Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!

In one of our company’s ultimate efforts to promote our show to the Shanghai-nese (?) public, the greater part of our cast trekked over the Huangpu River and into Pudong yesterday to rehearse, perform, and pre-record two ensemble numbers for the season finale of “My Show,” one of China’s most popular “American Idol-esq” television shows (now in its fourth season if you were counting). Now I know what you’re thinking…the Huangpu River? But seriously; why on Earth are we performing on the three-hour season finale of Chinese-Idol?

Well, in case you have been unsuccessful in accessing our show’s online blog, or perchance I somehow failed to mention the following, a little back-story: the lovely Marsha Yuan, daughter of Martial Artist badass and superstar, Pei Pei Cheng (‘Jade Fox’ from “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon!”), and former top-ten contestant in the aforementioned “My Show,” forfeited her spot in the final leg of the competition to pursue her career as a Broadway star by joining the 42nd Street company. I know. Shh. Just listen:

Now, her show…I’m sorry, “My Show” has been following our show (not in capitals) and Marsha’s excursion into the wonderful world of tap dancing musical theatre, and now, for My Show’s season finale, Marsha will perform with members from our show, showing My Show’s screaming, hand-written-sign-waving audience just what she’s been up to with our show. Whew.

Back to Pudong: we arrive and are shuffled into the television studio, which is no more than a converted, 500-seat theatre with an overzealous set full with neon signs, giant television screens (think forty feet wide), walkways that enclose pits filled with screaming fans (there were none at the time, but I would imagine there would eventually be fans there…who scream), as well as a massive turn table encircled by an under-lit, ten-foot-wide ring of glass…that we were to dance on. Wearing tap shoes.

Well, with a little re-staging and some very tentative treading, we were able to avoid crashing through the glass stage and only dance on the hard floor. Spacing did not matter that much, in fact, considering the two numbers were both performed and recorded in a ten-camera shoot, making it near impossible to NOT get seen by a camera. Not only was I one of four dancing in the middle with Marsha, myself being directly over her right shoulder (camera time!), I was also ‘lucky’ enough (I use this term loosely) to be one of the few to wear an extremely uncomfortable microphone headset that belonged more in RENT or a Britney Spears show (oh Britney) than it did in a 1930’s musical.

When all is said and done, however, Marsha did us proud in usurping our leading man’s solo in “Lullaby of Broadway” for the purposes of this performance, and I believe we did Marsha, her show (My Show), as well as our show justice in showing them what we tappers can do! I can’t wait to see our pre-recorded performance on the live season finale tonight at…oh right…while we’re performing on stage. Anyone got a DVR?