Ambers Sweets

It's a Tongueless Job (by Morgana Harp)

2010-05-24T09:32:00.001-07:00

...but at least Graverobber got us those tongues for Xmas.
Back to business.
After all, being a Henchgirl is all business.

Repo!rt:

Mission: Amber's Sweets May 2010 performance.

Success.
---
Only one complaint -- soreness.
My feet weren't so bad. I'm just overall sore. Though, I must admit, I wanted to die during Night Surgeon.
But let's go down the runthrough.

The practices went better than any other time. My costume change was done by the end of Depraved Heart Murder--thank you, Spudzy--and there were no major issues, as far as I know. Usually it gets ugly on show day, but everything was relatively clean.
Before the actual show, there were some concerns, but everything was dealt with well.

Walking out for Depraved heart murder, I realized that the sound was kinda....quiet? So I really played out on Violin, and apparently Dani could hear it. I thought I did well, so let's hope I did. The pictures were pretty rad of that, too bad Spooky was too surprised to get any.
Costume change was FAST. But it worked out well. Yvonne and I appeared a little early--nerves made us eager, but it was fine. We walked, and from what I can tell, for most of the show we were in sync.
I dropped the photos almost on time--there was about a second difference.
It was hard not to adjust my collar or glasses, knowing they were slightly askew. But standing there, being still was so worth it. I finally got my wish--to be splattered. It was very good. Seconds before we were to walk, I lifted my hand and consumed some of the blood on it.
Not the best taste, but hopefully people in the audience thought it was amusing.
We were off on the gunflip, but we never got a chance to practice that, so we better get it down for next time.
Run back downstairs for a costume change, arrive again as Marni.
We slayed legal assassin. I'm glad that people think I'm "savage" in that scene. It makes me happy.
The way I see it, Marni is a distortion of Nathan's love. It is no longer love, really, but a dark obsession. So I try to convey a bit of Nathan in my performance, with absolute sadism. Misty's such a lamb, it's like his old love. And then Theresa is a strange combo thereof.
The portrait panels went back without to much trouble. Time to torture Art.
I love inviting the audience by looking right at them during this scene like, "What are you going to do? Will you let this man ruin himself? You will? Good, let's get to work." And then Whispering "Assassin" in Art's ear and watching him be terrified.
We forgot our gas canister, so I just threw an imaginary one.
Standing awkwardly with Shilo was not fun, but oh well.
Intermission was fun. Got to see my loved ones, parade around tongues, and be in character. Assisting Shilo to the restroom was brilliant.
The rest of the show was amazing. I wanted to die during Night Surgeon just because I was so sore at that point.
WSTOS went very well, I think people were amused by my antics with Felicity.
Carrying Dani is not fun, but it is at the same time. I think the audience liked that we knocked him out though.
The Henchi vs Repo fight was fun. Tim mixed it up a bit, and falling was epic. The call of "Her Squeedleyspooch!" when I got hit made me internally smile--but my face was stuck as Henchgirl.
I was trying to unbuckle Tim's jacket while "carrying" him. Not fun. Then I had to stick my cattle prod in his jacket and shakily undo it. Which I failed at, he had to help me. So sorry!
Then the wheelchair started to slide, so I had to put the stopper on. I tried to make sure the coat wouldn't get caught. Once again, I am sorry for the manhandling. We'll practice that.
I think the lightsabers were appreciated. Right? Right?

After the show I talked to Spooky and Peaches and was interviewed. Turns out I know some things about Repo that he didn't know, and thus, put to shame, he turned his back on me. So I was sad. But then we talked again, so it was good.
I forgot to bring my music stand for Terrance to sign--next time, I suppose.
Someone in the audience called me a method actor. It wasn't so much that--though being a henchgirl is fun--I was just stuck due to being that way and my throat hurt from the chemicals in the air.
There were a lot of "Smile" requests. Much appreciated.

Thank you all!
See you next time.

Shilo's Repo! Diary: Part of the Collection (by Catt Miller)

2010-05-24T07:42:00.001-07:00

Hello, my sultry sweethearts-- that's right, it's that time again! Repo diaries! I apologize again if I don't tag you... you all know about those damn tag limits -_-

The May 22nd show was probably the best so far, though I fucked up quite a bit... But let me start from the beginning. Friday's Tech went really smoothly, not much to talk about there... Saturday is show day, and that's where all the fun begins.

I went to bed Saturday morning at around 12am, but actually laid in bed for three hours as I tried to fall asleep. Got about.... um... 4 to 5 hours of sleep before I had to wake up? Then we headed to the theatre, and that's where all the fun really began.

Show days are always really long, we've got tech to worry about, making sure costumes are golden, making sure none of our people have heart attacks... you know how it goes. For us members of the cast, it's no big deal... everyone knows each other, we're used to each other... ask any of us how big we think we are, and we'll just look at you, like... what? We're big? Though I guess we are... our Mag is on the front page of the MAIN Repo! website, the picture of her in the rigging has made Repo history, and is all over the web.... it's amazing. It's amazing to know that our people are the best of the best, that we have people coming from out of state just to see us.... to see US, even though they have shadowcasts in their own states.

Tech went pretty smoothly, actually... nothing particularly nasty, 'cept that our Rooster Boy sprained his ankle... it wasn't fair! I love Adam, I was sad that he didn't get to be onstage...

The hecticness began in the first full run-through. Most of us hadn't had make-up done at ALL.... and we find out that we're getting filmed up CLOSE on stage! I look weird in my costume without the dark makeup... Billy said I looked like a Muppet ;;;

So I had a LOT of extreme angled close-ups with me without makeup... as did our Amber Sweet, Graverobber, and Blind Mag. xD

Anyone! After all that was said and done, we had an hour for make-up.... and then we were spread apart so we could go on to our places. Unfortunately for me, I kinda have to stay up in the red room when the doors get opened. Whenever someone sees me walking about during seating, I always get told to go back upstairs... I guess it's kind of ironic, hm? I can't go outside. ^^;;

So, I'm sitting up there, all alone and bored out of my skull, when Spooky Dan comes up to get some shots of the theatre and filling seats from the open window. We started talking, Billy comes up and joins in... We get on the topic of what happens after Repo. I mention that I fully believe that Amber gets a hold of Shilo and makes her into some Amber Sweet Mini Me... Spooky apparently liked that idea so much that he had to write it down. xD

I couldn't stop looking around for my Dad... last show he couldn't come, and I was almost afraid something would happen this time... but he walked in the theatre, took a seat in the back-- and almost didn't recognize me when I waved at him from the upstairs window.

So, the host took over, right? Did this game where she picked two people from the audience to rip apart these pinatas-- and she picked my lovely Kyouya, my Russia, my Alec~ I was jumping up and down, I was so happy she got picked.... and she WON, too! Kyo is probably one of my CLOSEST friends, I've known her for almost two and a half years now. I trust her with my life.... So I was totally stoked.

Kyo and my girlfriend were both sitting in the front row, right next to our lovely Kim Rapp... Kit recorded the show, and I would have sent it to Art, but we can't find the fucking charger! *rages*

So! Showtime started right after TZ did his thing.... Could watch the first part from the lobby window, and OH MY GOD.

-Genetic Repo Man was all awesome, as usual... Felicity didn't have a leash this time, so placement was good... and I found it funny that she screamed right next to my dad. That girl's vocal chords-- I want them.

-Things you see, part uno-- OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. STEPHEN'S HEAD.... I could see that arc all the way from the back lobby, that was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I think I orgasmed... though my gf was NOT happy, she and Kim were right in the line of the splatter, and they both got soaked... and Kit was wearing a pure white and very expensive costume. Though, as soon as she found out that it was washable, she didn't really mind as much.

-21st century cure-- Headed down the aisle with my heart beating in my chest. I got to the front where Terrance was sitting and heard the most cheers from that area.... My timing in the rest of the scene was REALLY off, though. >.< This was made even suckier by the fact that at the point where Dani had to kneel down in the dead body paradise, right when I'm following him and freaking out... I happened to slip RIGHT on some of the blood and fell onto my ass. I was mortified... but I pulled it off like I was supposed to slip... Shilo's scared in that scene, it would make sense... right? ^^;;

-Infected- Went pretty damn well, I think! It took me a couple tries to get the nightgown on, but I didn't have the skirt on under it this time! It looked good! Almost slipped quite a few times, though... and when I went upstairs, they assured me that it was amazing!

-Things you see, part dos- Went well, of course... I noticed the crowd positively ROARING when we were walking off-stage... I had no idea Justin had actually winked, but apparently he did... xD

- Sanitarium Square- Went well, though having to stare wide-eyed really makes my contacts want to fall the fuck out. I still really don't like having to be on the stage for the reporter sequence, especially when Morgana and Yvonne have to stand there AWKWARDLY with me for 30 or so seconds... it felt really ridiculous >.<

- Inopportune phone call- Fun, as usual... though the techies forgot that they had to push the cart closer to me, so it was pretty much impossible for me to bump into it like I was supposed to. No big... I didn't do that the first two shows, so it wasn't really important.

-Graverobber and Shilo Escape- Another one that could have gone better.... Dani and I were already practically off the stage by the time Amber came out, we have TOO MUCH TIME in that scene!

-Zydrate Anatomy- I'm sorry, but we can NEVER go wrong with this scene. Ever. It's like our signature... every time we perform it, it gets better, and better, and better.... and I could hear the audience laughing as Bubbles was trying to molestify me. xD My gf said he was so distracting... Though I was PISSED at myself AGAIN! When Dani and I were running down the aisle, I TOTALLY tripped and fell, even worse than in 21st century cure... That HURT, my thigh was so red afterward, I had major rugburn... but I got back up and pretended like it never happened.

Cut to intermission... I really had to pee, but I was too scared to go alone... so I got the BEST entrance ever... an escort by the henchgirls! The people in the bathroom even said it was an amazing entrance xD And theeeeeen.... back to the show!

-Chase the Morning- Always good, and I even watched this on the video I DID manage to get off the camera in time... It went well, though I could have been a little more reactive... >.>;; Pretty Momma Marni was amazingly gorgeous... as usual!

- Everyone's a composer/come back- Went wellllll.... I do think we could have had a bit more resistance in the push/pull part, but it was amazing! Though... at the end, I had to try my hardest not to laugh when Camille's wig came off her head... luckily she was already offstage, for the most part.

- Seventeen- I'm so fucking stuuuuupidddddd.... I completely forgot about the stuffed animals until the very end ;;; And this was after time and time again where the techies and Jessalyn kept telling me to throw all of them... I'm sooo sorry, I'm an idiot *goes into a corner*

- Tonight we are betrayed- My timing was off here.... I went to get my stuff a bit too soon, so I had to walk slower over to the stairs.

- At the opera tonight- Went well! Not much to say here... though I did find out that Kyouya was the one who managed to get Dani's burrito. That girl has awesome luck xD

-Needle through a bug- That VEIL.... for some reason, wearing a veil really irritates the contacts. I had to blink and move it at least fifty times so that they didn't slip out. And again... forgot Elisabeth's advice, and had my back to the audience.

- Let the monster rise- I think this was the scene that I ended up the most mortified about. I... am soooo not happy with myself, and I was berating myself backstage. Not only did I screw up timing badly, and hit Tim too soon with the shovel... but when I threw the helmet at him, my aim was so bad that it glanced off him and went rolling off of the stage. Kit said that somebody had to go and put it back up there. I was so glad it didn't break... I'm sorry I failed so much, Tim ;;;

- Sawman's Lament- It went well... I don't think I was horribly off on anything here... though every time Tristan grabs me, I feel so violated-- but I guess that's the point, right? xD

-Cut the ties- Got up on time, did all timing right... but I suddenly got that really sucky sinking feeling in my head when I realized that I had forgotten to put my earplugs in my ears. Not a big issue, normally... but considering that I am RIGHT there when Bubbles had to shoot Tim, I was directly in the line of sound... so I may have taken a larger step back then I normally would have, for fear of my eardrums shattering. Luckily, despite the loudness... I was so used to the booming music that the gunshot really didn't do anything to my ears at all.

And Tim was bleeding this time! I was happy... I ran to him and tried to "stop the bleeding", looking out into the audience for help. My actual intention was to get as much blood on me as I could... because I'm weird. Though... it felt a lot less awkward doing that then running around checking the wheelchair... thigh I did remember to make certain that his coat wasn't caught. I wanted NO repeats of the first show, thank you very much. That is probably my most important job in that scene xD

- Never knew I loved you so much- Went well... I think Tim might have really caught on to my desire for blood by that time, because I saw him rubbing his hand in the blood a little before reaching up to touch my cheek. I felt the blood, and I was very happy. Because I'm weird.

- Genetic Emancipation- What my dad (and Art) described to me was really surprising. Last time, everyone was loud, their catcalls didn't end at all... but this time, Art and Dad told me that the audience was loud, obnoxious, rude, and annoying-- until I started singing. They said that it suddenly fell silent, that the sound of the audience cut off completely the moment I opened my mouth to sing my final solo. I went down the aisle, and I could see the audience standing up for me, row by row... and even though it happened last time, it still sparked this feeling of... I don't even know... All I know is that I had to keep from crying again. That feeling is the best feeling in the world... i never ever want to give it up.

Then came bows, and intermingling time. Kit got the VIP package JUST so I'd have the comics, and even went to get them signed. I stood in line with her, and Spooky told me I was amazing... and Terrance looked at me and said something that made me blush. He said that the only criticism he had for my performance was that my skirt was too long. I gave just enough to make the guys want more, but not enough to deliver. My girlfriend and Kyouya adamantly agreed. -_- He signed the comics for me, and then he signed a poster that Kit bought with the words "first time's free, Shilo... first time's free"

Then I went to start cleaning up, swept the aisles... I absolutely hate those poppers. I really, really do. Sat with everyone until the five minute mark, then my Dad took me, Kit, and Sinead home. Afterward was pretty entertaining... my dad was so surprised that Paul Sorvino was in the movie. He said that Paul was so famous that he could probably easily ask for TONS of money... and he also said that he had actually been working himself up to NOT like the movie... he was certain he wouldn't, but he said afterward that he was really surprised. He said that... and this is the clincher, guys...

He told me that in his honest opinion, we didn't NEED the movie. He said that we could stand on our own, that we were so good that we didn't need it playing in the background. He also said that some of the music was really well composed, another thing that surprised him.

He also told me that Ami came up to talk to him, and when he told her he didn't get to see her boobs, that she actually flashed him xDDDDD

Dad wants to see us doing it as an actual play. He said it'd be amazing. xD

Anyway... the only other thing I have to say was that when I woke up this morning, my thighs were BURNING... I can barely fucking walk, I'm so sore. I am in so much pain... I don't even know WHY. xD

Anyway... we rocked this opera shit!

From The Desk Of Rotti Largo (by Justin Boeser)

2010-05-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

So... I have neglected my duties of REPO diaries for the past shows, so I am doing this NOW before it all leaves my mind. Where to begin......

We got to the theater at 10:15. I was VERY happy to see that our previous night of organizing and moving stuff paid off. Andie was already running the techies through a set moving rehearsal! HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY! I went and sat with Macie for a few minutes before I decided to go and set all my costume pieces where they should be and make sure my props were exactly where they needed to be.

blah blah blah... some stuff that isn't really important... blah blah blah.

MMKAY! So I decided to change my entrance from stage right to floor right, coming from the little alcove. I thought that it would just be WAY easier than being crammed into that stage right space with most of the actors, and all our furniture set pieces. ITS SO MUCH BETTER OVER THERE! haha! thats where I'll be entering from now on.

So we started our first rehearsal and pretty much everything went great for me! No huge mistakes, I didn't drop anything, trip, forget lines... nothin! i was very pleased. There were really only 4 things that scared me about that night's performance that just kept lingering over my head.

1. MY 20 SECOND COSTUME CHANGE from Rotti into a Z-addict. BUT there really wasn't any need to freak out about it cause I worked it out so that I'd still have a couple seconds to gather myself before going on stage.

2. NIGHT SURGEON. Instead of having a special effects guy chillin next to me behind Billy's wheelchair to make all his blood come out at the appropriate times, I was now squirting the blood out of his neck. It was a very simple thing to do... just squish it all out of a syringe into a tube... but the 1st and only time I would be doing this was during the performance. SO I WAS SCARED to mess it up.

