For The Record

Hi people I love!

First things first: I miss you guys. Yes, every last one of yous. Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the beautiful people in my life and how much I love them. I feel as though God gave me too much love for my one little heart to contain. I could burst! I suppose that could be how God feels about us too. Interesting. I'll have to sit and think on that one...

Yep, so I'm just feeling very grateful this quiet almost-autumn morning:). I happen to have this quiet almost-autumn morning off because my rehearsal schedule has shifted dramatically (from approx. 9:30a-6:30p to 1:00p-10:00p). I think I like it. It's much closer to what my actual working hours will be after the show opens.

Why am I punching in at the crack of noon? Well, we're into a new "stage" of the rehearsal process, she said oh so punnily. We're finally on stage! For the last four weeks we have been rehearsing on the "Probebühne" or rehearsal stage, while the brilliant set/lighting/sound designers do their thing on the real stage. Worlds converged last Saturday when 28 very curious actors got their first introduction to the gorgeous set.

DRUMROLL PLEASE...

Since we are rockin' it in the late fifties, the entire stage is a big jukebox! All of the action occurs within this jukebox, complete with a moving arm/needle. The entire top platform is a giant revolving record. Pretty cool.

It's really hard to capture because the thing is just so massive.

The balck thing that these guys are standing on is the revolving 45.

Sadly it's a little difficult to see the incredible detailing on the revolving record if you're not in the balcony. But don't worry- another EVEN BIGGER one drops from the sky in Act 1.

Some of the detail

Fun fact: The show has no traditional curtain. Between acts a jukebox selections list "curtain" is closed, displaying the plethora of songs reocrded by, inspired by, and written about Buddy Holly.

Different perspective on the "Curtain" See any songs you know?

(Note: click photo to make it larger)

I like to pretend that I'm a photographer.

See, I told you.

Seats! There are 1400 of them. Pray that there's a butt in each of them every night!

And, yes, there's even a coin slot built into the stage

(The sign is temporary. Snazzy one comes later:))

Top of the jukebox is lined with (I think, 6) televisions for an effect in the opening sequence

This is part of the backdrop for the finale of Act 1, AKA my big scene!:D

There is so, so much more. Trees falling from the sky, couches popping out of the floor, seemingly Star-Wars inspired recording studios rolling in and out, BUT a girl can only blog so much, you know;).

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I can't forget to tell you about the press conference last week! It was so much fun. The guys who play Buddy and the Crickets kicked it off with a rockstar entrance as they drove a 1956 cadillac through the theatre foyer. The cast sang a few songs from the show and took about a million pictures. The coolest thing was that we got to meet the real Buddy Holly's widow, Maria Elena Holly. She is a treat. At 74 years old she still talks about Buddy as if they were teenagers. She told us the story of how Buddy proposed to her just 5 hours after they first met (and she accepted!). She and Buddy were not even married for six months before his tragic plane crash. However she has dedicated her life to preserving his memory from Dallas to Deutschland. Here is a video with highlights from the press conference:)

http://www.stage-entertainment.de/musicals/buddy/backstage/casting.html

It's mostly in German so here's a little guide. You'll meet:

Dominik, who plays Buddy Holly (He actually sings a bit in the video!)

Yara, who plays Maria Elena Holly

Maria Elena, the actual wife of Buddy Holly

Patrick, who plays The Big Bopper

Maria Elena's interview was originally in English but it's dubbed over. Here's a translation BACK to English:) "I predict that it's gonna be a smash because everyone is so good. And I've heard that they've just had a few rehearsals, so when they finish it will be outstanding. I was a little sad when I saw the young man who will be Buddy- he's only 20, Buddy was 22, so he reminded me of Buddy. And I always say, "See, Buddy, you're here." "

I hope you enjoy the video! I didn't bother translating the entire thing for fear of boring you to sleep. But if you are just itching to know, I'd be happy to fill you in:).

Ciao!

s i d.

She's Baaaack!

Ladies and Gentlemen, yoooou're listening to Sidonie Smith. I am back online and feelin' FINE!

Why the bad Disc Jockey impersonation? Well, folks, I am just in a good mood brought on by my super fun new job! Yup, I am a-rockin' and a-rollin' six days a week now. And I still can't believe I get paid to do what I love.

If you're a regular reader you already know that I started work about two weeks ago. And if you're, say, a creepy, crazed stalker, you may have actually noticed that I deleted the name of the show and all the job details from my previous post "One For The Money, Two For The Show." I did so because the cast was asked not to release any info online until our official introduction to the press. Basically, the theatre wants the first blast of info about the cast to come from them. Fair enough. I seriously doubt that any sleazy German tabloid "journalists" are rifling through my blog-ramblings for juicy theatre gossip. But I'm a good kid, so I complied. All job info has been backspaced into oblivion; at least for today because...

TOMORROW I MEET THE PRESS!

