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« on: Aug 12, 2010, 10:19 pm »
I have a recurring nightmare that I've been having since the first show I SM'ed in college. I think it stems from the fact that filling in for an actor in rehearsal is my absolute least favorite part of the job, and having to potentially go on for an actor is actually my worst nightmare (a performer I am not).
My first show was a dance concert, with several pieces choreographed by a fairly well-known guest choreographer. In my dream, one of the dancers breaks her elbow, and I have to go on for her in one of the pieces. The director keeps saying "You've been to all the rehearsals! You'll be fine!" over and over, and I keep telling anyone who will listen "But I don't even know how to tap dance..." I end up going on and absolutely failing miserably, since, you know, I don't know how to tap dance, and it ends with the guest choreographer backstage yelling at me about how I've ruined his vision.
I should maybe clarify that right before I SM'ed this dance concert, I was the ASM for a show where one of the actresses got really ill. The SM and the Director decided that the contingency plan was for me to put on the frilly yellow dress and go on for her, since her character gets kidnapped and carried around onstage for all of the second act, and the other ASM was "a little chunky." Their words, not mine. Anyways, the first time I had this nightmare, the possibility of actually having to go on for an actor was a real and looming threat. Thankfully it never happened, but I've been having the nightmare ever since.