End of January

It has been a really crazy week and a half for me here in Boston. I meant to write at the end of last week, to try and start writing more often, but I was busy from 7am to 11pm almost every day.

At the Huntington last week, we finished up set pieces for the next show-- A Raisin in the Sun-- and stayed busy with projects in the shop. The set for the next mainstage is a big turntable with slatted walls forming a few different locations. We framed the walls and then spent several days working with lathe, a shitty, splintery type of wood sold in moldy strips. We bleached the lathe and dried it for a few days before attaching it in carefully spaced intervals on the walls.

assembling and test-fitting walls in the shop for Raisin

We also built and installed a new rack to store different types of molding; cleaned and organized; all the things that pass time until we have drawings to build or a show is ready to be taken down. Mostly, I worked on replacing and repairing house seats...a process involving taking part of the seat off (seat back or seat bottom) that is ripped or very worn; tearing off all the old coverings; and then reupholstering it with a layer of flame retardant material under the velour. Luckily the costume department helps us out with any sewing, so we mostly fit and staple the pieces all on.

At night, I drove about an hour to Marlborough, MA to start working at Bent Productions, a contractor shop run by a young couple. They had built the set for Of Mice and Men, for which I was an electrician, but sent them my resume anyway, and lo and behold they needed the help. So I started work out there last week, and worked all this weekend, making for some very long hours on The Turn of the Screw, performing at the Majestic Theater in Boston.

The week wasn't all work and no play, however! I was lucky enough to see some friends Friday and Saturday nights. My friend from Vermont was visiting Friday, and her jacket and jewelry were stolen at a bar that night :( but it was so good to see her. I also visited a liquor store not far from me, Joe's Liquors in Somerville, and they not only often have my new favorite beer in stock (Corsendonk) but gave me a bunch of suggestions to similar beers and pointed out that their "Make Your Own 6 Pack" is cheaper than buying a 6 pack of one type. Win!