So it turns out the hills surrounding Drumheller are higher than they appear to be. Having experienced them in the past, this did not surprise me. However, the trek came as a little bit of a shock for some.
I haven't posted for a while, so this is a bit dated, but I feel like it remains true. I am speaking of the Day of the Intense Hike.
For those who have not been to the valley before, surrounding the theatre are large hills. The taller ones take you up to the prairie land; where the rest of Alberta lies. This is what we climbed.
It all started when three of us decided we would go for a hike some time in the near future. Soon the near future arrived. A few more people decided to join us. Eventually, about 6 of us set out. A seventh, was coming, but he said he would catch up. We started to hike and climb. It was a beautiful day all and all. It was great. And then the complaining started. It was subtle at first. perhaps a little warranted, as they did not know what to expect. I think the Crafty Conspirator and the Savvy Boss were among the most vocal. I'm actually fairly certain they were complaining simply for the sake of complaining. I think they enjoy it, I really do. The Mountain Goat Girl was right in her element. She zoomed off like nobodies business, followed quickly by JI, one of the cast members helping out on site. The Cool Tech Guy had done this hike with me before, so he was practically a pro by now. The first great obstacle was a slight canyon type crevasse with a thick pool of mud lying underneath. It was a feat, but we made it. Next came a large impasse, preceded by a rather large pool of water which was upwards of a foot deep. Plus the mud underneath. It took some griping, teamwork and manouvering, but we all got over it. The path seemed to be a little more friendly from here on. I found a giant hole which the CC called a plotting cave. I used large amounts of energy getting out, but I feel it was worth it.
About that time AJ caught up with us. He explained how he would have caught up sooner, had he not fallen and gotten stuck in a large hole on the way. In my mind the event played out much like a made-for-TV Family Channel movie. We greeted him, exchanged gripes, and continued on our journey. Eventually, we reached the top. Everyone was really excited to get there. There was much buzz from everyone. It was an accomplishment. It was not a small hill by any means.
Whenever I climb around here, I always feel this huge sense of God's presence and work in my life. The hills are delightfully poetic. The life of a believer is not an easy one. Sometimes it is lighter, sometimes there are holes and traps and pools to get stuck in. Sometimes it just seems easy to give up. But when you get to the top and look down on the path you just took, with all it's trials and trappings, there is a sense of accomplishment and of sucess. You could drive up the same point using the highway and just as easily - in fact more easily - see the same view we did. But its not nearly as beautiful as the view you see when you've made the trek on your own.
You can see the Passion Play site from where we were. Looking down on it, it looks so small. How much smaller are we to God? And yet still he somehow decided we were worth it. David said in Psalms, "What is man that you are mindful of him? Mere mortal that you think of him? Yet you have made him a little less than the angels, a little less than the heavenly beings." He has given us dominion over the whole of the earth. And yet from that hill, people looked like ants. And how much greater is God than that hill we were on. It's an incredible thought.
The trip down was much quicker and easier. We came down through the Passion Play site. An incredible accomplishment.
We open in three days time. That is so strange to think about.
In Humble Regality,
JB
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tis the Season
I am losing my mind. I'm not really sure why. I think it's God's way of saying "Stop taking everything so serious", only not in the creepy 2008 Batman Movie way. I'm just going a little insane, that's all. Like wanting to have dance parties all the time, or making sounds while sitting at my desk. Or screaming like a 9 year old girl simply because there was a spider. Even if it was the size of my face.
I think what I'm actually losing, is my sense of worry. There comes a point where things are just not worth worrying about. This is where I am at. We're at 14 days until opening night, and things are going well, everything is on schedule, everything is going well. By some miracle, this high-stress environment filled with people who by nature are dramatic, is running smoothly, and calmly, with relatively few hitches. It's a true miracle.
The play is going to be really powerful this year. It is every year I think, but it just seems even more incredible this year. I heard one of the directors yesterday say "this is it". This is a fantastic, moving show. No less than a miracle of God.
I must say, the SM girls have a lot to do with that. They definitely keep a little more sane. The Big Boss Lady is efficient, organized and on top of things. Very handy. The Crafty Conspirator (as I like to call her), is comic relief, and on top of that a hard worker. You can always be sure that things will happen if CC is in charge. Even if she is a little coniving. The one we call the Mood Ring Bandit (alright so I'm the only one who calls her that. OK, I've never called her that. But I do now.) is quick and efficient at whatever task BBL has for her, and she is good at keeping track of what is going on.
