GLEE

Fortunately for me, the Star World channel replays the shows of the week on Saturday and Sunday.  I just caught the first episode of GLEE, which will now be shown every Wednesday night after American Idol.  My friends Mette and Sarah both watch this show on Wednesday night when it first aired and said that they thought it had potential but that it wasn’t what they expected.  It sure has been played up a lot this month, so I thought it must have fallen short of the hype.  But for me – OMG – I loved loved LOVED the first episode and cant WAIT to see the rest of the season!

What some of you may or may not know about me is that I was a theater kid when I was young. I’ve posted a couple photos below from my performances.  I loved taking the drama or voice classes and remember all too well the auditions for the plays.  I never got a lead role, but Mr. Russell, the theater company director was always so kind to call me and congratulate me on my role as the townsperson or bunny rabbit or whatever other general role I was chosen for.  I practiced so very hard for auditions, but when the moment of truth came, I was so nervous, I failed to sing the song how I practiced, and would undoubtedly fall out of my singing voice.

Fast forward to high school. I was an all-American girl.  I played sports but was also a cheerleader.  I was part of the popular group of kids.  I went to school dances and proms with the greatest enthusiasm.  And I also watched every performance of Ensemble.

Mixed Ensemble was a group of 32 students, half girls and half boys.  The concerts would being on a classical note and grow progressively toward pop tunes and big song and dance numbers.  At our school, this vocal group drew not only musicians, singers  and dancers, but football players and basketball stars,  cheerleaders and tennis champions.  It wasn’t dorky to be in Ensemble, it was beyond cool.

I never found the courage to audition for Ensemble in the first three years at school.  The group was so talented.  I never thought I would be good enough.  But my senior year approached, and I realized it was my last chance. I nervously made my way to the audition to sing for Joretta Wright, our teacher and director.

The audition was tough…you couldn’t bring a song to sing, she just asked you to sing well know tunes, patriotic songs and even some children’s music.  I sang America the Beautiful and Mary Had a Little Lamb.  I sang confidently and sincerely, hoping to secure a spot in the group.  The next day, I went to the Ensemble room to look at the paper on the door.  And my name was on it.  I made it.

Ensemble was by far one of the highlights of high school.  I loved the music and the choreography.  I met one of my best friends in my life, Holly, and one of the greatest loves of my life, Hap.  I loved being on stage and performing and when we went to Boston and New York on tour, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  Ensemble was cool.

GLEE may be off to a slow start for my friends here, but as I watched it today, I was overcome with emotions and memories of a very fond time in my life.  I can’t wait to follow the storyline and see what other memories come to light.  For today, I’m content to go through my day humming some of the songs we sang back then.  I still remember them all.

Pointed Toes! – That’s me my senior year at Valhalla High School with my then-boyfriend and Ensemble partner, Hap.

He’s a prince! – This was the play “Cinderella” and that was the prince, Pat Merrill.  I was in 8th grade and he was a senior in high school. And I had the hugest crush on him! Leave it to me to fall in love with the prince!

The Trouble with Angles – Forget the costume I’m wearing! How about that gold color palette in our house! Yikes!