Modern theatre cast st au!!
Steve wasnt disappointed with the character he was cast with, actually he was quite exited for it, but he was a little confused.
Originally, when he and Robin came to audition into the new show Dustin was working on. (Cats) (seriously the kid was amazing at building sets and helping with the tech side of theatre aswell as offering backing vocals if needed?!) Steve had auditioned for the role of Munkustrap.
There wasnt alot for the role compared to others he had done before, the whole musical itself was basically all song and dance which was a nice change. Sure Munkustrap danced most of the songs, but Steve had trained in both ballet and contemporary since he was little (much to his fathers resentment), so the constant dancing was a fun concept!!
Plus, with Munkustrap, it was more of a singing and narration role, most of the time performing to accompany another actor. He was also a protective cat, so steve thought performing as him would be quite fitting.
When Robin finally came barreling into their shared apartment followed by thier friend Chrissy, with the letters telling them what roles they got, Steve was surprised to see that he was given the Character of 'Mr Mistoffelees/ Quaxo' the magical cat.
"I just dont get it robs... why would they give me Mistoffelees of all cats?" He wasnt unhappy, just confused, Mistoffelees was often given to more... smaller (?) male actors. Which Steve knew he wasnt that small.
"Well maybe its because your an amazing dancer who ive witnessed do like 50 pirouette in a row, AND could easily steal the show, but doesnt like admitting how good he is out of fear people will think hes some rich kid who just gets roles handed to him instead of trying really hard because his parents disowned him leaving him to work paycheck to paycheck while also babysitting to get through performing arts school?" Robin smirked up at him over the copy of the letter telling her she got 'Skimpleshanks the railway cat', the same role she auditioned for.
Chrissy laughed, her role as 'Victoria' also displayed out infount of her, "You know shes not wrong stevie!" Mischief glinted in her eyes as she held her girlfriends hand.
Steve looked to the two of them and huffed, "I can do like 27 not 50." He roled his eyes at the unimpressed look Robin gave him, but it didn't last long before they all laughed.
Steve was pleased for them, he and Chris had met as kids, the two children of rich familys who had convinced thier parents to send them to dance school, who also lived in the same small town, quickly became close before chrissys mother moved her away. Thankfully however, they reconnected back in college away from their controlling families.
They had met Robin in a production of Wicked a couple years later, she was playing Elphaba while Chrissy was Galinda and Steve had the role as Fiyero.
Mid way through practicing the production, there had been a fire in the theatre that had him and Robin trapped for hours in the bathroom. It had left Steve with a pretty nasty concussion too.
While hiding in one of the musty old stalls, they had a heart to heart were Rob had confessed her feelings for their co star and couldnt go through with kissing Steve on stage. He had understood and after being saved from the burning reck of the old theatre, desided to come up with a way to help with Robin's stage kissing problem.
Turned out, after talking with a couple of the kids he babysits, there was an easy change that could be made to the story that fit the character archs better, aswell as not force Robin to have to kiss a boy on stage.
With permission, the kids had taken the script, making a change that left the two women as the love interests instead, while the Scarecrow Fiyero took over looking after Oz. It was an instant hit, pulling out the shows hidden queer themes. Also leading to the now power couple that is Robin and Chrissy, who didnt take long after the first show to confess to eachother!!
Now him and rob share an apartment, with Chris basically living there too even though she had her own apartment and roommate too. All now being told they finally all were cast in the same production again!
"I dont even get to sing my own song though!" He slumped into the sofa, taking a moment to glare at Robin as she chuckled at him from where she sat on the floor between Chrissy legs.
"Yes buttttt you get like the coolest costume and the best dance number all while being serenaded by whoever is playing Rum Tum Tugger!" Robin threw her hand that wasnt being held by her girlfriend in the air as she talked, "Plus Mistoffelees has a bunch of like, jumps and spinnys which is like... literally your favourite thing to do when dancing so dont worry about how you got the role, be exited that you get to do it!!!"
Steve looked down and smiled, "I am exited... it's going to be the first performance with us and all the kids either performing or working front or back of house... plus Jon said hes helping backstage this year and doing promotional work, and Hoppers joining again, I so am exited. I just want this to be perfect Robs."
He looked up to see his best friend giving him a knowing smile. They had worked hard for this, both with unsuporting familys, all the tireless classes, with boring tough part time jobs to afford paying off loans and rent. They worked for this.
Even if this was performing as mystical, jellicle cats on Broadway.
