Topic: Raising The Curtain

Mataya

Date: 2010-08-15 06:35 EST
There are few things more ridiculous looking than an attractive woman in a suit and heels, walking around a construction site in a bright blue hard hat. But what the hell, Mataya didn't care what she looked like. She only cared how well the renovation of her newly acquired theatre was coming.

When she'd bought the place, not more than two weeks ago, it had been an abandoned mansion house, and only an enthusiastic leap of imagination could have brought the word theatre to mind when looking it over. Since then, however, she had supervised the gutting of two thirds of the building, and the slow construction of the bones of a theatre.

Now, standing on what would be the stage and looking around, it was obvious to anyone what the structure was intended to be. Looking up brought into view balconies that were clearly going to be two circles and the gods; to either side, the construction of the boxes was almost done. Behind her, in the backstage area, the men and women working on the building had begun to partition parts of the basement into dressing rooms.

'Taya hugged herself as she looked around, unable to keep the delighted smile off her face. They were well on schedule, and within another couple of weeks, she would be able to watch the painters and decorators move in to transform the shell of her theatre into something she would be proud to perform in.

In the last third of the building, work was proceeding faster than she had expected. Already she had four public restrooms outfitted, and the upstairs bar and downstairs cafe bar were shaping up nicely. The attic rehearsal rooms would be the last to be outfitted, but it would not be long before she could use them for her choreography needs.

All that remained now was for her to find someone who could landscape the large garden into a public park, and set out a car and carriage park for her, and she didn't think that would be too difficult to arrange. Then, with any luck, a date for the theatre's grand opening could be set, and the students of the Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studio would perform for the first time before a paying audience.

As she left, 'Taya couldn't help a small squeal of delight. She could hardly wait until it was time to raise the curtain.

Mataya

Date: 2010-09-03 01:00 EST
The theatre was looking more and more like a theatre with every day that passed. In fact, most of the structural work was done. 'Taya had an auditorium, a cafe bar on the ground floor, a bar on the first floor, fully functioning - if still unfinished - bathrooms, dressing rooms, a stage complete with pit of a band or orchestra, a backstage area ....even rehearsal rooms set aside in the attic space above the auditorium.

Now, as she walked through the building, she could more easily imagine what was there, what was going to happen. She could see, in her mind's eye, the dances she was slowly choreographing with her groups come to life on the stage, with lighting and live music, and a captive audience. Outside, she had a carriage and car park set up, and the landscapers were doing marvellous things with the big park that curved around the back of the mansion house - theatre, she corrected herself.

The advertisements were up for staff - bar and cafe staff, chefs, ushers, and backstage crew - and she was slowly coming to terms with the fact that now she was not only a manager, but an owner and a producer, a choreographer and a director. Every role she had played in the theatre and on screen back at home, every backstage piece of expertise she had added to her resume was coming to the fore to help her keep track of everything that was going on.

In the next week, the seats would be delivered for the auditorium and set up, and the lighting and sound rigs would go up. The painters and decorators were in, and once they were done, she could start setting up her theatre to recieve performers and audiences. It was going to be fantastic, she promised herself. Not long to go before it truly was time to raise the curtain.

Mataya

Date: 2010-09-13 07:17 EST
Remember what Mataya's opinion of heels on rubble was? Well, it turned out heels on thick soft carpet weren't much easier, especially when you couldn't see where you were going.

The theatre finally looked like a theatre, and currently there was a small army of cleaners putting the finishing touches to the cafe, the bar, the foyer, the offices, the auditorium, the bathrooms, the boxes, the stage, the backstage, the dressing rooms, and the rehearsal rooms. Supplies were coming in from various mercantile businesses, and the staff of the cafe were already in place.

In just one day, the cafe would be open, and the large landscaped garden would have those huge wire fences torn down to allow public access to them. The gubernatorial office in charge of commisioning buildings was sending a representative along by the end of the week to look over the theatre and make certain it conformed to all the health and safety regulations for an intended performance space.

'Taya grimaced as she set down the huge box obscuring her vision to rest precariously on the edge of Row E in the stalls. She'd spent the last week trying to come up with a name, and as yet, only two really appealed to her. She refused to name the theatre after herself, thinking it the height of egotism, and so within a matter of days, if all went well, she would be standing in a theatre named either the Dionysia or the Shanachie.

Incidentally, they were both words connecting with performing - Dionysus was the god of theatre in Greek mythology on Earth, and in old Irish Gaelic, a shanachie was the bard or storyteller of a clan.

There was still plenty to do, however. She needed the music from Riley and Wade in order to get the sound fellas up to speed with the state-of-the-art system that had been installed, as well as sneak in on a couple of her fellow dance teachers' rehearsals so she could design the lighting for each performance.

Not to mention the whole business of advertising the showcase. Families and friends were, of course, already aware, since the students of the Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studio rarely talked about anything else at present. But the rest of the city had to be made aware, so that the showcase, the launch of Riley's charity - and co-incidentally, the theatre's opening night - all had at least a chance of being a success.

What happened afterward, 'Taya was leaving firmly in the hands of a higher power.

