Two things that occur to me during auditions and our initial set building phase.

1. One of the keys to making TREASURE ISLAND work is truthful acting. This means actors must not only look the part, memorize and speak their lines clearly...each actor must believe that what is happening is truly happening, and that the consequences (re: stakes) for each is great...desperate...life and death. Even now, within the audition process, actors who bring a sense of truth to their readings stop me cold. (Thusfar, standouts in this respect include Tommy Greer, Shannon Luttrell, Catherine Martin, Michael Realmuto, and Nicole Schmidt.)

2. Our set will be remarkable. Seriously guys...they've never seen a set like this at J.L. Mann. They key, I think, is the way we will bridge that chasm between stage and audience by constructing a massive thrust addition...a ship's hull and deck. There is a considerable architectural problem with our stage (and most other proscenium-style school auditorium stages). There is a fifteen to twenty foot gap between stage and front row of audience seating. This is an daunting expanse for actors to overcome. It has hampered any production that has ever taken plan in this auditorium. But it will not hamper ours.

Incredible to think that by this Thursday our play will be cast and the stage addition will be completed. Wow. Can't wait!