Hiatus

Annie will close this Sunday and so begins my theatre hiatus. I made the decision to TRY and not do theatre for 2011. It's gotten more difficult to do things I need and want to get done and see people I want to see. It will be a true test of self control on my part to say no. But I have done my research and listed my pros and cons and have come to the conclusion that theatre must take a backseat to my life right now. I want the weekends open and the weeknights free to see Brendan and plan the wedding and get back on a healthy eating schedule and exercise routine. And we all know how shitty you tend to eat while doing a show because there isn't really any time to put a healthy meal together so you just grab whatever's there or make a quick stop at the nearest gast station for snacks. I have missed many family events and B and I rarely have been able to attend parties together. It's always, "Where's Kristin?" or "Where's Brendan?" And the answer is usually, "She has a show today," or "He has rehearsal." I missed my aunt's retirement party when I did Grease back in the day, I missed B's nephews 1st birthday party, I missed birthdays here and there and several other things. So after this weekend, my focus will switch to family, creative projects I've been meaning to do, wedding planning, and food and exercise.

Annie has been amazing and fun and a great show to end with before the big break. Now back to dance classes, voice lessons, workouts, real food. But also back to family, friends, being home for Glee and 30Rock, spooning with my cat, reading, writing, having nowhere to be, and Keeping up with the Kardashians marathons with Mom and Mel. :)

OPENING DAY!

Our final tech day, we put on make-up, all the women crammed into our tiny dressing room, costumes and hangers everywhere, WIRE hangers, food from the gas station next door, snacks from Christy Wyatt's mom, clothes, bags, etc. I attempted to clean off the tables, but quickly realized my OCD would not compete with the mess that would soon takeover. We sat together waiting to run the show sharing stories from the past. I told everyone how I thought Tori was famous when we were younger, and we filled in the youngsters about the Joanna Pacitti story.

Kristin: "Omg do you think they'll do another macy's contest for the revival of Annie this time?"
Tori: "Umm, if they do, we should have Annie parties and watch it at my house."
Kristin: "UMMM...I'm so there."

Then Tori proceeded to tell us how she used to act out Les Mis when she was younger, playing every part, and I shared how Steph Crowe and I used to do it with RENT and how she always used to make me be Roger. :)

At times I had to remind myself to not use the "F" word or say Sh** around these youngins. They're so young. I could be their teacher. So weird. As we sat there and stuffed our faces full of combos, chex mix, starburst, skittles, and chocolate, (thanks to Christy), I vowed to get healthy again once the weekend was over. Well, that and the fact that walking up the flight of stairs to the dressing rooms got me winded.

So tech went well. Natalie hit all her notes amazingly, but started to get stressed. I thought of how nervous she probably was, how the show's title is her character, how her older sister played the same role, how she had 38 people coming to opening, how she's never been a lead, how her whole soccer team was coming, etc. I prayed that she'd feel better as we got ready for our last rehearsal before opening. I had no nerves.

Tech went really well. There was a new excitement in the air and the kids seemed to have way more energy during "Hard Knock Life." The show went smoothly and there were no disastrous mishaps.

OPENING
I walked up to the theater and saw Natalie standing in front of the ANNIE sign with her Mom taking a picture of her. I followed them inside and she was greeted with hugs from every direction. I smiled at her and walked by. No nerves yet.

I twiddled my thumbs and reveled in the fact that the show was the least stressful show I've ever done. I don't have to be in the opening scene, I'm not in the 2nd act until the end, I don't have to stretch for any dancing, and I don't have any quick changes. Well, that attitude kind of got the better of me later on during the first show.

As we all waited backstage to go on for Hooverville, Natalie was finishing singing "TOMORROW." And she hit every single note. I look over, and one mom started crying. Then I see another cast member crying. The audience screamed for her as she ended the song and well, I cried like an idiot. I felt like a proud Mom. And I thought of Natalie's mom, sitting in the audience with Natalie's older sister, who had played Annie, and all their family and friends, and wondered if she was ballin' like a baby right about now.

I warmed up a little before I went down for NYC. And then my nerves started. I knew Becky and Zach were in the audience, but all of a sudden, I was overcome but this crippling fear, My throat closed up so I sighed a couple times. I ran out onstage, and suddenly it was so difficult to stand in one spot in high heels. My right thigh betrayed me once again and shook uncontrollably no matter how hard I tried to stop it. I sat awkwardly on the steps. I was scared my voice would not hit the notes and was just desperate to end the song. My vibrato ran away as I just yelled. I ran off, my body shaking, my heart beating so fast. WTF. Perfect every time in rehearsal was perfect! Dangit!

