a dream that you wish | kasey winslow |

Chapter 39

With the start of previews a month away, Gary was starting to get a little insane. More so than before. Rehearsals were drawn out longer and longer every day, until the cast, crew and pit ended up staying at least twelve hours. Sometimes longer.

Everyone was fatiguing, and it was getting noticeable in their performances. Jess, who was still recovering from her pneumonia, wasn't able to be at rehearsal for long periods of time. Elizabeth, Jess's primary understudy, was covering most of the Elsa songs.

The topics up for review during rehearsal were getting tinier and tinier. First it was about foot positioning in 'Coronation Day', then about food placement in 'For the First Time in Forever', and then Gary began criticizing the girls' hair choices. 

Which was ridiculous, especially since all of their wigs for the show had been approved by Gary himself while they were still in the Astor Place. 

It was excessive, and there were murmurings among the cast when Gary was gone. Kasey knew it wasn't a positive environment for the cast, crew, or pit to be in. It was so different from Hamilton.

Where Lin had gotten the cast to cooperate by being fun, spontaneous, and compassionate, Gary's method of creating productivity was through criticism, micro-managing, and lots and lots of shouting.

His directing style definitely made Kasey miss her friends at Hamilton.

The only way anyone got through the long, twelve-hour rehearsals was silly games, social media, and knowing that their first preview was only a month away. 

Everything was changing. She and Jace were dating again, Carleigh was getting ready to substitute for Bandstand, and Kasey was about to open a show on Broadway. It was exciting, but daunting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another day of Frozen rehearsal began with Gary yelling about some minor detail that had apparently 'gone wrong' during the previous day's run-through. The problem was that no one knew what he was talking about. 

"I want you to stand over there, not there, and the note you were singing was awful, and clashed with the pit and everyone you are singing with!" Gary spat at Elizabeth. "Maybe I should get Danielle to understudy Elsa, instead."

"Gary!" Ryan shouted. Gary whipped around. "We need your help sorting out a violin run in measure sixteen of 'Coronation Day.'"

"You're the goddamned orchestrator, why can't you figure it out yourself?" Gary muttered under his breath, but left Elizabeth anyway.

"You're fine," Sebastian told Elizabeth. "He's just on edge because Jess isn't here, and we only have three weeks left."

"I feel like I could be doing better," Elizabeth said, running a hand through her hair. "He shouldn't be yelling this much, even if I am the understudy. The point of an understudy is to be able to sub in for a lead without fault."

"Well, in a normal production, you would have received high praise," Kasey told Elizabeth. "For sure. Lin would have gushed over you if you understudied Eliza."

"Really?"

"Yes. And your voice would be perfect for that role. If you ever leave Frozen, you should think about it. It's an amazing show."

"I will, thanks, Kasey," Elizabeth said thoughtfully. 

"Although, you would be the first naturally blonde Eliza in the show," Kasey added. "I think. I'm not sure who understudies her in different productions."

"That's cool!"

Gary finished up with the orchestra, and then declared that they were going to do a full run-through of the show. 

If they could groan without getting yelled at, everyone would have. But Gary would flip out if he heard even the slightest hint of a complaint. 

~~~~~~~~~~

After rehearsal, Kasey had a 'date' with Jace. It wasn't supposed to be super formal- they were just going to a theatre that was playing Moana. 

He stopped by the Lunt-Fontanne to pick Kasey up.

"I'm all gross and sweaty," Kasey commented. "Do you want me to change?"

"No, you're fine. It's just a movie, no big deal," Jace told her. "It's only a couple blocks away. Are you okay with walking?"

"Of course."

"So, how was rehearsal?"

"The usual, lots of singing, dancing, running around madly backstage, and Gary waving tuners in front of people's faces," Kasey said, rolling her eyes.

"Still with the tuner?"

"Sadly."

"That would be pretty annoying," Jace commented.

"It is."

They fell into a somewhat awkward silence as they continued toward the theatre. It was strange being back together with Jace. Kasey had thought that they could go back to normal, instead of having that awkward 'getting back together with your ex' kind of date. But, with a breakup as bad as theirs had been, she guessed that it made sense.

"We're here," Jace announced, finally breaking the tension. 

Once inside, Jace bought some popcorn for the movie, and they went to get their seats. There weren't many people in the theatre- Moana had already been in the large theatres for its original run. It was an older movie now. 

"You haven't seen this before, have you?"

"No," Kasey replied. 

"That's good. I haven't either, I'm glad we're seeing it together."

After a couple minutes, the movie started, and Kasey was spared of having to make a non-awkward conversation with Jace. Maybe this wouldn't be as easy as she thought it would be.