"And in that brilliant moment of awakening, I found God..."
Yesterday... so unbelievable. So incredibly, beautifully unbelievable...
Wake up about six in the morning. I go down to the laundry to fluff up the load of costumes I did the night before, then I proceed to get ready myself for the long day ahead. I wash-up, put on my SHSDC jump suit, put all my shit together, and go back downstairs to fold up the costumes.
I lost one of Tanya's gloves, and Sal's t-shirt came out pinkish.
After about five minutes of freaking out, I finally found the glove, and I stole one of my dad's t-shirts in case.
My dad then drives me to the high school, where the bus and U-Haul is waiting. I get on the bus, and we wait for some more people, and then head out. We were laughing, signing and knocking on the Drama wood (which I'm sure will become a tradition after this), and Cilla gave the each cast member a letter. I held back the tears after reading her letter to me. It was beautiful. And the bus ride was going great... until we realized we were going the wrong way... and Cilla's director's meeting was in five minutes. We called Nan, and the gas gage (spelling) was broken, and they needed to find a gas station.
Somehow, I don't know how, we found our way to Newton South, and Nan got there in one piece. Cilla went to her meeting, and we went to our room. The room was decorated very nicely, including a white board of silly comments, and a poster of Napolean Dynamite quotes. We unload the U-Haul, and then the shows began.
The first show was Weston High, Escaping Alcestis. It was an original script written by the ensemble. It was a dramedy, and I thought it was very creative. There were some weak characters (much like all the shows that day), but altogether, I enjoyed the show. It was a nice way to start off the morning.
The next show was Ashland High, The Actor's Nightmare. Now, when I was a Freshman, we did this play for festival, and Brian Liberge starred in it, and it was the funniest thing I've ever seen. This production was an absolute disappointment. The lead was incredibly weak. In fact, the whole cast was weak except for the Stage Manager character. I was very disappointed.
The next show was Holliston High, Multiple Choice: a) This b)That. Another original written by the ensemble. It was an adorable show, and there were very funny moments, but the pattern of the show was weak, and there was a lot of low humor. They had great props though, and it brought a real cartoonish quality to it, which was great. The confusing pattern, which led to no climax whatsoever, was the show's downfall.
The next show was Minnechaug High (which we decided sounded very much like a Pokemon), After Midnight, Before Dawn. We didn't get to see it because we had to get ready for our show, but from what we heard, it was boring, so I didn't feel too bad about missing it.
Then came out show... oh good Lord.
I put my whole soul and energy into this show. Once I got off, I was physically and mentally drained. I was so proud of us. The one thing that I worried about (after Joey and I tripped over the bench trying to get off the stage) was that we ran over time. 36 minutes. 36 fucking minutes! I was so happy. I was so elated! And once we got back on stage to strike the set, we got a standing ovation. It was wonderful. We quickly put everything away so we could get changed. When we came back to our seats, the audience applauded us again. Of course, everyone always applauds when every cast goes back to their seats, but I felt special. I don't think anyone recognized Tanya or me, but they definitely recognized Joey... at least I think they did.
The next show was Newton South (the host), A Piece of My Heart. It was a piece about nurses in the Vietnam war. It was moving, and well-acted by most of the cast. The costuming pissed me off, and it was confusing at times. The sound, lights, and set were incredible, but considering it was their school, and they knew their own equipment, it was expected. It was a good show, in my opinion.
Then came Brookline High, Love's the Best Doctor. It was a Moliere piece, but poorly done. The only strong character was the maid, but because her boobs were this close to popping out of her dress, everyone was distracted. I was disappointed because it was such a funny plot, but the set and costumes didn't go with anything, and I was never drawn into the world of the play. It was the only play that day where I daydreamed and lost focus. And Brookline usually does great shows.
The last show was Cambridge Rindge and Latin, Medea. I love Greek tragedies, and I have to say, I enjoyed it. The set was huge, and much to my surprise, they didn't buy it, they made it. Though, it did seem like one of those sets that was there to make-up for a bad performance. The girl who played Medea did it very well. My only problem with her was that she didn't vary emotion when she should have. I thought every male character was weak, and the Nurse in the beginning with the pro-logue was terrible, too. I did like the Greek chorus, but I wish they were more in-sync and tighter.
Bah, look at me. I sound like Bobby Imperato with all this critism.
After the shows, we had talk-back discussions with all the other schools. Each school had to send a couple of kids to each room, and Chris Buonopane and I were together in one room. Man, did we control that entire room. Chris and I must have talked 80% of the time. Everyone there thought Cilla was a genius, and they were so amazed that she wrote and directed the play. They loved the show.
