PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Christmas in Chicago With Singin' in the Rain Star Melissa Van Der Schyff | °ëµºÌåÓý

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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Christmas in Chicago With Singin' in the Rain Star Melissa Van Der Schyff

It's Opening Night with fiercely talented Jeff Award Nominee Matthew Crowle (Cosmo Brown) and the Astounding Tony Yazbeck (Don Lockwood). Oh and that's me in the middle wearing a Polar Bear.

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Christmas in Chicago With Singin' in the Rain Star Melissa Van Der Schyff

Drama Desk Award nominee Melissa Van Der Schyff (Bonnie & Clyde) is spending her winter in the Chicago area, starring as silent film star Lina Lamont in Drury Lane Theatre's production of Singin' in the Rain. She offers a glimpse backstage and invites readers along as she discovers the many wonders the city has to offer. Read the
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It's Opening Night with fiercely talented Jeff Award Nominee Matthew Crowle (Cosmo Brown) and the Astounding Tony Yazbeck (Don Lockwood). Oh and that's me in the middle wearing a Polar Bear.
It's my first time in the Windy City. Drury is truly a magical place and the folks here are SO generous, they make it easy for me to slip into the role of "Movie Star" by giving me the star treatment everyday.
LINA LAMONT SAYS: "As far as I'm concerned I'M running the studio!!!"
As you can see the commute from the "Star Apartment" (right) to the dressing rooms (left) is grueling. Although Drury's fabulous driver, Carlos, is available to drive me wherever I need to go, I decide to run to work...I hope I'm not late!
Our first day involves shooting scenes for the "Silent Movie" sequences from "The Dueling Cavalier." I'm a HUGE movie buff, so I love this part of the process!
Chicago favorite John Reeger plays a delicious villian...he's done 27 productions at Drury Lane!! He is a comic genius.
Amber Wuttke (wig dresser & wardrobe) not only helped me put together this °ëµºÌåÓý layout but is totally calm under the pressure of all my fast changes... we have 2 involving this little outfit...
As Lina Lamont waits in the wings to enter, she prepares for her big scene by thinking about puppies and muffins… #SOOOMETHOD
Backstage, during filming, I'm introduced to Assistant Technical Director, Earl Baum, and he offers me some PEZ from his Princess Leia dispenser....
...I had heard the legend of his extensive PEZ collection, but had never seen it...
...I am suddenly transported through space and time via a magical doorway....
....Upon entering I find myself in a land full of PEZ...this must be Earl's famed PEZ room!!!....What dimension and time is this???
...I realize I am holding a Barbie PEZ Purse #JEALOUSMUCHKARDASHIANS?
...the collection is overwhelming....it's like a PEZ survival bunker…all I need are some Capri Suns and I could survive for years!
…Original "Singin' In The Rain" Movie Star Debbie Reynolds signed this one! My realities are colliding!!!...
This little clown Pez is so cute…why are people so afraid of clown?
It's time to transport back through the portal to experience all the other wonders Drury Lane has to offer...Thanks magical Pez room!!!
I land back at Drury Lane's Ballroom for Sunday Brunch, which was voted one of the top Brunches in the country... if only my BFF & fellow breakfast lover Claybourne Elder were here.
I am instinctively drawn to the mini-donut machine. Wait till I tell the folks back home in Canada "aboot" this eh? #YESIMACANUCK
Drury Lane graciously helps me get into the role of "Movie Star" by having Hernan deliver food up to my room whenever I press #222 on the phone… thanks Hernan!
I only ordered the Turtle Sunday with Caramel and Hot Fudge because I think that is what my character Lina Lamont would order…
I am a stickler for physical & vocal warm ups before the show and was delighted to find out cast mate Laura Savage is a fellow Ashtangi...
Laura and I wonder if our characters ever did yoga back in the 1920's...hmmm....let's meditate on it and see if we can find the answer within... CUE: MAGICAL SPACE ' N TIME DREAM PORTAL
A past life memory of screen legend LINA LAMONT doing yoga with another up and coming starlet named..er..um..SUARA LAVAGE (she's from Europe)
LINA LAMONT SAYS: "My 3rd Eye is killin' me."
It's Opening Night with fiercely talented Jeff Award Nominee Matthew Crowle (Cosmo Brown) and the Astounding Tony Yazbeck (Don Lockwood). Oh and that's me in the middle wearing a Polar Bear.
