The Parchment

by Taylor Coffman

Loreli Deleon

I figured I’d write a little blog update because frankly every other MTC’er is TOO busy! As I type the whole team is in the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood conquering the great “10 out of 12” cue to cue and then a full run. For those non-theatre insiders, “10 out of 12” is the only day the union allows for a 12 hour work day with a 2 hour break to use for meals. A “cue to cue” is basically the first time lights, costumes and sound are added- so you trudge steadily through the script perfecting each moment. It can be tedious. It’s a lot of hurry up and wait. It’s usually the day the actors only get to say a few lines because the focus is mostly technical. It’s actually a lot like working on a film come to think of it.

With almost 300 tech cues- Ditch is a monster for a “small theatre” production. Today will be an essential, but very long day.

It’s my lunch break at the office, even though I am at my desk tired after a long weekend and drinking an AWAKE Starbucks tea the size of my bladder (as if this will “wake” me up/although it reminds me of the Big Gulps I used to drink during my Psych Lectures in college. The act of drinking kept me more awake than the actual caffeine)… I am feeling a bit lonely.  Although, historically cue to cue makes me want to gouge my eyes out- it bums me out not to be in the darkened theatre for 12 hours.

This week is tech week and a magical part of the process. Starting last Friday night, it means late nights, a lot of stress, a heightened need to problem solve, and lots of excitement. After last night’s rehearsal (which ended at 11pm), I was amazed at the tech team’s energy descending upon the theatre. Suddenly a room that should have been exhausted and ready to go home for a good night’s sleep was a buzz with electricity. Literally and figuratively. The energy with which the team shifted from rehearsal mode to technical mode was strangely infectious.

It’s really been an honor to watch people put their hearts, time, and passion into something that began on my hard-drive. The very first reading was on my friend Christine’s couch in DC a few blocks from the Capital with some college friends (shout out to Mark who read William first and recently suggested how dare I develop a play without him- to which I reply move to LA and come play!). Today, years later it’s like a strange and beautiful version of Frankenstein for me. My role as playwright isn’t as necessary at this point and I am just trying to stay out of everyone’s way. Don’t get me wrong, I still have input, ideas, and a willingness to help. But the tasks of the playwright this week are pretty small comparatively. It allows me to really find the moments to sit back and go “Wow.”

This play now truly belongs to the MTC team and it is incredibly humbling to watch. The process of writing a play is very quiet, cerebral, and isolated. The process of development is very grueling, exposing and enlightening. The process of production is much how I imagine birth to be- messy, wraught with stress and uncertainty, but in the end, it’s full of awe and wonder.

Creating a play is one of those rare art forms that demands collaboration and depends on the strength of community. As we gear up for Saturday’s opening, the final part is required. It’s the very final ingredient in the process. It’s the part I have zero control over.  I hope people come. The audience is essential to this whole thing. It’s the last piece of the puzzle.

And of course, I hope people enjoy it.  After all, I made this for you.

We made this for you.