My final farewell...

This day marks the beginning of the end. We have three more performances left and then Grease will go away. I have loved playing Doody and I have loved being a part of this tremendous cast. Thanks to everyone who came to see the show and signed our yearbook. Thanks for really getting in the spirit and wearing your name tags to the "reunion", but most of all, thanks for the applause and the appreciation of what Grease was meant to be. Stay tuned... I'm sure I'll be blogging about another show soon (wink wink).

Once again, thank you to my fellow cast members for making this such a wonderful experience. Let's face it... none of us do this for the money (if we did, we'd be eating the contaminated IAMS dog food that they just recalled) and most of us have day jobs. We do it for the joy and if you're really lucky, you make some friends (and get some crushes... and maybe more [shout out to Izzy on that last one]) along the way. I know how hard it is to show up on a Thursday, after a really crappy work week and muster the energy and enthusiasm it takes to get up there and do such a rambunctious show. To be honest, if you all weren't such great people, I'm not sure I could have done it. Doing this show has given me tremendous joy and I owe it all to the other 15 or so of you that made this one one of my truly favorite shows I have ever done. I took a long break from doing this (some of you know why and some don't) but I credit Newline and the people I have met there with the feeling that I have now... the feeling that no one will ever prevent me from doing what I love again; and for that I am truly grateful.

I need to go take my anti-depressant medicine now. Signing off.

Sincerely,
Doody

Sadly, week 2 has come and gone...

I am already getting depressed at the thought of this show ending. I
realized that when we were all in our big pile at the end of the show
Saturday night.

So to my fellow cast members in general: I'm so glad I met all of
you. Some of you I have known for awhile and have just never done a
show with you and some I just met during our first rehearsal. Many of
you I would count as friends now and many of you I will see again
soon. As always, a few people have become very dear to me and I will
miss them terribly (you know who you are), but even those of you that
I have not had the opportunity to get to know as well - you are all
so talented and I am grateful for the chance to have worked with you
on this great show.

Isabelle - Thank you for becoming my theater wife during this show.
I'm sure Sarah won't mind that you stepped into that role.

Matt - We are definitely going to be hang-out buddies. I am so glad I
got the opportunity to finally get to know you.

Jeff W - Sorry for all the shit I give you. It comes out of love
(LOL). Seriously, you are very talented and I wish you luck with
Orange Girls and I sincerely hope to work with you again in the future.

Jeff P. - YAY! We finally got to do a show together. You are
definitely a teen angel... and a very talented one at that.

Beth - Stiff my ass! Just remember I am right across the street if
you ever need a lunch buddy.

Joe - You can't leave! You are one of the few people who appreciate
my "coat hanger" jokes.

B.C. - Your true identity is safe with me. You are the coolest
greaser in the "world".

Kine' - You are amazing. I love hearing you sing every night. Thanks
for making me feel like I'm funny!

Lainie - I can't imagine how tough this was with a new child and all
but you do a magnificent job. I hope to get to work with you again.

Katie - I loved watching you erase all pieces of Katie out of Jan.
The Twinkie in the hair thing made me laugh!

Mara - What kind of nurse wears such whory nail polish? (hee hee) You really look great up there... wild hair and all.

Chris - I am so sorry you broke your arm. What a freaking trooper. If
I am at Six Flags I'll be sure to catch you at Miss Kitty's.

Erin - I wish you luck on everything you do. I admire you for really
making the conscious decision to follow your art where ever it takes
you.

Cindy - Sorry you didn't get to dance in the show, but you play a
great ball buster!

Brendan - Not bad for your first musical my man. I know you were
nervous but you do a great job!

AND FINALLY:

Scott Miller - Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to
perform. It never ceases to amaze me how your vision really makes
every show one I can be proud to say I was in. Not only that, but I
am glad to have gotten to be your friend. I have very few close
confidants in this world and I am proud to call you one of them.

Enough moosh for now. We still have two more weekends!

Second Week and Counting...

Tonight starts the second week of the run. I am still not feeling 100% but I feel 1000% better than I did Saturday. So far the reviews have been pretty good. I think Scott prepared them all for what they were going to see and no one came in expecting to see the movie version. The audience has been a little strange in that they are all very "quiet". They laugh, but they do it quietly. They react, but they do it quietly. As long as they enjoy themselves, that's all that matters.

