Shows! Show! More shows!

Well, Elf and the Christmas Murder Mystery Dinner Show happened with much success. Playing Buddy was one of the most fun roles I have ever played. It really was like going on the same journey that he did every time I performed (thankfully we got it all done in time for tech, even though I would have preferred full run-throughs before we're close to tech week). I was glad to meet new people and get to work with the kids in the Acting School since I had seen several of their shows. Spotlight sure has a crop of budding superstars. 

The dinner show had some bumps in the road since we had very few rehearsals, but we all managed to pull it together and we had smooth performances by closing night. I even got to be in my first gay couple in a show, so we definitely donned our gay apparel and had a gay ole time for the holidays. 

With shows and nasal congestion (which fortunately waited until after Elf, but came during the dinner show) out of the way, I can enjoy Christmas! I have all but one present left to buy and most of them wrapped and ready for gift giving. I am getting close to finishing watching all of the Christmas specials and movies before the big day. I have a ton of egg nog and cocoa to drink, and goodies to eat. I am also hoping for a white Christmas,  even if it's just an inch. As of now, there is a 50% chance of snow Christmas Eve night, so  I am hoping it sticks long enough for me to see it when I wake up Christmas morning. 

Yay holidays!

December Nights (December Lights!)

Thanksgiving was a thing. Black Friday was a thing. I ate too much and enjoyed the Macy's Parade with its Broadway performances (feat. Dear Evan Hansen, Anastasia, and Once Upon this Island). Next thing I know, it's time to start listening to Christmas music and put up the (mini) tree in my apartment. I even have some lights up and a gingerbread spice candle ready for the cold weather. I am so ready for the holidays.

To make this Christmas season more jolly and gay is Spotlight's production of Elf: the Musical (Jr.), which opens TONIGHT! Every Saturday afternoon since the first weekend of  October (at least for me because New York), we've been busy preparing for tonight. It's a two-cast show, so the cast I'm in performs tonight and the other cast has tomorrow night before we alternate performances during a four-show weekend.

Sure, the road to get here was a little difficult and stressful at times, but what is theatre without imperfection? We're only human after all and theatre is all about the human experience...or well human and elf experience in this case. During the course of this process, I realized that I am 24 years old and am finally playing my first leading role, especially the title character. 

There was a dinner show in September where I technically played the lead, but I'm referring to a traditional play or musical that is more notable. Don't get me wrong, I love dinner shows. They're silly and fun. I'm in another Christmas one with Spotlight next week. They just aren't going to be known to a bigger group than the audience members who attend them. So, in that way, Elf is my first show where I'm the lead. The STAR, as one would say. I don't try to pick up on that persona because every actor is a star in their own right. We all work together to make each performance sparklejollytwinklejingly! 

I am super excited that audiences finally get to enjoy this show. They'll for sure laugh, adore the children, and cry (because I will make them with how I play the saddest scene in the show). It'll be a festive time, for sure!