Dizzy Dandelion: Marvelous moments with my Wonderettes

There is nothing like live theatre. Every play and every performance is different. Just want to write these Wonderette-specific experiences down before I forget about them:

The Marvelous Wonderettes circa 1958 - closing night

Rehearsals

Sitting around the table and learning the harmonies. Who knew "Mr. Sandman" was going to be so dang hard, especially when we had to learn two different versions!
Paige saying "I don't play the harmonica" and then totally rocking out her song on one two days later.
Jumping rope while wearing my pregnant belly.
The day I was 15 minutes late to rehearsal because the drive-through line at Taco Bell took forever and I got boxed in :P
"Woot! Be marvelous!"
My director would have been a far cuter Suzy than I was -- I could never successfully deliver the lines the way she would demonstrate them.
Remembering that my grandma shared a name with one of the characters... though they were completely opposite personalities.
Getting tips from 8 months pregnant Janzell and Lindsay on how to act pregnant, and not posting any photos of me in the belly, no matter how much fun I was having.
Karen and Galen saying they keep forgetting I'm not pregnant ;)

Buying 1 1/2 inch heeled character shoes when my right foot kept falling asleep in my 3 inch shoes, and then discovering that the same thing happened in the shorter shoes... and the flats, too. I must just be standing wrong...
Driving Janzell to my house after rehearsals and her husband meeting us there to take her the rest of the way home.
Performing a few "preview" songs before the Army Band a week before we opened. We were all so nervous, but it sure was fun handing out flyers afterwards. Before then, I felt I was being too wacky as my character, but after I knew I needed to be bigger. Thank goodness for live audiences!
Realizing about five seconds into the preview performance that I forgot to put gum in my mouth before going onstage... hope the audience wasn't too confused when I supposedly swallowed the fictional gum later. (I never forgot again after that.)
The awesome performance shirts Stephanie gave us. I'll definitely be wearing this one during regular life!

Performances - Act I

Director Karen and I in our Marvelous Wonderettes shirts

Stage manager Alicia asking me three times before every performance whether I had gum (I asked her to do this, and she never forgot).
Freaking out when I realized I could see the reviewer was sitting on the front row with his notebook, and wondering what he was writing every time he picked up his pencil.
Stressing out about the storm clouds that always seemed to gather every day at 3p.m. I might have to retire from outdoor theater after this show -- I can't take the stress! I've never had a show get rained out before, and for this one we moved indoors three times. Thank goodness for that alternate stage!
The mic check when I wanted to sing "In His Kiss" instead of one of my own songs, and then I totally nailed it. Being able to belt is FUN!!!
Forgetting during every performance that the standing microphones didn't work, and leaning in to sing when I wanted to be louder.
Squinting into the sun for the first 20 minutes on the park stage.
Singing to Stephanie every night, and the way it made her laugh when I'd request to sing "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" totally deadpanned.
Jumping between Melody and Paige while they're slap-fighting, and crying as I shout "L-O-V-E, that spells love!" Those girls slapped hard, and I have the bruises to prove it. It always reminded me of that episode of Friends where Rachel takes everyone on a ski trip, and Ross has to save them when they run out of gas. They start yelling at each other and Chandler does a little dance to try to deflect the tension... yep, I was totally Chandler in this show!
Mr. Lee: from the guys who hammed it up, to the ones who just looked embarrassed, to my older brother who I had to pretend pinched my backside, to the guy to almost refused to come on stage -- they were all different and all funny! What awesome guys to play along.
I told Mrs. MacPherson every night that she didn't have to count the ballots for the Prom Queen, but every night she did. I even won the popular vote a couple of times! Closing night, Mrs. MacPherson refused to play the part until I told her she didn't have to get up on stage :)
The night I wasn't sure who Mrs. MacPherson was, so I picked someone and forgot to tell Kristen who it was... she covered the mistaken identity really well!
The night Melody's mic wasn't working and had to have the batteries changed during the ballot-gathering. If Kristen and I thought we couldn't ad lib before that, we know we can now!
The night the gum fell off my mic, and I had to use the reserve stick I'd hidden in the pitch pipe case (after forgetting the gum entirely, I wasn't taking any chances).
Applauding Kristen after "Secret Love" -- that was not acting, my friends. She killed that song every night!
I wasn't choreographed to do anything specific when singing my songs, but my backup singers/dancers knew exactly what they were doing :D
Those times when I actually got to sing the melody -- woo-hoo!! First alto is tough. Good thing I love to harmonize!
Chewing gum and blowing bubbles while jumping rope frontwards, backwards, and in a circle. Suzy had skills!!
The night I blew a bubble so big that it popped all over my face and microphone. I chose the bubble-gum flavored Extra, but the strawberry shortcake was definitely more elastic and durable.
Being afraid every night that I'd forget the Chipmunk Cheer (why am I always in front for these things?!) Also, trying not to laugh whenever the audience cracked up at "We'll pick your nuts!" There are some lines I had to say straight-faced to keep from braking character :D
Melody and I realizing that we were the only one who actually rolled around on the ground in our prom dresses.
Paige's daughter told her mom frequently that Suzy was her favorite character and voted Suzy for Prom Queen every night... even though her mom was playing BJ.

Intermission

Four ladies with four assistants trying to age 10 years -- by changing costumes, hair, and make-up -- in 15 minutes.
Sucking on cough drops during every intermission.
Blue eyeshadow that never seemed to completely wash off.
Melody's and my suspenders.

Performances - Act II

Singing backup to "Son of a Preacher Man" and "Maybe", feeling totally relaxed and knowing they were among the best moments of the show.
Accidentally forgetting the words to the first song and blaming it on pregnancy brain.
Melody's ginormous tattoo that we somehow didn't see until after her first song.
The audience laughing whenever I cried during "Maybe I Know" -- I was so worried they didn't know I was trying to be funny!
My forehead hurting by the end of the show because of all of the fake crying.
Trying to figure out what to do with my handkerchief... it was different every night :P
Drinking as much water as I could while onstage -- that punch bowl idea is genius!
Those few nights when my voice wasn't completely dead after "Respect."
Everyone's advice during "Respect", especially Kristen telling me to "channel Aretha" and Melody telling me to "own it." It always helped me (not Suzy, but me) gain more confidence to get through my toughest song. But hey, having the whitest of white girls singing the soul song is what made it funny, right? I hope so!
Never remembering what order we were acknowledging the crew, Mr. Lee, and Mrs. MacPherson during curtain call.
Going out wearing said blue eyeshadow; the staff at Chili's, Denny's, and Leatherbys are pretty nonchalant :)
Going to 7-Eleven and Wal*Mart with Janzell... still wearing the blue eyeshadow.
Kristen's brilliant idea to make shadowboxes with items specific to our characters as a cast gift for the production team, and Karen's reaction when we gave her hers. Such a cool idea!