I ran upstairs and asked Elise to untie my apron for my next costume since my hands were still shaking. I reminded myself that I had more time to change for the maids' scene than I thought originally. I changed, put my hair up, and then looked for lighter lipstick. "No, don't take off my locket!" I heard Natalie yell onstage. Wait.... I thought. What's our cue line to go downstairs?" I turned around to no one. HOLY SHIT. I RAN downstairs to see the maids all lined up onstage.

"What should I do?!" I panicked to Terry.
"Just don't go on, " she smiled.

I missed it. I missed a scene. It was the first time I had ever missed a scene. As everyone came back upstairs during intermission, I made them promise to take me downstairs with them from now on. I guess my lackadaisical attitude about the show came back to bite me in the ass. I vowed to put my head into it next weekend.

After the show ended, we lined up in the meet and greet line. The audience flooded in and I saw a group of girls dressed up in soccer uniforms. They ran over to Natalie and started screaming and hugging her. And I thought, how amazing Natalie felt right then. It was the cutest thing EVER. And then, I saw a tiny little boy wearing a collared shirt with a sweater vest, and lime green crocs, holding flowers, and smiling the cutest smile at me. Zach ran up to me and gave me the flowers and then a huge hug. His smile always gets me. It's so cute. It was so great for Becky and him to come see it and I was glad I got to see them.

So, YAY for opening, YAY for Natalie overcoming her fears, YAY for no more rehearsals, and YAY for getting back into my normal routine. But I definitely think you should come see THIS Annie. l know you'll have at least 5 more chances to see it since every theatre in the area is also doing it, but you should definitely come see this cast :)

Annie Opens on Sunday!

We open on Sunday! It was dark last night, but we have 3 more rehearsals until we open. As much as I couldn't wait for this week to be over, I reminded myself that I don't want tech to hurry up. It's the week everybody bonds and once it's over, that means the show is almost over since we only have 3 weekends. So come see ANNIE- the best show ever! :) Click on Annie Promo to the right to see the video I made for it.

Mel: "You're like the immigrant that comes to NYC."

RENT DVD

So, over a year ago, I was stressed to the max worrying about that damn RENT audition. This weekend, we reunited once again to finally get our DVDs! I somehow got the motivation to make pasta salad for the potluck and B and I arrived to a full lobby at WDL. 3 Tables were set up with Pizza, soda, deserts, salads, etc. (I knew Becky G. would be making her amazing butterscotch cookies, so I was prepared with an empty doggie bag to take some home). We hugged and caught up and I was sad but happy to find out Jeremy was leaving for NY to pursue his modeling career. I took pictures and got to meet the newest member of Laura's family, baby Christian, who looks EXACTLY like his big sister. She saw me and said, "KRISTIN!" Which made my heart melt a little. I handed out the gifts that we weren't able to get on time to give before the show closed b/c of last year's snow (UGH), and then we entered the theatre to see the menu of our AMAZING dvd on a large screen Chris had set up for us. Clips of the show flashed before us while we waited for it to start. My heart pounded as we watched ourselves on a big screen. B and I mumbled how we hate to watch ourselves, and squeezed hands as we cringed. My armpits sweat as I watched myself girate back and forth. Suddenly, it turned into our very own video commentary:

"Oh yea this is where your breathe was kickin' every night," B reminded me.
"Do you still have that t shirt?" I asked him.
"Yep, wear it all the time."
"I hope this was one of the nights that the candle cooperated."
"Oh shit I forgot about Contact."
"Oh no, here comes the death make up. Please don't show a close up. AHH!!!!" I screamed as everbody laughed when the lights came up on my cryptkeeper face and crackwhore lips.

We all cheered for our family members after every number and laughed at the stuff we could see for the first time happening on various parts of the stage.

And then it wasn't so bad. Not bad at all to watch the amazing show that was created one year ago. When we got to the end of the DVD, the video montage came on instead with our voices singing in the background. And it was pretty awesome. To sit there laughing and remembering with everybody, (well not everyone, but most), and getting to watch our hard work was really fun. And fulfilling. And I must say, it's probably one of the very few DVDs I won't be ashamed to show anyone, well, maybe except my kids. ;)

To my RENT Fam, thank you for a great experience. I know we'll all hold on to something special and I'm thankful that we got such a wonderful keepsake.

Camaraderie

After a slew of boring, frustrating rehearsals, I saw it. That little spark when the cast starts becoming a team of people working towards the same goal. At first, it's like, "God, I hope I do this well." Then after weeks of rehearsal, it's, "I hope this show does well. I hope everyone does well."

Rehearsals have picked up. This week, we've gone from Tuesday- Thursdays, to well, every day. And they've been those rehearsals where I made sure I brought stuff to do since I knew I'd be sitting around a lot. The blocking rehearsals that are so long and tedious, but that have to happen.

