Life is a Cabaret

In our last post I mentioned that I'd been cast in MCC's spring play, the musical Cabaret. I wanted to share a bit about this exciting journey, since so much of it is foreign to me.

If you're not familiar with the play, you might have heard of or seen the 1972 movie starring Liza Minnelli as the cabaret singer Sally Bowles.

Image from Broadway Musical Home

And in just over a month I'll be doing my best Sally Bowles on stage at McHenry County College. Hole. E. Crap.

Now, you may be saying to yourself, "I didn't know Laura did that sort of thing," and you'd be correct. I've never done this before. Yes, I worked at Chicago Shakespeare Theater for a few years when I was in my 20s, and I have always been an enthusiastic theater patron. I'm really familiar with front of house, backstage, theater administration, and even teaching young playwrights in my creative writing class--just not so much with the on stage business.

In fact, the only "real" time I performed on stage (the "unreal" time being in the 3rd grade when I was a spider in our grammar school production of The Hobbit [and my brother Greg had the starring role as Bilbo Baggins, which you should all congratulate him on]) was in 2003. I was house managing for the Spectrum Theater Company's production of Beyond the Fringe (STC was my friend Thomas's company in Chicago, and it's no longer around now that he's living in Tennessee [though he's currently artistic director at the Johnson City Community Theatre, which is fantastic]). The actor who played the emcee for the show had gallbladder surgery so I filled in for her during one weekend of performances.

Why wouldn't this be part of my record collection?

And that was (a'hem) eleven years ago. Ha ha.

"So how did this come about?" you may also be asking yourself. Well, I'll tell you. Growing up I'd never actually seen the movie Cabaret, and in fact, I didn't know much of what it was about. But in 1999 I saw the Broadway revival when it toured to Chicago. I don't remember who I went with (it wasn't my mom--I asked her--so I think it might have been some girlfriends from college), but what I do remember is how struck I was by the play. It was just so goddamned good. The music was good, the story was good, and the actors were good. And, "good" doesn't really do it all justice. Let's say fantastic.

But then, I didn't really think much about it until last year when word on the street was that MCC would be producing Cabaret during the Spring 2014 semester. A thought flitted through my brain that was something like, oh, jeez, that'd be fun to see, or, holy crumbs, even be in! But then the thought drifted away like so many other half thoughts and detritus I lose track of every day. I'm not an actor, so I'll just continue teaching and singing along to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode "Once More, With Feeling" in the car.

Oh, right, it's only the best soundtrack ever (Image from the Buffy wiki)

But all around campus last semester I saw the poster advertising auditions and thought to myself, hmmmm, self. Could we do this?

To get the answer I immediately downloaded the Cabaret original Broadway cast recording (I don't know why I chose that one [I do, actually; it's because the cover is yellow and I am wooed by bright and shiny things] but I'm very glad I did because it's my preference after listening to other recordings). I played it for a few weeks straight--while I was cooking, while I was driving to school, while I was folding laundry, while I was straightening my office at work. I quickly got to know the songs and fell in love with the play (again). The auditions were during the first week of December, and I decided--after spending October and November singing along to all of Sally's songs--that if I auditioned I would probably not make a complete ass out of myself. So, why not?

I was so nervous to audition. I prepared one of the songs from the show, "Don't Tell Mama," and I worked on it for weeks before. The afternoon of the auditions I practiced at home and, as luck would have it, TCM had played Cabaret a few days before so I'd taped it. I had it on in the background (realizing the glaring differences between the play and film with each passing scene), and about halfway through the movie, I got chills down my spine (and not the good kind): Liza Minnelli sang "Maybe This Time."

As I watched and listened to her, I had a panic attack. This song wasn't on my soundtrack--this song wasn't something I'd practiced--this song was barely (i.e. in no way) in my range, and it was the same song that Kristin Chenoweth (KRISTIN CHENOWETH, PEOPLE!) and Lea Michelle had done in duet on Glee (because yes, I used to watch Glee, get over it). I couldn't do this. How could I do this?

