Boviosity!

I gave up on several gags during the rehearsal process.

I gave line readings to actors on several occasions, even though they didn't ask for them. This is a cardinal rule that I have broken.

Two weeks ago, I hoped that audiences would stay away from the show. (I'm very, very pleased with it now.)

I approached this show with far less energy than my last directorial effort, which was a true labor of love. I frequently wonder if I did enough.

I forgot to thank my Asst. Director and crew in my program bio.

I think that the shows I direct are far better than the other shows that my company does, including the ones that I act in. (If I'm directing, I avoid casting myself unless there just aren't enough people to do the roles.)

Nevertheless, I believe I'm one of the better actors in our company. This is not really a director's confession, more of an actor's confession.

I largely failed to work with the actors individually on their characters, letting them find their way even when it seemed obvious they were lost. I focused instead on smoothing the blocking and making sure the "look" of the show was right, and fleshing out the action on stage where the script didn't have much to say.

I lost focus on the mainstage show when it was decided to take the show to a theatre conference. Worse, I lost focus on the actors who were unable to make it to the conference, so they got no attention whatsoever during the two weeks we were intensively preparing for the conference.

(Word of advice: if you decide to go to a conference, make sure it's with a show you've got in the bag if at all possible. Taking the current mainstage production is an invitation to disaster.)

I neglected to schedule extra rehearsals when it was obvious the show was in trouble.

I have a lot of crowd scenes that feature actors standing around shouting across the stage at one another. I have little or no idea how to improve this.

My crowd scenes lack focus. I have no idea how to improve this.

I didn't thank my producer and tech director enough for the work they did.

I got defensive when I referred (jokingly) to "stage magic" and my tech director responded by pointing out that it takes a lot of work to make that magic.

I let the lighting designer run roughshod over me, including installing a cyc for the show after we'd blocked some scenes upstage.

The lighting designer was correct.

I demurred when an actress asked me whether I preferred her "with the corset or without." Yes, I am an utter coward.

I sometimes forget that if not for the stage manager, costumer, props mistress, tech director, and lighting designer, this show would have been impossible.

I'll probably remember 20 more items after I post this.

*UPDATE* I deleted a few items that might have seemed harsh in the extremely unlikely event any cast or crew read this post. My brother is absolutely correct in the comments: the show rocked beyond all comprehension. I only hope enough people see it.