Aiyani Mersai

Tuesday and Thursday this week were Understudy rehearsals, I didn’t get to run all my tracks – but I did defy gravity.

stay tuned for details.

Leave a comment with your name and…

1. I’ll respond with something random about you.
2. I’ll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.
3. I’ll pick a flavor of jello to wrestle with you in.
4. I’ll (try to) say something that only makes sense to you and me.
5. I’ll tell you my first/clearest memory of you.
6. I’ll ask you something that I’ve always wondered about you.
7. If I do this for you, you must post this on your journal.

I stole this from Anna a classmate – one of the ones that I actually like/get along with. lol

“Be Our Guest” received a standing ovation, everyone made their costume changes, everyone stayed on key while they were singing.  NOT ONE thing went wrong, NOT ONE.  And I’ve seen this play at least 20 times by now in full length.  I’m so proud of everyone, I’m so jazzed for all who got to see it tonight, and so excited for those who will see it.

ps.  sections 2, 3, and 4 are the best seats to get, so try for those when you go. 

um. . . matinee tomorrow and i have to still memorize lines for school on tuesday. (le sigh) its never ending. 

Bryn, our lovely Babette and Assistant Choreographer would often decide to step out of Be Our Guest, and Human Again and ask me to stand in for her which gave me enough time to say “i’ll get my shoes” then RUN to my shoes, put them on and RUN to her entrance spot in enough time to pop my hips roll my shoulders a couple times, roll my head a few times, and jump up a few times to get blood pumping then I was on.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved it.  There of course is something magical about being front and center infront of 450 people that just sends my blood rushing through my body a little faster than normal.  Plus it gives me a great idea of spacing for everyone else I’m understudying as well. 

Tonight was the first preview.  Lovely, just lovely.  I’ll probably sit in the house every night ( I think I have to anyways as a swing, at least for this particular show I believe all the swings are supposed to stay put in the theatre) and every night I’ll laugh when Gaston knocks Lefou in the face, when Monsier D’Arque sings “i’ll be strapping up an inmate. . . ” and I’ll get chills when I hear certain songs.  Lumiere steals the show at moments, in a perfect way.  His lines are great and Andy Philpot is brilliant in his delivery.  Dana (Belle) has what I’m going to call the “ideal” voice.  This is solely my opinion, but there’s something more than wonderful about her voice.  Its pure and angelic with character and she seems so at peace in her body when she sings, its really a joy to watch her.  Roddy the dancing Rug is everything a dancing rug should be sometimes I think he really is flying in the air not just jumping or flipping.  The Napkins Can-Can is energetic and fun to watch (i don’t want to do it. . . but its fun to watch)

Tomorrow is the second preview, and our official opening is saturday the 12th and it runs til December 22nd.  Find a way to see it, Pick a day to see it, really don’t miss this, I can in no way guarantee you’ll see me perform, but I’ll guarantee that you’ll see a truly magical performance. 

http://www.pcpa.org

We had the week off of school for tech week, that’s what you get in a performance driven college, and classes start up again next week.  I have some homework to catch up on,  plays to read for History (took my midterm last saturday, I HOPE I PASSED – bla) lines to read for a scene.  I better get to it.

Come see Beauty and the Beast.

I want to write more about Nahnnah and Pete’s wedding, and when i have the moment I will write every detail that I remember.  until then – it was amazing, it delayed a bit do the candles not standing in their holders correclty, no lighters working, I think we had a total of 5 lighters on the altar. woah. they lit at first, then blew out – whatever.  Wonderful to be apart of something that means so much to my friends, and it felt great to have my first couple there (loke and sgt. jim!!!) like a mini reunion.  but more on that more on that. 

welcome to tech week starting tomorrow.  preview night is the 10th and 11th, and official opening is 12th.  get your tickets soon.  http://www.pcpa.org it really is going to be FABULOUS I love it every time, I laugh every time, I get chills every time.  i’ll send out an email as soon as i can with more info. 

thanks for your support everyone, I miss adult nights but there are adults in the play! so i get an adult fix a bit more than when just attending classes, still miss my friends though.. . still miss YOU though.

for my theatre history class i have to do a design project and i chose the option to do a soundtrack for one of the plays we’ve read.  Songs I’ve chosen I don’t want all of.  how can I cut the song? What tools do I need?

assigment not due til december 20th. BUT i have to stay on top of everything so I don’t get behind.  I’ve started listening to songs and created a spreadsheet for ideas and stuff but eventually i’ll need to put it all together, and I’d like to do it before thanksgiving.

thanks for your help.

Understudy:  To study or know (a role) so as to be able to replace the regular performer when required
– I am understudying one role
Swing:  similar to being an “understudy” but for ensemble/Chorus roles (Jayme!!!, not rolls!!! SEE!!!), not for principal roles
– I am the swing for 5 girls (one is a “silly girl”)
Track:  the movement and/or choreography of any given performer during any number or any scene onstage, (or offstage) during a show.

I stood in as “Babette” again today.  She’s the Assistant Choreographer so when she steps out to clean numbers I (as her understudy) have to step in and do her track.  I did MUCH better this time than I did last time.  I feel much more comforable in the space having done it a few times now.  I got to do her part for Be Our Guest and Human again.  I’m scared to ever have to cover a napkins track for Beauty and the beast.  I swing for all 4 and they by far have THE HARDEST SHOW in the show.  They do SO much spinning and kicking and they’re all over the place.  And I have to know ALL 4.  The relief at times is going over Ashley B’s part because she does not do as much (she’s the cheese grater!)  I’m getting more comfortable in the actual dances and movement themselves, but again – if I ever have to BE IN the space I fear I’ll throw someone off.  My notebook is a fright, full of rough notes and arrows and numbers pertaining to said arrows.  Today is October 20th, 2005 we have preview shows on November 10th and 11th and Opening Night is the 12th.  LORD please don’t let ANYTHING HAPPEN TO ANY OF MY GIRLS.

On a slightly different note.  I’m okay, not great or super pleased, but okay, with my work at school my work at rehearsal and my work for homework.  I give everything I have to every class and I eat every 2 hours and I stay warm and stretched and focused and I come to class prepared. . . I CAN’T STAND IT WHEN PEOPLE THAT DON’T HAVE NEARLY AS BUSY A SCHEDULE AS ME COME TO CLASS “TIRED” AND ALMOST FALLING ASLEEP IN THEIR CHAIR, UNPREPARED, UNMEMORIZED, SMELLING LIKE SMOKE. . .  I DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR YOU, I DON’T THINK TO MYSELF “OH. . .BUMMER YOU’RE SO TIRED DIDN’T GET ENOUGH SLEEP???!!” I THINK YOU NEED TO LEAVE OR GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR OR I’LL SCREAM!!!!!

I have to read 30 pages for Theatre History (by saturday)
I have to read a play for Theatre History (by saturday)
I have to read a play for Acting (by tuesday)
I have to memorize a monologue for acting (by friday; week from tomorrow)
I have to color for Voice and Speech (by tuesday)
I have to learn and retain 6 different tracks for Beauty and the Beast

i wanna slap people that “forget” to color for V&S, or fall asleep during history – get a life, and if you must do it by leaving PCPA because you’re wasting my time and hindering my ability to move forward in my own work for school.

Thanks everyone, I feel a bit better now.