In the Spotlight

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Jan. 21, 2019

Ashland, OR

Two weeks later, At the studio in a room, Ashlyn was sitting at a table with the Producer and Director, going through the many locals that signed up for auditioning for the parts of Burt and Mary Poppins, along with Jane and Michael, Mr. and Mrs. Banks, and many others. This was personally her favorite part of picking who would be great as the cast, and blooming together as the theatre family. Some were the originals that auditioned last year, but that was fine with Ashlyn because she knew their heart was into theater, but the secret rule was that everyone got a chance to play someone else; unless it was the last choice that did better than the others.

As she was listening to the woman that was auditioning for Mary, she looks down at her bracelet that she got 3 years ago from Leigh as an early birthday gift. Leigh came to surprise Ash, took her and Sean to New York City to see some musicals as a birthday present, and gave her this bracelet on her birthday while they were in NYC. It was just so pretty and different, Ashlyn asked where Leigh found this stunning bracelet, but Leigh wouldn't say where she got it from, she just found it and saw 'A H', and Ashlyn giggled when she realized that 'A H', stood for Ashlyn Harmony. But the number one rule was that she wasn't allowed to take a picture of it and post it on Instagram or any other social media. Leigh was fine if she was wearing it with other people because it wouldn't be 'attention' in the photo, but just couldn't share the piece to the world. After all these years, Ashlyn kept her promise. If someone asked her about it, she'd just say that she got it as a gift, and leave it at that.

Soon, the song was over for the woman singing, and Ashlyn looked back up with a smile.

"I think we found our Mary," Thomas who she hired as the Director whispered to her.

Ashlyn nodded, "We just need to know if she can sing that most iconic song," she told him.

He nods in agreement, "Okay, Rose, we would like you to sing the most iconic song of the movie." He stands up and goes over to the piano for the song for her to read off of.

"Which song?" Rose asked.

"Super..." Thomas started as Ashlyn interrupted.

"Feed the Birds," she said.

"Are you sure?" Thomas asked, surprised.

Ashlyn nods, "We know she can sing these fun ones; let's hear her sing the 'slow and steady one'."

Carol, the Producer, and Thomas' wife look over at her, "Why that one?"

"It's the only song that's serious that Mary sings," Ashlyn told her.

Thomas nods, "You're the boss."

Ashlyn smiled as Rose was given the sheet music for the song and the piano started playing the music.

"Who is going to be our Burt?" Thomas asked sitting down.

"It's got to be Steven or Erik. I want to give them a callback and have them work together, maybe one of them could even play Mr. Banks."

"It's really going to be hard," Carol whispered as Ash nods while Rose was ready to sing and got the cue to start.

~*~*~*~

By the end of the month, Ashlyn sighed as she looked at the casting announcements of who was going to play who. Thanks to Thomas and Carol, they came up with the best cast for the spring play, and Ashlyn found her two that she was going to have take over the summer camp. She couldn't have chosen anyone else.