After the talk-backs, we had pizza and a dance in the cafe. Before the festival, we had talked about doing out opening for A Chorus Line there, and how fun it would be. So after we ate pizza, I asked everyone if I should give him my Chorus Line CD and do it, and everyone got excited. So, I went to the kid, and asked, and he said he already had the CD on his ipod and would do it. So right away he goes up and announces us and we do the whole opening (according the CD). It was so fun, and everyone there loved it.
Of course, afterwards, we were all nausous because we had just eaten all the pizza two minutes beforehand. I went back to the room and Joey was there, and we sat by the window. Cilla came in too, and and then Peter. We decided to shut off the lights and lie on the floor. We just started talking about funny things, and were laughing, wheezing, and trying to breathe. A bunch of people kept coming in and out from the dance, but we just stayed there and chilled. Nan came back and ate her dinner, and we talked about the talk-backs and all the shows. We kept knocking on the Drama Wood, like we had been all day, and we waited to be called back to the auditorium.
When we got back in the auditorium, we were so nervous. We brought the Drama Wood for luck... and to knock on. The judges talked for a while (one of whom was Michael Allosso from the North Shore Music Theatre workshops!) and finally they gave out their awards. Both Sal and Kelly got awards for their acting. Nan went up and accepted Kelly's because Kelly had to leave a little while after our show, and Nan told the audience how she had mono and had a waiver to come late and leave early, and everyone in the audience collectively gasped. I wish Kelly had been there to accept, but I'm sure she'll be there to accept her awards in the future (knock on wood!). And Cilla won an award for her directing and writing, of course. I am so proud of her.
Now there had been 29 awards given out, most of which went to Weston High, and most of the awards were technical, and we only won three awards, so we were kind of worried. I mean, I was so happy about the awards we won, but it wasn't looking good.
Then the time came to announce the three schools that would move on. The shows would be announced in no particular order, and Michael Allosso started talking about the first show they would announce to go on. He started talking about giving a truthful and believable performance... and we knew it was us. I wish I could remember everything he said, because it was so wonderful, but my mind already started racing. They announced The Book of Jane, and we all just went crazy. I started crying. I was bawling my eyes out, hugging everyone. I look at Cilla and she's on the ground crying, so Sal starts to go up to accept the award, and Cilla finally gets up and goes up to the stage to accept the award with him. I was so happy. So overcome with emotion. After Nan finally got us to calm down and shut up, they announced the other two schools, Weston and Cambridge. After they announced them, we headed back to our room, and I was crying to whole time. Everyone kept hugging me and asking me if I was all right, but all I could do was cry. I never cried to hard, and I let myself because it was a good, happy cry. I was crying for all the right reasons, and it felt so good. The only person crying as much as me was Danielle, so we cried together for a moment. Other schools came in and congratulated us, and they all wanted to meet Cilla and congratulate her. Then they would take one look at me, and hug me. I could barely say 'Thank you' I was crying so hard.
We loaded up the U-Haul, loaded ourselves on the bus, and I was still crying. I called Alex, and cried to him. I calmed myself down, and called my mom. Cilla's dad donated like two hundred dollars for us to go out and celebrate, and we decided to go to Kowloon's. The bus ride home was very chill, and most of us went sleep. Cory slept inbetween me legs, and I listened to my CD player. I turned on Magic and listened to some soothing music.
We got back to the school around midnight or sometime before that, and unloaded the U-Haul. I put my bag and the costume box in the Auditorium, and go back out to the truck, and there's Alex walking in with chair or tree or whatever (you can see that I can't really remember anything towards the end of the night), and I was so happy to see him, so of course the first thing I said was, "What the FUCK are you doing here?" I am such a romantic.
Kevin, Rich Day, Steve, and Sweez were all there, and helped us unload the U-Haul. They were playing frisbee in the upper lot, and waited for us to get there. Well, they didn't say they were waiting for me, but I would like to believe they did. Kevin dropped me off at Kowloon's, and I thanked them for coming.
I didn't come home till one or one thirty, I honestly can't remember, and I passed out. And I was so tired, that I was at the point where it hurt to close my eyes. But I was so happy. So, so happy. It was a beautiful day.
---
Cilla just told me that semi-finals are at Hingham, which is like and hour and ten minutes away. There are no Catholic schools going to our semis, thank the good Lord. And, to top it off, we have the slot right after lunch... the slot we had yesterday... and as any Drama Club knows, the most covetted slot in all of slotdom. And our tech is the night before at 6:30, so we can leave that goddamn U-Haul there.
I'm so excited. Two weeks. That means we have to balance rehearsal time between Chorus Line and this again, but it will be worth it. Just like this past week has been worth it. Even painting that goddamn shed was worth it.
Wish us luck at Semis!
"...And I read outloud, 'Weave in faith, and God will find the thread.' And in that brilliant moment of awakening, I closed my eyes and I saw our Heavenly Father, and my life... the pieces of my life being sewn together like a quilt of holiness. I found God!"
