my love story, chapter 2...

When rehearsals for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers first began, the brides and the brothers didn't have rehearsals together for a week or two. I didn't know anything about my partner, which saddened me because I thought Jason was very cute, even if he was almost five years younger than me.

I distinctly remember the first Saturday dance rehearsal as the day I started to fall for Jason. It was the first time we had the chance to get to know each other, and he just kept getting more and more attractive as the hours past. I told myself it was just a show-mance, and that it didn't mean anything. I flirt with everyone, so I didn't think it would be obvious that I was crushing on him.

As the rehearsals and performances went on, I liked Jason more and more. I kept telling myself he was too young for me! I have always liked younger men, but four and a half years is really pushing the limit. Those that knew about it told me it was all right because he was 18, I wasn't doing anything illegal. Haha! I have very supportive friends.

I suspected that Jason liked me as well, but tried not to let this get to me. I had just accept that it was just a crush, and move on... it would pass after the show was over... just stick it out until the end.

When there were two weeks of performances left, Jason and I both gave up trying to suppress the feelings, and he asked me on a date. I was going to be up in Cache Valley for the afternoon, so he asked me to dinner after my plans. We went to Coppermill for dinner, and went to the park to the swings. It was wonderful! Then he took me to my car, and I told him it would be all right if he kissed me before I left. Jason told me that one of his dating rules was never to kiss a girl on the first date; my argument was that we had already kissed at least 35 times already on stage. (You can argue that it's not the same thing, but we liked each other, so our stage kisses were... a little more real.) I guess my argument won out, because he came back and kissed me. Triumphant! It was wonderful, and I smiled the whole way home.

After that first date, we were "official", and we saw each other as often as possible. We received many comments from the cast members like "sheesh, finally!" and "we've all been waiting for this to happen!" I guess everyone know about us except for... us.

Jason and I were inseparable from that first date until he left on his mission five months later. 

More to come...

the beginning of my love story...

In December 2009, I had been home from my mission for almost five months and i needed to be in a show. I really needed to be in a show. The community theatre close by was holding auditions for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; and although this wasn't a musical on my "Shows I Have to Do Before I Die" list (yes, I have one of those), I decided to audition anyway. There would be a lot of dancing, and no matter which bride you are you get a decent amount of stage time. I auditioned and made the part of Ruth, bride to Caleb. 

I was so excited to be in a show again! The last one I had done was Little Shop of Horrors at Pickleville Playhouse before I left on my mission. Our first rehearsal in January was a blast! The scripts and scores hadn't arrived yet, so we just got to know each other-- by trying to escape a human knot for over an hour. I've never been hugged by so many people at the same time! I also had a chance to get to know my partner, Brian. The cast was shaping up to be a very talented group of people, and I was excited to get started... but we were still a little short handed when it came to men, as it is with most musical productions; we had no one to play Benjamin.

Two of the Brides, who commuted from Cache Valley, told the directors that they knew a boy that would do the show. The directors agreed to hold a small audition for him, so Katherine and Kat brought their friend Jason down to Ogden. He sang a few bars and was immediately cast, but he looked too young to play the second oldest brother, so they shifted the partnerships around a little bit, and I ended up with the new kid. I am so glad that happened, because I ended up falling in love with him, and not just on stage.

You can expect a second installment of this story soon...

... things Earnest taught me.

Life has been happening so quickly lately! So much has happened between this post and my last, but it’s been so fulfilling. Here is a small re-cap:

Directing The Importance of Being Earnest was a wonderful growing experience for me! I wouldn't trade those two plus months for anything. Like every production, there were bumps along the way, but the final product was worth every ounce of hardship. My actors were delightful to watch every night; not only were they all incredibly talented, but they all grew as actors throughout the process. My heart swells with pride when I think of those beautiful people.

Here are a few things I learned through the directing experience: 

1) Preparation is the key putting up a quick production. I didn't realize that as the director I really had to be involved in every aspect of the production. It wasn't like acting in a show, where the set magically appears on the stage one day; I had to be the one to make sure the set pieces came together. So many things are the director’s responsibility, and I had no idea. Luckily, I had an amazing assistant director who has experience in directing, and a fabulous stage manager who worked his tail off to make things work. My deepest thanks to them for helping me know what I needed to do. 

2) Sometimes it’s not easy to work with the board of the theatre, but you do your best with what you are given and move on. There was a lot of miscommunication between myself and the Board, and it caused some contention. Although it was hard to deal with, I learned from it and will be better for it. Communication is vitally important. 

3) Every person that is involved in the show brings something new to the production that you hadn't planned on. The scenes that ended up on that stage were not the scenes that I imagined before casting, but after seeing my actors at work, I wouldn't have it any other way. Each person wanted to make this play a success, and you could see their commitment in the way that they brought their characters to life. 

4) I really like directing! I had a small taste of it in the directing classes I took in college, but they did not prepare me for the love I would feel for a production that is mine. The Importance of Being Earnest will always be special to me.

To sum up, I cherish the experience of being a director, and I fully intend to take any future opportunities to direct again! I thought my love for theatre couldn't grow any deeper… but it really did.

I realized as I was working on Earnest that I had been participating in a theatrical production all year long. Remember the Magic began in January, and then I agreed to be the music director for Hello Dolly! immediately following, and then it went straight into Earnest. From January to the end of October I was at the Old Barn. I told myself that I need to take a break, I was tired, and I have more important things to plan now… but it’s been a month, and I feel like that’s been enough rest! I am craving the stage. Although I've been participating, I haven’t been performing all year… so I think that will be the next thing that I do. In fact, The Terrace Plaza Playhouse will be putting up a production of Little Women in the spring... and being Jo in Little Women is my DREAM!!! With any luck (and a lot of preparation), that will be my next theatrical pursuit.

In the meantime, I really do have bigger fish to fry: I’m getting’ married!!!