See you in America!
We’re less than 18 hours from getting on a plane to go, and I haven’t started packing yet. Yesterday I spent the day relaxing and making sure I had done everything I needed to. Jessica and I splurged and got special Geisha pedicures, relaxing and thinking about our time in Singapore. In the afternoon we went out to dinner with Maria, Alissa, and Dana. There was an amazing Greek restaurant across the street from our hotel, called Esmirada, and we saved it for our very last official meal. We ate until we were bursting… warm garlic bread, fresh Greek salads, moussaka, couscous, and a melty chocolate cake to finish it off. Maria surprised us all with a bottle of champagne, since she’s definitely not coming back on the next leg. It was great! It’s amazing to see how close I’ve gotten to some of the people in the cast… spending this much time with someone can make you love or hate them, but no matter what you get to know people extremely well.
The show went well, although people are starting to tear up at the end now. I’m determined not to cry tonight, because if I do I’ll be unable to sing! During our second curtain call, the lights on stage went off, and the house lights came up. It was totally a mistake, but for the first time we could see the audiences faces just as the show was ending. It helps keep it new to think that there are people every show who are seeing you perform for the first time. There was also a little boy in the audience named Jeremy, who’s in a wheelchair. He came backstage before the show to talk pictures with all of us, and to tell us that The SOM was his favorite musical ever. He had already seen the show once, but he wanted to see it again because he liked it so much. Things like that make me actually think about what impact the show is having, instead of thinking about myself or the personal drama within the cast or outside the show.
I was also reminded what it’s like to be in the audience the other night, when Lea Salonga played at the Esplanade with us! I totally forgot to blog about it, because I was in shock. Remember, the way the Esplanade is set up? There are two theatres (a theatre and a concert hall) and they share the same lobby and greenroom and backstage area. So over the weekend, Lea was doing a concert in the concert hall. If you don’t know who she is, she was most famous for originating the role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon. She was basically an undiscovered 19-year-old before that. She’s gone on to play Eponine in Les Miserable, and tons of other stuff. She has an amazing voice and I was really anxious to see how her concert was! Her actual concert was happening during our evening show, but her sound check was held after our matinee. A few people saw her eating lunch in the green room while we were in the intermission of our first show! We got dinner and came back early to listen, and most of it was gorgeous. Then during the nighttime show we could hear her over the monitor! During our intermission a bunch of us crossed over to the concert hall side so we could watch her on the TV monitors, and we sat in the hall for at least 30 minutes. Her singing was awesome, her patter was a little rambling, but it was amazing. When she finished we all met her in the hall clapping, and she was totally cool. She was so nice to us, and a few people asked for autographs. I’m not usually star-struck, but she really is someone who I admire as a performer, and she gave a great performance. It makes me want to do my best every show!
After the show we had a reception upstairs in the hotel with snacks and beer. We took a ton of pictures and smiled for pictures with costume people, orchestra members, and tons of Asian admirers. I got to play little (now 6 years old) Mary's favorite game where I pretend to eat her, and I got to hang out with my besties. Now with only this show (we’re almost to my song) and one more tonight, I’m a little sad. I’ve made so many friends, grown in so many ways, and seen so many amazing things! However, I’m totally looking forward to seeing all of you, who I’ve missed so much! I’ll be home with souvenirs soon! This will probably also be my last blog for some time, although I will do one more when I arrive home. After that, keep your eyes peeled in mid-August to see if I show up back in China! Take care, and thanks for reading!
The show went well, although people are starting to tear up at the end now. I’m determined not to cry tonight, because if I do I’ll be unable to sing! During our second curtain call, the lights on stage went off, and the house lights came up. It was totally a mistake, but for the first time we could see the audiences faces just as the show was ending. It helps keep it new to think that there are people every show who are seeing you perform for the first time. There was also a little boy in the audience named Jeremy, who’s in a wheelchair. He came backstage before the show to talk pictures with all of us, and to tell us that The SOM was his favorite musical ever. He had already seen the show once, but he wanted to see it again because he liked it so much. Things like that make me actually think about what impact the show is having, instead of thinking about myself or the personal drama within the cast or outside the show.
I was also reminded what it’s like to be in the audience the other night, when Lea Salonga played at the Esplanade with us! I totally forgot to blog about it, because I was in shock. Remember, the way the Esplanade is set up? There are two theatres (a theatre and a concert hall) and they share the same lobby and greenroom and backstage area. So over the weekend, Lea was doing a concert in the concert hall. If you don’t know who she is, she was most famous for originating the role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon. She was basically an undiscovered 19-year-old before that. She’s gone on to play Eponine in Les Miserable, and tons of other stuff. She has an amazing voice and I was really anxious to see how her concert was! Her actual concert was happening during our evening show, but her sound check was held after our matinee. A few people saw her eating lunch in the green room while we were in the intermission of our first show! We got dinner and came back early to listen, and most of it was gorgeous. Then during the nighttime show we could hear her over the monitor! During our intermission a bunch of us crossed over to the concert hall side so we could watch her on the TV monitors, and we sat in the hall for at least 30 minutes. Her singing was awesome, her patter was a little rambling, but it was amazing. When she finished we all met her in the hall clapping, and she was totally cool. She was so nice to us, and a few people asked for autographs. I’m not usually star-struck, but she really is someone who I admire as a performer, and she gave a great performance. It makes me want to do my best every show!
After the show we had a reception upstairs in the hotel with snacks and beer. We took a ton of pictures and smiled for pictures with costume people, orchestra members, and tons of Asian admirers. I got to play little (now 6 years old) Mary's favorite game where I pretend to eat her, and I got to hang out with my besties. Now with only this show (we’re almost to my song) and one more tonight, I’m a little sad. I’ve made so many friends, grown in so many ways, and seen so many amazing things! However, I’m totally looking forward to seeing all of you, who I’ve missed so much! I’ll be home with souvenirs soon! This will probably also be my last blog for some time, although I will do one more when I arrive home. After that, keep your eyes peeled in mid-August to see if I show up back in China! Take care, and thanks for reading!
posted by Beth at 3:32 PM
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