Rehearsal: Abbie's first stage kiss

Abbie had been in rehearsals for the play for about a week, and had been enjoying it immensely. The theater community was wonderful, very supportive, welcoming, and encouraging. Abbie, who hadn't had a lot of experience in plays, initially felt like she might be in over her head. But fortunately, she seemed to fit right in with the group.

To Abbie's credit, she worked very hard. She studied her script, she memorized her lines, she was always attentive and available at rehearsal. The director, Greg, gave her positive feedback, which always made her feel validated in her work. And the rest of the cast all seemed to be doing their fair share to make the entire experience go smoothly.

Once early rehearsals had set the ground work, it was time to get into more detail. With the play being a romantic comedy, Abbie knew there were going to be some rather intimate scenes to tackle, and while she was nervous about how those might go, she was also excited to learn more about doing theater.

"So you've never done a stage kiss before?"

Nick Jennings was Abbie's costar in this scene, playing the character she was going to get romantically involved with throughout the play. Nick was a handsome young Black man, about 6'2", well built, and wore dark-framed glasses. Abbie could tell he had a lot more experience doing plays than she had, and she was eager to learn from him throughout this process.

"Well," Abbie said, almost apologetically. "I did a musical in high school, and I had one quick kiss at the end of it -- but it was literally about half a second long. And I think the boy was extremely nervous every time we got to that moment of the play."

Nick laughed. "Teenage nerves. And getting to kiss a pretty girl like you, I'm sure he had a lot going on in his mind."

"Maybe so," she agreed. "I guess I was probably nervous too!"

Nick thumbed through the pages of his script, and then took a sip of water. "Well, I'm sure this will all be organized very clearly, openly, and thoroughly. Greg won't let either of feel lost or like we're on our own or anything."

Abbie looked at Nick, her eyes narrowing. She had watched him during the early read-through rehearsals, curious about how he worked through his role, how he studied, how he prepared. Even just listening to him talk about tonight's rehearsal, she felt secure knowing that she was collaborating with folks who would guide her every step of the way.

"Good evening, friends!" Greg called from the back of the auditorium, bursting through the doors with dramatic flair.

"Well, hello there!" Abbie called back, waving at Greg as he strode down the aisle toward the stage.

Nick nodded warmly. "Evening, boss. Ready to make some magic happen?"

Greg climbed the steps to join them onstage, his weathered leather messenger bag slung across his chest. He was in his early forties with salt-and-pepper hair and the energetic demeanor that seemed requisite for theater directors.

"Absolutely! But first -- Nick, how'd that audition go yesterday? The one for the insurance commercial?"

Nick's face lit up. "I think I nailed it! The casting director said they'd be in touch by Friday."

"That's our star!" Greg clapped him on the shoulder before turning to Abbie. "And how about you? Getting comfortable with Kim's character arc?"

Abbie nodded enthusiastically. "I think so! I've been journaling as her each night. It really helps me understand her motivations better."

"That's brilliant," Greg said, genuinely impressed. "That kind of dedication is exactly what makes community theater so special." He glanced at his watch and straightened his posture. "Well, it's 7:00 on the dot. We should get started."

He set his bag down and pulled out his dog-eared script, flipping to a marked page. "So, tonight we're tackling scene fourteen—the pivotal moment where Kim and Isaac finally admit their feelings for each other."

Greg took a step back, surveying the stage as if already envisioning the scene. "Before we begin, I want to clarify something important. This is an intimacy scene, which means we need to approach it differently than other scenes."

Abbie nodded attentively, her script clutched against her chest.

"We're going to map out every movement, every touch, every moment between you two," Greg continued. "This serves two purposes: first, it ensures the scene tells the story we need it to tell. Second, and equally important, it ensures both of you feel safe and comfortable throughout."

Nick nodded. "I appreciate that approach."

"While these are characters, the physical interaction between you will be real," Greg explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "You'll actually be touching each other, and yes, actually kissing each other. That's why we choreograph this so carefully."

Abbie felt a flutter of nervousness but also relief at Greg's methodical approach. "That makes perfect sense."

"It would be completely inappropriate for me to just say 'okay, now kiss' and expect you two to figure it out," Greg said, shaking his head. "That puts both of you in potentially uncomfortable positions where you might feel pressured or unsure about boundaries."

He moved to center stage. "Instead, we'll establish exactly where hands go, how bodies align, the angle of the kiss, its duration -- everything. Think of it like a dance where every step is planned."

"So nothing is left to chance," Abbie finished, nodding her understanding.

"Precisely," Greg said with an approving smile. "Consent and clarity make for both better art and a better working environment. Now, let's work this out."