Yo soy Americano....

Last night we had our 2nd rehearsal. After having my voice lesson the night before I was a bit more confident, even though I knew the old-school-church-latin would still be my nemesis.
I was early, as always, so when I walked in "Maria" and the "Von Trapp children" were practicing the song Do-Re-Mi. They knew the song, who doesn't, so they were practicing their choreography. Do you know how precious it is to see 14 kids running around trying to remember their steps while singing and trying not to bang into each other? It was adorable, somewhat controlled chaos and full of giggles! Why 14? They double-casted the kids roles so each kid will have 3 performances. Really smart move.
At one point she told them all to take a 5 minute water/bathroom break. So of course all the girls went running for the ladies room. One by one they all come out...except two. And rehearsal is starting again. Me, being the little kid wrangler I can be, went into the ladies room to make sure no one fell in. lol (not really - but just wanted to make sure none of them had an issue) Turns out, one of the littler girls decided to wash up to her elbows for some reason and couldn't get all the soap off. So I helped her with a few paper towels and off she went into the practice room.
After listening to them practice the Goat Herder song, it was time for us nuns to start. My voice teacher was there and this British woman who had been a bit too liberal with the atomizer. I smelled her the minute she walked in. And right on point, before we started singing, the stage director reminded us that people including herself have allergies so please don't power on the perfume before practice.
Then we went into the latin-nightmare songs we had "learned" last week. I use the word learned lightly. More like ran through like a prisoner with his ass on fire! I remembered some of it, but still the pronunciations aren't engrained in my head as of yet. We learned two more songs as well...this time he even asked my voice teacher to go over the correct wording and had us sing the melody in "do-do-do" until we had it down.
During the whole ordeal I made friends with the fellow Alto sitting next to me. (I decided against sitting in the front row or next to my teacher this week) At one point while the director was going through a few lines with the Soprano 1's (who sing the highest parts), the girl next to me made a face that I believe my ears would've made if they HAD a face. There were a couple Sop's singing inCREDIBLY tight, shrill and trilly. It actually hurt to listen to them. One of them the director recognized right away, hard not to since she was sitting practically right infront of him. He had her drop down to the Soprano 2 part,...and it wasn't the first time he had asked her to do that. She is definitely the queen of trilly. The other woman stayed well hidden, but eventually we found her out. Once all 4 parts were singing, it didn't sound AS bad.
Our last hour we were lined up to have our opening songs blocked. There was my voice teacher; front and center. Then as my line walked to the center of the back of the stage, me behind my trusty Alto buddy, I realized "hey, maybe my friends WILL be able to see me." The way they were talking at one part, it seemed as if we would be singing behind a scene drop the whole time. The best part was the 3 girls infront of me have to kneel during one part and my voice teacher comes back to us and turns to sing just to my right. Great - I've got a "that'll be me - right there!" moment to tell my friends about! lol
Now if we could only sing a song in ENGLISH!

Doh-nec Poh-num In-EE-me-cos-tu-ohs

Tonight I had my first voice lesson in...about 28 years. I'm not so confident about my singing that I don't think there's any room for improvement. I know there's better ways to warm up, breath and other techniques. To say I learned a few things just in one class is an understatement.
I'll start by saying my voice teacher (we'll just call her VT) has a GORGEOUS house. She doesn't live very far from me and I knew the street was pretty...it gives the house I live in a run at the ridiculously gorgeous title. I was seriously expecting to see a grand piano in the living room; it wouldn't have looked out of place.
We talked about how I started singing, what made me decide to audition and she told me her background as well.
Then she had me sing some scales. From that she broke down some ways to make my tone better. I have never had my posture corrected. Other than the usual stand up tall, chest out and don't stick out your chin. Leaning to one side, which I was going upstructs your breathing, just changing that made a difference. So we worked on breathing, and releasing breath and how to use that natural breathing instead of pushing it. Just those few tweeks made a difference. Not only how I my voice sounded but how it felt.
After a while we went over just a couple lines of one of the song we have to sing in the musical. Not just about breathing and speaking through it but using different voices to change the tone. One was talking a bit like Mickey Mouse or anunciating like you're from Canada. But big ROUND tones. She explained it as "speaking with an imaginary golf ball in your mouth." It feels REALLY strange, but it made sense with what she was going for.
I think I'll drive my co-workers crazy with that for the next week! At least I'll have an excuse as to why for a change!

