Good Evening!
What a totally "Ex-" day!
Exciting
Exhilirating
Exhausting
I got the rehearsal hall about two hours before rehearsal started so that I could get some practicing in. Good practice, and I've learned which keys on the piano are not "regulated" - it's actually quite a hard piano to play. But I only have to play it for a few more days since we move into the theatre this weekend(!).
At 1:00, I took "class" with the cast. Baayork's "warm-up" runs just about an hour, and includes a bit of everything: aerobics, stretching, ballet, Tae-Bo, Pilates... and LOTS of crunches - at least 200! It's been a good year since I've taken "class", but I survived it. I have definitely lost some flexibility over the past couple of months, but I was able to keep with the pace. However, about a half hour after class ended, as I was sitting at the piano playing through the Opening, I could start to feel my abs "burning" and contracting. I had to stand up and stretch every couple of minutes to feel comfortable. -But, as they say, it's a "good burn". However, I will be taking some Tylenol before heading to bed, and making sure I'm hydrated too. I know I'm going to be sore in the morning since I'm already a little sore now.
It was a great first day for me. We ran some of the big numbers: The Opening, "Music and the Mirror", and a couple of the Montages. And we even had the pit drummer for a few hours.
The cast is really wonderful. There are some ACL veterans in the cast, as well as some total newbies, but it's a great bunch of people. -There are even some 18-19-year olds, and they've picked up the steps very fast.
At the dinner break, I wandered around the area for a little bit. Lots of buildings! And actually a pretty nice downtown area. The only thing that seems to be lacking - and this is something that a bunch of people have pointed out - is a Starbucks - and other food places - near the theatres and office buildings.

Apparently, with all the huge corporate office towers, they all have their own cafeterias. Additionally, there is a whole underground tunnel system too.
In any case, I decided to give the Angelika Film Cafe a try, and I had a nice meal. A kind of Vietnamese pork burger - ground pork seasoned with garlic and lemongrass. Very good. The bun was on the dry side, but the french fries were very good.
Then it was back to rehearsal for some cleaning sessions - or "gardening tips" as we've grown to call them.
Baayork's and Fran's passion for the piece is still there, and very inspiring. And the level of commitment from the cast is quite refreshing too.
Well... I'm tired, and I think I'm gonna go soak in the tub for a bit...
Laters...