One Week Down!

Well, I finally got through Week One of my rehearsals for Oliver! It has been quite the whirlwind, and I am so satisfied at how much the cast and production team has already accomplished.

Firstly, I love the cast! Everyone is incredibly talented and dedicated. It is such a refreshing change to be in the company of performers who are adept at everything - whether it be singing, dancing, acting....everyone is truly an asset to this production. The first day (last Monday) was so exciting. Most of us had been keeping in touch and connecting with each other via Facebook, so once we all were assembled in the room, it was like we knew each other anyway, so all of the hugging and recognition began immediately. What was really a comforting moment for me, was meeting the production staff, and seeing how nice and welcoming they were. Vince Pesce, our (amazing and accomplished) choreographer, was especially amazing to me, as he came up to me, knew my name, and gave me the biggest and warmest hug, and welcome. Not to quote my character Mr. Bumble, but...."It was NICE to be appreciated...."

Music rehearsals immediately began, and we surprisingly, got through most of the big prodcution numbers such as "Oliver!", "Food, Glorious, Food", the old workhorse "Consider Yourself" and "Oom Pah Pah" and "Who Will Buy" in a matter of about an hour and a half, and reviewed until lunch. Then after lunch we staged one of my characters' big numbers, "Oliver!" which was exciting. The staging for that number is very funny and well done, and I wish I could see how it looks from an audience's perspective.

Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty much individual rehearsals for specific characters in the morning, (i.e. Bumble, Corney, Oliver, and The Sowerberrys) and then dance rehearsals in the afternoon. We plowed through the choreography and staging for "Consider Yourself" and "Oom Pah Pah" which both look great, and "Who Will Buy" which has beautiful staging.

I also worked on pretty much all of my solo vocals earlier in the morning too, which was very fun for me. Being that Oliver, and Mr. Bumble have been huge staples in my childhood memories, being able to rehearse "Boy For Sale" for a national tour of this production, is like a dream come true. Needless to say, I got a little emotional after rehearsing it.

Thursday through Saturday entailed staging and framing more scenes, and eventually putting Act I together. By the end of the day Saturday we had 3/4 of the show staged, if not more, and we will be ready to start doing some run-throughs early next week.

Again, this is all incredibly exciting for me. I have also just found out about all of my travel arrangements, and hotel accomodations, and I am freaking out as the reality of me leaving for months has hit, and the realization that there is still so much more for me to do in my personal life before I leave! AAAAAHHH! Anyway, it will all come together. I also want to thank my friends from the RTC, Susan Jasper and John Gillece for the wonderful going away present of Jersey Boys. It was phenomenal. I can't believe I hadn't seen it yet....it was wonderful, not to mention excellent seats! 5th row center! Thanks guys....it meant a lot, and I will miss you!

Well, till next time......

My First Post!

Well, this is my first post. I am so excited because I will be doing the National Tour of "Oliver!", and playing one of my favorite roles ever. I have played Mr. Bumble at least 2 times before, and this will be my third, but I can never get enough of this role. I feel as if every time that I have played it, I have learned new things about this character, and have discovered great little nuances that have kept each experience fresh. Hopefully, this experience will not be any different!

Rehearsals will start for me in exactly a week, and I couldn't be any more nervous. Since announcing that I would be doing this, all of my friends have, almost on a daily basis, been asking me if I was excited yet. Honestly, this has become a little annoying as I really don't know what to expect, and would like to withhold my excitement until I actually get through rehearsals. In fact, I am a little nervous about the prospect of leaving behind my family and friends for approximately seven months and going on the road. It is not as if I haven't been away from home before, (college, duh!) but this is not going to be as stable as living in a dorm with a roommate, or in an apartment of my own. We'll be going from town to town, city to city, state to state, and practically, we'll all be strangers, learning to adjust to different personalities!

I have already started to reach out to a couple of my castmates via Facebook, or rather, they have found me for the most part....another example of my being apprehensive....anyway, I

have been chatting up my Widow Corney (Stacie Johnsen) via Facebook and AIM, and I think that we are going to get along famously! It's funny, because I remember meeting her VERY briefly at a callback for the Chicago National Tour back in December of last year. I was up for Mary Sunshine and she was up for Mama Morton, and when we were at the callbacks for this, we connected again, and started chatting. I was hoping she got the role, and I am so happy that she did, because I think we'll really look good together, and have a lot of fun, and not to mention rock it!

Speaking of, the final callbacks for this tour was one of the funniest audition experiences I have ever had. Not only was it 120 degrees that day inside of Chelsea Studios, I had been there ALL day, doing everything, and to top it off, the ceiling collapsed and fell on some of my fellow auditioning peers. THAT was scary! I don't think there was one person in that waiting room who didn't scream at the top of their lungs when that happened. Well, I know *I* did! Lord! Luckily a couple of people got scratched up, but nothing serious. I mean, big boulder-like pieces fell down. Can you imagine if that hit someone on the top of their head?

At the end of that day, I felt like I did a competent job, but did not think I would have gotten this part. Imagine my surprise the next day when I got the call...I was in shock for 3 days. I thought it was a joke! Oh well -- let me shut up now. I am anxiously awaiting my first real rehearsal, and I should try to memorize lines. Maybe I'll do that now. 'Till next time! Later!

Yours,

Chaz