People often wonder what an actor does the night before her Chicago theatre debut. I’m sure the rituals vary from actor to actor but the commonality probably is the fear factor. Fear of flubbing your lines. Fear of no one coming to the show. Fear of making a complete fool of yourself by completely committing to the role.
Grace was a bundle of nerves from the moment I picked her up from dress rehearsal. She wanted her mommy! And what actor wouldn’t. I’m sure Meryl Streep gets that way before an opening. She tried calling her mom but it went to voicemail.
I had a calming idea and booked us mani-pedis at my favorite nail salon, TG Nails. Even if you’re falling apart on the inside, you can always get it together on the outside and look pretty. Grace hadn’t had a pedicure or at least not like this salon’s style of pampering. The chair has a massage component. As your feet are soaked and rubbed, a roller works your back and neck to get the kinks out. She was a happy, giggling little gal. I opted for OPI Mustang orange: “The Lady is Queen” on my toes and a lighter orange on my fingers. Grace went all out! She picked bright purple for her toes and a blue base for her fingers with a red ‘cracked‘ top layer. Theatre folk?! It actually looks great on her.
Following our nail indulgence, we ran into a few National Runaway Safeline folks at the open market. They gave Grace a stressball to squeeze to calm her nerves. And we got a cookie to go with the stressball. I know from personal experience cookies have this soothing effect on me. And sometimes dessert before dinner just makes sense.
And where does a new Chicago theatre actor eat on the eve of her production? Of course, some where everyone knows her name. We dined at my place, Wood. Grace met everyone from busser to owner. Our Executive Chef even sent out a special pasta dish for us to sample. He also took Grace on a tour of the kitchen.
Nerves aside, it was a pretty spectacular last night in Chicago for Grace! As I did her laundry, she soaked in a bubble bath listening to the MAMA MIA soundtrack and practicing her ten lines. A star is getting ready to be born!