It seems like every time I attend a read-through, I get nostalgic for previous casts and directors and remember the other times I was at that particular theater or with these particular people.

I was walking down the stairs next to Jacob and I said to him, “Hey, the last time we did this together, it was for ‘Laugh-In’” which naturally made us both laugh.  Jeremiah looked at the folks walking to the rehearsal hall and said, ‘Look at all the people here who were in ‘Whorehouse’ – and started counting, ‘One, two, three, what, are there five of us?’”

I was grateful Amy asked about accents and we were told we didn’t have to use them today. We talked about some movies to watch, to try to pick up the proper Louisiana-New Orleans sort of talking that would fit our characters living, loving and losing in Elysian Fields.

I can tell already that this is going to be a great experience, better than I even expected.

Eunice is so much fun… there are plenty of ups and downs and there is humor and seriousness and anger and sauciness… all good stuff to fire up my creativity.  I liked when I got to yell at Stanley. That was, I think, my favorite part of the read-through. I got to say things and use words I-as-Julie would never say. I even corrected the grammar at one point, totally subconsciously. My elementary school English teachers would be proud and I will be sure, before rehearsals begin in earnest, to use the words as scripted, incorrect grammar and all.

I realized something else that makes this experience extra special: many of the actors I am working with I have either never worked with before or we have never actually done a scene together and now, in this show, that is changing.

Sheila and I were in a couple scenes together in “Cabaret” – but they were brief, very brief. Amy and I have done three different shows together: “Cabaret”, “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” – and our characters didn’t interact in any of them.  Sarah and I were both in V-Day, and except for sitting together on the bleachers, our paths didn’t cross on-stage.  Jeremiah and I have worked more together with me as Director, only being in one show together, “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” where I was the Dogette who “had his back”. Of anyone in the show, he and I shared, for me, the densest concentration of time together.

I have never done a show with Rick or Steve.

It was a treat to see Sheila and Jeremiah – the first “Hello” reminded me so much of the first hello in “Five Women,” that first time Jeremiah hit a Bakersfield stage – and that stage chemistry between the two of them can’t be denied.

I was bummed that Jared didn’t make it today. I was looking forward to finally not playing an Old Maid – I thought, “Wow! I finally have a husband!” and then he didn’t show up. Bob read his lines, which was reminiscent of our “Cabaret” pairing only Fraulein Schneider would never have yelled at Herr Schultz. She probably wouldn’t have yelled at Steve, either, now that I consider it.

I am not scheduled to go back to rehearsal mid-April, which means I have plenty of time to work on my lines and watch movies that take place in Louisiana to work on my accent. I remember when we were doing the Farndale show and I was working on my English accent, which I do pretty well now…. I would rent DVDs and then stand in front of the television set, echoing back everything that was spoken.

Julie-the-British-Parrot.

Now, Julie-the-Louisiana-Parrot

And now? I get to see what Eunice has to teach me about her life before I go back to rehearsal. I am looking very forward to getting to know her – and getting to share her with you.

Streetcar Named Desire opens at the Spotlight Theater on May 11 at 8 PM. It runs for four weekends, including matinees on the first three Sundays. Hope to see you there.