by Sean Cusick

The astute reader of this "What it's like to..." column will notice that many of these offer up a.) metaphors for the experience, and b.) Star Wars references.

I'll see what I can do. But first, the necessary background.

Surprisingly frequently, the busy schedules of the Touring Companies occupy the attention of all three companies simultaneously... RedCo will be in California, Blue in Massachusetts, Green somewhere in the steppes of Outer Mongolia, and yet – the Second City has another show booked and that show must certainly go on.

In this case, a "PatchCo" is assembled. The Second City turns to its unassigned Tourco understudies and, based on who they've got and what they need, puts together a company for the one, two or several shows they need to perform. A director is assigned, a running order is assembled, rehearsals scheduled and with some luck it all goes off like (somewhat hurried) clockwork.

Of course, all things are simple in theory. Wanna work in comedy? Write some humor and perform it. Wanna put up a show? Cast it and hold rehearsals. Wanna blow up the Death Star? Target a small thermal exhaust port with your proton torpedoes... it's about the size of a womp rat.

In reality, PatchCos mean assembling a team who may not have worked together, giving them material they may not be familiar with, and depending on your luck, either just enough or not nearly enough time to get it ready. Imagine having to cook Thanksgiving dinner for a large, hungry crowd. You've got your recipes, you have some of the best cooks in the world with you, but you're in a strange kitchen with unusual ingredients. Add to that the usual concerns about traveling, staging a show and – oh yeah – making it all funny, and it's a heckuva job.

As a director, there are big questions and bigger questions... What material does my cast know? Do they have the time to learn new stuff? Who's good at what type of characters, songs, improvs? What's happening in the world, or at this location, and can we (should we?) try to address it? Is now the time to push the envelope or play it safe?

I do some thinking for every Patch, but the actors are the ones who do all the work, all the light and heavy lifting and probably at a break neck speed. They're under pressure to not just learn but master new material, and make it look like they've worked together every day of their lives. The remarkable thing is that they always do.

And at the end of the day, this is EXACTLY why many of us are in this line of work. It's tense, it's crazy, it's highly highly rewarding. You get to entertain audiences with material that's nearly as fresh and fun to you as it is to them, you work with some of the best and brightest folks in this biz, and when it's all over, you dance with a bunch of ewoks and wave to the glowing ghosts of dead jedis.

Or something pretty close to that.

Wanna know what it's like to fill in the blank? Suggest something!

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posted: 12/16/2008

Showing ALL comments.

capnteal
12-17-2008
this was amazing. can't wait to work with this talented gentleman.

snoconegod
12-17-2008
Brilliant... I always wanted to know more about PatchCo. And the proper way to destroy my neighborhood Death Star (damn you, Timmy, and your well-to-do parents!). Thanks!!

bejope
12-18-2008
I find this article to be very informative. I find your Thanksgiving dinner metaphor severely lacking in Star Wars references, however.