And we're off!

Katie Clarke had her fourth performance tonight. She debuted on Friday night in a performance that must've felt like an out-of-body experience for her. She did great. Then she grew over the 3 weekend shows, and after a day off, we started a new week tonight--and the true beginning of our romance as Fabrizio and Clara for the remainder of the run.

It's crazy only 3 months after I joined the cast, I'm now the "veteran" welcoming a new cast member. Just as when I was put into the show, Katie had a similarly sparse rehearsal period. So, she and I will grow together on stage, in front of an audience, just as Kelli and I did when I took over for Matt.

I have no doubt the show will continue to thrive. Katie--with her energy, her smile, her performance as Clara--is a beautiful addition to our company.

Transitioning

So it's been rehearsal every day for the last 2 weeks getting ready for Katie's "put-in" rehearsal this afternoon. With the emotions of Kelli leaving on the tail of the exhaustion from our Thanksgiving performance schedule, I didn't think I was gonna make it through this week. But here we are! (2 acupuncture sessions later :)

And all is slowly becoming well again...

Katie is fantastic. She has handled the abrupt move from Texas to NYC, from college student to Broadway baby with poise and a wonderful sense of calm. She's a GREAT performer and is going to be beautiful as Clara.

I'm sleeping again (thanks to the acupuncture and things settling down a bit).

And our company has bonded together over the last few weeks to get us all through this tough time without sacrificing the quality of our show.

So onward we forge into the next 8 months of our run--in need of some rest and recuperation, but excited about Katie joining the family. Just 3 months ago I was having my put-in! AH!

Goodbye Kelli

This afternoon, Sunday Dec 4th was Kelli's last show. It marks the end of an era for all those involved/ever involved with LITPiazza. Kelli had been a part of Piazza for 3 1/2 years since it's first workshop at Sundance. She played Franca in the 2 following productions until Broadway when she took over the role of Clara, who she has played for the last 9 months.

It's weird to even be writing about Kelli and Piazza in the past tense. Kelli was the heart of our show--truly the Light in the Piazza. Her performance today (other than some flowing tears) was no different than any of her previous hundreds of performances--glorious, honest, connected, heartfelt, and beautiful.

For the first time since watching the show during my rehearsal process, I watched Kelli perform the title number midway through Act II. I watched from the stage left vom with 4 or 5 other cast members all of us in the dark in tears.

It was one of the greatest things I've ever seen on stage.

Then before any of us knew it, it was over. We were at the curtain call. Vicki gave a beautiful speech...Kelli took her final bows, joined the cast for one final company bow, and it was done.

It's been an incredibly difficult week for all of us building to this day. The physical strain of 8 shows, plus daily rehearsals, plus the mental and emotional strain of Kelli leaving. I feel completely exhausted. And I'm banged up too...my knee is blown, my hip is killing me (both from pounding on the deck in dress shows for 4 months now), and, having spent more time these last few weeks as Fabrizio than i have as Aaron, I feel on the edge of a breakdown. But at the heart of all this strain is that, as Fabrizio, part of my heart has indeed been broken by Kelli leaving.

Rehearsals for Pajama Game start tomorrow morning.
Ciao Bella.