CATS and me!

By Misteazer


As I was walking out of my musical theatre class, I
noticed a new flyer on the wall where all the
information for upcoming events, audtitions, etc were
kept.
The flyer read:

ATTN: All dancers and singers!
Anyone who is interested in performing in The Arts
Company performance of 'CATS' should see the director
and/or the producer of T.A.C for information.


Oh my god, CATS?!?!?! I couldn't beilive it!!!!
My favorite musical, and if I'm good, I can be in
it!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had been taking dance for only a few years and was
really inexperienced, but I had been with the company
long enough so they knew I had potential!
Even though they may cast me out of sympathy, I had to
show them that I really could be as good as...dare I
say it?? Jacob Brent!!!!!!!!!!!
Jacob Brent is the most amazing person I've ever
known! I sent him a letter a while ago, he never wrote
back...yet...but hopefully soon I'll get his letter!

* * *




Next week after auditions


Oh, I hope I made the cast! I thought as I
climbed the stairs to the studios!
A crowd of people had gathered around the bulleten
board. That must be the cast list I thought and
hurried over. Let's see...We auditioned for any
character so we could be anybody!
Rumpleteazer...no. Jemima...no. I scrolled down
the list to where it read: Chorus Cats
Chorus Cats:
Ashley Roxie Johnson
Elizabeth Patten
John Edward
Julia Childers
Please note that all chorus cats are applicable for
understudies for larger roles.

Oh man, I'm a chorus cat? Oh well, at least I get
to understudy someone!


* * *



It was the week of rehersal, and we had just been 
asigned chorus parts, as usual I was and alto (for
those of you who aren't affiliated with musical terms,
alto means a low woman's part...in other words, I
don't hit the high C!)
Then we moved in the auditorium for dance warm-ups.
" Alright everyone listen up!" shouted the director.
" Due to mix up of cast members and short term notice
difficulties, we will be switching parts today!"
Oh yes, I'll get to be someone else besides
just "Chorus cat!"
" Troy Stenston will no longer be playing our
Mistoffolees, we need to find a replacement so if you
know someone let us know ASAP!"
Of course I thought of Jacob Brent but he never would
be able to do at this short notice!
" Ashley, you are now Electra..." I stared at her in
disbelief. Me Electra? True she wasn't one of
my favorites, but it's better than nothing!


After rehersal...which went fine... I raced home to
put out an all points bulliten on my web page:
Misteazer's Junkyard.
I got off for a few hours, did my homework (it was a
Sunday) and ate dinner, I went back on to see if
anyone had responded. A few had, but they all asked me
how to get tickets and/or backstage passes to our
production! Sheesh some people, never read the fine
print! Finnally one person replied: " I have a friend
who's done cats before, I've contacted your school and
they said it's okay, he'll be down tomorrow!

-A friend of a friend's

Of course the end name was a little decieving, I
didn't believe it until I went to rehersal the next
day... 




* * *



I had bought a white unitard to paint to look like
Electra's untitard and was tring it out on the stage
during my warm up. No one else was there, so I started
to do a few of my own little ideas of a warm up. It
was the routine to Invitation to the Jellicle Ball and
I had it down pretty good, except I can't do a spilt
very well and I stumbled and continued the routine
from where I messed up. Then I got up and started
leaping and twirling around the stage then I bumped
into someone!
Oh, no! Someone saw me do my warm up! I hate it
when people watch me warm up!
" Sorry about that Victoria, did I hurt you?" someone
asked very snoblike. It had to be Veronica and her
gang.
Veronica was Victoria and her friend Lizzie was
Rumpleteazer. I still hate Lizzie just for that reason!
" Well, are you going to apologize or just stand there
like a lower life form should?" Obviously we have our
share of favorites and snobs who think they're better
than everyone else. " If anyone's a low life it's
you!" said a voice. With an attidute like that it had
to be Beth.
Beth was Bombalerina in our production of 'CATS' and
she was really good at it too!
Veronica and her girls quickly shut up after that, no
one dared to back talk Beth! I was glad she was on the
cast with me, she was really funny, she was a good
friend...she still is too!
" You know, you shouldn't let her push you around like
that Ash."
" I know, but you know I'm not good at that!"
The rest of the cast had arrived and they were warming
up and stuff.
" Listen up people, we are getting a new cast member
soon, he will be our Mistoffolees and he will be
teaching you all as well, which makes my job a whole
lot easier!" Everyone supported this by "wahooing" or
applauding, everyone knew she worked really hard and
she had a lot on her plate for this.
" Where is he?" someone asked.
" His flight was canceled so he'll be here tomorrow."




