The huge Singing Christmas Trees are under construction at the First Baptist Church. The structures are 45 feet high and will be used as bleachers for a chorus of 250 singing ornaments when all the work is complete. The steel girders of the structure fit together in an intricate pattern and the planning that goes into the construction is mind boggling. Scaffolding was put up first behind the trees which allows easy access for the workers. The vertical supports had to be wiggled into place by teams of men working in unison. I felt a little uneasy when I was on the stage. While the vertical steel girders were being fit in place they could conceivably fall forward. One worker shouted “If it falls be sure to push it towards the scaffolding.”
Bill Keller wanted to see what I was working on. He explained that he and his father had been working on the trees since they were first assembled in 1980. “Building these trees has been something of a family tradition.” He said. The trees had been on hiatus for 3 years but today they are back and better than ever. Bill and his father were bought back as consultants. His father can be seen in the sketch sitting on stage.
Jeff Atkisson took me to a back room where he has a miniature 6 foot high version of a tree setup and he is using an audio editing computer program to set up the lighting effects on the trees. This process is inspired and amazing!
Trees Rehearsal – Ring Those Bells!
Here Suzanne the choreographer leads the core drama and dance group in a high tempo sort of jazzy rendition of “Ring Those Bells“. This is an over the top Broadway dance number with lots of jazz hands and fancy footwork. There was plenty of excited energy as everyone learned the steps. Suzanne said that everyone should try and keep moving through the routine even if they miss some of the steps. There would be plenty of rehearsals to come where the details could be refined and worked out but for now she wanted to block in all the moves and keep moving forward. The group started as a large triangle and then split into two halves before rejoining and ending with everyone striking a dramatic pose then stretching that pose further reaching for the sky.
Suzanne had to work with the core dancers in another studio and at that point Aradhana had Rebeca come to the front and take over the rehearsal. Rebeca did a great job of getting the group to really stretch and expand their capacities in one that one part of the routine. Later when Suzanne returned and asked everyone to go through the number one more time she was shocked and grateful for the improvement. When the rehearsal ended everyone joined hands and Suzanne prayed for relief for any aching muscles resulting from all the stretching and dancing that day. She asked that everything learned would stay fresh in everyone’s memory and that they all gain confidence as they continue to practice at home. She then asked that everyone be guided home safely. She stressed that her heart was overwhelmed with gratitude for all the hard work and joy expressed in the days work.
The Trees – Viewpoints
The second rehearsal I attended was with the core drama group. Aradhana, the director, got things started by having the actors walk on a grid inside the taped off area that outlined the dimensions of the stage. She said “Stop thinking, let things happen naturally in the moment.” I find myself looking to stop thinking and analyzing as I try and loose myself in a sketch. She then asked the actors to “explore gesture, and think of the space you are moving through.” “What are the spaces you explore?” My sketches of this show are suddenly exploring larger and more grand vistas. She then asked them to adjust their tempo. She didn’t want anyone moving at a medium tempo she wanted to see the extremes. Some actors moved imperceptibly while others were close to a run, actually Rachael was running.
The director said “find something about someone else to copy and make your own.” Then she asked the actors to gradually over time to discover one movement where everyone moved as one organism. This is the aspect of the exercise that always amazes me. after a while the whole group was holding hands and moving side to side. Hands went up and down in a wavelike undulating pattern around the circle. The actors were then given the cure to break away from the group when they felt like it. Music was added into the mix and soon actors were snapping fingers and moving with the grace of dancers. As the music built in tempo the actors were jumping and swaying to the beat.
The director had everyone sit down in a circle. She pointed out that everything in theater is created to build tension between characters. She said that the largest motivating factors are always about love, war or spiritual concerns.
The actors were separated into 8 groups. Each group was given a scenario to act out. The actors were given free reign to act the scenes out as they saw fit. The room bustled with creative energy. They were given some time to discuss how they might build their scenes. Then one by one the scenes were staged with the remaining actors seated around the director to enjoy the show. There was loud applause and often laughter after the director ended each scene. She then offered suggestions on how to pace the scenes faster with more motivation. On the second run through the scenes were almost always clearer and more entertaining. This was a pure joyous game of inspiration and motivation. The director pointed out that notes are not a bad thing. She asked that once a note was given that the actor say thank you and repeat the note so she knew they had heard it.
