A Chorus Line!

Hello! Long time - no blog! I have really been lacking on the blogging lately and I apologize. But the good news is that I have been busy rehearsing a new show and teaching yoga! So a lot of my "blogging time" has been taken up with studying music, scripts, choreography, writing lesson plans and making up playlists! But in a few weeks things should slow down.. maybe... I am really excited to perform this show which is a little special to me and here is why...

Me and A Chorus Line: an Epic Journey... (to me anyways)

In the fall of 2006, the Theatre and Dance Department at Missouri State University was putting on a production of A Chorus Line. They held auditions at the end of the spring semester so they could start rehearsing the show right when school started back up in the fall. I was a freshman at the time of the auditions. And I was extremely nervous! I was a Dance Performance major and I thought: "Hey! This IS a dance show for dancers, so why not audition?" Plus I was in a little choir in middle school call Dee's Dreamers (we were terrible btw...) so I can sing on pitch...just not well. But I thought "What the hell? I will audition and see what happens." 

I was 1 of 2 dance majors that auditioned for this show. At the time, or at least what I was told, dance majors didn't audition for the musicals because: 

1. We can't sing...and talking? Forget about it! (which is actually a big theme in this musical....interesting...)
2. Dance majors had student choreography dance concerts to workshop and perform at the end of the semester, so they were a little busy.

But I have always loved to perform! When I was in elementary school, I used to write short sketches and plays. Then I would perform one woman shows for my parents. Sometimes, I would get the kids at my summer camp involved in my plays, and we would perform for the camp counselors and other kids. Not to mention all the choreography I would make up in my bedroom - mostly dance numbers to the Spice Girls, Britney Spears and Will Smith - and afterwards, I would teach the dances to my 4 year old sister and again, perform these routines for my parents. Oh God bless my parents and their patience! So you can say I had a "flare for the dramatics." (Direct quote from my Grandma).

But anyways, I was super scared to sing for my audition. At this university, the singing auditions were always before the dance auditions. I knew I would get cut right away. This theory has been confirmed from past experience. I was really bummed because I KNEW I could dance the heck out of this show and I didn't want to be cut before I could show the directors what I could do. When the auditions were finally announced, it was like an answer to my prayers! The dance call was first! 

Cue gospel choir

Okay! I got this! I was ready! And I nailed the dance audition! I danced my heart out! I kicked, twirled, shook my hips, popped my head, and left everything I had on the dance floor! I remember feeling super confident and in my element. It was so freeing and fantastic! I felt like Cassie in her "Music and the Mirror" dance solo! AND I got the callback! Which meant that now I had to sing...

I was shaking in my little dance shoes. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap! I remember sitting outside the little music room where the singing audition was taking place and listening to these singers go into the room and belt out these powerhouse songs. The other auditioners waiting in the hall with me were all laughing, talking, and vocally warming up by doing those siren exercises. You could definitely tell that this was THEIR element and I didn't stand a chance! At one point, this girl came down the hall. She was a senior who was graduating, and she went up to this guy about to audition and gave him warm apple juice to help warm up and lubricate his throat. "I have to take care of my babies!" she said. And I was thinking "Damn! I just drank water out of the water fountain like an idiot!" I didn't know that you had to drink a special concoction before you sang!

Actual photo of me from that day...

It was finally my turn to sing. When they called my name my throat immediately tightened. I had this thing for a few years where I would get so nervous before singing that my throat would get a lump in it. You know the painful lump you get right before you are about to cry, but you try really hard not to? Yeah that's the one. I gave the accompanist my music, which was "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid (my FAVORITE Disney Movie). The sad part was that I was so nervous that I did not sing well at all. My voice cracked and I sang way too fast. I think the accompanist even stopped playing for a second so she could catch up to me. I was hoping that this would be an easy song to sing because I knew it by heart and I usually ROCKED at this song while singing in my shower. But singing in front of an audience is a different story. I finally got through the longest 3 minutes of my life, and I knew that I did the best that I could and all I could do now was wait. 

