First Days
Chapter One:
It always felt like the first day of school whenever a new production started. All kinds of people would begin to wander into a big room about ten minutes before the scheduled time. The organized types would be passing out paperwork just as teachers used to do. Someone would always be in a corner sharpening pencils and they almost always wore glasses. The shy types would take a seat and not talk to anyone while sorting through packets with their names on them and eventually the squealing and hugging would start as performers, who had worked together before, would immediately want to catch up just like after summer break. For once in her life Brittany wasn't one of those people. At McKinley that was reserved mostly for the popular kids and today she was more like an exchange student.
The choreographer on the project, whom she had worked with on a few shows and video shoots in Los Angeles, had insisted on bringing her in to be dance captain on the workshop. He had even offered up his guest room for her to stay in so she could afford to take on the job. Workshops were the first step for a new project and hardly paid a large living wage but Brittany had a nice amount of savings so with Lawrence's offer of housing she decided she had to consider it. In the end flattered by the offer and excited to finally tackle the New York scene she had said yes.
Now two months later she sat with the shy and studious folks filling out paperwork and trying not to let her nerves show. It wasn't just the project that had her nervous. There was going to be a reunion at the first rehearsal and she wasn't sure how she was going to react to it when it happened.
It was about fifteen minutes after the scheduled start time, while the lead producer was giving some kind of motivational speech, when Brittany saw someone enter the room and take a seat. She was careful not to turn in the new arrival's direction. Merely watching out of the corner of her eye Brittany saw as Rachel Berry quietly took a chair at the back of the group. It was indeed just like the first day of school.
• • •
After a lucky break the previous season as a supporting role in an artsy, critically heralded, but giant Broadway flop Rachel Berry somehow found herself the new 'it' girl of the New York theatre scene. A Tony nomination capped off her time on the production and although she had lost the award to a more seasoned, and very well deserving, stage veteran Rachel's star continued to rise. The day after the awards she was offered the lead in a long running and very successful show. Rachel had said yes because the part was one of her dream roles. Her agents had pushed her to say yes cause the money was more then Rachel had ever been offered. When she opened her first paycheck she nearly fainted in her dressing room but instead did an elaborate 'happy' dance. She had made one of her big dreams come true.
The first two and a half months had been amazing but quickly her time at the theatre had grown strangely stale. It was clear that the show, this late in it's run, was only about money and no one was minding the store. Fellow actors were screwing off while on stage and the motivating factor backstage wasn't about telling the story it was about getting the show over so the cast and crew could go out and party. Many on the production had been there a long time and so they found Rachel's enthusiasm grating. Luckily her dresser, Claire, was right out of college, and on her first Broadway show, so she shared Rachel's naive love of the theatre and frustration with the rest of the company. They had become fast friends typically going out after the show to hang out or spending days off exploring the city.
It had been Claire who, when Rachel was approached about the workshop, suggested she consider it. The offer was for the female lead and the same people who had written her Tony nominated debut had written the project. After a quick reading of her pros and cons to Claire, Rachel knew she couldn't say no even though the pay was nothing and the hours, when tacked on to her nightly Broadway commitment, were going to be long. She needed to fall in love with theatre again and there was something about the script and score that made her certain she would.
She was so appreciative of the opportunity she was being given, this time stepping into the lead female role, but she wasn't sure anyone was going to be able to tell that at the moment. She was running late and her lack of punctuality was certainly not going to earn her any Brownie points on the first day.
Having forgotten how crowded the building got mid morning and how small the one elevator up to the higher floors was Rachel found herself waiting in line when she was meant to be sitting in a folding chair in a room full of mostly strangers. She had considered walking but twelve flights, at ten am, was a sure fire way to overdue it having only had a bottle of water and a banana for breakfast. When she finally did get to the rehearsal room the place was packed and introductions were well underway.
"Way to make a strong first impression", she thought as she slid into a folding chair towards the back of the assembled group.
A man in a very expensive jacket and blue jeans was expounding on the value of community when Rachel caught sight of the show's writer/lyrist. Giving him her best "sorry" look he smiled back at her warmly. At least Robert wasn't mad at her.
• • •
The introductions were about half way around the room when the undeniable and familiar reached Brittany's ears. If Brittany didn't know any better she would think Mr. Shue was standing somewhere in the room with them. It was eerie how the more things changed the more they stayed the same.
"I am Rachel Berry. I will be playing Kathryn and it is my absolute pleasure to be able to be a part of this exciting and important project. I personally feel this show, when witnessed by the theatre producing community, will be easily recognized as one that will redefine the landscape of modern American musical theatre. I had the great honor of performing in the last show Robert and Jeremy brought to the Broadway stage. And although it seems audiences never took the time to find us at our home on 45th street that project was one of the finest artist experiences I have ever had as I am sure this one will be as well. I look forward to working with each and every one of you."
When Rachel finished speaking some in the room clapped while others seemed to grin in ways Brittany could only describe as mean. Included in the grinning group was the show's choreographer.
• • •
Rachel was busy taking very detailed notes as each person around the room introduced themselves. She scribbled fiercely hoping that her initial observations would prove helpful in remembering everyone's name.
- Tom. Tall, built, secondary lead, brown hair, keeps playing with his pencil.
- Annie. Tiny, redhead, dancer, she can't seem to sit still.
- Lawrence. Medium build, Italian, intense, choreographer.
- Brittany. Blonde. Reminds me of...
Rachel stopped the second her brain caught up with what her eyes were witnessing. There was no denying who the tall, slender, longhaired blonde, with the sunny disposition was and there was no reason to keep writing. Rachel's mind spun to high school and for the rest of the introductions she didn't learn another person's name or their role on the show. The only name in her mind now was that of Brittany's.
• • •