Sing Out Louise! (Open but please Pm to join!)

[ReleaseMe]

OOC: Aiights, this is just an attempt. It's a story I was working on a while ago that I could never really develop to be a sucessful read so I thought maybe it would work as the premise for an rp. Since there is sex involved it is an SRP!

General Story:

In a midwestern town (Caulfield) (like a small city) Ella (my character) has come from New York City to be musical director for a small but well-respected regional theater company. Due to a serious injury she has been ordered by her doctor to 'take it easy' and thus leave the hectic world of the Broadway scene to take the position of musical director and conductor at the North Eastern Regional Theater Company.

The only character that is kind of fleshed out is the Manager. Should be close to Ella in age (preferrably older but whatever) and be from the town. He was not in charge of hiring her, his father, president of the company had done that. Probably not too much a fan of some New Yorker coming in and bothering his theater company.
Manager is straight.

Myriad of actors and actresses needed, also other towns people, techies or whatever are welcome. Also friends from New York are fine. As for the sex, that is up to whomever you are sexing with. Have fun!
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IC:

Name: Ella Jacobs.
Age: 32
Height: five feet, seven inches
Weight: 125 lbs.
Sexuality: Straight
Hair: Dark Brown, long, often worn down or hastily done up
Bust: 36 C
Frame: Curvaceous


And so it begins:

Ella Jacobs sighed as she parked her car in front of the restored theater building. For a regional company it was lovely. It wasn't the Neil Simon though. For not the first time, Ella tried to supress a wave of resentment. She still hadn't gotten over the accident, nor had she gotten over having to leave her city for a job graciously offered by a former professor. She smiled wistfully. Harry Farnsworth, a professor of conducting at Julliard had been her mentor. Thanks to Harry's numerous connections, she had been granted an interview with the Northeastern Regional Theater Company. Of course the older man who had interviewed her had been delighted to have a former Broadway Musical Director on his team.

So here she was. In the middle of fucking nowhere.

She sighed again and gathered her things. Ignoring the wave of pain in her shoulder, she exited the car and walked up the the building. It was hours before anyone else would show up for the meeting about the upcoming season but Ella wanted to be alone and to set up her office.

She unlocked the door with the key she had been given and took the elevator up to the fifth floor (the first floor with offices since the other four consisted of the homes stage, house and foyer). Upon finding her office, she took out her favorite Broadway compilation CD and set to work setting herself up. Soon she was belting out the tunes with her nearly perfectly trained voice, forgetting her troubles as the music overcame her.

 

[allonblack]

OOC: James Puromby, manager of the theater company, 42 years old, small glasses that he wear at all times.
6 feet tall, carries himself with a very upright, almost smug posture, 175 pounds, salt and pepper hair.

IC: As he always did my father had given me a fairly large sum of cash for my birthday. As a forty two year old man I felt somewhat ashamed to accept money but did it graciously as my father was now approaching eighty and I didn't know how much longer he had left. Sometimes I loathed the old man for seemingly trapping me in his business of the theater. However I did make enough to live on by managing the theater company so I couldn't complain too much. My father was very respected in his hay day and I tried my best to imitate him by being involved in every aspect of the production, right down to the costumes and lights. Most of my recent birthdays had been spent alone and it was very tempting to use the birthday money for some indiscretions with a prostitute but my roots lay elsewhere so the money went towards a balcony seat for a production of "Les Miserables."

As I watched the actors and actresses I searched desperately for any criticisms I could make after the show but alas these were professionals and performed flawlessly. I sighed as I exited the theater and gazed up longingly at the marquee. I hoped someday to see "James Puromby Presents: Round 13" in the flashing neon lights.

Round 13 was my creation about a down on his luck boxer and the ring card girl who inspires him to look outside the world of violent entertainment and inside himself. The critics from all the local newspapers liked it though the lone New York critic who saw it at the yearly North Eastern Regional Theater competition called it a "ripoff of Rocky." Most of the critics who did like had known my family for years so I assumed some of the acclaim was based on pity or respect or both. But I didn't care, I was proud of my creation, the dialogue was crisp and flowing, the musical numbers were tight, and the dancing was kept to a minimum but was meant to mimic a boxer's steps inside the ring. Regardless of what the critics thought, my play had won top honors at the competition four years running.
Most of the actors in the troupe seemed jaded, perhaps taking out their failures on me. I had been an actor briefly and knew how hard it was to find any crumb of success. But I could only imagine how they felt to be taking orders from me since most of the actors I had known all my life and grew up with.

