Looking Back on the May 1^st Chapter Meeting and Dress Rehearsal for “Iron and Coal”

(Thanks for reporters Don Harrington and Gary Cregan for this report while YeEd is on travel.)

The chapter meeting and rehearsal was fairly unique for the Harmonizers.  It was the first rehearsal of the entire cast of “Iron and Coal” musicians at the Strathmore Music Center in Bethesda, MD. It was also the tech rehearsal for sound and lights.

The sound check for more than 50 instruments and vocalists on the main stage took quite a while, so everyone had plenty of time to review their music, or otherwise get to know the other singers who have joined the chapter for this performance (we talked quietly in the choir loft while the instrumentalist worked).

The Strathmore Music Hall was a hive of activity long before 6 pm as the guys made their way from the parking garage or metro after leaving work early and fighting the rush hour traffic from DC or Virginia.  Some came early and did some shopping or grabbed some grub. Others work nearby and were able to do a full work day and still be on time.  Terry Reynolds and the music team posted the names of each chorus member and their assignments to one of four singing groups and several "families."  Mark Klostermeyer lined us up so we were ready for each group to be called for seating in the choir loft by choreographer Natalie. 

The first third of the rehearsal were dedicated mostly to sound and light checks.  Conductor David Bloom directed singers and instrumentalists to perform parts of show and adjustments were made.  After a break, Natalie Lomonte, production choreographer,  taught us five moves and assigned each of us one of them as our signature move to be used when instructed. After performing the first two movements, we took another break while director Kevin Newbury critiqued our costumes we had chosen in grays and black.  Then we performed and tweaked two more movements.

Our director Joe Cerutti met with choral members (about 75 Harmonizers and 50 women who auditioned for this performance  with us) at the end of rehearsal to give feedback and answer questions, then followed up with an email overnight listing all the changes to the score and important rehearsal notes.  In spite of a lot of "sit and wait," the excitement is building, goose bumps are popping up, and not a few tears have already been shed.  We can't wait to lend our voices to these talented artists and accept the challenge to change some lives.

Until next time – editorjack!

(This message is prepared for your review if you were there, for your information if you had to miss, and as a historical record of the great things going on each week during the 70^th year of the Alexandria Harmonizer Chapter. —YeEd