3. GOLD. Now... how could I possibly be worried about one of the easiest scenes in the whole show? A scene that I basically just sit there for? WELL, due to the combonation of Paul Sorvino's amazingness, and Felicity's genius, I would now be taking shots during one of my lines! haha! I was more concerned about when during my song I'd be doing this, if I'd be able to do it fast enough to still do my last note, and (after being told I was going to be using Andie's glass shot glasses) not breaking them.

4. ROTTI KILLING NATHAN. Ok... so not gonna lie, but I was kind worried about my whole last like... 2-3 minutes alive on stage. First of all, I don't know what happened, but during the reheasal before tech, I forgot all my death scene lines. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY! And the words would not come back to me, so i had to read them over and over until they stuck. THANKFULLY, I got them all down, and i think I worked the shit out of it. HAHA! BUT, as you all know, I would not be using just any old gun for this scene anymore, oh no! I would be using a stage gun loaded with a blank and would actually be shooting it on stage. i was just like... WHAT.THE.FUCK?! HAHA! i was SO excited to do this! But i was scared to DEATH about it going off in my pocket, going off as Catt and I passed it to each other over and over, it going off as I dropped it while I die, OR it not even going off at all. I WAS SCURRED. AND to top it off, I only had about 3 seconds to steal it from Catt, cock it, release it, aim it, and shoot it. yes! the nerves were going.

OK.. and so now... the only thing out of these 4 that I would actually be practicing during rehearsal was the shots during Gold. We got to that part, and it started out badly already. HAHA!! not because i couldn't grab them, or Felicity did anything wrong, but some of them were stuck together and I couldn't get them apart in time. BUT, to my happiness, we were using plastic glasses, and not glass ones.

OH! and i got to practice my 20 second costume change too! In fact, Zydrate Anatomy was AMAZING!!! you guys have really locked it in! And POOR ADAM!!!! I was there when you fucked your shit up and i felt so bad!! IT LOOKED NASTY!

anywho... the rest of that reheasal went well.

Then It was break time! I spent that time eating my only meal of that day... some trail mix. haha! I had just asked Tim if I could practice shooting the gun just so I would know what to expect. He said we would in a little bit and so I just went and sat down again. But as I was sitting there, Billy sat in front of me, followed by some other people and was all like "Rotti, pay attention! pay attention" and I was just REALLY confused about what was happening and then BOOM!! mother fuck. Tim, who was like.... 10 feet away from me, shot the gun IN MY direction AND I SCREAMED AND JUMPED. IT WAS SO LOUD! IT SOUNDED SO REAL! so now my nerves and excitiment went up to about 39827394 on scale of 1-10. It was finally going to be my turn to shoot the gun, but it was all jammed, and wouldn't work! SHITTY! so he had to take a look at it and try to fix it.

I decided it was time to start changing into my costume since the next rehearsal was a full costume run. After I changed, I went backstage left to put my real clothes away and thats when Chris was announcing that he was going to be doing his ear drum shattering sound checks. SO Felicity and I, after screaming WAIT WAIT!!! ran outside, where we had to stay for like... 5 minutes. It was a cute bonding moment. HAHA! After the sound thing, Ashley was calling 5 minutes till places! I wasn't worried cause I had all my costume on, all my stuff where it needed to be, and my wig was lookin like some HOTness. BUT THEN we found out that we were going to be filmed up close for this. SO i had 5 minutes to grab my make up, get to the bathroom, take out my piercings (which is harder than it seems), do my make up, hid the piercings I don't normally take out, and get back in place. I got back there right as Felicity died on stage. YIPPY!

So that run-through went pretty damn great! I was going to be practicing my shots again during GOLD, and was finally going to get to shoot the gun to kill Nathan. The shots started out going pretty well, I got the first 5 or so down with no problem. But the second to last one, got stuck in my throat, and the last one kinda just... sat on top of that one. I never thought that I could totally choke, puke, and die from drinking iced tea before. haha! So that was something I'd have to fix for the show.

Then I had my gun all loaded and ready to go, before I was told that i was NOT going to be shooting it for this run-through. Sooooo... yeah. No bang! I didn't shoot it, and was scared that the only time I was going to actually get to shoot it was on stage, during the performance. I WAS TERRIFIED!

So after that run-through, the line had already started forming, I still needed to get in full make up, do a mini photo shoot, and get in place. AND I STILL NEEDED TO FIRE THAT DAMN GUN! AND there was about 30 minutes until we opened the doors. I got all my shit done and went and found Tim to fire the gun. I put my newly required ear plugs in, loaded that shit, and fired! HAY!!!!! it was SO loud! And I was concerned that the neighbors and stuff would be scared, but then I realized that, in that neighborhood, they were probably used to it. HAHAHAHA!

After sitting in my little alcove for a while, I went outside to smoke. Thats when Terrance arrived. He came over, we hugged, Spooky was filmed him for a little bit, then he went inside. ALMOST SHOWTIME and i was SOOOOOO EXCITED! To make this even better, there was a family that drove JUST TO SEE US through the snow, from NEVADA! It was SO nice to meet them and I'm SO glad they could come out to the show. People from ALL OVER Cali came to see us BUT we have OUT OF STATERS COMING TO SEE US! you guys... AWESOME!

All the pre-show things went on. Stephanie introduced us, Jessalyn and some genterns baptised the crowd, Terrance showed a clip of his art lessons, 2 auidence members ripped open a pinata (or so it looked like) to find organs... and all that good stuff! And as Morgana walked across that stage perfectly playing her violin, my heart almost jumped out of my chest! The audience was AMAZING. They were SO loud, happy, and excited as hell to be there! Dani worked his shit as he did his first scene to a cheering crowd, to which Felicity was also murdered by Tim. PERFECTION. I knew it was going to be an amazing night!

ROTTI'S OFFICE/THINGS YOU SEE IN A GRAVEYARD. amazing amazing AMAZING!!!!!!! STEPHEN'S HEAD! OMG!! hahah! In the first show, the blood shot out the wrong way, COVERING me in blood. It took everything I had to remain calm and stoic. I was prepared for that again. BUT NO! instead, IT WENT EVERYWHERE!!! IT SHOT SO FAR! I WAS SO EXCITED I COULD HAVE PEED!!!! AND the only blood that got on me was a little mist... nothing to be worried about.

THINGS YOU SEE IN A GRAVEYARD 2/LIMO RIDE went with NO noticeable problems! The audience laughed at the Henchies covering my mouth during "...difficult", and at me winking at them after "who says that dad needs to know everything?". I LOVED the audience. they were amazing! And Catt... I applaud you! Everytime we do this scene, I always cringe when you get thrown on your knees cause it looks PAINFUL! But, everytime, you take it like a champ! good good job!

SANITARIAN SQUARE was AMAZING! everyone got their cues down perfectly and it looked AWESOME! AND the crowd could actually hear the Largo kids get all pissed off. haha! I didn't know if they could hear Jessalyn grunting last time, but this time, they laughed. so that was good!

the REPORTER SCENE went amazingly! I'm glad we decided to move upstage cause it made things MUCH easier for the henchies... not having to push through the crowd and shit.

INOPPORTUNE PHONE CALL... now... I am NOT in this scene. BUT TIM... even though the spine was a little bitch from hell, you still worked it! You worked the shit out of it! don't even worry baby!

ZYDRATE SUPPORT NETWORK was great in all its 1 minute of stage time. haha!

ok... NOW FOR MY VERY quick costume change. Last show, I decided that I would take off my tie, belt, and suspenders and put on my skirt and plaid shirt BEFORE Zydrate Support Network. Then I can just hold my pants up and put my coat on over my z-addict costume. THIS WORKS SO MUCH BETTER! I don't know if yall know about the first show and how it worked out! haha! well... I basically went out as Rotti with a skirt on. HAHAHAA!! it failed.. but this time... EPIC! IT WORKED SO NICELY!

ZYDRATE ANATOMY was AMAZING. I don't think the crowd stopped cheering!! it was seriously AWESOME! There is already a video on Youtube of it, and everyone got it LOCKED. it was SO good! Remember yall, Zydrate Anatomy is pretty much Repo!'s Time Warp! WE HAVE TO MAKE IT PERFECT! and that, we did!

INTERMISSION! HAY! smoke break. get dressed. blah blah blah. This is when I finally got to take a look at Billy's neck appliance that I would be squirting blood out of. I was pretty positive I could get it!

WHO ORDERED PIZZA was AWESOME! Ever since Sac Anime, I'm always scared that the spine is going to fall off the table. BUT it hasn't since! so that is good! AND NOW THE BAG HAS A LIGHT IN IT! WHAT THE FUCK?!?! ITS EPIC AND AWESOME! AND everything seemed to go perfectly!

NIGHT SURGEON... oh god. I was shaking! I WAS SO SCARED TO FUCK UP THE BLOOD! I'm still not even fully sure if it came out the right way! haha! All I know is that I squished it out, and was still laughing and mocking Tim as I did it... SO I HOPE IT WORKED OUT! The blood was MUCH harder to push through the syringe than I thought it would be! GOD DAMN! I thought i fucked it up! but i think and hope it was ok!

HAPPINESS IS NOT A WARM SCALPEL was a scene that I did kinda mess up in. Nothing TOO huge, but I came out with my glasses on. HAHAA!! I did just take them off while Jessalyn was singing and put them in my pocket, so hopefully, no one noticed. I'm SO glad we could finally get something on Jessalyn's face this time! I still am voting for a Hannah Montana face cut out next time though! HAHAHA!

GOLD. YES YES YES! It all went well! My coat didn't get stuck on my giant arms while I was trying to put it while singing, I got all my cues, I ACTUALLY opened the damn box of gold this time... i forgot to during the last show. haha! AND I was able to get the will and quill out when it needed to be. GOOD GOOD GOOD! So then, Felicity comes up in al her Gentern glory with my shots, sets them down, I look at them, and then mid-line, I start shootin them! HAY!!!! 1,2,3,4,5 were fine! but the 6th one kinda... just.. stayed in my throat! IT SUCKED! BUT I couldn't deny the very loud cheering audience that one last shot. So I kinda just.. dumped it on my mouth and let it get all over. hahaha!!! I wasn't going to risk stacking that one on top of the one that was stuck in my throat and choking. BLEH! I didn't finish with enough time to do my last note. So I just ended it with a great hand flourish. haha!

AT THE OPERA TONIGHT was EPIC! i loved it! and we were able to get around the theater in good time!

WE STARTED THIS OPERA SHIT got everyone on their feet! AWESOME!!! it was so cool to stand in the back of the theater and watch it unfold. It seriously gave me chills!

BUON GIORNO.... ooohhh man. HAHA!!! It was PERFECT up until "Everything is priced to go". During "priced"... the sound disappeared! HAHAHAA! OMG I WAS SO SCARED! it was probably for maybe 2 seconds, but it felt like FOREVER! I just kinda went into my jazz hands and kept goin with it! UGH! but i couldn't help but laugh cause one of the genterns on my side.. it may have been Elisabeth yelled "OH SHIT!" hahahah!!! hilarious. But the sound came back, and everything was grand!

CHROMAGGIA... now... i'm in this scene for like... 2 seconds. BUT CAMILLE... OMG YOU ARE SO AMAZING! you are just EPIC! i love you so much and your portrayal of Mag is flawless. I know you know this, but I just wanted to say it. YOU ARE AWESOME.

PIECE DE RESISTANCE was great in its 30 seconds of stage time. haha! I think the spotlight made it my way, so thats good!

THE WHOLE OPERA SCENE was sooo so so so SO epic! The only thing that I didn't like was that I was earing ear plugs the whole time so I couldn't fully hear my cues. BUT i needed them in so I could still hear after I shot the gun. The scene was spectacular! everything went great. During the black out, I ran to the side stage, grabbed my LOADED gun (that I decided I didn't want in my pocket during the whole scene), and waited for the scene to start back up. As soon as I reached into my jacket to grab the gun, my heart started POUNDING. i was TERRIFIED of that thing! hahah! BUT I WAS SO FUCKING EXCITED FOR IT! During the scene, everytime Catt and I would pass the gun, my heart stopped thinking it was going to go off. I just prayed that it went all right! Its about 5 seconds until I have to steal the gun and cock it, everything dissapeared. haha! all I could focus on and think about was how I was going to do this. AND I didn't realize that the hand that i use to cock the gun, was preoccupied with holding my will. so i was like.. this isn't going to work. SO I grabbed the gun, tried to cock it, but it wouldn't go. SO i tried to press the realease button, but that wouldn't go. So I was sad. I was like.. well... the gun isn't going to work. Whatever.. we didn't have a shooting gun during any of the other shows, soooo its really not that big of a deal. I aimed NEXT to Tim (not at him... Brandon Lee... enough said) and PRETENDED to shoot. BUT pulled the trigger anyway maybe a quarter of a second AFTER Rotti does in the movie, AND IT SHOT! OMG IT WORKED! I WAS SO HAPPY!!! yes, it was a little later, but It still totaly worked! I was exstatic! FUCK YEAH! bomb ass shit.

so then we finished up TO A STANDING OVATION, bowed, met some fans, I went around for a couple hours gathering garbage before I realized Terrance's line was FINALLY short enough for me to stand in, got my cane signed, my picture with him, we chatted breifly, and we were on our way!

YOU GUYS! we did VERY well last night. SO SO SO WELL! thank you to all for making this amazing! Thank you Tim and Ashley for your HUGE amount of support and professionalism, thank you to the rest of the exec team for kicking SO much ass! Thank you to Chris and his helpers for kicking even more ass! Thank you to the rig guys, YOU'RE AMAZING! Thanks to all the actors in our show! WE ALL DID SO WELL!!!! THANK YOU TECHIES! we'd be completely lost without you! You're amazing. KIM RAPP needs her own THANK YOU because, not only is she the best fan, but shes just awesome in general. Thank you Terrance, Spooky, and Stephanie for EVERYTHING. BUT MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU, FANS! your support has been EPIC and THANK YOU SO MUCH for giving Amber's Sweets a name! I LOVE YOU ALL and I can't wait to do this again in August with the amazing Alisa Burkett!

<3 Bubbles
<3 Justin Boeser
<3 The Queen Of Hell
<3 Rotti Largo

Hugs, Groping, and Bloody Kisses (by Kim Rapp)

2010-05-23T22:07:00.001-07:00

Wow... where to begin? I was so stoked for the last month about the show, so when it came time to actually gather up the baked goods I decorated for the Sweets and bring them to the theater for the show, I could barely do anything but mentally squeal as I drove over. I was directed to the back door by Felicity and Ashley, so no need to wait outside this time while the box office stared at me as I was holding 7 pounds of sugary goodness. Anyway, I step into the back door hallway and I run into Meg, Kitty and Ron. We chit chatted as the Sweets were doing their last rehearsal run through before the show. It was productive, we discussed underwear and glow jewelry :)

So, once they ran the credits and everyone took their bows I scurried into the theater and set down the cake and cupcakes. I felt that same "heart in throat" feeling I always get when I step into The Colonial for Repo, and I don't think you could have removed my smile with a chisel. I feel like I belong with the Sweets and all of the Repo ilk. I got a lot of hugs and even through the chaos of preparing for the show they took the time to stop and talk to me. I was being very smart and staying out of the way, but they came to me anyway :) I basically stood around to watch the hustle and bustle as everyone tried to get their stuff together. Ron kept me company when he wasn't busy as we spoke about the show and the excitement in the air. I advised Andy (a few different times :)) to breathe as she sprinted around the theater, so she could save her energy to be super-techie.

Anyway, after a bit I went up to retrieve my VIP pass (later I found out the guy wasn't paying that much attention to my ticket and gave me the regular VIP instead of the gold I ordered) then came back down to chit chat. It was basically a lot of standing super close to my seat so I didn't get run over. Shortly after they opened the doors I saw some people with a gold VIP badge that had The Molting on it too... I went "Um, aren't I supposed to have that same one?" I went back to nicely get my badge changed out for the correct one, and the awesome SHFF guy that did it for me was so cool. As he was getting the right one I realized I had run into SpookyDan in the lobby. I spoke to him, telling him it was great that he joined us again and it was good to see him. We chatted for a couple before I saw that TZ was in the middle of the line coming into the lobby. I kind of had the freeze-up reaction, but I relaxed quickly. I wasn't going to choke like I did in October :)

I let it slip to Spooky that I had choked in October when I met TZ so of course, when Terrance comes near us Spooky tells him to go to me and takes my camera. Yeah... I still had some awkward left, I had this goofy laugh going on in my head. Just SUPER happy it didn't come out of my mouth, heehee. Anyway, I left the lobby after talking to Jessalyn for a moment and getting my picture with TZ. We had more chit chat before it was time to start the show, and I was already having fun. (By the way, whomever picked the playlist for the pre-show has fantastic taste :)) A Repo mom also gave me a job! She gave me a couple stuffed animals and told me I could lob them into the audience during Seventeen (she let me pick one to keep and I could throw the other 2 so I own the lion care cousin now).

