"He's a madman!"

Jill as Aldonza, Lindsay as Fermina, and Me in my prisoner costume:

With Lane and Jill!

A description of last week: Exhausting, yet exciting.
Last week was full of being at work by 8am, leaving work at 5 to carpool to the theatre and arrive by 6, rehearse until 11pm, drive home, try to wind down and sleep, then do it all over again the next day. It was cool to see the show progress throughout the week until we opened on Friday evening. Friday evening was decent, Saturday was apparently not as decent, but Sunday was our best one so far minus the senior citizen man accepting a phone call and speaking for a while during an intense moment...haha.

I didn't fully develop my prisoner character until halfway through the week when we began to spend time working on our pre-show which was to happen for 30 minutes when the house opens. At that moment I had LOTS of time to think about it. I wanted the character to match the hairstyle that I chose to do. I teased, sprayed a ton of hairspray, and made my hair "nappy" for the whole weekend. It took quite a long time getting the tangles out Sunday evening in the shower, but I can't imagine how long someone with naturally curly would have to spend on their hair if it got into the state mine was in! Here's a closer look of one the days:

Mine and Rebecca's dear from Will flew in from New York City on Friday! We were able to really hang out on Saturday since I was so busy on Friday, and we enjoyed one of my favorite restaurants called Crepes a latte, gelato, then chatting and taking in the views of boats on the lake and the Chicago skyline at Montrose Harbor which is one of my favorite places to go. It was so much fun having him here! After the Saturday show (which he and my friend Denise went to), we went to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants here called Garcias which is in Lincoln Square. YUM. Hanging out with him flooded my mind with NYC memories from last Summer and our October visit when we thought that we were going to move back.

Will!

 Speaking of NYC, Rebecca and I are scheming a weekend visit on my birthday coming up...August 26...and I CAN'T wait. It has been almost a year since I've experienced the smells, sights, and Shake Shack (just one of the places that's a must do when we're there).

Cute story:
Last Friday, Alexander was going to have his first Tae Kwon Do belt testing. His parents had to fill out a form that described his home behavior, and a threat in getting a mark on his Tae Kwon Do form so that he couldn't get his yellow belt was what was used all week when he wasn't listening right away. Towards the end of the week, Alexander didn't like something that I said, and he said, "I'm going to tell your rehearsals and give you a mark, so then you can't be in your show and be on stage!"

6 months!

Monday I celebrated my 6 month anniversary nannying Sofia and Alexander! The family and I had a special lunch Friday to celebrate it after Alexander had a special program for theatre camp this week (which was adorable..so happy he got to go). I am still constantly thankful that I get to work for/with their family. It's so cute to look back and think of how much they have grown these past few months.

I know I'm basically being a mom, but I can't resist sharing this adorable Sofia video...

One more nanny related thing (Alexander's drawing I noticed one morning)...you know you've officially won a child over when you see this:

"Rahlen. I lev u." and if you need a translation: Rachelyn. I love you. 

Heart melting.

         
                     
This past week I was reminded how much I take good health for granted and what amazing family/friends I have.  I can't really remember the last time before this past week that I was too sick to even leave my bed. Last Friday I woke up with a splitting headache, but continued on to my nannying job. I was too excited for my weekend full of plans to really be bothered by the constant dizziness I had been feeling that afternoon. I got home after work to quickly get ready for "girls night" with my friends Jill and Tiffany, when I realized something was really up. I took my temperature, had a fever, called my mom, and she convinced me that I needed to stay home and rest.
My temperature had gotten much worse throughout the night, and I was extremely weak and achy, so I thought it was the flu. I knew I needed soup and gatorade to not get dehydrated, but I was too weak to go to the store by myself, but I didn't know who to ask or bother someone, so I prayed for someone to help. My friend Jill so kindly texted me about an hour later and asked if there was anything she could do, I told her my need, and she stopped by the store for me! Such a lovely answer to prayer.
Saturday morning's beach plans had to be cancelled, but I tried to rest up in order to survive going to my friend Matthew's birthday party since I REALLY wanted to go. I did go with Jill and survived, and I met a girl from Raleigh, NC who went to a Christian school that rivaled my school! So cool. I crashed into my bed the moment I got home, though, and my fever went way up that night. Because of my strange sore throat (sorry it's graphic--white/green mucous on my left tonsil, plus it killed to talk/swallow), splitting headache, and fever not going away, I decided to go to the target clinic, who sent me to the urgent care, because it turned out to be a really bad infection on my left tonsil. I was given strong antibiotics, a painkiller, I rested the next day, tried to take it easy the next few but got sick, and I didn't start feeling semi-normal again until Wednesday afternoon. Now I'm feeling much more like myself, and it's AMAZING.
I'm so thankful for my family who spent lots of time on the phone helping me and encouraging me, and my friends who checked on me and cared. My friend Tiffany even made me her special chicken and rice soup!
Now I'm REALLY set on cutting the chances of getting sick, I'm determined to take my vitamins and get into an exercising routine. :)

This week is tech/dress rehearsal/opening week of Man of La Mancha! Last week we began rehearsals with the pit, and it sounds so wonderful already. They're such great musicians, and our music director's ideas are perfect. We did a costumed run today, the set is almost finished, and everything is really starting to come together. This week is going to be crazy busy, but hopefully we all survive and kill it opening night :). Ticket info can be found here!  Here's the poster that Austin, (also our music director) designed:

Mine and Rebecca's dear New York City friend Will is going to be flying in Friday through Sunday and will get to see the show! I haven't seen him since October, and CAN'T WAIT to share Chicago with him. He is such a fun friend, and is one of the many reasons I miss NYC. Another dear friend, Adam, is visiting closing weekend of Man of La Mancha, which might be the last time I get to see him before he hopefully goes to Korea for 2 years to teach. So excited. I have such dedicated fans.. ;)...haha or maybe such wonderful friends. :)

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...