Well it is now about 2:11 pm on Tuesday afternoon and I am officially exhausted. I even had TWO cups of coffee this morning (I hardly ever drink caffeine) and rambled on and on from about 7 am to about 10:30 when I finally started to come down from my caffeine high and then began to get depressed that I was no longer giddy like a school girl. Oh, and I have a headache. So that's my little bitch fest. Now on to more important things. Last night we staged the show with all the fixin's. It was somewhat intimidating through the beginning of Act I but by Act II, I started getting used to the costumes.
Man oh man! Scott wasn't kidding when he said we should feel exhausted at the end of each run! Running back and forth backstage, zipping through costume changes and dancing for the enjoyment of our audience sure takes its toll! I had an absolute blast though. I hope tonight feels even more comfortable although I will be missing my Doody very much. What am I gonna do without you? I guess I will just have to talk to myself a lot.... ok back to my day job I go!!
Toodles,
Isabel
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Less than a week!!! I'm All Choked Up!!
On Friday my stress level was slightly high. I still hadn't found four of my costumes and I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do with my hair! I was really freaking out about how much time we have left before we open. In less than one week, we will finally get to share our little show with all of you. I sorta feel like we are letting you come into our little dysfunctional family home, and allowing you to share a couple of days with us.
Every time I step into the ArtLoft, I see another part of our show coming together. I think its my favorite part of this whole process. I love watching everything behind the scenes. I feel sorta special to be there watching the last touches of paint getting added to the set, the costume racks being set up upstairs, the lights being cued for every scene and the band come together to work on the music. Oh and its sooo much fun to find new little props for us to use!
Its amazing to me how much all of these things add to my character. I know that if all else fails, I will be transformed completely into Frenchy on Thursday night. I picture myself sitting at my dressing table after applying the last touches of hair and make-up, taking a deep breath and getting ready to get on stage as French. Its so exciting I could cry!! So, I did find my costumes (and adore them) and I think the only thing that I have right now, are exciting and nervous feelings. As I work on getting that right formula that is Frenchy, I get chills. I am so close to becoming her that she feels so much apart of me now. Scott Miller, you were right. I AM Frenchy.
xxoxx
Isabel
Every time I step into the ArtLoft, I see another part of our show coming together. I think its my favorite part of this whole process. I love watching everything behind the scenes. I feel sorta special to be there watching the last touches of paint getting added to the set, the costume racks being set up upstairs, the lights being cued for every scene and the band come together to work on the music. Oh and its sooo much fun to find new little props for us to use!
Its amazing to me how much all of these things add to my character. I know that if all else fails, I will be transformed completely into Frenchy on Thursday night. I picture myself sitting at my dressing table after applying the last touches of hair and make-up, taking a deep breath and getting ready to get on stage as French. Its so exciting I could cry!! So, I did find my costumes (and adore them) and I think the only thing that I have right now, are exciting and nervous feelings. As I work on getting that right formula that is Frenchy, I get chills. I am so close to becoming her that she feels so much apart of me now. Scott Miller, you were right. I AM Frenchy.
xxoxx
Isabel
Friday, February 16, 2007
Fact... or Friction?
There I was, driving down the lonely two lane road. The rain was poring down and you could here the crackle of thunder off in the distance. It was too much for me to be driving at night by myself in my Grandpa's Chevy, but I had my secret lover Klyne with me. Neither one of us was prepared for what was to happen next.
Out of the blue and faster than the speed of light, a black car with red trim came flying by from our left! It must have been going at least 120 mph! It hit a slope and flew through the air for what seemed like eternity. When I finally focused my vision I realized it was Grease Lightning! From the passenger window we could barely make out Rizzo holding a bottle of beer and cackling an evil laugh. The realization came too late. We collided with each other as if we were polar opposites attracted by a magnetic force we could not deny. Klyne shouted, "Frenchy! Stop! Its... its Grease Lighting!" My small Chevy had entered the losing side of an epic battle.
The two cars smashed into each other! We flew in one direction and Grease Lighting skidded to a stop after doing four 360 turns. When I finally looked up from the steering wheel, I saw Roger emerge from the drivers side hootin and hollerin. I slowly got out of the crushed can that used to be my family car and looked at Roger. He said, "Holy shit French did you see that! Rock N' Roll!" That's how the events of that fateful night went down. Don't ever let anyone tell you different.
French
Out of the blue and faster than the speed of light, a black car with red trim came flying by from our left! It must have been going at least 120 mph! It hit a slope and flew through the air for what seemed like eternity. When I finally focused my vision I realized it was Grease Lightning! From the passenger window we could barely make out Rizzo holding a bottle of beer and cackling an evil laugh. The realization came too late. We collided with each other as if we were polar opposites attracted by a magnetic force we could not deny. Klyne shouted, "Frenchy! Stop! Its... its Grease Lighting!" My small Chevy had entered the losing side of an epic battle.