As the show started, we had Stephanie do a great intro. She had 2 audience members come up and tear open a male and female set of pinatas as a contest. The first person to find the Repo organ got a swag bag. I was so jealous, the girl that went up was sitting next to me and she won a bunch of stuff. It was her first time there, too.

So, Stephanie called our very own Amber (Jessalyn) to the stage to swear us in to the Church of Repo, then we got to see the very first of Terrance's art tutorial videos. We were privileged enough to be the first to witness it, apart from his and his business partner/friend Shem's eyes. It got a big reception, it was hilarious! It is still so refreshing to see people like Terrance and Shem as humble as they are. They understand the fandom and embrace us all.

When they announced the show I was already on the edge of my seat. I love watching Morhighan as the violinist at the start. Something so simple as gracefully crossing the stage while playing a beautiful instrument before the blood starts to fly is like a calm before the storm. It was also great to watch Felicity actually get to panic-walk around the stage while waiting to be offed. The true pace setter of the movie though... oh my Cthulu... was the headshot. That gun goes off and -SPLAT!- I felt the cold, multiple wet drops hit my skin. I was so happy I cheered without hesitation, I had been waiting for spray since December! The best part was the arc of the blood was amazing looking and I had worn a white shirt hoping for the spray that hadn't ever happened before. The floor was covered in droplets, it looked like the nightclub from Blade... awesome.
I have to tell you too... Catt... Kit and Angela sat right next to me and I was dying. I laughed so hard I almost fell off my seat, because the "How to survive" tips were on the screen while we waited for the show to start and when Angela saw the "Spray Zone" message she sounded concerned. Kit told her, "Oh, the spray never happens". Yeah, needless to say I had a great reason to laugh :)

Justin and henchies were awesome as always, and it always makes me giggle at how manly Bubbles is as Rotti until the credits roll and he turns into Charlie's Angel with that gun *laugh* Epic. Eevee and Morhighan, you two are so badass and each show you maintain that unity and total chill that you embody as henchies.

Dani and Catt did a brilliant job on "21st Century Cure" and even the laser pointer was done well! They didn't miss a beat, and pulled off the number brilliantly. I think everyone yelled "GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

AVES!" right along with you, Dani... I know I did :)

By the way, even though there are callbacks I am almost always so into the show I don't say anything except some singing and of course obvious things like "Pavi, shut the fuck up!" Anyway, the one callback I did do got some laughs... whoever came up with saying "You let Buffy die twice!" is genius :) Anyway, my seat-mate Mone't was the lucky one that got the pill bottle this show. Her's had a GeneCo pharmacy label on it!! Lucky! I did bring my pill bottle from the December show though and finally got Catt to sign it :) '

When it came to "Legal Assassin" I was amazed at how well Tim pulled off his Nathan-ness. He always does a great job but I felt like Nathan stepped off the screen and his emotions were so well expressed to us. You could feel his pain, and it is always amazing when Theresa comes to him as Marni and escorts him to his kill. I love the look of terror on "Gregory's" face, it's very believable. Also... Tim you still scare the crap out of me with your faces :)

It seemed like everyone in the audience sang the jingle before "Mark It Up", and "Mark It Up" itself was sooo much fun. We apparently, as an audience, love to say "fuck". Michelle did a great job of writhing around bleeding while Jeff and Tristan pulled off the brothers incredibly well and Felicity and Elisabeth made me wish I was a Gentern. Heehee.

Of course the continuation of "Things you See in a Graveyard" was great, my favorite part is always the muffled singing being conveyed as the henchies covering Rotti's mouth.

"Thankless Job" comes up and of course you can't help but laugh at airplane arms mixed in with a heart tossed into the audience. I love the way Gregory slid down the board after being shredded up and made into a meat puppet. Tim, again you have a great talent for exhibiting the same character dichotomy that A.S.H. does as Nathan, bravo.

Meg, I wish I could do cartwheels like you! Sanitarium Square is always great (I love the Screw GeneCo sign, I need to make my own!) and even though there is a lot going on in the scene you can still focus on the parts that are meant to be watched at certain times. Of course, watching Jeff do a spit take then stab Billy to the ground is always amusing. I love the Largo children and their performances!

I love Inopportuned Phone Call, I just don't envy the headache Trevor might have after hanging from that rig and thrashing around so vigorously. I noticed too, even if it isn't true Tim seems to be getting along better with those glaring L.E.D. lights in the helmet. It looks awesome as he is tearing Trevor up. Don't worry though Trevor, we love you for your spine :)

Okay, I finally got video this show of "Zydrate Anatomy" and I even panned a bit to catch everyone. All of you were so in tune and I must admit... Bubbles I totally love watching you twitch! You just look like the perfect junkie, it's great :) I did post my videos on Youtube as NYBlood80, so feel free to go looking for my stuff. There are videos from last show, too. "Zydrate Anatomy" was very well done, and by the end I was certainly craving my own hit of Z.

I was so excited through the whole show up to intermission. The lights went on and I was still grinning like a fool. As everyone used intermission to do their thing I stood to stretch my legs. Multiple people approached me, asking if I got sprayed. Like an excited little kid, my eyes lit up and I nodded emphatically as I showed my bloody shirt. I got the same responses back, they were all just as happy as I was! Some people light up at Christmas time, I light up when I get splattered with gore. It was pointed out that the blood hit the ceiling, so I don't think it could have been much better. I talked with my companion, Mone't, as we waited for the show to start back up. I think she saw exactly how much I geek out over Repo! but I don't think she holds it against me :) Dwight came up and asked me if he could pull me out of my seat for "We started this Op'ra shit" and I flipped out. Of COURSE he could!! He was originally going to just jump in my lap like last time, but if he's leaving I guess he's doing it with a bang :) (So says his eunich freestyle during "Blame Not My Cheeks"). I was so stoked when the show started up again, I got to hurl stuffed animals AND dance in front of the stage? WHOOT!

"Night Surgeon" was great, I was kind of hoping with all the vigorous slashing there might be more splatter for me (heehee!) but there was no disappointment to be had. Everything about it, right down to the menacingly wielded butter knives, was perfect.

I finally got video of "Chase the Morning" as well, I am so happy I did too. I wanted to catch Theresa's glow in the dark performance and the great scene between Catt and Camille. Everyone screamed for the Marni material just like they did last show when the glowing was introduced. It's an amazing effect! The confrontation between the 3 right after was just as great, it always feels so real.

"Seventeen" is so much fun, and now they gave me stuff to throw. I don't think I could have been happier, dorky I know. Ashley did her friggin awesome Joan Jett, and Catt threw a great "concert" :) I might have to make my own Shilo poster to bring to next show or something. Christopher is so adorable! When Nathan slaps Shilo, Mone't and I had to bust out the "You got knocked the fuck out!" of course.

"Happiness is not a warm scalpel" and "Gold" were great as always. I LOVE that you guys added the shots to the song. Spooky was next to me when that happened and when I started laughing I found out he had filmed that particular event and thought the reference was great too. Bubbles, you did a great job and I didn't see you break one of those glasses :-P

I will say "At the Opera Tonight" was a blur, because I got drawn in enough to just know it was seamless and worked very well. Everyone did their parts amazingly, and the thrown burritos certainly were an interesting touch.

Okay I have to say... I don't even dance when I am alone.... so in front of people is something I would never ever do (as outgoing as I am, I'm still somewhat self conscious). When "We Started This Op'ra Shit" came on and that music hit me... Dwight grabbed my hand as Bandleader and brought me in front of the stage with one other fan. We danced and danced and testified and I felt like a completely different person. It was something I'd like to sincerely thank Dwight for, because it made me feel so alive. I needed to do that, I needed to Testify. I don't think I'll be so self conscious now, especially after I got to do that. It held some sort of symbolism for me, and oddly enough I think you guys understand :)

Oh my... okay, "Blame Not My Cheeks" was awesome, even if the dress did get somewhat destroyed. I loved the spin and bloodied face and Dwight breaking the stage with moves that needed to be caught on camera! Stephen and Dwight... your replacements will have huge codpieces to fill and I think you know how I mean that.

"Chromaggia"... There are no words except "perfection" and "awe". It was beautiful, it was perfect, and it captured everyone. I didn't hear anyone during that number, I could just imagine everyone watching the beauty of the performance. Camille, your Mag is a true homage to Sarah Brightman and I hope some day she gets to see you do what you do.

"Let the Monster Rise" was great, I think there's some pleasure in whacking Tim with the shovel but maybe it's just me. I was concerned when Catt's very vigorous throw took the helmet right off the stage. I don't imagine everyone respects the rules, so I was happy to see how fast Ron was to get to the helmet so some dick didn't snatch it up. The brawling between Tim and the GeneCops is always great too, and I'm always convinced someone got hurt.

I will say near the end I had the same reaction as I did to "At the Opera Tonight". All I could do was watch the last confrontation, but the part that stood out was the use of the real gun with the blanks :) I know that was a powerful choice, and it was done very well. I heard the collective yelp out of the people around me, so I can tell you it worked wonders.

For "Genetic Emancipation" we all stood as Shilo walked up the aisle, and we did it row by row. It was quite an effect and I know she realized it. It floored me to see it, so I can imagine how Catt must have felt to have it done for her.

Of course we all yelled "Epilogue" and brandished our Zydrate for Dani, then we gave the Sweets a standing O during the credits.

Okay this is long enough so I will sum up. Plenty of fun, lots of hugs and kisses, tons of autographs and I finally got some pictures of myself with Terrance. I kind of wish the pictures could have been better (I feel I looked ehhh in them) but I'm just happy to have them. I also had fun post show with some of the cast, and I want to thank the Sweets for embracing me and thinking past fan and into part of the family. I also found out last night that apparently quite a decent amount of people agree with my guy that my boobs are awesome, seeing as how that was the first place to be taken up when I asked people to sign my t-shirt.
I got a decent amount of action *laugh* Right guys? Okay... My fingers are tired now. I love you all, and I can't wait to see you again. Hopefully, I can hang out with some of you before the August show. I know I will see some of you at my birthday, but for the rest... see you when I see you :) Everyone was absolutely amazing, and they all made the air electric. A special thanks to TZ for coming to support the Sweets, for sharing the Sacramento vibe, and for making the night special!

Much love, Super Fan! <3

P.S. - I heard a few ideas I'd totally be into last night. Making me a Super Fan Repo! cape, spraying me with blood next show.. and I'm sure you guys have other twisted ideas! TESTIFY!

Repo!: A Night in the Front Row (by Kim Rapp: Uber-Fan)

2010-03-03T20:26:00.001-08:00

Okay so cast members do their notes about their night and their performance.. now it's my turn :)

First off let me start by saying the Sweets love their fans. They take time when they can to take pictures with them, and value them all greatly :) So I like to name myself as one of their biggest fans, of course besides their families and friends they've had forever.

I planned out a treat for the cast by picking up the stuff to make sugar cookies and tubes of icing to decorate some of them with (I let Ashley and Tim know I was going to come early with the cookies so I didn't have to lug them in alone).

So I get to the theater around 6:30 and it must have looked hilarious, I'm standing with my Evil Dead lunchbox jammed onto my hand so i could carry the trays and I'm in front of a dark theater (I was there before tickets were on sale and before the lights were on). I'm waiting and the people inside the box office were just kind of looking at me. I wasn't sure who knew besides Ashley that I had arrived, so I wasn't going to try and barge in until it was okay for me to make an entrance. The one side door opened and Jessalyn, Dwight and Stephen came out as Amber and the Eunich Valets and Dwight said "Ooo those are for me right?" I don't think he expected me to say yes, they're for you guys hehe. They walked in but I didn't follow because I still wasn't sure if I should be in yet.

One of the theater people lets me in and I texted Ashley to let her know I was waiting in the lobby. I was greeted by Ashley and Dani (he looks awesome, especially up close). Ashley gave me a big hug and helped me carry the cookies in (totally <3 her!). So we walk down the aisle carrying the trays and she actually gets on the mic and announces that Kim the awesome fan has brought treats. They were so appreciative, I was actually a little surprised. It's my nature to do nice things for people I like, so I didn't think too much of the gesture :) For me, it's normal. I saw Andy and gave her a huge hug (<3 Andy!) and met her hubby Ron. I got to watch some of the rehearsal in the dark (part of the time people were telling me how good the cookies were, I'm so happy they liked them!) and I had Dwight "assert" himself on me as the bandleader during rehearsal lol (he came down the aisle and just totally attacked me, it was awesome I was laughing so hard). I claimed my seat and watched the hustle and bustle of pre-show tension, I was so excited for the night to come. I snapped a few pics of Tim (check it out, he looks like a dentist!), Tristan, Catt and a couple others.

The Queen of Trash was hosting, I always loved going to Trash Film Orgy and enjoying her hosting. The insult contest was pretty funny, I didn't feel too bad for Jesse since I had seen them talking in length and knew they were probably friends. I applaud his bravado for volunteering hehe. I had a couple good insults too, but didn't get a chance to earn a t-shirt. She did a great job, and it was fantastic when Darren and Nancy hit the stage to perform for us :) I about fell off my seat when she sang "Chase the Morning" which I believe is a reaction a lot of us had :)

I got video of Darren and Nancy doing "Folding 3 foot penis cards in NYC", which will probably get uploaded soon if the audio is okay. It was hilarious! After they performed, I could feel the excitement in the audience... everyone waiting for the show to begin. I still get goosebumps when I come to a show :D Jessalyn swore us all into the First Church of Repo as some of the audience got sprayed with Supersoakers to be baptized. I thought it would be great if they were filled with the stage blood, but of course as I think I overheard someone saying, "People would probably get pissed off if they had blood in them." I for one would have welcomed a bloodbath :) Hell it's fun, lickable, and washable! (The second being the most fun of all!)

Amber's Sweets were amazing as always, and they threw in 2 deleted scenes (NTAB and CUATMNP which I believe I recorded both of those in entirety as well) and those turned out insanely awesome. I swear I smiled this really dorky horror happy smile through the entire shadowcast. Dwight filmed me a couple times, introducing me as Kim, the biggest fan. I'll wear that title proudly, thank you :) It was awesome to see how they did things and how well the show went. Everyone, from Felicity as the first blood of the film to the little kid jumping around on stage during Seventeen, was absolutely eye-poppingly amazing! I wanted to take that kid home, he was so adorable. I even got a lapdance from Dwight as the bandleader after he literally caught amazing air leaping off stage during "We Started This Op'ra Shit!"

The costumes, the acting, the props... the lucky chick behind me that caught the Legal Assassin heart... well okay, I wish I had caught the heart but I did get some of the blood it was coated in! Everything was the best yet, and I know they're striving to make it even better for the next show in May (if it's even possible to keep upping themselves they will do it!)

After the show, I got pictures with a lot of the cast. I want to especially thank Jeff, just for having the patience to deal with my blurry camera when he was so tired (he took a couple of my photos for me, thanks Jeff! :)) I got some really great pictures, a lot of hugs (<3 you Catt, looking forward to seeing you again!), and some great memories. I was going to let Darren sign my chest again, but the Sweets had to clean up the awesome mess that was made during the show so we all had to scoot. In the lobby as I left I ran into Dani and he smiled and handed me some zydrate. Getting zydrate from GR is better than getting flowers!

So... to every Sweet: I had tons of fun, I'm a true fan, I love Repo! and I love the Sweets! You guys are all amazing, and I can't wait to make my presence known at the next show in May. TESTIFY!

P.S. - Andy was awesome in helping me show some fan-dom love with the jacket she made for me, hell yes!

P.P.S. - Yes I'm bringing treats again in May. I'm doing more than one upping myself, but you'll all see that for yourselves then. I already have the most awesome idea. *rubs hands together evilly*

"Don't Worry, I'll fix it, You'll look fine": A Tale of Blue Satin and Fake Blood - Part 2 (by Felicity Hatfield)

2010-03-03T20:25:00.001-08:00

The day of the show, I woke up very groggy. I went to sleep around 5:30am, had a pretty terrible night's sleep and all in all, I had about 2-3 hours of sleep under my belt. Great. I focused my eyesight and looked at the clock. It was 10:09am. Call time was at 10. Shiiiiiiiiit. I call out "Trevor!" No response. I stumble out of bed, confused, only to find that the house was empty. I called Trevor. He told me that he wanted to make sure I overslept because I really, really needed it. He also said that he made me food and he will be there soon to pick me up and take me to run any errands that needed to be done. I love this man. I started to assemble all my costumes and discovered that my beige bustier, which I wore in pretty much every scene was missing. Alright, trip to Target it is!

