"Nine" Update

So I finally got to see the cast list for the show. I was cast in the ensemble :/ I feel very mixed about it. I am guessing all the big dogs came out for the second night of auditions because the cast is filled with lots of big names in the civic theater-- lots of leading ladies from performances past. The woman who got the role I was hoping for is actually a choreographer herself, along with being a seasoned songstress, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that she was picked over me. The main reason I feel uneasy about it is that I never got a chance to act in the audition-- I just sang and danced (and the later not too well in comparison to the others auditioning with me). Since there weren't call-backs, everyone was placed into roles only based on singing and dancing, which makes me think a lot was based on who's who in Civic Theater, since a lot of these women have undoubtedly worked with the director on past shows (he has directed several musicals).

SO I think I will probably take the role, mainly to have the opportunity to learn from these women who are very talented. As an ensemble member, I will most likely have MORE rehearsals than the individual roles (who each sing in 2-3 songs and then leave the stage), since we will have to know more songs (I think we sing and dance in 7 numbers) and be on the stage much more. Well, maybe I'll get into shape this fall after all! The director was nice enough to give us ensemble members individual names, so I am playing the role of "Maria." Our first read-through of the script happens on Sunday night, I'll let you know how it goes!

Some cute recent pictures of Eleanor

Oven Mit Baby!

See her ponytail??? =)

Little Ellie in Sunday School, wearing my old kilt

Waiting to hear back...

Well, I found out some good (?) news about my audition: there will not be call-backs basically because not enough people auditioned yet, so they are tentatively casting just about everyone who auditioned as in the musical, and they will sort out the actual parts once they scrounge up a few more warm bodies to fill out the cast (I am assuming they'll contact some civic theater "regulars" and persuade them to join up). This has happened in other plays and musicals I've been in, so I'm not surprised, but it's kind of a let-down when you don't get the rush of having beat out other people for a certain role. "Here, you can have this part, because no one else cares." Just doesn't mean as much ;)

I think the two main things that prevented a decent audition turnout were the facts that not many people were familiar with this musical to begin with, and the rehearsal times cut through the busy holiday season, with the show opening the 2nd weekend in January. Ah, well. I might know later tonight if I was cast yet in a specific role. I will keep the blog posted!

In more seasonal news, I am working on putting together all the games for our church's Harvest Party this Friday. I will attempt to paint a scarecrow later this afternoon for Pin the nose on the Scarecrow. Or pin the Tie, I haven't decided yet. We're also having Pumpkin Bowling (bowling small pumpkins), Musical Chairs, Pumpkin Ring Toss (tossing a ring onto some pumpkins), decorating paper bags for candy, a Candy Hunt, and a jar full of jelly beans to guess the #.

Well, the babe awakes, and so our afternoon continues...

Auditioning once again

A promo pic for Ann Arbor Civic's "Nine"
(that's me on the far left)

I just returned from an audition this afternoon for the Civic Theater's production of the musical "Nine" which will show in mid-January. It was a small audition with only 4 women, 1 man, and 1 boy, considering the show has probably 20 women, 1 man, and a few boys. There is a second audition tomorrow, so hopefully some more folks show up.

We did 2 dance numbers, and then each of us sang a song we prepared with an accompanist. The dancing part went so-so and we were all extremely out of breath afterward, but I nailed my song and people clapped, which they did not do for the others. I chose "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from the Little Mermaid, and who knew I could really belt it out. I'm so happy it went well, I actually just went over it with an accompanist this morning after church for the first time, and then the second time was at the audition. I'd really like to get a role with a name, as opposed to the nameless chorus again, and there is one character (the town whore, of course) who sings a really low belty-song "Be Italian" that I think I could do pretty well if given the opportunity. Here's to hoping! The call-backs are Tuesday night and we hope to know who is cast by Wednesday.

