Today we had our first rehearsal with our choreographer. We always have “Belle” rehearsals on Monday nights, but for the past few weeks, they keep getting cancelled for things like directors being sick, choreographers being broken-ankled, and snow days. Anyhow, we blocked up to right through the bookseller scene, which I think is good all things considered (we were missing a ton of people and the people that were there didn’t know the music too well after only one music rehearsal).

Anyhow, this is actually the first year we’ve had a choreographer, which is kind of sad. Our chorus teacher always directs our spring musicals, and our director now has only been here this year and last. Before that- my freshman year- it was a chorus teacher who had been here for a really long time. She was an amazing choral director but didn’t care too much about theatre, meaning that by the time this new director got here, we had no money whatsoever. Last year, this director did Jesus Christ Superstar!, which earned us a ton of money. This year our budget, after the fall show, was about $14,000, which is probably not a lot for what most schools have, but it’s so much more than we’ve ever had. So we’re essentially putting our program back together, which is why we get a choreographer.

Today went pretty well, although there isn’t much dancing in “Belle,” just a lot of movement that needs to be timed correctly. It was pretty fun; mine is simple enough, just some walking and being distracted by books and sitting on imaginary wishing wells.

Either way,I like our choreographer a lot. He really made you feel comfortable in what you were doing and, amazingly, doesn't make you feel like a complete idiot when you don't get something the first time around, or even when you have to be instructed on one section more than once. I know that one rehearsal shouldn't be such a big thing, but it really did kind of change my mindset on things... In a subtle way, of course, but it just seems much less stressful now. I wish I could explain it better, but unfortunately I can't...

Either way, I'm excited about continuing with all this and I'm anxious to start more of Act II! We've only done the Beast/Belle/Wolf scene so far, and we aren't doing anything else on it until after vacation. I must say I'm excited about (re)doing "Me!" and all the Belle/Gaston scenes with our new Gaston.

Regards until next time... =)