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Well the Revels year never really ends. In some ways, the Jubilee held three weeks ago represented a kick-off to the Revels year but in reality, it was just one of the way stations in the cycle. The organizational year and the production year run on parallel and similar tracks but have significant differences.
For instance, the organization is moving into the lazy days of summer with the ViVoce concert (Sat. and Sun. June 14 and 15) and Summer pub sing (Sun. June 22) punctuating June. Meanwhile the production team has been meeting and gearing up for auditions occurring this weekend and next. The production team has to hit the ground running in the fall when come Sept. 13 the company comes together to begin rehearsals, so very few lazy summer days for them.
Of course the summer days are really not lazy for anyone. There are many pieces to put together and continued grantwriting and fundraising must occur to ensure there’s a strong storehouse of resources for the upcoming show to draw from.
Come September work on the production begins in earnest with weekly chorus rehearsals, regular production meetings, monthly “mega” rehearsals and intensified work on various production elements: set, costumes, props, etc.
The organization manages to squeeze in a fall equinox pub sing and a harvest celebration before the office turns its full force to marketing and development for the show. Pricing options, ticket flyers, and other forms of marketing take the foreground as Portland Revels staff and volunteers work to get the word out on this year’s show. And this year, because we have a change of dates and venue, marketing will be extra-critical to promoting the “best Revels yet.”
Time flies quickly in the fall as the pieces come together for the production. December finds everyone in final push mode: production crew, cast and chorus ready to hit the stage; staff and board put in final efforts to secure audience. And quick as stardust it’s over. But not quite. The production team meets to pick apart what went well (and what didn’t), the staff and board review the budget and revenue against expenses. Everyone takes what seems like a quick break and then…..
Back to work developing script concepts, writing grants, developing budgets. Oh and celebrating with the Robbie Burns pub sing (January). Before you know it it’s time for big events, big reveals and big plans to be put in place.
It’s spring, and the Revels year begins anew.