So. Today. First off, I got up hoping to get some rehearsal time in with me and my script and my ipod. Not the case. Got up on time, as I wanted to, but my ipod was being a poopy. It took an hour to finally get the show tracks onto it. I guess all my musical theatre stuff took up all the memory, and there was no more room for the stuff I need. So I deleted Mamma Mia in Spanish, as well as a few of the other soundtracks I won't be listening to right away, and eventually, all six of the shows fit onto my ipod.
Well, then it was almost noon, and the cast that is heading out on Monday had their "presentation", which I guess is like their exit audition to show the big wigs what they have been working on so that they can get on the ship all prepared. Their presentation was incredible. Their shows look like so much fun. And it was music I knew... why can't I do THOSE shows? Anyhow, we then went to lunch to celebrate Sophie Jo's birthday, and I got a bland caesar turkey wrap. looked better on the menu than it did on the plate. Saved half of it for lunch tomorrow, as I did not get the chance to go out and get food for the week... gotta start rationing, I guess. Then I had every intention of going back to the Dixie Motel to study my music. Put my headphones on, and almost immediately conked out. Woke up when a flash thunderstorm came over and started shaking the roof. Got up, and then it was time to get ready to go to Peter's house. Peter as in Peter Grey Terhune... this big guy who I am working for. Very nice guy, so down to Earth... knows several folks that I do, so it was nice to be able to chat about mutual connections.
The party at his house was for the cast(s) that are going out next. Since we have two casts in simultaneous rehearsal, the party was for both casts. It was really nice! His house is on the water over on Merrit Island. Amazing house, with his yacht parked out on the canal... it was fully catered, open bar, with a jazz combo. I actually got up and sang "When I Fall In Love" because apparently, it is kind of obligatory that the lead singers from the casts get up and sing for their supper, so to speak. It went well, though I made up some words (so what else is new). One of the singers reminded me so much of Lormarev... but Lo has a much better sparky personality. I miss you, Lormarev!!!!
Had a pork chop and some fruit for dinner, a couple glasses of Coke and then switched over to water... I made it a double. Sheila was there... she is a trip and a half! She works in the office, and we had spoken on the phone several times, but we had not met formally. The first thing she said to me when we met was "Oh! I didn't recognize you without the mullet!" I didn't know what to say exactly. Apparently, my passport photo is really horrifically bad, and since I had long hair, it looks like a mullet. She gave me a hard time for the rest of the night. The other folks at PGT are also giving me a hard time just because I am still freaking out about the material to learn, and the time or lack thereof to learn it. They don't seem concerned, and they are telling me not to fret. I guess I won't fret as much as I normally would. Yeah, right. Who am I kidding?
Not really sure if anyone is reading all this junk, but here it is anyway. Life in Cocoa is hot, sweaty, and stressful. Welcome to the new era of Cruise Ship Entertainment! More later... gotta go listen to some Extreme Country! Followed by Shimmy! followed by Save the Last Dance For Me... see y'all!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Day Four
Today we got put into the Extreme Country show. It went well, and though I am still majorly overwhelmed with all the songs I have yet to learn, it seems to be finally taking shape. Okay, I lie. I am still very petrified of having to do six shows in three weeks. Man, that's a lot of words to memorize. I wish I had paid more attention to the lyrics of the big band era... what am i saying... Oy. Sigh and sigh again. It will come. It will come.
Oh yeah, I also have a play to rewrite before i leave for Australia... when the heck is THAT gonna happen? Thanks to M.S. for dragging me away at the most crucial time. Trying not to harbor any resentments, because those will get in the way of my learning process. I love and adore the above said M.S. ... just bad timing, dude. Next time, please let me make the decision.
Okay, I am pooped and bitter and gotta go to bed. Tomorrow is another day of rehearsing and rehearsing and then going over everything yet again. And again, and again. And that's my day off!
Oh yeah, I also have a play to rewrite before i leave for Australia... when the heck is THAT gonna happen? Thanks to M.S. for dragging me away at the most crucial time. Trying not to harbor any resentments, because those will get in the way of my learning process. I love and adore the above said M.S. ... just bad timing, dude. Next time, please let me make the decision.
Okay, I am pooped and bitter and gotta go to bed. Tomorrow is another day of rehearsing and rehearsing and then going over everything yet again. And again, and again. And that's my day off!
Day of despair
Woke up this morning feeling very overwhelmed and questioning for the first time if this is the right thing to do. What am i doing here, trying to fit in with a bunch of 20 year olds? My brain does not want to work, and I know it is only day three or four, I am really scared. Pay day today. Missed the van ride to get groceries for the week, so that doesn't help my mood any. No one told me what time it was leaving, so my bad for not asking. This sucks.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
I am ... overwhelmed.
Day two of the new adventures of J. Michael Down Under. I once avowed never to do another production contract, and these rehearsals are reminding me why I made that promise to myself. Could they jack up the keys to any songs any higher? Holy cowabunga, man. I am singing in the stratosphere, it seems, using every available note in my range, and thankfully, I at least have most of them. But... on a good note, it is stretching me to the limits of everything I know and hold dear and sacred.
