By Michelle Gao

Gargoyle assistant editor

Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2007, The OG, features

[Note: Junior Michelle Gao is a cast member of Uni High's spring musical, Cole Porter's “Anything Goes.” For the rest of this week she'll give us a firsthand look at what goes on behind the scenes as cast and crew work to put on the best show they can. Click here for Sunday's entry, here for Monday's, and here for Tuesday's.]

CAST SHIRT DAY seems to have been more successful than either Tie Day (Monday) or Black Day (Tuesday) were. The majority of the cast, and even a few members of the pit orchestra, have worn their shirts today. And it's not a bad-looking shirt, either.

I am sad to say that exhaustion has taken hold of me and stubbornly refuses to let go. It's unfortunate. I was doing the whole dozing-off-and-then-having-a-friend-slap-me-to-stay-awake thing in first-hour history class. I did doze off in French.

But rehearsal last night was really, truly, unbelievably fun …

4 p.m. — I join a group of people at Antonio's for dinner. We discover that yes, it is possible to make eye contact through mirrors, and that I am the slowest eater in existence. They don't let me finish my second piece of pizza, and make me get a box instead.

4:30 p.m. — We walk to Walgreens, because “that's where all the cool kids go.” We buy various packs of candy, and Lauren Piester buys a small carton of strawberry sorbet. As we leave, we see more cast members go in. Walgreens is tradition.

5 p.m. — We get to school, ride the elevator up to the South Attic, and are swept into a state of panic. We learn that yes, we will be doing hair and makeup, and that yes, boys are hopeless in both cases. Other people are frantically trying on costumes.

I proceed to begin eating my second piece of pizza.

5:15 p.m. — The four Angels (Purity: Anna Cangellaris, Chastity: Me!, Charity: Maria Gao, and Virtue: Emily Kamm) are told that for the musical number “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” we will be wearing long black dresses. It is our biggest dance. We are all aghast.

We don't get to practice in them because they are all ill-fitting or torn in some way, and they are taken away to be fixed.

5:30 p.m. — Alex Cahill (Moonface Martin) says, “Michelle, can you do my hair?”

“How do you want it?”

“Slicked back. Like in ‘You Can't Take It With You' [the fall play].”

I groan. Because Alex's hair does not behave no matter what you do to it. And we always have to use at least three entire palmfuls of hair gel every night. I know because I did it for the fall play, too.

“Well, I'm busy right now, so … go find me a comb. And the gel. And go fill a spray-thingie-ma-jig with water.”

He leaves.

5:35 p.m. — Jackie Hedeman (Evangeline Harcourt) says, “Michelle, will you do my hair?”

I bite my lip. Because I would love to do Jackie's hair. I did her hair, too, in “You Can't Take It With You,” and we had fun times. More importantly, I also did Hannah Lake-Rayburn's hair, which is the style that Jackie needs for this show. “Yes,” I say. “But I have to do Alex's first. Could you go start finding bobby pins?”

She leaves.

5:40 p.m. — All around me, people are getting ready. I have no idea what to do. I put the remaining half of my piece of pizza back in its box and get my character shoes on. I help move various things.

Jackie sits down in the chair in front of the makeup mirror, and I sigh. I love doing Jackie's hair. Through trial and error, I remember how I did Hannah's hair in the fall play, and I twist Jackie's hair into the same style. After at least three dozen bobby pins and a lot of hairspray, her hair is done. I look at it critically. It will look better tomorrow, I decide.

6 p.m. — Finally, I get to Alex, who's been waiting.

We spray his hair with water until it's soaking. We pour sticky globs of gel into my hands, and I rub it into his hair, grimacing. It is, in a word, disgusting.

I comb his hair straight back for at least 10 minutes. It doesn't want to work with me.

“Alex, your hair hates me,” I tell him.

“It hates everyone.”

“Well, fine.”

6:15 p.m. — Alex's hair is finally done, and I curl my sister's hair, which is already pretty wavy from having been in a bun all day.

“Maria,” I say desperately. “Will you do my hair?”

Like the darling sister that she is sometimes, she didn't whine or fuss. “OK,” she said, and plugged the curling iron in.

6:50 p.m. — My hair is finally curled. I throw on some makeup and change into my first costume, a bold paisley dress with butt ruffles.

“Are we ready to start?” director Barbara Ridenour calls as she walks through the South Attic.

We are.

7 p.m. — We start to run the show again. It is smoother, tonight. Anna and I do mad dancing backstage. Being completely in costume and makeup onstage with the lights in your eyes is an incredible feeling. We're so much closer.

Luke Chiang and Martin Granick are in new Chinese robes. They are hilarious.

Everyone still laughs when Sam Klein has shaving cream flung onto his face.

The costume changes are smoother.

Of course, half the costumes are also missing. Some people miss their cues. There are still a few pauses between lines.

But a good show isn't an unattainable dream anymore. It's right there.

9:15 p.m. — Notes from Mrs. Ridenour. There are far fewer than there were the previous night. All the girls cram into the costume room to change …

It hit me as I was writing this that we only have one rehearsal left. Tomorrow is opening night.

OPENING NIGHT.

Dear God.

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— Gargoyle countdown: Time to put everything together

— Gargoyle photo slideshow: Getting ready for “Anything Goes”

— Gargoyle coverage: Spring musical cast members selected, rehearsals begin

— Gargoyle coverage: Auditions for spring musical to be held Monday, Tuesday

— StageAgent.com: Overview of “Anything Goes”

— Internet Broadway Database: Original Broadway run (420 performances) of “Anything Goes”