Cottonwood Joseph post #4: It's-almost-opening-night jitters

I posted again on the Cottonwood Joseph blog. (Yes, I am aware that it's kind of bratty of me to post a link, when some of you are already using google reader to get to this blog and end up having to click three or four links to read the actual post. Thanks for doing that for me! Next time I may just post the same post in both places...something to think about.)

We open in two days! I am so excited to finally get to perform this show! Rehearsing is fun, but performing for an audience who has never seen the show before is the BEST!!

[For convenience' sake, and because I'm afraid the Cottonwood Joseph blog will suddenly disappear one day, here is the post in full:]

A few weeks ago, our cast started to get tired, grouchy, frustrated and stressed. Our illustrious director, sensing the frustration, wisely played the Glee version of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." This song (especially this version of this song), for me, is a reminder of why I love to perform: the lights, the audience, the comraderie, and the pure joy of singing for no reason other than it's my favorite thing to do. We all had different lines in the song that expressed what we love about theatre and how we want to approach the show. It was cool hearing everyone's take on the song, and afterward we tackled the play with renewed enthusiasm.

Joseph opens in two days. We are ready. We have worked hard these last six weeks getting to know and trust each other, learning the show and all of the multiple songs in their multiple styles, and mastering all of the choreography (some of which is impressively difficult). I can feel that we are really good, especially in certain numbers. The energy is fantastic and all of our work is paying off.

But, on the other hand, we open to paying audiences in two days. I am once again stressed, tired, and grouchy. I just want to do a good job and if one little thing goes wrong or I do one little thing wrong I whine and complain and want to go home. It's not a mature reaction, but it is the truth.

So, this morning, I listened to Glee's version of "Don't Stop Believing" again. I may just put it on repeat on my iPod and listen to nothing else today, because all of the positive, hopeful, joyful feelings came back. This is not the time to succumb to my stress. This is the time to sit back, remind myself often to relax, perform because I love to perform, and give the audience the thrill of seeing a show I know is really terrific!

In case anyone else reading this has been feeling the same way I have, here's a replay of our unofficial anthem. I hope it helps you all in the same way it has me. I love you all. Let's completely rock the rehearsal tonight!!

Don't Stop Believin' lyrics
Songwriters: Schon, Neal; Cain, Jonathan; Perry, Steve;

Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere

Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere

A singer in a smoky room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice just one more time

Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people

Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlight people

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlight people