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