Song as Old as Rhyme....
Well....I hate to break it to every one but that song wasn't in the our version of Beauty and the Beast at Actors Playhouse. Nor was "Be Our Guest", "Gaston", and "If I Can't Love Her". I wasn't in a yellow dress - it was pink. We had talking portraits instead of talking clocks. We had a dog who had a magic mirror instead of a rose. We had an evil older sister. And our Papa (Maurice) was played by a women (but we called her Papa). Oh, and there was a talking knight?
But still, somehow, through all the changes, the children seemed to get it. They followed the story about a prince who was transformed into a beast, and how he could could only return to human form if he had a change of heart and learned to let people in.
Back in February and March I had the pleasure of being that girl who the Beast got to learn to love every day, six days a week. Every time I changed into that gorgeous pink gown (which once was for an Anna in The King and I) and walked onstage, all the kids (and adults) sighed, clapped, and cheered for joy. I now understand why Laura Osnes will always be a princess.
Being a Belle, or in my case a Bella, is wonderful. But wow, does it come with responsibilities! One = no understudies (this was a non-equity children's morning show). So off I went, leaving my house at 7am everyday, to make sure I avoided all the traffic so as not to be late. I would arrive, warm up in the car, then go in and get ready. And warming up at 8/9am for a 10am show is NO JOKE. There were some days when I'd open my mouth to sing the opening number and go "woof...I needed half an hour more!". Sleep, eating healthy, working out were all things I did to make sure I was ready to be there those 6 days a week.
Two= Energy and Positivity. This one is different. Everyone knows that the lead of a show is a lead, but that doesn't mean they are the best or most seasoned actor. In my case, I joined a troupe that had been working together for many years doing children's productions. It was strange at first, coming in and working with them. But quickly they took me in as family. I LOVED going to work every day to chat, laugh, play, and perform with these talented folks. They are all so talented in so many different areas of life. And while they certainly brought their A-game everyday, I knew that as the lead (and the person who started the show off) I set the tone. So I made it my mission to try to be positive, try to have fun every day, be thankful to the girls who helped me quick change (who literally did so out of the kindness of their own hearts), and get that sparkle in everyone's eye. It's easy for things to become repetitive. It's easy to only give 90%. It's easy for a group to become negative. But if one person can bring positivity, good work ethic, or even just a simple laugh- everyone can get behind it.
Finally, it takes a lot of energy and patience to stand and hug every little girl who's in the audience wearing a yellow dress. After each public performance we 'signed autographs'. Sure, sometimes I had places to be, but it's my job (and in the contract). But in the end the responsibility is not about how long you stand there, it's about the passion that you bring. And it was so easy to have that passion. There's nothing more inspirational than little girls running up to you and hugging you tight. There's nothing more empowering than seeing an austistic child sitting through a whole musical because they are captivated. There very little that compares to the feeling you get when you realize you are the one who is providing these kids with their first theatrical experience. Because of that, staying till the very end never bothered me that much.
We had such a great sold out turnout in the spring that the Playhouse asked us to come back in the fall!!! Unfortunately, I will not be able to return to my favorite girl this time around, but I will be supporting all those crazy castle folks from the audience. All I can say is that that ride was one filled with joy, learning, laughter, and immense appreciation. Rarely do you leave work every day saying "Wow, I am so lucky to get to do what I do". But every day, I did just that. Till next time Bella <3
