WOW AM I BEHIND ON THIS BLOG - HOW'S THAT FOR AN ENGAGING TITLE!?!

Yeah, I am so sorry team. I have dropped the ball big time on this one. RENT is kicking my ass (in the best possible way) and I have had almost no time to work on this blog. To make up for it though, I do promise to give you not one, but TWO cast profiles tonight! Woot woot!

Just a little bit of an update from the last few weeks (I'll give you the reader's digest version):

- Roughly 15/30 of us in the rehearsal room everyday was diagnosed with either the flu, strep throat, or bronchitis. FIFTEEN! We lost a day or two of rehearsal, but we are back in full swing this weekend! I'm proud of my kiddos who toughed it out and are still bringing their A game!

- We are full speed ahead on production. The always brilliant Alice Trent is back behind the board on lights for us and I can't wait to see what she comes up with. Her design is sure to be amazing! We had light hang and focus this week, and she and her assistant, Kelly, have been working hard to get things ready to go for Friday. We have already had mics in some of our rehearsals, so big shoutout to Kevin and August for working on that!

- Our set is up and getting a good workout! Joe, our TD/set designer extraordinaire is outdoing himself on this one. I am OBSESSED with this set! I can't wait to see all the details in place!

It is getting harder and harder for me with each passing day to accept that my days at Xavier Theatre are officially numbered. As classes wind down and we get closer to tech, I can't believe most of this is happening. It's coming up way faster than I expected.

Tech is my favorite part of the whole process, and while I am going to be busier than ever on this one, I will do my best to get another post up - mostly because I am really excited about some of my paperwork and can't wait to share it with you! Everyone have a great rest of their weekend! Enjoy these two cast profiles!

Cast Profile: Jenny Roberts

What is RENT to you? RENT, to me, really hits home. It involves all of these people not too much older than us living in a time and place when any day could be their last. In the realization of this, everyone has to come together as a community to live life. We don't have to go on our own journeys alone; it's in this communal environment that we find our strength. RENT is taking this anarchist energy and using it to build something ultimately more powerful with love and hope for a better future.

What is your favorite musical? Next to Normal is my soulmate, but Hamilton's a new flame of mine.

What is your favorite song from the show? What is your favorite song from the show to perform? La Vie Boheme is my favorite in the show, I wanted to memorize the whole thing when I was younger so I would jam out to it on repeat in the shower. Christmas Bells is my favorite to perform in... "leather bags!"

Of your castmates, who do you enjoy watching the most? Watching Nora/Donald is my favorite. I LOVE them in La Vie Boheme. Their dance moves and energy are a real excitement. Not to mention Alexi Darling's voicemails. Nora's kerching-kerching gets me every time. And Donald's Paul in support group is exactly who I would want leading a support group. But I also really like seeing people not in the theatre program like Christian, Alex, and Ray in the show. They're such great additions to the show and there's so much they give to the production.

What is your favorite line from the show? It's a toss-up between "this lot is full of motherfucking artists!!" and "the opposite of war isn't peace, it's creation" but there are so many other good one-liners.

Cast Profile: Sam Martini

What is RENT to you? Rent is the struggle through life, and hitting all the bumps on the way. It expresses the pain of capitalism, and the struggles of artists.

What is your favorite musical? The Producers

What is your favorite song from the show? What is your favorite song from the show to perform? From the show: Another Day To Perform: Rent

Who is your favorite cast mate to watch? Ray Humienny. He's just got great energy onstage, and whenever you're near him it's super contagious.

Favorite line from the show. Honest Living!