Hey, Everyone! Thanks for reading my new fic! I am SO excited about it. I had done tons of research for this story, including the location of the Marquis Theatre in New York City, the real Thoroughly Modern Millie cast and what they look like, song lyrics, etc., so I hope it pays off! I thought I should let you know that this is the to my other fic, Sonny, Speak Now, but you don't need to read it to enjoy this one! I also suggest looking up the songs I Turned the Corner, Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life, from Thoroughly Modern Millie on YouTube when they pop up in this chapter; it might help to set the scene.
I nervously flipped through the songs on my cow-print iPhone as I sat in a yellow taxi cab, stuck in the 8:00 New York traffic. I wiped my sweaty forehead and decided it was useless to try and distract myself from the fact that it was almost time for me to be at the Marquis Theatre. The cab finally started to move, slowly but surely, until it got up to a consistent 40 mph.
I was enchanted at the little sub shops and high-end boutiques we passed on the way. And then I saw it: the world famous Times Square. I was wonderstruck at the excitement of the bustling streets, flashing billboards, and ginormous line at the TKTS booth that would, hopefully, someday be selling tickets to my show. I gasped in delight at the infamous hotdog salesmen standing by their carts at the side of the road. I was disappointed when we took a left onto Broadway St., but was surprised to find those streets almost equally as exciting as Times Square. The flashing lights on the marquis advertised Mamma Mia, Wicked, Shrek the Musical, and other various shows, as lines piled up by the ticket booths. At last, we reached Marquis, its billboard advertising its current show, Come Fly Away. I was giddy as I hopped out of the taxi and handed the driver a 10 dollar bill, realizing that I was 5 minutes early. The entrance was filled with many other hopefuls, and the whole lobby rang with the sound of people warming up their voices and rehearsing their monologues, so I decided to do the same. After doing some scales and lip trills, I rehearsed my monologue for Miss Dorothy. After a sentence or two, I was interrupted by people rushing into the opened doors of the theater, so I went along with them and found a seat in a velvet red chair in about the middle.
After everyone quieted down, a middle aged man with tousled brown hair and big, square glasses cane onto the stage, dressed in dark-wash jeans, black Converse, and a gray blazer worn over a graphic tee.
Hmm...I have a feeling I'm gonna like this guy.
"Well, hello audition-ers and welcome the Marquis Theatre, located on a little place we like to call New York City!" he exclaimed with his arms out as everyone clapped in excitement. "I'm Michael Mayer, director for Thoroughly Modern Millie your host for his exciting weekend! Now, let's talk about how today's going to work: you will be paired up in groups of five to run lines and songs together. Then, around 9:30, you all will be directed to separate rooms to have some one-on-one time with our 2003 stars, Gavin Creel, Sutton Foster, Mark Cudisch, and Angela Christian!" Then, the former cast stood up and everyone clapped excitedly at the thought of meeting them. "After that we will start auditions organized by character. After all auditions for Millie, Jimmy, Trevor Grayden, Miss Dorothy, and Ching Ho are over, you will have an hour and a half to eat lunch and have some down time before we start vocal auditions. Vocal auditions will last till around 5:30, and then you are free to go home and get some rest before tomorrow's dance auditions bright and early at 7:00!" Everyone groaned. "Now when the doors reopen, go to one of the tables to find out what group you're in. See you at 10:30!"
Then everyone hustled back out to the lobby. When I made it to one of the tables, I told a lady my name. "Allison Munroe, you will meet with your group in the Emerald Room." she replied as she handed me a sticker with a number on it to put on my shirt and a map of the theater. "Thanks." I said with a grin.
I followed the map backstage until I got to the Emerald Room, a room painted tan with brown suede couches and a warm colored rug. Three other people were sitting there, so I introduced myself. "Hi! I'm Sonny, nice to meet you guys!"
"Hey, Sonny. I'm Deklan, and that's Ellie, Marco, and Leonard." explained a guy sitting on a Chocolate Brown love seat.
"No, it's LEOnard, like Leonardo without the O." corrected a guy at the opposite end of the room.
"Sorry, my bad." apologized Deklan with an offended tone.
Leonard had tan skin and almond eyes with straight, dark hair and was wearing a black T-shirt with bright red skinny jeans. He was auditioning for Ching Ho.
Ellie had blond curls with bangs and big brown eyes accented by super long eyelashes. She wore a gray, loose top with a silver scarf, boot cut jeans, and tan Sperry boat shoes. She also wore six shiny, silver bangles on her right arm, as well as silver chandelier earrings and a gorgeous diamond engagement ring. She was absolutely gorgeous, but had a sweet temperament and was not at all snobby. She was auditioning for Millie, of course.
Marco was sophisticated and solemn. He had slicked back, blond hair and wore a black blazer with an untucked blue dress shirt, nice. crisp jeans and black, shiny dress shoes. He was trying out for Trevor Grayden, and it suited him perfectly.
Deklan had curly brown and perfect teeth that made his smile that much better. He had sparkly green eyes and wore a light blue West Side Story T-Shirt, brown hoodie, distressed jeans, and white Vans shoes. He was definatly the most attractive of the guys and I loved his carefree spirit. Deklan was auditioning for Jimmy. (A/N I will post everyone's outfits on my profile!)
I silently plopped down on the couch next to Ellie and said, "So what should we do first?" "Mmmm... maybe we should start with our songs first." Ellie suggested and all of us agreed. "Alright. Ellie and Deklan, why don't you guys rehearse I Turned the Corner?" Leonard suggested. So they both got up, holding the lyrics in their hands as she pressed play on a CD player. Then Deklan started singing:
Thousands of people way down below wandering to and fro
Tireless people, no time to lose
Crowding the avenues and parks
On their marks
Racing fast
Quite a cast
His voice made me want to spread wings and soar... Literally. It rang through just like a bell and I had never heard a better voice in my life. Then, after awhile, Ellie joined in:
All of the past erased
Glorious future faced
Now that my life you've graced
I'll never be the same
But when they hit those harmonies, Oh. My. Goodness. It was unfathomable:
Yes I'm falling in love with someone
Plain to see
I know I could love someone madly
If someone could only love me
Everyone in the room was speechless, including them. I would be shocked if they didn't get the part. Finally, Marco broke the silence, "Sonny, do you want to rehearse Sweet Mystery of Life now?"
"Sure!" I replied, ready to perform myself.
Marco had an extremely good voice, despite his personality; it was almost operatic, and I thoroughly enjoyed singing with such talent.
Afterwards, everyone commented on how good we sounded, and Leonard rehearsed the Not for the Life of Me Reprise. By the time that was over, it was about 8:50, so we hurried through our lines and headed for the auditorium to be assigned our mentors. As I strolled into the large theater, it felt like home, even more than So Random.
That's it; I'm belong here. Even if I don't get a part here, I am determined to find a job in Broadway. I truly do love it here.
A/N
Sonny: Have you heard of the biography DemiFan7 is writing about us!
Leonard: NO WAY! Let's read it!
Deklan: Yes, like, right now.
(pulls out laptop)
(15 minutes later)
Ellie: Ah-mazing! Let's Rate now!
Marco: And Review!
Deklan: DO IT, MAN!
Sonny: In fact, let's tell the whole world to!
Everyone: READ, RATE REVIEW ON DEMIFAN7'S THOROUGHLY MODERN SONNY!
p.s.
Really, you should. I love reviews! They are like opening little presents on Christmas Day!