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• Bonding with the cast

  Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 9:35PM / Standard Entry

  OK..so, here is the update on what is going on in my world today.  Friday night I ended up going to JZ Club and a whole bunch of the cast were already there.  It ended up being a really fun night because I got to hang out with the cast and start to bond outside of the show.  My friend Sean (from HK) came for a visit as well...so, that just topped off my Friday night. 

  I didn't start rehearsing till Monday morning.  Christine has been helping me with rehearsals..and she is just fabulous!  Such a nice, talented, and beautiful girl.  And for some reason...whenever I find someone nice like her, I'll think of Harry (my little bro)...but, too bad...she's taken!  haha...The rehearsals have been going very well.  I've already finished learning the first number, which is the hardest number in the show....and all I have to do is keep practicing and hopefully..it will be up to tempo before the 5th....my legs are a bit sore and I sweat like crazy..but, it's been a great workout..and for the first time, I'm starting to enjoy tapping!  My feet have blisters...but..there is something about having blisters that makes me satisfied....I feel like I've been really working at it!  If that makes any sense.... It's like...playing the guitar and finding that your fingers tips are growing callouses.  Anyways...I know I'm working hard and I know I'm improving....so..it's all worth it in the end....

  好，現在讓我告訴你我最新的動態…

     星期五晚上當我到了JZ Club，發現幾乎所有[42街]的所有成員都已經在那裡，我們在這裡渡過了一個非常愉快的夜晚，當然能夠和[42街]成員在戲外一起玩，而且正好我香港的一個朋友Sean來上海，反正這都是讓我星期五的夜晚添上色彩…

     我休息了好幾天，一直到星期一的早上才開始排練，是[42街]舞蹈助教Christine幫我練習踢躂舞的，她是一個很捧，很有天賦，很漂亮的女孩子。每當我見到一個好女孩，我常會有私心，希望她會和我的弟弟Harry做朋友，當然我是多餘的，她早就已經有男朋友了，哈哈哈…

  那天我們練得還很不錯，我把開場那段踢躂舞全學會了， 當然我須要加緊不斷的練習，希望在下個月五日，上海首演時我可以趕得上節奏…不過我的腳很酸，而且還留了很多汗，這應該是最佳運動，很難想像我居然開始越來越喜歡踢躂舞了，我還特別興奮我的腳開始生繭了，好像證明了什麼，就像是那些結他手，為他們練得生繭的手指而自豪，我也為自已勤奮練習，不斷進步而自豪吧，所以對我來說，這一切都是值得的…  

  哦，還有我們所有的人在星期一都去一個八十年代的一個酒巴，這裡有些照片跟你分享…

  Oh, and we also all went out to an 80's bar on Monday night...here are some photos...

  

  This is the group of us at the hotel right before leaving for the bar

  

  From left to right.  Kristen (the lead who plays Peggy), Me, Rob (ensemble), Karen (plays Dorothy), and in the back is Paul (plays Julian)

  

  These are some of the other dancers and me.  Top Left is Lanae, me and then Lauren. Then the left bottom is Lani and next to her is Tracie.

  

  This is Felix.  He is a rockin dancer!!!  And I call him my brother because he looks like Harry when he's on stage!  He's such a cutie!

  

  This is Christine, the dance captain, who has been really helping me with the numbers.  She is such a sweet girl!

   

  
  

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• a short update

  Friday, Aug 24, 2007 9:22AM / Standard Entry

   

  Well....for the last 2 nights that I was in Long Gang, I was put into the show.  I think each night got better and better....and I'm getting used to working with this cast.  I got put  into the bows the final night.  And it has all just been such a tremendous experience learning things so quickly and then being thrown onto the stage.  It's quite exciting!  haha...Today I go back to Shanghai and will hopefully start to learn the rest of the routines.  I don't know how much they will give me before opening night on the 5th..but, all I can say is that I'm a hard worker...and I'm going to make sure what they do give me...is PERFECT by show day.....oh, and I got a new camera so I'll try to take more photos with the cast!

