First off, Sweeney Todd was the most amazing theatrical experience I have ever had. More so than even my first year when I played a principle role. The cast was amazing!!! Broadway star Mark Jacoby was our Sweeney and he was a master at the craft of suspense and drama. Our Mrs. Lovett (played by the lovely Mary Gordon Murray ) was incredibly funny and endearing in her own demented way (the character not Mary). I met some beautiful people and got to work with Glen Casale (he directed the production of Peter Pan that you can see with Cathy Rigby) as well as Carolann Sanita and Max Von Essen and just too many more wonderful people to name. I took tons of pictures which of course I will not know how to upload. But overall, even though it was hard as labor to learn all that music (ugh, Stephen Sondheim in his finest) it was the show I did not want to see come to an end.
My next show, My Fair Lady was a completely different show and experience. For the ensemble the show was much easier, but not as artistically fulfilling. Not for any reason other than the fact that it's a heavy book show and it's heavy for the principles. Our Eliza and Prof. Higgins were a dream team. So much so that I am going to see Eliza (Kate Baldwin) in San Diego in the fall at the Old Globe Theatre when she does, The Women. I am very excited. I did have lovely costumes. Which was a major change after having been a plain jane nun and then a street urchin. I had been looking forward to My Fair... all summer long. The beautiful gowns, the hats and parasols and of course the music of Lerner and Lowe. I was not disappointed, just not as challenged. It really was a lot of running around to change costumes. But I did get to be one of the two featured maids in "I Could Have Danced All Night". That was my nightly highlight! It was also the only time I ever came in contact with Eliza so I did enjoy that little moment. We had just a deliciously entertaining choreographer, Josh Walden. Who after opening left to venture home in New Hampshire before returning to NY to rehearse for the first national tour of Legally Blonde the Musical. I wish him the best!
Anyway, I finally have a full complete day off. I haven't had one in two weeks and I have needed it desperately. I miss my family but they arrive on Saturday and are here through Thursday! I can't wait to see how tall they have become as well as how Adam is handling being 12 and about to get the priesthood. We have decided to have him wait until I get home. I am very proud of him. Alright, I have bored you enough. Enjoy the photos. If I get them up!