When my father called me into his office to tell me he had hired a new music director I didn't think much of it. After all numerous members of our company had come and gone and come back again once they saw how hard it was to cut it in bigger productions. I had to bite my lip to hide my rage when he told me that Lindsey Powers, the former music director had became the assitant music director for Grease on Broadway. I thought my teeth would push clear through my lips when he told me her replacement was from New York City, fresh from Broadway. He informed that I should do my best to make her feel welcome since she was new in town and didn't know anyone. I decided to get the inevitable over with and go say hello.

I muttered random nonsense under my breath as I walked down the hallway to say hello. I could see a sliver of light peeking out of the doorframe and could hear the tempo of the first few bars of Oklahoma beginning. "Knock knock" I said tapping on the doorframe and peering inside.

 

[ReleaseMe]

Ella frowned as Oklahoma began blaring from her laptop. Turning around to change it back to Sondheim, Ella saw him in the doorway. She looked him up and down for a moment, distinctly unimpressed by man's obvious arrogance. Calling upon her theater knowledge, she smiled brightly and walked over, her hand extended to greet him. On her laptop "Assassins" began playing. She hoped this wasn't a sign.

"I'm Ella. The new musical director." She said, her voice completely free of any accent. Twenty years of vocal training could do that. "You must be the Stage Manager. Do you happen to know when the meeting will start? I have several ideas for this season. Also, do you know where the Manager is, uhmm.. James, I think." Surely this man couldn't be the manager for the entire company. She had barely met him but the word 'hack' was in her mind in bright neon colors about five hundred feet tall.

 

[allonblack]

She was a vision of stunning beauty when she stuck her hand to greet me. I could see her lips moving but couldn't hear the words, I was frozen in place. Normally I have no probably being assertive with men or women but they from my city and easier to boss around. This young woman was probably 10 or 15 years younger than me and from the bigtime so I knew I had to mark my territory right away. "Uh...oh...um..." I stammered, searching around the office for anything to comment on, "Don't you think Rodgers and Hammersteins were hacks?" I blurted out.

"Smooth" I thought to myself. Within twenty seconds I had made a fool of myself. I knew she would be another woman I could cross of my list of potential dates in the city. The only women that looked at me with any kind of affection were the women in their late 50s and 60s, the ones who were just in my play as a hobby. But they managed to turn it into a popularity contest and kiss up to me when they wanted more lines. Of course I obliged because I was the manager and respected those who respected me.

I shook myself out of my daydream and said "Yes, I'm James, the manager, and it's a delight to meet you Ella. Pay no attention to my comment, I was just testing you. After all I have to make sure you listen carefully since you're in charge of the music." I laughed nervously.

"The meeting..." I wasn't sure what meeting she was talking about, I assumed my father had called another cast and crew meeting without my knowledge. "We'll get started shortly, the rule is 2/3 of each section, music, crew, actors, etc. have to be present before the meeting starts. Most of the younger actors are still in college so they miss some of the meetings but I've never had a problem with them so I don't make a big deal about it. As far as your new ideas for the season, I'm very interested and perhaps you should run them by me first. After all we're a small town and we don't adjust well to too many changes too quickly." I hoped that had knocked most of the ideas out of her pretty little head and before she even told me her ideas I began thinking of ways to spin them negatively.

 

[ReleaseMe]

Ella almost laughed out loud. This man could not be serious. She already knew he wouldn't accept any of her ideas. Too bad her proposed season was nearly perfect for the size of the company. It didn't matter. His small-penis-syndrome wouldn't be any of her concern. His crack about Rogers and Hammerstein had shown her that he clearly didn't know anything. After speaking to the rest of the directors and managers, she was sure his protestations would mean little. Her endless theater connections would get the production rights to any show she asked for. If he said no, she would just book it herself.

