"Yeah, well, I’ve got a dream too - but it’s about singing and dancing and making people happy. That’s the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with. And, well, I’ve found a whole bunch of friends who have the same dream. And, well, it kind of makes us like a family.” - Kermit the Frog
When I was 16, our high school put on Bye, Bye, Birdie - and when I came home from the cast party after closing night, sobbing inconsolably, my mother freaked out and thought something tragic had happened to me. No... I was just so sad that the wondrous joy of the show had come to a close.
Bye, Bye, Birdie held the spot as my favorite show experience - until May, when we started rehearsals for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Right off the bat, it was clear that this was going to be a special show. The talent, the lack of egos, the warmth and affinity and respect everyone involved had for everyone else - it started off wonderfully, and its magic has only grown for the last three months.
Remember how I debated whether this was a good idea? Oh man. No doubt about it. This show has fed my heart and soul. I adore the people I've met and the fun I've had, singing and dancing and performing. Last night we went out as a cast, and I happily sat in the corner there at Wingers and observed. It warmed my heart, just being around these great people, watching how much we all enjoy one another's company. Our group has such a range of ages and backgrounds. Some folks joined the cast as replacements midway through rehearsals; some, like the "hairy Ishmaelites," came on board only in the final few weeks. Yet each person has been a huge component of the whole experience. Each personality has contributed to the fun, and each player brings his or her own strengths, whether it be phenomenal dancing or pulling hilarious faces that leave the audience giggling. And let's not overlook those who aren't on stage but who make the show pop with lighting, sets, costumes, music direction and choreography, and, of course, direction and vision. It's been a delight.
I love musical theater. Music, in and of itself, has a phenomenal ability to touch the heart and to convey emotions that words alone fail to reach. Music has always been an intrinsic part of my life - it was ever-present in our home growing up, and I've always had tunes playing more often than not. Combine that aural power with the visual storytelling of dance - also rife with emotional power - and then layer in lights, sets, costumes... and poof! You're transported to another world, if only for an hour or two, carried away in a story that runs a gamut of emotions. Whether it be Broadway tours of Wicked and Les Miserables or a local high school production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, musical theater brings more joy to my heart than just about anything - and that joy grows exponentially when I'm the one on stage, pouring my heart and soul into the story.
Throughout childhood, I said I'd do community theater someday - and I have. And I do. It makes me delightfully happy - so much so, in fact, that I'll continue dancing (taking ballet two days a week and tap two days a week) and singing (I'm resuming voice lessons with my college vocal coach in September). If I'm going to continue with it, I'm going to commit to it, work to refine and develop my abilities, and do it right.
Meanwhile, tonight we get a night off before launching into the final three performances of Joseph. I can't wait to get back on the stage with my Joseph family - and at the same time, I want to savor the experience and not have it end too quickly. Just the thought of it ending made me misty-eyed yesterday. It's been fun to watch in the Facebook feed as all of us castmembers have added each other, wanting to maintain a connection. The show might end, but the friendships won't.
It's so funny - my time living in Lehi wasn't the greatest, honestly. (More to do with circumstances than with the town itself - it's a wonderful community!) And while I enjoyed Singin' in the Rain, it wasn't my best experience, either. Not bad, but not great. The wonderful director of Singin' in the Rain came to the show last night, and seeing him got me thinking about all of this. I'd felt strongly that I needed to do that show, and yet it wasn't a phenomenal experience for a myriad of reasons.
However, it was because I lived in Lehi that I ended up doing Singin' - and through that, I met my dear friend Paige, the amazing assistant director for Joseph who talked me into auditioning. Those two things laid the groundwork for me to do this show - and if for nothing else, that makes those 10 months worth it, warts and all. I really admire, respect, and enjoy the folks I've met in the Lehi Arts Council, and if they'll have me, I look forward to doing many more shows with them in the years to come. Next summer they're doing Crazy for You, which is all Gershwin numbers (my fav composer!) - can't wait to dust off my tap shoes and get to work!
And in the meantime, if you're around Utah, come to Joseph!!! You won't regret it. Check out the great reviews we're getting - and come see what all the buzz is about. The play runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m. at Lehi High School. Hope to see you there!
