Just a bit ago I got back from taking my nanny children to the beach, and it was a glorious time. Every time I go, whether with friends or the kids, I feel like I am escaping to the Bahamas for a couple of hours, and it's instant happiness. I guess it's because 99% of my beach encounters within the past 3 years have been my family and me happily walking off of a cruise ship and feeling the sand of either the Bahamas or the Caribbean in between our toes. I may have stated this before, but Chicagoans are right. The torturous winters are definitely worth the incredible summers. All of the outdoor seating at delicious restaurants, beach and downtown excursions, outdoor concerts, and cookouts are definitely making it fun. Speaking of cookouts, I felt like a grownup this past Saturday...my roommate Jacquie and my friend Denise got inspired to grill out, so I called up a dear friend for his amazing burger recipe, Jacquie and I stopped by the grocery store for needed items (one of them was charcoal...I had NO idea what kind to get...but the kind I got worked!), we borrowed the neighbor's Weber grill, and hosted our very first cookout. On the menu were burgers, grilled corn, potato salad, and baked beans. It was delicious!

Man of La Mancha opens in THREE weeks, and I can hardly believe how fast time is flying. I have great news from my previous update on my role in the show. I was originally cast into the ensemble, but since then have been given the role of Maria, the innkeeper's wife. I was ecstatic that not only I would finally have a Chicago credit with a named role, but also be able to gain more experience. The innkeeper is Chris Skyles who was in the past two shows with me, so it has been fun getting to be a shrewish lady towards him. ;)

Two days after Man of La Mancha closes, I will begin rehearsals for another show! I was cast into the chorus of the Savoyaires' (Gilbert and Sullivan troupe of Evanston--just north of Chicago) production of The Zoo and Eyes and No Eyes. Performances will be at the end of September through mid-October I think. It has been such a blessing to have been booked with shows since the beginning of the year! We'll see if another one comes a long after this one to make 2011 be an entire year filled with shows!

Fathers' day.

Couldn't resist posting this photo I saw when I was at home last weekend. It's of my parents on their honeymoon to Niagra Falls, and I found it completely adorable. So happy my mom chose that wonderful man to be her babies' daddy. ;)

Another update coming soon!

To dream the impossible dream...

Last week began the auditioning life after a 3.5 month break from it. I mentioned in earlier posts of the day that I auditioned for "The Sorcerer" being a monumental day in my life, because I actually knew people at an audition. This past Tuesday I went in to be put on a waiting list for Porchlight Music Theatre's season auditions, and the entire time I was waiting to be seen, there were so many wonderful more people that I knew and got to catch up with from either Phantom or through other theatre friends.

Thursday evening's audition for Man of La Mancha brought even more dear faces from Phantom. Excitement began to brew as we all hoped to be together again in the cast of Man of La Mancha. Saturday, the cast was announced, and I was cast into the ensemble as a prison lady!! A lot of my friends were cast, too! You know what's crazy? Two of the cast members, Kristin and Chris, were in my previous two shows, so this is our third show in a row! 

Cheesy statement of the day: This evening as I was checking out at Trader Joe's, I was chatting away with the super friendly worker guys, and they asked about my latest show just before I picked up my bags to walk out, and when I said Man of La Mancha, the guy who bagged them said, "Well that seems like the impossible dream!"

When I woke up Saturday morning and realized the weather was the perfect beach weather, Jacquie (roommate) and I went to target to get beach towels (mine had to be a disney princess one), sun block, bathing suits, and water bottles to prepare for the beach. We took the bus east, walked north to Montrose Beach, and as we approached the beach, I suddenly realized what everyone in Chicago means when they say the summers are worth the horrible winters. It was perfect sun dress weather, people grilling, playing beach sports, everyone was happy. The beach has never ever been as close to my place of residence as it currently is, and it's such a gorgeous one, too--getting to glance over at the skyline as your toes are in the sand.

This coming weekend I'm taking a mini-trip back "home" to Charlotte. Not only will I be enjoying the company of my family, but I will get to see their fantastic work in Matthew Playhouse's production of "The Sound of Music." My sister, Rebecca, is the set designer, my brother, Matthew, is the music director, my mom is the role of a nun, and my little brother, Victor, is the role of a nazi! Adorable.

Tonight was the ceremony of the presentation of the Non-Equity Jeff Awards, and if you aren't familiar with them, they are Chicago's version of the Tony awards. I REALLY wanted to dress fancy and attend the ceremony, but it didn't work out. I just received word, though, that Austin Cook received  a Jeff Award for Best Musical Direction for his work in Some Enchanted Evening!!!! I'm so proud and happy for him!! We all knew it was going to happen, though. ;) 

Opening night.