---
Wake up about six in the morning. I go down to the laundry to fluff up the load of costumes I did the night before, then I proceed to get ready myself for the long day ahead. I wash-up, put on my SHSDC jump suit, put all my shit together, and go back downstairs to fold up the costumes.
I lost one of Tanya's gloves, and Sal's t-shirt came out pinkish.
After about five minutes of freaking out, I finally found the glove, and I stole one of my dad's t-shirts in case.
My dad then drives me to the high school, where the bus and U-Haul is waiting. I get on the bus, and we wait for some more people, and then head out. We were laughing, signing and knocking on the Drama wood (which I'm sure will become a tradition after this), and Cilla gave the each cast member a letter. I held back the tears after reading her letter to me. It was beautiful. And the bus ride was going great... until we realized we were going the wrong way... and Cilla's director's meeting was in five minutes. We called Nan, and the gas gage (spelling) was broken, and they needed to find a gas station.
Somehow, I don't know how, we found our way to Newton South, and Nan got there in one piece. Cilla went to her meeting, and we went to our room. The room was decorated very nicely, including a white board of silly comments, and a poster of Napolean Dynamite quotes. We unload the U-Haul, and then the shows began.
The first show was Weston High, Escaping Alcestis. It was an original script written by the ensemble. It was a dramedy, and I thought it was very creative. There were some weak characters (much like all the shows that day), but altogether, I enjoyed the show. It was a nice way to start off the morning.
The next show was Ashland High, The Actor's Nightmare. Now, when I was a Freshman, we did this play for festival, and Brian Liberge starred in it, and it was the funniest thing I've ever seen. This production was an absolute disappointment. The lead was incredibly weak. In fact, the whole cast was weak except for the Stage Manager character. I was very disappointed.
The next show was Holliston High, Multiple Choice: a) This b)That. Another original written by the ensemble. It was an adorable show, and there were very funny moments, but the pattern of the show was weak, and there was a lot of low humor. They had great props though, and it brought a real cartoonish quality to it, which was great. The confusing pattern, which led to no climax whatsoever, was the show's downfall.
The next show was Minnechaug High (which we decided sounded very much like a Pokemon), After Midnight, Before Dawn. We didn't get to see it because we had to get ready for our show, but from what we heard, it was boring, so I didn't feel too bad about missing it.
Then came out show... oh good Lord.
I put my whole soul and energy into this show. Once I got off, I was physically and mentally drained. I was so proud of us. The one thing that I worried about (after Joey and I tripped over the bench trying to get off the stage) was that we ran over time. 36 minutes. 36 fucking minutes! I was so happy. I was so elated! And once we got back on stage to strike the set, we got a standing ovation. It was wonderful. We quickly put everything away so we could get changed. When we came back to our seats, the audience applauded us again. Of course, everyone always applauds when every cast goes back to their seats, but I felt special. I don't think anyone recognized Tanya or me, but they definitely recognized Joey... at least I think they did.
The next show was Newton South (the host), A Piece of My Heart. It was a piece about nurses in the Vietnam war. It was moving, and well-acted by most of the cast. The costuming pissed me off, and it was confusing at times. The sound, lights, and set were incredible, but considering it was their school, and they knew their own equipment, it was expected. It was a good show, in my opinion.
Then came Brookline High, Love's the Best Doctor. It was a Moliere piece, but poorly done. The only strong character was the maid, but because her boobs were this close to popping out of her dress, everyone was distracted. I was disappointed because it was such a funny plot, but the set and costumes didn't go with anything, and I was never drawn into the world of the play. It was the only play that day where I daydreamed and lost focus. And Brookline usually does great shows.
The last show was Cambridge Rindge and Latin, Medea. I love Greek tragedies, and I have to say, I enjoyed it. The set was huge, and much to my surprise, they didn't buy it, they made it. Though, it did seem like one of those sets that was there to make-up for a bad performance. The girl who played Medea did it very well. My only problem with her was that she didn't vary emotion when she should have. I thought every male character was weak, and the Nurse in the beginning with the pro-logue was terrible, too. I did like the Greek chorus, but I wish they were more in-sync and tighter.
Bah, look at me. I sound like Bobby Imperato with all this critism.
After the shows, we had talk-back discussions with all the other schools. Each school had to send a couple of kids to each room, and Chris Buonopane and I were together in one room. Man, did we control that entire room. Chris and I must have talked 80% of the time. Everyone there thought Cilla was a genius, and they were so amazed that she wrote and directed the play. They loved the show.
