Today is the last day for West Side Story. Ending the 2 week run will be bittersweet for the actors, and to a lesser extent me. Sure there have been problems… I accept that. But that doesn’t mean that it was the worst experience in my life (although for awhile it seemed like that.)

In other news, I have a cold. So do a good number of cast members. Everyone is physically exhausted and it isn’t like we aren’t bumping into each other every 5 seconds, touching rails and other things that probably 10 other people touched in the last 5 minutes. One actor was almost taken out of the production tonight because they believe he has mono among other things. When he went into the ER the doctor just told him “why are you here, you should be in bed” to which he responded “I have to be in this show.” Interestingly enough there is a full backup plan if any one of the actors becomes sick and is unable to preform his or her part. XYZ actor takes over his/her lines or they are cut in a way that doesn’t detract from the story (too much)

Of course, if it is a main character they have understudies. Except one of the leads. If he gets sick, I guess I’ll have to go in and fill for him.

One thing people forget to realize about this play is how amazingly hard it is emotionally for the cast. Everyone invests so much into the story every night. A family friend had seen this play performed by the original cast on Broadway. Supposedly the actress who played Maria came on to do her bows in tears.

There is one scene where one of the female characters is almost raped by a group of males. She is thrown around. During a talkback to a bunch of high and middle school students she was asked about this and she said that she was always in control. While that is true, it is amazingly taxing emotionally for the actress. In the many productions I have seen of West Side Story, including a few backstage, I have never seen that actress maintain her composure after that scene. Ever.

So as for the title of this post: “They’re gonna get it tonight; The more they turn it on the harder they’ll fall!”
It is from the song “Tonight,” a song that is performed in the middle of the production by the full cast. Just a FYI.

I remember high school where I had a lot of fun doing various crew jobs for plays and musicals. I also remember middle school when I had a great time as a lead in the middle-school musical.

So I guess I had high hopes when I came on to do run-crew for the UWM production of “West Side Story.”

Hah, this is fucking horrible.

The people I am working for are bossy and annoying. A lot of people would say I am hard to work with, but that isn’t the case here… I’m working fine with people, when I get some form of respect from the people I am working for. I got the job of being a grip for the production, which is OK, but being treated like crap is just unacceptable.

I was out with some of the cast last week Saturday. That was one of the better times I had during my time at UWM so I decided because of that I would stay on. Hanging out with the actors is nice, namely since I know one of them. But god damnit, this is a bitch.

This stress is getting to me. Sometimes too much. I woke up last weekend with the songs from the musical stuck in my head, sweating. Add on the pressure of deciding what to do next year and I have to say, this probably wasn’t worth it.

The school year is coming to a close and time to decide what I want to do next year is fast approaching. I am applying to Marquette at the moment (my transcripts are supposedly being sent over from Loyola, UWM, and high school) but I have yet to finish the essay “Why do I want to graduate from Marquette.” My grades are horrible and this semester

I also have the option of going to Loyola… but being out of the loop there for so long, I don’t know that I really want to go back there.

Or there is UWM… If I stay at UWM I think I will transfer majors to something else. Not sure what. Theater most likely.

I need some form of a change of scenery. Being in WFB has made me hang out with a few people who are still in high school, something that I did not want to see myself doing a few years ago.

Bah!

OK, so UWM is performing West Side Story as their first musical since 1992. Something about having a world-known art department that could never get its music and theater department to work together.

Anyways, I am working back stage crew for it. Which basically means that I move stuff when it needs to be moved, which is almost never. Practice is going on right now, and thanks to the wonders of campus wireless internet I can sit a few feet away from the actors and type and IM with little problem.

West Side Story is an interesting story to perform here in Milwaukee, much as it was during high school. The story revolves around a white and a hispanic gang fighting while a female hispanic girl (Maria) falls in love with a white boy. So obviously you would want a strong cast of hispanic actors? Hah, nope. I count 2 hispanic actors. A few black males and of course a greek guy plays one of the lead roles (he has brown-ish skin, I guess.) Maria isn’t even hispanic (good accent however)

Bah… it sucks having to constantly look over my shoulder to see if I am needed. I am so fucking bored.