Yessir, tomorrow afternoon we have a huge (and I mean HUGE) presentation where we will sing select numbers from the show, meet some honored guests and be photographed and interviewed by possibly every publication in this fine land. How do I feel about being interviewed in German? It varies. Just pray that tomorrow's variation will be "confident and grammatically correct."

Rehearsals are going wonderfully! I can't wait to tell you more about them when I can stop speaking in code:). Had my first fitting today too. Perhaps I can snag a picture or two from the costume  designer. My first dress is unbelievebale: A handsewn sequined gown designed/built specifically for me. Nuts. Oh! I had a really cool wig fitting the other day too! In order to look as real as possible, the wig is being created from scratch specifically to fit my head and hairline  So, last Tuesday I had a 3/4 cast made of my head, complete with a detailed tracing of my hairline. Took about an hour, but there is now a life size plaster replica of my noggin at the theatre. Apparently, I'm free to have it when I finsh my contract. Don't exactly know what I'll do with it...

 This is the part where I rack my brain to try to come up with a picture that I can post for you that won't get me fired. Hmm. Let's see what we've got here...

This is the outside of my dressing room. Very exciting;)

I share my dressing room with a great girl named Birgit (or Bigi:)). We went to the same conservatory in Hamburg, although never at the same time.

So far, this is the best shot I have of the inside. Still trying to decide on how to decorate. This is going to be my home away from home!

Here I am at my dressing table! This is where i'll be painting my face for at least the next year:)

Okie doke. That should do it. Hope things are simply smashing in your part of the world! Thanks for stopping by and I hope hope hope to hear from you soooooon! 

Essen: To Eat

Hi Friends and Family!

We have safely arrived and successfully moved to Essen Germany.  In German, the word "Essen" means "meal" or "to eat." We don't plan to take this TOO literally, seeing as we have spent the last month on, shall we say, "exercise hiatus"  liberally eating our mothers' yummy home cooking as well as all the other American/Jamaican delicacies we've been daydreaming of over the last 11 months.

It's a lovely town! We are slowly but surely unpacking and making out new flat our home. I would love to tell you more. Really, I would! But I am sad to say that we don't have internet at home yet. Right now I am at a Cafe getting strange looks for using the free Wi-fi for so long. But I can tell you that we're doing well and I start rehearsals for my new show tomorrow! 

Perhaps Ryan can fill you in on the rest another day. He's a faster typist;)

LOVE YOU!!!

s i d.

One For The Money, Two For The Show

Hi people!

I would like to take this opportunity, first of all, to pat myself on the back for posting two entire blog updates within the same calendar month. (Not to mention that I also posted one on the 31st of May which is practically, like, June zero-th...or something.)

I would also like to say thanks to the nice folks who dropped by to let me know that people do actually read my cyber chatter. Consider my heart warmed:).

So, let's see...What's been going on around here?

Well, the weather is warmer...

My neighbors got a new Golden Retriever...

and, oh yeah, I GOT AN AMAZING JOB!

*[JOB DETAILS REMOVED UNTIL OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF THE PRESS]*

Since I just talked your ear off I figure you deserve a photo or two. These pics are from the Open House performance that took place last week at my school. Enjoy!

Lara and Sid opening "What You Want" from Legally Blonde. We started the show!

My very favorite Austrian, Stefan :). I tried to make my colleagues promise that I was their favorite American (I'm still second to Angelina Jolie in some cases.)

I wasn't into it at all.

The opening to my soft shoe tap number "Takin' a Chance on Love."

More of the same.

My class performing "What You Want." I'm in there somewhere.

Part of the Academy-wide number "Step in Time"

And here's a link to a video of me singing in a previous Open House (December 08). I'm almost too embarassed to post myself singing, but I know my Moms will get a kick out of it, so here goes:

Carina, Patrick and Sidonie in "Einen Schritt Zu Weit" (trans. "A Step Too Far") from Aida:)

It's a Party!

I've got something to say. 

This is the part where you probably say something like, "Well, silly girl, it seems that you have your blog open, so why don't you just go ahead say what you have to say rather than sitting around having hypothetical conversations with yourself." (Wow, you're snippy today!) But you see, THAT'S my problem. I have something cool to say but from the response to my last blog I get the feeling I am talking to myself. You see in blog world comments=love and love=comments. So in essence, I type with the tongues of men and angels and have not love. boo.

That's right, folks, I'm having a passive aggressive pity party and you're all invited;)!

You know, maybe I won't even share my super duper fun news. How do ya like that?! It's a real shame too, cuz it's really good. Yup. I'm just gonna sit on it. Lalala. Sitting, sitting, sitting. I'm not even gonna mention that my audition for the 50s rock musical was great fun. And you will therefore have no idea that I got a callback and that it's next Wednesday at noon.

Serves you right:).

<3

I'm in love. I'm all shook up.

