Spend a Two-Show Day with Kelly Chaplin Martin at Carousel
With friends in town, my husband Chad runs out to get breakfast for us, and we relax watching The Devil Wears Prada!
Hot water with lemon before I start warming up. I love to drink hot water with lemon every day. It helps me stay in good voice, and flushes toxins from my system.
I’m singing in a cabaret tomorrow night at Actor’s Express, another theatre in Atlanta where I worked earlier this year, so I go over my music for that event.
Hair curled! Based on the timestamps, it looks like this takes me about 7 minutes!
Waiting on carpool to arrive, I admire signs of spring on our front porch!
Our Dressing Room today is the Hawthorne conference room at the Inn at Serenbe. Because Serenbe Playhouse does site specific performances, the locations for the theatre change with each production, so there’s no brick and mortar facilities for the playhouse. Luckily, the Inn at Serenbe is extremely accommodating, and always has space for us to use!
Headed to the set, I find Edward McCrary (Billy) and Matt Lewis (Bascombe) doing their Mic Checks! I’m always amazed at how Serenbe Playhouse is able to design and execute sound outside. The weather elements play such a huge part in outdoor theatre, so it’s very impressive to me how they’re able to make that happen!
This is the owner of Big Round Wheel amusements who provide our ferris wheel and Carousel, Darren and his son Tommy. They have become a part of the Serenbe family!
Before today’s show, we had a naming ceremony, where Edward McCrary (Billy) and I got to officially name the horses on the Big Round Wheel Carousel. Edward and I named them during rehearsals, and Darren thought officially naming them with our Carousel given names would be a great way to commemorate this experience.
Julie’s horse- Napoleon!
Post naming ceremony with Darren and Edward.
Headed back to the dressing room, I do a quick props check! I use the blue coffee cup, biscuit and tray in Act 1, and the white coffee cup in Act 2. We’re good to go!
Pre makeup selfie!
Post makeup selfie!
Fight call! Our fight captain Matt Lewis, who also plays Mr. Bascombe, and Ally Duncan, who plays Nettie. We run the moment in Act 2 where Julie finds a knife in Billy’s pocket, and the situation gets a little violent between them, so Nettie intervenes. This is the first show where I’ve had a fight call, which initially made me a little nervous. But I quickly learned It’s just like dance choreography, and it’s so important to trust your fellow actors!
Kelly Chaplin Martin
A quick picture of the Snow children with Jarrad. They serve as townspeople in the prologue, and come back on as Carrie and Enoch’s kids during the ballet. Jarrad is incredibly patient, and they are all so talented and well-behaved.
Edward (Billy) and I make the 5 minute walk to the site together every show, so we’re on our way!
Since we’re outside, this is our backstage. We set up chairs behind the game truck to not be seen by the audience, so when we only have a quick break, this is where we go. I bring a waterproof bag with all the essentials- hairspray, tissues, mints, water, mic tape, bobby pins and a blanket so that I can be prepared for anything! room.
Our stage manager Christa Arzon calls places!
After my first scene, I do a quick costume change, assisted by Lala Cochran who plays Mrs. Mullin, the Starkeeper and Dr. Seldon.
With a sunny 70 degree day, the cast gets some quality Vitamin D during downtime. Pictured here is Brittney Ellis who plays Louise.
And some of the cast hides from the sun under the cover of the game truck!
Lala Cochran is ready for the sun and the show!
My view backstage- can you even?!?
We’re through intermission and the first scene in Act 2, so it’s time for me to make my costume and hair change to show 15 years have passed. I’ve got my coffee cup for my upcoming scene with Carrie.
A quick picture of our incredible orchestra, led by Music Director Chris Brent Davis. CBD is just amazing, and I love working with him. I wish this photo could capture how beautiful they sound!
My mom also attended the matinee! She loved the show.
A sweet post-show present from my mom. A beautiful card and amazing smelling candle!
Dinner break! We’re headed to the Hil at Serenbe, which is my favorite restaurant on property. They have delicious food, and since it’s on property, it’s only a short commute from the site, so we get plenty of time to relax and recharge.
I ran into our choreographer Bubba Carr at dinner! Bubba’s choreography is breathtaking. His work on this show is my favorite, and I love watching what he’s created. We first worked together in 2014 on Oklahoma! at Serenbe Playhouse, and since then, we’ve worked together on 3 more shows.
Dinner arrives! Jess (Carrie) and I share a vegetable plate and margherita pizza.
Driving back to the site and loving the view. Serenbe is just so beautiful.
After hair and makeup touchups, getting into mics and costumes, we’re ready for our second show! The sky always looks so peaceful in the evenings as we head to the site!
Ready for places with a shot of the bustling bar and fair in the background.
A shot of “June is Bustin’ out All Over” in the distance. This show takes my breath away!!
Intermission selfie! Tonight’s audience is AMAZING! Since it’s a Sunday night, we have a ton of industry folks in the audience, and they are always the most engaging to have in the house.
Back home to my husband Chad after a 12 hour day!
After a hot shower and a bedtime snack, I’m ready for sleep. What an incredible day! Thanks Playbill!
