It’s tech time for Hamilton, and James miraculously has found time to bake!
What exactly does tech time entail? I’ve often mentioned it before, but I realize I’ve never really explained it thoroughly. So, here goes:
During the two-week period consisting of the workweek preceding and the workweek including the first paid public performance, rehearsal may include no more than a total of 5 days of not more than 10 out of 11 1⁄2 hours; any other rehearsal days in this period shall be no longer than 7 out of 8 1⁄2 hours except that rehearsal on any performance day may not exceed 4 hours. [Actors’ Equity Association Rulebook, Off-Broadway, 54 (c) (5)]
In plain English, it means that James and the entire cast and crew of the show are spending at least 12 (and for many, probably more like 15) hours per day at the theater. As the production stage manager, James is the one keeping everyone — actors, directors, designers, crew, musicians – on track and focused at the task at hand. (The task being, of course, to marry all the different aspects of the production into a finished product.)
Here’s a photo of James’ calling script — twelve more songs to tech and he’s already on light cue 1002! For those of you who aren’t stage managers, that is A LOT!
So, it puts his ability to bake 5 dozen cookies during this time into sharp perspective, don’t you think?
There’s always time to bake . . .
Better than Crack Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients:
2 sticks margarine
2 sticks butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 T vanilla
4 cups Rice Krispies
4 cups oatmeal
1- 12 oz pkgs chocolate chips
12 oz of flaked coconut
2 cups dried cranberries
Method:
Preheat oven to 350*F.
1. Cream the margarine, butter and sugars well. Then add eggs and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. (I use a standing mixer for this.)
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and baking soda. Add to wet ingredients. Mix just until combined.
3. Using a spatula or a wooden spoon, mix in Rice Krispies, oatmeal, chocolate chips, coconut and cranberries .
4. Drop by tablespoonful on parchment-lined pans and bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 – 15 minutes (I usually only bake them 11 minutes.)
NOTE FROM JAMES: This makes a huge batch. I usually cut it in half and still get 5 dozen!!! I originally got the recipe from my mom and did some modifications.
Tagged: Hamilton, oatmeal cookies, The Public Theatre
The Backstage Baker 
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