The new play--a surprise blessing!

I went to an audition for a reader's theater production of A Christmas Carol on Thursday. As usual, fewer men than women. Some friends were there, who I was happy to see except as an actress. This was a theater I wanted to work for before but scheduling conflicts prevented me from auditioning for their debut production.
Theater: Springville's Little Brown Theater--very cozy (read--small) black box theater. I LOVE IT.
So, the audition--lots of talent in the females. The men--the young man I'd seen in The Importance of Being Earnest and he was good. The other man showed up in a puffy black wig that had a long braid down the back. Reminded me of when I used to be in Indian Maidens and we all wore black yarn wigs. He had a cowboy hat on this wig and those aviator type sunglasses. I thought he looked like a rather lame terrorist. When he read, he talked like a cowboy. Instead of a clipped British accent, as he read the lines he said things like, "We are goin' to the circus." I don't say this to be mean. I say this for what happened next.
I went home and told my husband, a high school English teacher, that it would be great if he read. The show needs help. My husband, needless to say, has never heretofore expressed any desire to perform. But this is Dickens we're talking about, and he's been reading in front of a bunch of teenagers for 33 years. What does he have to be afraid of? If he can face that every school day, a reader's theater is nuthin'.
Long story short--he came, he read, he got cast! I am as stunned as you are. He is playing Mr. Fezziwig to my Mrs. Fezziwig (we kiss! how cute is that?) and another smaller male part. I also play Mrs. Cratchit. We are already thinking of character development. What kind of hairstyles did they wear in the Victorian Era? Will Craig need to trim or shave off his beard? How will I do my hair?
THIS. IS. AMAZING. I have been dancing sillily all weekend.
Our son, an amazing actor, was not cast--too young to be Young Scrooge and too old to be a Cratchit kid. Caden will sing in the choir, do tech (which he yearns to do), and perhaps play the guitar and the French horn. I admire him that he is completely okay without having a speaking part. He said, grinning, "I don't always have to have the lead."
THIS. IS. AMAZING.
Merry Christmas to us!
I have reserved everything I can get my hands on that deals with A Christmas Carol--the library's copy of the novel, the novel on CD to download, several versions of it on film.
The heck with Thanksgiving. 
God bless us, everyone!
Keep playing! (And keep the faith that miracles like this with me will happen to you!)

Impossible Mystery--Second Night

We. Had. A. Great. Show.
It felt so smooth. It was really fun and I didn't have any icky fuzzy feelings. I felt in a groove.
I haven't worked with these people for as long as I did Hairspray, so I don't think I'll feel the tug of their loss like I did my cast members from Baltimore.
But I am in something great. I thought it'd be corny. But my husband said, "This is so much cuter than I thought and it's a shame more people are seeing this."
I love doing this and just love being Oba San and Lady Chattaway. Doing two different accents has been a hoot.
Dane, who plays the Client told me tonight that my red lips look like blossoms.
I love actors. They say the funniest things.

Keep Playing!

Hairspray reminiscences--3--I got it!

I can't remember specifically how long it was between when I went to the call back audition and when I got a call from Josh, the other assistant director. I do know it was longer than I had expected and I figured I didn't get the part. I was already talking myself into being a cool good sport ensemble member. I didn't like it, but I was going to be okay. Team player, that's me!

My phone rang--it was afternoon, after school, an unfamiliar number came up on my phone. Josh said something about being the assistant director, Hairspray, we'd like to offer you the part of Prudy Pingleton. I think he also said something about the director being there on a conference call or something? It's a bit fuzzy. I remember the jist of the info, but as soon as I knew what the call was about, I wanted to get off the phone immediately. First, I wanted to scream to my family about this. And I was so freaked, I literally needed to jump around. It's like I'd been shot with rocket fuel and I needed to take off--pronto!

I hope I said something  was gracious like, yes, I'd love to. But I just as easily could have said, "Hell yes. You kiddin' me?" I really don't remember. I did accept the part, I do know that. If Josh gave me any other info, I don't recall any of it. The rocket fuel was zipping through my body and my brain had completely turned off except for my ability to speak my native English language. At least I hope I did. I'll need to ask Josh sometime.

I do remember once I hung up the phone, I jumped up and down about ten times, screaming, "I got the part of Prudy! I got the part of Prudy!" I can still feel the exhilaration that infused me. It was like I was me one minute, and then next second I was me AND Prudy. It was that quick that I began to share myself with this unknown person.

I sent texts to everyone I could think of, got on Facebook and blasted the news. I was over the moon, out of my head, so totally excited I didn't know what to do.

We were all required to go to a mandatory meeting soon. For all cast members. And I was a lead. I held that information, that truth, so close inside me. It felt like such a precious gift, priceless, coveted, seemingly impossible. I was pretty much speechless, breathless, and totally amazed.

That's when my Hairspray journey really began.

Keep playing!