It's funny how during rehearsals you think "I can't wait until the show starts so I can have some days off to rest", but when the run arrives and you have those off days, you really miss the people you are doing the show with. I really can't wait to see everyone tonight and find out how their week was and joke around with everyone (except Korinko... what a dick! [hee hee]). I am having cast withdrawals.

Ooooo... we had our first cast party Saturday. Thanks to our host Jeff Wright (your house is disturbingly clean). I won't give all the juicy details, but lets just say, both Matt and I were seriously disturbed at some of the events of the evening.

I will try to tell more as the run goes on. If you haven't seen the show yet, get your tickets fast, we are starting to sell out (especially Saturdays) early in the week.

Where's My Teen Angel?

So... I don't know who I pissed off or what I have done recently to
incur the wrath I have taken, but I obviously have done something
terrible. Last week was the worst week ever and it just kept getting
shittier. First my car gets broken into; then my brother dies; then
during Saturday night's performance I sliced my thumb open on the
damned hub cap again (note to self... take wet wipes to wipe the
blood off the hub cap); then I missed the second step when exiting
off stage and I scraped the shit out of my arm and banged up my knee;
and finally I started getting sick as we are opening the show and
Sunday I spent the whole day in bed (when I wasn't throwing up in the
bathroom).

ARRRRGGGH! So here I am at work (even though I am sick as hell
because there was no way I could miss another day) hoping that this
week proves to be much better. If only I had a teen angel like in
that Debbie Reynolds movie... or at least someone to come home to
that could kiss it and make it feel all better (poor, single me).

Oh yeah... the first review is in. Make sure to read it on the KDHX
site.

Racing towards the finish line...

After the week from hell, we had our last rehearsal tonight (Wednesday). I think energy was up and maybe nerves a bit too. Which, as Scott explained, we have to watch because we loose the “genuineness” of the show when we get hyped up.

I was so glad I could make it tonight (it looked iffy for awhile). Let me explain: Sunday, after rehearsal, I came out of the theater only to discover my car had been broken into (that’s what I get for leaving that 99 cent ice scraper in plain site). So I marched back to the Art Loft, determined to call the police and right this injustice that had fallen on me.  As I am on the cell phone with the cops the Art Loft phone rings (highly unusual). Since I was busy, Scott Miller answered and I heard him say “he is on the other line do you want to hold?” Now my mind is whirling and I am writing down the police report number. Finally I pick up the other phone to hear my Aunt tell me that my brother (somewhat estranged for many years) had died down in Texas.  I rush to my Mom’s house immediately (window broken out, hands freezing, nose running and legs numb). I comfort my Mom, call my Dad down in Texas and immediately realize that neither is any shape to handle what has to come next. I called down to the Dayton, Texas police to find out the next steps. Called the airline and booked two seats for departure on Tuesday morning and drove to the airport to sign the special vouchers for bereavement fairs.

Next day I spent the whole day with my Mom and went to rehearsal that night... OH, I had called Scott and let him know I was going to miss Tuesday’s rehearsal. Tuesday morning I woke up at 5:00 am and got packed, called my ex to come pick me up (since we couldn’t drive my car) and we went to the airport, after picking up Mom. Mom and I head straight to the funeral home when we land (P.S.  Texas is a big ole’ turd of a state... YUCK!). This morning we wake up at 4 (my mom is a freak about being late) and we headed out to the airport.  Strangely enough I saw my boss, Alex, there. He was heading to Florida. Anyway, our flight from Houston Hobby (the corn in the turd of Texas) was an hour late getting there and it became obvious that we wouldn’t make the connecting flight in Dallas.

I was right. We land in Dallas and my 60 something mother and I are running through the airport (props to mom... not bad for an old lady) and we get to the gate right as the plane is pulling away. So we got put on the next flight which would put us into St. Louis at 7:20 (rehearsal starts at 8). We arrive 10 minutes early and I change into my costume in the car and I get to rehearsal a little past 8.

