Today is the day. In just a few hours we're going to attempt the seemingly impossible: To shoot five dense pages of script in just two hours. Sound easy? Wait a second a listen to the details ;)
These five pages include a dance segment with four professional young dancers. Each of them is dancing to showcase their skills and tell a story of unforgettable characters -- the Mythos. One of the original dancers actually sprained his ankle earlier in the week (not on set) and Cris, our Executive Producer, had to secure his replacement in less than twelve hours. This means that the new dancer has had less than a full day with the script. Another of the dancers had never worked with us before until yesterday.
But does this slow us down? No way.
One of the many incredible things about working with dancers is that they're used to pushing themselves to their limits and beyond. They understand that sometimes you have to completely transform yourself for a performance. In some ways, I think, they know better than any of us, how to be something just a little bit more than human.
If you've ever watched a dancer closely during an intense performance, you may have found it hard to see the person as opposed to the character they are portraying through movement and poise. As a writer (and a wordy writer, at that!), the idea that someone can tell a story with their body -- in silence! -- is nothing sort of transcendent. Now, I understand (and trust me, as a musician -- a harpist -- I do get it) that most dance is accompanied by music. But music evokes emotion. Music sets the stage, builds atmosphere. It is the dancer who tells the story. Everything else is decoration.
As we bake cupcakes and organize rides to and from CSTOCK, the beautiful community theater space at the Silverdale Community Center, I know that many of you are preparing your formal black and whites to join us as audience members. It will be a unique Mother's Day, to say the least. It will be a celebration, really, of a project that began, after all, as a daughter's request of her mother: "Mama Jenn, would you write me a ghost hunting show?"
For you, Faith? Anything.
When disabilities become super abilities, young heroes prove what's real and what's ridiculous. Visit our website at tinyurl.com/ghostsniffers or join us on Facebook at tinyurl.com/ghostsniffersFB
