Love the pic!! kids are cute and Khana looks soooo happy to be a star:)

Thanks, you guys! Khanas LOVES her time with the kids - she loves everyone, but her idea of heaven is to be in the middle of a zillion little kids. She can be completely surrounded, with a dozen sets of hands petting her, and she'll look up at me with this big grin. But there's a limit too .. after five minutes or so, she gets a bit overloaded and comes looking for me. I've given her a lot of freedom to choose the amount of time she interacts, and I think that really helps her stay grounded.

She has a real "star" quality about her, and the director has commented more than once that she may steal the show, especially if we manage to add in the cameos. I'm really glad she's having a good time, because I'd feel bad if she hated this. But knowing Khana's personality, I really thought she'd handle this well.

I'm having a good time too, although I really underestimated the amount of time this would take. I don't like driving to Kenai in the dark, on the snowy/icy roads. When I go to early rehearsals I often see moose along the roads, back by the trees - so when I drive at night, I'm always looking and praying that no moose come out onto the road. I do a little "request" to my guardian angels every time I start down the road: "I request a most benevolent outcome for my trip to Kenai tonight, and may the outcome be better than I could have hope for or expected - thank you!" This is something I picked up from a personal development forum. I don't know if I truly have guardian angels, but I picture this little group hovering over me, watching for moose and making sure all the other drivers stay in their own lane.

I'm exhausted every night when I get home, even though I really don't DO that much. But just the amount of time standing in the sidelines, getting Khana ready for the different scenes and encouraging her to "go with Hunter" (which is her command now) - well, I just am plain worn out from that! It's mental stress as much as anything. My RA has been flaring some and my hands/wrists/shoulders have been sore, but I'm pushing through this anyhow. It's not like they can suddenly find another appropriate dog to play Sandy! And besides, I WANT Khana to be in this. It makes me feel productive, but it also makes me realize that my dreams of working again aren't going to happen any time soon. If I can barely handle this, there's no way I could handle a real job.

Khana is tired by the time we get home, too. She sleeps really soundly these days!

There will be a total of NINE performances, running Friday night/Saturday night/Sunday matinee for three weekends. Our first performance is February 17th. I think someone will probably video it, although I don't know for sure. I don't have a video camera. I KNOW there will be still photos, and Khana is one of the "leads" so her photo (I think) and her bio will be printed in the program. The auditorium holds nearly 1000 people and they often have sold-out performances (the Kenai Performers is a well-established group in the area - I actually participated in some of their performances back in high school, playing in the orchestra and helping Mom with sets and make-up). We're 150 miles from Anchorage, where the "big" performances tend to be, so any fairly professional performance done locally is popular.

I almost forgot to plug in my van today, which would have been terrible! The weather is still dropping down below zero at night, and is currently 3 degrees. Without the block heater, my old van wouldn't even consider starting, I think! I've showered and now I need to go through my pack (where I put everything I need to take with me) and make sure to add fresh bottles of water for the dogs. When you're taking dogs, you have to remember the absolute important stuff: water, water dish, dog treats. Everything else is extra .. *L*

I'll try to get more photos when everyone's in costume. Slowly but surely they're finding costumes for each character. It's neat to see it come together.

Melanie and the girls

We have a couple of days off right now as the auditorium is being used by another group. The singers are practicing in the band room tonight, and then tomorrow there's rehearsal in Nikiski (about 30 miles away) but I was told not to come. The director doesn't see any reason to confuse Khana with a different auditorium (our performances and MOST of the practices are at Kenai High, but we also have used Soldotna High to practice, so Nikiski would be a new place altogether - Khana showed a bit of confusion at Soldotna last time we were there, so the director doesn't want her to have to try out Nikiski too - he has less faith in her than I do, but I don't mind NOT having to drive all the way to Nikiski, especially since it's snowing again).

The director has been really positive with Khana, overall, and tells me that she's the best animal he's ever worked with. He appreciates that I am an active participant, suggesting possibilities and willing to work through the difficulties that the set and actors present. I can't imagine a director trying to do this kind of work with someone who isn't experienced in training, but I guess that happens in these local productions.

