Every actor has mixed feelings about tech week, some people dread it and some people love it. It definitely comes out of no where, I mean wasn’t it like yesterday you were just auditioning and having your first rehearsal and now the show is only a week away!
1. Excitement
There is nothing more exciting than hearing the musical numbers played with the orchestra for the first time or performing with a full face of stage make up in crazy costumes.
2. Stressful
There is nothing and I mean nothing calm or stress-free about tech week. 99% of the time tech week is happening when there are a million other things going on in your life like school, work or both and you have to balance everything. But you will make it work because you love theatre, duh!
3. Exhaustion
Literally by at least day two of tech week you’ve stopped wearing your contacts during the day and just wear your glasses because you are too tired to put in any effort. You dose off during classes or work and are trying to just make it through the day so you can get to rehearsal. But then you remember you have like three days left of this and decide that maybe if you just close your eyes for two seconds no one will notice.
4. Lovey
There comes a point where everyone is tired, hungry, and instead of smelling like perfume you smell like a bottle of hairspray and sweat and you literally just love everyone. You tell them, you hug them, its just a giant love fest that’s what happens when you’re together like 60% of the day, every single day.
5. Happiness
When you finally nail that step you’ve been tirelessly practicing or hit that note that’s always been a pain or finally remember that one line you always forgot and you just get really happy about it. The smallest things make you happy like finding a leftover slice of pizza in the refrigerator, am I right?
6. Sadness
You realize that you only have the chance to perform this show, with this cast only a few more times and you don’t want it to end! You don’t want to stop wearing your stage makeup or wig or costume, especially the costume. At this point you never want it to end!
7. Gratefulness
At the end of tech week, everyone really does become a family and a special bond is created with this specific cast and crew and show. You feel so lucky to have the opportunity to perform with so many talented friends. It doesn’t matter if you’re the lead or ensemble you’re happy to be able to be up on that stage, and at the end of the tireless week and that final rehearsal you realize that all the time put into this amazing show is worth it!
Here’s to the extra long nights, tired days, leftover food, lots of caffeine, group hugs, heart to hearts, and some of the best memories you’ll make!