This all comes in very handy when working with 200 + players every weekend. Did I mention the dramatic by nature thing? I'm happy things are going as well as they are around here. It makes it easier on someone who is losing their mind.
With lunatic tendencies,
JB
I think what I'm actually losing, is my sense of worry. There comes a point where things are just not worth worrying about. This is where I am at. We're at 14 days until opening night, and things are going well, everything is on schedule, everything is going well. By some miracle, this high-stress environment filled with people who by nature are dramatic, is running smoothly, and calmly, with relatively few hitches. It's a true miracle.
The play is going to be really powerful this year. It is every year I think, but it just seems even more incredible this year. I heard one of the directors yesterday say "this is it". This is a fantastic, moving show. No less than a miracle of God.
I must say, the SM girls have a lot to do with that. They definitely keep a little more sane. The Big Boss Lady is efficient, organized and on top of things. Very handy. The Crafty Conspirator (as I like to call her), is comic relief, and on top of that a hard worker. You can always be sure that things will happen if CC is in charge. Even if she is a little coniving. The one we call the Mood Ring Bandit (alright so I'm the only one who calls her that. OK, I've never called her that. But I do now.) is quick and efficient at whatever task BBL has for her, and she is good at keeping track of what is going on.
This all comes in very handy when working with 200 + players every weekend. Did I mention the dramatic by nature thing? I'm happy things are going as well as they are around here. It makes it easier on someone who is losing their mind.
With lunatic tendencies,
JB
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Little Miss Muffett
Today was a relatively mellow day. Don't get me wrong, it was busy and all, lots to do, but uneventful generally. The most exciting part was when the Ticket Girl caught a frog and brought it in. It nearly escaped, which I personally think would have been great fun for all involved. Great fun indeed. But alas, no such luck, as it were.
Today was nothing like to days ago. The day of the spider incident.
Now, it's no secret that I don't like spiders. I think basically everyone around here knows that. However, I was not the one who freaked out.
It was an average day, everything going well, as per usual nothing out of the ordinary. Then it happened. At first I couldn't figure out why my office mate was freaking out. I knew there was some construction going on outside, and I thought it was about that. So needless to say i was a littloe confused about how a bobcat could create such a stir.
And then I saw it. It was the biggest most disgusting spider ever. It was standing on a paper on her bulletin board. that thing was the size of my face, I swear. More accurately it was about a half inch in diametre. But the point is, it was big. I heard a scream that was less than human, and before I realized it was coming out of me, I was out the door. My OM and I spend a good five minutes frozen in fear. We caused such a fuss, that the Ticket Girl came in. Some help she was in the matter. She spent more time laughing at my coke-bottle weapon than she did trying to do anything. When she calmed down a little, she called the Brash Maintenence Guy, and handed the phone over to OM, who only managed a little whimper.
Eventually BMG came to our office. The unfortunate thing was, by now, the spider menace had dropped behind the desk. Not content with working in a spider infested enviroment, OM made the BMG look for the spider. He grabbed a flashlight and started looking. TG, meanwhile had clamoured up onto a chair for a better view. The problem was, this chair happened to be a rolling chair. OM screamed, and I tried to book it out of the room. TG in a panic tried to jump off the chair. The next few moments came directly out of a made-for-tv after-school-special movie. It was amazing. I ran into the chair TG tried to jump from. Simultaneously, the chair rolled out from under her, into my leg, and toppled over. TG fell to the floor, taking with her two chairs and the Volunteer Schedule white board. Laughter ensued. OM was still afraid, and after some coaxing, BMG made sure OM's purse was clear. BMG then brought to our attention that the spider was probably gone. I refused to stay in there, so I gave OM my coke-bottle weapon, and left.
The SM team, by the way, thought this whole thing was rather funny. Good of them, no?
Fifteen minutes later, BMG paraded the slain spider, inside of my coke bottle. It now sits as a trophy on TG's desk. What a day.
On a brighter note, ticket sales have reached 56% of our goal. Hooray! And my office is spider free once more! Hooray!
In a phobic frenzy,
JB
Today was nothing like to days ago. The day of the spider incident.
Now, it's no secret that I don't like spiders. I think basically everyone around here knows that. However, I was not the one who freaked out.
