Once in awhile, I have to take a step back and ask myself and the powers that be, "how on Earth did I get so lucky?" I must have been really really good in a past life, because it seems that very good things keep happening for me, and sometimes it just really blows my mind. Last year, I realised my biggest dreams by being part of Jason Robert Brown's and Alfred Uhry's "Parade" at the Donmar Warehouse directed by Rob Ashford. At the age of 25, I had achieved all I ever wanted, and it was an experience that left me indescribably happy, content, and fulfilled. For the 3 months I worked on the show, I just glowed with pride and pleasure. Jason Robert Brown is my idol, my hero, my inspiration, and being able to work with him and sing his music...I'm still disbelieving that I did it!
Let's move forward to 5 months later, and I find myself with yet another mind-blowing opportunity. I have been offered the upcoming "West Side Story" 50th anniversary tour. So, in one year, I've had the chance to sing Jason Robert Brown's material AND dance Jerome Robbins' choreography. I still sit awed and stunned. This is the stuff many only dream about and I can't quite get my head around the fact that I am living it, breathing it, DOING it! I will be understudying Anita, who is, in my opinion, one of the greatest female characters to be written for a musical. Like roles such as Cassie in "A Chorus Line," Charity in "Sweet Charity," and Janet in "The Drowsy Chaperone," the role of Anita is a triple threat's gift, and I humbly accept that gift and hope that I'm strong enough to sing, dance, and act the shit out of it when I go on. I will also be understudying the lovely little part of Rosalia, and have been given joint dance captain responsibility. To be asked to be dance captain on a show that many consider to be the greatest dance musical of all time is such an honour. I'm really surprised and feel extremely daunted at the prospect of it, but what a challenge. Mr. Robbins -- I won't let you down!
I got to work with the wonderful Tony Award winning choreographer Rob Ashford on "Parade," and learned more from him in 3 months than I learned in 3 years. Less than a year later, I have the opportunity to work with another Broadway director and choreographer, Joey Mckneely. I can already tell by the unforgiving audition process that he will work us to the bone. I will need baths every night, and will probably tone up and lose weight due to such excessive dancing (yeah!) but BRING IT ON!!! I know that I will learn a huge amount from Joey, and look forward to the privilege. Joey, Jason, and Rob are at the top of a world of directors, chreographers, composers, and playwrights who are creating musical theatre's premier works for Broadway and the West End, and I am one lucky lady to have the chance to be a tiny part of their awesome work.
"West Side Story" will tour the UK from September. It is a classy and stunning production with choreography that is out of this world, and a score that many still say is unsurpassed in the history of musical theatre. Please come and see it if you can. It is, after all, one of the greatest musicals of all time.
copyright (c) 2010-2011 Celia Mei Rubin
