The Hudson Boys

Chapter eleven

Vince offers drive me to Born to Perform this morning, saying that he has volleyball practice downtown anyway.

Angela, the woman who called me last night, greets me as I walk into the building and shows me to where I'm going to be spending the day. Entering the room, there are already some people. More people pile into the room as it gets closer to ten.

At exactly ten o'clock, Sebastien Silvestri strides into the room with Angela by his side. Everyone gives him their full attention.

"Good morning everyone" Sebastien greets. "It's so great to have you all here today. I'm very excited and know that I, with the help of my very wonderful casting directors and assistants, have created the perfect cast for our production of Into the Woods!" The room fills with applause. Once we settle down Angela begins to tell us all the information we need to know pertaining the show and rehearsals.

"As you already know, rehearsals are Monday through Friday, ten to five. Performances are going to be held on Thursday June 23rd through June 26th. That gives us six weeks to make this performance perfect, and we are all very confident that it will be. Now, getting to the fun part, I would like to introduce to everyone our cast and crew!"

One by one Angela calls our name as says our role in the production or which character we're playing. "So there you have it" she chirps. "This week, we're going to be doing table read. For those of you who don't know what that is, basically all actors with speaking roles will be sitting together at a table and will read through the script. For everyone else, you will begin to learn choreography and work on set design. Actors, follow me."

The rest of the day is spent with us going over the lines. We're later provided with lunch and we use the time as an opportunity to get to know each other. I can already tell that I'm really going to like my fellow cast members.

Rehearsal ends and Vince is waiting for me outside. His clothes are covered in sweat. "It was a successful practice" he shrugs.

Claire is waiting for us by the door when Vince and I enter, eager to hear about how my first day at Born to Perform was and how Vince's volleyball practice went. We tell her all about it over dinner and then head up to our rooms for the night.

The next couple of days go by pretty quickly. I spend most of my time memorizing my lines or helping Jason with his portfolio. He's so nervous and really wants to make sure that he's choosing his best pieces for his portfolio.

Vince continues to drive me to rehearsal and pick me up when it's over. It's hard to believe that tomorrow is already friday and starting next week we are going to start blocking our parts on stage.

Mark and I talked for a little bit once I got back from rehearsal. We haven't gotten to talk much because of my rehearsals and his crew practices so it was nice to catch up.

Still laughing his joke, Mark and I walk into the dining room for family dinner to see everyone already sitting there. We all start to eat once Mark and I make it to our seats.

About five minutes into the meal, Claire clears her throat, gaining our attention.

"Boys, Jess" she addresses us. "Today Steve and I found out that we need to go on a little business trip. We would have told you sooner if we knew."

"When do you leave?" Mark asks.

"We're leaving tomorrow morning and will be back Sunday night" Steve replies.

The boys look at each other, smiles forming on their faces.

"Now I want to make myself clear. There will be NO parties this weekend, do you understand?" Claire warns us.

I wouldn't call myself a partier, but I have gone to a few parties and I've had a few drinks every now and then. Each one of us nod our heads.

"Good" she says with a content look on her face.

When she brings her attention back towards her food, Dylan who is sitting on my right and David who is on my left look over at each other and start to smirk.

Looks like we're having a party.