The two cars smashed into each other! We flew in one direction and Grease Lighting skidded to a stop after doing four 360 turns. When I finally looked up from the steering wheel, I saw Roger emerge from the drivers side hootin and hollerin. I slowly got out of the crushed can that used to be my family car and looked at Roger. He said, "Holy shit French did you see that! Rock N' Roll!" That's how the events of that fateful night went down. Don't ever let anyone tell you different.
French
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Oh costume day, oh costume day...
This past Saturday I got home at about 9am after a night of debauchery with my friends. I knew I had to take a nap because I had a 1:30 costume appointment with Russ at his shop. I ran home, took a shower and napped until about noon. At about 1:20 I arrived at Russ' amazing costume shop. There were literally hundreds and hundreds of costumes from different time periods all around me! I could transform myself into a fifties "teenage doll" or a sixties "Bond girl" with every different costume I found.
Upon arrival, I bumped into Jeff Wright and Kine Brown. Kine had just finished finding all of her costumes and from her expression, I knew that it had not been an easy task. The Pink Ladies have seven separate costume changes!!! That's right seven, in a two hour show! We are going to have to pull some miracles backstage.
In the shop Russ was running back and forth trying to accommodate for all the people who he had to dress. Katie Nestor and I arrived at about the same time and we soon realized the daunting task of dressing this fantastic show. I myself, wanted to try on just about every costume that could possibly fit me. Is it wrong would you say , that I am 25 years old and still love to play dress up?
My first goal was to find an awesome prom dress. The first two I tried on were to die for but unfortunately, I was a little too top heavy for them. The third one, was a perfect fit. A simple tea length skirt on a sleeveless black dress. I pictued myself turning and twirling all over the stage. After Russ helped me locate long balck gloves and black patent leather stiletto pumps for it, I knew it was the perfect outfit. The dress moved with me and I could move with it. Add some fake eyelashes and a bouffant hairstyle and I am going to be a fifties prom princess. EVERY guys gonna wanna take to me into the backseat of his daddy's car baby!
For the next hour, I would search relentlessly for the right "Frenchy" outfits. I found a pink dress and sweater set which was so cute and fun, and also a green skirt, white blouse and peach sweater that just screams Frenchy. We ran out of time before I could find my other three costumes (excluding the nightie for the pajama party) but I can't wait to see what Russ and I come up with the next time we meet! In all, I must have tried on about sixty outfits and as soon as I get a breast reduction... I'm wearing them all!
Upon arrival, I bumped into Jeff Wright and Kine Brown. Kine had just finished finding all of her costumes and from her expression, I knew that it had not been an easy task. The Pink Ladies have seven separate costume changes!!! That's right seven, in a two hour show! We are going to have to pull some miracles backstage.
In the shop Russ was running back and forth trying to accommodate for all the people who he had to dress. Katie Nestor and I arrived at about the same time and we soon realized the daunting task of dressing this fantastic show. I myself, wanted to try on just about every costume that could possibly fit me. Is it wrong would you say , that I am 25 years old and still love to play dress up?
My first goal was to find an awesome prom dress. The first two I tried on were to die for but unfortunately, I was a little too top heavy for them. The third one, was a perfect fit. A simple tea length skirt on a sleeveless black dress. I pictued myself turning and twirling all over the stage. After Russ helped me locate long balck gloves and black patent leather stiletto pumps for it, I knew it was the perfect outfit. The dress moved with me and I could move with it. Add some fake eyelashes and a bouffant hairstyle and I am going to be a fifties prom princess. EVERY guys gonna wanna take to me into the backseat of his daddy's car baby!
For the next hour, I would search relentlessly for the right "Frenchy" outfits. I found a pink dress and sweater set which was so cute and fun, and also a green skirt, white blouse and peach sweater that just screams Frenchy. We ran out of time before I could find my other three costumes (excluding the nightie for the pajama party) but I can't wait to see what Russ and I come up with the next time we meet! In all, I must have tried on about sixty outfits and as soon as I get a breast reduction... I'm wearing them all!
Friday, February 2, 2007
How I got my nickname, Frenchy
Doody may not remember the first time we really met, but I do. It was during the summer of 1947. My mother and I had just moved back to the city a few years earlier. We had planned to go to the park with Marty and her mom. While our mom's were talking and Marty was off flirting with the older boys, I saw him. I had just come down the slide and he was standing at the edge of the sandbox. He looked so timid and nervous, but I new when I saw him he was the only boy for me. Seeing as how I have never really been a really shy person (and given the fact that I was only almost seven) I did the only thing I knew how. I walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned to look at me, I kissed him. I stuck my tongue into is mouth like I had seen in all the movies. It was just like a dream! My mother screamed, everybody laughed and Doody ran away. My mother said, "Come on Frenchy, let's go home." and it stuck. I wonder if Doody remembers???
Frenchy's Backstory (Here it is!! Finally!)
I was born Francesca Alicia Facciano to Maria Facciano and Alberto Pagan. My grandfather, Fabio Facciano immigrated to Chicago in 1911 leaving is young wife Marissa, my grandmother in Basilicata, Italy their native land. After establishing himself as a hardworking member of the ACWA, (Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America) he sent for my grandmother and their son my uncle Antonio. Life for my grandparents was very good. They were able to establish themselves in a suburb just out of Chicago's east side, near Gary Indiana. My grandfather worked as a manager in a fabric factory. My mother, Maria, was born on October 5,1920. My family lived modestly until the great depression of 1930.
