In keeping with our now tech/dress-rehearsal-week tradition, we give you the ten things that happen on show week:
The volunteer who probably benchpresses ….um, let’s just go with “a lot” because he faithfully shows up every concert to lift and carry. As in, Jonathan’s been known to lift and carry a riser, effortlessly. (Now you know why we went with “a lot.”) He also shows up with a coffee to-go cup the size of a mini-keg.
At least one singer will walk in late because they forgot we weren’t at the usual place. No one laughs, because everyone’s done that at least once.
“Oh hello there, and welcome to the Vienna Choral Society!” Our artistic director, Jennifer Rodgers says that at least once during every tech week to some section that finally finds its groove after weeks of somehow not getting that one note. It doesn’t matter which, because every section has heard it at least once in the last three seasons.
No messing around. Everyone brings their A-game to this week. Which means Jen will also say something to the effect of, “If you’re gonna do something odd, do it now!” (Cue key singers, who never lose an opportunity to crack wise or be deliberately odd.)
The ukulele player’s cheat sheet – let’s just say there’s a lot of tape involved in keeping a two inch piece of paper secured to her sleeve.
Kerthfluddd!! That is the official noise your music makes when it falls out because you picked up your folder the wrong way. Bonus points if it happens during a quiet moment between warm up and the first piece. Which leads us to….
The unintentional solo! Oh how we live for that. Only during dress though. Not otherwise, nuh-uh.
The sole female tenor sticks out in the crowd, not because she’s female or front and center, but because she has rhythm and sways. You go, Ms. Carol!
In the category of things that only make sense if you’re there – because otherwise they just sound fascinatingly weird: “Jen, are we still yowing at the end of that?” The answer is yes. You’ll just have to come to the show to see what we mean.
More in the you-had-to-be-there category…..
Jen: “Sound like a radio!”
Choir: “Ooh, can we get some static?!”
Jen: “Yes! In fact, sound like a radio in the other room!”
And finally, even though this makes 11, we must share the most highly technical music direction bit of the evening: “It’s almost there! But it needs to be whooshier, with the eyebrow dance!” (We’re so not making that up.)
Really, it’s going to be such a fun show, and such a great start to another exciting season! Tickets are still available online, and will be until Saturday morning. After that, you’ll have to get them at the door.
We sing 7:30 pm, Saturday, October 18, 2014 at UUCF (the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA 22124). Come along for the ride, stay for the post-concert reception – courtesy of the generous folks at Whole Foods Vienna.
Tickets are $25/Adults, $20/Senior(65+) or Student (15-18), free to youth 14 and younger (if accompanied by a paying ticket holder). Season tickets are $85/Adults and $70/Seniors and Students. Doors open 7:15 pm.
Join us, won’t you?