Khana is completely relaxed at the auditorium now, and LOVES going to rehearsal. We had a couple of "off" nights last week, too, and by the second night she was pacing around the apartment, looking at me as if to say "hey, aren't we supposed to BE somewhere??" Geez, you give a dog a little stardom and she turns into a diva!

We've finally got Hunter interacting a bit more with Khana. I suggested to the director that he tell Hunter that hugging and petting Khana was part of the acting requirement. Poor Hunter has SO much going on, more lines than anyone else, more solo songs, more acting, more costume changes. She's so busy concentrating on where she's to stand and where she's to look and walk and sing that she just plain forgets she's got a dog with her. Khana ends up standing there at the end of the leash, looking for me. But when we get Hunter to "drop to a knee" and scratch Khana's back, or hug her, Khana immediately turns to her with a happy face and a happy tail and it really makes the show!

Khana has to stay onstage with Hunter for two songs - the "Tomorrow" song, sung just by Hunter, and then the whole Hooverville act where the street people dance and sing about how Herbert Hoover has screwed them. So there's some long scenes for Khana to put up with, and as long as Hunter keeps petting her it works well. Khana would prefer to be with me, but if someone is scratching her back she's happy.

We don't get full access to the stage until next Wednesday, I believe, and that's when we can start getting the sets fully up and working with everything needed. Props have been added in as we go along. I bought a large, heavy-duty box for Khana's Christmas box, cut a window in the far side and put a bit of wrapping paper on it. Then I loaded it on a little flat-bed utility cart and Khana got to practice riding in it and being wheeled around the stage. The actual scene hasn't been completely blocked yet (it's the huge "end of the musical" song and dance, followed immediately by the bows to the audience, and at some point in the song the servants are supposed to appear with this big present, Annie runs forward and opens it to let Sandy out, and then they go on with their song). Khana did well riding in it, and her little nose poked out of the window on occasion. Since the hole in the box is at the far side it shouldn't show, but there was no way I would expect her to be in the box without a window for air and to see out of.

Tazer has been going and is a HIT with the little girls! They just love on her, and she's eating it up. One little girl is especially devoted to Tazer, and has spent a lot of time with her. I gave her a handful of treats and now she has Tazer doing downs, sits, shake paws, etc. - which is pretty neat, since Tazer has never worked for anyone but me before. It's been really good for her. Now the girl - Brittany - has been assigned to keep Tazer quiet offstage after the dogcatcher exits with her (she's in a wire crate on top of a push cart). I have the scene with Khana going onstage (when Annie first discovers Sandy) so I'm busy for a while and can't get to Tazer until Khana is done with her first two scenes. So Brittany has the job of talking to Tazer, giving her treats, while she's still in the crate waiting for me. Brittany is also getting the job of holding Khana while I go to the other side of the stage, and then Khana is released to cross the stage. She's doing great on her cross, and since we've been using treats to get her nose down (like she's tracking Annie - who has crossed the stage just before her) it's looking really good. The orchestra pit hasn't been opened yet, and that will be a big step as it's deep and dark. Khana's trail across stage is only about a foot or two from the edge of the orchestra pit, so when they get that open I plan to do some heavily-baited practice sessions along the edge of it so that Khana is well-aware and comfortable with the "maw" there.

Khana has been amazingly accepting of everything. Her natural nature is sociable and loving, and she's been exposed to enough different stuff in her life that she takes things in stride really well. I'm happy with how it's going. The hardest part is sitting there waiting, which is what we do most of the time. If this type of opportunity arises for you, I encourage you to give it a try but also realize that the hours are long and often boring .. *L*

We only have two weeks of rehearsals left, and then the real performances start! I love seeing the actors as the costumes are worked out - every day we have more in costume, and it makes a huge difference in how the entire production looks. Annie's final dress is red with white and black trim, and is SO cute. Khana will probably wear a big red bow, and the two of them together will be an overload of cuteness. I'm guessing that the picture of Annie and Sandy together will be popular!

No new photos. Since I've been taking Tazer, too, my hands are kind of full with both dogs and then big bag of bottled water/dish/bags of treats/extra leashes/paperwork/paper towels/poop bags/snacks for me/ebook reader, etc. Sometimes I take my bag of spinning stuff and work on spinning Khana's fur while I'm there. I'm WAY behind on that - still have fur from Kylee that needs to be spun into yarn. It's kind of hard on my hands if I'm sore at all.