So as you can see, I am tired but I was determined to not let the cast or Scott down. They’re my theater family and it was important to me to be there for them. Plus its rather cathartic to just forget about crap and be in the moment.

We open tomorrow and I can’t wait. So Mark, my performance tomorrow is for you. Sorry you couldn’t be here to see it. I wish you would have found happiness when you were alive.

Tic Toc! Tic Toc!

The pressure is on. This week will be our last week of regular
rehearsing because next week (starting Saturday) is hell week.
Saturday we will show up at the theater and basically we will be
there every day until the following Sunday. Its exciting but
frightening at the same time. Whenever hell week arrives, you know
there's no going back and every choice you've made up until now
better be the right one.

Thats really all I have to say right now, I'm sure more will come
this week. Wish us luck!

My First Grease Injury...

So last night while doing "Greased Lightening", I slashed my thumb open on the hubcap. I wasn't aware of how deep it was until I got home and started cleaning it out. I'm gonna scar (now I have to come up with some cool back-story of where the scar came from... I'm thinking I should say it happened while I was rebuilding my carburetor). Since it was my first injury, maybe I'll save the band-aid (thank you Jeff W. for tracking one down) in my Memory Chest. For those that don't know what a Memory Chest is, I'll explain:

Greg (G.P. - he's so pretentious) Hunsaker is our technical director. The other night we were out at the Moolah and Greg started opening up to the group and talked about his Memory Chest (he claims he said Memory Trunk, but I'm sure he said chest) that he keeps full of items from his sorted little past. At first I was going to let it go, but then, like there was chum in the water, I attacked. The pleasure here is that Greg is the gayest straight man I know. I'm sure he writes in his journal every night while he sips his tea and looks at articles from his Memory Chest. And after the single tear falls down his cheek becuase he found his "GREGGY" name tag from the store where he managed the Women's Clothing Department [I know... how gay is that?], he wanks off to the latest edition of JUGGS (or whatever filthy dirty stuff he looks at... or perhaps he uses Martha Stewart Living [love ya Greg]).

Other than the life-threatening injury I sustained, and the near loss of an appendage (Jeff Wright saved my life... MY HERO!), rehearsal was good. We had to grease back our hair for the first time and even though my hair is long, it's not long enough yet. I still have 2.5 weeks and, if nothing else, I'm sure I can fake it (if I had a nickel for every time I have said that). More later.

This Time I'm Serious! I'm in love with...

...this whole cast. We had our first run through on the set last night and needless to say it was a little rough (at least on my part). The guitar thing didn't go to well... chalk it up to nerves or something because I could totally play it at home with my St. Bernard watching me (he's a good audience... very forgiving). Practice Practice Practice (words from my piano teacher when I was 10 - shortly before I quit taking piano). 

Anyway, back to the cast. We all went out for Joe's (Sonny) birthday last night to this cute little place named "The Sidebar". I love it when a cast gets along as well as we are. Along with that, just like with any friendship, there will be bumps in the road, but I think we all genuinely like each other, which I am hoping will translate on stage. I had the chance to talk with a few cast members that I don't usually get to talk to a lot and I learned a great deal about them and their personal lives, etc. Brendan (Danny) brought his GF and she seemed very nice, Isabel feels like Jesus Christ sometimes, and in general we were a happy group... OH YEAH... RASPBERRY MOJITOS ARE YUMMY!

I have every hope that out of this cast will come some long-term relationships in my life, but even if they turn out to be theater friends (see below for definition), I know that I am going to walk away from Grease with good feelings and fond memories (and then I'll forget everyone's name in a few weeks after that).

*THEATER FRIENDS definition (courtesy of my friend Sarah Armstrong) = These are friends you make during the run of a show and then afterwards either you or they get busy and you loose touch until the next show you are in with them. At that time you pick up where you left off. It happens all the time and is pretty common practice in our world.

I can't hold it in anymore! I'm in love with...

... this show (bet you thought I was going to say something juicy...psych). We had the best rehearsal last night. Not because we learned something new and interesting (like rolling on the floor with hubcaps in our hands [props to Robin on that new move]), or because I had some miraculous character realization that told me Doody was in fact a serial killer or anything.

