As I mentioned in my last post, I am here with a different show than my own. My show is on a break, and I am here as a “break worker” filling a spot on this show until my show begins again at the end of August.
Often, break workers come to a show in the middle of its tour, and will learn their roles in the show as it is running. I am fortunate to begin my break work at the start of this show’s tour, so we have a full two-week rehearsal period to learn the show, while the returning cast also rehearses, reviewing and building upon the quality of each number and scene (well, a week and a half, thanks to the World Cup!). The break workers, and other performers new to the show come in early each morning to learn numbers, and we then put it all together, clean, and perfect with the full cast each afternoon.
Each Performance Director will run rehearsals a bit differently. It has been great to be a part of a slightly different rehearsal pace and style from what I have experienced in the past. Not only are the staff and cast different from what I am used to, but the numbers, and my specific roles are extremely different as well!
My show is the newest running Disney On Ice show to date; my roles and characters are more “Disney channel” style, the music is updated, and I get to play either a person, or a mermaid, or you know… a napkin J. The show here in South America is the oldest running Disney On Ice show to date! The numbers are much more “classic” style Disney, and it includes The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Lilo & Stitch, and Peter Pan. I think after performing my show over 600 times, any change would be enjoyable; yet, I can see why this show has been running for so long – it is just extremely fun!!
In all honesty, it is quite special for me to perform in this particular show no matter what costume I wear or role I play. A little less than three years ago, I had just sent my audition video to our casting director, and was asked to attend a live audition. At that point, I had no idea if the opportunity to tour and perform in shows would ever be my reality, and I had never actually seen a classic Disney On Ice show. I figured that seeing a show was a good idea before deciding if this was something I might legitimately want to do. I was in school at Miami University (Ohio) at the time, and one of my best friends and I got tickets to see the Disney on Ice show that was coming to Cincinnati that fall. It turns out the show we saw, that helped me decide I could do this, and truly wanted to try it, is the show I am with in South America right now. I remember watching the numbers that I am now in, thinking “I could actually do this…” but so uncertain as to whether I would get the opportunity.
It really hit me the night we opened in Cordoba; our first time having an audience. Being on the other side now, and looking out into that audience, it was a pretty cool feeling to perform the numbers that I remember watching, and know that I am actually doing this. I could not feel more fortunate to have the opportunity to be in this show in South America right now!
Often, break workers come to a show in the middle of its tour, and will learn their roles in the show as it is running. I am fortunate to begin my break work at the start of this show’s tour, so we have a full two-week rehearsal period to learn the show, while the returning cast also rehearses, reviewing and building upon the quality of each number and scene (well, a week and a half, thanks to the World Cup!). The break workers, and other performers new to the show come in early each morning to learn numbers, and we then put it all together, clean, and perfect with the full cast each afternoon.
Each Performance Director will run rehearsals a bit differently. It has been great to be a part of a slightly different rehearsal pace and style from what I have experienced in the past. Not only are the staff and cast different from what I am used to, but the numbers, and my specific roles are extremely different as well!
My show is the newest running Disney On Ice show to date; my roles and characters are more “Disney channel” style, the music is updated, and I get to play either a person, or a mermaid, or you know… a napkin J. The show here in South America is the oldest running Disney On Ice show to date! The numbers are much more “classic” style Disney, and it includes The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Lilo & Stitch, and Peter Pan. I think after performing my show over 600 times, any change would be enjoyable; yet, I can see why this show has been running for so long – it is just extremely fun!!
In all honesty, it is quite special for me to perform in this particular show no matter what costume I wear or role I play. A little less than three years ago, I had just sent my audition video to our casting director, and was asked to attend a live audition. At that point, I had no idea if the opportunity to tour and perform in shows would ever be my reality, and I had never actually seen a classic Disney On Ice show. I figured that seeing a show was a good idea before deciding if this was something I might legitimately want to do. I was in school at Miami University (Ohio) at the time, and one of my best friends and I got tickets to see the Disney on Ice show that was coming to Cincinnati that fall. It turns out the show we saw, that helped me decide I could do this, and truly wanted to try it, is the show I am with in South America right now. I remember watching the numbers that I am now in, thinking “I could actually do this…” but so uncertain as to whether I would get the opportunity.
It really hit me the night we opened in Cordoba; our first time having an audience. Being on the other side now, and looking out into that audience, it was a pretty cool feeling to perform the numbers that I remember watching, and know that I am actually doing this. I could not feel more fortunate to have the opportunity to be in this show in South America right now!
