Welcome to my hidden world!

The show is over, finally… It went well, I almost didn’t mess it up.  Almost, because I switched my comments during a part where boys put on tutu skirts and one of the boys missed his lines and got very upset, he even didn’t want to act in the next show because of this.  Of course, we talked him into acting in the 2^nd show and I made sure that I say everything in the order kids rehearsed it.

I thought that the first show went a little bit better then the 2^nd one.  After the 1^st one I was ready to be done.  Kids were great but for the 2^nd show they all were tired and not as loud as during the first one.

It was quite an experience for me!!!

I don’t think I would ever agree to act in a live play, maybe act for a movie but not live on stage in front of the live audience.  I was too stressed not to go blank again and reviewed my scene lines before each scene.  I am not an actress to improvise like the 2 real actors did.  Thanks to them for keeping the play up. 

I was pleasantly surprised to know that there were people who came to see the show just because I was in it that I would not expect to come.  I did not expect my co-worker and her family, my neighbor and her family, and Boris’ relatives.

 I was happy to see my two girlfriends come one with her son and one with her friend; my parents with their  friends made it to the show at 4pm.  My parents were out of town and drove home in the afternoon.  Of course, Boris and Mishka were there too and Mishka enjoyed some funny parts of the play, he even acted them out afterwards.  Mishelka stayed with her grandparents and didn’t cry for mommy.

Thanks to my in-laws for watching the kids almost every Sunday in May and yesterday. 

I promised that I will spend more time with kids from now on,  There are no more rehearsals and I think there are no more dance teaching during summer or if there will be, it will be on Friday mornings at the Harmony Summer Camp.

Tomorrow is the show and not once but twice I need to act on the stage.  No, I need to be on the stage more than one time in each act but there are two shows at 1pm and 4pm.  Kids actors will be totally crazy there after the 1^st run.

 On Friday, we had one and only dress rehearsal; having 30 people in the play and most of the actors are kids, it went pretty good.  However, there was one scene where I messed up twice. 

First, I forgot my last comment and that messed up the kids who were waiting for my cue.  After that I totally forgot what I need to say next.  Luckily, my conversation partner is real actor and he reminded me what I need to be talking about.

I decided that I would have my script and review my lines before I get on the stage.  There are two scenes that I spend too much time on the stage and one scene runs into the other.

Every time I think about tomorrow’s shows I get butterflies in my stomach.   I hope I will get over it by the show. 

I would need to take kids to my in-laws tomorrow morning, eat good lunch and go to the theater.  Boris will take Mishka to the show at 4pm.

My biggest fear is that I will humiliation the whole Harmony theatre with my performance. 

I hope NOT!!!   
This show is somewhat a microcosm of the rehearsals for this show at Harmony.  I hope it will go well.

I can’t wait until it will be over though!!!!!!!!!

Last night we had a super fun rehearsal.  When I came, they were rehearsing a new change in the play.  I learned that I was part of it too.  In this part, kids are doing a dress rehearsal for their play and a boy refuses to make a bear noise because he is embarrassed.  So, adults (teacher and his mom) have to show him how it is done.  The noise must sound horrible and loud, the worse the better.  From this point on, when Mr.Tibbs and mom started making those noises we all started giggling. 

Then we started rehearsing another scene where kids audition for a talent show.  This is hilarious part of the play that we rehearsed a lot and got used to it but it was unusually funny last night when this cute boy - Henry (I think he is 7 yr old) who supposed to act as a rock singer and guitar player came on stage.  He practiced his guitar playing technique and was given direction to start jumping and use his head to dance like a rock-star. 

 

Most of us probably have an idea what that supposed to look like when you see involved rock star performing, however, this boy played a cord on the guitar, paused, and then jumped, then played the cord, paused again, and jumped and repeated same combination several times.  We couldn’t hold ourselves from hysterical laugh.  Henry is a boy who is just adorable to look at – very funny boy but when he was doing those jumps it was something...

After the rehearsal I asked Henry if he has ever seen a rock star performing.  He said “No.” 

So, during the rest of the rehearsal, even in serious parts we would start laughing uncontrollably to tears. When I say we, it was 4 adult actors and the director.  We were literally rolling on the floor laughing.

In Russian we say "Проглатили смешинку" (swallowed a giggle).
If you can, come and see the show. 
More info about the show is on the website: http://centerharmony.org/

It is after midnight and I am not sleeping yet.  Why? It is going to be a very long difficult day today.  We have to go to the funeral and then I need to go to the 3 hour rehearsal.  I already went to a few rehearsals and tomorrow it will include the whole cast.  We will be reading the script and all actors are going to be there.

 I thought that it would be a little role that I would need to appear on the stage once.  However, at that time script was not written yet.  After I got the script, I realized that my role is one of the main roles of the play.  I have never acted professionally on the stage.  Well, not since middle school.  I am getting very nervous with every day.  With every day we get closer and closer to the production day in June.  I have only 2 months to become an actress.  This is hilarious!!!  I am an actress! 

 I could dance but I was not comfortable using my voice in public.  I guess I need this challenge to find my voice.  I already challenged myself to present at the conferences and do the workshops.   I wouldn’t be surprised if soon I will start even singing.  From no voice I am growing into louder and stronger voice.