It Takes a Community

We start our second  and last weekend of shows Tonight.  Hard to believe.  It is always bittersweet.  After all our hard work it will all be over yet at the same time it will be good to be back to a “normal” life!   Several of my family members will be here for the show adding to my already-nervousness!  Including my son from China!!!!

Donna - Babette

It is Monday late morning, and the past weekend is by us as a blur.  It was a thrill to perform the show three times and to receive standing ovations and a lot of appreciation from those that attended the show.  In church on Sunday morning there was a lot of conversation about the show and how well it went, and questions about how this upcoming weekend will go.  I have heard there are still plenty of tickets available…especially for Saturday night, and I do feel that this is a fantastic show that any family will enjoy.  It is well worth the $10.  I have heard so many good things about the show, and appreciate the positive feedback especially from my former students or players who have attended the show.  It seems to be a show that is enjoyed by all ages, and is one that I know the cast has enjoyed putting together and performing.

As we head towards the second week of the show, it is nice to relax a bit, and rest up for this week’s shows.  Last week had its share of last-minute changes, practices, and in my case, a little head bang-up…but the show had to go on (by the way…thanks for the well-wishes and the prayers).  Today is more restful.  After some down time yesterday, I am getting to resuming my summer golf and volleyball (softball may have to wait until my head is healed a bit more).  Yet…I look forward to the three nights we have left to perform.

I look forward to energy filled awesome shows this week…and hope to share them with three night’s worth of near capacity crowds.  I am curious to see what the paper will have about us, and the pictures put here by Linda look great.  See you all in Three Lakes this week.

Michael Wang (Gaston)

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Sooo…one week to go till opening night! Can you feel the pressure?! I sure can! But it’s the very best kind of pressure–the kind that makes you work your tail off because you want nothing less than jaw-dropping amazingness when the day arrives. I think we’re getting there. I really do. Of course, this is my very first show with the TLTC, so I don’t have much experience to draw on, but I can tell you the energy level is high and details seem to be falling into place. We’ve been practicing with lighting and props this week, and I think that’s really helping me come to terms with the reality that THIS SHOW IS HAPPENING! Not that there was ever any doubt, of course, but it’s exciting to finally see it all come together.

As a TLTC newbie, let me just take a moment to say how much I have LOVED being part of this production. It has always been a dream of mine to participate in community theater (I come from a pretty theatrical family), but I haven’t done any shows since high school. So when I heard about auditions for Beauty and the Beast, I decided to try my luck. I’d forgotten how much FUN it is to be on stage! But that’s not the only reason I love this show. Would it be redundant to express what a joy it is just to be part of a community like this?! The people are what make this show what it is. And not just onstage, but backstage too, as we frequently have to mute our mikes so no one can hear our off-the-wall commentary or outrageous laughter. I feel so privileged to be a part of this group–even if it’s just for a few months. And let me just say that it seems that most everyone in this show is PERFECTLY suited to his or her part! It’s uncanny! Way to go, powers that be!

OK, it’s my turn to answer the Disney character question. This is honestly pretty hard and I don’t think I’ve come up with a satisfactory answer yet. My first thought is Snow White, because my mom always used to call me that when I was little because of my dark hair and fair skin. And, of course, I do enjoy small animals as much as the next person. But that seems fairly surfacy. And it would be cheating to say Chip, as much fun as I have had becoming that little guy for this production. Ooh, I think I’ve got one: Wendy Darling from Peter Pan. Like Wendy, I have two little brothers, I enjoy a good adventure, and I wish I could stay a kid forever–though in the end I have to grow up. Yeah, I think that’s pretty accurate. We’ll go with that for now :).

All right, time to go. See you at practice in less than three hours! Whew!

–Melissa G. (Chip)

Which Disney caracter am I most like?  After some consideration, I chose Giselle from Enchanted.  Not because I can sing or dance,  or because I look anything like Amy Adams and suffer from the belief I will one day be a princess, but because I have recently been called a “gentle soul.”  By nature I am an eternal optimist and give everyone the benefit of the doubt.  For me this is usually coupled with the fact that although I consider myself an intelligent person, I can be extremely naive.  Unfourtunately, like Giselle, this can backfire on you in the real world. 

Almost three years ago, I overcame serious heart health issues.  The experience taught me that I couldn’t move through life, but had to start living it.  I actively started taking time to enjoy the people around me and really become involved in what makes them and myself happy.  To do this, last March I encouraged one of my daughters to  audition for the play.  She was granted the part of Marta.  Thanks to all the cast and crew she blossomed right before my eyes both as a person and an aspiring performer!  The “family” the cast and crew become during rehersals provided her with the courage and self confidence she needed to be able to share her beautiful voice with the world.  That is a gift that will serve her throughout the rest of her life in many many ways.  I can never say thank you enough to Mari Lynn, Nancy, Michelle and Beth for fostering that in her and giving me the opportunity to witness such a special event! 

Whether it is my naivete, Giselle like optimism and new found spunk or the possibility the stars were in a peculiar alignment, after much consideration with my daughter, I decided to audition for Beauty and the Beast.  At my age this was stepping  WAY outside my box!  I’ve never been in a play before.  I’ve also never sang outside of church and certainly never attempted to learn a dance routine.  But low and behold, magic being what it is, not only did I make it through the audition, but I was asked to be part of the play and am loving every minute of it!

Being in a play is hard work!  I was a very proud parent last year, but this year I really understand what it all takes to be part of a production of this caliber.  It makes me even more proud of my daughter and thankful for everyone involved with the Three Lakes Theatre Company.  One thing I’ve learned is that when you are surrounded by people who love doing this because of the enjoyment it brings to others, it brings out the best in all of us and creates the magic ingredient that will make Beauty and the Beast a fabulous production.