It was an average day, everything going well, as per usual nothing out of the ordinary. Then it happened. At first I couldn't figure out why my office mate was freaking out. I knew there was some construction going on outside, and I thought it was about that. So needless to say i was a littloe confused about how a bobcat could create such a stir.
And then I saw it. It was the biggest most disgusting spider ever. It was standing on a paper on her bulletin board. that thing was the size of my face, I swear. More accurately it was about a half inch in diametre. But the point is, it was big. I heard a scream that was less than human, and before I realized it was coming out of me, I was out the door. My OM and I spend a good five minutes frozen in fear. We caused such a fuss, that the Ticket Girl came in. Some help she was in the matter. She spent more time laughing at my coke-bottle weapon than she did trying to do anything. When she calmed down a little, she called the Brash Maintenence Guy, and handed the phone over to OM, who only managed a little whimper.
Eventually BMG came to our office. The unfortunate thing was, by now, the spider menace had dropped behind the desk. Not content with working in a spider infested enviroment, OM made the BMG look for the spider. He grabbed a flashlight and started looking. TG, meanwhile had clamoured up onto a chair for a better view. The problem was, this chair happened to be a rolling chair. OM screamed, and I tried to book it out of the room. TG in a panic tried to jump off the chair. The next few moments came directly out of a made-for-tv after-school-special movie. It was amazing. I ran into the chair TG tried to jump from. Simultaneously, the chair rolled out from under her, into my leg, and toppled over. TG fell to the floor, taking with her two chairs and the Volunteer Schedule white board. Laughter ensued. OM was still afraid, and after some coaxing, BMG made sure OM's purse was clear. BMG then brought to our attention that the spider was probably gone. I refused to stay in there, so I gave OM my coke-bottle weapon, and left.
The SM team, by the way, thought this whole thing was rather funny. Good of them, no?
Fifteen minutes later, BMG paraded the slain spider, inside of my coke bottle. It now sits as a trophy on TG's desk. What a day.
On a brighter note, ticket sales have reached 56% of our goal. Hooray! And my office is spider free once more! Hooray!
In a phobic frenzy,
JB
Friday, June 19, 2009
All the cool kids have dance parties...
So today, I really wanted to have a dance party. Reason: Unknown, but it was a must. The girl at tickets laughed at me a lot. I said I wanted to dance. I didn't say I was good at it. It was a good time none the less. Even Brash Maintenance Guy wanted to dance today, I could tell. He was tapping his paintbrush incessantly on my door frame in a rhythmic way. for a long time. It was wonderful, let me tell you.
The whole building was buzzing today. Tickets were rolling in nonstop, people were making phone calls all day, it was great fun. At one point I walked in the room rather boisterously to find a very busy office-mate making a phone call. She was appreciative, as one would expect.
We reached 52% of our Ticket goal. We're aiming for 12 000 tickets sold, and are well on our way. its a very exciting thing. The Ticket Girl bounds in here regularly with a new total.
Even the printer was busy today. in fact, twice I printed something overtop of something else that was going through the printer. It was great fun.
The sky can't seem to decide what the weather should be, so it's gone with cloudy, and yet unbearably hot. It's a beautiful thing, Drumheller weather, it truly is.
And amidst all this busy nature, and to-do lists, there is still time for Dance parties. I like to think that Jesus had dance parties all the time. I bet he was one grooving guy. I mean that in the most cheesy, 80's era dance move kind of way possible. Maybe there will be a dance party tonight at rehearsal. One can only hope.
In groovy fatigue,
JB
The whole building was buzzing today. Tickets were rolling in nonstop, people were making phone calls all day, it was great fun. At one point I walked in the room rather boisterously to find a very busy office-mate making a phone call. She was appreciative, as one would expect.
We reached 52% of our Ticket goal. We're aiming for 12 000 tickets sold, and are well on our way. its a very exciting thing. The Ticket Girl bounds in here regularly with a new total.
Even the printer was busy today. in fact, twice I printed something overtop of something else that was going through the printer. It was great fun.
The sky can't seem to decide what the weather should be, so it's gone with cloudy, and yet unbearably hot. It's a beautiful thing, Drumheller weather, it truly is.
And amidst all this busy nature, and to-do lists, there is still time for Dance parties. I like to think that Jesus had dance parties all the time. I bet he was one grooving guy. I mean that in the most cheesy, 80's era dance move kind of way possible. Maybe there will be a dance party tonight at rehearsal. One can only hope.
