The First Show

So in the last post, I spoke of my first show - ever - which was only a short 8 years ago. I responded to an ad in the Penny Saver in North Collins regarding auditions for a new theatre troupe which at the time was right down the street from my house. Anxiously, I prepared, dressed up, and arrived in good time. Two other ladies, Roz Warren and Lu Ann Gugino were sitting at a table with a number of scripts talking about which show they should do. I took a seat at the table. If I remember correctly, only two other women also showed up.

While we were at the table, we read a few passages of a script. Mainly Roz and Lu Ann discussed what shows were available for a cast of women-only since only women showed to the audition. After we talked for a while, I asked if I got a role and they looked at me funny and said - 'Of course! You showed up! YES!!!! I was in!

Thus began the 'Gotta Start Somewhere Theatre.' It was decided our first show would be 'Here Comes the Bride... There Goes the Groom' by Billy St John. Synopsis: when Millie Compton's fiancé bolts from the altar, she rushes into the church dressing room in tears. She is joined by her sister (the matron of honor), her mother and grandmother, and the groom's mother and sister. I was cast as Julianne Gordon, Millie's sister.

The cast included Roz Warren, Lu Ann Gugino, Laura Gates, Maggie Orrange, and Wendy Chuba.

Being my first show ever, I learned a lot about the theatre and that it was more than just showing up with your lines memorized. For instance, I was on stage for most of the show and needed to do something besides sit there and watch the other actors. So as a 'bridesmaid' my job was to keep the bride's dress neat. So I smoothed it, hung it, and re-hung it and smoothed it some more, etc. You get the idea.

Our theatre was the local community center. Another lesson learned theatre shows can occur anywhere! This lesson was solidified with my improv troupe WNY Improv, Inc.

Then the crowd poured in, and believe it or not, we had good crowds for both shows. Another lesson learned, people like comedy.

We had two shows one at 2 pm and 7pm. It was surprising that the second show was not quite like the first one! Lines were said differently, not in order, even repeated when desired by a certain actor! All in all both shows were very funny!

Our program below which includes my very first bio! After struggling to write a bio with very little experience, I took the less serious and stuffy route.

Through all of this, I realized I was truly a diva!

Actually, I just really liked my hair. We had our hair professionally done by a local hairstylist and she was awesome! When I took my hair down, the curls were fabulous.

YUP, my road to becoming a diva was complete! I used the lower right picture

as a head shot on my future acting résumé.

Any other shows you ask? Well, we were working on another one called 'The Queen of Bingo' but unfortunately, this did not occur. Now one would think this was the end of the Gotta Start Somewhere Theatre but it was not! Working so much with the other actors to create characters and tell a story you get to know them and realize that these are really cool women! That is when the bond formed between Roz, Lu Ann, Laura, and myself. We are still the Gotta Start Somewhere Theatre. We meet for drinks, share hors d'oeuvres, stories about our families, and dream of the day we will all be on stage together again. These are some awesome women who continuously enrich my life.

Oh yeah, a special shout out and THANK YOU to Lu Ann who put up with my 'high maintenance ' and helped me with this article by providing much-needed information. Thanks Lu Ann!