Back in 2014 I joined Blue Mountains Musical Society (BMMS) for the purrfect production of Cats. Fast forward two years and we just wrapped Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Photos: Grant Blackwell
I came for the dancing and singing, but stayed for all the extras they don't tell you about at info night.
Festivities
Someone's birthday? Let's celebrate!
Bec's birthday included dancing at Panthers until the DJ gave up and 2am cheeseburgers on National Cheeseburger day.
Amy's birthday featured the essentials - balloons and cake.
Balloons also emerged for Cassie's birthday.
Opening night of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat? Let's celebrate!
Finished rehearsal? Let's celebrate!
Pub's still open? Let's celebrate!
Aubtin thought shredded coaster would be great addition to the menu.
Performed on a Saturday night? House party at Phil's! Snaps to Jess for taking these photos with the instructions, "Let's make this party look wild."
Performed another Saturday night? Let's turn up the heat at Lisa's.
Food
Opening night of West Side Story cemented a bond of nugget sized proportions between Cassie, Jess and I. Any time is nuggie time. Break at rehearsals.
Post performance.
Sometimes I go to Macca's with Annastasia and Emily. Sometimes it's Emu Plains, but sometimes Annastasia and I are so into our own rendition of Africa that we miss the exit and go to Penrith instead.
Back at the pub, the pies were a real drawcard for some. Annoying Mark while he tried to eat his multiple pies was the drawcard for others. He felt compelled to engage in a little art therapy to help stop the ongoing nightmares.
Artwork: Mark WotherspoonSomeone almost always buys chips, cookies or ice-cream to share. Often I just soak in the sweet smell and generosity.
Mitchell proved the perfect housewife. Celeste can be seen readying herself to catch a profiterole.
Forward Thinking
Would you rather be completely bald or completely hairy? Just one of the very many deep, perplexing questions.
We left it to Mark to ask the really hard hitting questions about 40 million dollars worth of dumping.
Fitness
The calorie burn began with the heavy lifting of bump in.
And there was that time Bec, Mitchell and I upped our step count as walkers on stage and discovered a new pose each time we emerged from a blackout.
Our vocal fitness a priority too. Warm ups began with Annastasia in the car. Meowing the Bee Gees' Tragedy is the perfect vocal exercise.
Vocal gymnastics continued with Musical Director extraordinaire Matt leading us in a tune about a moose with an unquenchable thirst for juice.
The song inspiring a Moose-ical to be written by Amy and I. This wild stage show will be about many moose recovering in a rehab clinic, featuring heart wrenching hits There Once was a Moose, Vamoose and the rock ballad Famoose.
Tom and Josh continued the warm ups with the addition of a little bit of a pelvic thrust. I don't know about you, but that's how I sing in the rain - with pigeon toed pelvic thrusting.
Alex ensured the cast burnt a few calories going bananas.
Stretching often included a cameo appearance by Micah.
The crystal tex and myrrh addicted Ben would also question if I was right as I stretched while he got into Shape(s).
Even though fab stage manager Ryan led the bump out of the set, he mistook it as bum out. I guess he was jealous of our dressing room warm up. Downward dog is apparently the best way to remove double sided tape.
Fashion
One time Annastasia, Jess, Cassie, Becky, Ben, Mitchell and I went to Macca's and got these amazing socks.
The onstage fashions were pretty fabulous thanks to the lovely, lurking Linda.
Here are some of the outfits the featured dancers quick changed in and out of.
Sisters from the same mister.
#awkwardfamilyphoto #heydad
Photo: Grant Blackwell
Camel Hump
Photo: Grant Blackwell
Time for a night cap.
Photo: Grant Blackwell
Go Go Gals
Photo: Grant Blackwell
Feel E-gypt if you missed us in these dresses.
Photo: Grant Blackwell
Waiting Game
Photo: Grant Blackwell
Amy, Jess, Bec, Cassie, Marley and I were cast as featured dancers, but became sisters as well. These beautiful, talented, hilarious and fun ladies are an asset to any stage, dressing room and most certainly my life.
Farewells
I'm not normally fond of farewells, but BMMS really knows the best way to bid adieu to a musical. The glamorous Cast Dinner is like the participation Oscars. Everyone gets a certificate.
Fancy frocks are donned.
Plus a million photos are captured, like this one with the vibrant director, Brittanie.
And this one with my old Uni buddy and wonderful choreographer, the gorgeous Sonya.
The photos didn't stop with that contemporary dance reach.
So many shots...
The photos didn't even stop when we were kicked out of the Sports Club.
The after party moved from the front of the Club to K-Mart when Annastasia and I decided 11:45pm would be the best time to grab a few balls.
We felt a little restricted once we were informed the registers would shut off for an hour at midnight. The Amazing Race: Christmas Edition concluded with the purchase of baubles.
All the festivities, food, forward thinking, fitness, fashion and farewells combine as the perfect ingredients for friendship. A deep heartfelt thank you goes out to all the people who made my Joseph experience unforgettable, exceptional, amazing and truly technicolor.
Love and lobbies my wonderfully weird, outrageously talented beauties! Xo