Once we got to the theater, everything was in pretty good shape. Everything except for that %$@#-ing Sanitarium Square dress. Luckily, my gamble paid off. My handsewing angel, Coralee was more than happy to take care of the rest of the dress. This meant that I could sit in the corner of the theater alternately trying to nap and crochet a few more flowers. I was so sleep deprived, pretty much everyone I talked to that day asked me if I was sick or stoned. (granted, the latter wouldn't have been a bad idea) Luckily, the stress hadn't really set in yet.

Run-throughs went fairly well after the few technical issues were fixed and then it was time for...THE SHOW!

After getting into my costume for the first victim, Art tosses me a heart for Tim to rip out. While the special effects are really cool, I'm actually a little relieved that it's only going to be a heart and no blood. I show Tim where the heart is and all is well. Then, I'm walking across the stage and Eric, our special effects guru stops me and says, "Oh hey, ready to get rigged up?"

Damnit.

So the neck prosthetic and the blood packs are set up and placed appropriately and I go up to the loft to put as many clothes on to stop me (and my bra, which is used for the opera dance) from getting too messy. As I'm going back down those really steep stairs in high heeled boots and very precariously placed blood packs, I muse that if I fell down the stairs now, people would undoubtedly find me in a pool of blood with my heart on the ground, even if I just sprained my ankle. Camille cracks up.

The show starts and I have the pleasure of watching Darren and Nancy open the show with a kick-ass musical performance. I had NO idea that Nancy was the voice of Marni and Catt and I nearly peed ourselves when she sang "Chase the Morning"!!!!!

The opening graphic sequence starts and I am SO excited! The special effects are in place, everything is worked out, it's all ready to go! I open the door to the theater, scream my lungs out and flail through the audience towards the stage. Eric meets me at the stage, plugs me into the neck rig and I discover that I'm now essentially on a leash and can't reach the part of the stage where Tim usually kills me. Great. It's dark and his Repo helmet makes him nearly blind. I try to find a happy medium, hoping he will see me. He comes out on stage, finds me and proceeds to slit my throat.

The shock and horror on my face when he slit my throat was Not. Acting. It was the rush of freezing COLD blood drip down my chest, down my back...everywhere. Then Tim goes to rip out my heart and I feel the blood pack pop inside my shirt. Well. There goes my insurance against getting my clothes bloody! I run off stage and my worst fears have come true. I am soaked in blood. Every inch of my chest, back, neck, hair...EVERYTHING! Eric rips off the neck rig (ow.) and Tyler grabs me some baby wipes. Pssh, that was like trying to clean up after a flood using an eyedropper. I rip off my clothes and run upstairs where a bunch of very caring cast members all grab paper towels and baby wipes and clean me up as best they can while trying to contain their laughter. I get mostly cleaned up except for my hair (thank goodness I had dyed it black so no one could see the blood) and my bustier and bra...both of which I have to wear for the rest of the show. Panic sets it until I realize that my red fishnet shirt will cover it up for Zydrate Anatomy and that I had brought a white tank top so I could wear that for the opera dance. Crisis averted!

The rest of the show went off without a hitch, the audience was SO into it, ESPECIALLY when it came to the deleted scenes. I mean, when they realized that they were about to see Come Up and Try my New Parts on stage, the noise and the energy could be felt for miles around!!!!

During intermission, I started to change into my stuff for the Seventeen crowd. I was putting my gentern outfit on underneath so that it would be faster to change later. From the VIP room, I saw my friends, Erin, Amy, Angelique and Andy, who had come to see the show, talking to Tristan. I yell down and Tristan to go ahead and molest them to which Erin pauses and responds , "MOLESTIFY!" Which cracked me up! I looked at my pristine, white gentern outfit, and my still bloody hands and realize that everytime I change, I risk ruining the outfit. I asked Andie if I could just forgo the 17 crowd and get into gentern gear. She agrees that that would be a good idea. This meant I could watch Chase the Morning and 17 from the VIP room....which was AMAZING. Chase the morning took my breath away with Theresa's lighting and the staging and WOW!

During the opera dance, Darren got up on stage with us to dance! Yay! However, he didn't realize that we were doing Buon Giorno right afterwards so he got caught on stage! Heh!

Standing ovations, bows and a load out later....we were done! Time to party! (which is a whole 'nother story...)

I love my cast, my director, my execs and my boyfriend....who fed me, drove me everywhere, calmed me down and made it so I could get this done!

TESTIFY!

"Don't Worry, I'll fix it, You'll look fine": A Tale of Blue Satin and Fake Blood - Part 1 (by Felicity Hatfield)

2010-03-03T20:24:00.000-08:00

(I'm splitting this up into two parts: the first focusing on costumes, the second, focusing on the day of the show)

The title of this diary comes from the phrase that I found myself muttering over and over and over again at tech to people I had just passed out costumes to everyone only to find out that the fit wasn't well...workable. I think I need a t-shirt for this next show with that on it; it might save my vocal cords!

My February Repo journey began a long time ago. Wayyyyyy back in December when I got a text from Ashley asking if I would be willing to make the Blame Not My Cheeks dress. That behemoth of blue satin? I mean, I could sew (amaturely) , sure, but...really? Well, why the hell not, I'll give it a shot! I'll count on my $100 sewing machine and my OCD to figure something out! Besides, I'll be able to focus solely on that and the gentern dresses and I have, what? 2 months? Pshh, it'll be great! And so I started about a month of researching patterns, discovering that NO ONE made panniers anymore (panniers are the schmancy term for those big hips) and that I'd have to look at old pictures of french clothes from the 18th century to figure out a pattern! Finally, after 2 rough drafts (one made of bamboo...long story) , I had finally made hips I was happy with. And, I had another month to finish the actual dress! Win!

And here's when it all came crashing down.

About now is when I found out that a ton of costumes from the last show needed to be remade/ refitted/repo-ed/refixed. My reaction? See the title.

Jessalyn came over about once a week to help me with sewing. I taught her how to use her own sewing machine so that she could work on stuff at home, which was great! As the show crept closer, I was in pretty good shape except for one thing: The Sanitarium Square bubblegum dress from hell!

While this dress looks like a mu mu with little poofs on the bottom, as I started to make it and sketch it out, I realized that there was WAY more to this dress than meets the eye! For starters, the pattern on the dress was really hard to find in a store! Trevor drove me from store to store looking for this pattern (thanks, babe!) until we finally found something that was workable. About 2 weeks before the show, the realization set in that we needed more baubles on the bottom of the dress. I enlisted the help of some of the crafty cast members (THANK YOU Justin, Elisabeth, Coralee, Trevor, Ashley...umm...I know there are more of you!) and started to crochet my ass off. But due to logistics, I wouldn't have all the flowers from the cast members until tech! Ack!

Tech came and while we were waiting around for Ashley and Art to get out of the mud (no, really...I'm glad you guys are safe but damn! what a story!) I enlisted the help of people for sewing tasks. Coralee and I started to sew on the flowers to a strip of white felt and Kitty sewed on a crapload of snaps to various costumes. As it turns out, I'm a crappy handsewer. I mean, just terrible! So when I got home to finish things up, my side of the dress where I sewed the flowers on looked like crap while Coralee's side....well, kicked ass and was exactly what I wanted it to look like! I decided to take a gamble...hoping that a.) Coralee would be there tomorrow to finish it up and make it look good and b.) she would be willing to do so! I mean, worst comes to worse, I could do it, my day would be a little more frantic and we'd still get SOMETHING on stage, right? So I focused my energy on fixing the fit of most of my other costumes and went to sleep around 5am.

To be continued...

Things I See in the Graveyard (by Dani Fontana)

2010-03-03T20:23:00.000-08:00

Ok i just got paid the day of tech rehearsals i wait for the time to go by and then i head out for tech. i paid off my belt to the Repo man and he was very happy that i gave him money as allways. so more poeple showed up and basically we were there moving things around to put into place. then either later that day or the next day someone brought the rocky horror picture show to watch a bit i'm i start heading to the stage from the back stage i and i hear sweet transvestite. So i was in my GR outfit and just started to dance to the song and took off my coat and the cast were loveing it one of the tech people put $2 in my mouth. some of the cast members got that on video. and then we went on a run though of praactice. 1st run was good for me until we hit zytrate anatomy.

There were so many people around me it was hard for me to move then i almost trip and fell but i tried my best to put it together then it was hard to get down the stairs cause to many people r trying to get down so it kind of made me and Shilo late on our scene. after that we got that scene fixed up so we felt a lot better.

And then we practiced me hanging upside down from the rope to see if i'll be ok. 1st time it kind squeezed my ankles together so it kind of hurted. the next time we got fix on puting it on me and it felt better we ran though needle into a bug and after that i heard that Darron and Nancy were there watching us practice. so after we finish i went to say hi and Nancy said, " that wasnt just u upside down just now was it" i told them it was me and they thought it was cool and wanted to make sure that i was allright.

Then Darron and Nancy practice there performance. and i have to say Nancy has a beautiful voice. then poeple started to come in. ALOT!! I ddnt know that many people were gonna come i mean we sold out and people were still try to get in to see the show.

So i listen to D&N preshow which was amazing. then it was my turn to take the stage. i wentone for genetic repo-man and the croud goes crazy over me. . and Repoman did a great job ripping the heart out of the victim. after that it was rotti;s office the doctor got his brains blown out.

Then 21st century cure. i come out and again the crowd screams. then we i was gonna do the part where GR yells out GRAVES!! i decided to finally yell it out too i hope everyone heard. some of the cast heard back stage.

I couldnt see the other scenes until thankless job. Repoman is as allways insane as his character which i loved about.

Then one of the scenes where the crowd was not gonna expect. Come Up and Try My New Parts. when they heard that beat of the scene they got all excited. i felt that Amber Sweet was shanking hella bad. i think i remember her sayin g that sh e was afraid that i was gonna drop her. but i didnt. i'm stronger then i look.

Then of course Zytrate Anatomy. when i pulled out the zytrate i see alot of glowing blue from the audience which made me smiled.

After that was intermission. then we got back with the show. i had to wait until at the opera tonight then i did blood bath i could hear the crowd about that the Hench girls were right be hind me and knock me out and dragged me off the stage and then dragged me me back for needle into a bug.the guy who was pulling the rope hurl myself hella fast which was fun. then blame not my cheeks haapen and i'm still getting down the n i had to hop over to the other side of the stage.

And then i went out for the the ending and i put my hand b my ear to hear the crowd say "epologue?" AND THEY DID!! that was awesome. and then we made our bows and as allway some lucky fan get ztyrate from the graverobber. and after that i chatted with the crowd and helped clean up that night and the next morning.

The Repo Treatment: A Tale of Danger, Heartbreak, Carbreak and Redemption In Three Acts (by Art Lyubomiv) Act III

2010-03-01T14:10:00.001-08:00

THE REPO TREATMENT
A Tale of Danger, Heartbreak, Carbreak and Redemption
(in three acts)

ACT III: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Genetic Opera!

This was the longest 0.23 seconds I've ever experienced. Ashley has quick fingers and she, thankfully, was running the show off my laptop. During the run-throughs, we tried a bunch of things with VLC and ended up leaving the whole thing on "mute". So the only bit that ran without sound was the "this is your brain" line. Then, for a few seconds, the sound graphic was on as Ashley ramped it up. After that, it was perfect.

The audience was rowdy. They were whoopin' and hollerin' when the lights went down, they laughed uproariously when it dawned on them what we were spoofing, and of course, Michelle is a consummate actress, so the PSA hit 'em where it counts. By the time Darren Smith and Nancy Long were on stage for the musical number, the people in the audience were ready for greatness.

It's what they got. And then some.

I was up in the projection room all the way until my cue for "21st Century Cure", because, as a lark, I decided to "play" the bug in the "Sandwich and a Bug" scene using the laser on my Genecop rifle. Ashley liked it and we kept it. So here I was, playing Shilo like she was a kitten. We both were a little confused because the gravestone on which she captures the bug was no longer there (it was there during the last run-through, but it was too easy to knock over, so Ashley opted to move it and didn't tell us), but we powered through the scene. I was REALLY hoping for the haze to bring out the laser beams that Billy and I pointed at Catt during the scene, but alas, it didn't quite work. Oh well.

Watching from up above, everything was running as a well-oiled machine. The techies were nearly invisible, the props materialized within microseconds during blackouts. The pictures would blink and the scene would change. The actors were so precisely on cue, it was scary. We got all the invisible variables so perfect, you didn't even need to watch the screen. The movie was happening in front of you, in 3D, on stage. This wasn't a shadowcast anymore. And in a few minutes, the audience would make it official.

That time in the projection room was the last bit of quiet time I had until intermission. After that, it was a blur. I had to rip off my riot gear and wriggle into the abdominal prosthetic, which I wanted to have on before "Legal Assassin", because somehow I didn't think I'd have enough time after that. It was gnarly, but it fit. I looked suitably horrified as Tim snarled his lines in my face. The performance was proceeding fluidly, like a dream.

Here I must say a few words about our techies. Who kicked major, major amounts of ASS. Especially the Wonder Twins (tm) on stage left, Ashley and Taylor, who possess unheard-of amounts of energy and focus. These two little teenagers lifted weights that would make a beefy grown man split his pants, roared at anyone who got in their way, crushed quite a few fragile actor egos and GOT THE JOB DONE. Flawlessly. (Earlier in the day, while rehearsing Thankless Job with the new flat, I crashed backwards and slammed down, flat and all, on Taylor's wrist. I felt awful, but thankfully, she made it out alive and only with a bruise and a scratch. And, with nary a whine, went right back to work. Amazing stuff. Brings tears to mah eyeballs.)

As it happened, I had plenty of time not only to adjust my abdominal prosthetic before "Thankless Job", but even notice that the flat still had a gaping hole in it (it was the same piece we used for one of the ghost Marnis in "Legal Assassin", except flipped over and painted hospital green), which produced a fit of frenzied activity from the Wonder Twins, who screwed on the covering in about five seconds. Then we got out on stage and Tim proceeded to disembowel me. Unlike rehearsals, this went off absolutely perfectly, the guts didn't stick to the prosthetic, he found them (with his unfeeling gloved fingers, no less) easily, and could even take his time to cackle in an evil way while pulling them out. He found the heart, too (unlike last time) and apparently flung it into the audience, which I didn't see. Confusingly, it reappeared in our Heap O' Stuff (tm) after the show. Weird.

Then back into the riot gear for "Inopportune Phone Call", which in this version is bisected by "Come On and Try My New Parts". I'm glad I watched that steamy number during rehearsal, because I realized that, while Catt and I stood by on the stairs on floor right, the audience could see me and I had to stay in character. My character wasn't present in the scene (he was standing guard over Shilo at Sanitarium Square), so he couldn't gawk and Jessalyn and Dani cavorting on stage. It was VERY hard not to look! On the other hand, I got a great view of the audience's reaction. They loved it. Whoopin' and hollerin', again, wolf-whistles and other kinds of noises, because Dani and Jess were quite acrobatic, and Dwight and Steven... okay, I can't describe what those two did. It was hilarious. We have photos. (And apparently, video!)

I didn't get arrested or fired upon while running around the theatre with a big, realistic looking rifle. So that was good. I met up with Jessalyn, Steven and Dwight in the foyer, and Jess came out with a whopper: "Did people respond to the scene?" She didn't notice! She was so into the act that she had no clue about the audience's reaction. Now THAT's focus, folks.

After "Zydrate Anatomy", which also went without a hitch, the intermission sequence, which Chris spliced in perfectly. The audience's reaction was priceless: as the video began to deteriorate and then switched off to static, we heard boos and shouts of "what the fuck?!" And then, seconds later, the Intermission graphics kicked in and you heard raucous cheering. Yeah, bitches. We are THAT good.

After the intermission it took a serious effort of will for Trevor and I to stay in the dungeon in our bulky Hippo / Lion costumes until "Everyone's a Composer" nearly finished, because otherwise we'd be very in the way. So we missed what was one of the best moments of the show: "Chase the Morning". It was acted brilliantly, like everything, and Ashley's idea to illuminate Theresa in blacklight as Marni's projection worked amazingly well. And afterwards, the most important moment: applause.