Rehearsed the past two days without the help of a music director, which was rather really kind of annoying and frustrating, as we have been put into one show already, and no vocal rehearsal. How does that work, exactly? Who knows. Apparently, it does here with PGT Ent. Anyhow, Dan was kind enough to work on some of the music and notes for Shimmy! with us, and I am feeling less stressed out about the whole ordeal. I just wish there was some remote part of me that was African-American, so that my "soul" didn't sound so "white bread" (Lomarev, that's for you, sweetie!) She would get such a kick out of listening to me try to belt out Ray Charles and Ike and Tina Turner. Not sure yet if I want any of the family coming to see me on the ship, as this is really freaking me the hell out. My memory is not working the way I would like it to, and I am irritated enough at myself for not doing more of the homework I was supposed to.
I feel like Liza Doolittle... "Words, words, words, I'm so sick of words..."
I miss the kids at Wakefield. I miss my cats. I miss Peggy, Michael, Mom and Dad, Amy and Gaby and Bill and Bella, Kim and all my other buddies. I miss being able to get in my car and drive somewhere, even if it is just to go around the block. I wish i had had more time here, like I had requested. But... since things are not ideal in my little world, I must deal with the things as they are. I will be fine, just allow me this first of many freak outs, ok?
The Brits make me laugh. They are all outside watching the heat lightning in the distance, ooh-ing and aah-ing. "We don't get this in England" they say. "It never gets hot enough for heat lightning." Uh huh. You go, Brits.
Tonight I made a real nice pasta and fresh shrimp, and though I forgot to buy garlic and any kind of seasoning, it turned out pretty edible-ly. Maybe tomorrow when we get paid and go on our weekly grocery run I will get some of the other things like salt, to spice up the foodage situation. We'll see.
Rehearsal is from 3-9 tomorrow, which will be the rest of Extreme Country, as well as a put in rehearsal for Shimmy! which will be interesting. I have tons of homework tonight, before I go to bed, as I have a rehearsal with the music director tomorrow from 3-6. I have no idea what he is going to want to hear, so I have to be prepared to sing all 6 shows. RIGHT! Wow. The stress level is rising. Hope I can keep it all together.
Skyped with peggy tonight when I got home, and I am getting ready to do it again before i head to bed with my headphones in to absorb some of the words I have to sing... Good night, all... please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I need them. Lots. Tons, even. Majorly amounts of them. Thanks!
Rehearsed the past two days without the help of a music director, which was rather really kind of annoying and frustrating, as we have been put into one show already, and no vocal rehearsal. How does that work, exactly? Who knows. Apparently, it does here with PGT Ent. Anyhow, Dan was kind enough to work on some of the music and notes for Shimmy! with us, and I am feeling less stressed out about the whole ordeal. I just wish there was some remote part of me that was African-American, so that my "soul" didn't sound so "white bread" (Lomarev, that's for you, sweetie!) She would get such a kick out of listening to me try to belt out Ray Charles and Ike and Tina Turner. Not sure yet if I want any of the family coming to see me on the ship, as this is really freaking me the hell out. My memory is not working the way I would like it to, and I am irritated enough at myself for not doing more of the homework I was supposed to.
I feel like Liza Doolittle... "Words, words, words, I'm so sick of words..."
I miss the kids at Wakefield. I miss my cats. I miss Peggy, Michael, Mom and Dad, Amy and Gaby and Bill and Bella, Kim and all my other buddies. I miss being able to get in my car and drive somewhere, even if it is just to go around the block. I wish i had had more time here, like I had requested. But... since things are not ideal in my little world, I must deal with the things as they are. I will be fine, just allow me this first of many freak outs, ok?
The Brits make me laugh. They are all outside watching the heat lightning in the distance, ooh-ing and aah-ing. "We don't get this in England" they say. "It never gets hot enough for heat lightning." Uh huh. You go, Brits.
Tonight I made a real nice pasta and fresh shrimp, and though I forgot to buy garlic and any kind of seasoning, it turned out pretty edible-ly. Maybe tomorrow when we get paid and go on our weekly grocery run I will get some of the other things like salt, to spice up the foodage situation. We'll see.
Rehearsal is from 3-9 tomorrow, which will be the rest of Extreme Country, as well as a put in rehearsal for Shimmy! which will be interesting. I have tons of homework tonight, before I go to bed, as I have a rehearsal with the music director tomorrow from 3-6. I have no idea what he is going to want to hear, so I have to be prepared to sing all 6 shows. RIGHT! Wow. The stress level is rising. Hope I can keep it all together.
Skyped with peggy tonight when I got home, and I am getting ready to do it again before i head to bed with my headphones in to absorb some of the words I have to sing... Good night, all... please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I need them. Lots. Tons, even. Majorly amounts of them. Thanks!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
I Have Arrived! The Adventure Begins...