  最後兩晚在龍崗，我參加了[42街]的預演，我覺得自已每一晚都在進步，而且我也習慣和這一組合一起工作了， 最後一個晚上他們也讓我參于了和觀眾行禮的行列中，我差不多等於是現買現賣，那兒才學呢，馬上就上台了，說實話我還挺興奮的，哈哈哈…

        今天我回到上海，希望很快可以把整個第一幕舞步練熟了，我不知道自已在上海首演那天可以跳得怎麼樣，但是我可以保證自已會非常賣力，而且一定盡最努力表現得最好…

        我在香港買了架照相機，我會拍多一些[42街]工作照和大家分享…

  
  

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• The REAL 42nd St

  Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 9:09AM / Standard Entry

  Yesterday, I started the day with a rehearsal with Rick (choreographer), Christine (dance captain), and Qu Lin (my personal tap coach).  I had to learn a number called "Lullaby of Broadway".  There were only a few steps...but...then after I had learned that number, I had a stage rehearsal with the cast.  Rick put me in 4 numbers(2 of the numbers I had learned the day before and another one I learned right on stage with the cast)...doing all the spacing and everything...in about 2 hrs. Of course, all the dance steps and blocking...were quite simple...but, I had to remember my spacing, the lyrics, the dances..everything!!!  And last night..we had a full run full dress rehearsal with no stop!  I keep thinking...I'm really the story of 42nd St now!  If any of you have seen 42nd St...it's actually about a girl who goes to NY to pursue her stage dreams.  She gets put into the chorus but after the lead hurts her ankle, she has to learn the leading role part in just a little over 24 hrs.  It was definitely an overwhelming experience..but, extremely exciting.  Today I'm going to learn the "bows" routine and that will be another part for me....and, as we continue to rehearse and get closer to the opening in Shanghai....they are supposed to slowly add more for me.  The main thing is, I feel like they finally gave me a chance to show what I can do.  I think that the choreographer is finally seeing my abilities...the musical director still hasn't seen my best singing qualities because all the songs are too high for my voice...but, hopefully, I'll be able to show him sometime soon. 

  Last night, I got a foot massage with  3 of the other girls.  I'm having a fun time getting to know all of them.  It's also a challenge for me to learn all the names..hahaha...I can already tell that I will be the translator and tour guide for the casts trip to Shanghai...hahaha...maybe it will help me improve my mandarin!

  
  

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• Retarded Side

  Sunday, Aug 19, 2007 9:44AM / Standard Entry

  Ok...so, yesterday was my first tap rehearsal for 42nd St.  The girl that was sent from Beijing to help me learn all of the routines is Qu Lin.  She is a very nice girl and we hit it off the day that she arrived.  So, in the morning Rick ( our choreographer) along with Christine (the dance captain) taught Qu Lin and me the rountine for the first number, "Audition".  We only learned the first half of the routine and I was sweatin like I never sweat before!!!  It was endless dripping!!!  Those of you who really know me, you know that I don't really sweat much.  Anyways...it is a very very tiring routine and I still have the other half of the routine to learn and get up to tempo!!!  The rest of the day Qu Lin helped me with rehearsing what we had learned that day.  I found out that my left side is totally and completely retarded!!!  We must have rehearsed for about 4 hrs!!!  I started to get frustrated with myself so I had to stop.  You know, I've always loved tap.  I've always wanted to learn more...and now I regret all these years of giving up.  But...I know why I've given up in the past...it's because of my retarded left side!!!  So....I have to start really focusing on making my left side strong enough to keep up with my right side!  It's quite frustrating..but, I'm going to try my very best.  I don't know what to expect with the other parts of the show.  It's all up in the air.  I think Rick wants to put me in some of the numbers..but, I fear that my part will be so minor that they don't really even need me up there!!!  It's such a bad situation that I'm in...and I feel so lost in the middle of all of it.  But...the only way I can make the most of it is to remember that I'm getting free tap lessons!  hahaha.....