Now folks. Hootin' and suchlike is for shadowcasts. Applause is for THEATRE. This was validation from a picky bunch. Did I mention that one of the show's creators was in the audience? Yeah. Exactly. This is where we left the shadowcast thing behind once and for good.

"Seventeen", as usual, is a mystery to me because I couldn't see jack out of the damn Hippo head. I did, however, manage to do some fairly lewd things to Tim, which has become kind of a tradition. Ashley was absolutely devastating in her Joan Jett outfit. And from what I hear, Chris, our little dancing skeleton was a hit! (And for some reason Luigi fucking Largo was on stage with a guitar. I guess he knows how to find a party!)

The final big thing for me after this was the fight scene. At this point, I was beyond exhausted and was afraid I couldn't do the stunt work I was hoping to do, i.e. get thrown by Tim and roll out of it, in riot gear and helmet, with a rifle. I kept telling Billy that I couldn't do it. And then I did it (on the hard floor, no less) and the choreography was flawless and everyone was cheering. They were still cheering while I was getting out of the cop gear into a suit. Somehow, adrenaline made that long procedure go way faster than it did during rehearsal, such that I had time to circle around the theatre and get into a free seat way before the opera dance. For a few minutes, I relaxed and watched the show, hollerin' with the audience when Dani showed up for "Bloodbath", and suchlike. I watched the people jump up and scream when the techie band set up on stage and rocked out like no tomorrow.

In fact, I was so pumped up, I testified, um, prematurely. So I testified twice. And got out of the way to change back into cop gear as fast as I could.

I remember watching Camille through a slit in the curtains. I ticked off my checklist: talons on, boots zipped up, NOT spinning. Perfect! She blew that scene away, and even managed to somehow palm two little blood packs that she popped onto her face. It was fantastic!

And then the blur began. I recall Catt whacking Tim with his Repo helmet so hard, we could hear the noise backstage. Then another cop fight, and I could relax on the floor and see up Justin's nose during the opera showdown. Then jittery breathless conversation with a bunch of genterns backstage about whether the audience would stand up for Catt during "Genetic Emancipation."

And they did! Standing O, people. Full on.

That was it. The show was made. We wrapped, we bowed, we got screamed at. We brought down the goddamn HOUSE.

Twenty-four hours later, the reviews come in. Five stars from SF Examiner. Glowing reaction from Darren and Nancy. And the news that TZ is finally coming to see us in may.

He has no clue what's going to hit him.

So. Here we are. I'm still euphoric after all that. Ashley and I stayed up until 2 a.m. last night, still shivering with nervous energy. I've said it before. I'll say it as many times as necessary until it sinks in.

This.

Is.

How.

It's fucking.

DONE.

That's right. May 22nd, here we come.

Ther Repo Treatment: A Tale of Danger, Heartbreak, Carbreak and Redemption (by Art Lyubimov) Act II

2010-03-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

THE REPO TREATMENT
A Tale of Danger, Heartbreak, Carbreak and Redemption
(in three acts)

ACT II: It's a Thankless Job

We were up bright and early at 7:30 a.m. The idea was to get to the theatre by 8-ish a.m., get the costumes (Ashley) and props (moi) organized and set down where they're supposed to be. There were three separate, non-connecting locations (i.e. to get from one to the other you'd HAVE to appear on stage): floor right, stage right and stage/floor left. The "floor" areas on both sides could have no light because you could see that light from the audience. This would become a special nightmare on floor left, where I set up most of the props, that would get buried under costumes and, without any light, be impossible to find. On floor right we had only a couple of props, all for Shilo, plus a table for various costume and prop swaps, such as when I would have to change from Genecop riot gear into a suit for "We Started This Op'ra Shit". Stage right downstairs housed the props for Shilo's room and Rotti's office, while stage left upstairs had a few vital pieces for main characters: extra Repo scalpels, Nathan's stethoscope, Luigi's sleeve blade, Rotti's silver pistol and, tiny but top of the list: Mag's finger talons for Chromaggia.

Those were THE prop. They are the centerpiece of Mag's death scene, it's what she tears out her eyes with and during our opening performance they went missing. The frantic search for them right before Camille was up on stage caused her to do the scene with her boots half-unzipped, and the rush to get her clipped to the aerial rig caused a severe spinning problem. So, I had a checklist: no spinning (the new aerial rigger was on that), boots zipped (Camille was on that) and, most importantly (and my job) the talons had to be on. Camille, very aware of the importance of this, brought several pairs. I put them on the prop table in a baggie and hid one pair on Camille's purse, just in case the prop table became a mess. This would NOT go wrong on my watch.

Another big prop fiasco had been the absence of the Evening Slice magazine during "Everyone's a Composer". Somehow, each time we ran that scene, the magazine got lost. So. We had three copies now, one living on floor left for use in "Zydrate Anatomy", two more on stage right downstairs for "Everyone's a Composer". This would NOT go wrong on my watch.

At this point there was only one prop / costume piece that absolutely HAD to still be manufactured, plus a couple more that we could do without but would like to have anyway. The former was the spiffy new abdominal prosthetic I dreamed up for my victim character in "Thankless Job". In the previous show, the abdominal cavity prosthetic was duck-taped to my (hairy) somatch, with the guts and heart stuffed under it. So when Tim tore open my tank top, there was already a horrid gaping wound underneath, which made no sense in the scene. So, I came up with a corset of sorts, made out of flesh-colored fake leather. I cut a window in the middle, taped the abdominal cavity prosthetic to cover the window. And then I taped a cover (from the same fake leather) over the window. The idea was that Tim would fake-"cut" the abdomen, rip off the covering flap that would then expose the prosthetic, so it would look like I was being vivisected. And then the whole gut-pulling thing would proceed. It worked... okay, I guess. The corset itself was serviceable (and a HUGE shout-out to Repo Moms for working on that with - and for - me, couldn't have done it without you, ladies) but when I stuffed the guts and heart under it, the whole thing bunched out and peeled off on the top. So it was pretty obvious I was wearing something. And I looked pregnant. But it looked good under stage lights, apparently, so we rolled with it. (And when Eric the SFX guy arrived, he painted the inside of the flap to look like skin, for extra nastiness.)

Pretty much from around 9 a.m. onwards, I didn't stop. I made Shilo's torch for "21st Century Cure" out of a tiki torch Andie bought, by removing the bottle, putting in one of those backstage lanterns and applying duck tape. The thing was bright enough and worked perfectly. I made a shovel for Shilo to hit Repo Man with in "Let the Monster Rise" out of a broomstick and a piece of cardboard. It looked ludicrous, but it did the trick. I was going to fill some "Zydrate" vials with blue glowstick liquid, and Dani was dutifully on me about that, but at the last moment Ashley ixnayed the whole endeavour, and he had to make do with just the glowsticks. Oh well. Worked fine.

And then, while washing a bundle of guts in the bathroom sink...

(... wait. Washing a bundle of guts in the bathroom sink. And they're PAYING me to do this? Oh wait, no. No they're not. But a) they totally should because I'm AWESOME and b) ... aw hell, this is fun anyway. I have a day job, for Pete's sake!)

... while washing, I say, a bundle of guts in the bathroom sink, I get word that Ashley is looking for me. I find her. And I'm told to drop everything because we have a big problem.

Chris' computer crashed. Why is that a big problem? Well, the show we were projecting was not on a disc, like last time. It was edited (deleted scenes inserted, intermission inserted mid-movie, bows video inserted at the end, etc.) and had to be run from file because it wouldn't fit on a blu-ray disc. Chris had it backed up on four (4) hard drives, but what he didn't have a backup for was the actual hardware. Which crashed with just barely not enough time to fix it.

So what did I have to do with anything? Well, I made the final version of the "Your Brain on Zydrate" PSA that we would run before the pre-show, and I made the bows video and the intermission. Ashley told me to burn those on playable DVDs so that we would run the movie in pieces. It would be jerky, but it would be what we had. So I started burning the first DVD. Meanwhile, I had the following conversation with Chris:

ME: "Wow. This sucks."
CHRIS: "Yeah."
ME: "Too bad none of those backup drives are Mac-formatted."
CHRIS: "Well, two of them are."
ME: "Oh. Too bad the movie is not in the format my Mac would recognize."
CHRIS: "Well. It probably is."
ME: "Uh. You think we could run it on my Mac?"
CHRIS: "Fuck it, worth a try!"

So we tried.

And um.

There it was! Running gorgeously on my Mac, sound and all. (The Sacramento Press even commented on how fantastic the sound quality was.) Except the only version I had was in three pieces (Part I, Intermission, Part II with bows), plus I added the "Your Brain on Zydrate" PSA as the first item. I had to run it as a playlist in VLC. And it paused, twice, during the first run-through. This made Ashley almost cancel the whole idea and go back to our original plan of running it off DVDs, but I prevailed. We looked into it and realized that VLC randomly pauses if you run a movie off an external drive. Once copied to my laptop's hard drive, the whole playlist ran without a hitch. A few practice runs, and we were good to go.

So, folks, meet Art, Savior of the Show (tm). Yes. Thank you.

The hardest thing after that was keeping the props organized throughout two complete run-throughs. I must say, everyone was on their best behavior, the prop tables remained as clean of crap as possible under insane conditions in this horrid little theatre, nobody picked up a prop they had no business holding and made off with it, that sort of thing. However, the props move just because of the show. Especially Shilo's stuff, which ends up moving all over the place, because the character moves all over the place (and at one point dumps out her entire prop-laden bag). So I spent a lot of my time running up and down the stairs, hunting for props. By the time of the show I knew intimately the movements of pretty much everything. Things were under control. I obsessively went over the list to make 100% sure everything was in its place and nothing was forgotten. I bugged people about the little things. I worried myself sick.

By the time we opened the doors, I stood in the VIP room looking down at the steadily filling theatre. I was a mess. I hadn't eaten all day, especially since all Ashley would offer me was her crumb cake, which was delicious but way too sweet for a starving me. I made it a point to drink water, but it wasn't enough. I had time for one (1) bathroom break in 12 hours. I was getting the shakes. What if a prop is missing? What if the video skips? What if the sound doesn't work? As I realized that we nearly sold out the house, I began to feel faint. And then I found myself telling Catt that if something goes awry (she was worried about her contacts popping out on stage), she should just pretend that she meant it anyway and go on acting. We're past the point of no return. The show is set.

It sort of helped. But not really. The lights went down, the projector lit up and Michelle's face filled the screen. The "Brain on Zydrate" PSA was started... with no sound.

That, I think, was the worst 0.5 seconds of my life. My heart jumped up, then plummeted into the deep, dark abyss.

Amber's Sweets' second performance of Repo! Live has begun.

... to be continued ...

The Repo Treatment: A Tale of Danger, Heartbreak, Carbreak and Redemption (by Art Lyubimov)

2010-03-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

PROLOGUE

Before I go any further, I want to say this: Mom, don't worry, I'm all right. Ashley and I made it out alive, with minimal injuries. The car may need repair... but that's another story. Now that we got that part out of the way, let me say that the measly two and a half days since Friday were so eventful, it will take not one, but three Facebook notes to tell the tale. So get comfortable. Here goes.

ACT I: Like a Deer on a Telephone Pole

As we loaded up the car with just a couple of last minute odds and ends (which nevertheless filled the trunk and the back seat), Ashley and I reflected on how in control we are in comparison to December. Back then, the whole thing could come crashing down at any minute. Now? Now we were leaving Berkeley ahead of schedule, and may even make it to the first tech rehearsal on time.

You know where this is going, right?

The I-80 was trafficky, as it usually is on a Friday evening. Around Davis, we've had it. We were late to tech at this point and we'd be even MORE late if we sat in this barely moving parking-lot like line of cars. Ashley took my iPhone, looked up the map and started redirecting us around the traffic. At least, we figured, we'd bypass most of it. This has worked before. I felt confident: this was Davis, home of my alma mater, my old stomping ground, as it were. Though that was a decade ago... but hey. We had a rehearsal to make.

We took Mace Blvd. Then it turned into County Road 104. When you hit numbers, it should be a warning. I figured, meh, we're on the outskirts of town, but this road is paved, it's all good. It's a little dark and spooky here, but we're headed for highway.

Right.

Then we take a turn onto what we thought was a county road. We thought we saw a "No Trespassing" sign flash by in the dark (at this point, it was very dark), but I figured it referred to one of the little ranches by the side of the road. The road itself was a little muddy, but looked (in the darkness illuminated only by my headlights) as a nicely packed gravel road. Wet, but passable. Really wet, I nearly got stuck. Super-wet, I was sliding. Then... I got stuck. REALLY stuck. COMPLETELY stuck. And then, while trying to get out of the mud in reverse, the stick got stuck ... in reverse.

So. Here we are.

At this point Ashley got a tiny bit verklempt, mostly because she felt like it was all her fault. Having calmed down a little, we called a tow truck. Or five. Because once they heard WHERE we were (and it took a little while to describe), the response was identical:

TOW COMPANY: "Is it a paved road?"
ASHLEY: "Uhh... kinda."
TOW COMPANY: "Hm. Well. Uh. No promises. We'll try."

One truck got to us first, made it to the beginning of the little country road we were on and called me to say that he'd "have to disappoint." This is how we learned that not ONE towing company in Yolo County runs four-wheel drives. Which was a bit of a surprise. At which point *I* am starting to get a little verklempt because uh... how the hell are we going to get out of here? The towers are not encouraging, we're sitting alone in a stuck car in the middle of horrific mud (nasty, sticky clay) in nearly total darkness with the wind howling outside.

The trucker guy calls us again and says that he has a buddy who has a four-wheel drive. He'll be with us within the hour. Ashley calls another towing company, talks to the guy who says that, while they don't run four-wheel drive trucks, his own SUV should be able to take the mud. Other trucks are on the way, with no promises. By now, there's no way we'll make it to the tech rehearsal at all. We'll be lucky to make it out of the mudfield altogether.

While trying to project outward calm, internally I'm freaking out and trying to come up with contingencies. If we can't get towed, we at least call 9-11, get someone to get us the hell out of the car, abandon it until we can get it out, at least, etc. etc. The show MUST come on Saturday night, come hell, high water or deep mud.

The first of the FWD trucks shows up. It takes everyone a while to find us. He says "wait, is that another towing truck here? How many did you guys call? Oh boy." They all converge upon us at once. Three of them: two FWD SUVs and the AAA towing truck. Guys come up to us and speak through the window. They look over the car, pause, then say:

TOWING GUY: "So uh. How did you get out here?"
ME: "We drove."
TOWING GUY: "All right." PAUSE. "So I grew up here, okay? And the only reason I would ever drive so far out here was to, you know, park. So why are you here?"
ASHLEY: "Oh, we were trying to bypass that traffic on the highway." You can actually SEE the highway from where we are. Maddening.
TOWING GUY: "Oh, this road ends not too far from here, you would've never made it."
ME: "Ah. Good to know! Can you get us out?"
TOWING GUY: "Workin' on it."

They were quite impressed. Have you ever seen one of those pictures of a deer on a telephone pole? Like this: http://www.jerrypippin.com/PoleDeer.jpg Where the question is, how in fuck's name did that thing ever end up way up there? Yeah, imagine this endless expanse of mud. And smack in the middle there's this little white Acura. Yeah, that was us!

While we were getting hooked up to a truck, one of the guys helped me liberate the gear shift from reverse. Except now I could hit every gear EXCEPT reverse. I figured, well. Could be worse. Then we got pulled out of the hole we dug ourselves into... only to get stuck again. This time the FWD was not getting any traction.

This is where I got properly scared. Because um. A fucking TRUCK couldn't get us out! It took a lot to keep my composure, because Ashley was thinking along the same lines, a bit more vocally.

The guys were grim. Chatting among themselves, answering me in monosyllables. I heard "wanna hook up to me?" "Yeah." Okay, I thought. Two trucks. Maybe that'll work? If not, there was also the AAA guy. I heard chains rattling. Then we moved again! This time around, we got towed all the way to terra firma with no further incident. The guys even told us where to find a power wash that was open 24 hours and even escorted us there!

At this point I was ready to pay them pretty much anything, and to reflect how bad the situation was, the towing guy ran my card without even telling me the amount. Just took my card and went to his truck. He even, absent-mindedly, put it in his pocket for a while, before realizing that he didn't give it back to me. And yet, the total bill was... $200. Which the two truckers that towed us split among themselves. The AAA guy presented us with no bill.

