STAGESTRUCK - The Complete Series (5 page)

“Okay, so how should I do my hair?” Janette asked. It was noon on Thursday; Janette and I were sitting in her bedroom, admiring our gowns as they hung on the door.

“I’ve been thinking about that…” I tell her. “Why don’t we go to a salon? We could get manicures and have our hair and make-up done.”

Janette laughed. “Kate, I know that where you come from you can just walk-in to a salon and get whatever you want on the spot. That’s not how it works here. Anyone worth going to is probably booked solid for the next week, I’m afraid we’re on our own.”

“Alright,” I sighed. “In that case, I think that you should wear your hair loose and wavy. It’ll give you that bombshell look to go with your dress.”

“It is a beautiful dress, isn’t it?” She sighed as she gazed at her gown. It was strapless and fitted black lace over nude satin. The skirt was slightly trumpeted, the overall effect amazingly sexy. “I can’t thank you enough for buying it for me Kate.” She smiled.

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be going tonight.” I reminded her. “It was the least I could do.”

Janette popped up from the bed and grabbed a cosmetics bag from her vanity. “I have plenty of nail polish, you do mine and I’ll do yours.” I chose a dusty rose polish; Janette went with a bold red. We gave each other manicures, and then I curled her dark hair into loose, soft waves. She did the same to my hair and then twisted it into an elegantly tussled bun. After that we did each other’s make-up; when we finished, we looked at the clock and realized that we still had three hours until show time.

“I guess we were a little over eager.” I laughed.

“The clock is moving too damn slow.” Janette sighed. “I’m ready to step into that gown!”

“I know, but the guys won’t be here for another two hours…” I reminded her. “We should probably eat something. We aren’t going to have dinner until after the show, and I don’t want my stomach growling through the performance.”

“I have some bagels…” Janette offered.

I shook my head. “No, this is a special day. Our hair and make-up look fantastic, let’s change out of our pajamas and go out.”

“We’re going to be wearing gorgeous but incredibly uncomfortable gown all night. Let’s order delivery and stay comfortable.” She countered.

I relented and we ordered Thai delivery. I tried to act calm and collected, but the close it got to 5:00, the more excited I became. I couldn’t wait to put on the dress, walk into the theater, and be a part of all the excitement. I could tell that Janette felt the same way. The clock finally rolled over to 4:30 and Janette and I slid into our gowns. We admired ourselves in Janette’s full length mirror.

“Kate!” Janette smiled. “You look so elegant… so lovely. Like a bright, shining star.”

I’m usually a modest person, but staring into the mirror I had to agree with Janette. The fabric and embroidery of my gown were elegant, while the plunging neckline and back gave just the right amount of sexiness to the overall effect.

Janette looked like a rock star goddess. Her curves filled out the dress perfectly, and the shade of the satin matched her skin tone exactly. I knew that any man she set her sights on that night didn’t stand a chance.

Janette’s buzzer rang promptly at 5:00. She hit the intercom button and Parker’s voice filled the room.

“Good evening ladies. You’re chariot awaits.”

“We’ll be right down.” Janette told him. She turned to me. “Are you ready for this?”

“I’ve been ready for this my whole life.” I said with a smile.

We slipped on our brand new shoes, grabbed our brand new evening bags, and went down to meet the guys.

“Oh my god!” I cried out as Janette and I stepped out of the apartment building. Parker and Mark were waiting for us, leaning against a black stretch limousine. “I can’t believe you did this!”

“It’s a special night, we thought it called for a special ride.” Mark smiled. “We have it all night.”

“Where’s Bridget?” Janette asked with panic in her voice. “If we still have to pick her up, we’re going to miss the cocktail hour… and that’s what separates the gala premier from any other show.” She pouted.

“Relax, princess,” Parker teased as he opened the door for us. “Bridget called about an hour ago. She’s running late, so she’s just going to meet us there. We dropped her ticket off on our way here, so we’re doing great on time.”

“Okay,” Janette breathed a sigh of relief as she slid into the limo; the rest of us followed her lead and then the driver pulled out into traffic. “Sorry I freaked out, I’m just a little keyed up.”

“We all are.” Mark laughed. “Just take a deep breath and try to enjoy the night. You both look lovely, by the way.”

“Thanks,” Janette smiled. “The two of you clean up pretty good yourselves.”

“I can’t get over these gowns.” Mark continued. He took a bottle of champagne from a small refrigerator and popped the top. “Where did the two of you find Armani in your price range? Did you find some fabulous high-end resale shop I don’t know about?”

