Wow oh Wow!! Tonight is definitely one of the best nights of my life!!! The opening night - so chaotic, exciting, nerve-racking, is an absolute incredible experience.
The rehearsal started at 6:00 am this morning, just imagine how crappy I look with no make-up on and in my pajamas. Anyway, the practice went on even after school, when my teacher was supposed to meet us at 2:30 pm and let us go home at 4 to get ready for the shows tonight. But before we knew it, it was already 6:30 pm, 1/2 hour till the opening show, and we didn't even get the chance to go home. Here is a thing I think the girls should really brag about: all the Highlights girls managed to put their make-up on, fix their hair, get changed, all in less than 10 minutes!!
While I was in the car to the performing place with my friends, Amanda tried to put make-up on me while Christine, the driver, was going at least 60 miles an hour! That was CRAZY! Rachel, a very out-going girl, barely had anything on when got in the car since everyone was in such a hurry! (should I say scandalous?) In spite of all the efforts, we were still late for the first show.
Anyway, the opening show is a Junior HS's faculty party, about 30 people. Oh Lordy, we barely had ANY space to perform; everyone got to know each other VERY WELL! As I was about to do my number, "Santa Baby," one of the girls called out to cut the show short since we are going to be late for the next show, at a French Restaurant up on the mountains. I was a little bit disappointed, but oh well, there is always next time.
Wow oh Wow (again), whoever owns that restaurant is so freaking rich! The entire driveway is covered with lights and Christmas decorations. I was very impressed by the setting. The crowd belongs to the Heart and Lung Association, so I guess they are all doctors. You know what's sad? Most people in the audience weren't even listening, but chatting. Only those that were in the front actually paid attention. That doesn't matter though, since a performer's duty is to perform for whoever that appreciates the art, even if it's one person. Knowing the choral literatures wouldn't work for that particular audience, my teacher cut the show short, leaving Sam (the Whitney + Mariah girl) and I to wrap up the gig. After Sam finished her solo, I walked onto the stage with my beautiful red dress and the white boas.
My Gosh, you have NO idea how excited (not nervous at all for some reason) I was. For my number, I was supposed to pick a guy from the audience and sing the song to him. I actually had my eyes on this intelligent-looking old man, but all that changed as my teacher kept pointing to this much younger guy (mid 20s?) as I came out from the backroom. To tell you the truth, I was a little worried since the last thing I wanted to do was to make the song sexy. And with a younger guy... ummm. So, I picked him. Someone should have recorded the performance! That guy, which happened to be one of the back-up dancers' neighbor, was totally into the song. And I still have no idea how I managed the pull this off. It was simply SO MUCH FUN! You know what surprised me the most? Once "Santa Baby" started, everyone in the audience just went dead silent and I received the loudest applauds of all. That feeling is indescribable! I mean, I have worked so hard, getting the dress made, finding the right shoes, practicing the song a billion times, spending hours coming up with my own choreography, just for that 4 minutes! (I am definitely posting pics from the show on the site) I love every bit of my performance and wish I could re-live that moment again. (well, since we have 35 more shows coming up..I should be alright!) Guys, I still can't believe this. You should have seen this big grin on my face after I was done! I can die a happy woman now...well, almost, I still need to meet Evan. :)
