The debut show of the Harmony Celebration Chorus was "Celebrate A'Capella" on December 1, 2007 - and I had a lot of work to do if I wanted to sing on that show. As it turned out the show was broken into three main parts: an opening section, the Lion King Package, and the Heart Package - with quartets in between.
It very quickly became apparent to me that there was nearly no way for me to cover the breadth of material I would need to learn, both vocally and visually, to be onstage for the entire show. But luckily it was broken into those three nifty sections So I learned the first three songs, I already knew the last two songs from auditions, and all the visual elements to go with them. I even learned all the music for the Lion King Package, but just couldn't learn all the choreo in time.
One of the coolest things about being in your first chorus show, is getting your very first riser placement. During my time as a perspective/new member I had been floating around in the middle of the chorus, which as a bass, is usually where we end up. In my chorus we lovingly refer to that thicket of low voiced, passionately wonderful singers as "the jungle." I was placed up on the third row of the jungle, splitting center with the one and only Ms. Edie Murphy. Edie Murphy (aka Big Mama.. well at least that's what I call her) is a bass as I can only hope to be. She's one of those women that just has the range and the spunk and the class to wail on a bass line - an frankly sings notes so low I can only pray I will be able to sing them someday. On top of all of that, she is funny, kind, and welcoming. Right behind me, over my left shoulder was another bass, Ms. Stephanie Robinson, the compiler of our weekly newsletter "The Party Line." I couldn't have been luckier than to have two cool basses like these for my first riser buddies. Here's a taste of them - when I was still learning a lot of the music, I would get up on the risers for warm-ups and then run down and grab my binder and bring it back up. Well they weren't having it "you don't need it" would be the response or "fake it." It was a combination of putting confidence into me and getting me into that performers mode - and I thank them for it! I would also be remiss in my riser buddy story were I not to mention a lovely lead and lovely lady, Ms. Lorraine, who stood on my right and was always there with a hug and a smile!
On the day of the show, my crazy gals (Steph and Sabrina) and myself got to the venue nice and early to get to work on our "crew duties." Both of the girls were taking grad classes that fall, and so they didn't have time to learn all the new stuff to sing on the show. But being the people I love, they were still as involved as anything! Sabrina designed the lights for the show, which I can tell you was no easy business because she wasn't allowed to refocus any of the lights. But she came through in her standard magnificence and made the chorus sparkle and shine brighter than ever before. Steph and I were posted as backstage crew during the show. Since I wasn't in the Lion King Package and didn't have to change or prepare for it I was able to page the curtains for the performing quartets, and help our director with his quick-change for Lion King.
After the chorus got there and warmed up, sang through our songs, and got used to the new space and the lighting we had a quick break for dinner and a chance to watch the sound check. That's when the magic started - and by magic, of course I mean polished and delightful men's barbershop quartets. First we had Our Town. Our wonderful director Scott on lead, two men's AIC Champs on Bass and Bari, and one heck of a tenor busted out with a sound that I can only describe as barbershop the way it should be. When I think to myself "barbershop" the sound that comes to mind is the sound you hear when Our Town starts singing. What I mean by that is you have four men, with four rich, distinct voices that come together in a sheer explosion of crackling barbershop sound - and four more natural entertainers you could never hope to meet. Simply put -sweet mother of man sound. Like I said, magic. Then, completely on the other end of the vocal spectrum, we had Vocal Spectrum. [sorry I love a good pun, I just couldn't resist] Now up until this day I had never heard them. I knew they were the 2006 men's champs, and I heard they were young and cute, but with getting myself musically ready for my first show I don't think I even bothered to YouTube them. Well was I in for a treat. Picture it - a 23 yr old girl [just 23 mind you, my birthday was the day before] who has been running around with little barbershop ladies for the past 4 hrs sees four handsome young men come strolling into the auditorium and onto the stage and then hears a more than handsome sound - Swoon.
After mic-checks for the quartets the make-up and glitzing rituals began downstairs. This was my first exposure to the chorus make-up plot, but with the help of LilyLou and Sharon Guzi, I was properly glammed up to code in no time. Once we were all perfectly primped we headed to the stage. The upstage was split off from the part of the stage with the risers and we had chairs set up in a reverse-split of our riser order so we could get to where we needed to be with as much ease as possible. When it was time we walked around to get onto the risers and wait for the curtain to open for the very first time, on the very first song, of the very first show of the Harmony Celebration Chorus.