So. At about 11 p.m. we stumbled into our hotel room in Sacramento, muddy, worn out and riding a car that wouldn't shift into reverse. I also learned how far you could go with only the forward gears working: you can get pretty much anywhere, as long as you don't have to parallel park, and remember to park on a slight incline, such that your car can roll backwards while in neutral. That is how I drove all throughout the rest of the weekend.

We got some food. We took a hot shower. We collapsed in bed because we'd have to be up in just a few hours. A much longer, harder day awaited us on the other side.

... to be continued ...

An Account of a Genetic Emancipation- My Second Repo Diary (by Catt Miller)

2010-03-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

Is that what I think it is? Oh, yes… it’s that time again!

Repo diary time!

Woot!

Sorry if i didn't tag you.... I reached my tag limit, and it wouldn't let me tag anymore people.

Here’s my second Repo journal, starting with Friday’s tech. Went 24 hours without sleep beforehand, and then we got to the theatre…. Didn’t even really have to go, as it was mostly tech. Poor Ashley and Art got stuck in the mud…

Went home, got about five hours of sleep. Nerves kept me from getting any more than that.

Got to the theatre at 9... First several hours were tech, as usual…. It gave me time to relax…. Ish. >.<>.<>.<>/////<>.<>.<>.<>////<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<>.<

Then came Epilogue, both scenes of which went perfect.

Then bows, then load up… Which is when I started to cry tears of not happiness

My Dad didn’t show up to the show. Last time it was my sister that didn’t show…

And it’s sucky, because both times I don’t figure out until after the show, when I’m depressed because I wanted my family to see it.

So when I tried to call him, some… shit… happened, and when I finally did get a hold of him, I found out he had been in the emergency room.

He’s okay, though

Besides.... he might not have made it, but Bela and my friend Adam did! I love you both! <3 (Especially you, kochanie. <3333 *kissu*)

Anyway! Helped clean up a bit, then headed out. Would have gone back the next day, but I have absolutely no transportation. Yay for living in the middle of nowhere with no car. I hate not being able to help more… at the first show, I couldn’t clean up after because my ride wouldn’t wait for me… I literally had no choice but to leave, or I would have been stranded. I tried to get them to let me stay, but they wouldn’t.

That’s why this show I tried to help a bit more, despite being told that it was okay if I just sat out. ^^;;; Anyway….

When I got home, I watched the recording of the show…. Then crashed. HARD.

I was asleep for almost 24 hours!

XD

Can’t wait to see everyone again! We rocked this opera shit, and I know damn well we’ll rock it again next time!

I need a better sleeping schedule, but the show reset my progress backwards a little.

Love you all!

A Day in the Life of a Zydrate Addict by (by Meg Sgheiza)

2010-02-20T09:21:00.000-08:00

[[A while back we were supposed to write diary entries as our characters. This is mine. Enjoy]]

Dear Diary,

Today started out on a good note. By that, I mean, I woke up. Although I woke up in an alley with a massive headache and a tear in my fishnets, I'm alive. I stayed in the alley the majority of the day, only leaving to go to my Zydrate addict meeting. The whole time only one thought ran through my sore head, "I need a hit of Z". I was coming down hard from my last fix and I'm sure it was obvious to others. I couldn't sit there for another second listening to other people moan and groan about their own addiction when I'm not strong enough to control mine. I ran out of the building and back to the alley and found a savior. A graverobber was there with a vial of Z, waiting for me. I didn't even have to screw for it. I gave him the little cash I had and he handed it right over. I swear to God, I've never seen Zydrate glow that blue before. My addiction was satisfied and I could go on another night with the confidence to do what I had to to get more glow.

Sincerely,
Addicted

Spilling the Guts... A Head Genterns Tale (by Elisabeth Evans)

2010-01-16T17:48:00.001-08:00

First off, You all rock and I would do this a million times over if I could and I can't wait till February. WOOHOO!

As most of the cast knows I live about an hour and a half away south from Sacramento so my adventure of opening night started long before the performance night.
First obstacle? My normal means of transportation (my car) was made unavailable to me, and Jeff (bless his soul) who had been my very gracious ride for the last week or so was unable to take me that thursday because he was not attending rehearsal that day SO! Ashley (bless her soul as well) offered to grab me! So we coordinated times and agreed to meet at the Pittsburg bart station.
Weds night I compiled ALL my Repo stuff together (including my school stuff) ready to go and bolt after school. A friend of mine dropped me off at bart and I took off. It was senior ditch day that Friday so technically I had it off ;)
Art ended up being the one having to pick me up. After Art being stuck in traffic for an hour and a half (which also meant me freezing my bum off in the windy cold) grabbed me and proceeded to grab Jessica. Our car was STUFFED with costumes, and Jessica was running off of Xanax and Morphine with no food or sleep. I don't know how she did it.
We get to rehearsal, which consisted of mainly timing, cues, costume prep, and set building. Ash, Art, Catt and I all miraculously fit together on a king bed that night. Hanging out with you guys was a complete blast! Art loved his little Harem! LOL
Next morning Ash and Art took off to the theater early as me and Cat stayed behind getting ready. Later Andy, and Ash picked us up and took us to the theater. Another full day of timing cues, costuming and set building. My worry began to stem when we had not done a full costume run through yet.
That night... party at Felicity and Trevor's! Probably didn't sleep till around four in the morning because a few of us decided we were REALLY hungry and went to... where else?... Lyons.
Saturday... the big day. I woke up, started to move around, and yelled.

"OH MY GOD YOU GUYS! WE ARE STARTING THIS OPERA SH*T TONIGHT!!!!"

And everyone cheered! The big night... AHHH!

Me, Dani, Misty and everyone that was there early was busy unloading the sound guys truck as well as the rig guys truck. As slippery and wet their ramp was we almost slid to our death a few times.
First issue? Costumes... and EVERYONE who can help is helping in the dungeon room. I feel awful NOT contributing in some way so I beg for Jessica to give me a job. Jessalyn and I then set to work diligently and quietly on her WOP dress. That was a Sh*T ton of yarn! Anyone who was not supposed to be down there got the hell hath no from Jessica.
Then I was in charge of staining and sandpapering Rotti's table. I think my IQ dropped a good ten points due to how many brain cells I killed with the stain. LOOPEY ME! However Stephen was a gentleman to keep me company as well as Dwight.
Then it occured to me with all my costume changes (not many compared to amber mind you) But it didn't occur to me how many times I would be changing till right then and there. I freaked out wondering what had to be where. So after a chat or two with Ash and Andy everything was in order.
Me running around with the least amount of clothing on. This is Repo people! Two hours in platform six inch heels were already beginning to take its toll. After practicing WSTOS we saw the line and crowd forming outside. All of us began FREAKING out with excitement! All the Genterns ran hurriedly back inside after jess ran it with us a few times (bless her exhausted soul) I stumbled into the attic of the theater with the rest of the cast members. I felt like Anne Frank. Those stairs are HELL in the Gentern shoes!! That theater is anti heels! I got to witness Tristen screaming "I can't breath!" In his new mask. We all responded "You've got to fight through it!" We started A LOT later than presumed but we all watched from the wings as Morgana did her beautiful opening. Me and Dani were grabbing each other holding back silent screams of excitement. I shoved him out for "Genetic Repo Man" as Dani last minutely harassed Spooky Dan in the audience with "He will just rip the still beating heart from your chest!" Tim returned in his awesome leather repo manlyness after basically raping Felicity's chest trying to find the hidden heart he was supposed to grab which he got RIGHT on time!

I watch as the first scene unfolds. Dani whispers to me "Wow I can't wait to see how the blood turns out!"

"What blood??" I ask shocked.

"Stephens got a blood pack attached to him for when Jessica shoots him."

"... No Shit!... No way are you kidding me?? Thats awesome!!"

I watch completely stoaked as Jessica shoots him. The blood EXPLODES PERFECTLY and on perfect timing! I scream "Oh my God perfect timing!" The audience gasps in delight.
Justin's face was COVERED! However he does NOT break character! He merely laughs creepily! Adding perfect touch to the scene. Justin you are a genius and I love you!

21st Century Cure... I nearly had a heart attack, and I think it shaved off a good ten years of Dani's life.

"Wheres the dead body?!" Dani yelled. "I'm on in literally a minute! I need the body out there whose in charge of the body?!"

Our awesome Ninja Tech Ashley responded.

"I'm in charge of the graves the other guy isn't here!"

"Shit Shit Shit Shit SHIIIIIT! You need to get it out there right now!"

Ashley was wide eyed in fear, as Dani made his entrance, Ashley bolts for the dead body. I grab what graves I can and push them out in my Gentern costume as inconspicuously as possible. Dani's eyes were wide with panic as the body is nowhere to be seen. He still miraculously stays in character. I scramble to find little Ashley who RIGHT on the line of "An entire city built on top of the DEAD!" THROWS the body at Dani's feet, RIGHT on cue. I nearly fainted in relief. Whew... Good GOD...
Mark it Up is first, I'm totally pumped and ready, panties in place within the rear of my own panties LOL. Brain toss goes well, I'm totally ready to grab the heart. But... no heart comes... "Well... I guess Tristen just missed it, no worries I will go right back to molesting Rachel" then the heart falls WAY back behind me. "AHH CRAP! Over kill... Whatever I will live..."

"I'm sorry for missing the heart Tristsen!"

"It's ok I threw it too hard"

I really don't know HOW you breathed in that mask honey.. anyways.. whats next?... next next next is.. sanitarium square! I got to change into my head Gentern black whore outfit! Rush Rush Rush ok Im totally ready in the wings for my cue. I was changing during Thankless Job so I had NO idea of the mess it had caused. Art comes in from the wings and gets fake blood ALL over me leg! FUUUCK!! I'm JUST about to come on! Whatever, whatever.. I am straddling Tristen anyways they won't even see my legs. So scene continues, goes just fine. Then I BOLT to get the blood OFF my legs! Upstairs its chaos. Art and Tim were yelling desperately to get the blood OFF of them. Art is drenched and so is Tim's repo outfit. Tim looks PISSED about the mess as ART happily licks his fingers at the sweet corn syrup. hahaha!

"Where is some water!!!!"
"I NEED some PAPER TOWELS!!"

Poor techies were scrambling to get the items we needed. I ripped off my nylons attempting to scrub the sticky substance off in time. I hear Tristen yell my name. FUCK! I need to be out there for the ribbon cut! I get down, late, Andy is holding the ribbon alone. I walk on in character and grab the other end. Scene proceeds, including the Worthy Heirs scene, my leg still bloody as all hell, and I am about to do Zydrate Anatomy. "Ugh just go with it, it almost seems like it is a part of your character."
So Zydrate goes great. I'm not on till Night Surgeon thank GOD for that intermission. Which I spent scrubbing the fake blood off. I felt so bad for Art and Tim. (You guys are Troopers!)
The show continues, I give my feet a quick rest and get the cart ready for night surgeon. Billy is being wired up by the FX guy (Literally minutes before we are about to go on) I ask him if Tim knows about whats going on, and he claims he does. He quickly runs billy through the things that he has to do. The FX guy runs out of time and he has to literally hide behind billy to continue the scene. But the scene goes smoothly from what I can tell. Tim is STUNNED and confused about the random FX stuff that he clearly had absolutely NO prior knowledge to. However he pulls it off masterfully and stays completely in character (you guys are amazing) After the scene, in the attic I could see Tim fuming (or as jess so perfectly put it "seething") about the random surprise FX implants.
I'm not on until WSTOS. I look outside (since we have to run around) and it is POURING!
SHIT! UGH! Me and misty are about to run into the rain when a techie grabs us and says.

"Hey! Ash does NOT want anyone running in the rain, she wants you to go through the isles if needed."

Me and misty looked at each other.

"Are you sure?"
"Oh yeah she just told me before the show." Others conflicted and said the opposite. We decided to take out chances. Me and Misty BOLTED! Up the isle.
We get to the end and there are NO Genterns to be found... and we have literally just minutes...

"Where the hell is everyone?!"

Morgana checks upstairs, they are all changing from the 17 crowd. FUCK! They stumble down last minute as we literally push ourselves to get out on time. The dance goes REALLY well! I surprisingly didn't fall on my face in those heels. We do our gentern orgy onstage ;) Everyone SCREAMS for Jessica's amazing breasts! All the genterns scramble off but stay close for BNMC. Then it hit me, I have no idea what we are doing for Amber's face... oh well, we will be surprised. All the genterns return, we start dancing and Jess smears fake blood on her face... clever! I was pleased as we all bolted off again. I then sat there and realized... thats it for me... oh my god its over!.. CRAZY!
I watch the rest of the play from behind the scenes, helping out whenever I can. With Camille spinning in Chromaggia we all yelled at a techie to put her back but she was too high! We all had a good laugh backstage. Last heart attack? Tim's repo coat getting caught on the wheel of the wheel chair. We YELL at the techie to help him out. She darts out, fixes it, comes back and says "Yeah there was no way in hell that that thing was going to come out on its own."
Then our awesome randomized curtain call... Holy Crap its over WOOHOO!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO DAMN MUCH!!! WE KICK ASS!!!

"Like a mop!" and Other Observations (by Artem Lyubimov)

2009-12-27T12:45:00.001-08:00

It began a few months back with "Baby... you wanna watch Repo! with me and brainstorm on some scenes?" So we did. Ashley is the love of my life, after all, and I'd watch a slasher flick with (for?) her any time. And brainstorm scenes, even though this is definitely not my line of work. So then I'm like "hmm... I like this movie." Except the Thankless Job scene. That was too gory for me. Folks, I had no idea...

Fast-forward to the Sacramento Horror Film Festival. Or rather to the point where the decision is made to do the preview and the tech rehearsal for that occurs. I'm doing more than brainstorming now, I'm carrying boxes with heavy stuff in them. Then the fest itself, whereupon I drive movie-stars around (and getting lost in Sac's Web O' Freeways), duck-tape random things, and running around acting like Ashley's walkie-talkie. When the pressure's on, everyone is put to use, especially boyfriends.

After the show, in the afterglow of euphoria, I'm told that we need an extra dude to fill a genecop role. I say yes. I mean, this can't be a huge time commitment, right?

Eight weeks later, I find myself playing four roles, including the one where Tim rips my guts out in that scene I don't like. Which means I spend most of my time ripping one costume off myself and putting another one on. I'm sad because the screen-accurate replicas of genecop rifles didn't come in. I find two M4s in WalMart on the morning of the opening day. I feel better.

At this point I'm researching the locations of emergency rooms in Sacramento because Ashley's been running a high fever for days. I'm convinced she's going to collapse an hour before the show. She seems to be surrounded by eight people yelling her name on any given minute. Insanity reigns, but I can't shake a persistent feeling that we're going to be fine. "We're gonna ROCK this HOUSE!" I proclaim to anyone who'd listen. They look at me like I'm some kind of looney. Oh ye of little faith...

A couple hours before the show everything is chaos. Props, wigs, bits of costumes litter the place. In an upstairs dressing room I help Jessalyn zip up her costume. It seems 50% of everyone's time has been spent helping Jessalyn transition between costumes. She has many costumes. I try to work the zipper and it comes off, opening a gash in the back of her dress. I say "we're gonna ROCK this HOUSE!" Jessalyn blinks at me. I finally succeed in zipping her up. We're halfway through our penultimate runthrough.

The special effects guy arrives with a bundle of gross things, and Tim and I finally get to practice pulling my guts out. The first time around the intestine gets stuck in my pants and Tim bungles his dance routine while trying to yank it out. The prosthetic is duck-taped to my hairy Jewish stomach and chest. I have a bad feeling about this.

Every time I run through the theatre, the scene becomes a little neater. Techies are dashing around and looking more haggard and dusty by the minute. We're finding out about all the things that aren't going to work the way we wanted: Tristan's Pavi face isn't articulate, Camille tends to rotate a little (or a lot) on the wire, a few of the costumes couldn't be made, there's no face prosthetic for "Blame Not My Cheeks". A few minutes before the show I run to the Green Room to re-attach the abdominal cavity prosthetic to myself. I find Jessalyn there, worried about the face. Felicity is there worried about her slashed throat. Every other minute Catt exclaims something like "Oh my God, how am I going to do X, Y and Z?" Dani wanders by wondering where the Evening Slice magazine went.

I think to myself "We're gonna ROCK this HOUSE!" It's unconvincing. I feel a little faint.