I am happy to say that I am also enjoying this new “family” of friends and am thoroughly honored to be part of this group of people.  Their honesty, integrity, commitment and above all - god given talent, makes this play magically enchanted!

Thank you all,

Lisa.

The comment Linda shares in a previous blog of “Note the time?” is very true right now; while she had the music buzzing in her brain after she got home, I woke up to the music!   4:18 a.m. and “Be Our Guest” was just a movin’ and a groovin’ in there, and I couldn’t fall back asleep.    As I lay awake half singing, half going over last night’s rehearsal, I couldn’t help but think, “I absolutely LOVE this time of the year.” 

Like Linda, I too am a teacher, but at James Williams Middle School.  I’ve known Linda forever and can understand the demands of being a teacher, mother, wife, and cast member (not necessarily in that order J ).  After a full day of teaching eighth graders English, attending parent meetings after school, taking my two children (Adam, 7 and Erin, 9) to swimming lessons, and then heading home for a fast dinner,  I quickly scoot out the door to link up with Lisa and Roger to ride together for practice that evening.  For the next three hours, I am able to put the cares of the “other” part of my life to the background as I become Mrs. Potts.  Time FLIES!!!!  It does for every show that I’ve been in, and this is my seventh!  But all things must come to an end, and we must head home again.  It’s then (about 10:15) that I begin my schoolwork for the night.  Thankfully, I’m a night owl and manage fine on about five hours of sleep.

Some would say, “Why do you do that?  Isn’t your life crazy busy as it is?  Why add one more thing to the plate?”  Easy answer: It’s the whole “community” aspect Linda refers to.  I love to sing and act and I get to do it with absolutely WONDERFUL people who become a second family to me every year for about three months.  And we get the fantastic honor of being able to share this love with the community.  Every comment made as people come through the receiving line after every show, or in the grocery store, or at the Y makes an impact on our lives and is cherished.

All in all, life is hectic, but it certainly doesn’t compare to what Linda, Mari Lynn, Beth, Michelle, Nancy, Doug and all the other Board members and crew have and still do put in every day.  It’s unbelievable!  But it’s all done to bring about the best show possible.  It’s still early morning, and I’m so looking forward to tonight…only eleven more hours until practice!  Better go back to working on the entrances I have (goofed those up pretty badly last night…)  “It’s a guest!  It’s a guest!  Sakes alive, well, I’ll be blessed! ….” 

Happy Day!

It is Saturday afternoon…about 2:30 and we have been at practice since 9 this morning with a 45 minute lunch break.  This morning an emphasis was placed on perfecting practice, and I was reminded of the adage I placed as the title about perfect practice.  This doesn’t mean that our practices will be perfect, but it does mean that the hard work put in by the entire cast and others involved is going to result in something special.  We are already getting to a point where there is fine-tuning taking place, but the songs, dance routines, blocking and lines are well in place for a fantastic show.

I am expecting practice tonight to run a bit past 6 PM tonight, and the practice schedule lengthens for this upcoming week.  Still…it is that practice that makes for a good show.  Truthfully…it is also the practice that is fun as we continue to improve as a group and as…well…a ‘community’ theater group.  We become a family over these long periods of time, enjoying all the good and bad together as a group.  We laugh and encourage each other, and enjoy each other’s company as we strive for our best.

When examing Disney characters, and thinking of which of them I am most like, I have to answer Timon and Pumba from “The Lion King”.  Although I know life is serious and tough at times, it is also to be enjoyed throughout the journey.  ‘Hakuna Matata’…a carefree philosophy as one enjoys the times they have.  Our practices like the one we are in this afternoon are a part of that here…hard work but needed and to be enjoyed.

I am off to practice ‘Gaston’ with Jeff and the ‘Silly Girls’…work and fun.  Work hard and play hard…and in this case, both at the same time.

Michael Wang (Gaston)

Ok, I’ve got to get all of you talking on this blog. . . so, here’s a prompt–must be the English teacher in me coming out. . . which Disney character most reflects each of you?  I encourage you to not only answer that question, but also provide a brief bio for our fans to look at! 

Enjoy! 

Linda

It’s hard to believe that the show opens in less than 2 weeks!  Beth Jacobson and I worked yesterday to get the music in order.  This Synfonia is nice, but boy, it takes a while to get all the tempo changes worked out.   I think the cast felt better after tonight’s rehearsal.  Yes, we are still trying to work out the bugs.  But I think that’s normal with any production.

Tomorrow our gift basket promotion will begin.  For those of you are there who are die-hard Beauty and the Beast fan, or if you have a child who is obsessed with Belle and the Disney movie, tune in to WRJO as the DJs at the radio station will be giving away three different gift baskets.  The Beauty and the Beast video is currently in the “Disney Vault” (I picture it to be this cavernous room with shelves and shelves of animation.  I also picture various guards, dressed in Disney costume patrolling the vast corridors!)  so it’s very expensive to find–try looking on ebay once!  The baskets include a video, a Belle doll, snow globes and some other Disney goodies.  Donna Russell made them look beautiful and I can wait for some kid’s face to light up upon winning it!

Notice the time?  I call this the post musical letdown.  I don’t know about the rest of the cast, but I have all those songs just buzzing around my head when I leave at night.  It’s really hard the night of a show for me to wind down.  How do the rest of you wind down when you get home at night?

By this time in two weeks, opening night will be history. Actually, we have more tickets sold for opening night than any other.  Closing night comes in second–mostly because many cast member families come that night to enjoy the celebratory feast at the Black Forest!  I wonder how it will go?

Night!

Linda