Tech Week Day One: Saturday

*Saturday, 5:46 A.M*

*Seize the Day*

Race: Whos ready for tech week!

*6:15*

Davey: Always!

*6:22*

Katherine: Nope not me

It was that glorious time of year in the eyes of half of the group. The other half, not so much. Tech week. The cast spent countless hours rehearsing, getting costumes and props ready, and advertising the show. The stage crew would also advertise the show, but they did all the behind the scenes work that no one even thinks about. Even if the audience never truly understood what went on backstage, the cast did, and greatly appreciated it.

*6:45*

Race: I hate to break it to you Kath

Race: but you have to be the most ready out of everyone

Jack: Tis' the life of the stage manager

The rehearsal started with their director, Ms. Medda, gathering everyone onto the stage, cast, crew, and pit orchestra.

"Good morning everyone and welcome to tech week!" This got a few cheers from the cast, "For some of you, this is your first-ever tech week, so I want to warn you, things can get just a little bit crazy. For others, this will be your last tech week, so let's make it the best one. Ensemble members, head to the green room to try on costumes, principals, stay here."

The music director led the pit orchestra to begin warming up, and the choreographer offered to help distribute costumes.

The principals went over the scenes that didn't require ensemble. Which, in Guys and Dolls, there were a lot of. Davey was mostly excited and liked how they started tech week this year. Race, on the other hand, was a little bit nervous. This was his first time having a role, let alone the lead, and wanted to set a good example for the underclassmen and peers. However, that nervousness was easily overshadowed by Race's excitement. He had always loved tech week and the bonds that the cast and crew made with each other.

Tech Week Day Two: Monday

"Good afternoon everyone!" Miss Medda greeted, "We had a great rehearsal Saturday, so let's keep everything rolling today!"

The rehearsal started with the choreographer perfecting A Bushel and a Peck, so Davey and Race were running lines together, and Elmer and Albert were running lines. It wasn't perfect if it was more than just the two in the scene, but they were able to make it work.

After working for about twenty minutes, Elmer and Albert decided to take a quick snack break.

"You know, I'm really glad you're my scene partner," Elmer said.

Albert smiled, "Me too,"

Tech Week Day Three: Tuesday

Everyone was exhausted. This was pretty normal for tech week though. It was hard to balance the long rehearsals, prep for the show outside of rehearsal, and stay on top of schoolwork.

There were ten minutes until rehearsal started, and Jack, Crutchie, Henry and Finch were found outside the theater making the most of every spare minute by doing homework or studying.

"Is it just me, or are the teachers assigning more work this week than last week?" Crutchie asked, throwing his pen on the ground.

There were mostly nods and murmurs of agreement as response.

"I always question if it's worth it, but I think it is by opening night," Henry replied.

"Yeah, too bad we don't get much credit for being backstage," Finch said.

"I would say I'm a pretty optimistic person, but it would be nice to get the recognition the cast does," Crutchie agreed.

"Hey, at least everyone involved in the show knows," Jack chimed in. They all agreed and then turned back to their books, making use of every minute.

Tech Week Day Four: Wednesday

They had just finished a run of Act I, and were taking a fifteen-minute break. Everyone clapping each other on the back, and being encouraging; it was their best run of Act I yet! Davey decided to take a moment and check his phone, maybe update his parents on where they were in rehearsal, and when he would be home.

Instead, he saw an email from Cornell. His top school.

At that moment, Jack and Crutchie came to the green room to say hi, "Hey Davey," Jack greeted, but Davey didn't look up from his phone, "What's going on?" And Davey gave his phone to Jack.

"Can you read it?" Davey asked.

Jack nodded, "Hello, David Jacobs. We would like to thank you for your interest in our school. You have been put on the waitlist…" Jack trailed off.

Davey could hear his friends talking, but it just sounded like white noise. He got his hopes up too high, and he was paying for it now.

Jack put a hand on Davey's shoulder, but Davey shrugged it off and left the green room. He didn't know where he was walking to, but he somehow ended up at the front of the theater where Katherine was.

"Hey, Davey, is everything okay?" Katherine said as she walked up to him.

He felt like he was going to be sick but he responded anyway, "I was waitlisted from Cornell,"

"That's awful, I'm so sorry," Davey only nodded in response, "That doesn't mean it's over though, there's still a chance you can go there,"

"But do I really want to now?"

"Why wouldn't you? Is it still your dream school?" Katherine asked.

"It is, but if I'm not their first choice, why are they still mine?"

Katherine sighed, "You certainly have a lot to think about. And probably at the worst time too," Which made Davey smile, "Right now, you have five minutes left before act two starts. I suggest that you take a deep breath, and realize you're not going to solve everything in this instant."

Davey nodded, "Thank you."

"Now, I gotta go make sure act two runs smoothly, but I'll make sure to find you after rehearsal,"

Davey stood there a minute longer before returning to the green room. By that point, Jack and Crutchie had left, and it was just the cast. All of them scrambling after being given the minute call, so everyone just let Davey be.

Taking Katherine's advice, Davey took a deep breath and grabbed his costume for act two.

Tech Week Day Five: Thursday

The mood at rehearsal was difficult to describe. Davey and his friends were still feeling down from yesterday. The rest of the cast and crew were also exhausted from their efforts the whole week.

However, it was the last rehearsal before their opening night, which gave everyone an extra boost of energy. Even Davey put aside his thoughts during the rehearsal and focused entirely on the show. He was determined to give his all at his senior performance, no matter what.

Jack found Davey already in the green room, starting to get into costume. He rushed over and placed a kiss on Davey's cheek.

"How are you feeling? You didn't answer any of my calls yesterday."

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I didn't have my phone with me,"

"So are you okay?" Jack pressed.

"I'm not perfect, no, but I'm not going to let this define my senior show." Davey said with a confidence Jack had never seen before.

"I'm proud of you, you know that right?"

Davey grabbed Jack's hand, "Thank you,"

Everyone agreed that this run through of the show was the best that they had done. Once it was over, the seniors from the cast and crew stayed on the stage, and the pit moved to join them.

"I can't believe this was our last rehearsal," Race said.

"Me neither," Davey said.

"I don't want to get too sappy, but thank you all for the best four years of my life," Albert said.

Everyone smiled, and wordlessly went into a group hug.