People are lining up outside. I run into my cousin in the line. Ashley's Mom brings us sandwiches, and we force each other to eat.

Little by little, chaos resolves itself. The audience is in place, and while it's not a full house, it's a pretty filled-up house. Billy and I are sporting the genecop riot gear, so we can't do anything but wait now. We hang out with a bunch of gals in Sanitarium Square garb in the VIP room upstairs. Half an hour passes in tense idleness.

I worry about the Thankless Job scene. The board to which I'm supposed to be strapped is a little bare and I tend to slide off it. There's little to hold on to. The first time I tried it, it broke under my (fairly light) weight. I responded by sticking a dozen more screws into it. Will it hold? We'll see...

The show begins! When Dani comes out in Graverobber's costume, the crowd goes nuts. When Tim comes out on stage in Repo Man's costume, rips out Felicity's heart and throws it (with aorta attached) into the audience, the audience goes MORE nuts. I'm watching through the door, thinking, we have 'em. I'm relieved that the lights are good, even though there were pretty dismal during the runthrough. I can't see Stephen's head explode, but I hear the audience freak out. Ashley comes out through the door and says excitedly: "Oh man... it's ALREADY good!" She's pale and feverish. I worry about her.

The flashlights I taped to the M4s are super bright, and I love how the audience members flinch when Billy and I get in their faces during 21st Century Cure. We advance onto the stage on cue, Catt is suitably terrified as we push her around. Then Trevor shows up in the Repo Man's costume and pushes us around.

And then the blur begins. My ears are permanently tuned to the soundtrack (which I still haven't gotten out of my head) as I rip the riot gear off, ready to be wheeled on stage as the Legal Assassin victim. I barely need to act scared: Tim growls the lines into my face and I fear he's going to bite my nose off. I'm glad that I personally (and nonchalantly) checked Tim's prop scalpels: they're dull. Whew. I'm 50% certain he'd start cutting me for real during Thankless Job. That one's next.

Tyler the techie and I are still not quite sure how to do that one. The big board is living on stage for the time being, much to Ashley's displeasure. I placed a chain on it for me to hold on to (and pretend to be bound by). Tyler is going to help me roll the board out, but during the scene it seems to me (and to the audience) that I'm pulling that huge thing after me by myself. Thirty seconds before we go on stage the special effects guy comes up to me and says: "I got a blood pack for you, lemme just..." and shoves it into my prosthetic. "What do I do with it?" I ask. "Oh, just tell Tim to tear it," he says. "Uh Tim," I say. "I've a blood packet inside my guts. Just um, tear it." "Oookkay," says Tim. He's discombobulated, focusing on his choreography. I think "fuck it." It'll work.

Oh. It works. The fake blood goes everywhere, down my pants, all over my stomach, all over Tim's gloves and helmet and legs and all over the floor. It's cold, slick and, after a minute, incredibly sticky. The crowd roars as Tim yanks out a long intestine. He looks for the heart, but for some reason his gloved hand, slick with fake blood, starts probing *downwards* into my pants. Um, Tim? That's not where the heart is... He mercifully gives up and finishes the scene. I'm still not sure what THAT was... As I slide off the board and crawl offstage, I notice the enormous pool of blood on the stage. Who knew that little packet could hold so much?

When Theresa helps me take the duck tape off, I scream so loudly they can hear me on stage. The fake blood congeals on my stomach, and for the rest of the show my shirt clings to it. My pants are encrusted. Tim's gloves stick together. We look at each other in bewilderment, but the show must go on.

I will die a few more times, but not as spectacularly. I still barely see anything that goes on on stage, but by the audience's reaction, we're doing well. After the intermission, it's time to rock out to Seventeen.

Trevor and I climb into our costumes: he into the Lion, me into the Hippo. I can't see out of the Hippo head. So, to help me find the stage, Trevor has to lead me by the hand. As the scene starts, we're standing together, in silence, in the dark, holding hands. It's weird and comforting at the same time. And when we get on stage, the crowd goes nuts.

I've a weird memory about that scene. After Ashley comes on stage as Joan Jett and starts rocking out, I sneak a peak through the Hippo's mouth, and all I can see is bright multicolored stagelights, and a bunch of jumping "fans". The light, music and chaos of the scene make that crowd appear huge. I feel like a rockstar. My legs would ache for a week afterwards.

More feverish changing, painful plucking at the sticky shirt and pants, a glorious genecop death at the hand of the Repo Man. Then the dead get up, scurry offstage to change into suits for We Started This Op'ra Shit. Forgetting to go around the back, I saunter straight through the isle, followed by curious glances. In the foyer, I find the Woman with the Martini Glass, in whom I barely recognize Ashley. I can barely think: "Ooh! Long hair! Hot!" when we're off through the doors. "Geneco helped upgrade my second-class heredity!!" "My liver was totally wrecked, but now I can drink whatever I want!"

Then I dip her. Awkwardly. The audience gawks: they don't know. Frankly, they're probably gawking at the genterns. Our genterns are hot and a lot more skimpily dressed. And they're writhing against each other.

I prance offstage. Another change into a genecop, sticky fingers leaving red smudges on everything. Camille up in the air, and the audience roars again. Another glorious Repo-death on floor center. Then the crescendo at the opera, Justin's glorious death scene, and the special effects guy sauntering across the stage with... wait... WTF?! What is he..? Oh... my... I'm ready to watch Ashley fly at him and rip his head off right on stage. Thankfully, she exercises restraint. Then Tim's Repo Man coat gets caught in the wheelchair and the audience snickers. Catt's and Tim's performance brings them back.

Then the final scene, and then the bows. And then we're done! Except we're not. It takes us two days to load out. When we get home, Ashley sleeps twelve hours straight. I don't sleep. I am awake all night thinking about how to improve things.

We're all pumped. February is going to...

Except then the reviews come in and hey. What'd I tell you? WE ROCKED THAT HOUSE!

Ladies and gents, boys and girls. We're a kick-ass bunch, aren't we? With all that didn't quite work out, with everything that didn't go according to plan, all the props that didn't materialize, the spinning flying rig, the last-minute special effects that surprised us more than the audience... we got them peeing their pants. Now imagine February. Yeah. That's right.

I think I'm hooked on this...

p.s. Sorry if I didn't tag people, I don't have everyone...

December 12 Show, Amber's Sweets Debut (by Camille Niello)

2009-12-26T10:52:00.001-08:00

So the Saturday of the actual Repo! Live show, everything was pretty chaotic. Props were coming in, last minute decisions made, costumes finished up. Complete and utter chaos. The previous day I had gone up on the wire rig for the first time ever for Chromaggia. Now, we had gone over it a number of times, but with a rather large harness over my Chromaggia costume, and one wire, there was no real guarantee that I was going to remain facing the audience. But a few times over, we tested the drop, went rather successfully, so the next day, we rehearsed my timing of coming down onto the stage to be lifted after Blame Not My Cheeks. I was going to be in the air by the time they lowered me for Chromaggia.

Everything went extremely well for a first show. Thankless Job, an evisceration scene where we see more of the monster come out of Nathan Wallace, played by Tim Meunier, was before my first entrance with Luigi, Amber and Pavi, as well as my first meeting with Shilo. We underestimated just how much blood was going to come out of those theatrical blood packets. It was everywhere. As I step over the body of the "victim" Luigi had just stabbed to death, I about slipped and landed on my ass about three times, both Amber, played by Jessalyn San Gregorio, and I seemed to be having the same issue. With the mostly opaque contacts I was wearing plus the stage lights, navigating about the stage was not an easy task. But that scene was done and went rather successfully.

Before Chase the Morning, my first meeting with Shilo, played by Caitlyn "Catt" Miller, I had to book it up the aisle during intermission. I had mapped out exactly where my family members were and just how I was going to get past them. This was an epic fail, because while I'm huddled at the top of the stairs in the lobby, I look over to see a camera in my face with two friends of my parents who I have known virtually my whole life, behind it. I chatted with them for a little bit, anxious to hear if my parents had left the building or not due to the nature of the show, and hearing that my parents were still there and were actually enjoying it was enough to bring tears to my eyes. So as Who Ordered Pizza and Night Surgeon begin, I'm already pacing. I'm in costume, with the opera costume underneath my Chase coat because there was no way in hell I was going to get that sucker as well as the harness on in time before I went onstage. So beneath the coat, I was wearing both the Chromaggia opera costume as well as the harness. Other people said it worked well, they could barely tell, but when I looked in the mirror what my mind's eye saw was a pregnant reptile. But it worked well, it was pulled off well. Morgana, one of the henchgirls, quickly darted offstage after Night Surgeon in order to escort me as Blind Mag toward the "Wallace House" a.k.a the stage. Chase the Morning has always been a very powerful number, the first meeting between Mag and Shilo, and as I'm supposed to "project" the image of Marni onto the wall on the far side of the theatre, I looked up to see that there was no projection.

Ok... whatever, just work with it. And I did, and delayed a little but it finally flickered to life, much to my relief. The scene took off and went incredible, including Everyone's a Composer where Mag is basically thrown out of the house by Nathan. Once over, I hurried back up the aisle. Grabbing the flower which was on the food counter, I awaited At the Opera Tonight.

The chaos didn't really begin until I rushed back upstairs, thinking I had enough time to put the eyelashes on for Chromaggia, the finger talons, which are a BIG prop for this sequence, and my thigh high boots. Mind you these things are a good six-inches high with a platform on the sole and spiked heel. How I haven't killed myself in these by now is beyond me, but I absolutely adore them for the scene. But by the time we get up there, I'm getting the wristbands, choker, everything, reach to grab the talons.... only to find that someone had moved them and they were nowhere to be seen.

Panic set in. The techies ran amok trying to find the damn things, I'm struggling to get my boots zipped up. Mike, who helped operate the flight rig, was yelling for me to get downstairs. With boots halfway zipped up, I about vaulted down the stairs, prepared to be lifted up in the air. Somehow I didn't meet my mark, so I think, and within seconds of me being barely three feet in the air yet, I start turning away from the audience. As an actor, you're trained to work with whatever happens. Act like there's nothing wrong, and usually you can pass a mistake as part of the show. With the screen displaying Sarah Brightman doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing in back of me? There was no way it could have been passed as part of the show. I went with it, however, and the second I landed figured I'd continue on with my choreography to redeem myself.

I blew it at the end however when I thought I heard one of the techies saying that they found my talons. Or saying to me from the back wing. I moved over in a very Mag fashion, only to be met with looks of "What the hell are you doing?" when I did so. Ok, apparently I heard wrong. So I made my way back, thought, "Ok, just BS the rest of it." And I did, moving back over to the mark for the flight rig, only to be swung completely around by the wire once again. At this point, seeing Blind Mag trying to wriggle her way back around elicited a laugh out of the audience. But it brought a bit of the tension down. It was a mistake, we were working with it, there was nothing we could have done to help that. They knew that. So before my death, I swung around to glare at Rotti Largo with "I would rather be blind." and it just so happened that I was turned around by the wire as I went to "take out" my eyes. It was a cool effect actually, and would have been better if I had been turned back around in the other direction.

But of course, I wasn't. Rather than be dropped on my back I found myself being dropped face first with my bum in midair. I landed, rolled, against the "snow pile" scenery, which was wire mesh on the inside of it, and slowly slid down it for Mag's death.

The show was brilliant on the other hand. Nathan's Repo coat got caught in the wheelchair, which required a techie to rush out and assist. But the rest of it was as powerful as it was intended to be. The reviews were fantastic, and what has set us apart from the other casts is the fact that Mag was actually lifted in the air, as well as the Inopportune Phonecall victim literally hung upside down, poor Trevor. He was a trooper, though, and did an amazing job. I had the easy stunt, though it seemed like he enjoyed being hung upside down. So I'll close this out. For all fans of Repo!, come back out for our February 27th show of 2010.

To bring this to a close, for all Repo fans, Chase the morning, yield for nothing,
and of course...
Everybody, everybody TESTIFY!!!

xx Camille
"Blind Mag"

Confessions of a Genetic Perfection- Amber's Sweets Show Diary, 12/12/2009 (by Jessalyn SanGregorio)

2009-12-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

Chapter One: If it's your first time, it's gonna hurt.

I awake at 9:30 a.m. sweating bullets. I roll over to see David, my boyfriend, still asleep. I roll back over onto my back, exhaling with a huge sigh. My hand reaches out to twist my fingers into his gorgeous long hair while my mind wanders back to the nightmares I’ve been having all night about the show. My stomach flips over in a twist of nervous queasiness and terror.
Only David (and the 25 or so other people in my cast) have any idea how long and how hard I’ve been working on this.

I don’t really remember anything that happened on Friday before the show, except Jessica freaking out about costumes, Tim looking sexy (I had a hard time not jumping him in the Repo outfit.(haha!)) Camille and Trevor going up on the rig, and us laughing so hard at Camille wriggling to get herself turned back around on the rig she looked like a retarded Tinkerbell, or possibly a very entertaining piñata. (I love you Camille, but it was REALLY funny.)
I sighed once again, thinking back on all of this, and decided that right now wasn’t the time to get sentimental. I needed to get my head in the game, as Zefron sings.

David and I finally rolled out of bed, after he managed to basically force feed me something. I have no idea what it was, food doesn’t mean much when your fueled by stress and terror. I don’t remember what we talked about on the way down, or the drive down itself. I remember telling David that I would be hitting the ground running.

I was right. From the second I walked in the door, someone was screaming for me. Tech are running everywhere, Andie is still making sets, flight guy is running around, saw dust and plastic bags litter the audience. Ashley is everywhere with her script. I manage to make my way down to the freezing cold dungeon where I am greeted by Jessica, tears streaming down her face, surrounded by a massive piles of fabric. Patterns litter the floor. The Moms are sitting down there sewing furiously, Elyse is trying to calm Jess down, to little or no avail, people are running EVERYWHERE. I decided my presence would best be served down there, getting shit done. Eventually, Dwight attempted to come downstairs at which point we WARNED him that unless he could sew really quickly, he better leave or he’d leave without a limb. Elisabeth and I were working quite diligently and quickly on my Who Ordered Pizza dress about an hour later when Dwight tried it again- this time he got the full force of Jessica’s rage. It was pretty impressive, actually. After threats of not doing the first run through until I had all my costumes done, hell seemed to break loose. It seemed like all of the execs were about ready to rip each other a new one- I was already in serious pain, two hours sitting hunched over in the cold sewing (or rather gluing) yarn on the skirt, fixing other pieces, etc was taking its toll on my back and neck. My pain was nothing compared to Jessica’s who had had her appendix removed several days before, and was operating on something like a Xanax morphine cocktail. I don’t remember. Eventually, we managed to finish ALMOST all of my pieces (except for Blame Not My Cheeks.)

I then spent the next TWENTY FIVE MINUTES figuring out and placing all my costumes pieces where they needed to go. I need an assistant. For those of you who don’t know- I have the most costumes in the whole freaking show.

I have – 31 costume pieces, 7 wigs, and 3 pairs of shoes.

So yeah. ASSISTANT PLEASE!!!! Ms. Hilton needs her assistant!

Some how, we make it through the first run through.
Lunch time! David went and got something from Trader Joe’s for lunch. I pretty much ate it without tasting it, and tried to just shut my brain off for a while. I couldn’t even think about doing another run through and THEN AN ACTUAL SHOW.

BUT THIS IS OPERA!!!!!!!!!

I left my shoes off (the cause of my pain) and gathered up all 31 pieces, 7 wigs, and 3 pairs of shoes and reset them. I REALLY need an assistant.

We managed to get about halfway through the second runthrough when – OH SNAP! We have enough time to run Chromaggia and that’s it.
At this point, I have probably run up and down each set of steps about 35 times each (not an exaggeration), out to my car twice, ran through WSTOS with the girls twice, and done a full run through and half of one in high heels. I couldn’t help it. I walked up to David, and proceeded to burst into tears. I was in SO MUCH PAIN. Thank god for that boy and his magical foot massages.

After he managed to calm me down, I realize something.

Spooky Dan has arrived, people are lining up, and I STILL HAVEN’T SEEN THE FX GUY!!!!! I reset all my shit and make a mad dash to the green room, shoving through the audience members in line, completely in character. I manage a quick five minute meeting with the FX guy, who PROMISES to be there to apply my fake forehead right before BNMC. I dash backstage, reassured.

SHOW TIME!

