Memorable Theatre Moments Series - Take One
Every so often I'm going to post some of mine and my friends favorite personal theatre moments. I hope to appreciate and learn from everyone else's experiences. Please feel free to leave yours.
KASEY
I'll never forget looking up from the pit during the Special Chorus of 'Oklahoma' on the tours closing show and seeing 8 people already sobbing. I could see a chapter of my life closing before my eyes.
I also really enjoyed conducting 'What I did for Love' in Chorus Line this summer at CDA Summer Theatre. I think I enjoyed it for mainly two reasons. One it's a very simple song to conduct but you still feel like you're rocking out. And secondly because the 'Alternatives' scene that proceeds the number and the song itself are so meaningful to me now but moreso I know how much more meaningful they will be to me someday and I think I'm looking forward to that day.
And finally I'll always Cherish the opening day of 'Babes and Toyland'. With the crazy running around trying to amp the keyboards to the costumes being finished downstairs until well after the Overture. I wouldn't trade a second of it. I guess it is true - you never forget your first.
JESS
I'll never forget the first time I saw a full length show that I wrote, a modern adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". It was hokey, and the plot was all Shakespeare, but it firmly cemented my desire to be a writer.
I will cherish, for all time, the first time I wrote and directed a show. It was called "Death Comes to Herman", a dark comedy about the Grim reaper taking a vacation, and getting a mild mannered CPA to take over for him. For the first time, responsibility for the quality of a show fell squarely on my shoulders. It was deeply satisfying, heartbreaking, and a complete joy.
I'll never forget the dream sequence from "It's a wonderful life" the musical. The whole production was fundamentally flawed. I mean, who the hell writes a musical based on a untouchable and timeless holiday classic? Despite all this, there was a purely magical moment where, in a dream of sorts (and behind a scrim), I got to waltz, in a Tux no less, with a beautiful woman who had a remarkably beautiful dress on, under the lights of the stage. Wonderful.
KASHANA
I'd have to say that my ultimate theatre moment would have to be playing the narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" for Missula Childrens Theatre. It was such a vocal challenge and when I got to enter onto that stage to start the show, I remember feeling a warmth of pure happiness. Just knowing that some of my best friends and I had accomplished something beautiful together and had the blessing of sharing it. That show was very full circle for me in my growth as a performer.
Another wonderful moment for me was dancing with Greg Pschirrer in "Kiss Me Kate" and also in our senior showcase for Box 'n' Hat Players. I didn't get to dance with him much in KMK, but there was a part in "Too Darn Hot" where I had a little moment with him into this lift and I always felt so secure. I didn't feel that way with any other dance partner. He was such a strong lead and a true joy to dance with. I miss that.
However, the most special show for me will always be a tie between "Hansel and Gretle" and "The Secret Garden." Those shows had the most heart and were definately the most fulfilling to me. There were so many young people involved and it just brought me back to that feeling of fresh love. In SG, Ben and I fused our souls into making that show what it was. In that project, I got to see the magic of our love in action.
Other honorable mentions include flashing the guys in "Carousel" at Mead High while they were doing their sailor number. Character developement for "Going to See the Elephant." And getting to slap Joe every night during "Meet Me in St. Louis" (can you say method acting?).
KASEY
I'll never forget looking up from the pit during the Special Chorus of 'Oklahoma' on the tours closing show and seeing 8 people already sobbing. I could see a chapter of my life closing before my eyes.
I also really enjoyed conducting 'What I did for Love' in Chorus Line this summer at CDA Summer Theatre. I think I enjoyed it for mainly two reasons. One it's a very simple song to conduct but you still feel like you're rocking out. And secondly because the 'Alternatives' scene that proceeds the number and the song itself are so meaningful to me now but moreso I know how much more meaningful they will be to me someday and I think I'm looking forward to that day.
And finally I'll always Cherish the opening day of 'Babes and Toyland'. With the crazy running around trying to amp the keyboards to the costumes being finished downstairs until well after the Overture. I wouldn't trade a second of it. I guess it is true - you never forget your first.
JESS
I'll never forget the first time I saw a full length show that I wrote, a modern adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". It was hokey, and the plot was all Shakespeare, but it firmly cemented my desire to be a writer.
I will cherish, for all time, the first time I wrote and directed a show. It was called "Death Comes to Herman", a dark comedy about the Grim reaper taking a vacation, and getting a mild mannered CPA to take over for him. For the first time, responsibility for the quality of a show fell squarely on my shoulders. It was deeply satisfying, heartbreaking, and a complete joy.
I'll never forget the dream sequence from "It's a wonderful life" the musical. The whole production was fundamentally flawed. I mean, who the hell writes a musical based on a untouchable and timeless holiday classic? Despite all this, there was a purely magical moment where, in a dream of sorts (and behind a scrim), I got to waltz, in a Tux no less, with a beautiful woman who had a remarkably beautiful dress on, under the lights of the stage. Wonderful.
KASHANA
I'd have to say that my ultimate theatre moment would have to be playing the narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" for Missula Childrens Theatre. It was such a vocal challenge and when I got to enter onto that stage to start the show, I remember feeling a warmth of pure happiness. Just knowing that some of my best friends and I had accomplished something beautiful together and had the blessing of sharing it. That show was very full circle for me in my growth as a performer.
Another wonderful moment for me was dancing with Greg Pschirrer in "Kiss Me Kate" and also in our senior showcase for Box 'n' Hat Players. I didn't get to dance with him much in KMK, but there was a part in "Too Darn Hot" where I had a little moment with him into this lift and I always felt so secure. I didn't feel that way with any other dance partner. He was such a strong lead and a true joy to dance with. I miss that.
However, the most special show for me will always be a tie between "Hansel and Gretle" and "The Secret Garden." Those shows had the most heart and were definately the most fulfilling to me. There were so many young people involved and it just brought me back to that feeling of fresh love. In SG, Ben and I fused our souls into making that show what it was. In that project, I got to see the magic of our love in action.
Other honorable mentions include flashing the guys in "Carousel" at Mead High while they were doing their sailor number. Character developement for "Going to See the Elephant." And getting to slap Joe every night during "Meet Me in St. Louis" (can you say method acting?).
posted by KaseyRTGraham @ 10:50 PM
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