singing in heels and the comfort zone

[kyle_lawrence]

So I found my self walking around the house in a pair of heels tonight, trying to remember how to walk in them and break them in a little.  I've also discovered that I'm ok with this. Its kind of a weird feeling. This wasn't some urge to act feminine and try the girl thing again, far from it actually.

I'm auditioning next tuesday for a local production of 'La Cage Aux Folles', specifically for one of the cagelles. If your not familiar with the show, think Birdcage the Musical. A giant drag show.  The cagelles for this show (10 of them total) will be 5 men and 5 women, all in heels, all in androgenous drag, with no clear distinction as to who the real women are. Could there be a better role for a queer androgyne boi?

It's weird how something like this can affect my comfort zone when it comes to gender expression. Somehow knowing that the "real men" will also be auditioning in heels, and are probably also walking around in high heels singing this week makes it feel more ok for me. Same way that taking ballet as a kid and wearing tutu's was ok. It was for a performance, it was a role I was playing, it wasn't real. This won't be for real either. It will be a performance so in my mind its ok.

So this made me wonder. Whats ok for you?  How situational is your comfort zone when it comes to gender expression?

[Nicky]

I don't think I have been out long enough or comfortable being myself long enough to feel secure enough to go back to really dressing male. It would feel like death in any situation at this time.  I mean I still have some clothing and had to drab it up for my holiday with the inlaws, but even then I wore capres, and sandles with flowers on them. That was the limit of my comfort zone. I don't think I could wear fomal an clothing, but can make do in more androgynous casuals like jeans and tshirts.

[tekla]

People who are not willing to anything and everything to be in the show, are never in the show.

[V M]

I've gone on stage wearing all kinds of things  Loved it

[tekla]

I did Hair once upon a time and we were onstage at the end wearing nothing.

There is the sunshine.

[kyle_lawrence]

I've gone on stage wearing all kinds of things  Loved it

So have I. My mom and aunt were both Dance teachers, so of course I was put into ballet at age 2 1/2 and was 3 the first time I performed on stage. Its been a few years, but I'm excited to get back into it.  I'm not worried at all about the dance or reading portion of the audition, but the singing kinda terrifies me. I need to practice a lot.

My real concern right now is what to wear. Do I push the androgeny and wear my binder, or dig to the back of the closet and find an old sports bra and leotard?  The director and coreographer basically said they want to see a blank slate, so no make up, and to wear whatever you can dance comfortably in.