But last night, it changed. Just slightly, but I saw it start to happen. We watched each other perform the numbers. NYC, Easy Street, etc. They were put onstage-the first time putting the singing, acting and dancing all together. Instead of people reading, or doing homework, or putting their ipods in, they actually wanted to watch the scenes. And people were smiling and laughing and trying things different ways. We clapped for each other. I heard people saying, "great job," to others. That support started happening. The support that comes when you know the show is opening soon and you start pumping each other up.

And then the power went out. The little girls screamed as the adults scurried around for flash lights and we chaotically grabbed our things and tripped as we exited the theatre. As everyone said goodbye and walked to his/her cars, I couldn't help but get excited for the show.

7 DAYS TILL TECH EVERYBODY!

Fundraiser for Boys and Girls Club

I met Cristy, Brooke, and Tori at the theatre at 10:30 a.m. We ran Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy twice and surprisingly it pulled together better than we expected! We drove over together to the riverfront. Apparently it was National Kids Day and Boys & Girls' Clubs all over the country were doing the same thing. All the way down the river, there were tables set up of arts and crafts, children's games, balloons, music, free stuff, etc. The Delaware Children's Theatre had a table where you could make a Reggy hat, a table to make a fairy wand, and a small stage for karaoke. Friends were dressed up as characters and walking around to talk to the little kids that came by. We saw a little girl in a fairy outfit with her little butt hanging out, and a tiny asian toddler that was posing for her dad's camera, and a little baby that had face paint that made him look like a cat. So cute :) It was also Mrs. Swajeski day so we celebrated that.

It was hotter than I expected and there was no food, so I thanked God for the apple I brought and B and I sadly shared it. We walked over to the mainstage to get ready for our performance. I freaked as I lost the rest of the group and wondered where everyone was. Terror hit as we arrived at the stage to see a 10 year old kid rapping about his mom and a sea of African Amercians. No disrespect to them, I have many friends who are, but my mind raced as I thought about what we were about to present to them and suddenly I felt really white.

"Wait, is this where we're performing?" B asked.
"Umm...yea I think that's the mainstage."

And I knew. How could it not be the mainstage. It was the biggest concert stage set up right in front of the water with mics and speakers and blasting music. OHHHHHH shiittttttt. I'm the first one to sing. And I'm singing Someone to Watch Over Me. I'm gonna' get eaten a live.

I tried calling members from the theatre to figure out where everyone had gone as B sat on his guitar case under a tree. AND I had to pee. Badly. There were 8 porta potties lined up.

"You're gonna have to use one of those."

I sucked it up and walked over. I shut the door. There was no hook to hang my bag. My armpits were sweating. My hair was matted to my face. I pulled my pants down, but I guess not far enough because disaster struck and I peed on the back of my pants and underwear. SON OF A ...! I thought. As I got nauseated by feeling the cold, wetness of my pants as I pulled them back on, I darted out of the porta potty and ran over to Brendan.

"I peed on my pants! I peed on my pants!"
"What? oh, I can't even see it."

I dumped my bag to find my hand sanitizer and bathed myself in it.

Finally I got a hold of Tori.

"Oh, we're in the Riverfront Market. We're all getting dressed in the public bathroom."
Great. There's an indoor bathroom.

We raced over there, got dressed and walked over to behind the mainstage in our character shoes. And my feet quickly noticed that I hadn't worn those shoes in years. As we mentally prepared, I noticed that I wasn't the only person freaking out about having to go on for the crowd. The hosts were calling people onstage to teach them how to "Dougie" and little girls got up on stage and were bustin' a move. Then one teenage girl rapped a poem she had written. Phrases I caught were, "kept my legs spread wide open, Aids, Sex, baby daddy..." We stood there in shock. I thought it was a children's even. I looked at Jeff and we mentally communicated the fact that we were terrified about having to sing songs in front of this crowd that had lyrics like, "Hey Nonny Ding Dong a-lang a-lang a-lang," and "I'm a little lamb whose lost in the wood," in them. Mrs. S came over to us. "Hey, I just always say, just be bigger and better." Not knowing whether she was trying to calm us down or calm herself down, we waited. I stood there in my black skirt to the floor and my blouse and I looked at the guys with the plaid cumberbuns and matching bowties.

Tori pulled me aside.
"Look how cute that little boy is!" Her face lit up as she observed the toddlers running around and I tried to get my mind off the performance and focus on the cute kids.

We got up onstage. The skit started. Jesus please let this go well. I was up. As I shit my pants, I walked up and grabbed the mic and the mic stand and didn't let go. I started singing.

