Reflections on a "Fair Lady"

These past two months have been an artistic dream and joy.  If you ever have the opportunity to work with director Scott Edmiston, please say "Yes".  You too will experience artistic freedom and pleasure!  Scott began our first rehearsal saying (I am paraphrasing here) "I have assembled many guests at this party, and I am your host.  It is your choice what kind of guest you will be..."  And just like that, we welcomed each other, played with each other, laughed, cried and supported throughout the process.  A true joy to work with an ensemble that honored the story first and foremost.  

Our fearless music director, Catherine Stornetta, who I was honored to collaborate with on our fourth production, kept us crisp and articulate each night!  Her stunning arrangements for cello, violin and piano brought new life to this classic... The lively pizzacato in "You Did It" just made my heart dance!

David Connelly, choreographer, was a treat from our first dance call to opening night.  He has a gift for crafting choreography organically as an extension of the music.  It was so clear that the music mattered to him, as he was present at each rehearsal, whether we were moving or not.  Each piece had it's own life and all numbers had signature moves, not repeated in other parts of the play.  How we LOVED inhabiting his choreography each night, especially in "A Little Bit of Luck" and "Get Me to the Church!"  

I could go on about each everyone in the cast, crew and design team.... truly wonderfully gifted performers, technicians and people.

During the rehearsal process and dramaturgical discussions, I was reminded of my Senior Thesis Project at George Mason University, where I highlighted musicals based in literature.  My formal training was in straight plays and classical music-- at the time, our school of theater did not care to produce musicals and I was hoping my project would convince them of musical theater's importance.  Much of my time and research was spent on the comparison between Pygmalion and My Fair Lady.  I performed "Without You" and the scene preceding with classmate, Zach Myers. Scott reserved much of our rehearsal time to discuss Shaw's play, and our discussions brought us deeper into the work, exploring a Shaw ending vs Lerner & Loewe.  Makes me want to go back to the library and research again!

Thanks Lyric Stage Company!  Thanks Spiro Veloudos for producing such important work!  Thanks to all who took the time to come out and see the show!

MY FAIR LADY, Lyric Stage Company-- Elise with J.T. Turner* and Catherine Lee Christie (photo credit Nerys Powell)