I can't believe I didn't post about this after the show. I think it was because final exams were soon. This post is only somewhat in chronological order, but I think and hope it's still easy to understand. (Since it's been a while, let me recap for anyone who doesn't know: I auditioned for The Hobbit at my college, and got a part.)

I loved every single person there, partly because everyone enjoyed their part and was willing to work so very hard, even if they had less than two minutes of stage time. My part was small, but I was surprised at how it wasn't very small at all. (Yes, contradiction. I shall explain.) We elves were actually on stage tons more than some of the more minor characters. Most of the elves didn't have speaking lines (we sang a little as a group), but even the dwarves (besides Thorin) didn't have too many lines each.

Meghan, who played the Elven Queen, wore my sexy green dress. She is very beautiful, and with the dress she looked truly regal. She looked like an elf in The Hobbit, not an elf standing next to Santa, as she did in the costumes that they tried to give her. (They were trying not to spend much money since we weren't going to make any, so a lot of leftover stuff was used. Worked for most characters, but *not* my Queen. I wasn't about to let my Queen look silly.) I also gave her false eyelashes that were sparkly, and which came with large sparkly green eyeliner stick-on things. It matched the dress and made her eyes really stand out.

We had a cast of 50 people. Needless to say, curtain call got a little scrunched. But I really thought that curtain call was awesome; it had been something I was excitedly anticipating with a wonder as to what it would be like. It's so incredible to run out onstage and have people clap for you and all the hard work you've done. And every night, I was amazed at how fast it happened, both how quickly we had to find the people we were going out with after the last scene and how quickly we were actually getting through the process, and also amazed at how I could see nothing but the lights.

Because our cast was so large, we were mostly responsible for our own makeup. I loved watching some of the guys getting up close and personal with lipstick for the first time. I have this ruling picture of this really manly looking guy with no makeup on besides fake eyebrows and bright red lipstick. No costume either, so it almost looks like he was just putting on lipstick for fun. :-) Most of us elves did a something a little different every night as far as particular patterns on our faces. My lips didn't like the cheap lipstick, however, nor did my hair enjoy the half-can of hair spray it took to keep it in place. But I adored the glitter we mixed with petroleum jelly to spread on our arms and dot on our faces. And painting my face with greens and blue and deep purple was transforming.

After our last week of rehersals, we had a week for Easter Break. That was awesome, except for one thing. My dad was sick. I knew I couldn't get sick. I just couldn't. I wouldn't make it. Please, please, don't let me get sick... But I did. Sigh. Basically, the next week was awesome because we were performing, but I really hated being sick and getting even *less* sleep than the little we were getting because of it. (At this point I could describe how awful the last week of rehearsals was, but I won't.) Also, my voice wasn't too great, so for half the performances I couldn't join in when we sang as a group. But once, when I started crying a little during our pre-performance meeting (stress and lack of sleep made worse by sickness), several girls were awesomely nice to me. Meghan (the Elven Queen) was quite comforting and the next day gave me a wonderful potted plant and a get well / thanks for the dress card.

But things could have been *really* stressful if it weren't for our directors. It was a student directed show (good, because the teacher who normally directs stuff is a prone to fits of panic). Even when the tech crew couldn't get themselves straight, even when we had to cut scenes to fit into the time limit, even when we had to practice till two in the morning, they were encouraging and supportive, almost loving.

And we had a time limit because children had to get back on their busses! It was part of Children's Theater (along with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, being performed the same days). The kids were *so* cute. It ruled to hear them laugh and applaud. (Except when they laughed at Smaug. They were so good at creating him. He breathed fire and had a very scary pre-recorded voice.) After the show, we would go into the lobby and talk with the kids. During our post-show meeting, we would talk about funny things we had heard them say. Some of the littler ones were scared of the more frightening characters like the goblins. And one boy asked Nate "Are you Jesus?" ! (He was trying to greet him like a dwarf would, and had simply outstretched his hand.)


Since this was my first time doing theater, I had a few expectations -- a few things that I thought "belonged" to drama and really wanted to experience. (No, I really don't know how to explain. Sorry.) Two of these were flowers and a cast party. (How, exactly, does one experience flowers? But never mind.)

About the flowers : I very much wanted someone to give me flowers. But I pretty much knew that I wouldn't get them from any of my friends. And my family of course wasn't able to make the 8-hour trip to see me. I wanted flowers a lot; even though I knew I wasn't going to get any, I still had a tiny bit of hope. Well, I was going into the dressing room on the night of the first performance, and I saw a sign on the door. The people on the list were to go to the costume room to get their *flowers* - and my name was there!! I was *so* happy. There were notes beside the bunch of carnations for everyone to pick their favorite colors from, and mine was a nice message from my family. Getting the flowers made me feel really special (especially since I was one of the relatively few to get them).

About the cast party : To make a dreadfully long story short: It was FUN. But Nate threw up because he ate too much ice cream. Silly ice-cream-eating contest. :-) And there's this *huge* story with this one guy that I'm not even going to start talking about now. Also, see post 34754; that was Byron. We did a couple of things after the cast party too: We watched the (very badly filmed) tape of our performance, and had a couple of Ultimate Frisbee games. I also went with a couple of people to a fancy awards show for drama. (I was gorgeous!:-) )

Because everyone was so awesome, I wish (and I know I'm not the only person who does) that I had talked with more people throughout rehearsals, instead of doing homework during the downtime like almost everyone else. But, with the exception of the few seniors who graduated, we'll all be there this year!

Ga"This might have been more than anyone wanted to know, but I'm not going to apologize. :-) And it isn't even everything I wanted to say!"halia