I tried to sing "Maybe This Time" a few times and felt just barely okay about it. I considered doing it for my audition instead of "Don't Tell Mama." Now, this was about thirty minutes before I had to leave the house back to campus for the auditions. I went back and forth for about fifteen of those minutes, and ultimately decided on the side of going with what I knew. So I ran through my routine a couple more times and headed out.

The auditions themselves were fun. Scary and nervy, yes, but a lot of fun. The kids (other actors. sorry, force of habit) were so nice and supportive and I instantly felt a part of the community. Two days later I got a call back, during which I had to read a couple of scenes with some other actors (oh, right--that's part of auditioning for a play, isn't it...acting?!?) and sing the first bit of the play's titular song. And two days after that I got the word that I was Sally Bowles! I accepted the role before the director Jay had a chance to renege. He's stuck with me, now. Sucker.

Most (not all) of the cast and crew with Santa after our first production meeting--photo courtesy of the terrific Lindsay Tullar

For the past few weeks we've been rehearsing. I'm working on my accent (although Liza was an American in the film, the play's Sally is English) and trying to strengthen my voice, which isn't used to such a lot of work (outside of the classroom, that is). The cast and crew are all terrific, the Kit Kat Girls especially--I want to put them all in my pocket. Although I can't even say "especially." They're all welcoming and fun and I am loving this experience because of them. Here are some of the shots from rehearsal:

First night of rehearsal: Bill, our Emcee, with Julie the accompanist and Mike our music director

the Emcee and the Kit Kat Girls rehearsing "Willkommen"

Tim and Jameela, our Herr Schultz and Fräulein Schneider

Jay gives some notes to Gary (Clifford Bradshaw) and Jameela

Gary and Tim (Ernst Ludwig) rehearse the first scene

And this is me, in Sally makeup (so much makeup) and costume for the publicity photos. I think I look more like a dark haired kewpie doll than a Sally. I'll work on that.

I'll be writing more about the show as rehearsals continue, and certainly as opening night draws near. The show opens on March 6, and I'll let you all know when tickets are on sale (because you'll want to come out to Crystal Lake to see it, right? Right??).

Missing the Lanes

About ten years ago, my brother, Greg, invited me to join one of the teams in his bowling league. One of his friend's teams was looking for another bowler for the Monday night cosmic bowling league at Waveland Bowl. It sounded like a hell of a lot of fun, and I said yes.

Since that first season I've been a member of X-Factor, a team that makes full fun and takes full advantage of the black lights, lasers, and big hair metal music videos during games. But this is the first year I've had to take a hiatus from bowling because of a very exciting development: I got cast as Sally Bowles in the school spring musical (we're doing Cabaret--I'll have more on this later).

Now, although I'm so excited (and terrified) to be in this play, it was bittersweet; it meant that I couldn't bowl this year because of rehearsal conflicts. So, this is my homage to bowling with my X-Factor fellows, who are a group of fun, goofy, and wonderful people. And I cannot wait to be back at the lanes with them next winter.

X-Factor, 2013 (from left): Marc, Stephanie, me, Debbie, Zach, and Heide

Me and Greg, when he tricked me into wearing a Spurs hat

Wigs! From left: Dan, me, Debbi, Stephanie, and Laura

And then the old wig switcheroo

Stephanie in an  entirely new wig and America bowling arm band

Stephanie and Laura, thinking they might buy some socks out of the sock vending machine (which is a vending machine that should be everywhere, not just in bowling alleys!)

The early years: Zach and Smitty, who now lives in Australia with his lovely wife Liz (also a former teammate) and their new baby (who is probably right now practicing Smitty's signature spin)

Let's take a moment to appreciate Zach's bowling trousers

And my bowling head ornament

In addition to bowling, we were known to eat cheese fries, hot pretzels, and Frazzles (which were an ice cream Blizzard-type shake that were discontinued from Alley Dogs, probably because of the stomach aches they caused), and do a little Dance Dance Revolution.