A dream that will need, all the love you can give...

So tonight was the first REAL rehearsal. All Nuns (ensemble and leads) were to report to the center at 8pm. As always, I arrived early.
Maria and the Von Trapp kids were rehearsing when I walked in. I could hear Maria, that was about it. The musical director was teaching the kids their parts for the Goat Herder song. Then I noticed the girl who was casted as Liesl. Wow - what a voice she has! Definitely experienced and a bit opera-like but not in a trilly, watch-your-vibrato way. She's gunna give Maria a run for her money vocally.
I have to mention this; can I tell you how annoyed I was at adults being rude asses; chit-chatting loudly while the kids were rehearsing? It's not like there was a door between the people waiting and the rehearsal room. I seriously wanted to play librarian and "shhhhhhhh" their ignorant arses!
As soon as the kids and Maria were done, all us nuns sat in three rows of chairs with the Musical Director and piano in front of us. A couple people were missing during role call and from what I heard, they hadn't gotten in touch with one person who was casted. I say, cut her ass! LOL
Next the MD (musical director) asked who wanted to sing what part because the songs were mostly 3-4 part harmony. I chose either mezzo soprano/alto 1 or alto 2, depending on where he needed me. I ended up Alto 2.
Before I go on to complain about singing in Latin, I have to mention voice lessons before I forget! I decided that if I was going to do this part right and impress my cast mates and the directors, I'd take voice lessons. I haven't had any in years, not since college so I can't recall a lot of things like breathing techniques, warm up techniques, things like that. I emailed my first voice teacher; knowing she'd be busy with all the choirs and classes at the high school, I asked her if she could recommend anyone. I emailed the woman she mentioned, but that woman emailed me back saying her studio was booked solid. So I emailed my poor teacher again and looked around online. I found this one website with the instructor my ex-teacher mentioned and another woman was pictured next to her. I recognized her as a woman who was casted in the same musical. If it wasn't her, it was definitely her younger sister.
So when we went to sit down for rehearsal, I made a point to sit next to her so I could ask her. Turns out, it was her. (she really needs to update her picture, it was taken what appears to be about 10-15 years ago) I felt a little embarrassed asking a cast mate for lessons but let me tell ya what, the woman can sing! Her solo parts in the middle of the parts we were all learning were amazing. I can understand why she was casted as Mother Abbess.
Getting back to rehearsal; they had us move so the singing parts were sitting together and then we attempted to learn old-style latin. I STILL don't have it right. That's another thing this woman is going to have to teach me is how to pronounce these lyrics correctly. I found myself skating a bit vocally but I suffered through it happily. Especially when I was making jokes and getting to that place where the 4-part harmony hit JUST right. It was pretty impressive for a first rehearsal.
