Grace and Glorie

Gloria Logan and Donna Schulte in the 2001 production of Grace and Glorie.



We started work on Grace and Glorie last Monday--just a week ago. The ladies arrived already knowing large segments of the script. I am very glad they didn't wait until rehearsal started; with only the two characters, there are massive amounts of lines to learn.

After our production here at Tibbits in January of 2001, Gloria and Donna did the show again, produced by Duo Damas Productions (which is Gloria and Joanne Winkleman Hulce---yes, the mother of Amadeus actor, Tom Hulce.) The physical production of Grace and Glorie is from that production.


One of the things we all love about this play is that each time we revisit it, we find it richer than the time before. I love the fact that a number of times in the script, the playwright, Tom Ziegler, did not take the easy way out- the typical movie of the week scenario--NOBODY dies. And for all the talk about death--it's not a show about dying, it's a show about living. And it's funny. I know people hear that it is a show about a dying woman (sponsored by Hospice, no less) and they don't give it a chance. They need to trust us. Why would we pick a bad play when we get to do so few scripts in our lives? If you liked Steel Magnolias, you will love this show.


So for the past week we have been in Diane Godfrey's dance studio rehearsing like mad, while The House At Pooh Corner is in the theatre. And on Monday, we had three shows in rehearsal, for the Little Women cast began to learn their music at one of the local Elementary schools.

We have now moved on stage. Since the set was built to travel, it was put up very fast. We have had the first tech rehearsal--where it's more about getting the phone to ring properly and other sound and light issues than it is about acting the show. Yesterday was the first dress rehearsal. It never ceases to amaze me how putting on costumes affects the show (and how actors act)more than anything else. It's something about looking in the mirror and seeing that "different" person that helps so many actors get a clearer vision of the role they are creating. It was a very good rehearsal. We will do it twice today---and then it's Magic Time.

We all hope to see you at the Tibbits for the great little show that is Grace and Glorie.