WELL this week was definitely a week of firsts. If you haven't read Chris' post about how much we spent on laundry this week, I highly recommend it.
However, the real excitement for me this week came when I came down with bronchitis. The positives? Well with all this medication interfering with my stomach let's just say I have never looked skinnier. The gays in the dressing room were borderline begging me to breathe on them so they can drop those final 5 lbs. The negatives? Well, everything else. HOWEVER, in looking for the silver lining it is time to show some proper gratitude and appreciation for three different people who rescued me this week!
The first person would have to be Caitlin Maloney. It wasn't until about 5 pm on Thursday when I realized that my ladies (the affectionate term a lovely Diva taught me at school that I have adapted as the word for my voice) were not going to be coming together. While coughing up a lung and running a fever, I had to make the call to our stage manager that I did not think I could go on for the night. Here is where Caitlin saved the day. Although she had been in understudy rehearsals all week, they were meticulous and she hadn't even had the opportunity to fully run the show. Thursday night she went on and did what I understand to be a remarkable job; Flying by the seat of her pants, hitting all her marks, and singing her heart out as the sassy redhead Elizabeth Benning. I have to say, it is incredible in our business what happens and that is what keeps live theatre so exciting. You go, you understudy rockstar, you.
The second person I would have to thank this week is my incredible voice teacher Amy Murphy with the Amy Murphy Studio. The Amy Murphy method of singing and the incredible help I received from my asthma doctor (more on her later) truly allowed me to go back onstage and do four shows for the weekend with bronchitis. Amy checked in on me every morning and afternoon and listened to my voice and helped me work around the sickness. Thank god for Apple's FACETIME and the Amy Murphy Studio!
And the third person I would have to thank this week is the incredible Dr. Clara Chung of Birmingham. When I came down with bronchitis, she came up with a sick plan for me to aggressively fight the sickness and get back on my feet in no time. By Saturday afternoon's show I was back onstage and singing with bronchitis. This could have never been possible without the consultation and help of Dr. Chung. She's the best in Birmingham and in my humble opinion, the world. If you are sick you better RUN, don't walk to Dr. Clara Chung. Here is a lovely picture of be nebulizing on the bus. I know, I have never looked better.
Ironically, while the evil green mucous monster was trying to grow inside of my throat and body, a lovely article/interview came out in the Dayton Daily News. It was an interview with me about tour life and...wait for it....wait for it.... specifically how to stay healthy on the road with a rigorous travel and performance schedule. HOW RICH. However, it is a very nice article and I am sure my mother is thrilled to have something else to laminate and throw in a box in the attic marked "eventual scrapbook." The article is here for your viewing pleasure. (Kathy-Griffin-style, a shameless self plug.) html http://www.activedayton.com/entertainment/ohio-theater-arts/young-frankenstein-performer-on-laugh-track-1265093.html
*Be sure not to miss the part about my "best friend" (in quotes for some reason), Chris SIMPSON. *
In almost all seriousness (because I never seem to be TOO serious), this week I have been reminded of the importance of patience and understanding with oneself. First of all, as singers and performers, we hate when our voice or our bodies are not at 100 percent. Feeling under the weather and then having to put yourself out there for the world sometimes sucks. However, the truth of the matter is that sometimes we get sick. Sometimes we are not at our 100%. We have to adapt and learn how to give a stellar performance at our 80% health. However, that is when I came to a realization this week. It hit me like what I imagine the stench of the houses from the HOARDERS episodes I watched all day Thursday and Friday while inhaling on my nebulizer(Seriously, there were so many good HOARDERS episodes this week. Including the woman who had over 200 parakeets that flew free in her house and the crazy lady who kept dead cats in her freezer.) Back to my realization.. When you are sick is when you trust your technique, training, and artistry. You take a deep breath and realize there is more to your character and the part you are playing than simply your voice. You fight to keep a positive attitude. You also, hopefully, are as lucky as me and have incredibly supportive people on your side (friends, doctors, and mentors) to help you get back on your feet in no time.
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