Mataya

Date: 2010-09-15 13:52 EST
"As you can see, Ms Bizegar, the theatre is well on its way to being ready for opening," Mataya was saying as she settled down at one of the cafe tables with the representative from the Governor's Office. "We've worked hard to keep within the guidelines laid out for the safety of the building once it is in regular use."

Ms Hagar Bizegar, a middle-aged appearing woman with more than her fair share of grey shining through the black of her hair, pursed her lips as she, too, sat down, making yet another note on her clipboard. Around them, the newly opened cafe/bar was doing a hearteningly brisk breakfast business.

"As I understand it, Miss De Luca, the building was originally a mansion," she said in her rather severe tone, looking over the top of her half-moon spectacles at the younger woman sitting opposite. She lifted a sheet from the top of her clipboard, perusing the notes she had already made.

"Uh, yes, it was." Mataya swallowed; official people always made her nervous. "According to my information, it was built around one hundred and twenty years ago, by a gentleman by the name of Terens Docquey, and was intended to be a family home. The sources in the library and the gubernatorial offices weren't forthcoming on why it wasn't occupied above ten years before being abandoned, nor on why it has remained empty ever since."

"You have not heard the story, then?" Ms Bizegar lifted her eyes to Mataya, looking suddenly nothing so much as a woman about to divulge a particularly juicy bit of gossip.

Intrigued, 'Taya shook her head, unconsciously leaning forward. "No, I hadn't heard any rumours of any sort."

"Well," Ms Bizegar leaned forward as well, laying her clipboard down, her matronly figure squeezed against the table, "they do say that Terens Docquey's wife, Hortense, was a poor widow when he married her, that her first husband had squandered her fortune and left her with nothing after his death. She was in a terrible spot when she met Terens, this beautiful, young widow, and he by all accounts fell head over heels for her. Married her within a month of their meeting, so it is said, and commissioned the building of this place to give her a home of her own. The only thing she brought with her was an antique necklace and earrings which had been worn by her mother, her grandmother, and herself on their wedding days."

'Taya's eyes were wide as she listened. She'd not come across anything like this when she had been researching the building.

"They lived happily, it seemed, for almost a decade," the representative continued in a hushed voice, thoroughly enjoying her role as storyteller. "Then one day, Terens stumbled across the jewellery set, and he is said to have flown into a wild rage, thinking the beautiful pieces to be a gift from his wife's lover. No one knows what happened that night, but Hortense Docquey was never seen again, nor was her mother's jewellery. The house was shut up, and Terens left the city to become a hermit."

She sat back, looking rather pleased with herself. 'Taya blinked slowly, absorbing everything she had been told before sitting back herself.

"So ....this place is supposed to be haunted?" she asked, and had to smother a giggle at the enthusiastic nod that came in reply. Composing herself, she leaned forward, speaking in a gentle tone. "Ms Bizegar, I have been in and out of this building everyday since building work began, and I can catagorically state that I have seen nothing out of the ordinary. Neither have any of the builders or decorators; I'm sure they would have told me."

Ms Bizegar looked disappointed, and her brusque, business-like manner was resumed.

"Well, Miss De Luca, I am confident to pass this building as conforming to all extant rules and guidelines pertaining to the health and safety legislation covering public buildings," she said sharply, scribbling on her clipboard. "Your certificate will be ready on Monday morning; please feel free to stop by and collect it during office hours."

She rose to her feet. 'Taya rose quickly with her, a bright smile on her face as she shook the stern woman's hand.

"And may I wish you every ounce of luck and good fortune in the running and success of The Shanachie Theatre," Mz Bizegar added as their hands parted.

"Thank you, Ms Bizegar, I appreciate it," Mataya smiled happily, a huge worry relieved from her mind with the culmination of this conversation. "Please do feel free to stop by and check on us anytime. I'm sure the ghosts will appreciate it."

Ms Bizegar did not laugh, nor even raise a smile for 'Taya's joke. She simply nodded, and walked out through the cafe and into the wide gardens beyond. 'Taya watched her go, rolling her eyes as she smoothed a hand down her dress.

"Ghosties and ghoulies," she muttered laughingly. "Anyone would think she wanted me to fail."

Mataya

Date: 2010-09-19 15:03 EST
No rest for the whiney. That's what her mother used to say to her when she complained about having way too much to do. Mind you, juggling school, dance, music, and acting lessons with her social life when she was teenager was nothing in comparison to what Mataya was juggling now.

Her to-do list was getting longer, not shorter, too. There was the everyday stuff - managing the Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studio, booking rehearsal time for the up and coming showcase for the jazz, ballet, and hip hop students, and organising the first competition for the ballroom students. On top of that came the organisational aspect of getting a theatre ready to open. She was pretty much up to complement on house staff, which was a blessed relief, frankly. Her theatre manager, Charles Nbayu, was proving to be a joy to work with. She had no fear of the theatre failing through being badly run.

The ghost story she'd been told should have gone completely out of her mind, but for the sudden realisation that there was an awful lot that she didn't know about her theatre. For example, apparently the sonic tests on the walls had located what seemed to be a bricked in niche at the back of the fireplace in the attic rehearsal room, and since it had been discovered, not one of the army of cleaners would go up there alone.

