Wardrobe worst case scenario survival guide- Shoelaces

So the worst thing happened. Yep right in a quick change the shoelaces broke. Not a little broke but like super really broke somewhere in the middle of the shoe lace holes.

OK so I'm armed with shoe laces.

I've run through this scenario in my head a gazillion times. But it didn't go the way I thought cause the shoes were too tight on the kids foot for me to lace.

If shoe laces ever break in the middle of a quick change again I'm going to take the remaining lace and lace it through the top two holes and tie a bow, or maybe a knot. Like the tap shoes I had as a kid.

If I ever find myself without laces (this won't happen. I'm armed with shoe laces) I will sacrifice the lace from my hood on my hooded sweatshirt.

Dance on Broadway

Earlier this summer I had the fabulous idea to start buying the paper so I could have the coupons. I figured if I saved enough money this would pay for itself.

My plan backfired because after I read the paper and the ads and clipped my coupons I still had the Target ad staring me in the face for the rest of the week. Usually I read the paper that someone brings into work and I look at the Target ad once before someone else takes it.

So I had lots of time to think about the game Dance on Broadway for the Wii.

Hello, I work in theater I totally needed this game. Plus I decided that this game would get me in shape.

The in shape part hasn't happened yet but I don't really play it all that often because it is summer and I have been playing outside more.

Anyway I love this game. It has songs from musicals like Chicago and Cabaret which is perfect since I'm working backstage on a Kander and Ebb show called The Scottsboro Boys (go see it for real. It is amazing).

It also has selections from Hairspray, The Lion King, Fame and Little Shop of Horrors.

There isn't a dance pad for this game so you dance using the remote like in the Just Dance video game.

I recommend this game for anyone who loves dancing and who love Broadway.

ninja wardrobe rack

I used to work at a theater where backstage noise was a problem. The walls of the theater were brick and it had a metal roof and the space was small so a person couldn't breath backstage without it being heard onstage. In order to go back to the dressing room area you had to walk up a staircase behind a curtain that went right next to the audience so usually once places were called we were stuck backstage for the whole show

As a result of working here when I buy shoes/ clothes to wear backstage I think about how quiet they will be. I really try to be as silent as a ninja.

I don't work in that space anymore but I still understand the concept of being quiet backstage.

Recently I worked on a show that I would call a quiet show. It was not a musical and there weren't a lot of sound cues going on through the show. There was a rack set up for quick changes backstage but there were complaints about noise from the rack. After getting a note about it I decided that something had to be done.

So I made a ninja wardrobe rack. I covered the top tube of the rack and there were no more complaints about noise from the rack of clothes backstage. I'm still really proud of my invention and was just showing it to the ASM on the show I'm working on now. Even though it is a musical it is still important to be quiet backstage. So far I'm proud to report there have been no complaints about noise from the wardrobe rack.

A whole new Level

I know I've talked on this blog about dressing pets up. There were the matching sexy costumes and the holiday costumes for cats which were clearly designed by someone who had never owned a cat.

But this is a whole new level of pet dress up.

Yep, that's a person in a dog costume. See more pictures here.

I have officially seen everything now.

Matinee fun

Last Wednesday I went to see a matinee of M. Butterfly.

I often see matinee people going to shows when I am at work on matinee days for my own shows. So I don't want to stereotype weekday matinee people but the the median age of the house is definitely higher on those days.

So my friend Sara and I got seats in the 5th row. When I go to shows on Opening nights I am usually in the balcony.

When we got to our seats the lady sitting beside us started a conversation. Here is what happened.

Patron: I bet you were in the rush line.

Me: Oh no we work here.

Patron: I have season tickets with my group of friends and I couldn't come on the night we had our tickets so I'm here today. I usually sit on the aisle.

Sara: Oh do you want the aisle seat?

Patron: Oh no that's your seat. I couldn't take your seat.

Me: Oh it's no big deal.

Patron: Oh thank you so much.

After this we were treated by our new friend as though we were celebrities. She asked every question she could think of about costumes, props and actors. I think at one point in time she missed a line and she asked Sara "What did he say?" and Sara repeated the line for her.

I sat next to a man who fell asleep during the first act (I blame the darkness and the fact that he may have had an adult beverage with lunch from the way he smelled. The play was great. Not nap inducing) he jerked awake so suddenly that it startled me.

So anyway going to a matinee was an eye opening experience and I may have to go attend more matinees.

There's the resume I'm looking for

This weekend I went to my sister's wedding.

I have perhaps mentioned before how I'm really useful to have at weddings because of my expertise with clothing.

I arrived in town on Saturday evening and didn't connect with my mom and sister because they were buying luggage for Kim's honeymoon. My mom did stop by my room to say good night.

On Sunday morning I woke up and showered and went to get some breakfast. On my way to where the continental breakfast was set up I saw my mom dragging a steamer to one of the hotel rooms.

"There's the resume I'm looking for. We need your help to steam the dress." My mom said.

So while the steamer was heating up I got my bagel and got ready to start steaming.

This is 2 hours until pictures.

While I was steaming one of the bridesmaids asked me about the possibility of making some straps for her dress to go over her bra straps so I got her started hand sewing those while I finished dress steaming and when I was done steaming I finished sewing the straps then pinned them to the dress then stitched them on.

So I guess that having a wardrobe girl in the family comes in handy sometimes.

Play a let

What is the best thing about two show days?

Is it that Groundhog Day feeling of having done something before? No

Is it getting a two hour break in an 8 hour work day? No.

The best thing about two show days recently has been the four square games.

During the second show the cast plays four square as a warm up. They have technically already warmed up from the first show. It is quite fun and everyone comes down and gets in line for a turn.

OK remember when I said that this game was universal. OK that is not true. They play it a little differently across the pond. Here are some differences.

1) You can't hit the ball down, you have to hit the ball from under or the side. Hitting the ball from above will result in a warning, 3 warnings and you're out.

2) There is only one kind of play. A lot of kids have different games like Popcorn, Four Corners and Cherry Bombs. These don't exist in this game.

3) The person at the front of the line to play is the ref and must make calls on tough plays. Always pay attention in this spot.

Here are some terms from four square you might find helpful

Play a let= do over *Note- The phrase "play a let" is sort of sung like a cheer or chant

Bridesmaid= to hit another player with the ball.

Last week we had a leading lady show down on the four square court and there is always a line to play that snakes down the hall. Yesterday we had an official ref for a while. Very fun.