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 train 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, (not
on this site, but elsewhere) 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. (see hyper picture on main page)
" 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 shcoked!
" Like Michael Grubber, Jo Gibb, Drew Varley..."
" Yup, all of them...okay just Michael, 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 Michael,
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 Michael 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! Finally!! 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...