In groovy fatigue,
JB
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Reasons I believe God is a Comedian
It was a strange day today. I like to think that God was playing tricks on us. Brash Maintenence Guy is sitting on the other side of the office currently, reading a rather strange book aloud to the people in the room. Most of our tech crew is in the room at the moment; we're having a sort of humour fellowship, reading aloud funny things we find. It's great fun. Looking out the window, the sky is a mixture of cloud and blue. It's a beautiful sight.
As I said, it was an interesting day. This morning was beautiful, warm and clear. It was brilliant. As the day progressed, it got rather hot. The air contitioner in my office decided it was too cold for me and started blowing warm air. Needless to say, I was visited by the BMG who noisily and messily installed a new one. Promptly after this happened, the rain rolled in. And I don't mean a light misting either. It poured. Then the power went. It was great
That's why I think God plays tricks on us. The power would come back on, and then when we thought it was back, off it went again. This happened several times.
And then there are the umpteen times the photocopier will decide to quit. But only when I'm using it. Someone else can fix it, but as soon as I have about 3 of the 15 copies I need, it makes up some reason to stop working. Good stuff.
We're down to the crunch now. Everything that can happen, is, and it's happening right now. It's a terrifying and wonderful feeling all at once. I love every minute of it.
In joyous anxiety,
JB
As I said, it was an interesting day. This morning was beautiful, warm and clear. It was brilliant. As the day progressed, it got rather hot. The air contitioner in my office decided it was too cold for me and started blowing warm air. Needless to say, I was visited by the BMG who noisily and messily installed a new one. Promptly after this happened, the rain rolled in. And I don't mean a light misting either. It poured. Then the power went. It was great
That's why I think God plays tricks on us. The power would come back on, and then when we thought it was back, off it went again. This happened several times.
And then there are the umpteen times the photocopier will decide to quit. But only when I'm using it. Someone else can fix it, but as soon as I have about 3 of the 15 copies I need, it makes up some reason to stop working. Good stuff.
We're down to the crunch now. Everything that can happen, is, and it's happening right now. It's a terrifying and wonderful feeling all at once. I love every minute of it.
In joyous anxiety,
JB
Monday, June 15, 2009
Look at all the people!
Man I'm beat. They worked us hard at rehearsals this weekend. I think everyone was extremely fatigued by the end. Even Brash Maintenance Guy was unseasonably reserved. The weather has been incredible. Hot, sunny, with the occasional saving breeze or cloud cover. Just awesome as far as I'm concerned. The BMG and I had dinner tonight with one of the musicians in the play. We inevitably talked about the play and the people in it.
There are some pretty incredible people in the show. It seems I learn a lot about God being down here, and a lot of that has to do with the people here. There are adherents of every Christian facet here, you hear the stories of people from every walk of life. There are new Christians who are in there 50's and there are mature long believing Christians of the tender age of 17. There are believers, seekers, philosophers, and the totally apathetic. It is truly fascinating listening to everyone's stories and hearing about their different walks with God. I love to sit and listen and just take it all in.
There is something to being quiet and just listening. And not just meditating in the quiet (or in my case listening to the near deafening collaborative buzzing of the coolers in the kitchen and the florescent lighting above me). But I mean in conversation. One of my favourite things to do is just sit and listen to other people talk, listen to their thoughts, and ideas and dreams and beliefs and doubts. Inevitably in a deep conversation, the topic finds its way to God. God has a funny habit of poking in on conversations. If you want to be enlightened as to what a person is really like, what they are made of, getting them talking about God. There's a lot of God talk around the Passion Play as one might imagine. I think the fact that we are portraying a story that is central to the beliefs of so many people, means we are bound to talk about one of the most vulnerable parts of what makes us human. God is so vast and great and complex, that I think in every conversation, we learn about Him. Every person has a bit of God in them, a bit of who God is. We are after all made in His image. A fascinating thing.
I think I'll spend a bit of quiet time meditating on God's complexities. I'll probably be here a while.
In reverant ardor,
JB
There are some pretty incredible people in the show. It seems I learn a lot about God being down here, and a lot of that has to do with the people here. There are adherents of every Christian facet here, you hear the stories of people from every walk of life. There are new Christians who are in there 50's and there are mature long believing Christians of the tender age of 17. There are believers, seekers, philosophers, and the totally apathetic. It is truly fascinating listening to everyone's stories and hearing about their different walks with God. I love to sit and listen and just take it all in.