"There's a saying old, says that love is blind..." A mother took her daughter's hand and walked away. Great. I'll just look at Tori's mom who was swaying to the music. Or the sky. I'll look at the sky. Wow it's really blue today. I thought.

"Still we're often told, seek and ye shall find..." More people walked away.
"WE CAN'T HEAR! TURN THE MUSIC DOWN!" someone yelled. Just look at the sky. Keep looking at the sky.

"So I'm gonna' seek a certain lad..."
"WE CAN'T HEAR!?" another person yelled.

I suddenly noticed how loud the music was and I put my mouth closer to the microphone. Thank God for this mic. I thought. They make you sound so much better than you actually do. I pictured my hair and face being blown back like a cartoon as the music blasted against me.

The song ended. I don't even think I was listening to the music. And it was over. The audience was now all DE Children's Theatre moms and dads. And there weren't many of them. Welp. Way to trim down a crowd!

However, in the end, it ended up going very well. Brendan confidently sang his songs, we survived Boogie Woogie, Tori worked "At Last," and the teens got cheers as they ended "Rockin' Robin." We got offstage as Reggy entered, and hugged and congratulated and the adrenaline left my body and I was suddenly hungry. We took pictures and said goodbye and B and I walked back to our cars.

Hopefully they raised a lot of money for the Boys and Girls' Clubs and I was happy to help and be a part of it.

NOW, all fundraisers and benefits are finito! Complete! Done! For 2010! Annie seems like a piece a' cake now and I will actually have a real weekend this weekend.I can't wait. I will be setting up my tv and dvd player and replaying episodes of How I Met your Mother and 30 Rock ALL WEEKEND LONG. CAN'T FLIPPIN' WAIT.

Double Rehearsal

SO

last night, Cristy and I were bouncing back and forth between Annie Rehearsal and Rehearsal for a fundraiser we were asked to do this weekend. It's for the boys and girls club and it's a tribute to the 40s, 50s, and 60s. I was really excited to be asked by Jeff b/c I never worked with him before. He's super nice and really funny and although the 2 rehearsals we've had have been chaotic as we try to learn everything by Saturday, I've laughed a lot. And that's healthy for you. :)

I am singing Someone to watch over me and I'm also in Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy with Tori, Cristy and Brooke. It takes me back to American Anthem a little bit, except for all the group numbers, Jeff has the teeny boppers workin' hard doing all this choreography and the adults, (That's Me), get to stand by the mics and just sing. Pretty sweet deal. SWEET on being an old person again :) EXCEPT for Boogie Woogie. So yeah. As Cristy and I run upstairs to rehearse that and then are called back downstairs to Annie just in time to miss the number we were supposed to be in, I was silently freaking out, as is my nature. Twice, we were called back downstairs just to leave and go back upstairs again. I don't think I've ever been in that situation before and well, I'm not sure I like it.

With Annie, I got to hear Natatlie sing Tomorrow for the first time. So cute. So cute. She's in her little basketball outfit and sneakers with friendship bracelets on her wrists and a ponytail. And as I sit on the end of the stage learning harmonies for "You Won't be an Orphan for Long," Mrs. S comes up to me.

"I always want to paint you or take a picture of you. You always look like you're in a special place."
"Umm..."
"Are you?"
"Umm...I"
"Well, stay there."

Oh, Mrs. S. :)

After learning a few box steps and blocking, Cristy and I ran back upstairs to catch the end of the other rehearsal where we attempted to sing and dance Boogie Woogie. I thought I had memorized the song on my lunch break but the rapidity and harmonies and words were a mess as the 4 of us tried to put the moves to it. Yea. HOT MESS. HOT MESS. And in the mirror, it's a double punch in the stomach as you watch how atrocious it looks. We laughed and made fun of ourselves.

"I totally had those words down in my car!" Tori said.
"Yea I knew them when I was sitting at my desk at school!" Cristy said.

"Well I'm glad you guys have that one DOWN," Jeff said sarcastically, laughing.
"Feelin' good! That was pretty on," I joked.

The girls were called to try on brightly colored blouses. Now. The term "Blouse" just seems like a term my mother would use. And well, as Tori and I stood there in our sneakers, black skirts that were down to the floor, and button up blouses that had shoulder pads in them, we looked in the mirror, and I turned to her.

"I feel like an Amish person. Do you have your camera?"
So naturally, B took pictures of our hotness as we reminisced about how our Moms both had shoeboxes in their dresser drawers full of shoulder pads that they could insert into their blouses whenever they were needed. The younger girls had no clue what we were talking about, again, reminding me how old I am.

So, in conclusion:

1. This Saturday- Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club featuring Reggy the Mascot! We have one more rehearsal to get it right.
2. Double rehearsing- not for me.
3. It reminded me how to laugh and have fun and not be so serious all the time.