BWW Blog: Cassandra Hsiao - From Page to Stage Part 2: The Joy of Rehearsal

Italian Run

noun

1. A speed run-through with nearly no pauses
2. A team-builder exercise
3. A test to see who has their lines completely memorized-and who has not
4. Laughter, lots of it

See: "Supermarket of Lost"

Theatre is magical. There's no doubt about it. Like with any performance art, the magic perhaps lies in the fact that you can't step in the same river twice-every performance is different, whether we are in a tiny green rehearsal room or in the 99-seat Stella Adler theatre.

Anything can happen on stage-and rehearsal is the time to make mistakes. A line fumble may mean a mood shift more fitting to the scene than the previous ten run-throughs. Getting lost in the moment may result in overly dramatic pauses. Yet this is what theatre is supposed to be: constant experimentation and reinvention while staying true to the source material.

"The most important thing is that you stay in the moment," said Warren Davis, director of my one-act play "Supermarket of Lost." The cast listened attentively, taking down notes on their scripts.

I wonder what goes through the minds of experienced storytellers such as J.K. Rowling or George Lucas when they are asked questions about their extensive (but not always bulletproof) worlds built by pure imagination. I am certain every storyteller feels validated when performers explore and probe the alternative universe-I love answering questions from my cast. I puzzled through the very same questions myself and had to manipulate rules of the world, solve plot problems, and cut out pieces of my script to physically rearrange scenes until it was as infallible as possible in my mind.

The story I dreamt up in my room on late nights is now the very air that the cast is breathing. There's nothing quite like hearing an actor's take on the life of a character outside what is shown on the stage, to hear their backstory or motivation behind a deliberate action or interaction.

We all share the same vision. The cast and crew are one in bringing a whimsical piece to life. I watched as the actors took direction exceedingly well from the director, reiterating notes until the scene felt just right. I also watched the cast do an Italian Run, which resulted in prop and line fumbles, a shouted swear word, and giggles echoing throughout the theatre-of course all in serious preparation for opening weekend, with less than four days to go.

"When the curtain opens on Thursday, we will have to completely trust each other," said Cait Pool who plays Hailee. "We put in the time. We put in the work. Now, we have to trust our preparation."

From finalizing props (which include a Rubik's cube, vinyl Beatles record, and a Swiss Army knife) to figuring out door-slamming mechanics, the technical preparation also comes into play. Thanks to the wonderful crew, stage managers and apprentices, "Supermarket of Lost" will look like the effortless, fantastical place it is supposed to be. Now, the countdown to opening night begins.

Stay tuned for more updates on the final "Supermarket of Lost" run at the Stella Adler this weekend!

Click here to read Part 1 of From Page to Stage.

"Supermarket of Lost"

Written by Cassandra Hsiao

Mentored by Adam Belanoff

Directed by Warren Davis

Cast:

Sloane Siegel as Austin

Cait Pool as Hailee

Grace Bethany

For more information, visit http://ypf.theblank.com

To purchase tickets, visit https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/90/1464753600000

"Supermarket of Lost" premieres the second week of the festival from June 9-12.

Photo Credit: Cassandra Hsiao