A Few Pics...

All of these pics are from rehearsal. The dress rehearsal was really for the women, so we wouldn't trip in our floor length gowns and heals. Hence the men in jeans, and women in evening attire... 

(l-r: Mindy Lym, Gregory Zema, Ben Jones and Katy Stephan)

This first picture is actually from the very end of the show. It's the moment we call "Chaos", where every person on the stage burst into a song they've sung at some point during the show, in whatever key they feel like; an overwhelming montage of ghosts from one man's past. I'll leave the cacophony to your imagination!

I'm really not sure what song this is... But I like the picture. Alas, I have to say, if I had know I was going to match the table cloth, I might have gotten a different dress. Oh well, things could be worse, right??

(l-r: Melody Moore and Mindy Lym)

This is an earlier rehearsal, when I was temporarily standing in for Sheri Greenawald. She wass sick, and having some vocal trouble, and didn't have an understudy. Eventually another local dramatic soprano stepped in for her for the performances, but it was fun singing "One More Kiss" with Melody. She voice is just incredible! My jaw dropped when she opened her mouth. Stunning.

(l-r: Darla Wigginton, Conductor Michael Morgan, Trente Morant, Gregory Zema, Mindy Lym, Ben Jones and Katy Stephan)

And a curtain call of denim and silk! :-)

Well, that's all for now. 

Thank you to the Oakland East Bay Symphony for these pics. They sent them to me free of charge! (Thank you Patrice! Very thoughtful!)

The Paramount Theatre

Wow. Can I just express for a moment what an honor it is to be included in a show like this? At a theatre like this?? When I showed up for the first rehearsal on Monday, I had never seen the theatre before. I walked by the front of the theatre as I was looking for the stage door and my jaw dropped, and my breathe got all caught in my chest - cliché I know, but it's true! I mean look at those lights! How could I not?? I'm performing in THERE!! God, what a glorious venue. And what a cast! It's an honor. And then I get inside, and everything is burnished gold and bronze, and carved - everywhere I looked. 

Rita Moreno rehearsed yesterday, and we just sat there onstage, and in the audience watching her. I didn't know what to say when she introduced herself, and then breezed on to the conductors stand, so I just smiled and introduced myself.  She's wonderful and hysterical! I just basked and reveled in her way of working. She just walked in and took over! Of course why wouldn't she, and why wouldn't anyone let her? She's about as high up the ladder as you can get.

So - the power of music: On Monday, I was a little overwhelmed just getting used to the space. It's always a little disorienting being in a new venue, because I don't know where anything is, and I don't know the ins and outs of the building. And in this building is so enormous, that the sensation was amplified a bit. But when the orchestra started playing - Oh. All that dissolved. It was so beautiful, as though everything that was scattered suddenly came back together again, fitting perfectly. It was so wonderful; as though I suddenly knew what I was doing here. I had a blast!! Or I should say, I AM having a blast. 

I'm so excited for the two performances (this Friday and Sunday!). I'm so grateful to be able to get paid to do this stuff. It's such a blessing. Sure, it can be a lot of work, but it's more than worth it. To sit and revel in the glory of music, and the brilliance of those around me, and then to be able to bring myself forward and count myself among them, and add to all that beauty. I'm not sure I could ask for a better and more fulfilling career.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Bliss.

That fine balance of bliss and active creation. 

Blessing, all! I'll see you onstage!

It begins...

Hi all!

Welcome to my new blog!

I'm excited to announce that I've been cast in the starring role of Milly in "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers" at the Woodminster Amphitheatre this summer! I'm so excited to have another great role to dig my teeth into. It's so wonderful to have a full and lush arch to let go into night after night. It's a meditation in being present. I think one of my favorite things in the world is being ontstage and realizing that "Mindy" has been completely gone for a period of time, and that in that space, somebody else has actually had the space to show up.  

I had the experience a lot during My Fair Lady, and it was so wonderful. Of course, it helps to have such an outstanding leading man to play off of. Kit was so steady, consistant and present every day, no matter what was going on. I never had to worry about him, and that freed me up so much. We just fed off of each other! Anytime you have the opportunity to work with him, do it!

I'm also delighted to say that I'll be performing in a couple of weeks with the Oakland East Bay Symphony for the first time.  Actually, it's my first time performing with ANY symphony. I could get used to this! 

We'll be doing a concert version of Follies (as you can see!) and I'll be portraying Young Phyllis. Rita Moreno will be guest starring. We only have four nights of rehearsal, which is a totally new way of working for me. Talk about doing your homework!! I'm hoping that I'll get to watch Rita rehearse. I've heard so many amazing things about her. I doubt I'll have much contact with her at all, as she's doing a one song stint, and I've got a tiny role. But none the less: if I get to watch her, I am going to EAT IT UP!!! AH!

I'm waiting to hear back about a few more gigs, and I should have news about the rest of my summer before Follies opens. So I'll keep you all posted!