What a day! Got up after a night of no sleep at all... but it was nice to have the kitties snuggling up next to me again.. and got on the plane. I was running late, of course, no thanks to my irritated tummy. Got to the gate with minutes to spare, flew through the security checkpoint, got on the plane. Headed to Charlotte. Very fast flight, only 35 minutes. Then got to Charlotte. Had to change gates and planes, but had plenty of time.
I was supposed to be in the middle of a three person row, but thankfully, a woman wanted to sit near her child, so they moved me to an exit row, on the aisle. NICE! Besides, the guy next to me was not bad looking, either. The flight attendant was great. Got to Orlando after what seemed like an amazingly fast landing... never have I been on a plane where the runway seemed so short. I think our pilot was used to landing on an aircraft carrier, as he hit the runway and expected to stop immediately... anyhow.
Got in on time, but it took what seemed like forever to get my luggage. Got phoned by my leading lady, Nicole... a sweetie, from what I can gather. Forrest, our driver is a freshman at UCF (Central Florida) and wants to go into the culinary arts. Best to him, because directions and driving are NOT his strong point. Bless. He did well, though. We were the guinea pigs on his first airport run for PGT Entertainment! Best wishes to him and his followers.
So. Then off to Publix to buy food for the week. One hundred and ten dollars later, I walked out with probably enough food to feed an army, but knowing the way I eat, it won't last til the weekend. I did good, too, Michael and Mom... I bought fruits and veggies and NO COOKIES! I bought chicken and shrimp, and eggs andcereal, some lunch meat, and cheese... and other assorted oddities. I am now sitting on my bed in the apartments they have for us at the Dixie Motel! Yee haw, y'all... this is redneck livin' at it's best! There are about seventeen pickemup trucks in the parking lot, and a bunch of uys chewin' and spittin'. One guy even has his back down and is grilling pork chops on the back of his truck. I tell you, a person could get used to this!
I am also being serenaded by the girl next door who is in one of the other casts in rehearsals. She is a very very very very high soprano, and it seems like she just can't get Summertime quite right. Lordy. Hope I am not that much of a perfectionist, but you know I am! Thanks to the good Lord up above that i don't have to sing Summertime, though. More later.
Thje view form my window is stellar. I will post a picture when I get one. I miss everyone already.
I was supposed to be in the middle of a three person row, but thankfully, a woman wanted to sit near her child, so they moved me to an exit row, on the aisle. NICE! Besides, the guy next to me was not bad looking, either. The flight attendant was great. Got to Orlando after what seemed like an amazingly fast landing... never have I been on a plane where the runway seemed so short. I think our pilot was used to landing on an aircraft carrier, as he hit the runway and expected to stop immediately... anyhow.
Got in on time, but it took what seemed like forever to get my luggage. Got phoned by my leading lady, Nicole... a sweetie, from what I can gather. Forrest, our driver is a freshman at UCF (Central Florida) and wants to go into the culinary arts. Best to him, because directions and driving are NOT his strong point. Bless. He did well, though. We were the guinea pigs on his first airport run for PGT Entertainment! Best wishes to him and his followers.
So. Then off to Publix to buy food for the week. One hundred and ten dollars later, I walked out with probably enough food to feed an army, but knowing the way I eat, it won't last til the weekend. I did good, too, Michael and Mom... I bought fruits and veggies and NO COOKIES! I bought chicken and shrimp, and eggs andcereal, some lunch meat, and cheese... and other assorted oddities. I am now sitting on my bed in the apartments they have for us at the Dixie Motel! Yee haw, y'all... this is redneck livin' at it's best! There are about seventeen pickemup trucks in the parking lot, and a bunch of uys chewin' and spittin'. One guy even has his back down and is grilling pork chops on the back of his truck. I tell you, a person could get used to this!
I am also being serenaded by the girl next door who is in one of the other casts in rehearsals. She is a very very very very high soprano, and it seems like she just can't get Summertime quite right. Lordy. Hope I am not that much of a perfectionist, but you know I am! Thanks to the good Lord up above that i don't have to sing Summertime, though. More later.
Thje view form my window is stellar. I will post a picture when I get one. I miss everyone already.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Start spreading the news... I'm leaving tomorrow....
Wow. The time has flown like a banshee. Summer is pretty much gone, and it is time to head onto bigger and hopefully better things. I leave for Orlando tomorrow morning, and needless to say, I am panicking. I am not packed. Nothing wants to fit into my very small suitcase, and everything I had to do before I left is still sitting on the notepad of things to do. Time does not flow like a river... well, maybe a hugely rushing one, but not the lazy river we all wish it could flow like.
I am excited to meet my new castmates, but i am terrified that they are so far ahead since they have been in rehearsals already for two weeks. They know their stuff. i am still trying to remember the words to the simplest of country songs. I have to make this one quick, as i really gotta go try and pack again. This is attempt number four. It will all fit. It will all fit. It will all fit.
I am excited to meet my new castmates, but i am terrified that they are so far ahead since they have been in rehearsals already for two weeks. They know their stuff. i am still trying to remember the words to the simplest of country songs. I have to make this one quick, as i really gotta go try and pack again. This is attempt number four. It will all fit. It will all fit. It will all fit.
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