I was lucky enough to sit in on the first few hours of tech for Keegan Theatre’s upcoming production of Hair.
For any show, the first day of tech is a giant leap: The work lights are turned off, the stage lights are turned on. The cast gets a first taste of what it is to be in the show instead of in rehearsal. The creative team begins to combine set, lights, sound effects, and blocking to form the show the audience will see. It’s big and scary and new and strange.
But it can also be long and dull and enervating: As cue sequences are tried different ways, fine-tuned, discussed, and rewritten. All of this work is frequently slow and arduous, but also necessary, and a professional team and cast understand this and stay focused through all the downtime, because they know that precision and greatness can only come after patience and persistence.
In these photos, you won’t see wigs or costumes, as those didn’t show up until the next day, but you will see the choreography and the lights and the set all beginning to take shape, and to capture this show’s first steps towards completion, and possibly greatness.
“Hair” at the Keegan (right off Dupont Circle) is an incredibly well done production. Acting, singing, dancing, set, orchestra, lighting — plus the book and music/lyrics are all great.
If you’ve never seen it before, go. It’s a powerful piece of theater about an important period in our recent history.
If you have seen it before, go again to see a great troupe. You will not be disappointed.