It's just gone midnight -- only a couple of hours after the "Parade" journey ended. We took our final bow (3 encores!) to a full and emotional standing ovation and headed out to the Covent Garden hotel for a glass of champagne, some dim sum, and some birthday dessert for Rob Ashford, our noble leader. (That chocolate cake was DIVINE!!!) I should still be out celebrating, but all I wanted to do was come home, sit by myself, and reflect on what has been, for me, three of the happiest and most rewarding months of my whole life.
Sometimes, if you're lucky enough, the universe smiles down upon you. Call it faith, call it karma, or call it pure luck, but in that one moment, it seems as if everything conspires to come together for you in ways you never even dare to hope. For me, that moment happened when I got the phone call telling me I'd been offered a role in the fothcoming Donmar Warehouse production of "Parade." I was awed, shocked, and disbelieving. I didn't even think I'd get an audition! People like me don't work at the Donmar. That reward is reserved for those of far superior talent and experience. Somehow though, I'd snuck past the Theatre Gods and in that moment, my biggest dreams (the sorts of huge fantasies everyone has but never actually think could ever come true) became a reality. Oh my gosh, I was going to work with my idol and my hero, Mr. Jason Robert Brown! On "PARADE!" At the DONMAR WAREHOUSE! And it was all being led at the helm by Mr. Rob Ashford, a man I wanted to work with desperately after auditioning for him a couple of years previous. I didn't get that job and was GUTTED. Isn't it wonderfully bizarre how life has a way of coming full circle? I guess it's really true that patience is a virtue.
Fast forward to a few months later, and here we are at the end of a glorious run. It has been better than everything I wished for and dreamed about. So so so so special. If you remember any of the following, it means we shared a smile, so I thank you:
-- poo, sex, and food
-- food for thought farts
-- iphone
--"take your top off!"
-- Lara's engagement ring and wedding dress
-- Shaun's engagement
-- pics with Ewan Mcgregor
-- OMG, James Mcavoy is in!!! (Mark should know, he kissed him!)
-- Harry Potter's watching!
-- Kim Catrall giving all the girls a kiss and a hug
-- Steven Page rewriting the lyrics to the opening
-- "Hey!"
-- CHURCH.
-- Matt Lucas is in again????
-- Runners up for best onstage fall: Jo in Tea Dance, Celia in Factory Girls, Steven when his stool collapsed
-- Scrabulous
-- "you made me cry you fuckers" -- Alfred (darling man, our Jewish grandpa)
-- Doughnuts!!!
-- Gary's mom's cakes
-- Bailey
-- Playing with Maddie and Ed Bowman
-- Meeting Molly Brown
-- Watching Stephen Webb get spat on every night by Bertie in "hard to speak my heart" and not flinching once
-- Swing night!
-- Bertie taking his top of at Helen's birthday party
-- Dim sum!
-- Cybercandy
-- Watching Tom Murray make the lovliest faces on the moniters and waving to him even though we KNOW he can't see us
-- JRB in concert
-- Dancing to angry girl music in physical warm up
-- RECORDING THE ALBUM!!!!!
-- Tea Dance ad libs
-- Beat the clock at Belgo's
-- Jo = resident matchmaker
-- Changing Gary's ringtone
-- Changing Stu's laptop wallpaper
-- SHUT UP MAMO! Gypsy Queen!
-- Parade hangman
-- Borough Market
-- Parade VS Hairspray, WSS style!
-- Stephen Webb's truncheon
-- Old soldier's grotto
-- Massages (Mark you still owe me one!)
-- Helen's house almost burning down
-- "your ass is grass!"
-- Stardust the movie
-- "It means whale's vagina" hahahahahahahaha
-- Jo, Celia, and Mark not being able to look at each other in "Flood"
-- Amazing Grace
-- The live sex show (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- Mooncup!
-- Stephen Sondheim applauding vigorously
-- Backwards monkey
-- Essie's limp
-- Pigeon toed walk
-- "Class"
-- lady's knickers and the lady's bras
-- Chicken and bacon sandwiches
-- Nanny Mcfee
"Parade" has carved it's own special place in my heart and will stay there in it's little cubby hole always. I'm a lucky lucky lady. I'm left feeling a little empty, but I am smiling and grateful that I got to be a part of this extraordinary experience. Thanks for the laughs, and girlies -- never forget our dressing room!!!! I hope my path crosses with all of yours again someday. Wishing everyone the very best for the future.
NOW EVERYONE GO BUY THE CAST RECORDING!
copyright (c) 2010-2011 Celia Mei Rubin
