Loving being in the rehearsal room again with Tunnel Vision

I am writing from Carnegie, Pennsylvania where I am in residence with Off the Wall Productions.  They produced a splendid production of Looking for the Pony a few years ago. Since then, Hans and Virginia Gruenert and I have stayed in touch.  They have read most every play I've written since and just get me in the way most writers hope to be gotten.  As a result, they have bravely become the first company to produce Tunnel Vision. This is a super difficult, technically challenging play that has benefited from development time the Women's Project lab, workshop time at New Perspectives, New Georges and Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre. Melody Brooks at New Perspectives introduced me to Melissa Maxwell in about 08 and we've worked on the play together ever since.  Was I excited when Hans and Managing Director Erika Cuenca hit it off with Melissa and she was hired to direct.  We have just finished our first week of rehearsal with our two super brave actors:  Lisa Ann Goldsmith and Elizabeth Ruelas.  I am making so many discoveries about the play watching them work.  The rewriting is not extensive, so far, but really wonderfully specific. I love doing this kind of very careful crafting taking our a word here or there.  Adding a bit more in spots, all from watching the actors try and test what's there. Melissa is so good to say hold off, don't make that change yet, let us work.  We're at the beginning of a delicious journey.  I'm so enjoying being back in Pittsburgh where I earned my MFA at Carnegie Mellon. We're mixing in the fun with the work.  And we are so comfortable in the best artist housing I believe I've ever experienced.  Lots more adventures coming up.  Just to give you clue, I won't be home until November 7th  I'll post more consistently as I go.  Enjoy!  Andrea