'The Wedding Singer': How to be Six Different People in Under Three Hours

Monday and Tuesday were full run throughs of the show with set pieces, props, costumes, microphones and lights. I thought I would run down the changes for you that I go through during the evening so you get a taste of the chaos and thrill.

The cast and crew are supposed to arrive by 6:30 p.m. but many are there earlier. Unfortunately, with this heat and the fact that school is not in session, the air conditioning in the theatre and school is not at comfortable levels, so the theatre is hot to begin with.

This is not uncommon when we do shows during the summer. Be assured, the air conditioning will be running at full tilt during the performances. It’s supposed to be turned on this morning. I hope it has the juice to conquer this heat.

We are not doing make-up yet, so that is one step I don’t have to go through until tonight. I am fitted with a microphone by our sound guru, Patrick Schrock. I have a belt, like an Ace bandage that goes around my waist. The body mic fits in a pocket on the back of the belt. The mic on the right side of my face, put in place with an ear clip then taped to my cheek, the side and back of my neck. Going on is easy, coming off is ouch!

My first costume is for the opening where I am mother of the bride No. 1. Monday, I wore a dark purple, long sleeve, chiffon dress but it was incredibly hot, itchy and just a little bit too tight. It was also difficult to do the dance number in so on Tuesday, I made a quick trip to ValueWorld and found three more dresses that would also work.

I asked my daughter Tally which one she liked and confirmed with the costumer. Susan Pearlman. So on Tuesday, I wore a light tan dress with a bow and rhinestone belt. Much better! Since this is a light colored dress, I decided to go with beige shoes which are, of course, a bit tight but at least they won’t fly off when I dance.

For this number I also donned a blond short wig called “Soccer mom." I also decided to go with contacts while on stage. I usually wear glasses because I can’t see the computer or anything close up with contacts, but it’s better than not being able to see anything at all!

First number over, I head back to the dressing room. The next scene I am in is scene 5 in the woman’s restroom. I play Julia’s mom, Angie. I change into a very smart pants suit and although it is totally '80s, I might just end up wearing it to work. Change to black shoes. Take off the wig and wig cap, unroll my hair and hope it curls nicely. Bobbie pins on the sides to bring it up and off I go.

This scene I actually have a little solo in and get to sing with my daughter Tally who plays Holly. Unfortunately, I tend to forget one line I have in during the song “She’s like Cinderella,” but I’m sure I’ll have it perfect by Friday. This is a very fun scene.

Back to the dressing room until scene 7 at the banquet hall for “Casualty of Love." I have two numbers in which to change, but they are short. This mother of the bride costume is a horrific green top and long skirt with pleats and cut outs. The hair goes back up and a black feather wig goes on. I don’t dance in this number but I do sing. This is a very funny number where Robbie goes back to work after being stood up at his wedding. He has a meltdown and ruins the wedding.

This time I am in scene 10 as a clerk in the mall. I put on my scene 11 costume since I don’t have much time to change, then put on a white top and a red smock. This wig is the most fun and got the biggest laughs from the cast and crew. It’s called "Red Rock U" from costumecraze.com. In this scene, I have a solo in “Not That Kind of Thing." I’m pretty good when I come in the middle of a song, but I start this song and have some problems finding the note to start. I did fine yesterday and feel more confident when the full pit will be playing.

It’s a fun little character. I come onstage bringing a set piece with me and take it with me when I go off. I continue to sing with the chorus off stage and on mic, so I have to be careful not to make extraneous comments since my mic is live.

While in the wings, I take off my shirt and smock revealing a fun black sparkly pant suit with lots of fringe for the "Saturday Night in the City" number. I leave on the red wig because it’s just too much fun.

Ah… Intermission. Ten minutes to grab a drink of water and settle down for Act 2.

I’m not actually on until scene 5, but I’m encouraged to lend my voice off stage during the first number “All About the Green.” The “suits” on stage do a great job, but more voice is always better to fill this auditorium. Scene 5 is my favorite scene. I have a heart-to-heart with Julia as her mom.

Since my daughter is also getting married in February, I see myself in this moment in several months. Of course, I’m sure my daughter will not be having the doubts that Julia is having in this scene. Katy Kujala, who plays Julia, says this is a very emotional scene for her, too. My hair is down again (as Julia’s mom Angie), and I change back into the same pants from the earlier Angie scene, but put on a different top which I keep on for my next two costume changes.

During scene 7 I have a brief appearance as a TWA ticket agent. My hair goes back up in a bun but this time I have a snazzy little hat that I made out of fabric and cardboard. I have a blue pinstripe skirt suit on and a short tied scarf. I printed a TWA name tag on a sticker which I have on my blazer and hat. I need to bring on the TWA sign and stick it on the podium, do my two lines, then walk off. It’s a quicky.

I come on late in scene 8 swapping the blue blazer for a red one, change the scarf to a red, white and blue one, put on a short brown wig and appear as “the fake Nancy Reagan." I don’t have any lines and only sing two "ohhh, ohhhs" in the scene. I leave stage left with Ronnie and the podium and do a very quick costume change back into Julia’s mom. I have a light and flirty lavender dress with an asymmetrical skirt line. Off with the wig, fluff the hair, change the shoes back to beige and get in place for the final number.

We choreographed curtain call last night. It’s quick and to the point, but it’s one of the best parts of being in the cast. We are a team and bow together as one.

It is a lot of work, but it is really fun to be part of the show. Many of the actors play different characters throughout the show and even those who are the same throughout the production have numerous quick changes. It is a combined effort to put on a show. Please come and enjoy an evening of light entertainment in a comfortably cool setting. 

Dexter Community Players will present The Wedding Singer Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Dexter Center for the Performing Arts in . Advanced tickets are available at www.DexterCommunityPlayers.com and at the Dexter Pharmacy on Baker Road. Tickets are $12 each and at the door for $15. Advanced ticket sales end 24 hours before performances.