Mariella is an old friend from NMSU. She and I were always in the same studio, and we both had a pop music jones. We both had a hell of a time getting through piano and ear training, but trudged through our degrees successfully. With all we had in common, we looked out for each other in a sisterly way. In studio, when one of us was singing, the other was following the sheet music, ready to mouth the words if she had a lyrical lapse. We performed in the same numbers in the variety shows, roomed together in Italy, made costumes (thanks to Mariella's sewing machine), and eventually ended up in Cider Jazz together.
Mariella, Della, Mary, and I performed "I'm a Woman" in one of the variety shows. We each took a verse, and sang our own style. Mary was jazzy, Della country, and Mariella and I did our big-voiced mama styles. It was super fun, but it was also the first time we had thrown function out the window and went balls-out in front of faculty. I was a little scared to hear what Dr. Rowe would have to say, and we knew she would say something. She found us in the green room after the performance, and sternly said, "I don't know what you all were doing out there," then she smiled, "but keep doing it!"
Mariella and I took that song to Las Cruces Community Theater where we auditioned for Little Shop of Horrors. We were so hoping that everyone would audition so that NMSU folks could take over the cast, but we ended up being the only gals who did it. It was a great way to spend the summer, though, singing the music that inspired us to be the mamas that we are.
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