The Lead In To Opening Night

Monday night was the last rehearsal before hell week. Now things start to get really interesting!!!

Hell week is, of course, the week before a performance opens, be it a play, a musical or—as in our case—a concert. The more polite term is tech week. In practical terms, the week ushers in longer rehearsals, and more of them.

We continue to practice our concert numbers, working out any final problem areas and fine-tuning such things as dynamics and cut-offs. The most significant difference from previous weeks is that we no longer hold music. Everything must be memorized.

But singing is only a small part of the action this week. It’s the time when we work out all the technical elements. For the singers, that means focusing on blocking—where we are to be and when. This includes everything from positioning on the risers to how to get on and off the stage in an orderly manner, from where to stand for special numbers to how to pass the microphones from one soloist to the next. 

We are also working with the band for the first time. Trust me on this, it’s an adjustment period for both singers and band members as we get used to the differences created by the combined sound and learn how to make them work for us. The director has to figure out the proper balance so the band doesn’t drown out the singers, or vice versa. Tempos have to match or the entire production will be a hot mess. Which instruments should accompany what numbers? Do we need a drum solo? The list goes on.

There are other technical elements to contend with, too. So there are numerous stops in the rehearsal process as the lighting technician adjusts the brightness and color of the lights to accommodate the look and feel of the song and their positioning as it relates to different Singer groupings. Meanwhile, the sound technician is puzzling over the ever-changing volume control needs of the band, the Singers and individuals, not to mention, how to make seamless transitions from one sound level to another.

The idea of hell week is to have all the technical aspects perfected before the dress rehearsal, when the Singers will don their performance attire, and the director will takes us through the entire show without stops … hopefully. I won’t bother to tell you how many times the perfect, without-a-single-stop dress rehearsal actually takes place.

“Light, Camera, Christmas” will be performed at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street in Herndon on Saturday, December 7th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 8th at 2:00 p.m. This is a new venue for the Singers and seating capacity is limited to 72 seats, so sell-out crowds are expected.

Purchase tickets online at www.herndon-va.gov/webtrac or drop by the Herndon Community Center at 814 Ferndale Avenue in Herndon. Unsold tickets, if any, will be available at the door on the day of the performance. The price is $12. 

For additional information, call the Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation Department at (703) 787-7300.