“Holiday Spectacular and the Rehearsal Sprint”

It has been a busy few weeks, to say the least. Since my last blog post, we have officially started rehearsals for the ONU Holiday Spectacular! It is crazy to think that this is my last year doing Holiday, and while it is something that is really special to me, it has also been a sprint from the moment we started. But more on that later. What’s been up with me these past few weeks, though?

Biggest news first, rehearsals for Holiday Spectacular are officially underway! This show has always been such a big part of the holiday season at ONU, and getting to be a part of it for one last year is definitely something I am trying to take in. There is something really special about getting to do a show that has become such a tradition, especially knowing that this is my last time doing it as a student. At the same time, though, the rehearsal process has been nonstop. We have so much to get done in such a short amount of time, and it has definitely felt like we have been sprinting from one thing to the next since we started.

Along with performing in the show, I have also been working behind the scenes as the assistant choreographer. This has meant getting to work creatively with the production team to figure out how we can make the rehearsal process run as smoothly as possible and ensure that everything gets staged in time. There is so much that goes into putting a production like this together, especially when you are working with such a large cast and so many moving pieces. It has been interesting to figure out how to approach different challenges and find ways to make things work when time is limited. While it has definitely been a lot of work, I have really enjoyed getting to be a part of that creative process and seeing how everything starts to come together.

Outside of Holiday, I honestly have not been doing much else. Between rehearsals, choreography and everything else that comes with putting on a show of this size, there has not been a whole lot of time to do anything outside of the theater. It feels like every time I get a free moment, there is something else that needs to be done or something I need to prepare for. I think that is just the nature of this time of year, especially when you are involved in a production like Holiday, but it definitely makes the days fly by.

All in all, it has been a whirlwind of a few weeks, but I am really grateful to be a part of this show one last time. Even when the process gets exhausting, there is something so rewarding about getting to work with so many talented people and being a part of something that means so much to the university. Now it is just a matter of continuing to push through rehearsals, getting everything ready for opening night and trying to enjoy every second of my last Holiday Spectacular!