The audience is always the last element added to a production, and especially with a comedy it is a very important one. We have been through two previews now, and the injection of the final element has been tremendously exciting and energizing for us. The audience for our second preview last night was with us right from the start-laughing, clapping, smiling, cheering-we could feel the energy coming from them, rooting on these characters. The lobby was truly buzzing afterward. People were just so turned on by this show that they didn't want to leave-they wanted to stay emmersed in the aura surrounding everyone who had just been through the experience of this performance together. Sure the pizza and beer had something to do with it-but I heard people talking about tears rolling down their faces and peeing their pants with laughter. I heard people saying they couldn't wait to come back and see it again. It was a scene which we would be very fortunate see repeated, and that I feel confident will happen over and over through the run of this show.

We were also joined by the playwright of Speech & Debate, Stephen Karam, yesterday afternoon and for the preview. He was firing questions at me a mile a minute on the drive back from the airport, but as he walked in the theater and saw the set his nervous energy transformed into enthusiasm, and even more so once he was able to see the way we are using the projections in this production. His response to the performance was tremendously positive and he told me himself that he is in love with this cast. We are glad to have him with us through the opening. Just a couple of days to opening...bring it on!

~Jason Gerace, Assistant Director