Today’s Random Prompt: Dealer’s choice, because Jeff wrote an awesome review of “Weird: The Weird Al Yankovic Story” on his blog today—don’t miss it!
My first experience with a Broadway musical was “The Producers” at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. I’ve never laughed as much at any event in my life. It was a marvel that opened my eyes to the potential of live theater.
My first real experience with acting in a major role was in my college’s production of “Once Upon a Mattress,” in which I played the Mute King. I love comic acting, and there’s nothing quite as intoxicating as hearing an audience’s laughter in response to my hijinx.
Since then, I played a supporting role in “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” and most recently I played the Emerald City Guard in “The Wizard of Oz,” which closed one week before the rest of the world shut down for the COVID pandemic.
This weekend, we will open our performance of “Mamma Mia,” which features the music of ABBA. While I’m not an ABBA superfan like our director, Steve Lewis, I love many of their biggest hits from the Seventies and Eighties, and I’m fortunate to be the music director in our production.
In addition, I’m also a member of the chorus and get to dance (badly, I’m sorry to say) in several of the on-stage numbers. The production has been fun, but when it gets close to opening, exhaustion marries excitement, and we’re ready to perform at the same time we’re ready to say goodbye to three rehearsals every week.
There’s a camaraderie that develops with a cast and crew in the weeks leading up to a live show that can only be experienced in the context. The experience stays with you, and you forge long-term connections with the people with whom you share the stage.
Having missed out on live theater, both as an audience member and as a performer for the past two years, going back to the Fox last season and this one, as well as being back under the stage lights this Fall has been a profound blessing.
Entertainment unites us in ways that cannot be experienced in other venues, and live shows do so even more. The joy of creative expression, of acting, singing, and dancing (even badly; again, I’m sorry!) is when we are most uniquely human as a species.
For all my fellow performers: BREAK A LEG!
Comments