Janette blushed and looked at me nervously. I smiled. ‘What the hell?’ I thought. ‘They’ll figure it out eventually… probably as soon as I mention the diner reservations I made.’ I took a deep breath. “I bought the gowns… I have a trust fund to help with my expenses in the city. We went to Fifth Avenue and I lost control a little.” I admitted.

Mark whistled. “A trust fund, huh? You’ve been holding out on us.” He teased.

“Not exactly,” I assured him. “It’s not a fortune, and it will run out fast if I keep spending like that. But this is a special occasion, so I decided to splurge on the gowns… I also decided to splurge on dinner; we have a ten o’clock reservation at Ivy, on me.”

“Ivy?” Parker asked in disbelief. “How did you manage that?”

Ivy was one of Manhattan’s trendiest new restaurants; most people had to wait two months for a reservation.

“Mario, the chef at Orlando’s, went to culinary school with Ivy’s Executive Chef. He made a call for me and got us a table.” I explained.

“This night just keeps getting better.” Janette grinned.

“Here we are,” the driver called from the front of the limo. As I looked out the window at Lincoln Theater, I felt as if I was entering an alternate universe, a place where all dreams and fantasies are fulfilled. We stepped out of the cab; Mark offered me his arm while Janette took Parker’s and we entered the historic building together.

Large crowds of people were already gathered in the lobby, enjoying cocktails and appetizers offered by mingling servers. We each took a glass of champagne from a passing tray and continued deeper into the theater. As I surveyed the crowd, I knew that the gowns had been a worthwhile indulgence. The other women were dressed elegantly, but Janette and I stood out in the best possible way.

“You two are attracting quite the attention.” Mark observed with a smile.

“I don’t even have time to notice.” I said; I was in a trance, enthralled by the thoughts of the theater’s history and the hope that it would be a part of my future.

“Oh Kate, you are a theater nerd.” Janette teased goodheartedly. “If you’re this star-struck by the building I can’t wait to see what you do when the show actually starts.”

“I’ll try not to embarrass you.” I laughed. The house lights flickered, signaling that it was time for us to take our seats. I’d known that the theater was large, but I’d never imagined just how massive the room really was. We took the long walk to the orchestra section and settled in our seats, directly in front of the stage. The entire theater was electric with anticipation as we waited for the lights to dim.

When the orchestra started, a thrill like I’ve never experienced before coursed through my body. The theater darkened and spotlights lit up the set. The actor playing Charlie stepped onto the stage, and suddenly I found myself transported to a fictional world. I was in England, fighting alongside Charlie and Lola as they tried to save the shoe factory. Charlie sang ‘Soul of a Man’ and my soul ached; Lola and her angels sang ‘Sex is in the Heel’ and I wanted to jump up and dance alongside them. At the end of the final act, when Charlie and Lola save the factory, I felt as if I shared in their victory.

Too soon, the cast took their final bow and the house lights came up. Mark turned to me and smiled. “So? What did you think?”

“That was amazing.” I whispered with tears in my eyes.

“Then why are you crying?” He laughed.

“These are happy tears.” I explained with a wide smile.

My family and friends have always been supportive, but I know that most of them think I’ve lost my mind. If my parents had their way, I’d have stayed in community college, majored in something practical, and kept theater as a hobby. But acting meant more to me than that. I’d always known that good theater had the power to transform an audience, but I’d never fully experienced it until that night. That night reaffirmed for me that moving to New York was the right decision.

“One day we’re going to watch you on that stage, Kate. I can just feel it.” Janette smiled.

“From your lips to God’s ears.” I laughed. “Is anyone else starving?”

“I am!” Bridget replied quickly. “I skipped lunch thinking that I’d have appetizers during the cocktail hour, and then I missed the damn cocktail hour.” She sighed. “I swear, if this particular client wasn’t paying me a boatload, I’d have bailed on her after an hour of waiting.”

“You’ll be happy you’re so hungry when you hear our dinner plans.” Mark smiled and told her about our reservations.

“Oh my god, my name has been down for a reservation for six weeks!” She squealed. “I can’t wait!”

“Then let’s get to the limo.” Parker grinned. “I sent Serena a text and told her where to meet us. She’s probably already in the car popping a bottle of champagne.”

A majority of the crowd had already left, so we gathered our things and made our way to the exit. Leaving the theater was bittersweet, and I silently vowed that I’d do whatever it took to make my dream come true.

