I don't own Glee, Yentl, or A Chorus Line
The Feuding Family of NYADA Showcase – Part Two: Competition.
Rachel Barbra Berry knew she was a star. She worked hard and it showed. Yes, she'd choked during her NYADA audition. But like Tina had said, it was a fluke. Yes Wade "Unique" Addams had won the MVP award instead of her, but everyone knew it was because he was a she and showed it not because he/she was actually better, right? No matter. The important thing is that there was a competition and she was determined to get first place and show off her talents. All she needed was the perfect moving ballad with some notes to belt on. She ran through the Webber/Sondheim/Schwartz song list in her head. Something from The Phantom of the Opera? No Ms. Thibodaux had thought it was over-used when Kurt had said he was singing The Music of the Night that probably applied to the whole musical. Evita? Not quite epic enough, the Latin American feel is something I just haven't quite nailed yet. Love Never Dies? Please, as if I'd acknowledge that musical even exists. Sunday in the Park with George? Talk about not epic. In fact Sondheim rarely has those powerful ballads I need to shine. I did all the good Wicked songs in high school… okay so, Barbra. Hmm, Funny Girl, once again used up all the good ones in high school and that's how I choked last time… so… Yentl. Yes! Several great, epic, moving songs to choose from. And didn't she say the theme was beginning? I think this assignment must have been made for me.
Once again Kurt, Will and Melody were gathered around Kurt's laptop as Blaine read through some ideas.
"You said the theme was things starting/beginning? Well that can be interpreted very loosely. You are all Freshmen right?"
"Actually" Melody raised her hand. "I'm a Junior."
"Still, you're all college underclassmen. So a song about beginning careers might be something you could all relate to. The only thing would be that pretty much everyone else is probably doing the exact same thing, so you need a little emotion to go with it. People commonly pick songs about unrequited love simply because it is an emotion everyone has felt and frankly that's what springs to mind when you say the word 'heart break.' Most people think romantic. But some of the really poignant songs are about family heart break. Between parents and children, between brothers/sisters. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, I Know I'd Give My Life For You, and He Was My Brother are some examples. Which is why I suggest… at the Ballet, from A Chorus line. Will, you'll have to sing your part on octave lower than it's written because it was written for three girls. But I think it has everything you want. Emotional enough for you to portray that, energetic enough for you to choreograph well, arranged for a trio, from Broadway show so it's perfect for NYADA, and about people finding their passion and starting down the road to becoming performers." Kurt looked at the others. Melody spoke first.
"I think it sounds like a good idea. Even if it doesn't win you the competition, it will get you noticed and maybe she'll give you solo parts she wouldn't have otherwise." Will nodded.
"So now we just have to figure out who sings what." Kurt thanked Blaine and logged out of Skype before closing the lap top.
"Well," Will gave him an unreadable look. "you should sing Maggie's part, your better than me, and since Melody's not really in Showcase you're the one we should let shine since we all know this assignment is really about scoping out soloists for upcoming performances and competitions."
Kurt blinked at him. "That's really sweet of you but you're better than you give yourself credit for."
"Thank you, but it is a trio, it's not like I'd be getting a much smaller part. I was thinking I could do Sheila's part? I don't think I'm ready to sing about wanting to be pretty." Kurt and Melody nodded.
"That makes sense." Melody agreed.
"So," Kurt pulled out s notebook and moved so the three of them were sitting in sort-of-a-circle. "let's get started on the choreography."
Rachel set up her video camera and hurried up onto the stage of the auditorium. She cued the musicians she had recruited and closed her eyes for a moment to ground herself as the music started. Choreographing had never been Rachel's strong point. But that was the great thing about ballad's. just emote, emote, emote. And it ends up looking really good. Like her mother had told Vocal Adrenaline members back in her sophomore year, theatricality could be subtle "like a quiet storm, you just have to radiate emotion." Rachel opened her eyes, scrunched her eyebrows, and let it all, - music, lyrics, and meaning, - pore out her mouth.