I think Greg lost a bet. Really.

So, X-Factor, I hope you all bowl well this season. I will be dancing on Monday nights in your spirit, and hopefully eating enough cheese fries to keep me spiritually connected to you.

Brain Vacation

Happy new year!

Welcome to 2014.

You may have noticed that my last post was in October. And you may have also noticed that it's been a while (let's just say ten weeks).

I know that some of you have noticed (hi, Cuff!) and I must apologize. The semester chugged on and I meant to post something around mid-term, and then around Thanksgiving, and then--for sure--over the winter break. But during the break I sort of shut off my brain and subsisted only on holiday food (there were a whole hell of a lot of cookies up in here), Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes on DVD (I made it 3/4 through season six--just before Willow gets really, really [really] bad), and Christmas gift wrapping (I used approximately 378 little pieces of Scotch tape).

But I am ready to emerge. And to warm up, I wanted to share with you a quick review of what our past couple of months have looked like.

My friend Lisa took me along with her friends to a painting party at the local pub. Everyone gets an easel, paints and brushes, step-by-step instructions to paint (we painted a snowman), and a server to get you glasses of wine or bottles of beer. It's pretty terrific.  

Lisa on the right and some of her painting pals across the table

I begin with an outline

Some blue sky

Some color

A nose

He looks surprised, doesn't he?

That's better

Stripes

Et, voila! A snowman!

The girls' almost finished products

A line of snowmen. All so similar, but unique, just like each one of us. (awwwww)

That got the holiday season off to a very nice start. I still had to grade my students' final assignments, but it was things like this that made them all fun to look through:

In case you can't tell, that's me.

One of my exceptional creative writing students turned in her final journal and drew a little portrait of me with her reflection. It's, like, the best thing ever.

I partied a little with my English department colleagues:

And yes, we wore the paper crowns from the Christmas crackers

We are such a good looking department!

And Missy (left in the maroon dress) treated us to some terrific tunes from the Dickens Carolers.

I was finally done grading and started to look for holiday decorations. We never got farther than wreaths and a stocking for Roo over the mantle, but I did find Trevor and my likenesses at the craft store:

Me (the teacher) and Trevor (I guess, king of Ireland?). We are really a cute couple.

I got to attend Bosco's Christmas pageant and see his school, which was so much fun in a lots-of-children and thank-goodness-I'm-just-the-aunt kind of way.

Bosco waits for instructions on the wall (and yes, there might be a finger up his nose but who cares?!)

Bo gets some bells

And they sing! (this is them at their most organized)

Some angels on the sidelines

I'll smile and look cute when you're not looking at the camera, okay?

And then when you're smiling at the camera, I'll eat my fingers. Good plan.

This is my classroom!

There followed a lot of shopping, which I enjoyed, and then wrapping, which I also, strangely, enjoyed. And then Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. I realized now that we didn't take very many pictures.

But, what followed Christmas was five days of Trevor off work, so there was a lot a lot of cozy home behavior.

I made some lumpy but delicious pancakes.

We made Roo wear these reindeer antlers and she hated them.

 

T. made a lot of fires and we did a lot of lounging around next to them.

Hello.

I finally finished Roo's sweater. She is not a fan of it.

But she looks so cute, doesn't she?

And I did a lot of knitting. And drinking tea. And eating cookies, which are not pictured because I ate them all before taking this picture.

You may have noticed that Roo had a shaved patch on her arm--sure mark of a doggie IV. That's because on December 20 she got into all of the Christmas chocolate we had on the kitchen counter and we had to take her to the emergency vet. She got her stomach pumped and spent the night (the vet said she didn't sleep at all, but stayed up all night watching everyone). She thought it was an adventure. Trevor and I thought it was really scary. So, everyone wins for the holidays.

And now, I have my first class of the semester in about 90 minutes. So, I should probably shower up and get out of the house. So, bye.