They had weird stories about sighing noises, and seeing people out of the corner of their eyes when no one was there. 'Taya was absolutely certain they'd gotten wind of the conversation she'd had with Ms Bizegar and were deliberately seeing how far they could push their employer.

The real headaches were going to begin this coming week. She needed to audition and select a director, a musical director, a fifteen-piece chamber group to provide live music, as well as a company to man the stage. Which meant singers, dancers, and actors. The organisation was giving her the mother of all migraines.

Still, she should have the posters up by tonight, and then hopefully she'd get time to ....oh, have a bath, maybe , or actually spend some quality time with her partner. Who knows, maybe even get more than a couple of hours of a social life in"

But until then, she had to get the ball rolling. Groaning, 'Taya dragged herself back to the present moment and bent over her desk once again. Who'd have thought there was so much work that went into opening a theatre"

Mataya

Date: 2010-09-20 13:32 EST
"Just one question, Miss De Luca. What if no one turns up" We still get paid, right?"

'Taya groaned quietly and turned about to look up at the stage. It was still pretty early in the day, and she had no idea whether anyone was going to turn up for these auditions or not. How humiliating would it be if no one did at all"

She did realise that the people of Rhy'Din were probably very loyal to their Ballet Troupe, and she had no intention of poaching that loyal following. She was just aiming to put a little more variety out there, that was all. But the Ballet Troupe was a big fish, and right now the Shanachie barely even rated as a water boatman. She was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Yes, alright, so the opening performance of the new theatre would be a dance showcase. But it wasn't meant to be in competition with anyone; it was just an opportunity for the students of the Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studios who weren't in the ballroom competitions to show off the skills they'd been acquiring over the months they'd been attending. Who knew" Maybe if representatives of the Ballet Troupe turned up, they'd be able to star spot from Riley's ballet students.

Charles had pointed out that the Ballet Troupe were likely to see the opening of the Shanachie as a threat, which was definitely not something she wanted to hear. Like she needed more stress on top of everything else. Because, of course, if the Ballet Troupe really wanted to get under her skin, all they'd have to do would be to go to the Rhy'Din Post. No journalistic organisation didn't have private detectives, and a trip back to Earth for one of them would uncover all the embarrassments and failures of her career, as well as the highs. And that would be stressful.

Actually, compared with that, the thought of no one turning up to the auditions was rather calming. Hey, if the theatre stayed empty, at least she'd get a chance to catch up on all the paperwork in a quiet environment. Which led her to the question that had just been asked.

She turned back to her companions, sat awkwardly in the middle of the stalls.

"Yes, Ludo, you will get paid, no matter what."

((OOC - Anyone who wants to apply for a place in the Company or the Band is very welcome to do so here.))

Riley ORourke

Date: 2010-09-21 13:43 EST
"Madame Riley?" a tiny voice asked, combined with a tug on her sleeve. Riley turned and looked down into the angelic features of her tiniest dancer, five-year-old Christine Leonardo, a red-haired, green-eyed girl who would look more at home in ghillies than she did in pointe shoes.

"Oui, Mademoiselle Christine?" Along with the correct dance steps and positions, and an appreciation for classical music, Riley taught her students conversational French. "What can I do for you today?" Riley asked Christine, reaching out to smooth her hand down a fiery cascade of silk.

"Me and Chloe-" Christine started.

"Chloe and I," Riley corrected gently.

"Chloe and I were wondering if today was the day we're going to go see the theatre?"

Riley smiled. Their visit to the theatre had been a long anticipated expedition, almost as exciting as the showcase itself. Her ballet students had been talking about nothing else for weeks now " they were eager to be on the stage, look out into the auditorium, sit in the make-up chairs, and run amok through the rehearsal space. "Yes, today is the day we'll be going over to the theatre," Riley assured Christine. There was a sudden explosion of tiny excited voices and Riley's smile transformed into a happy grin; that was one of her favourite sounds.

She glanced around the studio, packed today with six classes worth of students. She'd asked them all to come today for a special session, wanting to take them all at once and to begin rehearsing the pieces she'd selected for them to perform during the Studios' first showcase. They were milling about, still in street clothes, and a buzz of enthusiasm hung in the room, making the air feel electric.

Riley clapped her hands together, gaining the kids' undivided attention in short order. "Well, time to get this show on the road. C'mon, troops. Let's move out." Pairing the littler students up with older ones, she had them all trooping through the city in in the general direction of the Shanachie. Riley felt like a mother duck at the head of a long line of a ridiculously large family.

Soon, the theatre was in view and the kids let loose a barrage of awe-inspired gasps and "Oh, it's so pretty!" and oohs of appreciation. Riley smirked, mentally congratulating 'Taya on a phenomenally dramatic entrance to her theatre; the landscaped park was easily the nicest in the city. She led the kids up through the front doors, and once inside, their voices took on a hushed, reverent whisper. Before leading them into the auditorium itself, she turned and took a quick head-count " good, no one had been left behind.

They slipped into the theatre and Riley spotted Mataya and Charles, Ludo and...what ever the music guy's name was. Riley assumed they were waiting for the auditions to begin. She corralled her students and sent them down one of the side aisles towards the stage and then ushered them all up onto it. It was like herding cats, trying to keep all these children in line. She felt for mothers with more than two kids.

Separating the classes into their three levels " beginners, intermediate, and advanced " she helped the sound and lighting guys test their systems by handing them a CD with the music she'd selected for the ballet section of the showcase and then having the kids run through what they'd learned so far of their choreography.

Whether it was the fact that they were on a stage in a huge auditorium, rather than the single room of the Studios, or the fact that Mataya and the other theatre directors were sitting in the audience, the kids danced harder and better than they had in the six months she'd been teaching them. It filled Riley with a wonderful sense of pride and accomplishment. A few of the girls and one or two of the boys from the advanced class could have attended Julliard, had they been living on Earth. Hell, that was selling them short " they could easily have danced for Bolshoi or even the Paris Opera. Looked like she'd found her leads for the Nutcracker production she wanted to do during Christmas.

After each class had their first fifteen minutes on the stage, she led them all through the wings and backstage, pointing out dressing rooms and prop rooms and such, and then she took them up into the rehearsal space in the attic of the building. A few of the younger girls were uncomfortable during the tour, claiming they felt like something was watching them. Riley was a little shocked " she hadn't mentioned anything to the classes about the conversation she'd had with 'Taya, where 'Taya had told her about the theatre being haunted. Maybe there was something to it after all. She'd have to mention it later.

Hours later, Riley and the kids all trooped back to the Gardens building, exhausted but excited. They'd had a great rehearsal and the kids were looking forward to the showcase even more than before, if that was possible. Riley waited until the last child left and then collapsed to the floor of the Studio, groaning. "God, I'm tired," she informed the room.

Mataya

Date: 2010-09-23 12:37 EST
"Only two more days ....two more days ..."

It was turning into a mantra among the little group who'd been holding the auditions. Even Ludo, who seemed so happy to have his own group of actors to work with for once, was beginning to pale at the thought of another full day in the theatre.

Riley's visit with her girls had done wonders to buck them all up, though, and Wade had promised to visit with his students either today or tomorrow, so they had something else to look forward to. As for 'Taya's students ....well, they'd been getting sneaky peaks right the way through construction. But she was scheduling extra rehearsal time for all the classes.

Back to the auditions, though. She sank down in her seat, flipping through the sheets on her clipboard. They had seven musicians and performers booked in for today, which left them time to fit in any others who turned up at random. But random was good. Random was what Rhy'Din was all about.

Each day they'd been putting down the names of those they would like to have as a part of the company and band - names they all agreed on - and on Friday night, the real arguing would begin. 'Taya had a feeling that Gabriel's ascerbic sense of humor was going to rub her up completely the wrong way for a while. But once that was done, and they had their groups decided on, she'd pay the Saturday courier to deliver the news to the lucky people.

If she lasted that long.

Mataya

Date: 2010-09-25 16:32 EST
Finally, the hell that was a week of auditions was over. The ensuing arguments between herself, Ludo, and Gabriel, were over. Everyone was happy with the decisions made, and looking forward to beginning rehearsals and workshops with the newly formed Shanachie Theatre Company and House Band.

All that was left to do was send out the couriers to each of the lucky performers and musicians, each with that precious letter of acceptance and the enclosed rehearsal schedules.

And then the real hard work would begin.

As well as prepping the theatre for its opening, Mataya found herself caught in the middle of rehearsals for both the showcase that would launch the theatre and display the burgeoning talents of Riley's dance studios, and the preparations for the opening run of the Shanachie. That meant sets, costumes, make up, lights, rehearsing the band ....and she was going to have to find a New York taxi from somewhere.

But for the time being, she was allowed a day or two to relax. At least, she had thought she was going to have a day or two. As it turned out, it's a little difficult to relax when your director and musical director spring a shock on you when you thought everything was sorted.

She looked up from her desk - her desk, in her office, in her theatre - at a knock on the door. Ludo was loitering in the hallway, with Gabriel at his side. Smiling, 'Taya waved them in.

"Come on in, guys. I think you've more than earned the right to walk in unannounced."

Ludo chuckled as he manuvered his bulk into a chair; Gabriel, predictably, did not. He also remained standing, his hands clasped behind his back as he looked around the little space. A little nonplussed, 'Taya sat back, pushing the accounts from her mind. "So what can I do for you, fellas?"

The men exchanged a glance, and Ludo grinned. Even Gabriel's lips thinned into what passed for a smile. 'Taya's eyes narrowed suspiciously as the portly director leaned forward.

"Well, my darling," Ludo began in his fulsome voice, "as you know these auditions have given us a chance to cast Fame, as our first show. Gabriel and I have come to the conclusion that we have a full cast list that can be sent out with the letters of acceptance."

'Taya blinked, confused. "Wait, hang on," she raised a hand to still the enthusiasm. "I thought we were missing a couple of the principles at the moment. You said, you guys said we'd have to go over the company again to cast those."

Gabriel waved a hand dismissively. "With respect, the cast decisions are not yours, Miss De Luca," he pointed out sternly. "They are ours. And we have made those decisions."

"O-kay," 'Taya said slowly, reaching for the tentative cast list beneath the mounds of paperwork on her desk. "So tell me, and I'll add them on. I'm sure Charles can find someone to run off thirty copies for me so I can send them out."

Again, director and musical director looked at one another. Gabriel rolled his eyes and turned away. Ludo bounced forward in his chair, leaning his elbows on his knees.

"Well, we decided upon Eurus Vulturnus for Tyrone Jackson," he told her, watching as she nodded and wrote the name down carefully next to the appropriate character name. "He's perfect for the role, with that build and lightness on his feet. In the right costume, he'll have them swooning in the aisles, darling."

'Taya chuckled, mentally making a note to have someone standing near Ludo with a glass of iced water when it came to the costume fittings. "And the other ....who was it for?"

"Carmen Diaz," Gabriel provided the character name from his pacing by the door.

"Carmen, right." Scanning the character list, 'Taya located the name and looked up expectantly.

Ludo's grin was getting wider. "You, darling."

The pen clattered on the desk top. "Excuse me" Since when was I auditioning?"

"Since we decided you would be perfect for the role," Ludo declared happily.

"But ....But I'm ....that's -"

Gabriel held up a hand to forestall her protests. "There is no argument you can present that will change our collective mind, Miss De Luca," he insisted. "In the course of this week, we have seen you perform all the aspects necessary to play Carmen. You are our choice."

"Of course, you'll have to employ a choreographer - can't have you choreographing everything as well as playing a lead!" Ludo chuckled cheerfully. "There, too, we have your answer."

"Miss Orei'tarel has agreed to employment as the company's choreographer," Gabriel finished for his colleague. "All that is required is your signature on the contract."

Said contract was produced and placed in front of her. 'Taya felt bullrushed. She was utterly gobsmacked. Okay, so she'd joked about skimming the best parts off the company, but she'd never actually meant it. And now she was being forcibly made a part of her own theatre company!

But then ....she smiled faintly. She did miss performing, the intimacy of a stage and auditorium, and this conveniently got her out of the guilt of taking a role she hadn't fought for personally. She was being offered a role she wanted to play. What actor would say no?

The pen scribbled on the contract, making it official. "Fine," she said in a teasingly resentful voice. "On your own heads be it."

Mataya

Date: 2010-10-02 18:50 EST
What was she doing here" It was Saturday, it was a day off, she'd been working on two sets of rehearsals all damn week ....'Taya sighed softly, letting herself into the Shanachie via the stage door. She'd got a call from the cleaners, insisting that they were not going into the attic rehearsal rooms on their own, and could she please come down and sit with them. Apparently they believed that this way they wouldn't be accused of making things up if something happened.

She groaned to herself, climbing the interminably steep steps up to the floor in question. The three cleaners - Jan, Marcus, and Rosie - were waiting for her, offering nervous smiles in return to her admittedly forced smile of greeting. They knew that she would like at least one day where she didn't have to respond to some kind of emergency at the theatre, and that they had managed to make sure that it wasn't today.

"Alright, then," 'Taya waved her hand toward the dance studio. "Sooner we start, the sooner we finish, right?"

"We, miss?" Jan asked in surprise, pushing the door open for them all to enter.

'Taya's smile relaxed. "You don't seriously think I'm going to sit and watch you lot work when I can join in, do you?"

The comment did the trick; the nervous tension hanging around the three dissipated as they chuckled at her wry humour. The lights were flicked on, and there was a moment of eerie displacement as the room lit up, the reflection in the floor length mirrors creepy to anyone not used to such a sight. It was this that had made 'Taya believe that stories about ghosts were just going too far. A mirror was not a ghost, nor was the plumbing.

Cloth in hand, she found herself working beside Marcus, polishing that mirror clean and clear. She did like the three of them, but they were just that little bit too superstitious, even for her. Especially Rosie - there was a lot of praying coming from where she was sweeping the floor, and it was decidedly off-putting.

"Did you see that?"

The sudden exclamation made her turn in surprise, to see Marcus staring in horror at the old fireplace. He'd turned as white as a sheet, trembling as he pointed a shaking finger toward the open hearth.

"Please tell me you saw that," he repeated in a harsh whisper.

"Saw what, Marcus?" 'Taya asked in concern, ignoring the rise in tension of the other two as she focused on her polishing partner. "What did you see?"

He began to back away from her, toward the door, and to her disgust, 'Taya found that Rosie and Jan were joining him. She followed them, frowning in disapproval.

"For goodness' sake, stop moving and answer the question," she ordered, but they didn't stop, not until they were - all three - outside the door, peering in. Hands on her hips, 'Taya squared up to them. "Well?"

Marcus swallowed hard, still pointing toward the fireplace. "She was there," he said, his voice still coarse and shaking as Rosie and Jan huddled on either side of him. "All in black and she, she had her hand on the mantel."

The genuine terror in his voice sent a shiver down 'Taya's spine, but she was not about to give into silliness just because her staff were buying into it so eagerly. She turned and looked at the mantelpiece. There was nothing there.

"She was there, I swear it!" Marcus protested before she could point this out. "I saw her, plain as I see you!"

"Fine." Sighing, 'Taya moved back into the room. "Where was she, exactly?" she asked over her shoulder as she approached the fireplace.

"Just to your right, miss," Marcus called faintly back to her, letting out a moan of distress as she stepped smartly to her right. "And her hand on that carved piece there."

"Like this?"

As soon as 'Taya's hand touched the carved grotesque on the mantel, she felt a shock of cold lance through her. Goosepimples rose on her skin, and she was hard pressed not to back away in startled fear. It's the air-conditioning, you know you haven't had all the kinks worked out yet, she reminded herself as confidently as she could manage.

"Miss, come away, please," Rosie called from the doorway. "Don't disturb her, whoever she is."

"Whoever she is, she needs to learn that this is my theatre now," 'Taya said on the wings of sheer bravado as she examined the carved mantel. Her eyes narrowed as her fingers rubbed over the extended tongue of a gruesome face, and the little piece depressed ever so slightly beneath the pressure. Frowning further, she pressed down hard.

Something shot out from the back of the fireplace, striking her in the shin and knocking her onto her backside. As she yelped and went down, Rosie let out a shriek and ran for it, leaving Jan and Marcus to face their own fears and come rushing across the studio to help their employer.

"Are you alright, miss?" Jan asked her breathlessly, helping the shaken 'Taya to sit up.

Rubbing her abused shinbone, 'Taya nodded absently, staring in shock at the half-brick that now lay on the floor beside her. Something attached to that button on the mantel had forced the heavy stone out of the back of the fireplace. Without consciously realising it, she found herself peering into the brickwork at the back of the piece, creeping closer.

"There's a hole there," she told the other two, crawling right onto the hearth to peer closer. "Get me a torch or something, would you?"

She wasn't surprised when she looked back and found that they had both gone looking for a torch together, leaving her alone with whatever they had decided was lurking in this room. Snorting to herself with amusement, ignoring the throb in her shin, she lifted a hand to trace the roughly square hole in the brickwork. Another chill shot through her, making her shudder, and she drew back for a moment, eyeing the chimney uncertainly.

"Here, miss." A torch was tapped on her shoulder, and she took it with an encouraging smile to Marcus. Jan, it seemed, had refused to come back in.

Flicking the torch on, 'Taya leaned in closer, tilting her head to peer along the beam of light into the little cavity beyond the hole. "There's something there," she said thoughtfully, sighting the dull sheen of something rectangular in the torch light.

Against her better judgement, she inserted her fingers into the hole, and started to feel around, loosening the bricks around it easily. Five in all came free without so much as a tug from her, showering her hands and knees in dusty dry mortar. Coughing, she leaned back to let the cloud dissipate, and almost laughed when the ever-practical Marcus produced his water spray and applied it liberally to the swathe of dust.

Now she could see more clearly, 'Taya peered once more into the hole. There was a carefully constructed niche within, and sitting in it, caked in dust and mortar, was a small wooden box. Reaching in, she lifted it out, blowing and wiping the dust from the top to reveal rosewood inlaid with silver. There was something inside, but there was no key with which to unlock it.

"Leave it be, miss," Marcus advised. "Leave it be and come away. We can brick it up again and no one'll be any the wiser."

'Taya frowned at him, before looking down at the box once more. He might be right. But then again ....he might not.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab51/RhyDinLittleTheatre/RhyDinLittleTheatreCompany/box.jpg

((Links into Diamond, Silver, and Blood, the haunting of Zen Gardens.))

Mataya

Date: 2010-10-09 04:56 EST
No rest for the wicked, so they say. Or should that be no rest for the insanely busy'

Thirteen days to go until the showcase that would open the Shanachie Theatre for business. Which meant that, despite the hectic work schedule during the week of rehearsals for Fame, teaching lessons, hosting the ballroom competitions at the Black Cat Yoga & Dance Studios - not to mention all the paperwork involved in both jobs - Mataya was also having a mass rehearsal on this Saturday for all the dance students from the Studios, to get them used to the theatre and the way the showcase was going to be run.

The sound and lighting guys had very kindly come in for today as well, giving them all a chance to see how the production design was coming along. Add to that the costume department - seven insanely cheerful women of varying ages, who were busy measuring the various dancers be they child or adult and producing costumes that would, no doubt fit them perfectly - and the theatre was alive with noise and life.

Up on the stage, Riley's ballet classes were running through their routines, blocking rather than throwing themselves into the full fervor of the dances. In the stalls, Wade's classes were alternately fighting with and assisting the costume ladies. As for her own classes, Mataya hoped they had stayed put in the dressing rooms to warm up. If not, she was in for a long search of the huge building to round them all up when it came their turn to be poked, prodded, and stuck with pins.

She yawned wearily, rubbing her eyes, ignoring the laughing teasing that came from teenagers and adults alike as they noticed how tired she was. Sleep was not coming easily at the moment; she'd put it down to stress and an overactive imagination keeping her awake. Everything would calm down once the theatre was open and running, she was certain of it.