The scenes were, City People, Airport scene, a loving couple, fighting family, diva desert, decorators and carolers. Once all the scenes had been rehearsed individually, the director asked that they overlap the actions on the stage just as they had in viewpoints. She would cue the next scene when she wanted them on the stage. This was tried a number of times and then the song “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” was added. Suddenly the scenes flowed with the music choreographed by pure instinct.
The director shouted out “Alright everybody one more time, Restore!” The actors all shouted back “Thank you Restore!”
The Trees – First Rehearsal, Full Comapany
When I entered the First Baptist Worship Center, Aradhana, the director, had everyone doing a rather fun exercise. On one side of the large room individuals were holding 4 signs , Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, and Disagree. She asked simple questions and everyone was asked to run to the sign that matched their answer. For instance she asked ” Is Christmas your favorite holiday?” Most of the crowd of actors ran toward “Strongly Agree” with the children running the fastest. After a long list of questions people were getting tired. She explained that the exercise was used to point out how we are all individuals from different backgrounds but as a group the core values are very similar.
A large staging area was then set up in the middle of the room with 4 chairs marking the corners. What followed was a viewpoints session exploring time, space, shapes, tempo and pacing. The actors were asked to walk the space in a relaxed neutral pace. Then the director would make suggestions which affected how people walked. For instance she said ” Imagine you are walking to work to quit your job.” “You are walking in the airport to be reunited with the love of your life.” She advised everyone to be aware of the space around them. She wanted then to fill the space as a group. Then she asked the actors to either walk very fast of very slow.
She then told everyone that “You are going to meet the Messiah.” At this point an actress came to the corner of the space where I happened to be sketching and she knelt down in front of me. Others joined her and soon there was a crowd of worshipers before me. They were all looking at a point just above my left shoulder. I had to turn to look. There was nothing there. It was as if they all saw someone standing right behind me and I just didn’t notice him. If he was looking over my shoulder, I hope he liked my sketch.
Next the actors were asked to only walk in a grid pattern. She asked “How do others movements affect your own.” “Discover gestures or shapes as you explore the grid.” “Get addicted to copying something about someone else.” Soon pairs and then small groups were imitating each others movements. She asked the group to gradually find a group leader. Over time the group started to move as a whole like a flock of birds. Slowly everyone formed themselves in kneeling fetal positions. Then one woman rose up and started snapping her fingers. the energy of the group built with everyone snapping their fingers and joyously dancing around the space. The fact that professional dancers were in the group made the groups movements fluid and beautiful. Something choked me up about this unrehearsed spontaneous expression of joy.
When the exercise was over she explained the viewpoints helps actors look at the bigger picture rather than focusing on the self. For long periods she was silent. She explained that during those times the actors are forced to stop thinking and just be. As a group the exercise helped build trust among the actors even though they had never worked together before.
The Singing Christmas Trees – Habor Room
The First Baptist Church in Orlando holds a huge Christmas show called “The Singing Christmas Trees” each year. I have never been to the show before, but this year the director, Aradhana Tiwari, invited me in to witness how this huge production is put together. First Baptist is a large complex with many buildings and I got a bit lost trying to find the Harbor Room where the auditions were to be held.
When I entered she was explaining to everyone how the auditions were to run. In the hallway there were a series of rooms each assigned a specific task. One room was for measuring actors for costumes and others were for various paper work that needed to be filled out. A release had to be signed which would allow the church to broadcast the show on National Television. Everyone was issued a number, I was number 60, so I am assuming there are at least 60 actors in this cast. Aradhana’s mom was put in charge of all the children. She had sock puppets made and the kids might stage a mini play satirizing their parents roll in the production.
When everyone got back from all the paperwork and measurements, Aradhana asked them to stand in a large circle and hold hands. She prayed on every one’s behalf that any nervousness or actors jitters might be calmed. She asked that everyone in the room be able to serve with a glad and open heart.
