The theater celebration held tonight was mostly enjoyable. I had to sing parts of numbers from NUNCRACKERS and LA CAGE with NO rehearsal (NUNCRACKERS was done last December), but they asked, and I didn't want to act the diva so I gave in and winged it. I HATE DOING THAT! However, it came off without a hitch. Fine for them, but I couldn't enjoy my meal much knowing I was going to have to perform with no rehearsal.
I learned a long time ago not to fret about these impromptu reunions/retrospectives. Being a pianist, I've been called upon many a time to contribute to the festivities. Yes, sometimes I don't feel "ideally" prepared for the event - is anyone ever really going to remember all the words and blocking and notes for a song they performed months ago? - but as long as I keep in mind the following:
-Everyone (or almost everyone) who is in attendance is there because they love theatre. And I'm assuming this was a private event for those members of the theatre, and not open to the public.
-Everyone else performing is in the same boat preparation-wise. You're all in it together. Remember, theatre is a collaborative effort.
-No one is really going to look down on you for going up on a word or fudging a few notes - it's a "performance" not a "production". And there is that joy - or schaudenfreude - when someone does get stuck.
-It's LIVE - mistakes happen. *I've been in attendance
after the Kennedy Center Honors when they've had to redo a segment for the broadcast due to some foul up during the ceremony proper.
-And most importantly, as long as I remember that what I'm doing is actually FUN, and that I'm doing something I LOVE... well....
When you care, it's always easy.
And as Frank sort of says in
Merrily We Roll Along, you can always say, "No." 'Cause if you're not having fun up there, the audience won't have fun either.
