The countdown begins!

Hi everyone,
Greetings again from ADDAMS FAMILY tech here in Chicago.
It has been TWO months since our first official NYC rehearsal, and still FIVE months before our April opening on Broadway, but we are about to hit a major milestone -- our first public performances!
Today is Tuesday, and our first audience (an invited dress) is Thursday night! By Sunday night, we will have had the invited dress and four previews, which means that we will have played to almost 10,000 people (the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre seats over 2200, and we are selling well). Someone, please check my math.
My time in Chicago has continued to be exciting and illuminating. Like the other fellows, I am in the theatre for long hours every day (usually 12-hour days, even if the cast is only called for 8 of them) and my responsibilities vary constantly. With two directors plus an associate director (former Drama League fellow Heidi Marshall), new script and score pages coming constantly, rehearsal needs, tech and actor notes, creative and investor meetings, press appearances, and more ... there is always something to do.
We have been in costume, hair, and makeup since last week, and the design work is stunning. (For a sneak preview -- pick up a December issue of Vanity Fair, which ran a photo of our Family Portrait. Or, you can follow this link to see the same photo on Playbill: http://www.playbill.com/playblog/?p=2363).
A few days ago, we had our sitzprobe (the first rehearsal with cast and orchestra, usually in a rehearsal studio rather than onstage -- Generally the first time the cast hears all the orchestrations) last week. It was a terrific moment for everyone, particularly our composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa, who is making his official Broadway debut with this production. I can only imagine what it must feel like to hear Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth (and the rest of the talented cast) singing your songs with a full orchestra under them.
The buzz in Chicago has been very positive, and our team is eager to open to this audience first. (Many comparisons have been made to Nathan Lane's last big musical hit -- The Producers -- which also opened in Chicago.)
I am particularly excited about watching director/designers Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott go through this experience. I am learning constantly.

Wish us luck as we undergo the next phase of this long process -- out-of-town previews!
best,
David