At least there was one ray of light in her mad schedule. The cleaners - Marcus, Jan, and Rosie - were no longer refusing to go into the attic rooms alone. Apparently they were of the opinion that since she had removed the rosewood box and its contents, whoever it was that had been 'haunting' the place had moved out. She snorted to herself, shaking her head. Haunted ....for goodness' sake.

There was a crackle from the sound system, and she heard a loud laugh from the sound booth. Turning, she raised a brow curiously at the cackling technicians.

"Reckon you should pop down and see what your kids are getting up to, 'Taya," one of them - a stocky fellow named Duri - called to her. "I think they've found the door to the pit."

Groaning, 'Taya closed her eyes, unable to help a chuckle as she heard very clearly from behind her the voice of her star student, Tania, saying, "You know ....I don't think we're supposed to be here."

"Thanks, Duri," she called, waving a hand to the techs as she turned to level a pointed look down into the pit where the majority of her students were standing, looking less than abashed at having been caught. "Warming up get boring, did it, guys?" she asked sweetly.

There was a moment of indecision, and the jazz classes turned and filed back through the door, returning to the dressing rooms to do as they had been told. Laughing, 'Taya moved to the steps up onto the stage, pausing to tell Riley and Wade where she was going before jogging up, and through the curtains to the backstage. Through a sound-proofed door, down the steps, along a corridor, and she came upon her groups, all in various positions that might have been an attempt at looking as though they hadn't just been exploring.

With a grin, she moved in to join them, remembering the first time she'd been let loose in a theatre. Some things never changed, no matter who they happened to.

Riley ORourke

Date: 2010-10-10 20:05 EST
Riley stalked down the aisle of the new theatre, a crumpled piece of paper clutched in her hand and cold murder in her normally warm caramel eyes. "Mataya!" she shouted. "Where is 'Taya?" she called out to anyone around. Two stagehands pointed her in the direction of the attic rehearsal rooms and Riley nodded curtly at them before heading that way.

On her way up, she ran into Wade Robinson, Black Cat's hip-hop instructor, who stopped her with a single raised eyebrow and a snarky smile. "What's up your butt, Boss Lady?" he asked with his trade-mark sarcasm.

She held up a poster that had seen better days. On its crumpled and torn face were the words "Rhy'Din's Ballet Troupe Presents 'Petrushka' October 14 - November 6". There was a quaint painting of a snowy Russian village square smack-dab in the middle of it. Wade scanned it and read the dates - twice - and then his eyes grew wide and he whistled. Riley nodded very slowly. "What are we going to do?" Wade asked.

Riley shrugged. "Open on schedule. What else can we do' These...these..." she said, casting around for a polite way of phrasing her feelings. "They are clearly worried about a little competition and believe the only way to keep their stranglehold on Rhy'Din's cultural scene is by getting the jump on us. Well, over my dead body," she said, punctuating each word with a jab at Wade's broad, muscular chest with her forefinger. "They'd better damned well knock this out of the park, 'cos there isn't any competition. We are better. Period." She glanced at the poster again and shook her head before wadding it up once more. "Petrushka" Seriously' Who the hell wants to see a f*cking ballet about a god damned puppet?" she muttered blackly. "If they wanted to do Stravinsky, they would have been better off doing The Firebird."

Wade nodded, his hand coming up to rub at his assaulted chest. His boss was frighteningly intense and he suddenly felt sorry for the hapless troupe who dared cross her. "Has 'Taya seen it yet?" he asked.

"Nope, I was on my way up there now," Riley replied. "Wanna come?" Wade nodded and they both ascended the steps to the attic where Fame! was currently in rehearsal.

Mataya

Date: 2010-10-11 04:27 EST
As luck would have it, 'Taya wasn't actually in the rehearsal rooms. Rather, she was outside, with Ludo and Charles waving copies of the exact same flyer that had gotten Riley all hot and bothered in her face.

"You realise this means war, don't you, darling?" Ludo was exclaiming. "We can't have them trying to oust us before we've even started! It's ludicrous!"

"It's not great business sense, I'll give it that," Charles added, eyeing 'Taya warily.

The owner of the Shanachie Theatre blinked her eyes open again, pushing away from her lean against the wall. Her hand opened, and one of the flyers was passed wordlessly into her fingers. Her gaze flicked across it, and she snorted lightly.

"Boys, are you really all that worried about this?" she asked with a faint smirk. "You've both worked Broadway - there are competing shows there all the time, and they're all successful. How is Rhy'Din any different?"

"It's different, because they're not pitting ballet against ballet," Charles managed to get out before the almost apoplexic Ludo could find words. "They're pitting high culture against pop culture, and if the people of Rhy'Din are as unused to pop culture musicals as you say they are, then the Shanachie is on a losing streak."

'Taya held up a hand to prevent any more outbursts, although the sound of approaching voices suggested she was going to have to go through all this with Riley and Wade as well.

"I didn't set all this up to go into liquidation at the first hurdle," she told her director and manager firmly. "So what if they're putting on Petrushka over the top of the showcase and Fame" For one thing, they're doing a long run, and the showcase is a one night only affair. One thing we all know about the theatre-going public" They'll put back plans to see a run if they won't get another chance to see one particular show. For another thing, we're going to have fifty, sixty-plus families of the kids involved wanting to see this showcase, and all the friends they'll rope into coming along as well."

