On Our Own

Missed Monday rehearsal and found out today our musical improv team set tonight was going to be a golden age musical about a pop culture event. NBD.

I felt nervous, which is unlike me pre-improv set. There's just a lot to juggle when creating a specific style musical on the spot. And what if I didn't know anything about the pop culture reference? I couldn't do it on my own.

Our suggestion of a pop culture event was "Dumbledore is gay." I made the first move--I set our ensemble as kids reading the 7th book at an opening night party. One of them questioned, "Is Dumbledore gay?" Soon Cashew was gay Dumbledore even singing, "Accio spotlight." We became Slytherin snakes, talking portraits, and quidditch stars. There was a Hagrid dream sequence, and all of these moves were made bit by bit, evenly, from all ten of us. By the end (a finale ensemble number in which Dumbledore announces "I'm gay/ I was sorted that way") we had a great little piece of theatre that will never be seen again. And guess what? I didn't have to do it on my own. I couldn't have. If I would have tried, I would have failed. Them's the facts.

Harry Potter--The Boy Who Starred

a winter rehearsal

Daniel Radcliffe is going to star in How to Succeed in Business on Broadway. Now, I'm not saying he's a bad actor, but he's definitely not supa fly, and who knows about his singing. I wonder about the kid. He was 11 when he randomly--with a stroke of luck--became Harry Potter and had his acting career set for a decade.

Now, he will probably be getting sweet jobs for life. He's a guaranteed money-maker, and so, now, because of his role as Harry Potter, he is kind of going to have a Potter-like experience forever. Some people will hate him and make fun of him just for being who he is and some people will idolize him blindly.

I wonder if he is good at acting just from all the work he's done, if he likes it, if he can consider doing other jobs, or if...this is it?

When I was very young I went to an audition for a touring production of Les Mis. I would have dropped out of 4th grade and started show biz. I wonder about all that. Do you have more opportunities from more money and a big name and credits, or are you kind of stuck in 4th grade?

Ain't nobody gotta blessing like mine.
It's a red sky night and I'm doin' alright.