Diary of a Dance Captain

by Mike Hall, Dec 25, 2006

Michelle Kittrell

Didn’t get to see the annual performance of “The Nutcracker” this year?

How about a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to mount a major musical with dancing and singing at its heart?

Actors Equity member Michelle Kittrell is giving visitors to the union’s website a peak behind the curtains in her weekly Diary of a Dance Captain, which moves from preproduction meetings all the way to opening night of the Broadway musical, “Legally Blonde.” A dance captain facilitates communication between the choreographer and director and the cast, presenting and helping other actors with the steps and sometimes leading rehearsals.

(Check out the U.S. Department of Labor’s description of dance and choreography careers.)

Kittrell, who moved to New York City from Atlanta when she was 20, hasn’t exactly tiptoed her way to success: She’s appeared in shows from “Grease” to “Hairspray,” when she first served as a Dance Captain. She again will be Dance Captain for “Legally Blonde,” set to open at the end of April at the Palace Theater.

In her Week One diary entry, Kittrell writes:

The entire company showed up for the first official day of rehearsal on Nov. 27th. What an exciting day! The first thing that the cast did was have a meeting with our Equity representative, Kimberly Rimbold. She informed us of many things, which included information concerning health care, workers’ comp, and the position of Deputy.

Since our first day, we spent every morning doing our jump rope routine. It’s like training for a marathon! I’ve never seen so many people sweating buckets and gasping for air (myself included!)…at some point we are supposed to sing while doing this. I’ll just be happy when I can walk without limping! I’m so impressed with all the actors as they are picking up the staging so quickly.

 Check it out.

It’s Showtime!

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