The first rehearsal for a new show is always good. Most of the time, this is when we get to see the music for the first time - occasionally we might get it the week before - and get an idea of how the show is going to work.
It's also time to work out exactly what solos might be up for grabs. If you've ever sung in any amateur choir, you'll probably know how that goes. A mix of people wanting to audition with their favourite song, and people who guard their choice of song like it was the Crown Jewels. I almost came to blows with a fellow mezzo several shows ago when I chose the same song she had and she was desperately trying to think of a way for me to have done it on purpose.
I'm not going to set myself up as some kind of saint, here. I can be every bit as grabby for solos as any Rachel Berry. I can be selfish, and frankly a bit of a cow. But I know what I'm good at, and I know when to step back and say "yeah, I can't sing that".
This time around a rumour is going round that there actually won't be any solos. I wish I'd had a camera when people heard it. Next thing you know, the usual 'pot' of soloists are all falling over themselves to try to convince each other that it's fine - fine, I tell you! - if there are no solos. After all, we're all happy in the main chorus, aren't we?
Well, sod that for a game of soldiers. I'm not pretending. I don't want to be lost in a crowd, I want to stand at the front, with a spotlight and a mic. I love the full choir songs, but there's nothing quite like the rush of singing on your own, or with only a few others, and knowing you're nailing it.
Kaylee is particularly funny about the rumours. Kaylee is actually almost as good as she thinks she is, but you can almost see the wheels turning in her head as she tries to think of a way to back out of this show if there isn't a solo for her. The last time she wasn't cast, it turned out she had a "huge project" at work that demanded all of her time...
As usual, nobody knows anything. The music we have is good this time around, a decent mix of pop/rock/Broadway that ticks all of the boxes. Personally I think Bill won't be able to resist putting solos in too. We'll see!
