A/N: I believe I mentioned before that there were little inside things to each chapter. Those are now available from me, by email. Just request a copy, and I will make a list of everyone, so that I will email you each time I update the list.

Standard Disclaimer Still Applies

Chapter Three
Planning Period

"Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen!" Claire boomed the crowd filed back into theatre. "I am glad to see that all of you have chosen to return." She gave House a sharp look, but he refused to meet her gaze. "Now then. The sooner you take your seats, the sooner we can resume this meeting. Alright?"

Before everyone had barely had a chance to mill toward their places, Claire gestured wildly to her assistants to begin passing things out.

"You are now receiving your copies of the Phantom libretto. If you still have your copy of the Fiddler libretto, you are asked to turn it in at this time. And before you ask, the cover is blue so that you may distinguish the libretto from the other items you are receiving.

"Along with your libretto, you should be receiving a pencil and a highlighter. These are on loan, so please return them after the meeting. From now on, you are to bring a sharpened pencil with a good eraser to every rehearsal. We will be making changes to the script from time to time, and you need to have it on hand to make notes when we begin blocking. Yes, Dr. Chase?"

"When will we find out our parts?"

"In due time, Doctor. I do not want all of you highlighting, making notes and chattering while I'm giving you your information, so all of you will find out your parts at the end.

"You are also receiving a thin book with a pink cover. The songs are in the libretto, but only the lyrics are present. The pink-covered book contains the lyrics and the music, so you can practice at home with a piano or whatever you like. Copies of a CD are coming around, as well. This recording was done when they shot the movie last year, and is far superior to many of the other recordings you might find on the market, along with that of the original cast. When we go off-script, you will be turning this CD in for a new one without the lyrics. Like the first one, you will be expected to utilize this compact disc for rehearsing your music for at least an hour a day, though more is recommended. Are all of you with me so far?"

The group mumbled and nodded.

"Excellent. The book with the green cover is the calendar. I realize the scheduling blocks are not very big, so I have provided you with several blank, lined pages to add any extra dates and scheduling notes that you may have.

"We're going to go over the schedule next, so please listen carefully – this is very important." Claire paused and accepted a glass of water from one of her assistants. "Today's date is the 10th, as you can see, because 'Casting Call' is printed on the calendar, and that is where you are right now.

"Tomorrow, we will be taking a tour of the theatre you are sitting in right now. You are expected to report no later than 4:30 p.m., so please remember that in this Company, on time is late and early is on time. We will not be doing anything else tomorrow as far as the show is concerned, because uP tHiNg is rehearsing most of the day, and then the production crew will be setting up starting about an hour before we arrive.

"Wednesday, we are going to see our show as put on by another company. You are expected to arrive at 3:00 p.m., because we will be going over the libretto before we depart, and then it is a bit of a drive to the theatre besides.

"Thursday, we will be measuring for costumes. You will arrive at the same time you did today, and you will be measured on a first come, first served basis. Please make sure you have your librettos with you, as we will be having group discussions after the measuring is over. Also, do not try to lose any weight between now and Thursday. I will be keeping track of you to be sure that it doesn't happen, because I don't want to have any issues with ill-fitting costumes. Any questions?"

Claire was met with silence and eyes that were glued to the calendar.

"Friday, Saturday and Monday, we will be having a sing-through with a pianist present, so please be sure to bring your pink book.

"We will be having read-throughs Tuesday through Thursday, so please bring your libretto. You do not need your pink book, as we will merely be reading on those days."

Claire stopped for another drink and stared at the group for a moment. "If you have any questions, please feel free to interrupt me at any time."

No vocal response…Just nods.

"Friday, Saturday and Monday will be blocking act one and Tuesday through Thursday is blocking for act two. Everyone needs to be present because we will be blocking the scenes in order. This also means you need to bring your libretto, so please make sure you do so.

"Friday the 28th begins a week-long odyssey with Bagaelia. Yes, you will need to bring your dancing shoes, but no, please do not leave your brains and librettos at home, because we will be practicing a bit afterwards.

"The orchestra will begin on Tuesday, November 1st. They will be quite familiar with their parts by then, so they will be able to play for you during part of your choreography rehearsals, and for all of our reading rehearsals.

"You are expected to be off-script by Wednesday the 2nd, so I am amending the bring-your-libretto rule for the last two days of the dance rehearsal.

"Regular rehearsals commence on Friday the 4th, and will continue for the rest of the month, unless otherwise noted. This means you are to arrive at 6:00 a.m. for your time with Bagaelia. You will rehearse the dance portions until noon, when you will be given an hour for lunch. The formal vocal warm-up will be at 1:00 p.m. and actual rehearsals start at 1:30."

"I have a question."

"Yes, Doctor House?"

"Why do we have to be here so early?"

"Because the afternoon and evening hours are currently occupied. The cast of the Phantom of the Opera is here from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. I get 90 minutes to go home and have a bit of a reprieve, and then I am back here at 6:00 p.m. for the closing rehearsals of uP tHiNg – which opens October 16th, I might add – which takes me until 11:00 p.m. After that, I go home, work on my parts and things for an hour, go to bed at midnight, and then I am back up at 5:15 to be here and start my day all over again."

Murmurs of amazement filled the air, and Eric raised his hand after a moment.

"Yes, Doctor Foreman?"

"Why do we spend six hours on choreography?"

"Have you not seen the show, Doctor?"

He shook his head.

"Phantom of the Opera is a very dance-intensive show, a lot of which is either ballet or ballroom. Actually, you should be glad you weren't cast in uP tHiNg – they have been rehearsing 12 hours a day and most of that show is dance. Does that answer your question?"

He nodded.

"Good. Now, I don't suppose I can go any farther without announcing the cast, so please listen carefully if you've let your mind wander these last few moments.

"Monsieur Reyer and the Auctioneer will be played by Alan Richards.

"The part of Monsieur LeFevre and one of the Porter parts goes to Charles Strathmore.

"Joseph Buquet will be played by Alfred Mullins.

"Toby Dykstra will be playing the parts of Don Attilo, Passarino and the Slave Master. Alex Miller is the Flunky, the Stagehand, the Policeman and one of the Pages.

"I have cast Christina Simpson in the parts of the Second Porter, the Fireman and the Second Page. Melanie Johnson will be playing the parts of the Wardrobe Mistress and Madame Firmin.

"Tara Daily is the Innkeeper's Wife and the Princess, and I have chosen Romy Byrne and Rebecca Laurie as the leaders of the 'Ballet Rats'."

Shuffling her papers around, Claire gave a small smile. "And now, I will announce the bigger parts."

All of the doctors – except House – looked at each other anxiously. None of them had been called yet, and the best parts were still waiting to be handed out.

"Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre will be played by James Wilson and Thomas Foster, respectively.

"Madame Giry will be played by Stacy Warner and Meg Giry will be played by Katherine Simpson. I have also selected Eric Foreman to play Ubaldo Piangi"

Lisa reached over the seat in front of her to grasp Allison's hand. It was between the two of them for Christine, and between House and Chase for the Phantom.

A/N: And I have to leave you hanging, because I'm mean like that!

Stay tuned until tomorrow, when I will announce the results of the casting call!