I had to laugh at one part, the MD reminded me of my high school physics teacher. (who flunked me by the way) Not because of his personality, but because of how he said the word measure. It's more like "MAYHshur". It cracked me up every time. We used to mock that teacher mercilessly but this guy wasn't so out of touch with his students. Especially when he told us 3 ways to keep from singing flat when you're singing accapella:  Raise your eyebrows, wiggle your toes or clench your butt cheeks. My response "All at the same time while staying in harmony AND singing latin?!" Ahhh...the lovely sound of people laughing at my jokes! Music to my ears!!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Tonight was our first "rehearsal". Since I didn't know where the Senior Center was I grabbed my GPS and left a bit early. Not surprisingly, I was the first one there. While I was walking in, one of the companies board members said hello and introduced herself to me in the parking lot. I remembered her right away. After I had auditioned for Miss Hannigan in Annie a couple years ago (and didn't get the role), I emailed her because she had introduced herself at the audition and was a member of the board. I asked her if she could give me advice as to how I could improve for my next audition. She replied that she was busy at the time but she would get back to me. You guessed it....that never happened. I was nice to her though. Especially since she did audition for the show and wasn't casted. Yes, board members can audition.
I was given a folder with some music and a few welcome pages and instructed to go into a room and have a seat. The chairs were together in a huge circle. The next person to come in was the girl my friend didn't like who she nicknamed "Purple". I will admit, the girl is a bit...over the top. VERY perky and bubbly and talk, talk, talk. Turns out, she was the one who called me to tell me I was casted. (Of course I had to text my friend to let her know) Soon the room had filled up. I didn't see "Mindy" or "Knees" but I saw the guy who myself and my friend named "the other James (because he resembled her husband) or James2. All I could do the whole time was look around and think "Who are they casted as? Who's Maria? Who's the captain?" I ended up moving down to sit a few seats down from Purple and, as it turns out, the woman sitting next to me was Purples Mom. After introducing herself and asking a few questions of me, she pointed out who was Maria. WOAH! Wait a minute! Mario is a 30+ year old woman?! That was surprising! But the big shock was when she pointed out who was to play the Captain. Wow. This guy is NO Christopher Plummer! I'd say he's in his 50's. And no, not handsome but you could definitely tell he was an experienced musical person. The woman told me that he played Daddy Warbucks in Annie. He even shaved his head for the role; now THAT'S dedication!
The president of the company stepped into the middle of the circle to start the night. He reminded me alot of Cameron Macintosh who's the producer of all the big shows like Le Miz and Phantom. Then another man took over and gave some more info, introduced the board members, blah, blah, blah. Then he had us go around the room, say our names and our roles. During the whole ordeal, we had to go into another room to be measured for our costumes. Thanks SO much to the lady measuring me who said I had a big head. LOL
I got back in the room just as I heard the one board member tell people to get up and go sit with someone else you don't know. I didn't move but some guy came and sat next to me. Whatever.
Then we were instructed to talk to the other person and find out their favorite things. Fine. His name is Tom, he went on for a bit about how he tries to be in productions with his kids (his daughter was in the show too), what sport he liked to play, what tv show and food and band...blah, blah, blah. Then people volunteered when they were ready to talk. It was a long ordeal but basically painless.
Afterwards the head-guy told us the reason he had us do this is because we're not going to see each other for a LONG time. That each group would be working seperately of each other. But this was a good way to make friends until that time. Then he said that we were done for the night and just then the guy next to me....farted...

