Page 123 of Take the Lead
Gina grinned so hard her face hurt. This whole thing was like a dream.
After the team took their seats around the table, Gina was surprised when Meli indicated she should sit and join them.
“You’re the first actor we’re auditioning,” Meli told her. “Since you’re playing me, you’re the most important person in the show. Obviously.” She gave her ponytail a flip, and everyone laughed.
Gina just nodded and bit her tongue before she blurted out thatshe hadn’t gotten the part yet. This was the strangest audition she’d ever been to, but if they wanted to act like she was already part of the team, that was fine with her.
The writer explained the basic premise of the story, which would follow Meli’s rise to stardom, starting in the Bronx and ending with her Vegas residency. The music director handed Gina a list of songs. About half were Meli’s greatest hits, and the others were new, written to advance the narrative.
“The theme of the story is finding yourself,” Meli added. “And the cost of fame. It’s… not exactly a traditional happy ending.” She wiggled the bare ring finger on her left hand. “But it’s a universal story. And I’m happy with my life, so I guess it is a happy ending, after all.”
After discussing a few more details with the director about staging and production, the music director finally asked Gina to sing.
“If you have prepared songs, those are fine, but we’d also like to see how you do with some of Meli’s songs.”
He passed her a sheet of paper, and Gina gave a strangled laugh. “Oh, I don’t need the lyrics. I’ve sung this into my hairbrush more times than I can count.”
When Meli beamed, Gina thought she would pass out. Instead, she took her spot, breathed like her vocal coach had taught her, and began to sing. And because it was a Meli song, and Meli wasright there,she did a few dance moves, too.
When she was done, Meli clapped and yelled, “Wepa!”
They had Gina sing some more, and at one point, Meli got up to sing and dance along with her. Gina nearly died.
The choreographer got involved then, and when they asked for Gina’s opinion on the moves, Gina almost wept with excitement. The team was really serious about letting her put her mark on this show.
Dream. Come. True.
After the casting director had Gina do a cold reading from the script, Meli called for a break. One of the assistants brought in water, coffee, and a fruit platter.
Gina sat on the floor to stretch, and Meli came over and dropped down beside her.
“You’re great,” Meli said. “We’re offering you the part. Hector will come over at some point and make it official, but I wanted you to know.”
Excited tremors rumbled beneath Gina’s skin. “Thank you,” she said, giving the words emphasis in a vain effort to express the depth of her feeling. “I mean it. Really. Thank you.”
Meli grinned at her. “This show is going to be a hit. I hope you’re ready.”
“Oh, I’m ready.”
It was finally happening. Everything Gina had worked toward, for so many years. Her career was leveling up, faster and higher than even she, with all her big dreams, had imagined.
And yet, something weighed her down.
Probably exhaustion. She’d hadn’t slept on the overnight flight from Los Angeles, and she’d been going nonstop for days. The excitement would hit her later, after it all sank in.
“How’s your partner?” Meli asked. “FromThe Dance Off.You guys filmed a live show this morning, right? I thought you might bring him with you.”
Just like that, the excitement bubble popped.
There it was. Not exhaustion or stress, but Stone. Missing him was like a lead weight in Gina’s gut.
She fought to keep her tone light when she answered. “He’s heading back to Alaska. His show is still filming.”
Meli nodded like she understood more than Gina was saying, and she leaned in, lowering her voice. “I get it. It’s hard to nurture a relationship in this industry.”
With a rueful smile, Meli gestured toward the team, who spoke animatedly over the script. “They’re debating whether or not to cast four different men as my husbands. Although for your sake, I suggested they cast one guy, and put him in different costumes and wigs. Then you only have to develop chemistry with one person, and the audience can bond with him, too.”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Gina hesitated, then asked, “Is it difficult to put all that out there on the stage? To be open about your love life?”