  On another note, I found a very disturbing comment on my website...  www.marshayuan.com    I haven't actually entered that website since I got this site on alivenotdead...but, today I decided to check it out..and there were actually a few comments in the site.  Someone helped me erase the bad comment but I wanted to share it because I was curious as to why people would write something so negative...

  hello, just wanted to say you suck!!!
  
  you can't sing
  you can't dance
  you look like a cow
  you are a terrible artist!!
  
  it's a shame that there are picture's and films and music where you are a part of in this world today, al gore has to look at you and he then will find the source of the world polution!
  
  hopefully you will stop making songs and programs, the world would be so much better. hahahahahahahhahahahahahahahh
  
  ps if you delete this message you are even a bigger fool!!

  So, normally I would feel very upset about something like this.  But, I guess everyone has their own opinion on things, right?  Hmm...but, I think only very bitter people would find the time in their lives to write something negative about someone they don't even know.  What do you think?

  
  

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• Caught in the Middle

  Friday, Aug 17, 2007 8:59AM / Standard Entry

  Well...this will be my second morning in Long Gang, Shenzhen.  It's more than an hr away from the Shenzhen airport.  I'm here because the cast of "42nd st" is in the middle of their tech rehearsals and they are also going to have 2 rehearsal performances, one on the 21st and one on the 22nd.  I arrived on the 15th in order to make it to their press conference at the Long Gang Cultural Center.  After the press conference a camera crew that I know from "MY SHOW" came to shoot my preparations for the show. 

  I have to admit, I wasn't too happy after the first day of "rehearsals" because it didn't seem like I was going to be doing much for the show.  The last 2 days that I was in Shanghai, I had been taking tap classes in order to prepare for the rehearsals...but, suddenly I was told that I was going to be put into numbers with as little dance as possible.  From the first day, it appeared that I was just going to be put into the show because they "had" to put me in...for promotional reasons... And, I completely understand that they have been in rehearsals for 1 month now..and putting me in means that they are going to have to make changes with the blocking and the number of dancers, etc.  I was already prepared to accept that I was going to be one of the Ensemble members and not a lead role...unfortunately, there was a little bit of a communication problem when I joined the show.  I left "My Show" because I felt that I'd need to put all of my time and effort into "42nd St".  I wanted a chance to show my talents....and judging from the first day, I knew that there would be no way for me to show that. 

  I quickly talked to the people in charge of the show to let them know how I felt.  I know that there is limited time before opening and I just wanted to make sure they knew right away.  Yesterday, I spent a full day at the hotel making phone calls...and waiting to see what the resolution would be.  The thing is, in this scenario, everyone will be hurt if it's not done in the right way.  For "42nd St", if the Chinese public sees that my part is too minor, they will be upset with them for not giving me a bigger part.  For "My Show", they will also be upset because I am supposed to represent them...I left my spot in the competition to commit myself to them.  And of course, for me, I will lose face because I'm representing "My Show" and just because...I will! 

  So, now, they are inviting a special tap teacher to train me during the next few days, while they are in rehearsals.  The "42nd St" team is actually quite busy with rehearsals so they need to invite someone to come especially for me.  They told me that I will be in the opening number...and then, depending on how fast I pick up things, they will see how much they could put me in.  Tap is definitely, not my strongest form of dance...but, I am a very hard worker and I'm determined to let them know that I am much more talented than they think.  I just wanted a chance....and I just wanted some training..I really don't have to be in the show...this is just an experience for me..and if they give me the full experience...then I will be happy even without being in the actual show.  In fact, in my opinion, I think they should just train me in one number so that I can perform that one number for "My Show".  Anyways....we'll see what happens from here.  I think things are still very unclear...and until I know what is going to happen..I won't be able to fully relax and enjoy......