Parvati Henderson sifted through the pile of discs on her desk. Each one containing yet another entry. Many showed off obvious singing and dancing talent but often the song would fail to show off the person's voice to its best. The choreography would be sloppy. The balance between different voices would be off, or one person would be a little behind on the choreography. Only a few entries stood out: Rachel Berry's; Kurt Hummel, Will Hypen, and an extra named Melody's; and finally, Stephen Sadofsky and Catalina Beret's.
Rachel stood alone on NYADA's auditorium stage.
"Hi, I'm Rachel Berry and I'll be singing a mash-up of This is One of Those Moments and The Way He Makes Me Feel from Yentl." She closed her eyes and the music started.
There are moments… you remember all your life.
There are moments you wait for and dream of all your life.
This is one of those moments…
Her eyes were open now, her eyebrows drawn together as if she were trying to convey all the emotion of the piece through them alone.
The face I'm seeing,
The feeling I'm feeling…
I feel as if I'm falling every time I close my eyes,
And flowing through my body is a river of surprise.
The smell, the sounds, will be written
On my mind, will be written in my heart
As long as I live!
What are all these new sensations?
What's the secret they reveal?
I'm not sure I understand
But I like the way I feel.
She closed her eyes and swayed clutching her stomach for emphasis.
There are certain things that once you have
No man can rake away-
No wave can wash away-
No wind can blow away-
No tide can turn away-
No fire can burn away-
No time can wear away-
And now they're about to be mine!
It was moving and powerful and would have been spectacular if the assignment had been solo ballads.
I'm a bundle of confusion
Yet it has a strange appeal.
Did it all begin with him,
And the way he makes me feel
I like the way he makes me feel...
But the assignment had been to perform a number with original choreography. This song had such miniscule choreography it could barely be counted as choreography. Rachel was talented, but her entry wasn't right for the assignment. And her stage presence wasn't right any of the major upcoming solos. She'd check back later after Rachel had honed her abilities a little more. Kurt, Will and Melody's production was closer to what she'd intended: the three stood in a triangle in the middle of the stage. The music started and they moved so that their formation revolved slowly on the stage stopping as Will moved to the front.
Will: Daddy always thought that he married beneath him.
That's what he said, that's what he said.
Will belted out the lines while in the background Kurt and Melody mimed getting married and then Kurt maimed slapping her on each of the 'said's.
But everything was beautiful, at the ballet.
Graceful men, lift lovely girls, in white.
Kurt and Will passed melody back and forth before setting her down and assuming their original position with melody in front.
Melody: Now different is nice but it sure isn't pretty,
Pretty is what it's about.
I never met anyone who was different,
Who couldn't figure that out.
So beautiful, I'd never live to see.
Kurt and will danced about behind her adding emphasis to certain words with their movements.
Will and Melody: Up a steep and very narrow stairway,
To the voice like a metronome.
Melody walked up Will's hands into Kurt's, he then held her upside-down and swung her back and forth. They became a triangle again, with Kurt in front saying Maggie's lines.
Kurt: "I used to pretend there was an Indian Chief. And he'd say to me, 'Maggie, do you want to dance?' and I'd say to him, 'Daddy, I would love to dance.'"
Melody: Doo, doo-dee-doo
Will: He wasn't warm.
Kurt: Doo, doo-dee-doo.
Melody: Not to her.
Will: Doo doo doo.
Kurt: It was an Indian chief and he'd say:
"Maggie do you wanna dance?"
And I'd say: "Daddy, I would love to!"
Will and Melody had moved to stand on either side of Kurt and spun him slowly back and forth between them now he broke free and really belted the lines.
Everything, was beautiful, at the ballet!
Raise your arms, and someone's always there!
Yes, everything was beautiful, at the ballet!
At the ballet! At the balleeeeettttt!
He held the note without wavering for beyond the allotted time then stepped back to move about the stage in-sink with the other two. The stopped and stood in a line.
Melody: I was pretty.
Will: I was happy.
Kurt: I would love to.
All: At the ballet.
Parvati made some notes and the opened Stephen and Catalina's performance. And knew what her decision was.
Yay, I'm all caught up.