Well, off today to run errands while I have time! I may make a run to the dump .. or wait until tomorrow to see if it stops snowing (there's ALWAYS a valid excuse to avoid a garbage run!! *LOL*).

Melanie and the girls

Melanie - I am both envious of this experience you are having and exhausted just thinking about all the work you have done.

Khana is such a trooper and it sounds like little Brittany will be an awesome helper with both dogs!

I wish I could see the play but it would be a bit of a drive for me from Ohio.

Be sure to post any pictures from the newspaper here so we can see them.

Poor Khana - over in a few weeks. I hope you have her agent working on her next part!

Just one week to first performance - wow! We're exhausted already.

We've been able to "claim" the auditorium as of Wednesday this week, and so the orchestra pit was opened and sets have started to go up. Unfortunately a number of people who had originally said they would help with sets have dropped out, and so the sets are not finished and probably won't be for a few days yet - which makes things quite awkward, of course! They have the "carts" there, which are the racks on wheels that the sets will sit on, so that they can easily be changed out. In some scenes, the sets are slowly changing AS the cast dances or sings. There's a whole choreography that needs to be done to explain the changing of sets, and we only have three rehearsals before we start dress rehearsals.

Everything that changes adds to the criteria that Khana has to deal with. It's pretty overwhelming. Opening up the orchestra pit was huge - it's a big hole in the front part of the stage, about eight feet deep. I've done several training exercises with Khana around the pit, putting treats close to the edge and letting her work out her concerns with getting close to it. She's done well, but it's strange to her for sure. She has to cross the stage alone right along the edge of that pit. She was doing the cross really well before the pit opened, but now she's confused some by it and it shows. Today she wandered to the stage edge and then was blocked by the pit, and I had to go out and call her around it. But we have a week ...

They've been adding in lights and microphones and costumes along with the sets and props. People don't realize that EVERY change is confusing to a dog. The lights, for example, throw shadows in different areas and Khana is looking at these shadows and wondering what's there. She's a very solid dog, but this is beyond the level of anything she's experienced before. I'm having trouble getting the little girl playing Annie to understand that Khana is a great dog, but she IS just a dog and can't just automatically understand that things are basically the same, just different. So Khana is acting more clingy, and trying to get to me, and it irritates "Annie" some. I need her to touch Khana more, to scratch her back, to pet her, to give her treats, and she just doesn't do it like she should. I know that she's got a lot going on - singing, acting, remembering her lines, dancing, etc. - but helping Khana along is important. I can't seem to get "Annie" to understand that. I've explained that a dog has the mentality of a little kid, and that all these changes confuse and worry her, but there's so much going on for the Annie part that it's hard for "Annie" to concentrate on Khana too.

We did practice the "peek through the curtain" bit for the first time today. I need to make that a priority, but I have to get them to close the curtain so we can practice! I'll set it up so that someone is on the other side to give Khana treats, and I'll put it on cue ("LOOK!") so that Khana willingly sticks her head through and looks around. It will be cute, and got a laugh today from the cast members sitting in the auditorium when we practiced.

The prop people put together a catchpole for Khana to wear in the dogcatcher scene (where Annie first discovers Sandy, who has just escaped from the dogcatcher). They made the loop part out of cable, which wasn't what I wanted - I told them rope, which would be thicker. But I think they went online and saw the modern catchpoles, which all are made of cable, and that's what they made. I didn't really want a fairly thin strand of cable around Khana's neck, even though it IS set so that it can't close past a certain point (one of my requirements!). I'm debating as to whether or not to pad it. Khana does have a lot of fur, so if I used the orange/cream colored padding it probably wouldn't show. If I can keep "Annie" from yanking on her, I wouldn't need to pad it. I'll have to think about it some more.