Climb Every Mountain....

30 years ago I had a lead role in a musical. I played Josie Cohan in George M! I didn't know who Josie was, all I knew was I wanted to sing. THAT is one thing that's never changed. Even though I never really pursued it, I always wanted to sing. I can't drive my car without doing it, or listen to songs on my TV without joining in. It's a gift I was given and even though I have never done anything substantial with it, I still use it.
Now 30 years after being on the stage of the High School auditorium, I'm finally going to take the stage again. Better late than never...
About a month ago I received an email that a local Musical production company was going to be putting on a production of The Sound of Music. I had to audition for it. I knew I was too old for Maria and not operatic enough for Mother Whats-her-name, but I could do SOMEthing in it. So I decided it would be either a Nun or the Baroness. (although I've never felt girly enough to play the Baroness either) As the audition date got closer and after listening to the song the Baroness sings with Max, I decided that it was just going to be a Nuns role for me.
I had auditioned before for this company when they doing Annie. I wanted to be Miss Hannigan in the WORST way. I tried out, I didn't get it. You know that I still can't watch that movie since?
Back to this audition, I wanted to do it right this time. I bought a pair of dance shoes, bought a book about auditioning for musical theater and even changed my choice of audition clothes because of what I read in that book. I made a hair appointment for that night and even had a makeup artist "paint my face". Would the $135+ be a complete waste?
AUDITION NIGHT:
My hair was pretty, my makeup was subtle but perfect and my clothes were bright and comfortable. A friend of mine wanted to go with me to see what auditions were all about and provide some moral support. All her questions about how auditions worked were a great distraction during the drive there.
Once in the door with my new dance shoes fastened tightly, I signed in, got my number (217), got a head shot taken and picked up a choreography card. While filling it out I noticed a young girl sitting at the table across from me. This girl was a pro I thought, she even had a head shot! She introduced herself, I can't remember her name to save my life, and said how she was from Long Island and living in town for college. The Choreography card asked how many years of dance training I had. Did the years night-clubbing count? How about all those country lines dances I learned? hahahaha - probably not. I witteled it down to two and a half; the two years of dance classes I took in college and the months I learned how to tap for George M! Then I went to the table to drop that and my application off. Yes, they have you fill out an application. The most hilarious part for me was the musical theatre experience portion. Production: George M! - Role: Josie Cohan - Year: 1982.That was it. Ouch!
They corralled us all into the theater. My friend was impressed "Wow! You're going to audition right on stage?" "Yup!" I replied. The president of the company introduced himself and the other people in charge of the production. I recognized the musical director, the choreographer and the piano accompanist. That was it. Then they called us all up on stage to learn a short routine. Step up right-ball change-step back-ball change. Scuff right, and in. Grapevine to the right, left behind-right over-scuff right(which I screwed up the timing on every time)-scuff left and in. And then dance slowly in a circle-Done. Sounds easy enough, right? And seemed easier than the one we learned for Annie. They called us up in groups, I was in the 2nd group and they made us run it twice. I felt SEMI confident but definitely messed up the double-scuffs both times. Oh well.
Then they called up the women who wanted to audition for nuns or nun ensemble to the stage to sing. Myself and maybe 5 other women went up. We had to sing 4 lines of The Sound of Music. Then I was called first to solo. Wait; when I auditioned for Annie we all stepped back and then stepped up when we were ready to go. Not this time. I was up, there was no turning back now. So I sang - tried to hold the end notes long. Tried to remember to make eye contact with the judges. I remember doing that. I tried not to look at my friend, afraid that she'd make me giggle. Then it was over. I stepped off. No one in the audience looked at me, or clapped or smiled or anything. Then next woman was already singing...crackly and off-key. I guess I was a hard act to follow!
We sat there for another half hour or so watching people go up to sing for other roles. When they called up ladies for the Baroness, I regretted not going up. The song was pretty easy and not too high. The women were all older than me and more dressed up than I was. Then we watched the "Marias" and the "Liesl's", who were basically the same girls. A couple of older women went up for Maria. Definitely too old for that role but maybe they mistakenly thought it was for Maria's Mom? We made comments between songs; made up nicknames for some, being judges for most. I remember the names Knees, Purple Girl (who my friend did NOT like), the other James and Maria's Mom. LOL - it made the whole process much more fun. After a while we left, walking out at the same time as one of the Maria Moms.
Call backs were slated for Friday. If we were called we would have to go back and either sing, dance or act. Friday came and went with no word. I wasn't happy. They didn't know me well, how could they already decide my fate? I figured it was not a good sign.
Casting calls were set for around 10am Saturday morning. I took a pill to help me sleep Friday night and hopefully sleep in a bit the next morning. I did sleep well that night but was awake at 7am as usual the next day. So I paced, i cleaned, I changed my bed sheets, I did dishes, I watched SportsCenter and waited for my phone to ring. I turned the movie The Devil's Advocate on. Yes! Pacino will keep me occupied. The time was ticking away but my phone was not ringing. 10 o'clock, 10:15, 10:30, 10:35...Nothing. I gave in. I wasn't casted. So I enjoyed Pacino's speech about how it was the devil's time. The awesome evilness was just what I needed. Keanu's character shot himself in the head, Pacino screamed and burned, the sinners in the wall hanging screamed, and then...my phone rang! It wasn't a recognizeable number but it was local. I knew it, it was them! And it was; I was casted! The girl on the end of the line, whose name I can't remember, congratulated me and told me I was going to be part of the nun ensemble. Did I accept the role? YES!! There will be no dancing, which I thought was a funny thing for her to mention. I didn't care! I'm getting to sing again; on a stage, in front of people! First rehearsal is tomorrow. I called my friend who went w/me to the audition, I called my actor friend who gave me some encouraging words earlier, I called my best friend from high school, I called a couple other local friends, I texted my best friend in Chattanooga and I called my sister who put me on speaker phone. Her, my Mom, my Aunt and my cousin were at the reception after the memorial service for a family member who had passed away recently. So I got to tell them all at once, which felt SO good. They're excited, I'M excited; I get to sing!!!