So I suppose that it is about time I wrote something about "Oklahoma!" . It is the Findlay Light Opera musical for this, their 20th season. The shows are this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. at Central Auditorium on Main Cross.
It is easy to say that this show is the most polished performance I have ever been in. I can't count the number of times that we have run this show forward (and even occassionally backwards). The costumes are wonderful (I even have a hair extension piece). The sets are great and the orchestra is absolutely amazing!!! As for the actors, I have never been in a show with more talent. Also, I have a special admiration for the choreographer who is amazing, her energy and skill have made dance rehearsals extremely productive and fun!
I was cast as Ellen (yea, don't worry I never heard of her either) and a featured dancer in Jud's can-can and a ballet dancer. I have found the can-can hilarious since I am 29, and the other girls are 14 and 16. I'm like, woah how did I get this part??? Hilarious, however I am told that I am the "raunchiest". I worked very hard to get the part of Ado Annie, I REALLY wanted it. I am flattered that I got called back for the part. I felt I did a really great job with the exception of some trembling. I was up against a college theater major and an older woman who was on the board. After waiting hours to get a call they told me that I was in chorus and a dancer, I was kinda shocked so I just said, "okay, okay" after I hung up I thought "oh crap!" that made it sound like I took the part. So, I stuck with it. The theater major got the part, her reading was not as good but she did look the part. The other woman got Gertie, both have been in shows for those directors before. So I decided this year I will just take a small role and get , "in the club".
This has been a very challenging show. I have never been treated like such a child even when I was one, we get chewed out for being five minutes late even if we don't have anything to do for another hour. There has been no respect for us or our time. Often it feels as if we are being judged by several Simon Cowell's but with comments such as," a few of you are great but the rest of you are just dead up there" you never really know which category you fall into. Also it has been clear that the director does not know who I am, she used my name once but was pointing to Julie??? I have never had that happen to me in a show before either. I am afraid that with the lack of positivity above, " I 'm not ready to say you are good yet" and negativity such as, "why did you look back?? Haven't you ever been on stage before??" I kinda put on a bad attitude, I guess I just hit my frustration level more than a few times. I wish I could let them know that, "if the director ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". Chrissy told the director of Music Warehouse that once and then everything chaged and we all got so much better!
I swore I wasn't going to do a show here again but tonight was better,although I fell down some stairs and brusied my back. We got our dresses, the tech work is about done with some fancy effects, the pit is amazing, the choreographer was there and giving us some really positive feedback. Best of all I went around and told some of the other performers that I thought they were great etc. since they don'tget much positive feedback. Well, people have been telling me they thought I would be Ado, one said, Gertie, I didn't believe them so they told me why. I felt so good after that and gave my best performance, I think I just really craved a little positive feedback. Unfortunately, Dream Laurie then hurt her ankle during the ballet, she and Dream Curly just healed from their last injury! Oh the drama of the theater!!!
Oh my gosh, this would be a dream come true!!!! Anyone wanna buy a kidney??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190119849721
or go in with me...
Seriously, if Asa said it was okay, I would be all over this!!! Then I could sell the additional passes on ebay and get some money back!
Oh my gosh!! Oh my gosh!!!