Top of the show with Legendary Chicago Actress & Jeff Award Winner Renee Matthews as Dora Bailey
The lovely and uber talented Jenny Guse plays Kathy Seldon. She has gorgeous pipes and killer dancing stems!
Kathy Seldon may look sweet but she is one tough Dame...Kathy and Lina arm wrestle backstage for Don...Lina wins this time (by cheating) but Kathy soon gets her revenge...
...by throwing a Cake in Lina's face.
LINA LAMONT SAYS: "Girls, always get in your contract that you must have at least 4 extremely talented, well groomed men in tuxedos do your make up and hair before the show!" (L-R Gary Carlson, George Wolff, John Reeger, me and Don Forston).
"…and at least two extremely talented and handsome men wearing argyle vests to hold your stole until you are ready to enter." (L-R Johnson Brock, me and Brandon Springman)
LINA LAMONT and DORA BAILEY pose for their Limited Edition stamp "Sassy Dames of the 1920's" collection
Catherine Lord plays vocal coach Phoebe Dinsmore to perfection "No No No Miss Lamont...and I cahhhhn't stand him"...
Lina and Dinsmore Contemplate Women's Lib. Lina gets a headache from "contemplatin stuff 'n things." And goes in search of muffins.
..YAZBECK in the Rain... BREATHTAKINGMASTERDANCER
Tony exits #SOPPINGWET
Opening Night with wonderful director Bill Jenkins. We share a similar quirky sense of humor...I would have almost thought he was Canadian.
Some of the lovely legs in the cast…can you guess which are mine? #HINT:ILOVEGLITTERHEELS
(L-R) Karissa Barney, Alexandra Palkovic, Katie Huff, Alexandria Van Paris and me #SINGINSTARLETTSTEMS
William Carlos Angulo and I pretend to pose for thousands of fans #ONAMOVIESTARMINDSET
It was then that Tony and I, tragically, realized we both have the same "good side" and are fated to always have awkward press photos together.
What is so special about my bed? It's where original "Singin' In The Rain" star Debbie Reynolds stays when she performs here. That means, basically, I am sleeping in the same bed as Princess Leia's Mother!!??? CUE: MAGICAL SPACE 'N TIME DREAM PORTAL
That might explain some of the dreams I have been having...
Or maybe it's a side effect of combining the Princess Leia and Debbie Reynolds PEZ! Now I see the connection...wait am I awake or asleep?...does PEZ have caffeine?...I want a sandwich…
People say I have been known to sleepwalk…but I think that is hogwash… #LUKESLEEPWALKER
On my day off, Amber took me on my premiere trip into downtown Chicago... the first very thing I saw when getting off the subway? You got it. The Baby Jesus.
We went to the famed German Christmas Market...
We tried the traditional German spiced hot wine in a tiny ceramic boot. I'm gonna break my rule about drinking out of footwear just this once. #KINKYWINOBOOTS
At the "ChristKindlMart" we found some time honored, classic Christmas Ornaments like the 'ol favorite "Legless Gorilla 'n Baby" …not to mention the beloved "Estranged Father Ape"...
...and no Family Gathering would be complete without hanging up "Happy 'the deer carcass is in the trunk' Holidays" and the heartwarming "Hunting Tools." (only $24.50!!) I might just have to get two trees this year with all these choices!
I found Rob McClure's Christmas present! No need to get me anything in return. (Chocolate).
Mrs. Obama, enough about fighting childhood obesity, can we please do something about the pigeons of Chi-town?
…and is that a Pigeon crack pipe and a BON FIRE??? Where's a Dateline correspondent when you need one?
I think this guy auditioned for <i>Singin' In The Rain</i>
As much as I enjoyed visiting THE BABY ZOO OF GREATER ILLINOIS, it felt as if, indeed, <i>I</i> was the one being watched.
Here I am at the sculpture "Cloud Gate." Chicago locals call this "The Bean." I call it "Alien Head 5th Dimension Adventure Time" but whatever. CUE: MAGICAL SPACE 'N TIME DREAM PORTAL
I made the mistake of entering "The Bean"...where am I? What dimension is this???? Stephen Hawking and Scott Bakula help me!!