Marion Russo sat behind her desk and stared critically at the proofs from my latest photo-shoot. “Some of these are really fantastic, Kate.” She told me. “I can defiantly work with these. I’m glad you went with Taylor, he’s a fantastic photographer.”

“I agree.” I told her. “I’m glad I spent the extra money to have him do the shoot.”

“Yes, you’re going to find that sometimes, the extra cost is justified.” Marion advised. “How are you doing on money? I know that you had a bit of help, but have you been able to find work?”

“Yes, I’m waiting tables at Orlando’s. I have plenty of waitressing experience and the tips are good.” I told her. “But I’m ready to do what I came here for. What other steps do I need to take to get in front of some casting directors?”

“You’re almost ready.” Marion answered. “I just need to have some of these printed.” She lifted the proofs and handed them to me. “I think we should go with numbers two, six, nine, fifteen, and twenty three. That will give you a nice contrast of expressions and show your range. Do you agree?”

“Absolutely. How long will it take to get the final copies?”

“Taylor works pretty fast for me. If I call him right now, I should have them in hand sometime tomorrow.”

“And then I can go on open calls?” I asked hopefully.

“Yes,” she laughed, “though if I get my way, you won’t have to. As soon as I have the photos, I’m going to bombard my contacts with your portfolio. I know there are at least three roles that are about to become available; there’s one that I’m confident I can get you an audition for.”

“Can you tell me what it is? Or at least what show?” I asked eagerly.

“Don’t share this information with anyone because the actress who currently has the role doesn’t know that she’s being replaced.” Marion warned.

“My lips are sealed.” I assured her quickly.

“It’s the understudy role for Christine, in Phantom.” She said with a grin.

“Phantom?” I gasped. “You mean that there’s a chance I could start my stage career in one of the most iconic Broadway shows there’s ever been?”

“A chance, yes,” she smiled. “It’s just the understudy, but it’s the main character understudy. You’d probably take the stage one matinee a week, at the least.”

“I can’t believe this! It’s perfect; I already know the entire show by heart. I could sing it for you now, if you want.” I laughed.

“That won’t be necessary, but I appreciate your enthusiasm.” Marion laughed along with me. “I must say, Kate, you’re a breath of fresh air. Most of my clients walk in acting like they’re entitled to a lead role. You’re tickled pink at the thought of going up for an understudy.”

“I just want to be on that stage, Marion.” I sighed. I told her about my night at Lincoln Theater.

“Ah, yes, I love Kinky Boots. Arthur, the actor playing Lola, he’s one of my clients. I saw it twice last season.”

“He was fantastic...” I told her. “Everyone around us commented on his performance.”

“I only take the best.” Marion smiled. “You just watch, Kate. Stick with me and soon you’ll be the one everyone’s talking about.”

“Order up!” Mario called out from the service window. It was Tuesday afternoon; twenty-eight hours had passed since my meeting with Marion, and I still hadn’t heard back from her about the audition. I knew that there was a good chance that the new photos hadn’t come in yet, so I tried to keep myself focused on the tasks in front of me; it wasn’t working. I was anxious and distracted, and my coworkers were catching on.

“Kate!” Lisa called from the service station. I rushed over.

“What?” I asked. “Do you need help with something?”

“I don’t,” she snapped, “but I’m starting to think that you do. The man at table four just grabbed me… you know, you’re ONLY table?” She said impatiently.

“You mean my only table now that my other four have just left?” I snapped back. I wasn’t in the mood to take her attitude.

“Sure,” she agreed, “that one. The man said that his wife ordered her steak with the blue cheese crumble, but she got the broiled tomato topper instead. And he ordered lobster ravioli but got mushroom. I really don’t think that the kitchen guys fucked up this bad, so I’m hoping you have an explanation for me.”

“Have you checked the ticket?” I asked her. “Because I distinctly remember typing in blue cheese and lobster.” Without waiting for her to answer, I stomped over to the computer system and pulled up the table. Satisfied with what I saw on the screen, I printed a copy of the ticket and shoved it in Lisa’s face.

“What does that say?” I asked her smugly.

Lisa read the ticket and blushed. “I’m sorry… Kate…” she stammered. “I overreacted… look, I’m having a bad day, can we just forget this happened?”

“That’s fine.” I agreed impatiently. “But will you stop assuming that everything that goes wrong is my fault? Go take your frustrations out on the kitchen guys, they’re the ones who made the fuck up.”

“Maybe I’ll do that.” She sighed.

