Happy Leap Day (or "Pirates of Penzance" Day)
Today, Feb 29, is Leap Day...which only occurs once every four years. I immediately connected today's significance to the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance, wherein the lead tenor, Frederic, has just turned 21 years old--a milestone which frees him from his duty of serving with a band of pirates. However, since he was born in a Leap Year on the 29th of February, he's technically a "little boy of five" if one were to gauge age by birthdays. The Pirate King and Ruth (Frederic's former nursemaid) use this loophole against him in order to snatch him back up into the pirate band!
So, just as Pirates has an alternate title ("The Slave of Duty"), I think we ought to give Leap Day an alternate name: "PIRATES OF PENZANCE DAY" One of the chief observances is to listen to as many recordings of the "Paradox" sequence as one can...and celebrate a birthday party for all the poor schmucks gipped out of presents for 75% of their lives! No one has to talk like a pirate, but wearing a Pirate costume (or a Bonnet/Petticoat) is definitely acceptable to get into the "spirit." Who's with me?!?
In other news, I have my Union Avenue Opera audition tomorrow. Like some others, I'm a bit blasé about the whole thing. Sure, I want work, and will sing to the best of my ability...but outside of Remendado or Dancairo in Carmen, I have nothing much else to audition for outside of Chorus, which I'd honestly be glad to do in any of the operas. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to completing this audition...
...because I then have to focus on the MUNY auditions for next weekend. I have a strategy (if you can call it one), and here it is:
1. Show up to the Male Singer Auditions on Saturday morning.
2. Hope/Pray that I get to sing for Paul Blake, like last year.
3. Sing 16 bars at the end of "Younger than Springtime" from South Pacific. (It's very lyrical, and shows off high notes that I'm very secure with.)
4. Wait for the announcement of callbacks for the next day.
5. If I get a callback, skip to #7. If I don't, proceed to #6.
6. Cry. Drink. Pass Out on Couch.
7. Freak out a little bit, then get focused for Sunday.
8. Show up for the So-You-Can-Sing-But-Can-You-Dance? callback in YESTERDAY'S attire...not your ensemble for the bus-n-truck tour of FAME.
9. Learn a simple dance combo.
10. Perform a simple dance combo, and don't fuck it up.
11. Sing either 8-bars or 16-bars (their discretion) of "I'm Calm" from Forum.
12. Listen to the "you're all great, and this is a tough decision..." speech.
13. Go home...and be patient :)
Have a great weekend, folks!
So, just as Pirates has an alternate title ("The Slave of Duty"), I think we ought to give Leap Day an alternate name: "PIRATES OF PENZANCE DAY" One of the chief observances is to listen to as many recordings of the "Paradox" sequence as one can...and celebrate a birthday party for all the poor schmucks gipped out of presents for 75% of their lives! No one has to talk like a pirate, but wearing a Pirate costume (or a Bonnet/Petticoat) is definitely acceptable to get into the "spirit." Who's with me?!?
In other news, I have my Union Avenue Opera audition tomorrow. Like some others, I'm a bit blasé about the whole thing. Sure, I want work, and will sing to the best of my ability...but outside of Remendado or Dancairo in Carmen, I have nothing much else to audition for outside of Chorus, which I'd honestly be glad to do in any of the operas. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to completing this audition...
...because I then have to focus on the MUNY auditions for next weekend. I have a strategy (if you can call it one), and here it is:
1. Show up to the Male Singer Auditions on Saturday morning.
2. Hope/Pray that I get to sing for Paul Blake, like last year.
3. Sing 16 bars at the end of "Younger than Springtime" from South Pacific. (It's very lyrical, and shows off high notes that I'm very secure with.)
4. Wait for the announcement of callbacks for the next day.
5. If I get a callback, skip to #7. If I don't, proceed to #6.
6. Cry. Drink. Pass Out on Couch.
7. Freak out a little bit, then get focused for Sunday.
8. Show up for the So-You-Can-Sing-But-Can-You-Dance? callback in YESTERDAY'S attire...not your ensemble for the bus-n-truck tour of FAME.
9. Learn a simple dance combo.
10. Perform a simple dance combo, and don't fuck it up.
11. Sing either 8-bars or 16-bars (their discretion) of "I'm Calm" from Forum.
12. Listen to the "you're all great, and this is a tough decision..." speech.
13. Go home...and be patient :)
Have a great weekend, folks!