July 18, 2007
Hello, hello! Kathryn Leigh Clubb (Martha
‘hip-hop hooray’) is here once again with “the Skinny
on the hooey” (thank you Jack Scott) of High School Musical!
Briefly, I’ll tell you about the pre-production
week we had at Looby Theatre. First, we had load in and a technical run
on Sunday, July 8th. Then, Monday through Wednesday, we had all dress
rehearsals with full costume, hair and makeup. People who could were
also asked to stay after to help paint sets or work on props. (SIDE
NOTE: Let me just say that we were all in awe of the set… or at
least I was… it looked [looks] awesome. Now, of course, it looks
100 times better because of all of the finishing touches like show
posters in the drama room and a periodic table of the elements in the
chem. Lab. Thank you Mr. Jim and Mr. Michael [and anyone else who
helped] for an amazing set that truly makes the show! I think I speak
for the whole cast when I say that I fully appreciate all the hard work
you guys put into it! :END SIDE NOTE)
Next came Thursday; the invited dress rehearsal…
Let just say that Bob (Troy) and the rest of the guys, but especially
Bob, will never live down the catcalls and gleeful shrieks from the
tweeners sitting front and center. “Look, it’s TROY
BOLTON!!” * swoon *
Finally, Friday was here! Can you say “It’s opening
night…”? We were all extremely pumped after Magic Circle
(a cast and crew bonding/note giving/’woohoo the show is about to
start so lets draw power from each other’ time) and Bob’s
‘what team!?’ing. I felt the show went very nicely. That is
until, in one of the final scenes, Our beloved Susan (Sharpay) got
pulled of stage (as is scripted) into a flat that was never in the same
place twice, fell on the chemistry table, and then off onto the
floor… in the process, deeply bruising her ankle. But being the
amazing performer that she is, she finished the show (and even did the
meet and greet) before being examined by our resident, amazing,
always-working-because-we-are-so-clumsy-and-or-always-sick nurse (AKA
Ailie’s mom), and then getting carted off to Baptist
hospital… the same hospital Tosha (Taylor) was taken to. Susan
now has a boot (with rhinestones) and crutches, but gives us an amazing
lesson in improv. every night by using her crutches brilliantly…
not as Susan, but as Sharpay.
After the show Friday, we had our first official cast party! Even
though I wasn’t able to attend, it was reported to me that the
party involved the movie Center Stage and the entire cast belting out
Wicked to the accompaniment of Taylor’s (Ryan) iPod.
I’m happy to say that Saturday’s and Sunday’s
performances went without further injury (swelling and lots of pain
meds, yes, but no more people taking the ‘break a leg’
phrase to heart). After Sunday’s performance we had another cast
party that included dancers (who should stick to dance) playing never
ending games of pool, a dance party, The Dreamgirl and Guys, and a
whole lot of pizza.
Let me just say, before I quit writing tonight, that there is no
feeling quite as rewarding as looking out into the audience while
performing the big dance numbers and seeing lots of little kids
bouncing up and down in their seats, clapping their hands excitedly and
dancing, awestruck, with the cast. I just wanted to thank Ms. Sara and
the other directors for letting us be a part of something as big,
special, and yes ‘Magically Disney’ as this production of
High School Musical. We love you!!!
“What team!? – WILDCATS!
What team!? – WILDCATS!
What team!? – WILDCATS!
Wildcats! – Get your head in the game!”
