(video credit: Joshua Robinson)
January 3, 2014
You know what’s even more “oh-my-gosh-we’re-actually-almost-at-opening-night” besides the day before sitzprobe? It’s the actual day OF sitzprobe and that, ladies and gentlemen, was today! We started the day off with our usual run, stairs, and stretching. The core exercise today was a bit different… a bit harder I should say. If you want a six pack… or a 12 pack you should definitely either join us or try this at home:
-1 minute straight crunches
-1 minute side crunches
-1 minute bicycle
-1 minute ‘Y’ raises
-1 minute plank
-1 minute burpees
-1 minute rest
REPEAT
Undeniably intense… yet also really awesome once you complete it.
We then worked a couple of things that were on the To-Do list and then got ready for sitzprobe #1. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s the first time the band and the cast perform together. There is no acting or dancing (unless otherwise stated) and you just work through the songs with the cast singing and the band playing. It’s definitely a huge change going from recorded back up music to a live band (and a wonderful live band may I add). I know some songs were pretty easy and we only had to go through it once, while others were far harder.
I know that personally, I had a lot of difficulty just because it sounds so different (maybe because a couple of instruments were missing) and also because I was dragging. I don’t know why but I’ve had difficulty sleeping lately so I only go 4 hours of sleep even though I went to bed at 10:30. It’s crazy though how much sleep can affect your performance. I always knew that it had an effect but I thought maybe just how much energy you have on stage. I’ve realized though that how much energy you have affects your thought process so your acting, your breath energy so you drag and go flat, and your sharpness in choreography.
I’ve also felt my voice starting to go which really scares me because I basically need it to be in tip top shape for the next two months (January-Shrek, February-four important auditions). I’ve been (trying to) get lots of sleep, eating my greens and vitamins and drinking tons of fluids.
ANYWHO.
Sitzprobe = Awesome
Trischa Buhler = Wonderful
Shrek = Win.
–Brittany
