Well, it wasn't what I'd expected for a first rehearsal...

but I'm always up for new experiences.

I've been doing theatre ever since I was fifteen, and I'm used to a certain standard for first night of rehearsal - we sit around in a circle and have a read-through of the script.

We didn't do that last night. We started out doing improv. Improvisations of imagined scenes in our characters' lives.

Now, the norm at FUSION Theatre Company is for actors to come to the first rehearsal with all of their lines memorized. I find that a challenge, because I memorize best through the repetition of rehearsal and by associating my speaking with my physical movements on stage. But I also understand the advantage of being "off book" when you're first on your feet at the start of rehearsals.

I just have to work a little harder to memorize my lines. And because I was focused on getting the lines down, I didn't read over the script as often as I should have.

Ah, and here I am, not even getting to test my memorization skills, but going straight into improvs based on details of the script that I may have overlooked. Egad!

It wasn't that bad. In fact, I think it was very useful. The director, Mr. Fred Franklin, has a definite game plan!