It's a Lovely Day Today

Another lovely day in the city of Brotherly Love! I had a very interesting ride in on the train this morning. I realized that since I will be taking the same train each morning for the rest of the rehearsal period, I will be seeing the same business people who commute into Philly. I noticed today that many of them are men in suits, carrying backpacks and listening to IPods. I can't decide which I find more amusing, the backpacks or the IPods. Maybe it's the combination of both? The backpack and suit reminds me of Josh from The West Wing. He never carried a briefcase, only a backpack. Ah, The West Wing. Daily I can relate pretty much everything I experience to either Musical Theatre or The West Wing. I think that makes me a nerd, or a dork, or whatever...but I digress. Maybe my issue with the suits, backpacks and IPods is that I feel left out. I'm in jeans, with a messenger bag and no IPod...maybe I should get an IPod...specifically an IPod touch...Mom, I feel a Christmas list coming on...oops, I'm digressing again.

As for rehearsal today, it was my first time experiencing a full 8 hour Equity rehearsal (though we did have a 2 hour lunch instead of the normal 1 hour, but I'll get to that.) It is exhausting...and I wasn't even working the whole time. I got to see the scenes for the character I'm understudying, so I have notes on his blocking and such for my future understudy rehearsals. (Which start after the show opens.) Today was also my first time experiencing the 40 children who are in the show (two groups of 20 which split the performances) Actors are loud, I know that, but the noise in the small rehearsal room increases tenfold when there are 40 children ages 10-12. I am in awe of their ability to focus. Yes, clearly things break down and they talk alot, but there is no way I could have done that when I was 10 so kudos to them...or their stage mothers for forcing it upon them. haha. Just kidding...not really...

For lunch, a couple of the local actors and I walked over to Reading Station Market-which is full of meat and vegetable vendors and such. This includes Amish vendors! I was lured to the smell of corned beef and had a delicious Reuben! The corned beef was carved right in front of me! I guess you could see that as a negative since corned beef is quite fatty and fairly gross looking, but it smelled amazing. I also had a coke because I haven't had soda in a while. I suppose that was unnecessary to mention...oh well.

Rehearsal is 11-7 again tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. For the first time in years I've had to get up at 7:30AM and have had no trouble. I hope that sticks! Weeeeeee!