“Things look a little tense over here, ladies.” Max voice said from behind me. I turned and saw him standing there with an amused grin on his face. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine.” I assured him with a smile. “What are you doing out here? Does Steve know that you’ve escaped from the bar?” I teased.

“Shh…” he whispered with a smile. “He’s in his office. All of my customers are happy for the moment, so I thought I’d stretch my legs.”

Lisa looked from me to Max, astonished that we were speaking to each other. Lisa had been on vacation for the last week, and we hadn’t worked a shift together since the day she’d caught Max sneering at me from behind the bar. She shot me a questioning look, which I ignored.

Max looked down at me. “You look like you could use a drink… or at least someone to talk to. Are you due for a break anytime soon?”

“I’ve only got one table right now… Lisa was just about to go chew out the kitchen guys for messing up their order. I should probably stick around and make sure everything gets straightened out for them…”

“Lisa, you can handle that, can’t you?” Max asked. “You know what it’s like to need a break.”

Lisa sighed and looked at me. “I’ll cover your table and tell Megan not to seat your section for the next fifteen minutes, IF you cover for me when you get back.”

“I can do that.” I agreed with a smile. I followed Max back to the bar; he stepped behind it and I took a seat at a stool.

“So what’s going on with you?” He asked as he poured me a glass of diet soda.

“I’m just antsy I guess.” I sighed. I told him that I was waiting for a call about an audition.

“Just be patient.” He said reassuringly. “Not everything is going to happen at warp speed. Do you know when the auditions are being held?” He asked.

“Sometime next week.” I told him. “I’ve already told Steve that starting Monday I can only work the dinner shift. Hopefully I’ll get the audition AND the role, and I won’t have to work here at all.”

“It’s not all bad, is it?” Max asked. I thought I heard a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“Not all bad, it’s just not what I really want to do… I believe that’s something we share?” I asked.

He chuckled. “I take it someone has told you that I write.”

I nodded. “I’d love to read some of your work sometime.”

“I can probably make that happen,” he smiled. “Until you get your big break and leave us forever, that is.” He teased, and then became suddenly serious. “I will miss you, when you leave.” He said softly.

I smiled. “You won’t have to. We can be friends, even if I don’t work here anymore.” I assured him.

He smiled back at me. “Kate…? I was wondering…”

As Max spoke, I felt my cell phone vibrate in my back pocket. I held up one finger to silence him. “I’m sorry, hold on one second. This is my agent, she may have news about the audition… Hello?”

“Kate, I have excellent news.” Marion greeted me. “I just got off the phone with Stewart Harris, the casting director for Phantom. He loves your portfolio and he’s giving you an audition slot. You need to be there at nine a.m. on Tuesday, I’ll email you the rest of the information. The other actress knows that she’s out, so you can tell people about the role.”

“Thank you so much Marion!” I beamed.

“Thank me by doing well.” She replied. “Make sure that you’re well rested and in top form Tuesday morning. Make me proud, Kate.”

“I will.” I promised her.

“Fantastic, I’ll talk to you soon.” Marion ended the call.

I looked up at Max and smiled. “I got the audition!”

“Congratulations,” he said genuinely. “Those other women won’t know what hit them when you show up. Can you tell me what role you’re auditioning for?”

“Christine, in Phantom… but it’s just the understudy role.” I said modestly.

“Phantom?” Max asked in awe. “As in Phantom of the Opera? One of the longest running shows of all time? That’s impressive, Kate, you must be phenomenal!”

“I guess we’ll find out on Tuesday.” I smiled. “I wonder if I can get the night off…”

“Already thinking about your victory party?” He teased with a smile.

“A girl can dream,” I blushed. Suddenly, I remembered that Marion’s call had interrupted Max midsentence. “I’m sorry, what were you going to ask me before Marion called?”

He shrugged. “I’ve completely forgotten. If it’s important it will come back to me… looks like someone’s getting impatient.” He said, nodding towards the doorway; I turned and saw Lisa waiting for me.

“I guess I’d better get back to work.” I sighed.

“Yeah, you’ve got to keep the bosses happy… until Tuesday at least.” Max smiled. “Seriously, congratulations Kate. I’m so proud of you.”

A customer at the other end of the bar signaled for Max; he went to take the man’s order while I returned to the dining room.

“It looks like you’re in a better mood.” Lisa observed haughtily.

“I am.” I smiled. “It’s amazing what a break can do for your mood. Why don’t you take a long one? I’ll cover your tables.”

Lisa accepted the offer and disappeared. I went back to work, all the while letting my mind wander back to the fantasy of seeing my name in lights.