobody worked harder today than pianist Julie Rockmore, who is longing for a second pianist to help share the joy -- and the burden -- of playing the challenging score.
Anybody know a willing and able pianist looking for a way to make the world a better place through theater?

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