Tazer is doing fine with her role, which is so simple that most dogs could do it. She rides across the stage in her wire crate, on a little push cart, and occasionally whines. She definitely looks sad, with those big GSD ears poked out to the side. But she hops into the crate happily every day, and gets her treats. One of the "orphans" has been assigned to keep her occupied after the dogcatcher wheels her offstage, because I'm wrapped up in the scenes that Khana is in. This little girl really likes Tazer, and had been spending a lot of time petting her and loving on her already. So it worked out well that she was available to stay with Tazer until I could get free. She has Tazer doing her obedience stuff - sit, down, shake paws, scoot back, etc. It's cute and really good for Tazer to have these interactions with someone else. And the little girl - she's probably 10 years old or so - is a natural! I could make her into a heck of a dog trainer.

The same girl has been assigned the task of holding Khana for the stage crossing part. I go to the opposite side so Khana is coming toward me - which works better than the first way we tried it, where I sent Khana across to the girl playing Annie. There isn't really much of a bond there, and it wasn't for lack of trying on Khana's part. It's unfortunate, but we're working around it.

I haven't tried making Khana look scruffy yet. I'm going to use styling gel or mousse to matt her hair together and we'll see how it goes. The way the performances go, we have Friday and Saturday nights, and then Sunday matinee - for three weekends in a row. So I figure that I'll brush out her coat after the performances, and then Sunday night or Monday I'll pop her into the bathtub for a good rinsing (maybe a light shampoo/conditioner). It takes so long for her thick coat to dry, I can't give her a nightly bath. But we'll have Monday and Tuesdays off after performances (and maybe Wednesdays) so there will be time for her coat to renew itself a bit. When all nine performances are done, I plan to get her in for a professional bath/grooming and all will be well.

Khana has been amazing through all of this. It's stressful, and it's a LOT of hours, but she has held up. Tonight's rehearsal showed me that the additional stress of all the changes is getting to her a bit, so I do need to spend more time just getting her acquainted with the new things. Hopefully it will all come together for her before next Friday!

Khana's conked out on the bed beside me, and I'm ready to go to bed too. Rehearsal tomorrow at 2, Sunday at 2:30, Monday at 6, then starting Tuesday it's 5:30 call time through Saturday, and 1:30 call time for the Sunday matinee. It's been an experience, and I'm glad we're doing it, but I'll be glad when it's done, too!

Melanie, Khana and Tazer

so excited for all of you! I SOOO wish we could all be there opening nite to cheer everyone on!!

Wouldn't that be fun - all the first 6 rows full of germanshepherdhome people rooting Khana on!

Melanie - just remember that even if Khana makes a mistake the people in the audience will most likely not know.

Khana is going to be the star!

Wow, so much to think about! I'm impressed with all of you. So sorry that Annie isn't bonding to Sandy. But I'm glad that Tazer has a new young friend! And I'm also glad that the three of you are getting out and doing this great adventure.

I have to say that any community show I've seen with a dog in it always includes some unplanned comedy where the dog does something s/he isn't supposed to do...so I think all of you should be prepared for some ad libbing from Khana.

I hope that one day we will be able to see video. Be sure to ask the director if it will be recorded and put on youtube!

Good luck and thanks so much for continuing with the updates. I really find them interesting.

Khana already considers herself a star - and she fully expects everyone to stop and worship her as they pass by .. *LOL* .. it's cute to see her stand up and look at them as if to say "well, here I am - tell me how wonderful I am tonight!".

I haven't heard anything about a video as of yet, but they did sell videos of their last performance so I expect they will do a video of this performance too. Maybe I can talk them into putting some clips on YouTube. Kenai Performers does have a website, too, and I just talked to the director tonight about getting it updated. They listed the cast they'd chosen way back in late October/early November, but I hadn't agreed 100% to do it when they posted it on their site, so Khana isn't listed. And some of the people listed have actually dropped out and been replaced. The person who coordinates much of the stuff going on had a family emergency (her husband got really sick and they had to travel out of state for surgery - they're still down south while he recuperates and has further treatment). So things that normally would have been done are still in limbo - all the concentration has been on preparing for the performances, and those little side things didn't get done. But I think it's important to update the website so it will look professional. This isn't some fly-by-night performance that's just been thrown together. It's a 70+ person cast, professional choreography and directing, 20+ person orchestra, professional piano player, full props, and REAL DOGS, not stuffed animals or people dressed in dog suits! *LOL*

