A/N: Not much to say except that I have not been feeling well. Anyways, I have no successfully uploaded all the songs that I have used in this story and hopefully that won't change. The link is at the end of the chapter as well as the link to the photo of the majority of the cast list for the musical, in case you forgot what the character looked like.
This is pretty small for a chapter, but it is mostly filler so yeah.
Ch. 38: Surprising Cast Change
After a few days of deliberation and a few more auditions, Rachel and Beth had made their final decision on the cast list for RENT.
CAST LIST
Mark Cohen: Patrick Myer
Roger Davis: Kasey Grey
Mimi Marquez: Angela Webber
Tom Collins: Zeke Harrington
Angel Dumott Schunard: Jake Anders
Maureen Johnson: Hannah Schuester
Joanne Jefferson: Kristina Joy
Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III: Seth McFadden
It's the start of the second week of rehearsals and things weren't exactly going so well. Rachel was frustrated, Beth was annoyed and everyone else was just on their last bit of patience. Practice had been rough since day one, but almost everyone had the chemistry needed to act and sing, everyone accept for Angela Webber and Kasey Grey. Angela was playing the role of Mimi Marquez and Kasey was playing the role of Roger Davis. They had just finished singing Light My Candle and things just weren't working, for the thousandth time.
Rachel sighs once again before calling a break.
"Okay," she says, "Everyone take five and we will try it one last time."
Some of the cast sighed and hopped off of the stage and headed out the doors. Kasey took a seat on one of the auditorium chairs and read through his script while Angela walked towards Rachel with a frown.
Angela was a first year student at Lima University. She knew she was an amazing singer, but her acting capabilities came up short…a lot.
"Look, Rachel. I'm no good at this. Kasey and I clearly don't have the chemistry and I don't want to bring everyone down."
Rachel turns to her daughter. "Angela and I are going to talk more outside. When everyone comes back, let's work on a different song. Can you get it started?"
Beth nods her head. "That's not a problem. I've got it covered."
Rachel and Angela take a walk outside the auditorium and Beth takes a seat next to Kacey.
"You are doing great out there. It's our fault that you two aren't working so well together."
Kacey looks up from his script with a sigh. It was weird for him. During Glee club a few months back, he and Beth never really talked, but lately, they have been talking all the time. Most of it was because of the play, but it also felt like they were beginning to form some sort of friendship.
"Beth, you've got to help me out," Kacey pleads. "You know all of this, right?" At Beth's nod, Kacey continues. "Please, help me."
Beth gets up from her chair with a nod. "Alright, but I'm only doing this once."
Kacey grins and hops up on stage to get ready. Beth cues the music and they both begin.
Kacey's Part
Beth's Part
Beth starts behind the door and knocks as Kacey opens the door and sings
What'd you forget?
Beth holds out the candle as she comes face to face with Kacey.
Got a light?
Beth walks onto the stage as Kacey sings his part.
I know you, you're
You're shivering
Kacey follows Beth into the middle of the stage while singing.
It's nothing
They turned off my heat
And I'm just a little
Weak on my feet
Kacey takes off his leather jacket and puts it over Beth's shoulders.
Would you light my candle?
What are you staring at?
Nothing
Your hair in the moonlight
You look familiar
Kacey strikes a match and lights Beth's candle. Beth almost faints.
Can you make it?
Beth walks around the stage with a smile on her face while singing her parts.
Just haven't eaten much today
At least the room stopped spinning
Anyway, what?
Nothing
Your smile reminded me of
I always remind people of
Who is she?
She died
Beth blows out her candle and turns to Kacey while slowly making her way back towards him so that he can light the candle again.
Her name was April
It's out again
Sorry about your friend
Would you light my candle?
Kacey, again, strikes a match and lights Beth's candle. Beth steps closer to Kacey. Both individuals onstage have no idea that everyone from the cast has slowly made their way back into the auditorium, including Rachel and Angela who have quietly taken their seats.
Well
Yeah? Ow!
