The first week of rehearsal has been hard! These musical theater people are trying to kill me. Well, that's an exaggeration, but I'm not used to having to sing, count measures and move all at the same time, so it's making for some very interesting rehearsals. I'm sure all the real musical theater people are way over me.
But I struggle on, nonetheless. My singing is improving (which, frankly, isn't saying much), and I'm slowly but surely picking up on the choreography. The director, Michael O'Steen has been really cool about keeping it simple for me. I think he recognizes a train wreck on feet when he sees one coming. Consequently, people do a lot of dancing around Charlie Brown. Whew. That's Himself to the left there... I caught him in one of his relaxed moments. Actually, for a guy who's responsible for throwing a show together in a matter of two weeks, he's a very relaxed guy. One of the folks in the show saw that picture and said to me, "Why is it that every picture you see of a director, they're in that pose?" To be honest, I never noticed before. I have to keep better watch on these things.
I've been very grateful for how all these musical theater pros have been kind about taking me under their wing(s) and helping me out when they could. I think we're pretty lucky to have a great cast. The picture to the right shows (from left) Renata Marino ("Lucy"), Tom Schaller ("Snoopy"), Chris Schram ("Linus"), and Holli Hamilton ("Sally"). All of these folks have been very helpful and encouraging, and I feel very blessed to be working with them.
Here's a better shot of Chris, taken on the evening of our first rehearsal. This kid's amazing. He's finishing up his senior year of college and is in the middle of finals as we're rehearsing the play. In his shoes, I'd be a freakin' mess, but I think that vegan lifestyle has something to do with it. He's way too healthy for his own good!
Next we have a (slightly) better show of Renata. Although I have to confess, this one came out fuzzier than I'd have liked, and I got her while she was in the middle of an intense discussion with Holli, so it looks like she's staring blankly into space when in fact she was really focused on what Holli was saying. Needless to say, she's playing "Lucy," so if she sees this picture and doesn't like it, she'll probably kick my ass.
I think this next one is probably my favorite - or at least the one that came out the best. During our lunch break, I snapped Gavan (on the right, and playing "Schroeder") and Joe Pedulla in the office. You will, of course, recognize Gavan from numerous entries here, and Joe actually made an appearence in the journal way back when I first left Pittsburgh. At the time he was in the cast of Gavan's production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat I think, and many of them came to my going away party. Anyway, on Charlie Brown, Joe is serving as the male swing which, though I'm not sure, I think is musical-theater speak for "understudy." Joe once insisted to me that he hates digital cameras 'cuz he thinks they make objects look great, but people look awful; I think I've finally got a picture of him that disproves his theory!
Here's my other favorite cast photo: This one's of Holli while she was having that conversation with Renata. As you can see, she's rather involved too, but I think it's a really nice photo of her. I hope she feels the same way! Holli is an ultra sweet girl who, according to her, is pretty new to the whole musical theater thing, too. I wonder. You should hear her sing. I think she's a ringer.
Anyway, wish me luck as I start into my second week of rehearsal. I can't believe this thing opens in a week!
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