There's Only Us, There's Only This!

THIS was the rehearsal I had been waiting for!  Tonight we finally sang through the entire show with dialogue, and it was exhilarating.  What a beautiful experience to hear the full casts voices blending together to create one seamless unique sound, so different from any recordings of Rent we have previously heard.  So awesomely inspiring and refreshing to hear a new take on any given song you've heard 525,600 times before (see what I did there?).

It is hard not to get emotional when you're hearing such gorgeous sounds come from a group of artists, and even more difficult when you are part of that group.  Research has actually proven that when a group sings together, their heart rates synchronize with one another and become one rhythm.  I could feel that rhythm, that energy in the room tonight, and it moved me to tears on several occasions (which I did my best to hide from my cast mates).  I believe that this synchronicity is a great part of why musical casts seem to bond with each other so strongly.  Not only are the stories we get to tell often very moving themselves, but we literally share the same heart beat when telling them together!  That is one of the most beautiful things I have ever felt.  How can an experience like that NOT move you?!  There is something truly life-changing about it...in those moments, when you FEEL that connection, you know it is something you can never forget.

Aside from already being mentally present in this ethereal experience and emotional from that, when we got to "Without You" and "I'll Cover You - reprise" I could no longer hold back my tears and sat there silently weeping at the incredible emotion behind the songs and from the people singing them.  I cannot WAIT to live out those moments on stage!!!  I couldn't even look at Marshall during our happy songs, much less the sad ones, without crocodile tears welling up in my eyes, blurring the music on the page (not that Rent hasn't been ingrained into my brain for eternity anyway).  I am so incredibly excited, even more so than I was before we started rehearsals.

Rent has always been a huge source of inspiration for me.  I'll get more into why and how another time.  I continue to be inspired by this incredible story, this beautiful moving music, these phenomenal performers I am working with and learning from.  My creative juices are flowing, and I cannot wait to get on stage and give this show the life it deserves.

Cast mates I already love you guys with all my heart...even you c**ty ones...you know who you are!  ;)  I am so excited to share in this journey with you all!

<3<3<3
Angel

Got Any Crack - Any X - Any Jugie Boogie?

So I thought Mimi was supposed to be the junkie in this show, but after our first few rehearsals I am more excited than ever, and I am jonesing hard for some more RENT!  *slaps veins in arm*  Not that I didn't already have a very strong affinity for the show going into it, but now I am obsessed with/addicted to RENT, and all I want to do is sing the hell out of it 24-7 (probably not healthy)!  In fact, my workout playlist is now solely comprised of RENT recordings, La Boheme, and popular music from the early 90's that I can dance my ass off to in the style of Angel at a Drag Ball!  I managed to turn more than a few heads and became the direct recipient of several over-supported "Shooshh's" while belting out some RENT with my headphones on at the gym this week.  Consider it "Free Advertising" New Line!!  Anyway, just thought I'd share my excitement...again.  I cannot wait to get back to rehearsal on Sunday and sing through some more music with this incredible group of performers!

Who Could Foretell That It Would Go So Well?

So I'm not going to lie, I was absolutely terrified going into our first rehearsal Sunday.  Not because I had any doubts about the show or anything like that.  It's always nerve wracking meeting everyone in the cast for the first time and attempting to make a good impression, and then the inherent need to prove to your peers that you're up to the challenge of the role(s) you're portraying.  As I've fully embraced my new "What Would Angel Do?" philosophy, I decided to come to rehearsal in full drag and get ALL of my nerves about anything and everything out of my system at once.

If nothing else, I at least made a lasting impression! :)  Anyway we sang through our title song, and immediately I was able to relax (despite my ungodly steep heels and super-tight tuck); I could feel the electricity in the room and everyone's excitement building to a point where we all sat there singing, smiling like a bunch of dopes, high on the reality of the situation.  It's one thing to talk about doing RENT, but it's a completely transcendent experience to look at it on paper and realize that you're bringing new life into a show that has touched so many hearts and inspired so many millions of people.  It still hasn't really sunken in that this is really happening, for many of us I'm sure.

Of course when you don't know everyone in the cast beforehand, you also wonder what so-and-so will sound like, or what choices they'll make within their roles, how they will personalize things.  It's so cool even just to hear somebody sing a different riff than you're used to hearing on the recordings. Needless to say, the cast is phenomenal.  Many people differ from the typical type-casting their character usually gets, which makes the show more intriguing.  I can tell you from the conversations and direction we've had so far that this will not be the standard version of RENT you've seen a thousand times set and staged the same way, either; but that's all I'm going to say! ;)

Tonight ended a perfect first week of rehearsal.  I got to sing through "Today 4 U", and "I'll Cover You" with the marvellous Marshall Jennings!  I think perhaps I was most anxious to hear my Collins sing, because you want your voices to blend well together when you're playing opposite someone and have duets together.  I am absolutely blown away!  It was well worth the wait to get to hear his glorious beautiful voice and harmonize with him, and NOW I cannot wait for our audiences to hear us together too!

After our first three rehearsals I am even MORE thrilled to be doing this show.  The talent and creativity in this group is incredible, and I really look forward to the rest of the rehearsal process, getting to know my new RENT family better, playing on our gorgeous set, and bringing this beautiful and touching story to life.  It's still all so surreal, but I'm beginning to accept that this whole process is a lifelong dream come true!  I am so very blessed and grateful!  All I can say is GET YOUR TICKETS NOW FOLKS, WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!  New Line has already broken their own records with presales for this show.  It is not a production you'll want to miss, I promise you!

Xoxo,

Angel

What Would Angel Do?

As I was eating breakfast this morning, sulking a little (okay, a lot) because our first RENT rehearsal was postponed on account of the snow, an idea hit me over the head like an akita named Evita swan diving from the 23rd story of a building...okay maybe not that, that might kill me!  Anyway, the phrase "What would Angel do?" popped into my head.  What would Angel do if she was housebound due to blizzard-like conditions?  She would get her sassy ass up, throw on some bright red lipstick and her best boots, grab Collins and head out into that blizzard to turn it into a rave, blasting out some hot beats on her pickle tub and making a few more snow angels of her own!

Now I'm not about to get all dragged up and prance around my back yard (though I'll probably play with some makeup anyway), but having this thought reminded me that every day is a gift and should never be taken for granted.  Therefore I am embracing my inner Angel and having the most productive snow day I can possibly have full of personal growth, joy and love!  

Happy New Years, and happy snow day to you all!!  

Xoxo