30 Days of NYMF: The Next Step

THE NEXT STEP
by Kevin Remington, Choreographer The Beastly Bombing

Last night, by the luck of Ireland, I got the night off.  I actually had time to cook, fold laundry and start packing.  We're all a bit frazzled just now, but The Beastly Bombing company has been together since May 2006 – some (like me) joined later.  With one or two exceptions, this particular cast and crew has worked together for no less than nine months and most, double that.  The frazzle is expected.

We're completely out of our minds, but a tight family – with all the trimmings, light and dark, that this implies.  It occurred to me that September 16 marks my one year with the company.  I can't believe it.  I'd never say that it's been perfectly delightful at every moment.  But in the big picture, I've had nothing but fun working with these insanely talented, generous, hilarious folks.  They've all taught me so much.  I hope I've done the same for them.

This week we put in a new number - gulp.  Julien Nitzberg (the librettist and Director) and I staged it but it still needs polish.  And no, I'm not telling – see the show and guess – I hope you're wrong.  Roger's made sparkling new orchestrations/musical touches, there are cuts and changes to the script.  So much new and exciting – can we have another week please?  I should know by now – the extra week is a white whale.  We've three more runs of the show here before NYMF.  Tee-hee…

Plenty of dance work remains with seemingly no time or space to do it.  Small things add up:  Those pesky four counts in "Secular Jews", one or two flailing arms in "ZOG is Lost" and what's with the spacing in "Morals of Society" – what was I thinking?  Despite rough spots my money rests squarely on the actors.  Meredith Robinson, our casting director, struck solid gold with this group – bless you.  You and the boys really nailed it.  While I'm testifying – let's thank the powers for Steve Lozier, our supernaturally calm Production Manager and superhuman PSM Julianne Figueroa.  How they manage this herd of cats, I'll never guess.  I'm also convinced that our Producer, Patrick Shields, has grown 46 arms and a big, alien brain.

Twice before this we made major changes to the show.  Never enough rehearsal time – the show was running, so it was tricky.  But the cast always did beautifully – with rafts of new material.  They're a stamping clutch of thoroughbreds.  I know they're unsure about the new course ahead.  But I see that look in their eyes already – these ponies gnash the bit, kick the gate and quiver to run.  Clear the track, get the hell out of the way – they're gonna tear it up, with fiery nostrils and joyful hearts.  I can't wait…