After surviving a tire blow out on the way to opening night of Phantom and making it to the theatre in just enough time to run in and have such caring fellow cast members help throw on my costume, opening weekend began. Ah, I love a theatre full of live feedback!

This is the first show I've had a headshot and bio in the program, a mic, more than 2 costumes (I have 4!), and that runs more than 3 shows (we still have 5 more performances!).

My family made a quick trip to visit! They were able to see Saturday evening's performance, and some of what we enjoyed together includes the Lincoln Park Zoo, Giordanos, and Millennium Park. Loved seeing them again, BUT it won't be long until I'm making a trip to NC. Oh! My aunt Melissa and Uncle Stuart were able to make it from Indiana to see Phantom, to

Last week, more bits of green and flowers have started to appear, and the city is looking so much lovelier! The weather is finally beginning to be no-coat weather. :)

Newsflash: Sofia doesn't call me "mama" that much anymore--she is beginning to call me "Re". Haha.


Until next time!

cornbread, sweet tea, and fried okra.

It wasn't until I left the south that I even thought to consider myself southern. Sure, I only spent the first year of my life as a resident of Michigan before my family moved to North Carolina, but I still augmented the northern side of me. Now, there's times when I very happily claim southern. An example of those times is when I get to hang out with my lovely friend, Denise (a singer/actress here in Chicago originally from Atlanta), or my friend Hunter (film guy, old skydeck coworker, originally from Mississippi). A week and a half ago, I enjoyed a Saturday with Denise--Thai and Theatre!--and from it coming up in conversation, I really wanted cornbread . Well, Guess what? Dreams do come true. Hunter, his sister Katie Brook, her husband, and I had a heart warming dinner at the adorable "Dixie Kitchen" in Evanston. I've heard of this place on many occasions before from them, but I was finally able to have a taste of home--with very enjoyable company I might add.

As much as I had no clue that I would ever do it, I just recently, I became a Mary Kay lady! Marykay.com/rachelyn is my website if you or anyone you know is interested in their fabulous products or becoming a consultant. I've always loved the products, but I'm also excited about the positive atmosphere I stepped into when I attended the past couple of Mary Kay trainings. I also had no idea of the career possibilities with MK, and was inspired by meeting directors, particularly my director Kimberly, who is a Mary Kay millionaire!

Even though there have been many occasions when I've wanted to run downstairs and hug the neighbors below me for their song playlist, I had no idea as to what extent their awesomeness was. I had only briefly encountered one of the roommates who recently moved out. Saturday night I got a knock at my door, and it was the other one that I hadn't met yet. He invited me to his new roommate's housewarming party, and I went! It was so nice to finally meet him, his new roommate, and meet more new people. In fact, at least 5 of the attendees said that they are going to come to Phantom!

Yesterday we had our first full run of Phantom, and it went well! We open in a week and a half....crazy! One of the performances is sold out, and tickets are continuing to fly. Tomorrow morning on WGN Morning news from 7-9 AM, our production will be featured, which I've heard will boost ticket sales even more. I'll be on my way to work right around then, so I won't be on TV with them...BUT that shouldn't stop you from watching it ;).

Today is Sofia's/Alexander's/my 3 month anniversary! It's Alexander's spring break this week, so we were able to celebrate together by going to the Shedd Aquarium. I think I learned the most this time that I went, because I took more time than usual to read the signs and teach the kids about the exhibits. In spite of the bitter cold pouring rain and running together through it to get to the aquarium, we had a blast!!

Speaking of bitter cold rain....I had to scrape snow off of my car yesterday. I thought I was dreaming when I woke up to whiteness outside...

April!?

Every single year I try very hard to think of a brilliant April fool's joke. This year the only thing I could come up with was to either convince someone to let me be "married" to them on facebook or list Sofia as my daughter on facebook--both not very original BUT both would scare at least one person in my family/friends. I didn't follow through with any of them, but I found out later that my sister has been telling people that I really do have a secret daughter which explains my absence from NC over the past year. She doesn't quite have them convinced yet. I crack up every time I think of it. My sister and I have the perfect one for next year, though...or some other random time if we ever feel the need for more drama in our lives.

You know how thankful I am for skype? It's been so refreshing people able to skype my family here and there. It's hard to believe that it's been 4 months since I've seen them, and it will be 5 months when they're here for Phantom. 

Tickets for Phantom of the Opera at Morton College at the JPAC went on sale the first of this month! The performance dates are weekends April 29-May14, and tickets can be purchased through this link. 

