BIGGEST SUCCESS: The scene shifts! For a show with only two actors, there are a surprising amount of furniture pieces being moved around (piano, recliner chair, table, bed, etc.), and this venue is very small. For most shifts, our wardrobe crew member lent a hand, which proved to be vital. During Tech, the scenic designer, the PSM, and I choreographed the shifts down to the smallest details (how many steps from A to B? How do we need to set the casters on the furniture? How to we fit everything backstage and our of sight?), even timing it with the underscoring music when we could. We practiced the shifts many many times with small variations between tries, but we found what worked and what didn't, and we eventually fell into a nice rhythm. 

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Bedside manner. Since our venue was so intimate, Maureen (the director) had the three run crew members dress in nurse scrubs with stethoscopes and RN badges. Any time we were on stage, the three of us were in character; unofficially, we decided that I was the nurse mentioned in the script, Connie. To make the scene transitions seem smoother, Connie would often interact with Morrie, for example, helping him from his wheelchair to his recliner, or offering him some water when she moves cleans up.