Overnight play practice is part of job

Jimmy McEvoy

When a midnight-to-dawn practice session is called "fun," there must be something special going on. There is; it's time for The Muny's summer season.

Ten-year-old Jimmy McEvoy and 12-year-old Alexandra Petrullo were among the young kids who had parts in the season's plays. Jimmy and Alexandra had featured roles in the musical, "Music Man", at The Muny July 26-Aug. 2.

The cast of each play has only 11 days from the start of rehearsals until the play opens on the Muny stage. And the only dress rehearsal for "Music Man" had to be from midnight Saturday, July 24, until 5 a.m. on Sunday.

But, there are a number of good reasons for the odd rehearsal timing.

For one, the final rehearsal needs to be at night so lighting--as well as the acting--can be checked. The midnight start came because the previous play on the Muny schedule--"Breakfast at Tiffany's"--was still running.

Even as it was, Muny stagehands had to go to a lot of trouble to prepare the stage for the "Music Man" rehearsal. They dismantled the "Tiffany" set after the Saturday night showing and put up the "Music Man" set.

When the "Music Man" rehearsal ended at 5 a.m., the "Tiffany" set went back up for the final performance later Sunday. "Music Man" then opened on Monday, July 26.

Alexandra Petrullo

Alexandra will be a 7th grader at John Burroughs Middle School this fall. She said, "It's fun to rehearse all night with my friends." She said it almost seems like a "slumber party."

Both Alexandra and Jimmy also liked the other rehearsals, although they admitted that the schedule was pretty chaotic. The cast members call in each day to a Muny "hotline" to hear what the day's practice schedule is for them.

Alexandra will play the part of Amaryllis in the famous play that centers around formation of a "76 trombone" band in Mason City, Iowa.

Jimmy will be a 5th grader at St. Garbriel Catholic School. He plays the part of Winthrop, a shy kid with a lisp who gets picked on by other kids. Amaryllis is one of the hecklers, although she has a crush on Winthrop.

The kids found out in May which parts they had in "Music Man." They got their scripts shortly thereafter, although formal rehearsals didn't start until Thursday, July 15.

Both kids said they had their songs and lines memorized before rehearsals started.

Jimmy said the hardest part of the rehearsals for him is the choreography, "the blocking and knowing where to go on stage."

Daytime practices run from about 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day. But, cast members only have to be there while their scenes are being rehearsed. That means, Jimmy and Alexandra need transport to The Muny at scattered times. Their moms provide the "taxi" service.

The kids said their erratic practice schedules cut down on other summer vacation activities. But, both said their families were likely to take a vacation trip after "Music Man" performances are over.

Jimmy probably has the toughest speaking part, because he has to speak his lines with a lisp, which he doesn't have in normal life. He said, "The 's's' have to come out as 'th's.' I also spit a lot when I'm lisping."

He said Alexandra's character is always bugging him about his lisp. "I'm running on the stage and then running off crying a lot in the first act," Jimmy said. But, he doesn't cry much in the second act because "I still lisp but now I don't care."

Both of the kids hope to have acting careers when they grow up. Alexandra said, "I want to be an actor, singer, dancer and movie star...the whole deal."

She said she's been acting since she was 8 years old. The "Music Man" role mark the fifth Muny play in which she has appeared. It's also her fourth year in the Muny Kids organization.

Both she and Jimmy were in the Muny's "Cinderella" last season.

For Jimmy, he's been in the Muny Kids organization for his second year. That group appears at schools and other places to publicize Muny plays. Both of the kids made an advance appearance to promote "Music Man."

Jimmy said he started acting about three years ago. His first play was at St. Gabriel School with a part in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Alexandra said her first role was in the play, "Annie Warbucks," sequel to the musical "Annie." She said it was staged by a small theater group, Characters and Co.

"I did a lot of plays with Characters and Co.," she said.

 

photo 3: the logo for Music Man, e-mailed to Brian by the Muny