Somehow though, she felt a nagging sense of familiarity with this man. She was sure she didn't know him, but she felt as though his name should mean something to her.

Pushing it out of her mind she smiled again, chosing to ignore the crack about R&H. "Well, I suppose that would be a good idea. But I would also like to discuss with your stage, house, lighting and sound directors. As I am the 'new kid on the block' and the musical director, it would be important for us all to be in the same boat. Tell me, do you have a house orchestra or do you hire musicans on a show-by-show basis?" She kept herself from smirking, seeing through this man's arrogance as if it were glass.

She certainly had her work cut out for her.

 

[allonblack]

"Usually we have a house orchestra and some of our members are also in the cast. Usually they just have a solo in the orchestra that doesn't conflict with their scenes. I don't want to brag since you've probably seen some of the best actors in history but we do have an array of talent here in Caulfield. I'm sure you'll be quite impressed as to how quickly they'll pick up on your system." I folded my arms behind my back and began walking in a slow circle around her desk, inspecting her office.

"Tell me Ella, are you open to original compositions from cast members? In a small cast everyone thinks they can write songs and music so you'll have to learn how to say no unless it the best piece of music you've ever heard in your life. Speaking of music I'd like to hear any original compositions you may have written as well as any original lyrics. I'm not sure if you any composing experience but you're on your own here in the music department so you may need to start composing. I'll get you copies of the sheet music for "Round 13" and you can start learning it." I stared at her intently hoping for some glimpse of recognition about the name of my musical. The smirk didn't fade from her face so I took that as a sign she didn't know my work. That was fine soon she would know it inside out. I glanced at her folders full of music and hoped she didn't have any big ideas for the competition's production because if she even threatened to change our performance to another musical I would make sure my father cut off his finances to the troupe, bankrupting the theater. I smirked right back at her as I said "We have a meeting to get to." So we stood there in a virtual staring contest wondering who would flinch first in our competitive industry.

 

[ReleaseMe]

Ella struggled to keep her look impassive. Surely this man was joking. Round 13 was perhaps the worst musical she had ever seen. Did he not read the review papers? Wait... James... James Puromby. Her eyes widened slightly. Oh Jesus. This talentless hack had written Round 13. And he expected her to work with it. Ella decided to play it safe.

"Round 13 you say? I saw that a few years ago at the Stage Now festival. It certainly is an interesting production. Perhaps some evening soon we should discuss that at length. The adaptation process is going to be difficult. But I am sure between the two of us we can pull it off."

Truth be told, Round 13 had enormous potential. Unfortunately it had been written and produced by a man with too much arrogance to let his creation breathe on its own. With a few minor alterations to the score, they could have a smash hit on their hands. Surely this man's massive ego would be open to a few changes once the words "Broadway Run", "Multinational Tour" and "Tony Award" were mentioned.

She decided to throw him a bone and flashed her most genuine and smile, fully aware of how it lit up her face and added certain youthful sensuality to her features. She kept his gaze, hers even.

"Well, if that is all, I would like to do a bit more with the office before the meeting. I'll see you downstairs." Effectively dismissing him she not only won her staring contest but stifled a flutter of awareness that had started to grow inside her.

 

[ReleaseMe]

Some bumpage action

Ella turned around, as if to speak to James again on an after thought, her dazzling smile still in place, but her gaze is a cold one of distinct and explicit warning.

"Oh and James, you can fuck off on my private compositions. We'll have enough work to do in order to get your 'show' to anything close to production value."

She turns back to her computer. Uncaring as to his reaction.

 

[allonblack]

How dare she describe my masterpiece as "interesting." Interesting was how you described something when you secretly hated it and just wanted to be polite.

I knew she was trying to get rid of me but I wasn't going to budge that easily. "Ella, I think we should walk into the meeting together so I can introduce you properly, after all it is one of my duties as manager."