It's because we were able to take the time to fix little issues and polish a little tarnish. Not only for choreography but for songs as well. And then we walked through the show scene by scene so everyone was able to get familiar with exits and entrances and how to move around the theater and the set. It sounds really silly, but nothing makes you feel more comfortable than having that breathing room to learn exactly what you are doing.

Costume fittings are Saturday... I have lost weight since the first measurements (YAY) so I hope it all goes well... OH YEAH! Our first full run-thru is Thursday. I'll let you know how that goes.

P.S. Beth, send me your info and I'll pass it on to the right peeps.

I can smell the testerone on your breath!!!

We learned our final dance yesterday - "All Choked Up" (they replaced it with "Better Shape Up" in the movie...dumb-asses). Never did I think we would be doing push-ups in the middle of a dance number and grunting like we are having sex (there's a visual for everyone reading), but the number kicks ass! Its boys against girls in this dance and I got to tell ya', I think the skirts could learn a lot from the guys. GO BACK TO THE KITCHEN WHERE YOU BELONG LADIES!!! They think they are so sly pushing us down on our knees, but what straight man wouldn't want to be at crotch level to his girl :P. Barry (Kenicke) got out of the push-ups because he had to take his Brazilian cousin to see Piazza at the Fox (Did I mention his cousin is BRAZILIAN?).

Tonight is clean-up night for all the dances. What a great idea... It will be great just to dedicate a whole rehearsal to polishing (or un-polishing... whatever the look we are going for is). OH YEAH! We move into the Artloft tonight too. And G.P., if you read my blog, I am working on the license plates (I have all the way up to Louisiana done).

Feelin' Good in the Neighborhood

Last night we ran Act 1 and I have to say, I am really impressed at
how many people bring their "A Game" to rehearsals. Even more
impressive is having the time for Scott to stop us during the process
and work through issues that may pop up. It really helps because you
have time to correct before anything becomes a bad habit.

Monday will be the first time I bring my guitar to rehearsal (I
really gotta practice this weekend). I also have a homework
assignment to watch a little Elvis and get some moves for Doody
during Magic Changes. I am also really starting to feel like Roger
and Doody have been friends for a long time and Roger makes sure that
Doody is "protected". And Doody, Sonny and Roger are really getting
along. I think the audience will believe that we all grew up in the
same neighborhood and have been life-long friends.

New note: A bunch of us went out after rehearsal to Applebee's and
had a great time. Thanks everyone who went. Jeff had a great idea...
Thursday is Joe's (Sonny) Birthday... lets do it again. I had a blast
(and Beth.... I feel your pain. let's lunch!).

Thats all for now. We have more dance on Sunday.

Insert Witty Headline Here....

I realized at last night's rehearsal that the group is starting to
gel really well and thats swell (my little ode to Vince Fontaine).
The cool thing is that it is going along gender lines. Guys are
bonding and girls are bitchy (some of the guys too) and then the
couples meet in the middle. I really like the cast and this will be
one of those shows that I am sad to see end (we'll see if I still say
that on week 4 of performances).

On a character note, I am working on Doody's walk. It seems silly but
I think Doody would walk differently than the rest of the guys... not
as confident as them but rather unsure of himself and his body.
Maybe, once he grows a pair and asks Frenchy to dance, we could see a
subtle transformation. Maybe he gains more confidence in himself at
that point and we can see how he is going to survive out in the real
world.

Doody doesn't make decisions on his own very often. He always seeks
approval of others... making him even more pathetic (and lovable).
There is a point where Roger asks if we all want to go watch Mickey
Mouse Club, and I realized last night that Doody wouldn't
automatically say "yes". Because he is in the group of guys, he would
see if the other guys want to go first and then go along with the
majority. I think that's the motivation behind Doody helping to pants
Roger in act 2 even though they are the best of friends. What really
shows that "wanna-be-accepted" mentality is that he lets the other
guys go ahead and leave while he runs back and gives Roger his
Antenna back... his little way of saying "they made me do it." Doody
would be a prime candidate for joining a cult (and drinking the Kool-
Aid).

Holy Leotards Batman!

So after the first dance rehearsal, I thought we were getting off easy... until Sunday that is. Wow! The prom scene is this neverending marathon of "dancetastic" energy. From doing the jitterbug, to the cha-cha, to the hand jive, I think I may just have a stroke. My partner (Isabel) is great though and I think her and I are doing pretty well.... actually the whole cast is pretty darned good except Jeff Wright... he could really use some work (hee hee Just kidding Jeff). Seriously, we don't look all bubble gum and polished - we look REAL!

On that note, I watched the "audition show" that NBC (or ABC or CBS... blah blah blah) is having and at the end, all the finalists (Stepford actors) performed "We Go Together". Many things bothered me about the number and made me feel like I was going to purge my celery and peanut butter I had just woofed down (remember the diet). First, they were all wearing these ridiculously stupid outfits. The guys had the bright colored tees on with the label "D1" (or D2 or D3, etc... interpreted as Danny 1, Danny 2). As the bile was rising in my throat at the costuming, they started dancing. Needless to say I think I puked in my mouth a little. Robin Berger, our choreographer, should be proud. It was the cheesiest thing I have ever seen. Now granted... the "actors" did what they could with what they were given, but sometimes they have to feel a little dirty about bastardizing the original intent of the show.

We continue the prom scene tonight... ARRRGHHHH! The most inconvenient thing (personal bitch coming up) is that I refuse to go to a dance rehearsal with product in my hair (wow... I just said "product" on my blog... I am so gay! My stylist would be proud though... wow!...I just said "stylist".... you get the point) so I have to wash my hair at work. Let me tell ya', washing your hair in the sink is no easy chore and I end up having my own little wet t- shirt contest in the bathroom (I always win). But as Scott says, you have to suffer for your art (that's his response when ever you bitch about something).

More later!

Hair show...

If you've been reading my blog, you'll know that I am having to deal with longer hair than I am used to. Plus, we are under a cut restriction by Scott (he threatened to castrate us... not in so many words but I read the subtext).

So I've been doing some research on greased hair and thinking about what style Doody may have. I have dug up some interesting photos and to the left is where I think I am heading.

For the rest of you greasers... there is a great site to do some research.... http://www.slickville.com

Who am I anyway?

So Scott got us to thinking about who our characters were. What are their real names? What was their home life like, etc. So I did some thinking on the way home and below is the story of Doody (as I see it):

I was born David Christopher Dudek. I never knew my dad (my real dad anyway), hell my Mom probably didn’t know him either. She went to a party one night and got a little sloshed and wound up going all the way with a sailor who was on leave. She came from a good, polish family and when they found out she was prego they kicked her out. It was June of 1941 and she was all of 17 and she was on her own. I was born on March 22, 1942. Mom tried her best to raise me on her own. The old lady she rented the apartment from watched me when mom went to work. She was a clerk at the five and dime and that’s where she met the guy I would soon know to be my dad.

Vern (the man she eventually married) was never a warm man and he definitely didn’t like me. He worked at a local cannery and would always go out drinking after work. Mom usually tried to make sure I was in bed before he got home, because it was inevitable that they would fight. One day he left for work and never came back so it was me and mom again. I was 8 at the time... Time to be a “man” as mom put it.

It was about this time I met Roger (my next door neighbor)  Mom worked a lot and when she came home she would always have “gentleman callers” over so I was sent out to play a lot. Mom drank quite a bit and always has a hard time getting up in the mornings. She tried though. Once a year, on the first day of school, she got up and fixed my lunch for me. Roger’s Dad worked a lot also, so we were both left to our own devices a lot after school. We got into a heap of trouble together... Just boy stuff, nothing serious.  Roger called me Doody from day one (making fun of my last name after I cut a big fart), and the nickname has stuck to this day.

Apparently the whole neighborhood knew about my Mom’s “extracurricular activities” but no one talked about it... even Roger and me. For the longest time Roger and I were each other’s only friends. We even made up our own little handshake and had a clubhouse (it was really just an old box). And so it went all the way to high school. Roger became the funny one and I was always pretty shy (around everyone but Roger) and he eventually joined the Burger Palace Boys gang. He told them my story and they all agreed to take me under their wings. As it always was with me and Roger, he made friends and I came along by proxy. So I had friends.

Because of my Mom being who she was, I never had much respect for women, until I met Francessca (Frenchy). I was smitten by her but never had the guts to say anything. She was different from the rest of the Pink Ladies. We eventually dated for a bit but lost touch after high school. I went on to the police academy and now I’m part of Chicago’s finest... Went from one gang to another.

Oh yeah. Mom is still alive and kicking. We don’t talk much though. I send her a check every now and then though and I’m sure she wisely invests it on Wild Turkey and Camels. Roger is still my friend to this day and I still see some of the other guys around the neighborhood.

Sooo...

...not going to be off book tonight! Unfortunately I didn't manage my
time well this weekend, but in my defense I had to take the Christmas
tree down (yep! I still had it up and it was lit!) and of course that
led to rearranging the living room which led to the discovery of a
dog hair convention under my couch and love-seat which led to the
thought of me having to clean, which led to the purchase of a new
vacuum (because I hated my old one... and yes the new one sucks like
a Hoover [because it is a Hoover]).... and finally on Sunday night I
sat down (after scrubbing the fire place stones because I was
convinced they were porous enough to hold dust and could be causing
allergies) in time to watch "Desperate Housewives" (guilty pleasure).
I didn't even practice the guitar... which I should have and now,
even though my living room and dining room are spotless, I still feel
like a slacker because I didn't meet my goal of being off book and
the rest of the house still looks like shit, especially after you see
the clean rooms.

And I know what you are thinking: "Why didn't you work on them last
night?" Well smart asses, I did, but "Heroes" came on and I frickin'
love that show and next thing you know its 9:00, so I started
studying then and in between letting the dogs out (I call them the
"boyz"...the "z" makes them cool) and trying to fight the urge to run
down to Dairy Queen and woof down a huge blizzard (trying to loose
the "not doing a show" weight), I didn't accomplish much.

I may try a little study today during lunch, etc. at work, but we all
know how that goes.

So to my fellow cast members and Scott, I apologize for my OCD/ADD
and I promise I will not let you down.

Blocking and blogging...

Blocking for act one is done... wait until you see the MGM Lion....
funny funny funny! Actually the whole park scene is very good.

My goal is to be off book by next rehearsal for Act 1. If I can take
over Molina in Spider Woman and get it down in a week, I should be
able to do this.

On a new note...I find it funny that I am blogging about the
experience of being in Grease, but really all the information is very
superficial. I usually think of a blog as an online diary where
people pour their heart and souls out to anyone who cares to read it.
The catch 22 is that "anyone" can read it, so I find myself editing
the things I say (none of them bad). There are things I am dying to
tell someone but either can't or shouldn't. Maybe I should open
another blog.... hmmmm.

Sorry for the blabber.... A.D.D. sets in every now and then. More later.

Blocking Part 1...

Well if anything gave me a clue as to whether or not this Grease will be totally different, it was blocking last night. Its going to be fast paced and not overacted. I had already started developing my character and when I got to rehearsal last night Scott explained his vision of Grease and how we were going to approach it. I think it's going to be amazing. Already the pink ladies are coming across more real (and bitchy) than ever. So I have to re-adjust my character and how I am going to play this. 

One thing is for sure: I have to get off book FAST. It is really hard to act fun and spontaneous when you have a script and/or music book in your hands. 

Our First Read Through - Sing Through

We had our first read through of the script at last nights rehearsal
and I gotta tell ya... THIS SHOW IS F**KING FUNNY! Not in the
slapstick-pie across the face-three stooges funny, but in a genuine
teenager interaction-every day life kinda way. If we do this right
(which I'm sure we will) it will be really cool. A lot of the script
sounds like banter more than script. A lot of quick wit and snide
remarks. I think the hard thing will be holding for laughs because
you never know when the audience is going to have an outburst with
this show. It will probably depend on what character or group they
identify with the most.

My personal favorite is Jan. She is very funny in the same way that
the heavier nun was in Sister Act. And the girl playing her (Katie
Nestor) will surely crack a lot of people up.