I believe there was another round of callbacks after the singing, but I didn't get one. "Oh well, I guess that dream is over," I thought. They posted the cast list at 11pm the next night. My dance friend who auditioned with me (she unfortunately was cut after the dance call), urged me to go look at the cast list after our dance rehearsal let out. I knew I didn't get it, so I didn't know what the point was to walk all the way across campus just to see that my name was not on the list. Plus I was sleepy...it was 11pm people! Way past my bedtime. But we ended up going to check it out. I looked at the list, and there I was!! Ashley Ann Hendrix as Betty-the-dancer-who-gets-cut-after-the-opening-number! WHAT!!??!!! I was so excited! I made it in the cast and I couldn't wait to get started!

Me warming up before the show...and striking a pose...

Over the summer break the choreographer learned the show's original choreography from Mitzi Hamilton. Mitzi is the lady whose real-life story is Val's character in the play. Val is the character that sings about getting plastic surgery on her chest and buttocks. But Mitzi made it very clear that she only had plastic surgery on her boobs, not her butt. So just make note of that because she is very proud of her natural butt!

Mitzi Hamilton - Real butt, Enhanced boobs

The choreographer asked me and one other girl to be dance captains for the show. So even though I was only on stage for the opening number, I was still at every rehearsal, learning choreography and teaching it to the actors during breaks or outside of rehearsal. And I loved it! The nights were long but I knew this show inside and out! I also really liked being able to help the other actors and help polish the show.

The Chorus Line rejects.
While the cast was getting ready for the show, we made our own signature "Line" poses.
Our poses have way more pizzazz!

Now during this time, one of my classes during the fall semester was Theatre 151 which was an Intro to Theatre Tech class. One of the credits for this class was a lab credit and we were required to work backstage for one of the department's shows. For example, running sound, lights, checking out costumes, etc. In the lecture part of this class, there was this guy, Geo Jones, who was an Acting major and he was super hot and funny! But way too popular and cool for a nerd like me. We would say "hello" to each other, but there wasn't a whole lot of interaction between us. When we started dress rehearsals for A Chorus Line, I found out that Geo was working in the costume shop for his lab credit. We started to hang out during dress rehearsals and performances.

Each night, I would perform the opening number (and I gave extra oomph because Geo was watching from the wings), and after I got "cut" Geo and I would hang out backstage. We would flirt, joke around, laugh, take a break whenever I would have to sing off-stage during the chorus parts, and then we would pick up where we left off. It was a flirty "showmance" and it was fun. But that was all it was...or so I thought...

After the show closed, I didn't expect to really hang out with Geo anymore. I thought we had a lot of fun flirting but I really didn't think that he would be interested in me because again, he was way too popular and cool to want to date me. He had a lot of friends and went to parties. I did not. I had friends, but not a huge group that I regularly hung out with. I also did not go to parties, because Hello! I had school and homework! I was a nerd, remember? But one day after our Theatre 151 class, we walked together to the campus shuttle bus in the freezing rain, and he asked me out! I seriously almost turned him down because I just didn't think I was cool enough. (I guess you could say that I had some confidence issues back then... I am much better now!)  But something told me to say yes, so I did. I mean there was no reason not to! I don't know why I was so hesitant. He was a nice guy, he made me laugh, and he was hot! So what is stopping me from seeing where this date goes? God! Live a little Ashley!

This pic was taken from a photo booth at a movie theater.
One of our first dates!

So we went out and I liked him a lot!! We really clicked. We had the same sense of humor, the same values, and the same people annoyed us...you know, all the important things that fuels every relationship! It was just great and we were great together! 2 years later he asked me to marry him and 1.5 years after that we got married! And now 11 years later, I am doing A Chorus Line again only this time I finally made it on the line as Judy Turner and Geo, my husband, gets to watch me from the audience rather than from the wings!

A couple things have changed since then, other than my last name :) I no longer think my husband is too cool for me. We are equally cool and yet at the same time, nerdy people. In fact, we are pretty much all-around bad-asses! Geo has boosted my confidence with acting and singing and encouraged me to take voice lessons to learn how to use and support my voice. Those lessons helped a lot! I still get very nervous when singing at auditions, but I no longer get the lump in my throat or want to die anymore! So big improvement there! But a few things are still the same: we still have the same sense of humor, the same values, and the same people still annoy us! Ahhhh True Love!!

