More Six Flags Fun

Things are pretty great here-- I still have not run over any parade watchers with the trolley, so I am happy.

The process for the show I'm working on, Show Stoppin', is a little different than what I'm used to. Setup for all the shows began in January with the full time staff, then kicked into high gear when the seasonal technicians arrived. Rehearsals began about a week ago as we continued with setup and instead of having tech the week before it opens, we are gradually adding technical elements in as we go. The lighting designer has been programming all week and running cues as the performers work through songs, yesterday they switched from using the original songs to the music-only track and added microphones. Costumes and fly cues will come next week. Since the full tech staff is here regardless, this way of teching a show makes a lot of sense to me. The performers and director have also been really great about working aorund the ladders onstage and machinery noise that's inevitable for us to get everything ready.

This is Buckley, the old hospital building I'm living in for the summer. We made jokes that it looks like it used to be a mental hospital-- turns out, we were right. What I thought were very large closets used to be solitary confinement rooms. Anyhow, it's not very plush but it's got character and I like it.

Once Show Stoppin' opens, my schedule will be awesome. I'll get to work at 3pm and do preshow tasks, followed by running the show four times (it runs about 35minutes) and ending each day with parade! Night Parade is a lot more fun than Day Parade, and it will be really nice to work 3-11pm instead of 9am-5pm.

This is me and Erica (another technician) riding the Batman rollercoaster.

Anyhow, I have the next two days off to kick back and relax a bit. I'm taking it easy tomorrow, getting groceries, running errands, etc., then on Wednesday I'm seeing a matinee of Twelfth Night at Chicago Shakes followed by Jersey Boys in the evening with my roommate, Alli!

All in all, I'm pretty stoked with how this summer is working out.

Visitng downtown Chicago on my day off