Footloose

All my life my Mom has told me, “Everything happens for a reason”. I think she was trying to console me when things didn’t go my way like: not being chosen for a solo in choir or a part in a show, or not getting into the top 10 of American idol. Every time she said it I would always think to myself, what does she mean? When will I find this reason? The reason finally came about two weeks ago!

I was home all alone while my family on vacation in Hawaii. I had the whole house to myself. I know all you college students know what I am talking about, because as much as I love my family, living at home after you have been on your own, in your own apartment, doing your own thing, let’s just say we all needed a break from each other ☺

I woke up that morning with a head cold, and planned my day to just sit on the sofa and write a blog, work on my new website, and answer hundreds of emails. Around noon my phone rang with an unknown number, if you know me I never pick up numbers I do not know… bad habit. I let it go to voicemail, and a minute later checked the message. It was Chanhassen Dinner Theatre asking if I could come in for an audition that day. They were looking to replace the person in the role of Rusty (due to maternity leave) in their current production of Footloose. Sing one song, and bring a headshot and resume.

I looked at the tissue box in front of me, and bag of halls cough drop and jumped off the couch and ran to the piano. I knew that voice or no voice I was going to do this audition, and I had only 5 hours to prepare! As I started to learn the song I had to perform, I got a message from my friend Ben who is currently in the show, Footloose. He invited me to watch the second half of the show to get a feel for what the director is looking for. Perfect! I have never seen Footloose before, and this will help so much! It did chop off two hours of my prepare time, but it was worth it.

It was about 30 minutes before I had to leave, when I got another message from Ben…. “Dress the part.” Well what does that mean? I grabbed my computer as I started googling Chanhassen, Footloose, and Rusty! Thankfully Chanhassen had some photos of the show on their website, ran up to my room to search for leg warmers which are popular again for dance class at the Conservatory. I had a pair of cowboy boots from a country performance I did a couple years ago when I thought I would become a country singer. Thank goodness I never cleaned out my closet!!!

Now, I had about 10 minutes before I had to leave, when I realized I did not have a headshot or resume ready. Thankfully I had a performance resume already created from Boston Conservatory…. Now where to find a headshot? My Miss Minnesota headshot will work, it is the most recent. As I attempted to print my resume, my printer decides to tell me it has no black ink. Now I have 2 minutes before I have to leave, and have no idea where the ink cartridges are. I send a frantic text to Hawaii to my Mom, Dad and brother Sean asking if they knew if we had any black ink cartridges. With the time change they were all still asleep, no response. I now begin to tear my office apart as I desperately look for a black ink cartridge! I’m about to give up when I try one more place under my desk, and HOORAY, an ink cartridge. My resume is printing and I start to look for my headshot on my computer, found it right away. Time to print… it won’t print. I was supposed to have left 5 minutes ago, and I start looking around my room for a photo I can use. And what to do I find….. An extra copy of the Miss America Program Book. I find the Miss Minnesota page and proceed to cut the circle picture of myself out of the book, my headshot ☺

As I’m driving to Chanhassen I get another call from them, audition has been moved to 3:45 can you make it? Sure, no problem. I make it to the show just before the second act begins. I’m escorted up to the directors room to watch the show, I felt like a VIP. I have never seen Footloose before, and I did enjoy the half I saw!

Time for my audition, I walked into the room with the music director, director and choreographer of the show. I felt as ready as I could be. I started to sing, and it just felt right. Yes, I had a cold, and yes I only had 2 hours to prepare, but I was not going to let them know that. After I sang the song once, they asked if I could take it up a key. Oh Boy, but when I started to sing once again it just felt right. After talking over my resume, and giving him my circle, cut-out, headshot, I was asked to do a monologue. I thought to myself, a monologue? I don’t have a monologue! What am I going to do, can I make one up?

I smiled and said, “Unfortunately, I do not have a monologue at this moment, but give me 5 minutes and I will come up with something.” 5 minutes to come up with a comedic monologue?? What was I thinking!! Then it dawned on me, I have been Miss Minnesota for almost 9 months, I know I have some funny stories from my adventures. Which one to choose? The time my crown was stolen? When I ran a 5K in my crown and sash? The time I had to use the men’s bathroom at Miss Brainerd Lakes and a guy walked in? Yup, that was my winner!

I felt pretty good after the audition, and was honored to even be considered for the role. Once I was home, I walked out to get the mail, and noticed two missed calls on my cell phone. I looked, and it was the Chanhassen. My heart started to race! I called back right away, and heard the words, “Congratulations, you are the new Rusty,” I did a silent scream in my house, and jumped up and down! Then I heard…. And you start in 2 weeks.

For the past week and a half I have been at the Chanhassen everyday learning the show. It is a different rehearsal process since the show is currently running. My rehearsals consist of watching the show, and teaching myself. I started on Tuesday, April 13th and the show runs until July 31st.

I hope you will all come out to see this entertaining show! My understudy will go on for the days that I need to attend my Miss Minnesota appearances, April 24th for the Miss Minnesota workshop, and the week of Miss Minnesota, June 13 to 19, but come any other time ☺

So, my Mom was right, everything does happen for a reason. Thank goodness I was home to answer the call when the reason finally came.