So far- Jeff, Justin, Dwight, Tim, and I are upstairs together. The nerves set in. shit. Shitshitshit. My feet hurt. And- OH FUCK ME I HAVE TO PEE.

Too late now!

Miss Misery finishes her hosting, and the film starts. Morgana goes out with her violin, during the intro sequence. Jeff and I head down stairs and start hyping up Tim. The screams of approval that greeted him when he went onstage was what quieted my nerves. As soon as Tim and Felicity go offstage, Jeff, Tristan, Justin and I head onstage. More screams. I can’t help but play it up, Amber style. I flop down, and remember that – OH YEAH, we have NEVER run this effect before. Stephen walks on stage, and I notice the blood pack attached to him. I panic. That blood is going to fly backwards ALL over the stage, and probably ALL OVER ME and my costume, which I have to wear again. I process this in about half a second as Jessica pulls her “gun” and fires. Jeff triggers the device. Were it not for the fact that I had been yelling in my head the words “DON’T REACT DON’T REACT DON’T REACT” I would have jumped. Blood sprays forward ALL OVER Justin, Jessica and Morgana. My face betrayed nothing, but I did sigh of relief. My costume, at least, was safe. Behind me I hear Tristan quietly freaking out ‘holyshit! Holyshit that was awesome! Ohmygod!” and Jeff at my feet going “ Holy crap! Ohmygod its everywhere! That was so cool!” and me going “ SHUT. UP. I KNOW.” To both of them. Just then, Justin and the henchies pass me, and I realize that Justin has blood ALL OVER HIS FACE. Epic. I went offstage laughing and freaking out about how cool it was.

Onward! I change into my next costume, Mark It Up. I think just about everybody saw my boobs that day. Oh well. Jeff, Andie, Dwight, Stephen, and I head onstage, and everything goes swimmingly.

Onward once more! I figured out that Trevor has to help me get my Zydrate Anatomy costume on underneath my Sanitarium Square costume. We get me completely changed (and everyone sees my boobs again) and we all line up for Sanitarium Square. However, we had grossly miscalculated how much blood was on the stage after Thankless Job. I noticed Camille struggling valiantly for balance as I strut on stage and notice the issue. We are sliding EVERYWHERE. Camille and I dance precariously around Billy, who’s laying on the floor, and I grab her, SOMEHOW we managed to not die. Though Jeff nearly killed me when he pushed me backwards on the line “When I’m running GeneCo!” and I went slipping into Tristan. After that Dwight, Stephen, and I run frantically outside around to the lobby, thankfully washing all the blood off my shoes. We vault upstairs, and I madly throw my clothes off, zip up my boots, throw on my fourth wig and frantically make it to the bathroom.

Ah, sweet release.

Zydrate Anatomy became an obstacle course however, once I hit that stage in 6 inch stiletto heels on a stage still smeared with blood. I remember clinging to Dani for dear life, and being SO GREATFUL that it was intermission afterwards. The heels of my boots had blood going a full inch up the heel, and blood all over the toes.

INETRMEZZO.- techies run rampant with towels and rags trying to get as much blood offstage as possible. Next show- we need to place an order with Brawny. Or use a tarp. I change into my Gold outfit, with my Who Ordered Pizza outfit over it. I flag down a techie to bring me my shoes from the lobby-(personal assistant please?) I talk to Billy who is getting his neck appliance put on for Night Surgeon.

We start back up again with Who Ordered Pizza, and all goes swimmingly. The audience got a kick out of my gratuitous groping of Tim. I run offstage to change for HINAWS,
Just then Tim comes backstage, seething. Apparently, no one told him Billy had the appliance on, so blood just DUMPED all over the Repo outfit. OOPS.

During HINAWS, the techies forgot to bring Rotti’s desk back onstage, so I had to improv. Hilarity ensued when I went to skip offstage, with an added fake stumble. I land and notice my head feels decidedly light, and the audience is laughing really hard. My hands fly up to my head, where I realize that my wig has fallen off. SHIT. I roll with it though, dashing back to pick it up and failing very awkwardly offstage. I throw my wig on the table, dash upstairs for my WOP wig, and dash right back downstairs for my brief appearance in Gold.

More dashing.

I change at the speed of light into my ATOT outfit, and manage to make it. I slid THREE TIMES down the cement ramp thingy, and had to had Stephen guide me down the stairs to I wouldn’t die. As soon as I hit the backstage area I am FRANTICALLY throwing my clothes off. I then realize that the FX guy, who had PROMISED to be there………

Wasn’t.

He was NO WHERE in site. Shit. I have about a minute and half to be on stage. I scream at Stephen to help me change. He grabs my costume, throwing it at me, while I’m screaming ‘SAMMIE!!!!! WHERE’S THE FX GUY!!!!! HE’S SUPPOSED TO FUCKING BE HERE FOR MY FOREHEAD!!” the look of panic I received from the poor girl was priceless, techies are yelling into walkie talkies trying to find the guy. I’m screaming at Stephen to do the Velcro on my back while I’m putting my shoes on. Judging by the film score, I have about THIRTY SECONDS to be on stage.

“FUCK!” I scream ‘I HAVE NO FUCKING FOREHEAD!!!!” I whirl in frustration for my wig, ripping it off the wig head and jamming in unceremoniously onto my own. Stephen moves over to fix it for me, and as he moves, I see it- my saviour. Two bottles of stage Blood sitting on a ledge. Thank you, Theresa.

I turn to Stephen as I fly across the room to the bottles of blood. “TELL THE TECHS TO BRING ME AS MANY PAPER TOWELS AS POSSIBLE. AND SOME WATER BOTTLES” Stephen shouts down the stairs at the techs as I grab a bottle, ripping open the top. I then proceed to dump as much blood into my hand as I can possibly manage. Voila. Instant bloody face. I leave the bottle on the floor as I rub my hands together, effectively ruining the carpet. Oh well. This is opera. I REFUSE to go onstage without a forehead to fall off. I somehow manage to get down the stairs without using my hands (as they were covered in blood) and onto the stage in time. I prance and preen and finally I turn, sliming my face with as much blood as possible.

Ew. I can feel it dripping onto my costume. Shit. Oh well.

I run back offstage, up the stairs, and start grabbing water bottles and paper towels to get this shit off me. Stephen and I frantically scrub my face, and I run back downstairs for another two second appearance. Then I fly BACK upstairs to change into my final costume, where I take over GeneCo. (fuck yeah!)

When all is said and done, I strut back onstage for my final scene, Jeff and Tristan at my sides.

And then it’s over.

Fuck.

It’s over.

YES! I did it! WE DID IT!!!

the reviews came in, Spooky Dan interviewed us all, and we even earned some groupies.

Despite the pain, the blood, the freak outs, improv’s, tears, exhaustion, fighting, the stress, I went home with the hugest smile that night.

Did it feel worth it?
FUCK YES!

There are a few people I want to personally thank-

First- Stephen, for being cool in face of my screaming.
Secondly- Theresa, for bringing the blood that saved my ass
Camille- you were the one that was there from the BEGGINNING. Mag and Amber for life.
Jessica- words fail me when it comes to your dedication and drive. I love you.
Andie- for being amazing, taking SO MUCH onto yourself, and dedicating your time and effort.
David- for being there, taking care of me, and showing me what love means, i love you so much.
Ashley- damn, woman, for having the creative drive, the talent, and dedication to pull us all together, thank you. I owe you so much for giving me the opportunity to help create, lead, and inspire. You’re a hero.
Tim- where do I even begin? People like you are so rare, so insightfully wonderful. You need to know how much EVERYONE in this cast looks up to you, respects you, . I look at you and wish I had one tenth of your drive, focus, and ability to create. YOU started this Op’ra Shit, Tim. YOU were the spark that fanned the flames of bringing the REPO! Experience to Sacramento, you brought the thirty or so of us to create something amazing, something beautiful. Something unique. You are one of the strongest people I know, I’m so proud of you and everything you have overcome and done, and everyone of us is proud to call you our friend.

So guys, we ready to do this again in February? Cause I’m ready to bring the fire…..

TESTIFY!!!

p.s. sorry if i missed a tag of anyone..

Diary of a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl (by Catt Miller)

2009-12-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, so..... Everyone else is doing Repo diaries, so I thought I'd chime in with my bit!

My little bit wasn't that exciting, however.... And I didn't have nearly as many techie mistakes, and some of mine were minor... but I will say everything that was driving me insane!

Okay.

So!

Bear with me. ^^

First of all things first, I left Wednesday morning (to go to the mall first), suitcase in tow, to get to the theatre. I got there an hour early, was not well-dressed for warmth, and was the only one there... so we had to sit inside.

No big.

I'll skip to the actual day..... The stuff in-between was just errands and insanity.

Saturday morning.... I wake up early, get ready to go, and am freaking out because I don't have some of the stuff I need. I also know that a lot of other people didn't have the stuff they needed, and because I'm paranoid,I begin to worry HORRIBLY.

When Ashley, Art, and I get to the theatre, most of their cast members have yet to show up, the sound guy had just gotten there, and the place was a mess! I tried to help as much as I could, but there wasn't a whole lot that I could do... So I did all I could.

Then, tech started..... The sound guy didn't once do a run through with the actual projections or anything, which I KNEW was going to fuck up the actual performance.... My nightgown wasn't completely finished yet, and I was missing some things.

First run through starts out good, but I realize that the tech forgot to throw the dead body onstage in time for 21st Century Cure. It switches to Shilo Wakes, and I figure out.... I CAN'T GET THE NIGHTGOWN ON.

So I tear it off and throw it, about ready to have a panic attack, but I was onstage, so I wouldn't. AS soon as Infected finished, I was upstairs.... Where I lost it.

For the next couple scenes, while I was backstage, I was crying, panicking, and having a mental breakdown. I'm surprised I held out so long... You'd think it would have happened sooner.....

Oh,well.

Tons of other things went wrong during that rehearsal, but they were smoothed out by the second... then came the real thing!

Jessica had let me borrow a pair of disposable contacts so I could see onstage (A fucking godsend they were, thank you SO much Jess! *tackleglomps*),and I was finally used to them when the show started!

One big problem.... one of the techs didn't put one of my books in the bag with all the other stuff, so I had to run around lookign for one... one lady gave me one to use, and I wish I could have found her afterwards to give her back the book, but I had no idea where she or IT was.

Anyway! My cue started, and I headed down the aisle..... To the sounds of screams! My heart was beating rapidly, my adreniline pumping.... but this was it! I couldn't mess up!

So I got onstage, was a TINY bit off on my cues, but all in all, 21st Centruy Cure went well. Then came Shilo Wakes, where instead of the nightgown, I just stripped off half of my costume... To the sounds of TONS of catcalls. >//////////<>.<>.<>.<

Not that the whole cast hadn't seen (and compleented, THANKS, Stephen)n my boobs already, cuz in a show like this, you don't have time to worry about people seeing you naked.

Then came Rotti's Chapel Sermon (Also called Rotti's Brainwashing video), where a techie was supposed to put Marni's veil for me to wear... but it was not there. I remembered the flashlight, though!

What pissed me off the most was that the video wasn't THERE... until I saw the damn projections being FLIPPED through! I was so moritifed.....
xD

Then came Let The monster Rise, which was FUN... but I kept getting my timing on the swinging of the damn shovel wrong. Also, the projedtion of Mag didn't show up in time, so I was akwardly staring at nothing, just like with the Brain-washing video.....

THAT was what irritated me the most.

After that was the Final Showdown..... Which went fairly well, until Jessalyn whispered "Pull up your dress" when she came onstage.... And I had to pull it up for like the fifty-millionth time.

Then I Never Knew I loved You So Much was intruded upon by Tim's coat getting caught in that fucking wheelchair!

Finished that really well,though... did Genetic Emancipation, and was finally DONE.....

Then the bows came,and I was last. Right after I bowed, the music stopped at JUST the right time.... which made up for the one thing that really depressed me about the show....

Not ONCE did I get to be covered in fake blood!

I was REALLY looking forward to that!

In any case... there's my diary, sorry it wasn't as entertaining as Jessalyn's, Meg's, and Camille's. ^^

I'm also sorry if I missed someone.... my Facebook likes to act up a lot.

Confessions of a Repossion Victim (By Trevor Gjeltema)

2009-12-26T08:56:00.000-08:00

Ask not what Amber's Sweets can do for you. Ask what you can do for Amber's Sweets... I wake up between Felicity and Elyse (before you leap to conclusions nothing happened...with Elyse anyway) before by brain can focus and all the happy recollections can return to me Elyse's phone rings. it's Jessica, she's been up all night and is panicked. not the best way to wake up after less then 4 hours of sleep. from what I can here from this side of the conversation I decide it might be coffee time. you know just in case I need to do any driving in a hurry. I stumble out of my bedroom only to realize Tristan is between me and the coffee maker. time for the ninja skills. coffee procured I wander back in to the bedroom to find out that Elyse has calmed things down, and everything will be ok so long as we bring some breakfast for Jessica.

crisis one averted.

Tristan need to get to the theater early so the Trevor taxi makes it's first trip of the day while felicity does some last minute stitching. I return home for breakfast, gather supplies(food for Jessica) and rally the troops. Felicity, Elise, Elisabeth, and I pile in to my clown car for now my second trek to the colonial. it's chaos. techies are building sets, people are running around in a panic, and I really have nothing to do. Elise makes her way to the sowing circle in the dungeon, since some people hadn't arrived yet and run troughs seemed hours felicity and I set off to target for last second costumes and advill for Tristan (apparently I was mixing drinks a little heavy the night before.) arriving back we realized that the food we had brought for Jessica was in our trunk. doh!! in the end it was just as well because she was to nerves to eat. I left snacks in the care of Elise, and now that I was once again just an extra body I wondered around looking for a way to be useful. I found the techies working on sets and though I could be of some use... I couldn't but I told them about the power drill I brought (ok so actually it was felicity's and we brought it the day before and had neglected to tell anyone.) as it turns out an extra drill was welcome, so even if I wasn't able to help my drill could. but this meant I had nothing to do but sit around. before long what luck what luck they needed extension cable so it was off to home depot for me.

by the time I got back noon had come and gone, and still no run through insight. the slave labor stitching party in the dungeon was furiously trying to get the last minute costumes done. Before I can think what next felicity tells me we're going home so she can finish a few things on the sewing meshan. yay 10 minute nap and lunch for me!! Ashly gave us strict instructions to call when we finish so she can call 15 min to places.

I should point something out at this point I was only a few hours away from being hung upside down by my ankle, and we had yet to test the rig with my costume on over it. so when I arrive for I think the 7th time I grab the rig guys and get one full costume test seconds before places for the first full runthrough. big plus no death. it turns out I have a lot of time off stage, and there wasn't any one in the wings to help with costume changes. I finally found what I had been looking for all day, a chance to be useful. and my internal 12 year old found what it had been looking for constantly since it was my external 12 year old BOOBIES!!!! some of my efforts were more successful then others. I believe the phrase pregnant reptile has been mentioned. but more then one sweet was squeezed in to a corset by yours truly.

run through begins and the pressure is on. out of curiosity I see if the harness fits under my costumes. it does, which means that the changes I had been worrying about will take half the time. thank god. rig works I live and Art and celebrated by rocking out in animal suites... oh wait that was part of the show.

performance comes along and the sleep deprivation starts to catch up with me. I'm just about to conck out with my eyes open when a blood splattered largo family come running up the stairs. turns out no one warned them blood pack were live. but now we have an unforeseen problem. how do you clean up blood and still make it to your scene on time? I help as best I can, but this does add one more concern to my impending stunt. will the blood get in my hair when my spine is removed? before long I have my answer. no because there was no blood in my spine. go figure. but then it was time for my moment of glory LION TIME!!! we rocked seventeen and the crowd loved us.

from my moment of glory to my moment of tragedy. in my self appointed role of costume aid I'm helping Camille change before cromagia and oh fuck she has no talons. some one must have moved them. the time we waist looking for them is time not changing, and Camille goes out with boots unziped and only half her feathers. but thanks to our idea to put the harness on during intermission and but her costumes over it she is still safe to fly. and fly she did. from what I understand it was the most impressive moment of the whole show.

the certans close on a kiss god knows we can tell the end is near. oops wrong musical. but the epilogue ends and we all take a bow. relief and bed

my only regret is the loin didn't get any fan girls. sigh

congrats everyone on an awesome show. thanks to Tristan and Camille for bringing me in to the sweets fold. thanks to Tim, Ashly and Jessalyn for being awesome, and putting on such an amazing event. My love to all the sweets and Testify