  Don't get me wrong, the people from "42nd St" have been very concerned about my feelings...and I am very thankful to them for listening to my opinion on things.  And I just feel so caught in the middle...because I fully understand the situation I have put them in...and I don't want to mess up the flow of their already made musical...and at the same time...this will really affect my own career.....all I can do is pray....and wait....I just fear that because of the way I have entered into their show...everyone will hate me!  Today I had a very lonely breakfast....and it takes me so long to make friends because I'm too shy.  It's been a long time since I've been amongst a group of English speakers....for some reason it seems so different from making Chinese friends.  They have all been together for a month now...so it will be even harder for me to get to know people....I'm very nervous....some people may find it exciting to meet new people...but, I usually fear it....

  這是我來到深圳龍崗的第二個早上，我們是在離深圳機一小時左右的龍崗，我來這裡是因為"42街"在這兒排練，同時他們將會在21日和22日二天在這兒有二天的總彩排。我是15日趕來參加他們在龍崗會展中心舉行的記者招待會，[我行我Show]還特別派了攝制組跟我，拍攝我進入“42街”的準備工作…

  我一定得承認，第一天參加他們的排練，我並不是感到很愉快，因為我不覺得我真的會在 “42街”裡有什麼作為，其實為了要加入他們的排練，我在上海已經跳了二天的“踢躂舞”，但是，他們現在告訴我，為了宣傳他們不得不把我加在節目裡面，所以他們想讓我意思意思就跳那麼二下…

  我當然非常清楚，他們已經排練了一個月的時間，我這個時候加入，對他們來說是有一定的難度，我知道我當然不可能是主角，最多不過是其中一個群舞…

  然而對我的加入，他們製作和宣傳之間並沒有溝通得很好….當時我覺得我須要把所有的時間和精力放在“42街”的排練上，我希望能夠有一個表現我的才能的機會，所以進了十強之後就離開了[我行我Show]，但是這第一天的排練讓我非常失望，我不認為我會有任何機會去展現自已….

  離開九月五日首演已經沒有多少時間了，所以我必須馬上把我的感受告訴 “42街”的負責人….結果昨天整整一天我都把自已關在我們下塌的酒店房間打電話，希望能夠找到一個很好的方法去處理這件事，不然對那一方面都沒好處的。對於[42街]來說，中國媒体看到他們只是讓我跑龍套一定會很失望，當然對[我行我Show]來說會更感到不高興，因為我是代表他們的…

   [42街]正進入最後沖擊的彩排階段，現在他們能做的是，為我請了一位“踢躂舞”的專家，明天從北京飛來，在以後那幾天當他們在彩排時，那專家就會幫我惡補，他們還是堅持要讓我參加九月五日的首演，當然完全得看我這一段時間能學到多少，他們才能決定我倒底可以表演什麼…

     “踢躂舞”絕對不是我的強項，但是我是一個非常努力的演員，我一定要他們知道我比他們想像之中更有才能…我須要的是機會…我更須要有好的指導，其實我倒並不真的在乎我是否能參加九月五日的首演…就算我沒能參加這次的表演，對我來說，這已經是一個很好的經驗，…

  如果能讓我來決定，我寧可他們只幫我排其中一場舞，我可以帶[42街]舞群，在[我行我Show]總決賽]時表演這個節目…

  好吧，誰也不知道會發生什麼，只有明確了該怎麼做，我才能放鬆下來，享受這學習的過程...

     千萬別誤會了，[42街]的人實際上是非常關心我的感受，我同時也非常感激他們能耐性子聽我的意見，我只是被夾在中間…其實我很能理解，因為我而讓他們照成的困擾，我不想因為我，會把他們已經排好的音樂舞蹈給弄亂了…這樣做也會影響到我的事業….

     我現在只能祈禱…只能默默等待…我想他們都會恨我這樣搞亂他們的節目…

     今天一大早，我很孤獨地吃頓早餐….因為我害羞慢熱的個性，本來就已經很難交到朋友…已經有很長一段時間我沒有和說英語的人接觸了，不知道為什麼我老覺得和中國人交朋友不一樣…似乎更不容易交到朋友…我感覺很緊張…有些人特別興奮能認識新朋友…但是我…

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