The many faces of Judy Turner
A Chorus Line 2017
Photo Credit: Rob Mintzes

And next Friday, on March 24th, 2017, we open A Chorus Line at The Rockaway Theatre Company! I am ecstatic and I can't wait! Judy Turner is such a fun and quirky role! There are so many similarities between me and Judy. It has been such a blast to explore and play with this character. It is so neat to look back and see how far I have come. I did not realize that this show was such an important piece of my life until now. A Chorus Line made me want to explore acting and singing even further and it sparked a "showmance" between me and Geo that turned into a true romance. And I am extremely grateful for everything!!

Mr. & Mrs. Jones 2010

12 Days of a Yogi Christmas

Happy Holidays!!

Lots of things have been happening since my swim lessons and my Hairspray performances.

1. I am now FINALLY a Pre/Post-natal Certified Yoga Instructor! Hooray!! I have been trying to get my certification for years now, and my schedule finally allowed for it! I had a wonderful training and it was so informative and fulfilling. If anyone in the NYC area is interested be sure to check out Maha Mama.
2. My little sister graduated from college with her BS in Chemistry! Go Rachel Go!!!
3. My husband has all of his applications in for his graduate school prospects and will start auditioning in January to hopefully pursue his MFA in Acting! Go Baby Go!!!
4. And I auditioned and was cast as Judy in The Rockaway Theatre Company's production of A Chorus Line! Go Me Go!!!
5. Also, my husband got a new phone and we had to test out the camera features by having a photo shoot with my pug, Phoebe. She is one classy pug!

   

   Hopefully she gets a modeling contract soon!

So yes, I have been a little busy. And on top of that I have been teaching my regular yoga classes. Which brings me to my fun little post today!

Sometimes, I get in a rut when I am creating lesson plans for my yoga classes and I need some inspiration to make it more fun for me and for my students. During the summer Olympics this year, I had a lot of fun throwing in poses or exercises that related to what was going on:

"Beat your legs like the Synchronize Swim team! Now swim the arms!"

"Wheel Pose, just like Laurie Hernandez!"

"Superman Locust Pose! Now swim like Michael Phelps!"

And for the Holiday season I took an idea that my friend Claire had: The 12 Days of Christmas! She said she wanted to post on our studio's social media The 12 Days of Christmas but in yoga poses, but she was a little stuck. Occasionally, I have some down time at my day job, so I brainstormed and came up with the following and boy did we have fun creating this video!!

The 12 Days of a Yogi Christmas

On the 1st day of Christmas my True Love gave to me...(continue counting days all the way up to 12)

A Partridge in a Pear Tree (Tree Pose)

You MUST add the bird hands, otherwise you are just a tree with no Partridge.

Two Turtle Doves (Tortoise Pose)

Look! I'm a Turtle!

Three French Hens (Crow Pose)

This looks more hen-like than a crow right??

Four Calling Birds (Bird of Paradise Pose)

I pretty much make this face every time I do this pose, because I am always surprised that I make it!

Five Golden Rings (Bow Pose)

Five Roast Beef Sandwiches!.....I mean Five Golden Rings!!!
(anyone remember that Arby's commercial? it starts at 4:06)

Six Geese A-Laying (Child's Pose)

Do I look like a Goose that is A-Laying?

Seven Swans A-Swimming (Half Pigeon Pose)

So majestic....so graceful!

Eight Maids A-Milking (Cow Pose)

Moo! I'm a cow

Nine Ladies Dancing (Dancer's Pose)

Just a side note, being a dancer, I rarely ever do this when dancing.
But I think it is the closest thing to a ballerina that yogis could compare it to.

Ten Lords A-Leaping (Handstand L-Kicks)

This is truly how I imagine lords a-leaping...also I imagine them British...

Eleven Pipers Piping (Revolved Tree/Hand to Foot Variation)

You must do the piper hands otherwise no one will understand what you are doing

Twelve Drummers Drumming (Goddess Pose - with Drumming arms...duh!)

Hard core drummer face is optional, but you will get extra credit if you make one!

