Me: I really want to only do, like, three shows a year. And none back to back.

The universe, for the second time this year: WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY? THREE SHOWS BACK TO BACK? OK!

---

Back in July, Piedmont Opera sent out their regular newsletter mentioning a one-off concert of Broadway music written by women. I could not email Artistic Director Jamie Allbritten fast enough asking if he needed any non-legit singers and he replied that he was going to email me with lots of exclamation points and I have a screenshot and please put that on my grave.

I figured I would do some chorusy things. Maybe have one solo, if I was lucky. Welp, I have two. And a duet with the man himself to close out Act One.

This is going to a be bittersweet show, because after emailing with Jamie, I texted my dear friend Pauline Cobrda to see what she was singing, because I just assumed she was. Those of you who have been here for a bit may remember how excited I was to reunite with her in the opera’s RAGTIME a few years ago. She said she hadn’t been asked and I talked her into also emailing Jamie — turns out, he wasn’t sure if her Equity status would be an issue, but they worked it out and she was in! But just over a week later, Pauline left us all very unexpectedly after a sudden health crisis. I’ll be forever grateful that our last texts were of the mutual admiration sort. Pauline was a force onstage who loved just as fiercely off, and I’m glad she knows how much I appreciated her.

And on that cheerful note: tickets here.

---

I am a serial hearter on Instagram. You have good news? Something that made you happy? I’m gonna Like that. Social media should be more full of love and celebration, even for acquaintances or people you don’t talk to nearly enough.

Enter one July day, around the time I booked the opera concert, when two people I worked with separately years ago posted about directing and music directing RENT for CTG. I, obviously, hearted them both, only to get a message back from the MD — who was also in NUNSENSE and ADDAMS FAMILY with Pauline and me — that she would kill to have me audition and when I pointed out that I am not exactly age-appropriate for a show about 20-somethings, she said “pish posh”. Literally.

I figured it was a short turnaround (only five rehearsal weeks!) and I had the show memorized since Kristie Yelinek got us all obsessed with the OBC recording in high school, besides doing the ensemble two years ago, so why not go and audition and have a bit part as one of the moms and be in the group stuff again. Easy peasy.

…but now, I’m playing Maureen.

Maureen is basically my alter ego, so it still doesn’t quite feel real, but maybe that will change after my “Over the Moon” rehearsal tonight. Fun facts: my beloved Hedwig is playing Roger — again. We met when he and his partner were in the production I did two years ago that I apparently never actually wrote about on here other than a brief mention in this post. There may or may not a reason for that. But at least I got Ethan and Brandon out of it!

Tickets here.

---

Speaking of Ethan and Brandon: a week — and a few hours — ago, Brandon messaged me because he had a really great audition for two shows the day before, and he wasn’t sure what to do. I helped him figure out that one of the roles he can play for decades yet and the other would require much less driving AND he could do it with Ethan, in the month before they get married no less.

…and then the peer pressure began for the second night of auditions.

With deepest apologies to my husband, who thought we had all night to cook and hang out on a night I didn’t have to drive to Greensboro, I got home from work, somehow immediately put my hands on the music I wanted, freshened up, ate dinner, and headed off to the theatre. After the shortest audition of my life (and singing karaoke with the boys while we waited on the cast list. On a school night.), I am now going to be in EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL in October.

Camel City Playhouse has run this show for several years (last year one of their regular actresses couldn’t do it, so they asked me at the last minute, but it didn’t work with my 9 TO 5 schedule), and this year, they only had one returning cast member…because everyone else was tired of getting covered in blood? I assume? …if you’re not familiar with the EVIL DEAD series of horror movies, let’s just say this musical has even of a splash zone than my signature show, CARRIE.

It should be a ridiculous time because this cast is stacked. And maybe the last time I play a college student? Who can say. Ahhh, community theatre. Tickets here.