There is something to being quiet and just listening. And not just meditating in the quiet (or in my case listening to the near deafening collaborative buzzing of the coolers in the kitchen and the florescent lighting above me). But I mean in conversation. One of my favourite things to do is just sit and listen to other people talk, listen to their thoughts, and ideas and dreams and beliefs and doubts. Inevitably in a deep conversation, the topic finds its way to God. God has a funny habit of poking in on conversations. If you want to be enlightened as to what a person is really like, what they are made of, getting them talking about God. There's a lot of God talk around the Passion Play as one might imagine. I think the fact that we are portraying a story that is central to the beliefs of so many people, means we are bound to talk about one of the most vulnerable parts of what makes us human. God is so vast and great and complex, that I think in every conversation, we learn about Him. Every person has a bit of God in them, a bit of who God is. We are after all made in His image. A fascinating thing.
I think I'll spend a bit of quiet time meditating on God's complexities. I'll probably be here a while.
In reverant ardor,
JB
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Time really flies
Did you ever notice how fast time goes? It seems like just days ago I was sitting in a crowded gym writing exams. But it's been a month and now I'm sitting in a big office with only one other person. Even today I've been here for hours, but it seems like just one. Crazy indeed. It's sort of a bittersweet day weather wise. It can't seem to decide what the temperature should be. I'm fairly certain it's just God showing off. I feel like he does that a lot.
We just finished up principle weekend on Sunday, which is the one where the three leads and the secondaries are the only ones called in order to get some stuff out of the way for when the full company is there. It was very productive. But cold. It rained the better part of the weekend. God's timing is perfect though, and the rain was very much need. It still is in the rest of the province. Back home, which is north of Drum for me, there is still a total fire ban in effect. But here when it rains, it pours. And it did just that.
Funny thing about rain is, as crappy as it feels in the moment, and as gross and cold and wet as you get, it is so necessary. It is renewing, refreshing, and revitalizing. In fact as I look out the window right now, I can see the green hill, a hill that was brown until this weekend, begging for exploration. This hill, like the others, knows how badly I want to climb and how little I want to be sitting in an office. But everything in due time.
It's gotten significantly hotter since I started typing. Interesting. The brash maintenance guy is standing in the doorway dauntingly. The office has been buzzing ever since rehearsals started. Everyone is really excited about the show which is coming up in a mere 5 weeks. That's too crazy. Even the mice are excited. There seems to have been an increase during the cold and they are really excited. I hope they get so excited that they go far far away.
God's been good to us. He's bestow so many blessings on this company, I can't even begin to say. Ask anyone around, and they'll tell you this year is really something. Things are happening at such an incredible rate. It's just amazing. I'm in awe daily of the things he does for me personally, and for the Play itself. This will be a phenomenal year.
In humble expectation,
JB
We just finished up principle weekend on Sunday, which is the one where the three leads and the secondaries are the only ones called in order to get some stuff out of the way for when the full company is there. It was very productive. But cold. It rained the better part of the weekend. God's timing is perfect though, and the rain was very much need. It still is in the rest of the province. Back home, which is north of Drum for me, there is still a total fire ban in effect. But here when it rains, it pours. And it did just that.
Funny thing about rain is, as crappy as it feels in the moment, and as gross and cold and wet as you get, it is so necessary. It is renewing, refreshing, and revitalizing. In fact as I look out the window right now, I can see the green hill, a hill that was brown until this weekend, begging for exploration. This hill, like the others, knows how badly I want to climb and how little I want to be sitting in an office. But everything in due time.
It's gotten significantly hotter since I started typing. Interesting. The brash maintenance guy is standing in the doorway dauntingly. The office has been buzzing ever since rehearsals started. Everyone is really excited about the show which is coming up in a mere 5 weeks. That's too crazy. Even the mice are excited. There seems to have been an increase during the cold and they are really excited. I hope they get so excited that they go far far away.
God's been good to us. He's bestow so many blessings on this company, I can't even begin to say. Ask anyone around, and they'll tell you this year is really something. Things are happening at such an incredible rate. It's just amazing. I'm in awe daily of the things he does for me personally, and for the Play itself. This will be a phenomenal year.
In humble expectation,
JB
Thursday, June 4, 2009
And we're off to the races...