The first set went by like a flash, and before I knew it the curtains were closing to thunderous applause. The chorus quietly exited the risers and went back to change for Lion King, while Steph and I got ready to page the curtains. We had The New Singers sing a tribute to Ann Minihane. Then the lovely ladies of Vanity Fair. Next up was our wonderful 5th place regional medalists, Fanfare followed by the incredible man-sound of Our Town and a quick costume change for Scott. This change took place between when his quartet exited the stage, the chorus was reintroduced and the opening song of the package was performed.. Here comes an anecdote: During our rehearsals of the Lion King package Scott would always tell us about how when his son was younger, Lion King was his favorite movie. He would tell us about how excited his son got dancing around and singing, and then how excited he got, and how we needed to have more of that "6 yr old boy" energy when we were singing things like Just Can't Wait to Be King. Well on this night, as he stood in the wing watching the opening song of the package and I was trying to tie the side of his costume, he had plenty of that 6 yr old boy energy. He would stand and I would go to tie and just as I did, he would turn and I'd get it again, and he'd turn. I was laughing to myself as it was happening just thinking "I cant wait to tell the chorus about this later." The only thing that topped that was right as he was about to go on, his baritone Larry takes a look at him is this crazy jungle-getup we had him wearing and says "Man, you're outta the quartet." I almost died, but instead chimed in with an "I can sing lead" which was responded to with an "Ok kid, you're in." Scott jumped right into the Lion King package, I sang quietly from the wings, and the first half of the show came to a successful end.
Intermission time, aka put on those shiny beaded purple collars. During intermission it was also my job to make sure that both of the guest quartets knew what was going on for/where to come out from during the callbacks at the end of the show. Scott had told his quartet so my job was to tell Vocal Spectrum, and as you can imagine, I was totally looking forward to it. I headed over toward where their dressing room was, off on stage left. As I was walking over I saw Jonny Moroni.
Me: Hey, how are you?
Jonny: Good, you?
Me: So far so good. Has anyone told you guys where to come on for the callbacks?
Jonny: Yes, they told us.
Me: Damn, well there goes my excuse to come over and talk to the cute quartet.
Jonny: Wait, where do we have to be?
Ah a good sense of humor - love it.
With a beaming smile I went to man my post at the downstage curtain as the chorus was ready backstage and the first quartet of the second half was ready to go on, Just 4. These ladies were hysterical and sang beautifully, as always. At the end of their set our dreamy guest quartet came right to where Steph and I were paging the curtains, to listen and be ready. I think it was Eric who made a comment about the ridiculously sparkly collar I was wearing, just something like "you ladies look nice, or like you're ready to sing" or something generally polite like that. To which I responded with a thank you and the recent realization that I had to do a shoulder shimmy in this fringy-beaded getup, which I proceeded to demonstrate to the muffled giggles of the 6 of us in that immediate area. "Well I can do that," says Eric, and then shimmys away. "Well next time bring your purple collar and be ready to get out there with us," I say. "Sure." Next thing you know they're being introduced, Steph and I are opening those curtains, and then sitting down behind them to listen to one of the finest quartets in business. They finished their set to a huge round of applause, that was neatly segued by our MC Ms. Katie Holden, into our final set. The Heart Package flew by as we sang and danced our way through the two final number of our first show to end our show with thunderous applause.
After the show I ran into the audience to find my Mama, Lee, Aunt Gracie, and Gianna who all gave big hugs and rave reviews. Then I had to find Sarah, Kelsey and Beka who had all come up the night before for my birthday festivities and had stayed for the barbershop fun! After a quick clean-up of the stage, a change out of our costume, and another sweep of the dressing area we were off to the AfterGlo. The ride (or attempt) to get to the AfterGlo was filled with entirely more adventure and confusion that it should have been, and that's all I'm going to say about that. [right SQ?]
Our AfterGlo was at a TGIFridays and we were all crammed in to a bunch of tables while quartets wandered around to sing. Our table had Beka, Sarah, Kels, Steph, Sabrina and myself. We ordered some typical snacks and prayed they would get there before we were forced to start gnawing on each other - a good day of barbershopping sure will work up an appetite. After the food came and we had listened to some of the chapter quartets that were singing, I decided to wander down to the other end of the room to see who was singing down there. First I came upon Our Town and Just4 singing Lida Rose/Ladies duet from Music man, which I love. After I was done being transfixed by that I made it down to the end of the room where Vocal Spectrum was singing and Ms. Jeannie Froelich was shouting "Charlie! Charlie! Sing Cheer up Charlie!." As she was doing that I happened to bump into Eric again.
Me: Eric I have to ask you a question?
Eric: Sure, what is it.
Me: Do you sing happy birthday?
Eric: (very seriously and totally looking like he's going to say no) Yes.
Me: Well it was my birthday yesterday, so I was hoping I could request a serenade.
Eric: Sure no problem, just remind me your name again...
Me: Alexis.
Eric: Alexis, great. I'll take care of it, no problem.
Then he went back over to the quartet and clued them in, they blew the pitch pipe and the proceeded to deliver the coolest 23rd birthday present ever.
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