"If it helps," Chis let go of Robin, scooching her legs around her girlfriend so she could move to cuddle into Steve's side. He leaned into her, snorting slightly hearing Robin huff that steve stole Chrissy from her.
"If it helps, I'm almost certainly convinced I know who got Tugger if your wondering who got to sing your song." She beamed at him, excitedly grabbing his hands in hers and pulling them both to be sitting up as Robin came and rested her arms on their legs, "my roommate auditioned for Cats aswell! He doesnt often do shows like this but his dream role ever since I ment him has been Rum Tum Tugger!! Hes really good aswell so if its him I bet you guys would work wonders together!"
Steve laughed and shook his head. "You make it sound like Mistoffelees and Tugger are inlove!?"
The girls gasped! "Steve I know you're a dingus who probably has enough brain damage to stop you from performing, but you HAVE to know of the power couple that is Tugoffelees!?!?" Robin said sounding aghast from where she sat on the floor, hand to her chest and everything!
"Omg EXACTLY!!" Chrissy looked between Robin and Steve, "Tugger doesnt want everything he cant have, stealing the spotlight whenever he can, while misto playfully acts uninterested when every fauns over Tugger, ONLY FOR Rum Tum Tugger to sing an entire song dedicated to Mistoffelees being perfect!?!? I dont think so steve, that has gay and smitten written all over it!!!"
Steve snorted and shook his head, looking at the girls like they couldnt be serious. When he noticed their expressions hadnt changed, still holding firm about this suposed truth for these beloved characters, he looked at them like they had grown a third head.
"They are CATS??" he said incredulously!
"THEY'RE GAY CATS STEVE!!" The lesbians yelled back in unison!
He groaned knowing he wouldnt win this argument, even tho being queer himself and understanding what it ment to have characters like them in media, especially theatre. Still he had never been able to get into any fandoms, even if he did perform in some shows with respectably large ones, much unlike his female counterparts who revealed in needing out one every musical they heard. So honestly the concept of how two cats based on children's poems were gay? Very possible. Was he about to analyse every rendition of the character to determine their sexual preferences?
Yeah no, he would much rather just dance his little heart out performing as said character, than worrying about anyone else's but his owns sexuality.
Plus, he doubted he could even have the same 'romantic tension' with he co star, whoever he was, anyway. He had given up on romance ages ago since his last relationship with Nancy Wheeler, a kick ass reporter who had been writing an article about how the group had gotten the chance to rewrite parts of Wicked, crashed and burned the night of the grand finale.
Steve gave out a long suffering sigh, "Uhhhh fine you win gay cats," he rubbed a hand over his face, "but really chris, your roommate? I thought you said he was in a metal band??"
"Oh he is!" She absent mindedly went to stroke Robin's hair as she spoke, "but he and his best friend are in some of my music classes, they often audition for more 'out there' parts. His most known role was the Phantom in Phantom of the opera, and I think his friend got Michael last year in an off Broadway production of Be more chill, they both auditioned for this show aswell! They have like amazing range as singers!!"
"Well if they get any parts it's going to be nice to finally meet them!" Rob says looking pleasantly blissed out from being pet by her girlfriend. "You've been rooming with this guy for like three years and I dont think I've seen more than a picture of him!"
Chrissy giggled, they all knew her roommate was her other best friend she lovingly called rockstar to the point no one was sure what his real name was. At this point it was a running joke to see who ever could meet him first since the man was often sleeping, or away through out most of the evening and night. Constant clashing of schedules making it so neither him or robin had met the elusive man. Which was kind of shocking since apparently to chis, he was very hard to miss!
"Definitely!! Hes out of state till next week, just before rehearsals start actually, so I was wondering I could stay here till hes back?"
"Do you really have to ask Chris?" Robin asked, making her girlfriend turn to her with a shy smile.
"I love having you here and so does Robs, you practically live here at this point" steve pointed out, "honestly I'd tell you to move in if I knew you didnt like liveing with your other friend so much!"
They laughed, "Steve made a great point love, you should know you are always welcomed here!" After getting a chrissy giggle of approval, Robin stood up, immediately pulling the other up with her!
"Now come on! We just got the greatest job offers yet, we need to celebrate!!" The woman dragged them, all laughing with her, too her and Steve's liquor cabinet. Opening it and reaching in she pulled out a bottle of vodka that Murray, their very... exasperated acting coach, had lovingly gifted them after their auditions.
Robin looked Steve in the eye, a glimmer of something mischievous as she brandished the bottle.