Just outside my window there is a great hill, and all the way up are little plateaus of grass and stone. It's a slightly breezy day, the sun is shining beautifully. The breeze is ruffling the grass in a taunting manner as if it knows how badly I want to climb, rather than sit in a stuffy office with an impending workload and constant interruptions (mostly from a rather brash maintenance personnel who shall remain nameless). There is a hawk outside too, with two of it's young. My, God knew what he was doing with the hawk. What a majestic creature. The Passion Play site has a reputation among its patrons for have both hawks and eagles about. They seem to make appearance during certain performances, and when certain people are on stage. God is a special effects wizard.
These hawks though just seem to be gliding about as if they are keeping watch over the site. This past weekend was the first rehearsal for the Passion Play. And what a weekend. It was long, and full of progress. And people! My there were a lot of people. But more than just the work, was the camaraderie and and sense of community among the cast. I have never met the majority of these people, and yet we are somehow already connected. I wonder how many feel called to the show, as I do. I believe that everyone here involved in the show has been called individually by God to do this show, whether consciously or not. But I wonder how many are conscious of it.
Something I noticed this weekend was a sort of pervasive peace all around. It was light, barely visible sometimes, but always there sort of floating above us the whole weekend. Sort of like my hawk friends who have now disappeared over the rockface. There is something special about this valley. Ask anyone who has spend any amount of time here. Like the man and his Golden Lab in the distance. Or our Technician. Or Volunteer Coordinator. Or any of the 300 performers in this years show. There is something incredible about this place, and I think it's going to get stronger over the course of the rehearsals.
The weekend was a tonne of fun, and I look forward with great anticipation to this coming weekend (which starts tomorrow).
One more thing. If anybody tells you about a certain pair of Zebedee Brothers who may or may not have brought about the death of a tiny gopher, they are terrible, terrible liars. Especially of they used to be a stage manager. Or disciple. Or claim to be 'eyewitnesses'. It never happened.
In anxious solace,
JB
These hawks though just seem to be gliding about as if they are keeping watch over the site. This past weekend was the first rehearsal for the Passion Play. And what a weekend. It was long, and full of progress. And people! My there were a lot of people. But more than just the work, was the camaraderie and and sense of community among the cast. I have never met the majority of these people, and yet we are somehow already connected. I wonder how many feel called to the show, as I do. I believe that everyone here involved in the show has been called individually by God to do this show, whether consciously or not. But I wonder how many are conscious of it.
Something I noticed this weekend was a sort of pervasive peace all around. It was light, barely visible sometimes, but always there sort of floating above us the whole weekend. Sort of like my hawk friends who have now disappeared over the rockface. There is something special about this valley. Ask anyone who has spend any amount of time here. Like the man and his Golden Lab in the distance. Or our Technician. Or Volunteer Coordinator. Or any of the 300 performers in this years show. There is something incredible about this place, and I think it's going to get stronger over the course of the rehearsals.
The weekend was a tonne of fun, and I look forward with great anticipation to this coming weekend (which starts tomorrow).
One more thing. If anybody tells you about a certain pair of Zebedee Brothers who may or may not have brought about the death of a tiny gopher, they are terrible, terrible liars. Especially of they used to be a stage manager. Or disciple. Or claim to be 'eyewitnesses'. It never happened.
In anxious solace,
JB
Monday, May 25, 2009
Here comes the sun
It's finally looking like summer again down here. We've been stuck with a string of cold rainy days for the last couple weeks, and finally it's warm again. This is the first time in the last two and a half weeks that we haven't needed to turn on a heater in the office. Brilliant I tell you. Give it a week and I'll be complaining about how hot it is down here. A little pathetic I must say.
Everyone is excited for this weekend. Rehearsals begin really soon - Thursday to be exact. I'm very exciting. So is everyone I think. The first weekend is always a free-for-all. It's a ton of fun, and you get to see all the old people, and meet all the new people. Jesus is there, it's just a good time. And the heat! Hopefully it will be nice and hot. The heat is beautiful. I love it.
Anyway, the office is pretty quiet lately, except for the occasional burst of energy, usually from the SM team. Lots of phone calls. I think it's so quiet because everyone is so busy. Like I am. Which is evident, since I am writing this blog.
In any case, I sure there will be lots to share after this weekend. I look very forward to sharing with you.
In quiet excitement,
JB
Everyone is excited for this weekend. Rehearsals begin really soon - Thursday to be exact. I'm very exciting. So is everyone I think. The first weekend is always a free-for-all. It's a ton of fun, and you get to see all the old people, and meet all the new people. Jesus is there, it's just a good time. And the heat! Hopefully it will be nice and hot. The heat is beautiful. I love it.
