No bad knee is gunna keep me down!

So now that winter doesn't have a strangle hold of this area, I decided to look for another audition for a spring show. I had heard a few months ago that one of the local theatre companies had announced they were going to do 9 to 5 the musical. I knew nothing about the show but am exTREMELY familiar with the movie. So my plan was to audition in March. Then February reared it's ugly head and among many issues that month, I had slight tears to my meniscus in my left knee along with a strained ACL. The first thing I thought of was "there goes my chance at 9 to 5". I was REALLY upset.

But as luck would have it, my knee seemed to recover pretty quickly. So when audition week came around, although I was fighting a nasty head cold which changed my plans to audition the 1st night, I sucked it up and went to the 2nd night auditions.
The auditions were held in a church. So I stood in line to turn in my audition form which I had completed ahead of time, got my number (I think I was #28) and sat on a bench trying not to get into my head too much. There were about 38/40 people there. One by one they called us upstairs for vocal range assessment. That was done in the chapel. The vocal director was at the piano and just had me sing some scales; took about two minutes and then it was back down to the "hot box" (yeah, it was sweaty-hot downstairs) to wait until everyone was done. Then they called us back up to the chapel to learn the song and then the dance. Yes, I danced on my bad knee. I had to. I WANTED to. I had my brace on, I took it somewhat easy but I also went for it. Surprisingly, unlike my last couple auditions, I felt like I picked up on the choreography really quickly. Then it was back down to the sweaty wait chamber to wait until I was called. During that time I just ran through the choreo a few more times. The song I felt pretty confident with; we were to sing the first 30 something bars of the 1st number, 9 to 5. The musical version of the song is a BIT different but not significantly.
When I was called, it was up to sit "on deck" in a chair next to another girl while we waited for the guy ahead of us to finish his vocal part. Unless I was mistaken, he sang it 3 times. Then the girl ahead of me went in. She had a nice voice. Then I heard her do the acting part. Oh - did I mention the acting part? Basically they took a few verses from a song in the show and had is read that. Fortunately, I didn't know the song so it wasn't hard to just read it. They also put some notes about what feeling they were looking for. Afraid but hopeful...I could do that! (especially the fearful part! lol)
Then it was my turn. I sang but OMG...between the cold and waiting so long, my voice sounded weak at first. By the time I got to the chorus I felt and sounded alot better I thought. Then I did my reading...I was shaking! I don't know how HOPEFUL I sounded, but i definitely had the afraid part covered. Hahahahaha! Then it was back down to the sweat-pit to wait for everyone else to finish and then we'd be called in groups of 6 to do the choreography.
My group went up either 2nd or 3rd. We did it once with who I think was the assistant choreographer once, then we were to do it alone. So when we ran through it the first time, she messed up. Fortunately, I didn't follow her but they had us do it again with her out front. Then we did it alone. Other than one arm movement I didn't do, I felt like I nailed it. Who knew?! The part of the audition I thought I'd do the worst, I think it was my strong suit. And that was it. Call backs would be two nights after, if we were called.
I had auditioned for basically 3 parts, the ensemble and the pit chorus. The parts I had listed were Roz, Margaret (the office drunk) and Kathy (the office gossip). Roz has a great part and an awesomely hilarious song called Heart to Hart where she admits to the audience her love for the jerk.
So once again, call back night came and went without a call to me. I also texted a buddy of mine who had auditioned the night before I had. She was in The Sound of Music with me and I encouraged her to audition. She's a little cutie with a really lovely voice but auditions really intimidate her. Especially what she calls "theatre people". Theatre people, I think she means they are people who seem to know everyone important and experienced around them. They also have tons of experience in local and national theatre groups and aren't afraid to tell you about it. There were a few of those the night I went but they didn't intimidate me. I just try and make friends. Or at least be social. They are the competition after all.
Then Friday came; they didn't really say what time they'd be doing casting calls so needless to say my cell phone never left my sight. The whole work day passed without a call. Then I had some errands to run afterwards; nothing. I was walking into the salon I go to and suddenly...my phone rang. And it was an unknown number ring. Like last September, I knew it was them. I was right!
I was cast. And the best part? Not only was I part of the ensemble, but I had a PART! My part had a NAME! I was cast as Margaret; the office Lush! Hahahahaha!
A Nun one production, now a lush. At least I'm not being type-casted!
PS - my buddy was cast too!!!