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| Sister Berthe, Sister Sophia (me), Mother Abbess, Sister Margaretta |
Fun facts (in no particular order):
- To me, the most exciting sound in the entire show is that of the curtain rising while the bells toll at the very beginning. I'm standing behind it with the other nuns, and it just... it sounds like anticipation! The curtain rising is the start of a brand new adventure, one the cast on stage gets to take with the audience. What will happen during this performance? Will the audience like it? Will we have fun? No two performances are ever the same. I love live theater!! (I've told the sisters that I sing with how much I love this sound, and they've all bought into it. It's so fun celebrating and playing with them!)
- A lot of cast members have family in the show (a nun in every family). Both Brigittas get to do it with their moms, and one has a grandpa in the show, too! Lots of mother/daughter and a few father/daughter connections... no sons involved that I know of...
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| Real-life mother and daughter play Mother Abbess and Maria in my cast |
- Thirty of the actors wear microphones, and none of them share (well, we share with our doubles in the other cast). There additional microphones hidden onstage for those who do not have their own.
- Many cast members have performed in The Sound of Music before. As far as I know, the only persons repeating a role are the Captains Von Trapp -- both have played the role in other productions. I already hope I get to do it again someday!
- One of our nuns is pregnant. She isn't showing yet, but we still think it's hilarious.
- The people I knew best when we started are the production team. How I love these women! I'm always amazed at how much a cast bonds during rehearsals, and even more so during the run of the show. You get to know your dressing roommates really well hanging out backstage. There are several people I want to keep for a long, long time. I love how much everyone gets along. I may not know anyone really well, but I like the whole cast. They're talented, and nice. A great combination.
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| Choreographer Liz, music director Maddie, and director Maurie |
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| We couldn't resist a photo with Maurie when she came to visit on Tuesday. Melinda (on the left) jokes we have four nuns and one of the knights of the round table. Love the wimple! |
- The four main nuns (including me) are not included in the party scene, and that's ok with us! (The Captain did personally invite us once.) It means I don't have to be glamorous this time. No false eyelashes, no spanx, no fancy hairstyle. Just a lot of black and singing and facial expression :D It's fun looking more or less normal when I go out after the show!
- During dress rehearsals, I kept getting into trouble for moving my hands under my scapula (the piece of fabric that hangs down in front of my robe). Apparently it looks a little like an alien coming out of my chest... Whoops! Wrong play!
(It is nice to have "business" to do with my hands AKA having them folded in front of me at all times. If I can manage to keep them still, it looks good, they aren't distracting, and I don't have to worry about them.)
- All of the Von Trapp kids have dressers assigned to them, because they have a costume change for every scene and most of them are quick. I'm in charge of Marta, the second youngest. This little girl cracks me up. She probably doesn't even need me, but it warms my heart that she pretends to rely on me (I'm not fooled. There's one complicated change where two of us are helping the three youngest girls. Once, both of us changers missed it and the kids just helped each other; we apologized profusely afterwards, but they got it done and didn't seem put out). Those kids are amazing and really neat people!
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| Marta and Sister Sophia |
- The scene change music between "Do-Re-Mi" and "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" is 23 seconds long, which means that is all the time Liesl has to change from her uniform into a frilly gown. Sister Berthe and I help her. We have been really lucky to have finished in time during every performance so far!
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| Liesel and Rolf |
- This is what our cast t-shirt looks like:
- I've been telling my friends that my part is tiny, so they should only come if they like the play The Sound of Music. I still say so, although of course it's not nearly as fun if I don't have any friends there (I was a little depressed after that first week when I realized that most who are planning to come had already done so and few would be coming later in the run). I'm a little surprised at how many say they hate the play in general; my production is excellent (read the review again!) and you might like it more than you think. If you do come, let me know when you're there so I am sure to come out and give you a huge hug afterwards!!
Cute, eh? The kids' version has the top of their pants printed on theirs!
- I have four scenes, three lines, seven songs sung with fifteen other nuns, and get at least one huge laugh each night. When I auditioned, I said I'd take any speaking role, and I'm glad I did. THIS is the best way to be part of the ensemble. I love it!
- This is possibly my favorite photo that I took during rehearsals:
Max and Elsa look so chic... Wait. What the?
How did Sister Berthe get in there?!
How did Sister Berthe get in there?!
The play has been extended until Tuesday, April 1 (they assure us it isn't an April Fools joke :P) My Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday cast performs in the matinee on Saturday, March 29. We've had several nearly sold out shows and I'm guessing that'll be more prevalent as we get closer to closing. If you want to come, book your tickets ASAP!
To end, here is a short promotional video featuring the other cast. If you can't see us and still want to go, see them. They are terrific, too!
See you on the other side of the mountain! (Get it? 'Cause of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain"? Never mind...)
