Curtain Up by Lisa Fiedler

Author:Lisa Fiedler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

“I hope Jane won’t be too upset about not singing ‘Maybe’ in the show,” I said.

“She’ll be okay,” Austin assured me. “And she’ll be great as Wendy.”

Austin went over and sat down at the piano. He plinked out a few notes, then a few more. Then he added chords. It was a melody I’d never heard before, upbeat and very catchy.

“What is that?” I asked. “It’s really good.”

Austin smiled and played the notes again. “Oh, it’s just something I’m working on,” he said. “Just . . . ya know . . . our theme song!”

My eyes went round. “Did you say theme song?”

“Yep!”

“Austin, that is so cool!” I went over and slid beside him on the bench. I’d never even thought of having a theme song, but now I couldn’t imagine not having one. “Play it again.”

He did. If joy had a sound, this would be it. The notes swirled and bounced and tickled the air of the theater like laughter. The song went straight to my heart.

“Let’s hear the lyrics!”

“They aren’t finished yet,” said Austin. “Still a little rough. But I’m working on them.”

I let him play the song through another time. “Austin, we have to use this in the show!”

He beamed. “That’s sort of what I was hoping for. I mean, I compiled the script, but there really isn’t a lot in it that’s mine. I figured this would be the best way for me to put my own stamp on the revue. Like you’re doing with your producing and directing. But I don’t know if I’ll be done in time.”

“Sure you will,” I said breezily. “Look how fast you put together the revue. And you’ve got the music nearly completed.”

“Yes, but I’m thinking there should be some awesome harmonies, and that’ll take a while for the kids to get right. Teaching it to them might take longer than writing.”

“It would be amazing if the cast could sing it during the curtain call.” I turned to frown at the stage. “Speaking of which . . .”

The ceiling above the stage was equipped with the necessary hardware for a simple proscenium-style stage curtain that could go up and down thanks to some pulleys that dangled in the wings. But there was no actual curtain in place. I supposed we could make do without one, but the thought of seeing a real curtain go up on opening night gave me chills.

Maybe Deon could figure out a way to rig up something. I’d have to work on that.

Austin continued to fiddle with the theme song until Susan arrived and showed us her design for the program. “We can have the kids write their bios during the lunch break,” she suggested.

“Good thinking,” I said.

At ten o’clock on the dot the door swung open and all eleven actors rushed in, anxious and excited.

“Where’s the list?” asked Madeline.

Austin pointed to the bulletin board; the kids stormed it like a stampeding herd. “Now I know where the term cattle call comes from,” Austin quipped.

For the

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