Oh, the wax, it's
Dripping! I like it, between my
Fingers, I figured
Oh, well, goodnight
Beth hands the jacket back to Kacey and makes her way over to the fake door that had been set up. She blows out her candle on the way. Her hand makes its way to the back of her pocket searching for something. When she can't find it she knocks on the door.
It blew out again?
No, I think that I dropped my stash
I know I've seen you out and about
When I used to go out
Your candle's out
I'm illin'
I had it when I walked in the door
It was pure
Is it on the floor?
Beth drops to the ground on her hands and knees searching for her "stash."
The floor?
Beth turns her head to face Kacey as she's on the ground and she gets a little flirty with her singing.
They say that I have the best ass
Below 14th Street
Is it true?
What?
You're staring again
Oh no, I mean you do have a nice
I mean, you look familiar
Kacey gets on the ground and begins to help Beth find what she is looking for.
Like your dead girlfriend
Only when you smile
But I'm sure I've seen you somewhere else
Do you go to the Cat Scratch Club?
That's where I work, I dance
Yes!
They used to tie you up
It's a living
I didn't recognize you
Without the handcuffs
Beth holds out her candle once more while still searching the floor.
We could light the candle
Kacey takes the hint and strikes another match to light the candle.
Oh won't you light the candle?
Why don't you forget that stuff?
You look like you're sixteen
Both Kacey and Beth stand up from the floor. Out in the audience, Rachel and everyone else are completely captivated about what they are seeing in front of their eyes. Clearly, there was chemistry between Kacey and Beth. Nothing romantic, it was just clear that they had acting chemistry and a good one at that.
I'm nineteen, but I'm old for my age
I'm just born to be bad
I once was born to be bad
I used to shiver like that
I have no heat, I told you
I used to sweat
I got a cold
Uh huh, I used to be a junkie
But now and then I like to
Uh huh
Feel good
Kacey picks something off of the floor and puts it in his back pocket.
Oh here it
What's that?
It's a candy bar wrapper
We could light the candle
Kacey uses his fingers to blow out the candle's light.
Oh what'd you do with my candle?
Kacey falls on the couch with Beth standing in front of him. He was really trying hard to stay in character, but he could tell that Beth was having fun and so was he.
That was my last match
Our eyes'll adjust
Thank God for the moon
Beth takes a seat on the arm of the couch.
Maybe it's not the moon at all
I hear Spike Lee's shooting down the street
Beth takes Kacey's hand and plays with his fingers.
Bah humbug, bah humbug
Cold hands
Yours too
Big, like my father's
Beth gets up from the arm of the couch and pulls Kacey with her.
Do you wanna dance?
With you?
No, with my father
I'm Roger
Beth slowly walks around Kacey and moves her fingers to his back pocket as she pulls out her "stash."
They call me
They call me Mimi
Beth faces Kacey and holds up her "stash" shaking it in his face gently and walks out the fake door that's on the stage.
The applause is quick. Beth makes her way back to the middle of the stage where Kacey is standing with a smile on his face. Beth, however, is completely red in the face. She was embarrassed, but she was on a high. It was a high that she hadn't experience before. It was a better high then the ones she had got when she was on drugs.
Rachel comes forward with a big grin on her face. She knew that Beth had the capabilities to sing, she wouldn't have been in glee otherwise, but she had no idea that she could act.
The difference between Glee and a musical was that they were many different things that needed to be done at the same time. In Glee, you had just sing and dance. You didn't really need to act.
"There's the chemistry," Angela mentions with a smile. "Get Beth to take my part and I'll help you. I'm more of a behind the scenes person anyway."
"Beth honey, that was amazing. You have to be Mimi. You're just perfect for the role and you and Kacey work well together."
Beth took a step back and shook her head. She wasn't so sure. Kacey turned to his friend with a grin.
"Come on Beth. We were both having a lot of fun. Let's do this thing together." Kacey turns to his other cast mates. "What do you guys think? Should Beth be the new Mimi?"
All Beth got in response was cheers. She looked at her mom who had a proud smile on her face. So, Beth did the only thing she could do. She relented.
