“If I fall in my dress, just leave me for dead,”Tina Feydeadpanned toAmy PoehlerandMaya Rudolphas the buddy-trio walked toward center stage to rehearse lines they’ll deliver as presenters during Sunday’s91st Academy Awards. “Or you can just drag me.”
No can do, responded Poehler: “If any of us fall, the other ones have to go down, too.”
(L-R) Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
“There’s Gaga!…Where’s Bradley?” said Poehler, after spottingLady Gaga’s photo on one of the dozens of cardboard placards emblazoned with celebrity head-shots that pepper the near-empty orchestra as seat-holders. “Dana Carvey!” Poehler said excitedly, noticing her former Saturday Night Live costar’s photo affixed to another. “There’s Angela Bassett…Glenn…”
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The star power was non-stop —Awkwafina!Pharrell!Charlize!Kacey Musgraves! — and presenters, wearing little make-up and casually dressed in jeans, sweats and baseball hats, breezed on and off the sprawling, red rose and crystal-bedecked stage.
Kacey Musgraves.Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Be sure to check outPEOPLE’s full Oscars coverageto get the latest news on film’s biggest night.
(L-R) Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey.Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
With the mood jovial during the behind-closed-doors rehearsals, the celebrity pairings enjoyed the annual go-to challenge of finding where they’ll be seated when they return the following day.
Angela Bassett and Javier Bardem.Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Oscar winnerBrie Larson, who will present with herCaptain MarvelcostarSamuel L. Jackson(who wore a “Sith Happens” tee and beanie), lit up when she noticed her seat placement — “I’m right in front of Serena!!” she announced excitedly — but then spotted her proximity to fellow presenterChris Evans. “Oh, that’ll be a problem!” she joked.
Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson.Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
By the end of the afternoon, lines were learned, blocking was mastered and many a prop Oscar statuette had been handed out to stand-in “winners”, who gave mock acceptance speeches to a near-empty auditorium.
Before leaving the stage, Awkwafina, in sweats and a ball cap, held up the makeshift trophies and exclaimed toJohn Mulaney, her amused co-presenter, “They’re real! Real Oscars!” TheCrazy Rich Asiansstar then added, “Just kidding!”
The real ones, of course, were waiting in the wings for tomorrow night.
The 91st Academy Awards are broadcasting live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on ABC.
source: people.com