I'm prepared for Khana to do something unexpected. I'll whistle her offstage if I have to. One of the good things on the crossing that she does alone is that the curtain will be closed, and she'll cross in the open area between the curtain and the orchestra pit. The stairs that normally lead down off the stage will be removed, so her only options will be to cross the stage to me, or go back the way she came (and the girl holding her will turn her around and send her back out). All the rest of the time, Khana is on-leash in some way so she's pretty controlled IF the person holding the leash is paying attention. Today we worked on the final scene for a bit, and figured out exactly how to get Khana back out to Annie. Drake (the butler) will come to the door and take Khana over the Annie during the big finale song (We'll Get a New Deal For Christmas). I had to talk to the butler guy afterward, because he kind of dragged Khana out to Annie. I don't know why all these people think they have to drag her around, when a little encouragement would have her trotting happily beside them. One of the hardest things I have to do is watch other people handle Khana, because they don't always handle her the way I think they should. Granted, some of it is Khana's fault because she will pull to try to get to me, but other times the people are just being rougher than I think is necessary. None of it really HURTS Khana, I'd just prefer them to be more gentle and understanding. It's hard for them when they're concentrating on lines and singing and movement, and then they have a dog tagging along too.

We were also able to practice having Khana peek out of the closed curtain, which will probably happen just as Act II is scheduled to start. It's really cute - the curtains are heavy red velvet, and this fluffy dog face sticks out and looks around. I'm using "peek out - look!" as my command, and I had Brittany (the little girl who is helping me) give her treats when Khana stuck her head through the curtain. I have to try to hold the curtain together and only have Khana's head go through, so I won't be seen. I'm never supposed to be seen during this performance (thankfully! *LOL*). I think the "peek through" will be cute and funny, and personally I'd love to see it happen a couple of times. We'll see what the director says.

Our first performance is on Friday and we still haven't had a full run-through! They're still doing some blocking, figuring out where people have to move through the sets, where the lights will be on, where the mics will be, etc. Sets aren't even done yet! Rehearsal tomorrow has been cancelled and working on the sets is the only thing scheduled, because we HAVE to have them done by Monday's rehearsal. In addition, the music for Annie's "Tomorrow" song had to be changed because it was too high for her, and it hasn't come in yet. I offered to help transpose the orchestra music if we need to do it by hand, as they have to have it on Tuesday when the full orchestra is there. So I may be up late Monday night working on transposing music!

Oh, one more thing - during one of the last scenes, the orphans all come to visit Annie at the Warbuck mansion, and Annie hands out gifts to them, which they all start to play with. The littlest girl, Molly, sits out front and then lays on her belly playing with her toy, and the butler ends up stepping over her a couple of times. I told Phil (the director) that I had a stuffed toy that looked like Khana - a medium-sized stuffed red Chow dog - and that we might consider using that for the toy that's being played with out front. He thought that was a good idea, and asked if I could put a ribbon on it that matched the one I have on Khana. I said sure. So by Monday I need to have the stuffed toy set up with a matching ribbon! *L* Luckily I have to trim Khana's bow and can use the extra pieces to make a bow for the toy dog, so it's the exact same color and texture. I have to fasten Khana's bow more securely to a collar, and I have a bright red collar to go with her red bow and red leash. Annie will be wearing her red dress, with a matching bow in her hair. I WILL get a picture of Khana and Annie together in their matching bows!!

The director has been happy with my suggestions along the way, and has been thrilled with Khana's easy-going attitude throughout this. He appreciates having someone like me who has extensive training experience, because it really does make things easier for everyone when the dog is well-trained and controlled. It will all be great!

Time for bed. I'm exhausted! But tomorrow I can sleep in, and get ready for Monday's rehearsal. I won't be working on sets. Not only would I be too sore, but the smell of the paint/varnish makes me really nauseous. In the old days I'd have done sets and make-up and played in the orchestra, too, but those days are gone.

Melanie

Melanie,

I really love hearing about Khana's dramatic career. I kind of wonder about the child playing Annie. I would think any child (any adult for that matter) would beg to pet that gorgeous sweet girl. Hmmm backstage rivalry?

Anyway, keep those updates coming in. I can't wait until opening night!

MJ