It's that time of year again! The time when I celebrate being married to the most handsomestest ball-and-chain a girl could ask for. You know 'im, I love 'im.....Ladies and gentelman let's hear it for Ryan Smith!!!!! (thunderous applause:))

It's trite, but I'll say it anyway: It does NOT feel like three whole years! What an interesting phenomenon this "time flies when you're having fun" thing. Truth be told, we have done quite a lot of movin' and shakin' in the last 1096 days (Emphasis on the movin part:)). We've written a master's thesis, directed shows and summer camps, worked for Mickey Mouse and moved to the other side of the globe. It's been an amazing adventure thus far, and it would not have been half as great without my favorite curly-haired partner in crime. So, I would like to dedicate this here blog to my one and only BFF and hubby extraordinaire, Ryan:).

In the spirit of celebrating Hubby the Great, I hereby welcome you to the "Did you know" portion of my blog!

Did you know...

•  ...that Ryan wakes up every morning before 7 and makes my lunch while I get ready for school whether he needs to be awake yet or not?
  
• ...that 6 years ago Ryan encouraged me to go to my very first theatre audition?
• ...that before Ryan married me I couldn't even cook rice unsupervised? (He fixed that:))
• ...that Ryan wrote a musical for young actors called MADE that deals with issues of self worth and being created in God's image?
• ...that Ryan picked up German at an alarmingly quick pace and amazes native speakers with his level of fluency practically every day?
• ...that this February Ryan directed, fight directed, costume/lighting designed, AND created the props for his first show in Germany? 
• ...that Ryan listens with love no matter how silly I'm being?
• ...that Ryan moved across the world in a matter of two weeks in order for me to continue my education in Hamburg?
• ...that Ryan loves Jesus with all of his heart?

What a guy:)

Wherever you are today I pray that you are blessed with incredible love in your life. Being in love is so wonderful, but the love that I pray for you is the unconditional, self sacrificing love that only comes from Jesus Christ. It's only through Christ's example and grace that Ryan can love me so well. And God's love has done the same in me. It's astounding. If you don't know exactly what I mean, gimme a holler and I'll tell you more!

Talk to you sooooooon!

BIG FAT HUGS!!!

s i d.

Memoirs of a Sporadic Blogger

"Why, hello there," she said sheepishly as she began her dreadfully tardy blog update. "I hope they won't be too miffed that I've taken so long to write. Probably not, considering that they are all such forgiving, understanding, and outrageously good looking people." Sidonie smiled to herself as she thought about her forgiving, understanding, outrageously good looking friends/family. She smiled knowing that the wonderful tales of European adventures that she would soon spin for them would make their long wait worthwhile...

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So.

I'm guessing the question is: "Where on earth have you been?!" The short answer is: "In Hamburg." But I highly doubt that my adoring public has been waiting the last 2.5 months for the short answer. So here's the skinny:

I am about halfway through my second semester at Joop van den Ende Academy (which, if you just tuned in, is a musical theatre conservatory in the heart of Hamburg, Germany. ) I was promoted to the next level in all of my dance classes this semester which is nice. However, if you read about my dance classes from last semester you might wonder if it's possible to get any more difficult. It is. I'll spare you the sweaty details so as to avoid reliving them myself. Suffice it to say: The concentration, coordination, unnatural physical manipulation and sheer attention to detail required to dance well is indescribable. Hug a dancer:).

Voice lessons are still going extremely well. I'm working on a Handel aria right now as well as "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess and a few other things here and there. In acting, I have three monologues and a scene (all German, of course.) I still have my private phonetics class and a slew of others that make up the six day school week. With my school schedule and Ryan's work schedule, we typically get home around 9:26, cook/eat dinner, and get ready to do it all over again. 

Speaking of Ryan, he's fantastic. I just thought you should know:).

I promised you in my last blog that I had some cool news, and here it is!  I have recently been asked by the casting department of Stage Entertainment to attend a few auditions. This is good. Students at my conservatory are not allowed to audition until their third year of school. So, I have been granted the exception of all exceptions. 

My first audition was for The Lion King and it went incredibly well. But before I get you too excited I must tell you that, sadly, I will not be the next "Lion Queen." Even though they loved my singing and acting, I am, wait for it... too tall. Believe it or not, it is not at all uncommon to lose a role for a reason that has nothing to do with how you performed your audition. But don't cry for me Argentina!! (or America, as it were:)). Sometimes this totally works in my favor. Like in my most recent audition....

On Wednesday, I auditioned for a 50s rock musical called Buddy. It's essentially the life story of American rock pioneer, Buddy Holly. (Great music, by the way).  The audition notice went something like this: Seeking African American female with fantastic stage presence and great comedic timing. Should be an excellent singer who also plays an instrument. Hmmm:). 

The audition went really well! I have no idea what will come of it. Maybe my eyelashes are too long for the role, who knows? But I do know that God is in control and if it's the job for me I definitely have the divine hook-up:). I'll let you know!

BIG FAT HUGS!!!

sidonie