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!