Ludo's mouth opened, and 'Taya's hand covered it.

"Not finished talking," she told him sternly, and he subsided. "As to them covering Fame with their ballet, who cares" They're two completely different shows. One requires you to sit in silence and take in the breath-taking skill of a highly trained and well-rehearsed dance troupe. No laughs, no tears, only polite applause in the appropriate places. On the other hand, Fame encourages people to laugh, and cry, and engage with the characters. It infects an auditorium with enthusiasm, and people always leave smiling. I'm not going to condone all out war on another theatre, guys."

She paused thoughtfully.

"But to be on the safe side, I think we should get the posters out for the showcase," she added with a wry grin. "Variety is the spice of life, they say."

Mataya

Date: 2010-10-12 17:27 EST
Another day, another late night working at the theatre. Hopefully once everything was up and running, 'Taya wouldn't be needed there so much. But then, if things continued to be creepy and unpleasant at home, she wasn't so sure she wanted Charles and the rest of the staff to get a handle on things here.

Thankfully, though, there was still plenty of work that needed her unique touch. And tonight, that was writing and signing off on the invitations and free tickets that had to be sent out. The contractors who had worked so diligently on the mansion, turning it into a theatre, were on that list, as were the landscape gardeners. The Rhy'Din Post, and the Gossip GangSTAR, and every other publication they could collectively think of were going to receive an invitation, along with the company who were doing the catering for the gala ball that would follow opening night.

And then there was this invitation. Charles, Ludo, and Gabriel were furious with her for even contemplating sending it; Riley and Wade, no doubt, would come down hard on their side of the argument. But she was determined to be the bigger person and not engage in the barely-acknowledged warfare that was about to commence between the Ballet Troupe and the Shanachie Theatre. Besides, this way, she got to actually see the faces of the people who were trying to squeeze the competition out before it even really existed.

She grinned to herself in the privacy of her office, setting her signature to that controversial invitation. Okay, so she was enjoying it just a little. It was heartening to see how passionate her friends and colleagues were about making the Shanachie a success; and if she was completely honest with herself, it was pretty cheering to note that she and her theatrical venture were considered a threat. After all, the Ballet Troupe could have ignored them completely, but no - the announced run of Petrushka proved that things weren't quite as stable over there as they would like people to believe.

Was that an evil thought? Mataya giggled to herself, sealing the envelope with wax and pressing the specially created seal into the glob of red. She just wouldn't be human if she didn't feel the threat and reacted accordingly. But those reactions would be in private. In public, she was determined to have the Shanachie come out of whatever was brewing with the moral high ground.

Mataya

Date: 2010-10-19 09:16 EST
"Smiles, everyone, lots of tits and teeth -"

"- okay, Joey, swing number four spotlight up -"

"- that was my foot, you half-brained -"

"- ladies, I know we only have the stage for one night, but that does not mean we will be leaving body parts behind for the cast of Fame to enjoy -"

"- no whistling on the stage, please, we don't want any more accidents -"

"- play a love scene; Love scene of our own -"

"- the bassoon was not created to make sounds like that -"

"- costume call for Carmen Diaz -"

Ah, the controlled chaos of a theatre less than three days to opening night. There was something very reassuring about the cacophony of students and cast vying for stage time in the run up to the all important Grand Opening of the Shanachie Theatre. It was going to be a busy weekend, and 'Taya was going to owe her crew huge bonuses if they pulled it off in time.

In the space of two days, they had to rehearse and put on the showcase, strike that set, and set up the Fame set, before doing another technical rehearsal and opening the show the next night. It was a big ask, but she had complete faith in her team of backstage and technical crew.

Friday night loomed like a terrible monolith in her mind's eye every time she let herself think about it. With all the jazz lessons now geared toward completely perfecting her students' performance, 'Taya was more than confident that they could pull it off, every level of competence. She was more concerned about their morale on Friday. The dancers were going to have to be in early, and they'd have to stay all day, right through the technical blocking and rehearsals, and for the first time, 'Taya, Riley, and Wade would get to see a complete run-through of the show. She made a mental note to make sure some really good meals were laid on for the dozens of people who would be trapped in the theatre until the end of the show.

Then after that was the after party. Hopefully not many of the students would be there; hopefully Rhy'Din would turn out to support a new theatre opening up. 'Taya didn't know what she was more worried about, the show flopping, or the party being dull as all hell. Still, at least she should sleep well Friday night, and not be so utterly knackered for the all day techie rehearsals on Saturday. Not for the first time, she questioned her own logic in setting the showcase and the first run of a show back to back.

"Darling, you've been called for your costume fitting three times now," Ludo reminded her as she walked past, and 'Taya chuckled, waving a hand at him as she passed, hiding her grimace.

The dreaded costume fitting. One for the showcase, and three for Fame. Lucky her. Honestly, there were days when she felt she could commit serious bodily harm to Ludo and Gabriel for roping her into starring in her first run.