Chapter 14: Help Around the Theater

Once I got back to the theater Lin had asked me to change into some clothes to dance in. Lin mentioned that he needed me to be a backup for some of the shows, something about today being the last day for a backup.

"Hurry up," Lin started, "we have things to do and very little time to do it," he finished as I slid on a tank top and leggings. Once dressed, I met up with Lin at the center of the stage. "She lives," he said once he saw me coming up

"I lived before but when Renée woke me up this morning," I paused, "I was a zombie," I finished as Lin smiled right as Daveed walked up

"We all are at one point or another kiddo," he said to which I laughed at, "laughter is the best thing to hear from you, my friend."

Once he finished adding that he hugged me before I turned to Lin, "You called me here," I began. "What is it that Alexander Hamilton needs from me," I asked with a mock curtsy

Lin chuckled, "I need you to be Pippa's next understudy," he answered and I froze in the middle of my curtsy

Soon I looked up at him with my eyes widened, "You're kidding," I said as he smirked while shaking his head. "That's amazing," I exclaimed

"I'm glad that you like it," Lin began as he and Daveed chuckled, "but we have to start getting you ready for it now since Pippa's out with the flu while today's the last day for her understudy. You're the right height, you have the right vocal range and you've had some experience; not much I admit but it's some," he said. "Let's go so you can learn the lines," he added, leading the way to Pippa, Renée, and Jazzy's dressing room which had the understudy in it.

"You must be the second understudy," she asked once Renée pointed us in the right direction. Once I nodded, she started telling me about the part that I would soon be an understudy for. Two hours later I had most of the dialogue memorized and I was heading into the costume room to try on Eliza's dresses. By the time dinner came, I was starving and Renée came to get me as the costumer was looking over the first dress to see how I fit in it

"Everything looks good here," she said, "it seems like you have the same build as Pippa so that helps you."

I smiled and nodded my thanks as Renée approached me to hug me, "Well hello Angelica," I said, hugging her as the customer sighed and left.

"There's my sister," she said with a chuckle as she returned the hug, "get the dress off so we can eat. After dinner we're going to run through some of you numbers before the show," she said and I nodded as she helped me get the dress off

Everyone looked at me with happiness in their eyes and a smile on their face, "Why does everyone look so happy," I asked Renée after we got out of the costume room

She chuckled as we made our way to where dinner was, "Why that's because this would be your first Broadway performance because you'd be performing as an ensemble member as well as Eliza's understudy," she whispered. "They're happy for you and also happy that you didn't squeal in excitement because we like going without a headache during a show."

The dinner was fried chicken, corn and mashed potatoes, once we were done eating the cast all got ready to run the show with me in it. I was told that Andy will show me the choreography for the ensemble tomorrow as I had something going on after I was comfortable with Eliza's part. Soon we started the musical and ran it all the way through as if it was a tech week rehearsal. But as I was able to leave afterward the cast didn't not as they still had the show to do. I finished the musical with tears in my eyes, both stage tears, and real tears because the musical is still full of sadness no matter how many times you listen to it. Before I walked away to take the last dress off, I looked over to Renée

"About that screaming in excitement," I began as she looked in my direction. "That will most likely be in my pillow tonight if my throat is willing to comply," I said and she chuckled as we both changed out of the dresses and I changed back into leggings and the tank top I was wearing before. Apparently, there was a little time for me to learn some choreography before the show and my surprise. Once changed I walked out to meet Andy for the first time, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Andy," I said as I shook his hand

"It's a pleasure to meet you too Rose," he said with a smile after which he started teaching me the choreography that the previous understudy knew. By the time we were done, I was sore from head to toe but I still had one thing to do before I layed in the comforts of my bed.

"See you later Andy," I said before heading downstairs from the practice room to head back to my room. Stage managers were all over the place as they got everything ready for the show that was only moments away. Hoping that the cast had enough time to rest their vocal cords from our rehearsal I stepped into my room to see someone in it. "Good evening ma'am," I began, "is there anything I can help you with since you were in my room?"

She wore a black shirt, black jeans, and a black Hamilton hat that was pulled over her eyes so I couldn't see who it was. She turned around and grinned as I noticed her blonde hair was in a ponytail that was threaded through the loop on her hat. "I'm only here by Lin's invitation," she said as I realized that she looked like she was part of the crew. "I am still amazed at how well you can sing," she added before removing the hat to show someone that I wasn't expecting to see here.