This Mother Clucker has been busy. I recently decided to
stretch my comfort level and audition, through urging from some friends, for a
musical that my community’s local theatre group was putting on. The musical was
based on a popular 1980’s movie called 9
to 5 starring the lovely Dolly Parton, Lillian Tomlin and Jane Fonda as the
three women (to quote from the musical, W-o-m-Y-n) who have had enough of their
sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot boss, Mr. Franklin Hart, and
show some girl power to stand up for women’s rights in the workplace.
I’m a karaoke junkie by night and thought – ah heck, we’ll
see what happens. I auditioned using a spoken line from the song “Cell Block
Tango” (no, not chew – pop!) because it was honestly the only line that I could
hurriedly memorize and not forget and then sang one of my canned karaoke
standbys which I could also do without forgetting, “Crazy” by Patsy Cline. The
audition was mediocre at best. I had zero confidence that I’d get cast in any
role but maybe a stand in as a background singer. Thanks to a good friend
(thanks Steve!) who saw more in me than I saw in myself – he urged the director
that I would probably be a good fit for the role of “Rosalind Keith” or “Roz”
as she is known in the musical. This friend had heard me belt it out during
summer evenings at the brewery and tossed me into the role. He knew I would
love it though at the beginning I wasn’t so sure.
Rehearsals began early December and went three nights a week
for 2-3 hours each. Of course, at the very beginning several members who were originally
cast found that other commitments pulled them from their time with the theatre
and suddenly the Director and Assistant Director were scrambling to fill those
spots.
At the same time all of this was happening, I worried that
the Director was thinking she had made a mistake in casting me in the role and
I remember one evening sending a tear soaked text to my friend saying that I
didn’t think I was cut out for the role – that someone else could have done a
better job than me.
He wasn’t having it – telling me “Trust me. Stacey does not
make decisions that she is not sure of – her only question was if you were good
in front of a crowd. She is in love with your voice and you are the perfect
Roz. Those are her words.” I stopped. I had to trust him that what he said was
true. I had spent my entire life doubting what was actually said by folks and,
yes, Steve could have been filling my head with utter Tom Flockery, but this
was going to be my role and I was going to work my hardest to make it the best
that I could.
Farm life took a bit of a backseat during the 12 weeks or so
of rehearsals. I rushed home from my day job to hurriedly feed dogs, cats,
chickens, collect eggs, fill water when needed and collect grain from the
brewery to bring back to feed to the chickens. This went on three times a week
for 12 weeks! I was absolutely on a whirlwind to get it all done and I,
shockingly, seemed to do it! Thankfully, no one critter died or (to my
knowledge) suffered in my sporadic time at home and, because it was winter, there
weren’t any gardens to till, nor supplies to ready for Farmer’s Market, etc.
Once we made it through Tech Week Hell (no matter who you
work with, or what theatre company you work with – it’s always hell), I got up
on stage that first night and those lights! I felt their warmth and the warmth
of 224 (or so) people looking at me and I surprised myself that I wasn’t
nervous. Maybe wrangling all of those chickens these past few years have taken
some of the fear away that someone would look at me and laugh. I’m already a
Mother Clucker so what else was there to make fun of? Besides, my character was
supposed to bring laughter so this was perfect!
It's been a few hours since my feet last hit the stage and
the set has been torn down and put away. I’m hearing buzzings of compliments here
and there about the musical from those who attended and others who say they
wished they had gotten tickets. It’s been a great ride.
My character was truly a character and I’m thankful that
this Mother Clucker decided to go through with it. I just needed a little shove
into the limelight to truly appreciate what a gift this production was. The people I worked with and now know I am forever thankful for. My biggest thanks go to my friend Steve for seeing more in me than just a crazy chicken farmer. J
Photo credits to the talented Zach Spicer of The Tribune