When the depression occurred, my grandparents were forced to move into the east city limits and lost nearly everything. My mother and grandmother began working alongside my grandfather and Uncle in the garment sweatshops of east Chicago. It was a hard life. My mother would leave work early to do the housekeeping and cooking before the rest of her family would return home.
In the summer of 1940, my mother Maria met a young Mexican stock boy at a small grocery store located near her home in the Mexican neighborhood. She was trying to catch a train home and tripped outside the store dropping all her bags. Alberto (as he would later tell her was his name) helped her up and helped her home. They became secret lovers and she became pregnant 2 months later. On August 23, 1940 I was born. My gran parents forbid my mother to see my father again.
My mother and I lived for the first four years of my life in Fort Wayne Indiana, with some close friends of my grandparents. They wanted to keep my mother as far away from the city until they could assimilate her into our community saying my father was an Italian who died in the war. The only thing I ever received from my father, was my middle name Alicia, the name of his mother.
At the age of four I would return to Chicago's east side and live with my grandparents and mother who never married. My uncle died before I was born after joining a mafia family. My grandparents raised me in a modest yet somewhat run down two story house. We had one car. I started school with Rizzo, Marty, and Danny and I would later meet Jan in 5th grade and Doody and Kenickie shortly after. But from the age of about thirteen, you could say we've been rather inseparable. Only no one knows about my Mexican background, they hardly even know my real name since they started calling me Frenchy from the first day they met me.
When the depression occurred, my grandparents were forced to move into the east city limits and lost nearly everything. My mother and grandmother began working alongside my grandfather and Uncle in the garment sweatshops of east Chicago. It was a hard life. My mother would leave work early to do the housekeeping and cooking before the rest of her family would return home.
In the summer of 1940, my mother Maria met a young Mexican stock boy at a small grocery store located near her home in the Mexican neighborhood. She was trying to catch a train home and tripped outside the store dropping all her bags. Alberto (as he would later tell her was his name) helped her up and helped her home. They became secret lovers and she became pregnant 2 months later. On August 23, 1940 I was born. My gran parents forbid my mother to see my father again.
My mother and I lived for the first four years of my life in Fort Wayne Indiana, with some close friends of my grandparents. They wanted to keep my mother as far away from the city until they could assimilate her into our community saying my father was an Italian who died in the war. The only thing I ever received from my father, was my middle name Alicia, the name of his mother.
At the age of four I would return to Chicago's east side and live with my grandparents and mother who never married. My uncle died before I was born after joining a mafia family. My grandparents raised me in a modest yet somewhat run down two story house. We had one car. I started school with Rizzo, Marty, and Danny and I would later meet Jan in 5th grade and Doody and Kenickie shortly after. But from the age of about thirteen, you could say we've been rather inseparable. Only no one knows about my Mexican background, they hardly even know my real name since they started calling me Frenchy from the first day they met me.
Happy Ground Hog's Day!
OK fellow bloggers look out! This girl has finally learned how to manage hr blog space! On this charming and witty yet rather insightful page, you will fin links to my fellow Grease bloggers. I was also able to attach a picture of myself so that you can put a face to the blog. OK but truthfully, it doesn't take much intelligence to actually update and add things to your blog. Maybe I;m just lazy... or perhaps a raging alcoholic that passes out every time before she blogs. Lets just go with the lazy part. Hee hee! I'm looking forward to choreographing "All Choked Up" this weekend and I had a blast at our late Applebee's dinner last night. This cast rules and I will definitely be sad to see this experience and. Who's up for going out this weekend??
Off Book!
OK, so yesterday, we reran Act I. I thought I did pretty well with my lines. Actually that's a bunch a crap cause I was ready to nail them all and ummm... well that didn't happen. Even so, the act ran pretty smoothly. We have one more dance to learn and then the show is completely blocked. Wow. I cant believe it!
We move into the art loft on Monday. Then we have three weeks of runs in the actual space. That's really exciting because we can clean up the show and tweak it to just where we want it to be. Its not pretty far off and I am sure its gonna be amazing. When I first became involved with the show, I really didn't know what to expect. I mean lets face it, New Line doing Grease???? But actually this is the most interesting version of the show that I have ever done and the more we rehearse, the more excited I am to show off our hard work. This musical is going to be raw, funny and original just like it was back in the good old days!
We move into the art loft on Monday. Then we have three weeks of runs in the actual space. That's really exciting because we can clean up the show and tweak it to just where we want it to be. Its not pretty far off and I am sure its gonna be amazing. When I first became involved with the show, I really didn't know what to expect. I mean lets face it, New Line doing Grease???? But actually this is the most interesting version of the show that I have ever done and the more we rehearse, the more excited I am to show off our hard work. This musical is going to be raw, funny and original just like it was back in the good old days!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
