I got in!

To what? I hear you ask. Well, on the weekend I auditioned for 42nd Street, the musical. It's being done here next year, by the Hills Musical Company. I've worked with them before, they're great fun to do a show with. It's an amateur theatre company, putting on two shows a year. Anyway, I'm very excited. By the time that opens, it will have been six whole years since I've been on stage. Wow, thats a long time when I think about it. That can't be possible. Gosh, it is. The last thing I did for theatre was choreograph Fiddler on the Roof, in 1998. I was onstage for A Chorus Line in early 1998, I think that was.

So yeah! Back on stage. I'm going to miss most of the rehearsals, well, maybe not most, but a fair few, when I'm overseas. But the role of "Andy" (which I'll be playing) is relatively small. He's the choreographer of the show inside the show. 42nd Street is about a theatre company putting on a show, "Pretty Lady" I believe, and Andy is the choreographer of that show. My ex boyfriend is playing the director of that show. Funnily enough, we were both in A Chorus Line, where he played the director and I played the choreographer. Well, it's a bit different, since in that show the director also choreographs, and I played the dance captain kinda thing, but the relationship is the same. And we've also been director/choreographer in real life, since he directed Fiddler when I was the choreographer. Talk about type casting! Well, it's always a good team.. hehe

The audtions were fun - my first in quite some time. It started with a "cattle call" in the morning, where all people auditioning for chorus and/or small parts was required to turn up, learn a song, and learn some dancing. I was in the group first learning the song - I knew it already, as did most people, so that was quite simple. I think most of us were worried about the dancing part though - I hadn't danced for about 5 1/2 years. So it was our turn, and we got onto stage to learn the dancing. Wasn't much tapping, just a shuffle here and there, quite simple overall. We then got a break, and during the break I ended up going through the dance bit with everyone that was a bit unsure, ie just about everyone! I spent my entire break going through it, I suppose once a choreographer, always a choreographer! It was fun though. I like turning back to everyone and dancing with them, but doing the opposite, like a mirror. Keeps your brain active to be able to change like that, I enjoy it. Of course I had to do a lot of that when I choreographed Fiddler, so I was used to it. So yeah - after the break we got called up in groups of four, and I was in the first group. I wasn't nervous at all, we did our dance, sang our song, did the dance again, and that was it. Very simple. So I went back out into the rehearsal room, and everyone still wanted me to teach them the dance. So, flattered, I did... hehe.. It was fun. I went through it with most of the people, then took some "problem" people aside to help them out intensively. Of course I loved every minute of it.

So yeah, that was that bit over and done with. Then they wanted two guys, and a bunch of girls back for more intensive tap auditions. I was one of the guys.. *gulp* The choreographer said "we're going to go through this a lot quicker than the last dance" and boy was she right. She zoomed through it. Took me ages to get my head around it, and all of a sudden we're in groups and performing it for her. Shite! Full on tapping, well, kinda, no wings or anything, but proper slap ups and toe hits and all that jazz. I think I did just "ok". But yeah, it was still fun. After that I went home for a break, 'cos I had to return later on in the afternoon for a private auditon, since I was going for a part.

So I turned up later, for my private audition. I wasn't really nervous at all, strangely, since I normally *hate* auditions and almost end up puking. I guess because this time I didn't really mind if I got in or not, mostly I was doing it for fun, and to help out Max (the director). So yeah. I waited around as is normal at auditions, then went in. Sang my song, sang another song for a different part (the main young lead, shit I didn't want that part but they got me to sing it anyway) which was a little high for me, but I still think I did ok with it. Then came the dance part, and I was dreading "oh god, she's going to make me do wings or something" but it was about 15 seconds of soft-shoe and that was it. It was just token, really, I presume the choreographer had watched what I'd done in the group tapping section earlier that day, and didn't really need to see more. Then I read lines for "Andy" as well as "Billy" (the young lead), and that was that. He asked if I'd take the role of Billy if offered, I said "um, yes, if I have to", knowing that I couldn't *really* sing the part. So yeah, that was that! I went home and went to bed.. hehe.. Max (the director) called me later that night and offered me the role of Andy. Thank god.. hehe I wasn't really looking forward to making a fool of myself trying to sing the role of Billy.

So there you have it! I'll be back on stage around May next year, tapping away in 42nd Street! I'm looking forward to it.