Tuesday, February 28, 2012

I'd like to dedicate this song and my body..

This has been one of the most fun "hell weeks" I've ever experienced. I know things are stressful with coming together with the band and adding lots of costume changes and scene changes and blah blah blah. But really, I feel like everyone just melds together during hell week and this one has been like none other. I feel so connected to everyone! and everything! It might be the crazy talkin' to me, but I think this cast is having a hard time hating us, Lenora. :)

Lenora and I have been jammin' alot lately. And by that, I mean I've been listening to my Ipod and we boogie in my kitchen.

This playlist, and our bodies, are dedicated to Wade "Cry Baby" Walker:

Me, Myself, and I---Billie Holiday

Loose Talk---Carl Smith

In the Mood---Andrew Sisters

Why Do Fools Fall in Love---Frank Lymon & the Teenagers

Stairway to the Stars---Ella Fitzgerald

Lollipop---The Chordettes

and last but not least...
I Gotta Know---Wanda Jackson





Only 2 more nights before we open! exciting!!!(said in my exorcist voice, which you will all get to experience soon enough). So I better get on this bandwagon of not breaking character. I really hadn't at all! Even when were still in the church rehearsing still, I didn't break. Until last night....when I finally came onto stage with my "baby."
I have never laughed so hard before. I was seriously crying onstage because of the pain from laughing! I was so high on laughter fumes after that, I could barely say the rest of my lines! Freakin' baby...oh geeze. I don't know how I'm going to keep from cracking once I have 200 people laughing at the sight of me too. It's gonna be hard, but it's gonna be so awesome too. Normally breaking character this far into the rehearsal process would normally scare me. But really, it's the first time Lenora has made me break. Why are you so freaking crazy, Lenora?! You make me so giddy inside. Like a little school girl. Which, I guess..we kind of are.
Anyway! My point is..after last night's rehearsal I am so aware of who we are, Lenora and I. Our crazy is so cute, you won't be able to stand it. I know you'll be wishing for us to get with Cry Baby by the end of it all. Instead of that pinko, Allison girl.



I can't wait for all of us to finally be together, Cry Baby.




Wednesday, February 22, 2012

I'll always treasure that moment.

Cry Baby is so great! Every rehearsal is just way too much fun and I can't wait to start adding all the other stuff like costume changes and lights that suck your will to live and the band and the bushes and the mics! Oh, wow. I get real excited just thinking about it all.
Everything is coming together so perfectly. And as I re-study my lines, it's interesting to see how far we've come. Lenora and I. I mean, the rest of the cast has come a long way too. But this is my blog. So I have to talk mostly about Lenora or Cry Baby, or else she gets angry. Anyway...
Trish, our lovely stage manager, has started giving us line notes. Dun dun dunnn. This happens right before "hell week" starts and basically she sends the entire cast an email listing all the crap we said wrong onstage and what we are actually supposed to be saying. Simple concept, right. But once you've said something wrong for so long, it's sorta hard to flip the switch sometimes. So after I read my "line notes," I flipped through my script to correct my errors but I was immediately distracted.
For those of you who have done shows with me, you know that I am notorious for doodling in my script and score during our "blocking" rehearsals. Well, Lenora and I reminisced our divine meeting last night with these beautiful artist renditions...
Enjoy.

I don't know why I've never thought about sharing these with you all until now. I have to give Dupree some credit. He wrote a hilarious blog the other day that included some of his blocking notes and I thought it was such a wonderful idea to show you all what we really do in rehearsal when Scott is looking...
Well, that's really all you need to know about Cry Baby before you come see us next weekend.

See ya next weekend!

















Wednesday, February 15, 2012

I told you it was him!....Looking at rings?

My most favorite part of finalizing characterization in my roles is playing with my body onstage. Yep, I just said that.
Let me explain. I have Lenora in the palm of my hand. I know her lines, I know her thoughts, I have her looks, I've got everything laid out for her. But what I haven't pinned down yet is her physicality. It's always the most exciting part of character analysis for me because it's the part of the rehearsal process where I finally get to just let loose and play.
Lenora is freakin' wack, my friends.

I'm discovering things about her that I didn't know until now, all because I get to play with her movements! It's so much fun!
Last night we had a no-stop run through in the theatre, finally. And I have never felt more comfortable in Lenora's skin. It's such a creative process! I tried out so many new stances for Lenora last night, so many new dance moves, so many new faces, so many new feelings, gestures, sounds, discoveries. Everything! I tried every single thing I could to really finalize the transformation of becoming a schizophrenic 16 year old that is so far from reality, it's almost cute...in a sad way. Every crazy inch of Lenora is only getting crazier with each rehearsal.
The best part about figuring the physicality of a character for me is, I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time. Most of what I create for a role, I do unintentionally. I allow myself freedom to explore, full range. At the start of rehearsal, I told myself that I was going to just have fun with Lenora. All fun, no business. I agreed with her that we would work together and merge our "crazy" for good. I told her I'd throw in some of my best moves if she would do the same. And whaddya know, I left rehearsal last night feeling incredibly proud of the new stuff we created. Nothing can stop us now. Gosh I love you, Lenora.