There was a break before the dance auditions began and I had a chance to talk with a dancer named Rachael. She came to Orlando thinking it would be a good place to get her actors equity card but it has been years and she is still working as a temp for Disney. She came from a small town with a small Lutheran Church. She is a member of First Baptist now and finds it a contrast to the small church of her youth, but she loves the theatrical aspect of the place.
Concert at First Baptist Church
The Sunday night concert at First Baptist Church featured performing artists Al Denson and Kari Jobe. I went to this concert not knowing what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. Periodically the crowd would rise to their feet and raise their hands swaying to the music. I remained seated and continued to sketch. The concert was used as a fundraiser to try and build a church in Haiti. Apparently you can build a church for just $20,000. The importance of trying to break the stronghold of voodoo practiced in the region was stressed. A card was handed out at the entry doors which asked everyone to sponsor a child in Haiti to help with their education. As the music was performed the lyrics were signed to the audience on the right by a young woman standing down in front.
The music was resonant and joyful. I found myself singing along to “Amazing Grace”.
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see…” If I were to hear the songs out of context on the radio they could be taken as simple love songs. Kari between songs said “We are all so busy doing instead of just being.” Once I figured out the words to each of the songs I sang along just as I often sing at the top of my lungs while listening to my car radio. “I give all I have and more.” I know that you are for me, I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness.” I feel the warmth of your embrace, your all I want, your all I ever needed.” I sang, holding some notes for so long that my breath was fully exhausted, then I inhaled deeply reaching for the next note. There is something completely satisfying to surrendering then reaching once again in song.
After 3 hours of this music, my butt started to tell me it was time to go. My sketch was complete so my job or purpose for the night was done. I looked for an exit from the balcony where I was seated but the stairs went down and then back up leaving me back where I started. I found the only way out would be to walk down the long flight of bleachers in view of everyone in the worship center. I quietly left during a prayer hoping most people would have their eyes closed. I still felt like everyone might be watching as I made my way to the door.
First Baptist Church Stage Lighting
Here a light is being adjusted that will shine down a light fabric column. To move around the stage you often have to duck down to avoid hitting your head on the booms. In all three large booms were used to set the stage for the upcoming concert. The one being worked on here is the center boom which holds the bulk of the stage lighting. The boom behind it would hold a shear fabric curtain which would be used as a backdrop. The smaller boom in front would hold the front edge of another bolt of fabric which would drape out towards the audience sort of like a lean to tent.
Jeff checked and double checked the lighting electrical connections and he found quite a few that had been set up wrong on the first go around.
I was sitting on the stage floor while I did this sketch. The front boom had LED lights on it that were on and pointed right in my direction. Those LEDs changed colors constantly creating an ever changing light display on the stage. Having spent so much time watching the work that went into setting up the lighting, I decided I had to go to the concert on Sunday to see the final design all set up.
As we said our goodbyes Jeff introduced me to his whole crew. I showed them all the sketches and some crew members were tickled to see themselves in a sketch. Jeff looked around and asked who was wearing the purple tee shirt. Actually no one was wearing a purple tee shirt I just picked that color since it seemed to work at the time.
War of the Worlds – First Baptist
An alternate rehearsal space had to be found for War of the Worlds rehearsals. Aradhana arranged to rehearse in the cavernous choir room of the First Baptist Church of Orlando.
It is not nap time for the actors. In this scene the public is lying on the ground after the Martian invaders have sprayed a poisonous gas over the human population. The audio playing is of someone changing 1930’s radio programs quickly. The actors coughing rise from their positions. Some actors exit the stage. The radio settles on a broadcast of German marching music and two members of the cast march toward the front of the stage. The effect is chilling and it makes you realize why hysteria was so easily triggered in these times. The scene is elegantly choreographed and perfectly timed to the music. The actors had to return to these starting positions again and again as they rehearsed the scene over and over. With each run through I would get another actor placed in the space relative to the others. Joshua and other actors have started to joke with me so I have started to feel at home at these rehearsals. Only one week remains until War of the Worlds hits the stage here in Orlando. Shows start July 31st through August 9th. Check the War of the Worlds facebook page for show times.