Thoughts from Nick Potenzieri, the assistant director for this summer’s Musical Theatre Lab productions at Barrington Stage. He also assistant directed Pool Boy and is currently working on The Memory Show. Nick is currently a 2010 Drama League Music Fellow.
As a part of my Drama League Music Theater Fellowship, I have had the opportunity to work here at Stage 2 on The Memory Show. I get the chance to assist director Joe Calarco as he works with the talent company of writers, musicians, designers and cast of this beautiful and moving musical.
We are currently and excitedly in the process of moving the show from the rehearsal room to the stage. The company has worked hard over the past couple of weeks to take the show from its starting point to where it is now. There have been long discussions about who the characters of the play are in relation to each other and the audience and also
what is the tone of piece. The writers have made cuts and edits to the text give the play it full impact.
It a tricky thing preparing a script for full production. So many elements from staging to lighting can tip the play and its effectiveness to take an audience on a journey from to one direction or another. It has been amazing to watch this group of talented artists work to honor this touching piece. To make sure that what is felt when you read the play is also sensed when you see the it at Stage 2
It is my job to support the director and the company in any way that is needed to keep them moving forward in this process. The days to come will be full of technical elements. Putting the finishing touches on the set, finding the right lighting and figuring out how the actors can work with them.
It is a time of sink or swim in a production: you start to see if what you have worked on floats. After spending time with this great company I expect it will fly.