July 7, 2007

Woohoo!! Today you have an energized, ready-for-opening-night Kathryn Leigh Clubb (Martha ‘hip-hop hooray’) to tell you all about what has happened with High School Musical since the last time I updated!

Well, the day after I updated last, Monday the 2nd, we had our first full run-through. I actually can’t remember what the first run-through was like (shame on me…)… oops!... Ohhh yeah… sorry… I can honestly say that that night was the first night that we have ever run drastically late. That was because, as we ran through, we stopped after each scene, and Ms. Sara would assign who was to carry on which furniture / bring on and or strike set pieces / alter set pieces… so as you can imagine, that took a long time.

On Tuesday we had another full run. This time we didn’t have set pieces because they were all being painted by parents who volunteered and players that weren’t in the current scene. And even though we had Wednesday off for the 4th of July (by the way, happy 4th!!), a bunch of us went down town to watch the fire works.

On Thursday we worked on music trouble spots for the first thirty minutes (while marking our choreography on the floor) with Mr. Thom, then dance trouble spots for the last hour-and-a-half with Jose. Then we ‘coped a spot’ (not ‘pop a squat’ as Ms. Sara corrected me while laughing. Now I get it!) and received our notes.

Yesterday was our first night at the Looby Theatre (yay!!!). You know the old superstition of a bad dress rehearsal leading to a good show run? Well, even though we weren’t in costume (that happens Monday…), last night definitely wasn’t our best run-through (and that’s putting it lightly). Getting used to the space was harder than we thought. We didn’t have any set pieces or props because load-in is tomorrow, and yesterday the flats were still at the Madison rehearsal space (which we love and miss deeply). One cast member was having a really tough time, and Tosha (Taylor) actually sprained her ankle back stage. So please keep the cast in your thoughts and prayers!

To make-up for the rough start we had at the Looby, we had three amazing preview performances at Nashville Shores today! We started off by walking into the water park (i.e. people everywhere in bathing suits) in our costumes (i.e. ties, Converse, polos, cheer uniforms… etc…). After we performed, we mingled around, handed out post cards for the show, and encouraged people to come and see the show. While waiting for our next performance, we sat on the stage (in the shade) singing a cappella variations from High School Musical, Hairspray, and even the song “Wade in the Water” (don’t ask…). When we finished performing all of our previews, a little girl came up and asked if she could get a picture of the cast! Heehee… she was sooo cute!

After that some of the cast left, and some of us stayed at the park. (This was after being threatened by Ms. Sara to load on the sunscreen because, and I quote, “We don't want lobsters playing Troy, Gabriella, etc!”)

Now, instead of ending rehearsals with the wildcat cheer, Bob sounds it off before every performance to boost energy… so here goes…

“What team!? – WILDCATS!
What team!? – WILDCATS!
What team!? – WILDCATS!
Wildcats! – Get your head in the game!”