I'm not even gonna try to explain who this big headed person is. But I think she is welcoming me back to the present. I give her some floss and Crest White Strips as a "Thank You."
On my way to see Lake Michigan I found some fellow Canadians!!
Wonder if I can hitch a ride with these geese to the homeland up North?
One GORGEOUS skyline. I LOVE CHI-TOWN!!! *pulling out my binoculars* OMG is that Oprah in the Penthouse??? Robot Dancing with Gayle??
It was time for Amber and I to head to "Exchequer," the famous pizza joint frequented by the legendary Al Capone!!
And I run into more Canadians!
This mile IS Magnificent! I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to Rob McClure, I used your gift money for pizza, cause let's face it: A) we've never met so that's just weird B) it was like 20 bucks. Let's just say I owe you $20 and call it even.
visited The Art Institute of Chicago and took a stroll through the park…(*valley girl voice* um…like Steven Sondheim is like totally an awesome painter).
...a quick ballet class… #BLACKSWAN
And I ran in to this guy. By the way…Sampson…next time you decide to wrestle a full on Lion...maybe put some pants on?…Just sayin'
So if the path to Enlightenment is this way...which way to the Gift shop?
Lina and Kathy transport to the future (yet another Magical Portal *yawn*) where they read some rags that seem to indicate there are Other Fish In The Sea... #DONLOCKWOODYOUAINTALLTHAT
Handsome + Talented +Witty = The Men's Ensemble
And suddenly we're in TECHNICOLOR!!!
Talented + Beautiful + Wonderfully Quirky = The Women's Ensemble
TJ and Dave started their highly regarded long form improv duo in 2002.  For just $5, every Wednesday night at Wrigleyville's Improv Olympic, you can watch them improvise an astounding one hour play.
On our way to TJ and Dave's show, Matt, Tony and I try to pose in front of our Limo like we are Zoolander models. I think Tony wins the prize.
The Voice of Al Gore told us to ditch the Limo, so we found this Art Installation to get us the rest of the way to the show.
On our way we passed by the famous theatre where John Dillinger was assassinated. We couldn't help but re-create the scene for you.
CUE: CREEPY HORROR MOVIE MUSIC: "This Winter, 3 ACTORS who just need a little cash to buy improv tickets, stumble upon THE HIDDEN UNDER BELLY OF CHICAGO'S JANKY ATM's." ATARI? R2D2? or ATM… your card may go in but may never come out.
Janky ATM #2: Tony could only withdraw an SPF20. (that joke was for you, Jeremy Jordan).
Janky ATM #3: When will this nightmare end? I think this ATM just gave me allergies.
After a series of failed ATM attempts, we finally made it to the theatre, mugged an old lady, and purchased our tickets.
Matthew Crowle is all smiles waiting for the show to start.
The show was hysterical! TJ and Dave are amazing because they don't play for laughs, which makes them even funnier. They were kind enough to take a photo with us!
Upon leaving, we spotted Janky ATM # 4 (The Sequel??) across the street. And yes, that is the word "RISKY" written in Sharpie.
While "Pie in The Face" is OFTEN funny, "Slipping on Banana Peel" is ALWAYS painful.
Apparently Golden Voiced Tenor George Wolff missed the Equity "Raked Stage and Banana Peel Safety" Meeting.
Costume Manager Erika Senase painstakingly hand made our Cake-In-The-Face prop. John Reeger wheels it off into the warehouse where it will be stored alongside Handshake Buzzer, Water Squirting Flower, Fake Doggie Doo and various Whoopee Cushions.
Some of our generous and hard-working crew, represented here by (L-R) Amber Wuttke, Anne Quiaoit, Kristen Ligeski, are "Cleanin' up the Rain."
The talented Allyson Graves and Megan Farley knit backstage and wonder what ever happened to Lina Lamont after the talkies took over?
Starlet Beauties Amanda Tanguay and Katie Mazzini are also obviously gravely concerned as to Lina's whereabouts.
So what DID happen to Lina Lamont after her film career ended so abruptly? Some say Lina was last seen on a steamer headed to Singapore. Who knew she spoke perfect Mandarin?
Thank you Drury Lane for your incredible generosity! I am especially grateful for all the wonderful people I have met. May The Force (of Drury Lane) be with you…and may you find the magic, joy and comedy in your day!
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