I like the progress we've all made with our characters at this point. I feel as if everyone onstage knows exactly who they are and what they're doing. It makes the "acting" aspect of it seem so obsolete because we are really convincing real people, not characters anymore. Everything really comes together once everyone is on the same page. And we are so on the same page now.

I've dedicated the rest of my blog to my awesome CB cast, because I love you all so much. Here are the deets:

Allison: She is so full of life! Taylor has really given Allison a real sense of being a teenager. She really knows what she wants, she just doesn't know it. Gotta love those high school years! And Taylor's voice freakin' owns the stage. If I didn't have to root for Lenora winning Cry Baby, I'd vote for you just because of your voice, Taylor. This is for you:

Cry Baby: I love you. For obvious reasons. Ryan is a freakin' badass, people. One, your voice is so perfect for this role. Two, you give Cry Baby such dynamic. I actually don't love Johnny Depp like most females do, and in the movie I think he's way too sensitive. Ryan though, gives Cry Baby so many kinds of emotions. He's a total greaser and yet at the same time he is so soft and loving towards Allison Lenora. And I just really love making you break character. :)

Baldwin: You, sir...are so hilarious. I really wasn't crazy about The Whiffles when I first read our script. But you came along and changed everything. I admire your tenacity, Baldwin. Keep going after Allison so that we can keep chasing after Cry Baby. Dowdy, you seriously are the most fun person I've ever worked with. You turn your characters into people that I genuinely miss after a show is over. I really wish Baldwin was real. We could all hang out and play Twister and drink malts and talk about how icky Justin Bieber is.

Terrance: Hopefully you read this..because I'm pretty sure you're the only one that calls yourself Terrance. Which is my dad's name. Which is cool. Christopher, you are so great! You always have such alluring stage presence. You have the quirkiest, silliest, dorkiest moments onstage. And I'm almost jealous that I'm not nearly as adorable as you. Bravo, my Whiffly friend!

Hatchet-face: You are without a doubt, the one that hates Lenora the most in this show. I'm convinced that you actually hate me more than Cry Baby. And I licked his face last night! Ya know why I love you, though. Because you are disgusting. You burp and slurp up your loogies like it's nobody's business. And I just love watching you during rehearsals. The other night I saw you standing there practicing making ugly misshapen faces and you probably didn't think anyone was watching you...but I was..because I'm a stalker. Your devotion to being horrendous, though, is quite charming. And to top it all off, your hair is so great. You know how I feel about hair, Sarah...

Pepper: First of all, you need to know this. My boss's dad's nickname is Pepper. And he is the craziest man I've ever met. So I knew right from the start that your name would lead you to also be a crazy awesome person. Marci, you are the proudest pregnant 16 year old I've ever come across. You are so excited about being preggers! Not because you actually want a baby, but because you think it's actually cool to be pregnant. Haha, and you are a total rocker! I absolutely love your voice in "A Whole Lot Worse." My favs!


Square girls: Alex and Jen, I think we need to get you some Square names to match those Square do's. I really love both of you. You guys hate Lenora so much! But not like The Drapes hate me. You guys hate me because you actually think I'm icky; like I have leprosy or something. Rude. But really, you guys keep me in line. Alex especially is constantly reminding me when I'm doing something wrong...which is like all the time. And Jen, you are just too cute. You remind me so much of my favorite New Liner Michelle Sauer. You guys should have brunch with me someday soon, so we can discuss floral print and ModCloth dresses.

Whiffle men: Devon and Evan. How perfect. :) You guys are so Square. And I love you most, because you never get to express your disgust for Lenora like the others do. You both have sweet dances moves! And Evan, you get to tongue Marci. Which we all think is hilarious...in the best way possible.

Mrs. Vernon-Williams: I feel it necessary for you to buy a VW in honor of this production. And because you deserve it! You're the only person EVER, who encounters Lenora and I onstage and doesn't shun our crazy. You are the only grandmother I've always wanted ever had. And I applaud you for being the oldest person in this cast and still being able to keep up with our ridiculous antics. You're so funny on and off stage, Cindy. I also think you should have a baton at the end. Just borrow Allison's.

Wanda: I want your hair. We all do. And we might have to make that happen...You, ma'am, are awesome! You're a Pisces, which automatically makes you cooler than everyone. And you are willing to make mistakes; I really like that about you. You'll get these dances down, don't worry. I believe in you. And I feel like you deserve a Sister Act moment in the nun outfit...I'm just sayin'. Your shining moment is definitely when you sing "perves" in "A Whole Lot Worse." I'm glad I'm off stage at that moment because I crack up every single time.

All of Zak's personalities: Tuck in your shirt. And quit movin' your ass like that. You're making it very difficult to not like you...we don't wanna get Cry Baby jealous now. So knock it off, you hellion.