Rehearsals have been fantastic for this show. I melt each time--always in awe of the talented cast! Everyone has continued to work hard which has helped us accomplish a lot in this short time that we have been rehearsing. Our masquerade rehearsal was especially fun. Our choreographer did a great job with this scene, and it's going to look so cool once we have the choreography in ourselves plus the complicated text down pat. 

Day job news: Within the past couple of weeks, darling little Sofia has made it a tradition to run to the window, wave, and kiss me goodbye. It's so adorable. This week, though, when it's the end of my workday, she has started to get her shoes and coat and squeal for me to help her and take her "bye-bye" with me. Talk about heart-melting. 

One day when we picked up Alexander from school, we arrived at home, and he gave his fish his dinner. (Notice that it's singular....the new fish died! :(... ) I noticed him rubbing the fish bowl and talking quietly to his fish saying, "Hii fishy! Fish, did you know that the opposite of up is down? And, the opposite of in is out!" I discovered that he likes to teach him what he learns in school each day, as well as provide artwork and reading material to keep his fish entertained during the day. Haha. Cute. 

I accidentally left my Phantom score at their house one evening, and the next morning I found a surprise:

THANKFULLY it's not a "return with no markings or else" score, and I get to keep it! A cast mate of mine loved it and said it's like a time capsule. Perfect description. Really funny thing about Alexander's drawings is that my brother jonathan used to draw very similar scenes!

This past week a dear friend that I met last year while working at the Willis (Sears) Tower came into town for a gig plus Chicago visit time. It was amazing fun getting to hang out with him again and getting to know him even more, since the time I met him last year was a little before I moved to NY with Becca and a little before he moved back home to Santa fe. A performance of his that I enjoy that you should check out: 

And lastly, one of the highlights of my upcoming weekend:

"The rollicking bun and the gay sally lunn..."

Another stage with the G&S Opera Company has been struck--the lovely tea parties in The Sorcerer have sadly come to an end. I was reminded once again how beautiful Mandel Hall is, got to finally see my costume and was super happy with the finished product, and got to bond even more with cast members while backstage. Surprisingly, nothing went crazily wrong in the show...like last year during the final dress rehearsal, one of the leads was locked in his dressing room and the leads on stage did some improv for a good while to keep the audience entertained.
During Saturday night's performance, I was moving quickly on my way to run up the stairs to enter stage left, and the overdress of my costume got caught on the door handle, tore a little hole, and tore the ribbon that tied the two sides together in the front. Karla came to the rescue with a safety pin hidden in her costume, but my costume was still flapping around as I moved. When I got the chance to go backstage again, I pinned it so you would never know anything had happened with it.
Just before the final dress rehearsal, our lovely director, Thrisa, tweaked a moment that I had with a birdcage into making it a moment with the birdcage and Dr. Daly. Of course, this made me verry happy. Another favorite moment of mine? I think I mentioned last year about the moment that I looked foward to was being lifted about 7 ft into the air by fellow cast member Steve during the party scene? Well...Steve was back this year, and he was my true love in the show that I returned to after the love potion was broken. When I returned to him, he would lift me into his arms and spin me around. I looovvved it. His mom helped out with the chorus during music rehearsals, and when I spoke with her after the performance that she saw, I laughed as she told me she got so scared, because it looked like I was going to fly out of his arms.
Gilbert and Sullivan shows are truly so much fun! I'll treasure the memories of this year dearly.
Pictures can be found here!

A surprise from the week: my family sent FLOWERS on monday for theatre happenings! They are beautiful!

The past couple of weeks have been full-force, hence my lack of writing! With work all day, then rehearsals every night, I had to find ways to keep my energy up. What was my favorite? $3 medium mochas during Chocolate Happy Hour at Caribou coffee. Second favorite? Dance party with the kids. Third favorite? Naked truth Green Machine drink. YUM.

A couple of weeks ago, the family that I nanny for got 2 goldfish for Alexander. He has taken such good care of them--feeding them every morning and afternoon, and watching them swim around. When we came home after I had picked him up with Sofia, I took a look into the fish bowl and realized that the orange fish was floating on his side. How in the world was I supposed to tell him that his fish had died?! I remember the tragedy of the death of my family's first fish...and I didn't know what the outcome would be. His dad was home and broke the news to him, and I offered to help him with a funeral in his backyard, but he hasn't been convinced yet that he is really dead. He thinks the water is too cold and that he is frozen.... :/


What rehearsals started this week? PHANTOM! I cannot believe how perfectly it has been cast. Austin Cook (our music director) is so on top of his game that he makes us all want to work really hard and push for excellence. I enjoyed rehearsal so much on Wednesday and am looking foward to tomorrow's!