I'll keep you updated! The pic is from a promo pic the Civic Theater took several months back to advertise for the coming season, it was just by chance that they asked me to model in it. Although, being pixelated and gold wasn't how I had originally pictured my involvement ;)

Sick of being sick :P

Today I woke up early in the morning with my left eye crusty and swollen. Having dealt with Eleanor's conjunctivitis in both her eyes for the past 6 days, I knew she had kindly passed it on to me. She's so great at sharing ;)

So I had the unfortunate experience of calling up our insurance's 24-hour nurse line to spend 20 minutes going through a "virtual diagnostic" (the nurse reading me questions off a computer program) only for her to tell me I needed to see my doctor and she couldn't do anything more for me. She definitely erred on the side of "customer service representative" rather than "registered nurse" which she had stated she was... So then I called my doctor's office, which of course was closed as it's Saturday, but I got in contact with the on-call doctor who asked me one question, "So what is the problem?", I gave her one answer about my eye and the conjunctivitis I thought I had, and she said "Okay, I'll call in a prescription to your pharmacy, check with them in a few hours, bye." So I didn't even get a chance to ask her about how long I take it for, what the prescription even is, if I can take it and wear my contacts again, etc... I guess I will ask the pharmacist, but it was very strange to have the doctor not really care about explaining those details.

And the icing on the cake: Ben went at 6:30pm to the pharmacy to pick up my mystery medication, only to find that the pharmacy window at this CVS closes at 6. So I'm still dealing with a swollen eyelid and a bloodshot eye, and the cough and congestion from the cold I got 5 days ago. Ugh. I am ready to be HEALTHY!

On a positive note, I found out that the H1N1 vaccine being given out for free to young children at several public flu clinics in the next 2 weeks. I hope to go on November 3 and get Ellie her first dose (it's a 2-dose injectable vaccine). There are 6 clinics starting next Tuesday the 27th, and I have some friends that plan on having to wait several hours in order to get a shot for their child on that first day. I am not that brave and am guessing there are lots of parents planning to do the same thing, so I hope the later clinics have less of a wait.

Too busy NOT to blog

A common sight during my day

My First Post!
I sit typing this while honing my multitasking skills: baby on lap eating raisins, that just spilled all over the floor, Bee Gees playing on Pandora, with a version of my chicken noodle soup on the stove, add a dash of texting Ben about possibly picking up a prescription at the store on the way home.

After reading friends' and families' blogs, I decided I needed more of an outlet to my day-to-day affairs than my just Facebook status updates. Being a recent addition to the stay-at-home mom workforce, I have found the thing I miss the most is being in conversations with adults other than just Ben or the occasional phone call with a friend or family member. I find myself hanging on Ben's every word as he describes work meetings, work events, conversations he had over lunch, etc. A little sad, huh? So I'm trying something new. I hope to share my life, my daughter's experiences growing up, good recipes I've tried, and other sundry items. Hope you enjoy your peek into all things Heather! :)

An Addendum:

My lowfat Tomato Chicken Noodle Soup turned out to be a success, here is a rough version of a recipe (I cook by taste, so feel free to add/delete items as you go):

1 lb chicken breast, cooked and cubed

1 can Peeled Tomatoes with Basil & Garlic (do not drain)

3 cups chicken broth, or 3 bouillon cubes + 3 cups water

2 cups water

1 cup dry pasta of your choice- spirals, shells, bowties, etc.

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

1-2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

2 carrots, sliced to quarter inch slices

1 Tbsp olive or canola oil

(any other veggies you'd like to add- I added a 1/4 cup of chopped sweet bell pepper, maybe zucchini would be a good addition- just add near the end so it doesn't get too soggy)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Dried basil, thyme, oregano, bay leaf, any other seasoning you'd like. I'm partial to a "Tuscan Seasoning Blend" and a "Chicken Grill Mates Seasoning" that I use a lot ;) Add a little at a time, see how it tastes.

Heat oil to medium-high heat in large soup pot. Add onion and garlic and saute until onions are transparent. Add whole can of tomatoes, broth, and water and heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium and add chicken, carrots, pasta, and spices. Stir soup occasionally, and pay attention when noodles soften. When noodles are "al dente" (or to your preference), remove from heat.

Serves approximately 4 dinner-sized portions.