Dupree: I envy your vocal chords. And if you whisper to me in that raspy voice of your's behind our beautifully trimmed bush ever again...well, you know what's gonna happen to you. Haha, have I mentioned that I love that Lenora and Dupree get to tongue? You are without a doubt, the only Drape that even remotely likes me. It may have something to do with the fact that I'm the only Square-ish girl that will let you touch me, but who knows.. I think you are pretty groovy, Ari. Put in a good word for me with that bestie of your's.



There ya have it! We're rockin' and rollin', friends. I'm very happy with what we've all created. This is definitely going to be way better than the movie...sorry, Mr. John Waters. But I think you'll all agree.

Hurrah for the fun to be had backstage, awesome cast mates!



Lick ya later <3












Saturday, February 11, 2012

I'm guessing you and Evelyn worked things out?

A little less than 3 weeks from now Lenora will have completed her mission: taking over my soul. And Cry Baby's. Maybe.
I always try to make the characters I portray my own. I don't want to do what another actor did for that character in another production; I want my characters to be completely original. And Lenora is nothing but original.
Lenora and I were getting along peachy keen...until about a week ago. I was waiting for this moment. The moment when I can't find her somewhere in what I'm doing onstage. First Act, I have Lenora down like the back of my hand. Second Act, though...we're struggling to see eye to eye sometimes. It's nothing that she's doing. It's all me. I've been distracted. With my life outside the theatre. WHICH! I know, I've been a bad actor because of this..but I haven't been "leaving it at the door," when I come to rehearsal. I was always taught that no matter what happened during your day, once you get onto that stage you better forget about it. Never bring it into your performance. And I have been.
Dag nammit.
With that being said, I'm also a huge critic..towards myself. So on days where I can't muster up energy that I find to be performance worthy, I get pretty angry at myself. Which is silly, I know. But that's just the good ol' perfectionist in Terrie talkin'.
I've been a little under the weather this past week, and I feel like I've let Lenora down. And when I'm not proud of what I'm doing, I don't really talk about it. Which...is sorta why I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks.

But I've shaken it all out! I'm feeling much healthier and I've regained my stamina. We also just had our "fix-it" night at rehearsal on Thursday and I'm feeling much more confident in areas that I was struggling previously. So I can go on enticing you with my crazy eyes now that I'm back to my Lenora self.

So in celebration of getting my crazy back, I've constructed a list (as usual) of things that I'm really happy with about Lenora:
1) she is so devoted to whatever she is doing; nothing is half-ass with Lenora
2) Lenora has serious rhythm. If I wasn't the one dancing for her, I'd really wanna be in on those sweet moves. Especially the little jig she does in Jukebox Jamboree.
3) Lenora is a lover, not a fighter. She never tries "getting back" at anyone. Even though everyone is against her it seems. And though it may seem like she's sabotaging Allison and CB's connection, she's really just trying to prove to Cry Baby that she's the one he loves more. Not Allison. That damn devotion again.
4) she has the most fluent awkwardness I've ever given a character. Cesario and Lenora have very similar quirks, but Lenora's craziness is almost graceful. Or at least in her mind. And no one in their right mind would ever tell her otherwise.
5) she's all for integration! eh, Dupree? :)
6) Lenora is so passionate about her fantasy of her and Cry Baby finally being together. I have never met someone so in love.
7) she likes bad boys.
8) Lenora is into ant farms and space zombies. She is no Square or Drape for darn sure. But she is such a nerd. And I love nerds.
9) I think Lenora may be a savant.
10) "All is not lost" in Lenora's world. She never ever gives up. She just changes her perspective to better suit her needs. And I absolutely love that about her. In the end, she still gets what she wants. She's misunderstood, but Lenora is a pretty cool chick. I'm so glad to have met her.


This show is kickin', friends. We are having such a great time bringing this production to life! Oh, and I finally got to witness "I'm a Little Upset." Freakin' sweet. Our boys are smokin'! I'm really glad I don't have to sweat like that in this show, but wow. This choreography is totally awesome! I'm so excited with where we're taking Cry Baby. It's only going to get even more fun and I'm so pumped about it!


That's about it for now, my devoted readers (aka Scott and my mom). I promise I'll write to you more often. Here's a little tid bit first, before I go. Scott Miller posted a blog the other day talking about how our characters have come to life. And how great we are. It's always very endearing to get compliments from your director. I felt pretty groovy after reading his comments. Thanks, Scott! Also, last night I had a pub crawl promoting my sketch comedy Bye Bye Liver. One of the girls that I "replaced" in the cast came out to drink with us and we got to talking. She kept going on and on how happy she was that I was the one that took over. She missed being in the show, but she's so thankful that they chose someone as good as me to be a part of the cast. And she kept saying how funny I was. On and off stage. :)
All these happy feelings came back to me last night, after reading Scott's blog and talking to Kate with a beer in hand. Sometimes it's really hard to leave our problems at the door when we get to rehearsal. And sometimes it's easy to forget that you are appreciated even when you're feeling low. I live for my performance. And I really want to make my audience happy. Needless to say, I'm feeling loved right now. Not just as Terrie Lenora, but as an actor. It feels good, my friends. It feels really good.

<3<3<3