A New Role For Me...and Minerva

[childminerva]

I put this in this thread to announce my good news...
Okay-I auditioned for a role in "The Jungle Book" at the local children's theater (ages 8-18) and was cast as Bagheera. In this version of the play, the animals are based on the personalities of the people at Kipling's boarding school.

Bagheera (the panther who becomes one of Mowglie's protectors/mentors) is based upon the school's chaplain (minister). The director decided that both the chaplain and the panther would be changed to female roles so I could have the part.

Reasons why this is all really weird/awesome:
1). My dad is a military chaplain.
2). Mowglie means "little frog" which I explain in one of my lines-this is my baby cousin's nickname I gave him after watching this play while visiting him in PA.
3). I was trying to think about my character and I thought about good female mentoring roles I could study, guess who I thought of...Minerva.
4). Baloo, the bear who is the other mentor/protector, is rather bumbling and funny, and reminds me of Albus. Esp. since he wants to make life easy for the boy and Bagheera has to be the tough love parent. Also, he is based on a caring English teacher.
Panther=tabby, Baloo/teacher=Albus, Bagheera/chaplain=Minerva, Mowglie/Kipling=Harry...

So...this may not be too exciting to any of you, but I had a huge "Aha!" moment when I thought of all of this.

[osusprinks]

That's actually really cool. I never would have thought of that!

Congratulations on getting a part! I love the stage, on and back. Have you been in productions before?

[childminerva]

Yes, my high school had a play festival that I was in twice. Before that I was in a Neil Simon play, "Fools", then the "The Hobbit", "My Son is Crazy But Promising" and my favorite, "Arscenic and Old Lace" which I acted in and and helped produce.

Also, for "The Jungle Book", I have to have an English accent...I'm, totally excited!

[osusprinks]

That is so cool! Congratulations again!

[EloquentPhoenix]

Congratulations!

Oooh an english accent! Promise me you won't make it too posh, we don't all speak like the Queen I swear!

[alison]

Congratulations! That sounds like so much fun.

[crystalpheonixeyes]

Congrats! I just read this.... I am soo Happy for you! I hope you have an amazing time.

[childminerva]

Thanks guys...I just came from rehearsal. As the chaplain I get to do some boxing moves and slap the headmaster (one of the wolves) on the stomach as I leave the room. Then as the panther I slap Baloo (Albus wannabe!) on the stomach too! I also get to leap down from a big rock to threaten the jackal, which is just plain fun.

[nemi]

Wow, congrats! That's fantastic. I never would have connected Harry Potter with The Jungle Book. The rehearsal sounds fun ^^

[childminerva]

grrrrrr...last night at rehearsal it was decided that it would be too unbelievable for me to be a female chaplain in the late 1800's England, so I'm now a nun. Sister Martha. blech
I have nothing against nuns (I mean, remember Maggie in Sister Act?) but the first performance is less than a month away and I have to change my whole outlook on this character...not to mention the fact that I forgot my purse (I laid it down to look at the nun costume then didin't pick it up before I left).
So, altogether, not a good night...but Friday I'm going to see My Fair Lady on stage, so that should make it all better!