[Menvi-discuss] Working with directors and staging

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi everyone,

I hope you all had a nice new year.  Unfortunately, I have to be back
at school tomorrow night because I have rehearsals for my opera
scenes.  That brings me to my questions.

My university does opera scenes every year at this time.  This year, I
have a lead in one of the scenes.  My situation is rather
complicated...  The opera is called Iolanta by Tchaikovsky.  It's
about a blind princess.  If you're curious, I'll give you a link to a
description of the opera.  Here's the wikipedia article describing the
plot:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iolanta

This role has been a challenge for me on several levels.

We have a guest director come in to direct the opera scenes.  This
year's director worked with us two years ago, but I was never able to
work with him  individually.  He doesn't know me, and I don't know
what to expect.  Do you all have any tips on how to work with
directors?  More specifically, relating to blindness...  Showing them
what I can and can't do.  I don't want to contradict the person who is
essentially my boss, but given the role, I feel it might come up.
Does anyone have experience with this?  Any suggestions?  Also, any
suggestions on techniques for navigating a stage would be appriciated.
 I plan to use my dog and/or cane to navigate the stage in the
beginning, but I can't bring either of them on stage for the
performances.  Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome.  Thanks.


-- 
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, National Federation of the Blind
of Missouri recording secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and proud graduate of Guiding Eyes for the Blind

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16