After the talk-backs, we had pizza and a dance in the cafe. Before the festival, we had talked about doing out opening for A Chorus Line there, and how fun it would be. So after we ate pizza, I asked everyone if I should give him my Chorus Line CD and do it, and everyone got excited. So, I went to the kid, and asked, and he said he already had the CD on his ipod and would do it. So right away he goes up and announces us and we do the whole opening (according the CD). It was so fun, and everyone there loved it.
Of course, afterwards, we were all nausous because we had just eaten all the pizza two minutes beforehand. I went back to the room and Joey was there, and we sat by the window. Cilla came in too, and and then Peter. We decided to shut off the lights and lie on the floor. We just started talking about funny things, and were laughing, wheezing, and trying to breathe. A bunch of people kept coming in and out from the dance, but we just stayed there and chilled. Nan came back and ate her dinner, and we talked about the talk-backs and all the shows. We kept knocking on the Drama Wood, like we had been all day, and we waited to be called back to the auditorium.
When we got back in the auditorium, we were so nervous. We brought the Drama Wood for luck... and to knock on. The judges talked for a while (one of whom was Michael Allosso from the North Shore Music Theatre workshops!) and finally they gave out their awards. Both Sal and Kelly got awards for their acting. Nan went up and accepted Kelly's because Kelly had to leave a little while after our show, and Nan told the audience how she had mono and had a waiver to come late and leave early, and everyone in the audience collectively gasped. I wish Kelly had been there to accept, but I'm sure she'll be there to accept her awards in the future (knock on wood!). And Cilla won an award for her directing and writing, of course. I am so proud of her.
Now there had been 29 awards given out, most of which went to Weston High, and most of the awards were technical, and we only won three awards, so we were kind of worried. I mean, I was so happy about the awards we won, but it wasn't looking good.
Then the time came to announce the three schools that would move on. The shows would be announced in no particular order, and Michael Allosso started talking about the first show they would announce to go on. He started talking about giving a truthful and believable performance... and we knew it was us. I wish I could remember everything he said, because it was so wonderful, but my mind already started racing. They announced The Book of Jane, and we all just went crazy. I started crying. I was bawling my eyes out, hugging everyone. I look at Cilla and she's on the ground crying, so Sal starts to go up to accept the award, and Cilla finally gets up and goes up to the stage to accept the award with him. I was so happy. So overcome with emotion. After Nan finally got us to calm down and shut up, they announced the other two schools, Weston and Cambridge. After they announced them, we headed back to our room, and I was crying to whole time. Everyone kept hugging me and asking me if I was all right, but all I could do was cry. I never cried to hard, and I let myself because it was a good, happy cry. I was crying for all the right reasons, and it felt so good. The only person crying as much as me was Danielle, so we cried together for a moment. Other schools came in and congratulated us, and they all wanted to meet Cilla and congratulate her. Then they would take one look at me, and hug me. I could barely say 'Thank you' I was crying so hard.
We loaded up the U-Haul, loaded ourselves on the bus, and I was still crying. I called Alex, and cried to him. I calmed myself down, and called my mom. Cilla's dad donated like two hundred dollars for us to go out and celebrate, and we decided to go to Kowloon's. The bus ride home was very chill, and most of us went sleep. Cory slept inbetween me legs, and I listened to my CD player. I turned on Magic and listened to some soothing music.
We got back to the school around midnight or sometime before that, and unloaded the U-Haul. I put my bag and the costume box in the Auditorium, and go back out to the truck, and there's Alex walking in with chair or tree or whatever (you can see that I can't really remember anything towards the end of the night), and I was so happy to see him, so of course the first thing I said was, "What the FUCK are you doing here?" I am such a romantic.
Kevin, Rich Day, Steve, and Sweez were all there, and helped us unload the U-Haul. They were playing frisbee in the upper lot, and waited for us to get there. Well, they didn't say they were waiting for me, but I would like to believe they did. Kevin dropped me off at Kowloon's, and I thanked them for coming.
I didn't come home till one or one thirty, I honestly can't remember, and I passed out. And I was so tired, that I was at the point where it hurt to close my eyes. But I was so happy. So, so happy. It was a beautiful day.
---
Cilla just told me that semi-finals are at Hingham, which is like and hour and ten minutes away. There are no Catholic schools going to our semis, thank the good Lord. And, to top it off, we have the slot right after lunch... the slot we had yesterday... and as any Drama Club knows, the most covetted slot in all of slotdom. And our tech is the night before at 6:30, so we can leave that goddamn U-Haul there.
I'm so excited. Two weeks. That means we have to balance rehearsal time between Chorus Line and this again, but it will be worth it. Just like this past week has been worth it. Even painting that goddamn shed was worth it.
Wish us luck at Semis!
"...And I read outloud, 'Weave in faith, and God will find the thread.' And in that brilliant moment of awakening, I closed my eyes and I saw our Heavenly Father, and my life... the pieces of my life being sewn together like a quilt of holiness. I found God!"
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