I don't know why my being a gracious host enraged her but she defiantly took a seat at her computer and insulted my play. I hovered in the doorframe as I spoke. "You know Ella, I'm sure you've had more than a few casting couch experiences to get where you are today. Give a job get a job, eh?" I chuckled harshly. "But then you think can stroll into this podunk town and my father gives you a job out of the goodness of his heart. I don't know what sob story you told him or if you've been fired from other productions or hell maybe you're just here to satisfy your massive ego. Just know this, my show is already above production value and whatever you could possibly add can't be much. I don't care about your experience or credientials all I care about is putting another trophy in the trophy case in the lobby. Now get your ass up to that meeting right now." I slammed the door behind me and locked it. I was tempted to smash or break something but my father owned nearly everything in the building so that wouldn't hurt her it would only hurt my father.

 

[ReleaseMe]

Ella watched Jame's tirade with little more than slight interest. Watching him walk out, she sighed. Perhaps she had gone about this all wrong.

After allowing him time to calm down, she walked to his office and tentatively knocked. Saying nothing, she waited.

 

[allonblack]

As I walked down the hallway, I calmly took deep breaths. Once inside my office I sat down at my desk and pressed the intercom to let the cast upstairs know the meeting would be delayed and for them to just work on whatever weaknesses they might have.

I sat there biting my nails staring at the playbills and wondered if I should change anything about the graphics. I heard a knock on my door. Seeing it was Ella I sighed and let her in. I closed the door behind her so if we got into it again no one would overhear us.

 

[ReleaseMe]

She rounded on him, composure gone, obviously out for blood. She paces as she talks, a thick New York accent coming into her speech more and more as she lets her anger out.

"Number One: If you EVER dare to insult my integrity again I will promist you that not only will Round 13 never be shown in Caulfield, it will never be shown anywhere. Number Two: If you want anything out of this other than one more reason to jack it when you wake up in the morning you had better be willing to listen to what I have to say. Number Three: If you want your show to go down in history as anything OTHER than the greatest waste of limitless potential you need to park your ego at the door and get ready to work. Number Four: You don't know shit about me, my life, my job or the theater. Get ready to learn about all of them." She took a deep breath and stood right in front of him, her voice calm and even again "Number five..." She grabs his lapels and kisses him full on the mouth, with all the passion that simmers just under the surface of her personality.

 

[allonblack]

Her voice changed along with her demeanor revealing a thick accent. I didn't mind accents are sexy, all kinds. I stood to prepare my comebacks as she once again insulted my show but was met with her mouth before any words coule escape my lips. My rage faded quickly into puzzled arousal. As much as I had longed for the touch of a woman I feared this might be a trap. Perhaps she was setting me up, if I made any attempt at kissing her back she might try to bust me for sexual harrassment and drag my good name through the mud. My mind raced with those thoughts and many more in those brief seconds that our mouths merged but I did manage to enjoy it. Finally I pushed her away and breathlessly said "What the hell was that all about? If that's how you say sorry in the city, then apology accepted." I could myself blushing. "Look maybe we got off on the wrong foot but you're in my territory so of course I'm going to defend it, if you want to tell me more about you I'd be glad to hear it, possibly at a neutral location."

"Oh no" I thought to myself, maybe I was reading too much into a kiss that was probably just meant to shut me up. Instinctively I looked at the floor not wanted to be stared at in the awkwardness of the moment.

 

[ReleaseMe]

Ella's chest heaved as he broke the kiss. She hadn't intended to do that. She had intended to shut him up. She had intended to show him what he needed. What his show needed.

Referring to his ideas on a truce "That's fine. But first, after the meeting bring the master score to Round 13 into the practice room. If curtain is in two months then we have a lot of work to do." She turned and left.

Reentering her office she gathered her materials and headed to the conference room for the meeting.

 

[allonblack]

As she left my head swam with thoughts. If by some miraculous chance she was attracted to me it would make my job a lot easier since I work best when I'm happy. Yet I wasn't ready to yield complete power of my life's work just for a chance at sex.

I removed the master score from the top right drawer of my desk and locked the drawer. I had a feeling she might snoop around so security needed to be elevated. I could see the light on in her office and I made a point of walking quickly to the elevator. As the stainless steel doors slid shut, I breathed a sigh of a relief. A part of me wanted to be alone with her in the elevator but another part of me feared what might happen. I hadn't been with a younger woman in years and I knew I could easily be manipulated.