Last night was also the first time the whole cast got to hear all the
music in one sitting. Not bad for our first try. I think the guys
have some harmony problems but I'm sure it will all get worked out...
it has to because the girls are definitely showing us up.

We begin blocking tonight... more tomorrow.

Do the hop

Our first dance rehearsal was today. I have to admit, I dread the dance but somehow I seem to be pretty adequate at it... And so is the rest of the cast (even the guys). I love Robin as a choreographer. I just seem to “get it” when she is teaching.  It’ll take some practice (on my part) but I think I’ll get it down and not stand out like I did in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (Newline 2004). I did drop Isabelle today though... We are doing a straddle lift and luckily I had her pretty much horizontal before she hit the ground. She wasn’t hurt (thankfully). I can’t wait until the “school dance” scene. I hoping for some really cool jitterbuggy type stuff. More later

P.S. Be sure to visit other cast and crew blogs:

http://isabelpastrana.blogspot.com/

http://newlinetheatre.blogspot.com/

http://timestepdiva.blogspot.com

Last music rehearsal

WE ROCK! Literally.  This will be quick and short, but I am loving the music of Grease. Who knew? My personal favorite is the song that Roger and Doody perform – Rock and Roll Party Queen (I may be a little biased, but Jeff and I are going to kick ass). The music in general is so authentic to the period and once you take out the “Bee Gees-wanna be disco-but comes out country-and lame” songs that they added into the movie, you really get a taste of the the 50’s. That’s all for now. First dance rehearsal is Sunday (heart attack here I come).

P.S.  I hate my hair

First Grease Rehearsal

I have to admit that I wasn't so thrilled about doing Grease. I have
never been a big fan. It seemed cheesy and superficial at best. Let's
start with the movie, I mean come on! A flying car? And not a lot of
the characters came across as "real people". Then there is every stage
version I have seen (3 times)... Mostly community theaters and mostly
kids and mostly STUPID!

That's what I like about doing Scott Miller shows. He never ceases to
surprise with his vision of where we are going to head and as long as
you accept it, it'll always be a fun ride. Scott is going to put the
authenticity back into Grease and make it the raunchy, unpolished,
snapshot of 50's Americana that it was meant to be. I also love the
insight he provides. He writes these chapters, that at first seem
very overwhelming, but if you read them, you can really ascertain a
lot of good info. And this time he has provided books, magazines and
DVDs for us to take home and get a true idea of who we are in this show.

For instance, I didn't realize what a big deal it was for Doody to be
playing a guitar. I thought it was just a ploy to get one in the
show, but Scott explained back then rock and roll was the "devil's
music" and for any kid's parents to let him have a guitar was a huge
deal. Not only to him, but to his friends as well. He now holds the
key to what they think is cool and, like Scott said, he could be the
next big star in their minds. So when the cast is singing back-up,
it isn't mocking, etc. They really are excited to have this music in
their lives and have it be so accessible.

So long story short.... I am kind of getting excited about Grease and
I can't wait to see where it goes.

Cut or Uncut

Going to get my hair cut today and I realized that in order to grease back my hair, I can’t get the normal short trim that I always have. It seems silly but you forget about the small details of becoming a character until it affects your daily life. The hard part will be balancing a “business acceptable” cut with something that will work when I slather it with pomade to get the Greaser look.  I’ll post pictures as we go along (if I can do that).

Grease Rehearsals Start Monday

Well, I have been learning the guitar to play the part of Doody in New Line Theatre's production of Grease and I have to say, I am pretty nervous. I have the chords down but its playing them all together that stumps me. I've come to the realization that I will never be a Peter Frampton or my 3rd grade, guitar playing, music teacher-Ms. Dineff. If only my fingers were skinnier. DAMN YOU genetics.

I am really excited for the first rehearsal however. It's always fun to meet the new people and see the ones you have done shows with. Even funner (I know its not a word) is making fun of the new people with the people you have done shows with (If you're one of the newbies...just kidding. If you're one of the vets...get ready to talk some smack).

Seriously, over the next 10 weeks or so, I'm sure I'll make some new friends. The great thing about theater folk... you get so close during the run of a show and when it's over, everyone gets busy and you loose touch, UNTIL the next show starts and it's like you never left.

Wish me luck!