* * *



The next day I made sure there was absolutely nobody
around to watch me warm up!
I started my normal routine and started to leap and
twirl accross the stage. That always cheered me up!
" Pretty good! Only you may wanna point your toes!"
Oh man not agian! I looked up and on the
edge of the stage was a man sitting there, just
watching me. He got up and walked over to me.
" Are you playing Victoria?" He asked.
" No, I'm Electra. I just bought this unitard so I
could get used to the feel of it." I replied (I was
also understuding Jemima, but I didn't want to get
into that.)
" Oh cool, I'm playing Mistoffolees."
" Oh right, you must be the guy who's going to be
teaching us everything!" I said
" Yeah, it'll gimme a feel for what I'm thinking about
going into."
" Teaching dance?" I asked
" Yup." he replied. " By the way, I never caught your
name...Electra!"
I giggled a little, " I'm Ashley Jonson, and who are
you...Mistoffolees?" I asked joking around.
" Jacob Brent." I felt my smiling face go into
complete shock! Oh my god...it's...it's...Jacob
Brent!!!!!
He started to laugh, I guess he noticed my shocked
face. How embarassing!
" I take it you've heard of me?" he asked.
" Oh yeah, I know so much info on you like that you
were born in October, where you went to school for
dance, who taught you how to dance, the names of your
cats, I have tons of pictures of you, and, and...oh
man is this embarassing!" I exclaimed realizing I had
gotten carried away, and with those eyes, who couldn't?
" Okay people listen up!" I hadn't even realized
everyone else had arrived.
Jacob jumped down to the floor with the director,
vocal director, and producer of the show.
" Everyone...hey quiet down! Thank you. As you all
know we have a new cast and staff member today, this
is Mr. Brent. He'll be giving you all of your
choreography to the show, except for those of you on
Macavity, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer..."
" Jake." he said to the director.
" Pardon?" she asked.
" Jake, everyone can just call me Jake...or Jacob if
you want." He really is as nice as everyone else
says! Everyone shouted greetings to him...I
think mine was the loudest, some people were staring
at me...how embarassing! That's the third time today,
I'd better shut up!







" Becky, head up! No looking at the floor...it's not
pretty! Rob, keep your back straight, it'll make that
a whole lot easier! No you forgot a step Vikki...."
Jacob was trying his best to keep all of us in line,
but it was difficult with us! Fortunetly, our director
said that she would help a lot as well, so the weight
of the world could be taken off his shoulders...a
little.
" Man, you never told that you guys were this
difficult!" he said flopping down next to me.
" Well...uh... you, never asked!" I said, trying to
make a joke. He laughed a little. He had the most
gorgeous smile!
We had everything pretty much down, you know Jellicle
songs for Jellicle cats, Jenny Any Dots, Rum Tum
Tugger, ect. Everything up until the part of the
jellicle ball before "the dance."
I was really nervous about doing "the dance" I wasn't
the kind to normally do stuff like that! I told Jake
about it and he said he felt the same way...at one
point in his life, but he walked himself through it
slowly and soon he was comfortabe with it!
" Yeah but..."
" Okay guys, I have your parteners for the jellicle
ball!" Since Jake had used much of the choreography
from the video, I could just bet I could tell who
would be with who!
Let's see, it'll be Victoria and Plato...
" I'll call you by your CAT name..."
" Which one?" Someone called out. We all laughed!
" Your Jellicle name okay?" The director
said, annoyed. " Victoria and Plato..."
" Mungo and Rumple...",
" Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer..." She continued down
the line until...GASP!!!! " Mistoffolees
and Electra."
Oh my god, I'm Jacob's partner in "the dance!!!!"

I gave a sigh of relief, part in shock; trying to calm
myself, at least he knew how I felt! After we settled
down from finding out how our partners were, our
director called Jake over. She disscussed something
with him, then he ran backstage.
Where the heck is he going...or what's he doing for
that matter!
" Okay guys, I'd like to run the Macavity fight
sequence them jump into Mistoffolees..."
I knew exaclty what was going on, Jacob's gonna put on
his Misto costume!!! 