I could still taste her on my lips as for the first time in years I entered a cast meeting with a smile on my face.

 

[ReleaseMe]

Ella gathered her scores, notes and a bottle of water and headed up the stairs to the conference room. Fortunately for her, James's father had given her copies of all the music for the coming season. Four out of nine shows had been decided upon, with five left to option. James would get his Round 13. It would be somewhat different, but he would get it. The rest was hers to bargain. The first half of the season would see her complacence, the second half would see her genius. She walked into the meeting the epitome of professionalism. She sat near the head of the table and opened her briefcase, taking out the necessary production notes.

 

[allonblack]

I refused to make eye contact with Ella as she entered the room. I cleared my throat and began, "Everyone, if I may have your attention please, I'd like to introduce our new music director Miss Ella Jacobs. Stand up and take a bow Ella." I had assumed it was Miss Jacobs and if wasn't she would probably make a point of telling me she was married.

"The way I see it folks our production schedule is pretty tight. From what I've seen thus far I think we should add more singing and dancing numbers since the critics and audience surveys we mailed out all seem to agree that some of our productions have gotten too dialogue heavy." I removed a newspaper clipping from my briefcase and snapped it to unwrinkle it. "Apparently the younger Puromby, lacks the pizazz and guts to put an original spin on classic musicals, like his father would have. So the writing is on the wall let's give the people what they want. We've got new faces so let's try some new things. Now I believe Ella has some notes she wants to discuss with us." I smiled and took a seat. Judging by the puzzled looks on most of the faces, the cast was skeptical of my newfound demeanor.

 

[ReleaseMe]

Ella frowned slightly, obviously surprised. If all it took was some necking every now and again to keep this man on an even keel, she was more than willing to neck away. She stood up, refusing to bow. This wasn't going to be about her ego, it was going to be about making this theater company the best it could be.

"Good morning everyone. As Mr. Puromby has just told you, my name is Ella Jacobs and I have recently relocated here from New York City. Some of my most recent projects include conducting for both Jane Eyre and Bombay Dreams and being musical director to the original broadway and off-broadway productions of "Only in Dreams" which opened this past season. I am a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, Ithaca College and Julliard. I got my undergraduate degree in vocal performance, but my Ph.D is in direction and conducting.

As for this season, James and I have already begun working on Round 13. As for the other shows, a few changes will be made, nothing major. For the first few after Round, we are going to be laying off the spin and playing the shows pretty straight at least musically. I am going to hold open auditions in three weeks for orchestra members so for those of you who pulled double duty on stage and in the pit you will now unfortunately have to choose between the two. I'm sorry if that bothers anyone but in the end it really will make things run a lot more smoothly. Remember that you are more than welcome to be in the cast for one show and pit orchestra for another. Auditions will be held as needed, but if you speak to me about changing I will make sure that you get to be where you want to be for the next show."

Ella was now more than sure that James was just pretending to be openminded so that he could cut her down in public, so she took out the big guns: "You are all aware of the recent reviews from the last few seasons, as well as Mr. Puromby Sr's ailing health. We all owe it to him, ourselves and this town to put aside all of our egos to make this the prestigious production company that it deserves to be. I am sure that you, I and James are well aware of what has to be done and are more than willing to do it." Ella smiled and seated herself, well aware of the looks of utter appreciation on the faces of everyone seated at the table. Well, except James. She hadn't quite gotten around to looking at him. They had obviously loved every word she had said. They were more than eager to turn over a new leaf and produce great theater.

Hopefully James would see both the logic and potential for personal acclaim (because that was obviously all he cared about) with her new ideas. Hopefully James would at some point understand that this wasn't about ego. It was about passion.

 

[allonblack]

I listented intently to Ella's speech and took notes. When she finished speaking I jumped in, "Ok everyone since Miss Jacobs is still getting settled I'll give you the rest of the day off but I want everyone here early tomorrow so we can jump right into things."

