Look Mr. Sondheim, I made a hat...where there never was a hat!

So, here is part deux from the earlier post, plus a little bit more! Woohoo!

We had our first official rehearsals for "The Lone Star Love Potion" yesterday and today. Yesterday we just did a read-through, and I think it went extremely well. As I said before, it's always fascinating to see who is cast as who and how they read for a character. The script reads better than Cabin Fever does, and the possibilities are endless with the blocking. It's such a high energy, fast paced show. And on top of that it's a farce, which is probably my favorite genre of show to act in. I love portraying over the top characters. And in this show that's exactly what I'm doing. My character, Tammy Jo, is the next door neighbor who gets involved in all of the crazy shit that goes down. I see her as a mixture of Dolly Parton and Annie Oakley. It was neat because a fellow cast member told me that I was doing great with the part. She said that I'm taking a part that could be really boring and bringing it alive, which I guess is all you can ask for. I hope to develop a character that doesn't just fall through the cracks.

Today we had our first blocking rehearsal. While we were doing the first couple of scenes, the director and I had a talk about the character. He likes what I'm going for now, but he wants to see how Tammy Jo would be as more of a Texas beauty queen. I'm all for experimenting with the character, especially in the early stages, so we'll see how it goes. I really think the cast for this show is really really great, and I personally love working with our director, so I think this will be a great acting experience.

Now, for the bonus topic. I just watched a PBS documentary about the musical "In the Heights". First off, let me say, the program that does this stuff is called "Great Performances" and if I had a million dollars, I would donate a good chunk of that money to this specific program because the record such great shows! The recorded and distributed "Company", "Into the Woods", "Sweeney Todd", "Cyrano de Bergerac", etc. It's just great because now I get to watch these great performances that I would never have seen. Anyways, to continue on. I watched the documentary that was basically about the couple of weeks from their first broadway rehearsal to opening on broadway and winning the Tony award. It was so inspiring to watch different cast members talk about their past and what led them to where they are today. You could tell each one of them was so invested in their future and basically in love with their art. I was especially moved after watching the lyricist and composer (Lin Manuel Miranda) talk about working on this musical for like 7 years. Watching all of this inspired me so much. I was lying on the couch, basically almost passed out from exhaustion, but watching this woke me up completely.

That documentary made me feel like all my dreams and aspirations for my future could come true. I'll always have time to teach theatre or do some sort of job that will have money coming in. But I only get one life, so I'm going to pursue my dreams no matter how insane or stupid it might be. I will pursue a career in acting in the theatre in Chicago. I don't have to become rich and famous (although that would be a plus) I just want to try for a professional career in theatre. If I don't do this, I don't want to look back on my life and wonder what if.

So, watch this documentary. It will give you hope in the theatre and inspire you, I swear!