" Macavity's not there!" the cast whispered.
I was in the back near the old ford waiting for Tugger
to say his cue. I heard someone shifting and squeaking
the ropes and cables above us as Jacob climbed into
the foot-sling-rope as I liked to call it.
I looked up to see a very cute looking Mistoffolees.
He saw me and gave me a little wave with his sparkley
gloves. I sighed as I waved back...what a guy!!!
" The greatest magicians have something to learn, from
Mr. Mistoffolees conjuring turn..."
I wanted to sing along with him, but I knew I couldn't.
Since Electra was supposed to be obbsessed with
Tugger, I had to pay attention to him and react to his
every move like Ectera would. So I pretended that
Tugger was Mistoffolees for the time being...I think I
got carried away so I calmed down a bit.
"...you'll see it one moment, but then...and it's
gone! But you'll find it next week, layin' out on the
lawn! and we all say: Oh well I never was there ever,
a cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffolees..."
Jacob came down with that usual perky expression on
his cute little face!!!!
Our eyes locked on each other for a moment while he
came down, and I swear his smile became brighter as we
saw each other!
He looked so happy as Mistoffolees again! Man was he
hot!!!!
His dancing was flawless...as usual, his smile never
faded and neither did our friendship!





* * *






Opening night



" Oh man, I'm so nervous...what if something goes
wrong?" I was really nervous, but excited too!
" Don't worry about it Ash, just have fun with
it...you missed a spot." Jake said as he adjusted my
makeup.
" Thanks." I said.
" Wanna do mine?" he asked joking around. It was
obvious that I didn't have a hand at art...nevermind
face paint!
" Maybe tomorrow night!" I replied, making a joke.
Just then our doorman came over to us and pulled Jake
aside. I was curious as to what they were saying.
Jake's expression went from confused, to overjoyed! He
started to jump up and down, like in the jellicle ball.
" What the heck was that all about?" I asked, a 
littled shocked that even a hyper guy like this would
act so excited!
" My friends from the video cast are coming to see
me!" he said. I was shocked!
" Like Micheal Grubber, Jo Gibb, Drew Varley..."
" Yup, all of them...okay just Micheal, Drew, Jo, and
Phyliddia, but... oh man...I can't wait!" He
exclaimed. I was excited too, he said he'd bring them
backstage too!

Everyone were in thier seats, the crowd was bursting
with excitement. It was a sold out show! You could
feel the excitement everywhere!
The main loby and the auditorium were separated by two
sets of doors. For the overture, we came down through
the aisles and danced a little. To us it was a chance
to scare all the little kids ::giggles::
We separated into four lines ( two doors and four aisles).
Jacob, me, Beth, and George(Pouncival) were all in one
line, of course Jake lead us down the aisle!
" Nervous?" I asked him.
" Nah...well, maybe a little. But it's more excitement
than anything."
I went up to the closed door and placed my ear up next
to it. I could hear the director giving the little
courtousey speach that she always does!
It's so boring...the agony and excitement just builds
up on you with every word she said!

The overture began! We all got into our lines and the
music played. When the windchimes did a quick scale
up, we flung the doors open and prowled down the aisles!
Whenever we could, we would hiss at the kids. I saw a
few of the kids I babysit, and trying not to scare
them, I hissed with a smile...sort of. I don't think 
it went over very well, because a little baby started crying...oops!
The song finished and we went to our "hiding spots".
Mine was under the extended platform at the front of
the stage. I sat there, anxiously, waiting for my que,
it came! I climbed up onto the stage and stared into
the audience.
There were alot of people! I had done performances
with the company before, but none of them were ever
sold out like this!
In fact we had to add on another day because so many
people wanted tickets after the last show! We were
supposed to do Friday night, Saturday night, and
Sunday afternoon, but then it spread to the following
Friday night! Wow, that's alot!
" Can you ride on a broomstick to places far distance..."
" Familar with candle..."
" With book and with bell!" I nailed it!
" Were you Whitington's friend..." The tension and
excitement rose until...
" The pied piper's assistant?" The crowd cheered so
loud and so long that you couldn't hear Tumbletertus' line!
Obviously the audience were JB fans...like me! We
completed the song and went into the namimg of cats.
Hey for once I'm not cut off! I thought to myself.
When Veronica started her solo...yuck! ::clears throught::
Sorry...when she started her solo, a few girls in the
audience cheered, Veronica aknowledged them!
Oh no, she's not supposed to do that!
Fortunetly she realized it and continued with her solo.
When Jacob came out, a couple of guys yelled out: " Me-ow Jacob!"
He tried not to laugh, but it was hard! I felt really
bad, why can't people keep their mouths shut during a performance?