"Alright, I'll do it."
At the end of the rehearsals a new cast list was posted.
CAST LIST
Mark Cohen: Patrick Myer
Roger Davis: Kasey Grey
Mimi Marquez: Beth Fabray
Tom Collins: Zeke Harrington
Angel Dumott Schunard: Jake Anders
Maureen Johnson: Hannah Schuester
Joanne Jefferson: Kristina Joy
Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III: Seth McFadden
Director: Rachel Berry Fabray
Co-director: Angela Webber
*Friend to a Stranger*
Beth and Rachel entered the house after almost a full day of rehearsals. Quinn had gotten home just a few minutes before them. Quinn had reached the bottom of the stairs right as Beth and Rachel had entered.
"Well hello you two. How was your day?"
Rachel grins and turns to their daughter. "Beth's got some news."
Beth shook her head. "No, I don't. I'm going upstairs," Beth quickly announces bypassing Quinn before she can ask any questions.
Quinn raised an eyebrow before walking over to her wife and gathering her in her arms. "How are you, my wife?" Quinn asks with a grin before placing her mouth over Rachel's.
Rachel pulls back with a grin and rests her forehead against Quinn's.
"It was rocky just like every day. Today was different though. We made a cast change at the last minute."
"Isn't your first show in like a week?" Quinn asks as she pulls away from her wife and walks over to the couch in the next room. Rachel is quick to follow.
"Yes, that is true, but our cast change won't affect that. Beth is now playing Mimi."
"Beth," Rachel nods her head. "Our Beth is acting now?"
Rachel nods her head and claps her hands in excitement.
"She's really good Quinn. I didn't know she had acting talent. We both knew she could sing, but she can act to and she's pretty so she hits the trifecta. Lucy had no desire to become an actress so I was a little bummed, but she's our daughter and I love her anyway. You and I both know I was a little disappointed when Lucy said she had no desire to become an actress, but Beth can be and she loved doing it. Oh my, Quinn. I'm so excited."
Her wife was on a ramble again, but it didn't matter to Quinn. She loved her wife, her paragraph rants and all.
"Clearly," Quinn states with a smile on her face. "I can't wait to see it."
"It's going to be amazing," Rachel says with a grin.
*Friend to a Stranger*
When Beth got into her bedroom she opened up her laptop to check her emails before quickly changing from jeans into a pair of sweats. A noise comes from her computer as she changes and it's the familiar tone letting her know she has a skype call coming in. Beth sits down at her desk and smiles when she sees who is contacting her. Beth accepts the call with a smile and she comes face to face with Noah Puckerman, her father.
"What's up?" Beth says with a grin.
"How are you doing? We haven't talked in a while."
"I know we haven't talked," Beth says with a frown. "Lucy and Amanda are gone and I've been helping mom with the musical."
Beth sees her father grin. Ever since his visit, she and her dad have slowly started building a relationship with each other. It was mostly phone calls and text messages, but lately it had moved to Skype.
"Well, it's only a few more weeks and then they are back right?" At Beth's nod he continues. "See, you just have to keep yourself occupied. You could even spend a couple of days with me if you wanted."
Beth shrugs her shoulders at the suggestion. She wasn't sure if she was ready for that, but she was glad that her dad offered.
"I'm not sure yet, but I'm going to be pretty busy this month. Instead of co-directing the musical I have now been casted as Mimi."
"You better save me a seat for front row on opening night. I want to be there."
Beth grins. "I promise." She sees her dad grin back.
"I have to cut this chat short, but I'll call you sometime tomorrow, is that okay?"
"Yeah," Beth nods with a smile. "That'd be great."
Beth closes her laptop the moment the video chat ends. Beth sighs softly and reaches for the script so she could run through her lines. She didn't need much practice with them, but she wanted to make sure she would do a good job. One thought sits in Beth's mind as she runs through her lines.
I should've done this acting thing a long time ago.
A/N: FF is being mean and won't let me post the links here, but I will have it near the top of my profile and I can send it to you in an email if you review...just let me know.