Anyway, the office is pretty quiet lately, except for the occasional burst of energy, usually from the SM team. Lots of phone calls. I think it's so quiet because everyone is so busy. Like I am. Which is evident, since I am writing this blog.
In any case, I sure there will be lots to share after this weekend. I look very forward to sharing with you.
In quiet excitement,
JB
Thursday, May 21, 2009
So there I was, minding my own business...
I was sitting here in my office this morning, working away, when all of the sudden... Crash, Bang Boom! Everything Changed!
Stage Management was here.
Alright, so there was no banging or anything like that, but they did make an entrance. I love those girls. There are a great team, and they are good at what they do. Plus, anyone who can put up with 12 would-be disciples on an already stressful day, deserves an award of some sort. I've seen our disciples. Believe me. It's a feat.
The addition of the SM team to our office facilities marks one week until rehearsals begin. That means, as of today, Thursday, May 21, we have 7 - that's right, 7 - weeks until the final dress rehearsal. Tomorrow night, at 6:00 marks exactly 7 weeks until our show opens. A scary thought. And exciting.
The office is buzzing. Administration is filled with nervous anticipation. Tech is anxious. Management is, well, there are no words really. Ticket sales are going strong. The new script is up and ready for this year's performers. Things are moving.
Even the weather seems to be whispering its approval.
In anxious anticipation,
JB
Stage Management was here.
Alright, so there was no banging or anything like that, but they did make an entrance. I love those girls. There are a great team, and they are good at what they do. Plus, anyone who can put up with 12 would-be disciples on an already stressful day, deserves an award of some sort. I've seen our disciples. Believe me. It's a feat.
The addition of the SM team to our office facilities marks one week until rehearsals begin. That means, as of today, Thursday, May 21, we have 7 - that's right, 7 - weeks until the final dress rehearsal. Tomorrow night, at 6:00 marks exactly 7 weeks until our show opens. A scary thought. And exciting.
The office is buzzing. Administration is filled with nervous anticipation. Tech is anxious. Management is, well, there are no words really. Ticket sales are going strong. The new script is up and ready for this year's performers. Things are moving.
Even the weather seems to be whispering its approval.
In anxious anticipation,
JB
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
There is progress in the air
It's getting close to that time of year again when we start rehearsing for the Passion Play. There's an electricity in the atmosphere all over site. It's really an exciting thing. One of our staff was mentioning to me that he thinks it's really going to be a good year. Your know it's funny. I've been doing this show for quite a while now. Every year I find myself saying, "this year is different, this year is even better". This year, I feel this is more true than it ever has been in my experience.
Big things are happening my friends. I dare say that God has big things in store for us this year. I've always felt that. Progress has been the theme thus far. The production team is extremely efficient, the administration team is cooperative and also efficient, and building updates are occurring before our very eyes. It's a very cool thing to watch. And soo the show itself will unfold in a kind of erratic, and yet smooth dance of progression. That's how theatre seems to work, especially around here.
Now to do something about those pesky mice.
With excited patience,
JB
Big things are happening my friends. I dare say that God has big things in store for us this year. I've always felt that. Progress has been the theme thus far. The production team is extremely efficient, the administration team is cooperative and also efficient, and building updates are occurring before our very eyes. It's a very cool thing to watch. And soo the show itself will unfold in a kind of erratic, and yet smooth dance of progression. That's how theatre seems to work, especially around here.
Now to do something about those pesky mice.
With excited patience,
JB
Friday, May 15, 2009
And so it begins
So we're finally into Passion Play season. For those of you who maybe aren't familiar, the Canadian Badlands Passion Play is a dramatic portrayal of the life and ministry of Jesus. This year we have upwards of 120 actors, and a comparable number of musicians and choristers. We are expanding more than ever before, with facility renovations, upgrades, and a revamped script with all the fixings. It's going to be a fantastic year. I am on staff here at the passion play, and I'm in the cast too, so I'm going to do my best to give you the inside scoop to one of Alberta's (and Canada's) largest theatrical events. Let me know your questions, curiosities and past experience stories, and I'll do what I can to dig up some answers.
Tell people about this blog too, and let's expand this thing.
In anticipation,
JB
http://www.canadianpassionplay.com
Tell people about this blog too, and let's expand this thing.
In anticipation,
JB
http://www.canadianpassionplay.com
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