As they all shuffled out of the room, I touched Ella ever so gently on the arm. "Thanks for not speaking down to us small town folks. Most people here are impressed to know anyone that's visited New York much less lived and worked there. Secondly concerning your idea about making them choose between the orchestra or being on stage...well I'm afraid most of them will choose being on stage. So do you have any ideas on how to make it fair, like a rotation so that each of them will have a chance to be on change but not abandon their duties to the music. After all most only have a few lines but if we audition more actors and actresses from the town we'll be taking money out of our own pockets. Other than that you made a great first impression and I believe you won them over."

I walked over to my briefcase and retrieved the master score. "Here, you wanted this." I said handing it to her. "Now before we officially begin production is there anything else you feel I should know about you? I know your qualifications and your experience and that you are just as stubborn as me so I'm sure we'll get along fine but if there's more you feel I need to know now is your chance."

 

[ReleaseMe]

Ella stopped as she felt James's hand on her arm. Here it comes, she thought. She turned, prepared for a verbal onslaguht. Instead she was met with reason and almost kindness. He even asked about her. She smiled, about to brush of the question but stopped. He asked, after all.

"I'm not here because of a 'casting couch' James, no matter what you want to think. I'm here because..." Where did she begin? The accident three years ago? The anxiety? The fact that she was scared she couldn't take New York anymore? The fact that she, deep down inside, wanted the small town house full of kids instead of a studio apartment filled with cockroaches? "There was an accident a few years ago. I was conducting an orchestra for a large concert. It was staged oddly, the orchestra was almost elevated and at the back of the stage, so I had to stand on a pretty high platform. Unfortunately whoever put it together hadn't secured it properly and it collapsed while I was on it. It wasn't too bad, except I landed on my shoulder." She pauses, pulling back her shirt at the neck to expose the back of her left shoulder, where a thin white scar ran from her neck to her shoulder. "It wouldn't have been a big deal if I wasn't a conductor. After the surgery I did everything I was supposed to, but when I got back to work I overworked it and ended up tearing some muscles which makes it impossible to work at the pace I had been. That, along with some other issues and finally, I was instructed to leave the city for a less hectic and stressful atmosphere. A graduate professor I had worked with knew of the job opening here and convinced me that it was exactly what I needed. I have yet to decided that, but here I am." She smiles again, this time it barely reaches her pain filled eyes. Clearly this is neither an easy admission nor an easy time for her to be going through.

 

[allonblack]

Her scar was barely visible, just a small phantom tear in her flesh but I'm sure the emotional wounds ran deeper than the surface. Her skin was flawless and appeared firm and muscular yet soft to the touch. I was tempted to touch her just because it had been so long. I was surprised she had exposed the fact she was vulnerable so soon. Nevertheless I wasn't going to give her pity since it was still my job to manage the company.

"So this is your rehab assignment? They sent you down to the minors, huh?" I chuckled softly. "Caulfield is a good place to rejuvinate yourself and you're lucky since you're an outside. No one knows your secrets yet so they can't gossip about you. As long as you do what I ask and when I ask, I won't be a contributing factor to your stress. You seem like you're your own harshest critic so I'll try to not be too demanding but don't think I'm going to take it easy on you. This production is very important to myself, the cast, and this community. I appreciate your honesty and if you need anything let me know. Try to keep it under your hat but we do have a large budget for a small theater company but if you do get something from it just tell the cast you paid for it out of your own pocket. It won't be a bad thing you'll be more a legend here if they think you're rich."

I started to leave but knew I should apologize. "About that whole casting couch thing, I'd like to say it was a test but I meant it. I've had more than one actress from they city show me her breasts and offer me oral sex for a part. But it was wrong of me to assume that of you, after all you were hired by my father and I know he doesn't operate that way. So yes this apology is half-hearted but take it or leave it, we've got work to do."

 

[ReleaseMe]

Her eyes darkened for a moment from his comment about the 'minors'. Did he not understand?

