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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
        
(Message started by: Lizzie2 on Sep 28^th, 2006, 2:09am)

Title: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by Lizzie2 on Sep 28^th, 2006, 2:09am

Hey gang! Don't know if I've mentioned that this summer I've been accompanying (on piano) a production of Schoolhouse Rock, Live! at a local community theater. A friend of mine from work (who is a speech therapist) told me back several months ago that she was directing this show, and when I mentioned that I have a degree in piano performance, she drafted me!

Since June, I've been playing for auditions and rehearsals. In fact, I was coming home from auditions on the night when I posted about my car having no brakes!! (But that's in the past...fortunately!!)

Originally, the director told me that they wouldn't really need me past July since they were getting a rock band to play for the show. That worked out well, since I knew that I'd be in England for the first 2 weeks of the show and that the fall would be a busy time for me. Then, as it turned out, the rock band didn't have a keyboardist...and in fact, I don't think it's one coherent band at all - we've sort of made our own new band!!

So even though I was the main accompanist all these months, they ended up having to get someone else to play for the first 8 shows. I'm playing for the last 3 on the night of the 28th, 29th, and 30th. Tonight, I spoke with the other pianist on the phone, and he sounded kinda like he'd prefer to play for the one tonight (the 28th) and for me to just pick up the cues that I may have missed since I've been gone, but these are the last 3 shows, and I was promised to play for them! I don't want to mess up the group since I know by now they've established a rhythm, but I have been playing with them all along, so I'm guessing it should be fine!! The other piano player will still be there to help me through the cues. He didn't seem mad or anything when I said I wanted to play for all 3 shows, but I just sensed that maybe he wanted to play for one more or something...

So anyway...my parents are going to come on Friday night to see the show. I've already PM'd Randy (Mr. Happy) to come see it since the theater is only about 15 minutes from where he lives...if that! (There ya go Randy...I've posted in publicly...now you have to come!!) Schoolhouse Rock isn't a long show, and it's fun - get to sing all those songs you may remember from the 70s when this was on tv..."I'm just a Bill", "Conjunction Junction What's your function?", "Interplanet Janet", etc etc... It's a lot of fun...and very educational at that! ;)

If anybody is in the greater Philadelphia area and interested in coming to see the show, please leave a message here or give me a PM! I'll be happy to give you the details!! I'm having to ration my computer use until tomorrow since I accidentally broke my laptop power cord at the junction where it goes into the laptop (don't ask me how...electronic things hate me!), so until I buy a new cord tomorrow, I may not be online much. But I'll still try to be on way before the show starts tomorrow night! I can give directions, show times, etc to anyone interested.

And if you're too far to come or too busy to come on short notice (as I'm sure is the case for most...) - just wish me luck!! (Don't wish for me to break a leg...because my body would probably take that request literally and I'm playing on a 9 foot high platform!) I'm really excited to perform live music once again since I haven't really played in anything major since my senior piano recital in April of 2004!

Hugz,
Carrie [smiley=curtain.gif]

"I'm just a bill...Yes I'm only a bill...and I'm sitting here on capitol hill."

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by LeLimey on Sep 28^th, 2006, 3:54am

Good luck Carrie!
I hope it all goes well for you ;;D

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by bothofus on Sep 28^th, 2006, 4:45am

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember those tunes from the '70s. Didn't know they were still in production. Always thought they were great.

Again, Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carl

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by alchemy on Sep 28^th, 2006, 7:06am

Goodluck Carrie, knockem dead

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by sandie99 on Sep 28^th, 2006, 11:01am

Carrie,

I'm so excited for you! :)
You are going to be great, I know that. :)

Can you ask your parents to take some pics so that we all can see you play...?

Best wishes,
Sanna

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by maffumatt on Sep 28^th, 2006, 7:22pm

I know your going to be wonderful.....I heard your recording so I have faith in ya.
Matt

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by Carl_D on Sep 29^th, 2006, 1:15am

ROCK ON!

Er, play on I guess. ;)

Peace - hope it was a blast,
Carl

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 1^st, 2006, 1:04am

Thanks for the words of encouragement, all!

Thursday night was actually not a good time. They had 8 shows under their belt by the time I came along...and the other piano player sat up on the stage with the band, so that he could make sure I knew all the cues and tempos, etc... However, he would give me a tempo and things would constantly have to be readjusted - and the drummer (who is only in high school) complained that each song had 3 different tempos and basically told everyone how much I was screwing things up. Even the bass player said, "Well if you're playing in the Saturday night show since Pete can't be here, then it's a good idea for you to be playing all 3" - and the only reason that ticked me off is because he made it sound like I was just covering for Pete and that's the only reason that I'm playing at all. However, this was not the case! Pete was covering for me while I went to England!! Even in the program, they had me listed as the rehearsal accompanist and Pete as the piano player for the band! I kept having people say to me, "Well....when Pete played it...." A lot had changed over those 8 performances even though I was accompanying rehearsals right up until the day before I left for England. It just made me feel like they forgot about all the months where I accompanied and did everything (without a band, even) and that Pete was the main piano player. So I left Thursday night feeling pretty down and not so excited to play the rest of the shows.

However, things really turned around on Friday! Pete wasn't at the show Friday night. It was my mom's birthday and my parents and brother (who was down for the weekend from NYC) came to the show. We had a different drummer who was much more kind. The music director started every song with me before the show started so that I could secure the tempos. I also stopped trying to follow off everyone else and took control in setting the tempos - however still adjusting as need be. Putting a little confidence in myself went a long way because it's impossible for a band to play together when the leader (who, in reality, was me for these 3 shows) isn't confident about tempos, etc. It went 1000 times better last night...

Then tonight, I was getting nervous before the show because the drummer from Thursday night was back. And his first question when he saw me was, "Well how was last night? Was it any better than Thursday night?" asking in a way that sounded like he doubted it would have improved at all. I said it was lots better and fortunately the other band members agreed! The music director gave me a few more changes in tempos to make - but overall, tonight's show (the closing show) went even better!! So that was exciting.... After Thursday night, I was feeling like I shouldn't even play for the other 2 shows, but I stuck with it and it got better!

It helped that before the Friday night show, I voiced some of my concerns about the comments being made on Thursday night and the fact that it had made me rather upset....including the way my name was put in the program as if I wasn't even playing in the show. As it turns out, the music director also didn't like how they put things in the program, and she said not to worry about the comments from Thursday...and then, those last 2 shows went much much better. :)

Long story short - it was a lot of fun! Tonight after the show, we had a cast party. I had to leave early because I work tomorrow morning (which means I should be asleep right now!) but it was still a ton of fun! As I was about to leave, they were just getting the karaoke machine set up - I've actually never done that before. They made me stay and take off my coat to sing the first song - I chose "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - haha...it was amusing!

Thanks again for all the messages here!

Hugz,
Carrie :)

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by sandie99 on Oct 2^nd, 2006, 3:39am

Carrie,

it's so good to hear that you had fun in there! :) That's what counts.

Hugs & PF wishes,
Sanna

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by bothofus on Oct 2^nd, 2006, 4:51am

SUPER-D-DUPER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh wait, that's Barney................

Glad to hear things went your way. Perserverance(sp) and team work, plus fun!!!!!!!!

Carl

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by maffumatt on Oct 2^nd, 2006, 7:03am

I wish I could have been there to see it Carrie.
Matt

Title: Re: I'm playing in theatre tonight!!
Post by Melissa on Oct 2^nd, 2006, 7:18am

I'm so glad to hear that everything turned positively in your favor for being true to yourself.

big hugs hon,
:)mel