And finally to sum it all up we filmed these poses to the last verse of the song, counting down The 12 Days of a Yogi Christmas. And here is the final result! Prepare to be blow away!

There you have it! The 12 Days of a Yogi Christmas! Just a little fun video that made my day a little more creative and fun! I hope you enjoy it and that you all have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy Boxing Day! Happy New Year! 

Happy Holidays to All and to All a Goodnight! 

Hairspray!

For the past 3 weeks I have taken a little hiatus from blogging and swim lessons due to a community theater production of HAIRSPRAY! For the first missed week, the swim instructor and I knew I was going to miss that class because for Hairspray rehearsal we had an all day sitzprobe. For those of you who don't know what a "sitzprobe" is, it is where the cast and the orchestra sit down for the first time together and go through all the musical numbers in the show and hash out any timing issues.

Actual footage from our sitzprobe!

The second week, I was not feeling well. After a whole week of working full time and then going to dress rehearsal until 10pm at night, not getting home until 11:30pm (damn late night subways), finally falling asleep sometime after 1am, and getting up at 6:45am to do it all again....lets just say my immune system took a hit due to lack of sleep. Also I had 2 shows to perform in on Saturday - no bueno. And finally last Saturday, I had every intention of going to class, but due to my Friday show finishing late and we went out with friends afterwards, I turned my alarm off and accidentally went back to sleep. So I'm pretty much a slacker....

BUT!! I performed 8 shows of Hairspray and it was a blast! And even better was the fact that I was cast as Amber Von Tussle, the mean girl in this musical. This was extremely exciting for me! I have always been cast as an ensemble member in every musical I have done. I can carry a tune when I sing and I am a dancer, so I don't mind being in the ensemble! Sometimes it is more fun to be ensemble than it is to be a principle role because you get to wear different hats (sometimes literally, by actually wearing various hats) and take on different characters. For example last year, when I did Mary Poppins I was a Park Ensemble member, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Chatterbox, a School Teacher, and finally.....a Chimney Sweep!! But I'm not going to lie, being a principle role is pretty kick ass too! AND I got to sing 2 songs! What?????

The many hats of Mary Poppins

Now, when I first found out I got this role I was ecstatic!! and then I was terrified! I am not the best singer. I do okay, but I'm no Whitney Houston (aaahhh....if only...). But Amber is a mean girl, she is snobby, spoiled and bratty. I had to tell myself that it is okay if I don't have the best voice. As long as I stay true to the character then I will be fine, and will be forgiven for any missed notes. Hopefully...

Basically what I do in the show...but in a classier way :)

But just to make sure I didn't make a complete fool of myself, I took a few voice lessons with our accompanist and he gave me audio files of vocal warm ups and vocal work outs to do. These one on one sessions and the audio files were great. I began to feel more confident in my singing and I was able to forgive myself easier if my voice cracked. Everyday before rehearsals I would go through my warm ups so would be ready to go once rehearsals started, which was great because we didn't always get a vocal warm up before running through the show - no me gusta! (I'm like, really good at Spanish... or at least the few words I know!)

The show turned out to be great! I sang my songs pretty well, if I do say so myself. And the best part was that I had a whole orchestra playing and the ensemble to back me up! I felt like a rock star! My husband (who is a phenomenal singer btw and I get super self conscious singing in front of him) was very impressed with my performance, which made me glow! My mom also came to see me. She came all the way from St. Louis, MO! Which is a big deal because NYC is not her go to choice of travel options!

Here she is! Mommy D! Closing night of Hairspray!
Do you see the resemblance?

But I was very honored and humbled to be given this opportunity and so thankful to all my friends and family who came out to support me! I would definitely do this again! Sometimes, I have to force myself to do something uncomfortable to break thru the fear of "not being perfect." I feel more confident singing in front of people now and I am more forgiving if I mess up (it took me awhile to come to terms with that in dance as well). And I hear A Chorus Line auditions are coming up in December...

My favorite shot from the show, showcasing my AMAZING acting talents!
 Major sarcasm being performed here after I knock Tracy unconscious with a dodge ball.
I told you Amber was mean!