"Actually no James. I'm out of commission for life. Torn rotocuff." She smiled again, clearly forced. It was strange how after almost a year of knowing, hearing it still made her want to weep. "Now let's get to work on Round 13. I actually saw this at the festival when you produced it originally. It's got amazing potential so there isn't anything really huge that we have to do. Musically there are only three big issues that I can think of, and that just deals with flow and whatnot. But we are going to need to look at the book. I don't want to pressure you and I understand that this is very special to you. I'm honestly just trying to help it. Just give me a second, I have to go to my office to get something but I will meet you in the big practice room with the Steinway in about ten minutes" Giving him no chance to rebut or to further insult her, she left the conference room, taking the elevator down by herself.

 

[allonblack]

I began wondering if she would be a permanent fixture in the company since she was pretty much useless to Broadway now. I felt sympathy for her knowing they would have no use for her since she couldn't keep up with the pace of the musicals there.

While I waited for her I sat at the piano playing "We've only just begun." I heard footsteps behind me and stopped playing. "I love that song and I think it fits since you're new here. I'm big on music that applies to situations, you'll see the songs for Round 13 are very scene themed." I stood up and used my shirt to wipe some fingerprint smudges from the piano until I could see my reflection in it.

"If you find more than three issues that you want to work on, I'm open to it. I know what it's like to be back in small town theater after a stint on Broadway. I don't want you to think I'm using you but if we take a lot of chances on our productions this year and grab some attention, we can get our names in the papers and maybe someday we'll both be back on Broadway."

 

[ReleaseMe]

Ella smiled somewhat wistfully at James. "Hopefully, but if not, we still need to work on this. We have some edits to do on the second act. The first has issues to, but once we edit some of the music we'll be in pretty good shape." She sits down at the piano and begins to play some of his music. It sounds fine, but isn't really anything special. The chorus sound somewhat disjointed, as if it is trying to be more sophisticated than it is. She finishes the song.

"See, that doesn't sound too bad with just the piano, but it's missing something." She took out her copy of the script and thumbed through it, finding the point where the song comes in, where the leading man faces the possibility of his woman walking out on him. "See, this is a very very emotional point in the story. It is the only time where the leading man is even likeable, which might actually work, but his change of heart has to come across in a bigger way. He has to realize that he has to compromise to keep his life together. It can't just be his way anymore. So I was thinking, with keeping the general meoldy and most of the lyrics we changed it to something like this..." She begins to play again, obviously from either memory or improvisation. It's the same tune, but much more expansive and haunting. The music itself is enough to tell the story of the character now and hardly needs the lyrics. In reality, there have been few changes made. The original themes are still present, but are now more exposed and developed.

"Now I don't know about you, but that seems to fit the scene and the situation a little bit more." Ella begins feverishly writing in notes on the music, feeling something akin to a pro-footbal player who is 'in the zone'. It isn't about ego or attraction anymore. It's about something bigger.

"Now, with what I just added some of the words have to change, but that isn't any more difficult than a trip to a thesaurus..." She plays the revised piece again with passion and enthusiasm. She is hardly even aware of him as she plays, the music just flowing out of her as if woman and instrument were one and the same.

 

[allonblack]

I wanted to make sure Ella could operate with no distractions so I hovered over her shoulder, then paced around, and finally sat down beside her as she played the song. Nothing phased her which was good. I watched her long slender fingers dance across the keys, her eyes never leaving the sheet music.

Ella's suggestion for the new music was bearable. It didn't seem to take away much of what I had written and truth be told I never cared much for my songs anyways but felt they were obligatory to keep the crowd awake. She paused and played the entire piece again. I nodded along but remained stoned faced. Suddenly I felt like a fish out of water. I had been talking down to the cast for years just to satisfy my own ego and now I was sitting next to someone that much to my displeasure knew more than I could ever hope to know about musical theater.

Not ready to hand out too much praise yet I finally spoke, "That sounds good Ella. You'll notice most of the solos are short, I've just never been a big fan of music or lyrics that try to overtake the whole song. I would prefer if no solo exceeded twenty seconds. By the way I was in Branson last year and there was an Emily Jacobs that was musical director for a few shows, is she any relation to you?" I was never very good at small talk but since the kiss I couldn't focus on anything but her.