The Show Must Go On Cast Blog: Tanya Marquardt, Jan 14

Just finished rehearsal, helped Adrienne wind cords and then Linda drove us home. I love that everyone takes such good care of each other, making sure we all get home and have rides etc.

We learned the last two songs tonight. I guess since this is going to be published on a blog I won’t give it away, but the last song reminds me so much of high school parties on Vancouver Island, and I recognized it right away, which was so great. It’s totally amazing to me that with twenty-two people and a little over one week we have gone through the whole piece. Everyone is very focused, and at the same time having a lot of fun.

Rehearsing at night feels sleepy sometimes, and by the end of the week I do get a bit cranky (on the inside). Today I got to grab a nap and I think even if I can get twenty minutes in it will help me, because I felt much more focused today. We started in the new rehearsal space – 1422 William, and it was warm even though we were warned that it might not be. The acoustics make the music sound all echo-like, and I think when we move into tech we will be surprised at the sound of the music and the clarity of the lyrics.

I am loving this process. I feel totally ready for anything because as we move from one section to another I am kept in a state of knowing nothing. It’s exhilarating – walking into the unknown – and sometimes scary. I feel often very vulnerable, and at times, the nakedness of it embarrasses me. But then there are moments when I just feel like me – no more no less. I am lucky to have this feeling. I hope everyone gets to have this feeling at least once in their life.

Must email, have a bath then dive into my new book, The Angel on the Roof by Russell Banks. As I drift off into sleep, I wonder if I’ll hum a song from the show….Hmmmmm……