We went through Jenny-any-dots, (that's so much fun!)
Rum-Tum-Tugger( I still say Misto is cuter!!) right up
throught Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.
In the wings, I watched as Lizzie and Keith (Mungo)
danced and sang. Keith was awesome, but Lizzie is in
need of a serious tune-up!!!!!
" Yuck!" I whispered to the kid who was doing
Tantomile. " Why did she get Teazer, even you can do
better than that!" I said. "Tantomile" wasn't much of
a singer, but when she did, she kicked major butt!
She nodded with a smile.
I could see Jacob accross the stage waiting for his
que. He gave me a look like: " Yuck, who cast these two?"
I shrugged, and I'd never thought I'd be happy to see
Mungo+Rumple over!

Well, everythng else went fine. Come time for the
Jellicle ball, I wasn't nervous, in fact...I couldn't
wait ::he he and grins:: I could tell Jake was too, I
bet he was thinking of his friends, I couldn't wait to
meet them!

During intermission, we got refreshed and Jacob went
to the main loby to bring back his friends. He came
back, with no one behind him!
" You make them dissapear?" I asked joking around. He
laughed and said:
" Nah, they're coming around the back so no one will
see!" and he gave his sneaky laugh!
We heard the back door open and close, and he gave his
excited look! I love that sweet little face! It turns
out only Micheal, Drew and Jo were coming back but 
that's still great!
" So what do you think?" Jacob asked after they
finished their greetings.
" Aw, great Jacob, but whoever doin' Teaza' oughta get
a voice lesson!" Drew said. I laughed.
Jacob spun around to face me.
" I almost forgot, guys this is Ashley Jonson, she's Electra!"
" Hi!" I said shyly. It was so cool, being introduced 
by a star to stars!
" Hey whats up?" Jo asked.
" Nothing much." I replied.
" Do you like being in cats?" she asked.
" Oh yeah! It's the best!" I replied. " Can you teach
those two how to do that cartwheel thing you guys did?"
Lizzie says she's this great gymnaist and all, but she
can't do a cartwheel for anything! Keith on the other hand...
" Yeah seriously, you guys need to implant some
culture of the notrious thieves into them!" Jacob
said. We all laughed!
" Curtain call: 5 minuets!" shouted the director.
" Have fun with everything else guys, we'll see ya!"
said Micheal as they walked away and back to thier seats.




* * *



Growltier's last stand was next which I wasn't
in...until the end when I to go back on for
Skimbleshanks. I still don't know why they didn't put
me in G.L.S. but that's just life!
Figures I go on when Jacob comes off! I still don't
know why it took him so long to put on that awesome
jacket...but it paid off!
Mr. Mistoffelees! Finnally!! Kevin (Rum Tum Tugger)
started to sing and I took my spot behind him. I had a
pretty good view of Jake in the rafters above us.
I guess he saw me because he waved at me. I couldn't
wave back so I winked at him instead. He smiled at
me...I could lose myself in his smile....oh sorry,
where was I...
Anyway, Jake came down, and his dancing was
flawless...as usual. It was so cool seeing Jake dance
up so close...I guess the audience was in shock too
beacause they kept "wahooing" and stuff.
What was really cool, when Misto zaps certain parts of
the stage, confettie and sequence shot up from the
part of the stage and into the audience! It was really cool!
The best part obvioulsy was Jacob's toe-touches! Six
in a row!! Man, he is multi-talented... not to mention cute!!!!

It was all most time for bows...MAN! I never wanted it to end!
Fortunetly we still had Sat. Night, Sunday afternoon
and next Friday night! We each had our own little
measure of music and we had our own little "personal
bow." I won't get into details here...

" The show's over, this stinks!" I said when we got
backsatge. Jacob came up behind me, picked me up and 
spun me around saying:
" We did it!" I laughed so hard, we even got some of
the other cast members laughing, I'll always cherish
that feeling...er...moment!
I was just about done with cleaning myself up when
Jacob turned to leave, he called out: " See you guys
tomorrow night!"
" Bye Jake!" I called back to him. He came back over,
gave me a hug and left.
Beth started laughing. " What's so funny?" I asked
" You're expresson...you're blushing!" I didn't find
it that amusing, but...whatever! I always
cherish this feeling! I thought. 

To be continued... 

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