Enduring Hell Week

What is it about performing in an opera that makes me hungry?  Some of the best food I've had in my life was late at night after an opera production.  I don't really think it was the food per se but my appetite.  Before performance I usually don't feel like eating very much.  A full stomach (even without one that has been surgically decreased) does not work well with singing in an opera.  Usually I have something in the dressing room to nibble on.  So far this week I've brought a nice naval orange and some Glucerna Snack Bars with me each night of rehearsal.

 Thursday morning was our early day.  We have a ten a.m. dress rehearsal with an audience of middle and high school students.  Since we were up till 10:30 p.m. the night before doing our first dress rehearsal I did not wake early enough to do much for breakfast.  I had a Pure Protein Shake in the car on the way to the theater.  I was late for the 8:30 call but I was ready when the curtain went up.  After the performance notes following the show I was ready for meat.  I stopped at McD's for a regular cheeseburger.  Just the burger.  No diet Coke or fries.  OK I ate one of my son's fries.  Only one.

I took a nice nap in the afternoon.  When I got up at dinnertime I had a reasonable dinner but I had the munchies all night.  I think it is because I'm just really tired and if I had any sense I'd just go back to bed.  Tomorrow night is the first performance for the paying audience.  Opera is more physical than I expected.  It is in our company anyway.  We do a lot of running around while we are singing..  At least I'm in much better shape than I used to be.

Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan