Bad weather in Montana slowed us down a bit. However, we don't have a show until 8 pm tonight, so we'll just make it. Crew has to go in right away, but cast doesn't have to be in until 5:30. Time to run, take a shower and stretch our legs. The swings have to go in early to assist the local crew, which is tough on them. I'm sure there will be much letting off of steam after the show tonight. Word around the bus is that there's a casino next to the hotel, so I'll be listening to the gentle ding ding ding of slots till the wee hours!
FYI, coming into Idaho on I-90 is one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. It was like riding through a postcard. The mountains rose up dense with snow-frosted evergreens in the rising sun as the ice melted down the bus windows. Once through the snowy mountains, we descended into the foothills at the Washington State border. Spokane presented us with Smacky's, Home of the Finest Sandwiches in Spokane. Their Smuffin (an egg and English muffin breakfast sandwich) came in multiple varieties, including the Pam Special, with bacon, avocado, cheddar and mayo, which I enjoyed with gusto.
The eastern part of Washington is rolling grassy hills. Tomorrow, when we ride to Olympia, the state capital, I look forward to experiencing the rainy paradise Tom Robbins writes of in his novels. I've visited so many new states: Michigan, Virginia, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Missouri! Plus the parts of states I've already been to that I had never seen, like parts of Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, Indiana, Tennessee and even my home state, Ohio. The rest of the trip, I'll see New Mexico and Arizona, and revisit the outskirts of LA and San Francisco. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to get away from the confines of skyscrapers and subway tubes and breathe the air of America. Not that I won't be happy to get home and hug my husband and surrender to the Swedish sleep-monster of my Tempurpedic mattress, but some time away is good for rediscovering the spirit and purpose.
On that note, see ya later, I've gotta pee!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Hello, Mountain Time
I've never been to Denver, Colorado before. I should have thought about the high altitude before I worked out as hard as usual this morning! Before I realized it was the altitude, I was very concerned that I had gotten out of shape after two 12 hour bus rides! According to the desk clerk at the airport Comfort Suites, the seats at Mile High Stadium that are actually mile high are painted purple. Purple! A truly fortuitous color.
OK, so I'm a little crazy today. I got up at 6 am and worked out. I think the think air is making me giddy. And maybe the two cups of coffee. But definitely the bunnies.
Didn't I mention the bunnies? I opened the curtains to enjoy the mountain view (snow -capped Rockies!), and noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. There was a drainage ditch off the highway, filled with big gravel -- 2-foot wide glittery gunmetal gray slabs of rock -- and jumping, chasing, and foraging in this ditch were easily a dozen bunnies! They were sandy brown, all the better for camouflage in the short bleached grasses, with fluffy white cotton-ball tails. Oh, it was too cute. I sneaked downstairs to see them up close. Nibble a little grass, chase a friend, run full speed over the rocks, sit completely still for a minute, run again. It was hoppingly fantastic! The sky was blue with streaky white clouds, giving me a great view of the truly majestic Rockies in the distance. How could you not be giddy looking at that?
I guess it's a good thing to psyche yourself up for a nineteen hour bus ride. We got so far behind schedule because of the storms in the Dakotas (you may have heard about them), that we had to fly in another driver and skip a hotel stay to make it to Moses Lake, WA in time for our Thursday evening show. We're three hours in now, and mimosas are being passed around (I'm abstaining -- such the Mom) in preparation for a viewing of The Descent, one of the scariest movies I've ever seen.
The movie may be delayed, however, because we are seeing the most beautiful scenery this side of a spaghetti western. Mesas, snow, plains, brush trees, and the biggest sky in all of creation. Dark clouds are looming on the horizon, as we are driving straight into a big storm, but I have hopes we'll outrun them all.
OK, so I'm a little crazy today. I got up at 6 am and worked out. I think the think air is making me giddy. And maybe the two cups of coffee. But definitely the bunnies.
Didn't I mention the bunnies? I opened the curtains to enjoy the mountain view (snow -capped Rockies!), and noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. There was a drainage ditch off the highway, filled with big gravel -- 2-foot wide glittery gunmetal gray slabs of rock -- and jumping, chasing, and foraging in this ditch were easily a dozen bunnies! They were sandy brown, all the better for camouflage in the short bleached grasses, with fluffy white cotton-ball tails. Oh, it was too cute. I sneaked downstairs to see them up close. Nibble a little grass, chase a friend, run full speed over the rocks, sit completely still for a minute, run again. It was hoppingly fantastic! The sky was blue with streaky white clouds, giving me a great view of the truly majestic Rockies in the distance. How could you not be giddy looking at that?
I guess it's a good thing to psyche yourself up for a nineteen hour bus ride. We got so far behind schedule because of the storms in the Dakotas (you may have heard about them), that we had to fly in another driver and skip a hotel stay to make it to Moses Lake, WA in time for our Thursday evening show. We're three hours in now, and mimosas are being passed around (I'm abstaining -- such the Mom) in preparation for a viewing of The Descent, one of the scariest movies I've ever seen.
The movie may be delayed, however, because we are seeing the most beautiful scenery this side of a spaghetti western. Mesas, snow, plains, brush trees, and the biggest sky in all of creation. Dark clouds are looming on the horizon, as we are driving straight into a big storm, but I have hopes we'll outrun them all.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Um... What's Goin' On?
Woke up this morning to snow and ice and the return of the migraine, Day 3! Hooray! We were supposed to head out at 10, but due to weather, we pushed it back to 11:30. Then we pushed it back to 3:30. Now it's 4:12pm and we're still sitting in the Days Inn parking lot! At least the sun is peeking out and all the snow and ice is gone. Also, no tornadoes hit us last night like they did on the other side of Nebraska. Sorry, other side of Nebraska.
The Wind DOES Wave the Wheat When It Comes Sweeping Down the Plain!
Georgia was beyond lovely. Our venue was the Georgia Baptist Convention Center, which is a retreat on Lake Louise in Toccoa, GA, outside Atlanta. We had rooms on site, and they had no TVs or phones or internet, and there was a curfew at 11 pm and lights out at midnight. They also requested we strip our own beds. All this was a bit much for some of our group, but I said "yes" and was down with the Baptists. I walked the grounds a bit with a castmate and got a cup of coffee at the Coffee Shop. They had two sizes, David and Goliath. Goliath was the small and David was the large! The young man running the shop recommended running all the trails I could find, because there wasn't one trail around the lake. After enjoying our coffee looking out over the lake and trading country stories, Chris and I went our separate ways and I strapped on my sneaks. It was in the 50s, perfect weather for running, and I found a nature trail right away. I was so thankful! It couldn't have been more perfect. I even saw the white tail of a deer as it flew away from the sound of my running. I made my way to their fitness center and found the first dumbbells I'd seen in weeks! Thanks, again.
Lunch was only served 12-1, so I had to hurry. The cafeteria was free, although I don't think anyone in our group knew that. I ended up, coincidentally, in line with some of the tech people for the show, so I had a place to sit. I'm not sure what kind of crew they had at the last show that so poisoned the venue's reputation with our production manager, but these guys couldn't have been more friendly or welcoming. No one else in the cast came to lunch.
I spent the rest of the day washing out my wig and reading The Power of Intention. At 5, nearly everyone came to dinner. I was so happy to have everyone joining in and making the best of everything. The venue didn't have traditional wing space, and the lighting was a bit less sophisticated than we're used to, but the crew and our tech team rose to the occasion and made it work! I felt I was in my best voice ever, and really had a great time doing the show. The next morning I ate biscuits and gravy and grits while looking out over ducks swimming in a misty, glassy lake. Not bad! We did leave at 8 am, though, earlier than ever, for a long drive to Colinsville, IL (right outside East St. Louis).
Twelve hours is a long time to ride a bus. You can watch movies, sleep, read, use a slow and spotty internet, eat junk food, and basically sit around. Any rest stop is a chance for some entertainment! I bought some state magnets and an awesome trucker shirt at one. Really accentuates my diesel look! When we finally arrived in Colinsville, we were all starved, so a few of us hit the Mexican restaurant next to the hotel, Zapatas. As soon as the chips and salsa hit he table, I knew there was a maragarita in my future. But just one! I turn into a pumpkin around 11:30 these days! (Speaking of, it's midnight now, so I better wrap this up!) Plus, my migraine pretty much had me down for the count. It had to to keep me from going to the local casino with some of the guys. I sure could use a couple of hours in front of the nickel slots! Hoo-yeah!
We had to split Illinois at 10 am today, so there was no time to hunt down the World's Largest Catsup Bottle. To avoid a snowstorm, we rerouted our next destination from Mitchell, SD to Lexington, NB. I spent the morning on my computer, but my migraine came back and I had to hit the bunk for a while. Thank heavens for Imitrex! I don't know what I would do without it. When I finally got back to normal, I found there was a bit of a music party happening in the front lounge. There was some light dancing, drinking stories and the trying on of other people's shoes. May not seem exciting to you, but after another twelve hours on the bus, I was desperate! We finally checked into the Days Inn in Lexington around 10:45, and that's where I am right now, taking advantage of high speed internet while the kids start partying it up down the hall. In about two minutes, I'll brush my teeth, put on my sleep mask and pass out. Yes, life on tour is glamorous and fast-paced, indeed!
We head to Billings, MT tomorrow, and we're hoping we can make it without hitting the kind of weather that requires us to spend the night in a parking area. Yeah, glamorous. But it's an adventure, and I'm just thankful every day that I'm getting paid to be an actor. Goodnight, children, Mama's tired!
Lunch was only served 12-1, so I had to hurry. The cafeteria was free, although I don't think anyone in our group knew that. I ended up, coincidentally, in line with some of the tech people for the show, so I had a place to sit. I'm not sure what kind of crew they had at the last show that so poisoned the venue's reputation with our production manager, but these guys couldn't have been more friendly or welcoming. No one else in the cast came to lunch.
I spent the rest of the day washing out my wig and reading The Power of Intention. At 5, nearly everyone came to dinner. I was so happy to have everyone joining in and making the best of everything. The venue didn't have traditional wing space, and the lighting was a bit less sophisticated than we're used to, but the crew and our tech team rose to the occasion and made it work! I felt I was in my best voice ever, and really had a great time doing the show. The next morning I ate biscuits and gravy and grits while looking out over ducks swimming in a misty, glassy lake. Not bad! We did leave at 8 am, though, earlier than ever, for a long drive to Colinsville, IL (right outside East St. Louis).
Twelve hours is a long time to ride a bus. You can watch movies, sleep, read, use a slow and spotty internet, eat junk food, and basically sit around. Any rest stop is a chance for some entertainment! I bought some state magnets and an awesome trucker shirt at one. Really accentuates my diesel look! When we finally arrived in Colinsville, we were all starved, so a few of us hit the Mexican restaurant next to the hotel, Zapatas. As soon as the chips and salsa hit he table, I knew there was a maragarita in my future. But just one! I turn into a pumpkin around 11:30 these days! (Speaking of, it's midnight now, so I better wrap this up!) Plus, my migraine pretty much had me down for the count. It had to to keep me from going to the local casino with some of the guys. I sure could use a couple of hours in front of the nickel slots! Hoo-yeah!
We had to split Illinois at 10 am today, so there was no time to hunt down the World's Largest Catsup Bottle. To avoid a snowstorm, we rerouted our next destination from Mitchell, SD to Lexington, NB. I spent the morning on my computer, but my migraine came back and I had to hit the bunk for a while. Thank heavens for Imitrex! I don't know what I would do without it. When I finally got back to normal, I found there was a bit of a music party happening in the front lounge. There was some light dancing, drinking stories and the trying on of other people's shoes. May not seem exciting to you, but after another twelve hours on the bus, I was desperate! We finally checked into the Days Inn in Lexington around 10:45, and that's where I am right now, taking advantage of high speed internet while the kids start partying it up down the hall. In about two minutes, I'll brush my teeth, put on my sleep mask and pass out. Yes, life on tour is glamorous and fast-paced, indeed!
We head to Billings, MT tomorrow, and we're hoping we can make it without hitting the kind of weather that requires us to spend the night in a parking area. Yeah, glamorous. But it's an adventure, and I'm just thankful every day that I'm getting paid to be an actor. Goodnight, children, Mama's tired!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The Devil Went Down to Georgia
Well, the Cambridge audience was amazing. They were with us from the very beginning and never let us down. My dresser was Melanie, a sweet lady who chatted with me about this and that, and confided that she would love to move to Cincinnati, that hotbed of society. Everyone's attitude was touched by the beautiful Hampton Inn we stayed in that night. A lovely staff, pillow top mattresses, a whirlpool with moving jets and the most expansive breakfast I've seen anywhere will do that to a person.
While I was on the treadmill there, I found an adorable television program called Martha Speaks on PBS. It's about a dog who eats some alphabet soup and gains the ability to speak, although she doesn't know all the words. So, it's a show that combines imagination with subtle vocabulary lessons. I love it!
We took a day drive to Newberry, SC, which was just gorgeous. The weather was perfect, and the houses had an antebellum feel. The little town itself was cute as a button. We performed at the Newberry Opera House, renovated 11 seasons ago and the pride of the town. I stopped into a quaint store called Books On Main that smelled like my grandparents' attic (that's good!). Turns out the downtown is pretty much only open Tuesday-Friday and Saturdays until 3. Most of the shops are owned by ladies who need Monday to take care of their household chores. Did I mention it's mostly antique shops and cake stores? So precious! The matinee crowd was drowsy as usual, but appreciative (thanks, First Baptist Church of Spartanburg!), but the evening audience was fully awake and offered us a back to front stander! (That's where you get a standing ovation, but not because the people up front stood up and the ones behind stood up so they could still see.) The venue fed us a nice picnic lunch and dinner, complete with sweet tea and some nice apples. My dresser was Betty Boozer. Lovely woman, and sporting a shiny gold tooth up front as well!
An overnight drive took us back up north to Glasgow, KY, outside of Bowling Green. A bit chillier! I started out in shorts and had to switch to jeans and a coat! I was well rested, so I hit the grocery store and the Family Dollar for supplies. One sure way to make sure no one eats your food? Buy sardines! I prefer them in mustard sauce on Triscuits, FYI. Did a bit of Singers Forum work, and it was off to the theater. The Plaza Theater in Glasgow may have once been a movie theater. The steep grade down to the stage was in no way wheelchair accessible! But the house was decorated with faux balconies on the side walls as if Romeo and Juliet were on the bill next. It was unique and grand. Then we were served dinner. Pam from the venue had cooked (all homemade) pot roast, mashed potatoes, corn and carrots, as well as chocolate cake and peach cobbler. The tables had lit candles and they served us as if it were a wedding. Salads, rolls, and silverware! It was so nice, and made us all feel so welcome and appreciative. No wonder we were able to deliver a standing ovation performance, even with the technical limitations of the space!
Another overnight drive and we're arriving a bit late to Toccoa, GA and the Georgia Southern Baptist Convention Center. Despite some warnings about redneck attitudes, I am anticipating a warm welcome and a positive energy from the crew (I have to... I get what I expect, right??). There's some trepidation among the cast, but we are all there to keep each other strong. Apparently, they aren't feeding us, either, which makes Glasgow seem all the sweeter! I am looking forward to what will be some primo accomodations, though. Plus, I got all them groceries yesterday, so I'm set.
Let's see what the devil (aka musical theater actors) can stir up in Georgia today!
While I was on the treadmill there, I found an adorable television program called Martha Speaks on PBS. It's about a dog who eats some alphabet soup and gains the ability to speak, although she doesn't know all the words. So, it's a show that combines imagination with subtle vocabulary lessons. I love it!
We took a day drive to Newberry, SC, which was just gorgeous. The weather was perfect, and the houses had an antebellum feel. The little town itself was cute as a button. We performed at the Newberry Opera House, renovated 11 seasons ago and the pride of the town. I stopped into a quaint store called Books On Main that smelled like my grandparents' attic (that's good!). Turns out the downtown is pretty much only open Tuesday-Friday and Saturdays until 3. Most of the shops are owned by ladies who need Monday to take care of their household chores. Did I mention it's mostly antique shops and cake stores? So precious! The matinee crowd was drowsy as usual, but appreciative (thanks, First Baptist Church of Spartanburg!), but the evening audience was fully awake and offered us a back to front stander! (That's where you get a standing ovation, but not because the people up front stood up and the ones behind stood up so they could still see.) The venue fed us a nice picnic lunch and dinner, complete with sweet tea and some nice apples. My dresser was Betty Boozer. Lovely woman, and sporting a shiny gold tooth up front as well!
An overnight drive took us back up north to Glasgow, KY, outside of Bowling Green. A bit chillier! I started out in shorts and had to switch to jeans and a coat! I was well rested, so I hit the grocery store and the Family Dollar for supplies. One sure way to make sure no one eats your food? Buy sardines! I prefer them in mustard sauce on Triscuits, FYI. Did a bit of Singers Forum work, and it was off to the theater. The Plaza Theater in Glasgow may have once been a movie theater. The steep grade down to the stage was in no way wheelchair accessible! But the house was decorated with faux balconies on the side walls as if Romeo and Juliet were on the bill next. It was unique and grand. Then we were served dinner. Pam from the venue had cooked (all homemade) pot roast, mashed potatoes, corn and carrots, as well as chocolate cake and peach cobbler. The tables had lit candles and they served us as if it were a wedding. Salads, rolls, and silverware! It was so nice, and made us all feel so welcome and appreciative. No wonder we were able to deliver a standing ovation performance, even with the technical limitations of the space!
Another overnight drive and we're arriving a bit late to Toccoa, GA and the Georgia Southern Baptist Convention Center. Despite some warnings about redneck attitudes, I am anticipating a warm welcome and a positive energy from the crew (I have to... I get what I expect, right??). There's some trepidation among the cast, but we are all there to keep each other strong. Apparently, they aren't feeding us, either, which makes Glasgow seem all the sweeter! I am looking forward to what will be some primo accomodations, though. Plus, I got all them groceries yesterday, so I'm set.
Let's see what the devil (aka musical theater actors) can stir up in Georgia today!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Zany in Zanesville
Well, Cambridge, actually, but that doesn't sound as good as Zanesville. On our way here from Baraboo, we stopped in Plainfield, IN, and my sister and brother-in-law came out to meet me. I haven't seen my sister since my dad's funeral in September 2007. It seems like the time just slips away from me,and I never see my family, or even my friends who live in the same city! I've become such a homebody that I'd rather spend all of my free time at home with my husband. I think I need to get out more!
We actually changed hotels here in Cambridge. Yesterday we were at a just adequate Day Inn (with no microwave and no wireless internet!), and today we are at the super swank Hampton Inn, just a few steps away. I also experienced Sheetz MTO, which is a big deal in Pennsylvania and apparently also western Ohio. It's just a regular gas station and convenience store, but they have dozens of types of fountain drinks, slushies and coffees, and you can get any size, even 44 oz, for just 49 cents. you can also order made to order (hence, MTO) sandwiches and other assorted food items on a touch screen. None of that pesky talking to people nonsense. Then, when you pay, they arbitrarily discount a dollar or so, with no explanation. OK! I'm sold on Sheetz!
The weather's been just lovely, and we've been blessed clear skies. We head down south tomorrow morning to Newberry, SC. Tonight we play somewhere in Cambridge, I honestly can't remember where. Haven't had a show in two days, though, so I feel all rusty! Better get warmed up! La la la, me me me...
We actually changed hotels here in Cambridge. Yesterday we were at a just adequate Day Inn (with no microwave and no wireless internet!), and today we are at the super swank Hampton Inn, just a few steps away. I also experienced Sheetz MTO, which is a big deal in Pennsylvania and apparently also western Ohio. It's just a regular gas station and convenience store, but they have dozens of types of fountain drinks, slushies and coffees, and you can get any size, even 44 oz, for just 49 cents. you can also order made to order (hence, MTO) sandwiches and other assorted food items on a touch screen. None of that pesky talking to people nonsense. Then, when you pay, they arbitrarily discount a dollar or so, with no explanation. OK! I'm sold on Sheetz!
The weather's been just lovely, and we've been blessed clear skies. We head down south tomorrow morning to Newberry, SC. Tonight we play somewhere in Cambridge, I honestly can't remember where. Haven't had a show in two days, though, so I feel all rusty! Better get warmed up! La la la, me me me...
Friday, March 13, 2009
Catch-up
When last we met, I had just arrived in Glen Allen, Virgina, a suburb of Richmond. Well, hell, now I'm in Baraboo, Wisconsin! How did that happen? The hotel in Glen Allen was swank, and the theater... hmm, they're all starting to run together, let me check my notes...
OK, a lot has happened, so let me just hit you with the highlights.
1) Three of our cast members got violently ill on the overnight drive from Jacksonville to Richmond. (The Professor was so ill, he couldn't make the performance that night, and our brilliant swing Chris stepped in to save the day. It was weird, but we made it work!) The culprit seems to be bad cream from a coffee shop, but it's still unclear if it could have been a 24-hour bug, skunked beer, or debauched living (just kidding, kids!). I didn't realize it at first, but I also got sick, in a different way. The second day we were in Richmond, I spent the morning on the couch, drinking tea and eating toast like I was a kid home sick from school. There was mucous involved (isn't that always the way with singers?). Not keen on taking any OTC cold medications that could make me miss a show, I headed to the nearby mall to scavenge the GNC for natural respiratory easers, and picked up some licorice root, peppermint oil (for steaming), Emergen-C, ground flax seed (because I like it) and some deeply discounted CoQ10. I feel much better now!
2) At that mall, I also picked up a copy of The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer at that mall, and it's changed my whole perspective on this tour. I feel much freer and happier and less caught up in ego and what everyone else is doing! I highly recommend the book! I also had a Chick-Fil-A sandwich for the first time in a decade. Yum-my!
3) The Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center is the only facility in the area with visual and performing arts. They don't have a regular wardrobe staff, but the dresser they called in, Sharon, was amazing. She was so thoughtful and went out of her way to get us things we needed, and even gave me a little travel spray bottle for my wig (Shaquanda)! I love meeting the new dressers (Katie & Crystal in Sugar Loaf, Roberta in Clearwater, Danielle and Connie in Ft. Pierce, Gail in Jacksonville, Sharon in Glen Allen and Sonja at Interlochen, so far), and I think it's more amazing that they pick up a new show every night than that we do the same show in a different space every night!
4) Since I was sick in Virginia, I didn't go running. I swam around the pool a bit, but that was all. Things have changed now! We had an overnight drive from Glen Allen to Norwalk, OH, (near Sandusky), where we had a day stop (All American Inn & Suites) to shower, nap, whatever, so our driver (Rusty) could sleep. I spent the day at the pool, first swimming laps, then reading. When we got to Traverse City, I made sure to get to the pool before we checked out at midnight (the pool was open until 11:30 pm!) to swim some more and hit the spa. Then today, as some of the gang went into town to check out the Circus World Museum, I hit the treadmill for 40 minutes, lifted some weights, then returned to the steamy goodness of the whirlpool. Now that we're in cold weather country (it was snowing up a storm when we got to Traverse City!), running outdoors is off the menu. Thankfully, most hotels have a fitness room and an indoor pool and spa. I am worried my hair will turn green, though!
5) Our hotel in Traverse City (Fairfield Inn Marriott) was right behind a Cracker Barrel. Oh, happy day! Just the night before, I was talking to Gilligan, and we were wishing we could cook. I said, "Well, let's think very hard and put all our energy toward there being some good home cooking where we are next." And, voila! There it was. The Cracker Barrel evokes home to me. When I was younger, my parents would always make us stop there on road trips between Tennessee and Cincinnati, when all I wanted was McDonald's. But I grew to love it. My mother's home reminded me of a Cracker Barrel because of all the knick-knacks and old doo-dads she had hung up all over her cabin in the woods. and, of course, I was a Par 1 server at the old CB in Sweetwater during the summer after my sophomore year of college. I was so happy to be going there for lunch, I could've cried. I was also feeling blessed that five of my cast mates chose to go with me, which made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I had the Chicken N Dumplins with Green Beans and Carrots and Biscuits and Sweet Tea. What else does a person need in life? It turns out, a small blackberry cobbler, which they did not have any of. However, I was not put out, but merely took my go plate happily, and bought a yo-yo on my way out.
6) Yes, you read that right, kids, I am back on the yo-yo. This is interesting, because this good quality Duncan yo-yo is nonetheless a wooden axle yo-yo, which is not my yo of choice. However, I am finding it very responsive and a good sleeper. I googled "yo-yo tricks" and found some videos by Yomega (my preferred yo brand) of the regular tricks (even Split the Atom!) and got back into it pretty quickly. Now I just have to make sure not to break anything, or anyone, while I practice!
7) Because, I am a terrible klutz. Currently, I am a mass of garden variety Alexia-style injuries. I have a burn on my right hand where I was scalded by the steam from a hotel coffee maker. I have an angry looking scab on my left hand where I got too close to the rough hotel room wall. I have 6 bruises on my left arm and 2 on my right, and a similar number on my respective legs (mostly show related - who knew Mrs. Howell was such a physical role?). Not to mention the bruises I'm sure I have all over my head from where I've wanged it against the the bus's cargo bay doors on multiple occasions. It's been a while since I've pulled this many "Alexia"s in a short time period. I can only hope I can get control over my flailing ways to come home in one piece. The upside is, Mrs. Howell doesn't show skin, otherwise it would look as if Mr. Howell was a mean drunk!
8) I had Vernors! Yay Ohio!
9) Interlochen made no impression on me. I though that since Crazy Camille had gone there and talked about it so much, I would have some kind of feeling about it, but I guess it's just a sign, that I've really just moved so far past that part of my life. Yay Alexia!
10) Sleeping in the top bunk of a moving bus is strange. On one hand, I sleep pretty well, but a couple of times last night I woke up, feeling that the bus was moving VERY fast, and fearing that we would wreck. What would you do if you wrecked in that position? Would you even have a chance? It was very scary, so I told myself that there was nothing I could do about it, so I'd better just forget it and go back to sleep. In any case, my hotel roommate is a bit of a snorer, so I enjoy a quieter sleep on the bus. Not everyone shares my viewpoint!
11) Hotels are different than they were last year. I know that sounds weird, but I think the last time I was in a hotel was last year, and they weren't like this. Just about every hotel or motel we've been too has offered free wireless internet access, a refrigerator and a microwave. Not just suites, all of them. It's very fancy. And helpful!
12) Baraboo, where I am now, is home to the Circus World Museum. We're performing at the Al. Ringling Theatre, which "has been proclaimed America's Prettiest Playhouse." Apparently, according to the Skipper, it may be haunted. That, I'm looking forward to. In a couple of days, we'll visit the home of the World's Largest Ketchup Bottle, but more on that later.
13) Oh, you want to know about the show, huh? Well, it gets tighter in some places, looser in others. Different audiences respond differently, and what gets a laugh one night gets a yawn the next. I have one line I'm constantly tweaking to try and get a laugh out of. Most of my lines are now finally getting their due chuckles, but this one eludes me. Hopefully, I'll have it down by Glendora, CA when the writers will be in the audience! The dancing remains a challenge, especially last night, where the stage was so slippery, I didn't dare give my all in the waltz section. I can kind of play it off that my character is old (just like me!), but I really want to be able to hit all my steps just right, so I can possibly go on to dance in another production, and feel confident. The singing feels great. In our second act duet, "I'll Spend My Time With You", I'm told I bring the Julie Andrews vibe to the stage, and that's all right with me! I can't really speak to how everyone else is doing, but I think we all continue to improve and find our grooves in the show. I'm so happy we have so many performances to do. And Toccoa, GA is back in! guess, I'll have to update my Google Map...
12) By the way... Barry Williams is in our show. That's what we named the Tiki Head! Unfortunately, most of the press around is implying (or outright stating) that the actual actor Barry Williams is in this tour, which he is not. Neither is Dawn Wells, the original Mary Ann, who played Mrs. Howell in the 2006 Barry Williams tour. It's quite disturbing!
OK, that should be enough for a while. I've been blogging for hours! Catch you after Karaoke at Bonzo's tomorrow night! It's the Skipper's birthday!
OK, a lot has happened, so let me just hit you with the highlights.
1) Three of our cast members got violently ill on the overnight drive from Jacksonville to Richmond. (The Professor was so ill, he couldn't make the performance that night, and our brilliant swing Chris stepped in to save the day. It was weird, but we made it work!) The culprit seems to be bad cream from a coffee shop, but it's still unclear if it could have been a 24-hour bug, skunked beer, or debauched living (just kidding, kids!). I didn't realize it at first, but I also got sick, in a different way. The second day we were in Richmond, I spent the morning on the couch, drinking tea and eating toast like I was a kid home sick from school. There was mucous involved (isn't that always the way with singers?). Not keen on taking any OTC cold medications that could make me miss a show, I headed to the nearby mall to scavenge the GNC for natural respiratory easers, and picked up some licorice root, peppermint oil (for steaming), Emergen-C, ground flax seed (because I like it) and some deeply discounted CoQ10. I feel much better now!
2) At that mall, I also picked up a copy of The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer at that mall, and it's changed my whole perspective on this tour. I feel much freer and happier and less caught up in ego and what everyone else is doing! I highly recommend the book! I also had a Chick-Fil-A sandwich for the first time in a decade. Yum-my!
3) The Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center is the only facility in the area with visual and performing arts. They don't have a regular wardrobe staff, but the dresser they called in, Sharon, was amazing. She was so thoughtful and went out of her way to get us things we needed, and even gave me a little travel spray bottle for my wig (Shaquanda)! I love meeting the new dressers (Katie & Crystal in Sugar Loaf, Roberta in Clearwater, Danielle and Connie in Ft. Pierce, Gail in Jacksonville, Sharon in Glen Allen and Sonja at Interlochen, so far), and I think it's more amazing that they pick up a new show every night than that we do the same show in a different space every night!
4) Since I was sick in Virginia, I didn't go running. I swam around the pool a bit, but that was all. Things have changed now! We had an overnight drive from Glen Allen to Norwalk, OH, (near Sandusky), where we had a day stop (All American Inn & Suites) to shower, nap, whatever, so our driver (Rusty) could sleep. I spent the day at the pool, first swimming laps, then reading. When we got to Traverse City, I made sure to get to the pool before we checked out at midnight (the pool was open until 11:30 pm!) to swim some more and hit the spa. Then today, as some of the gang went into town to check out the Circus World Museum, I hit the treadmill for 40 minutes, lifted some weights, then returned to the steamy goodness of the whirlpool. Now that we're in cold weather country (it was snowing up a storm when we got to Traverse City!), running outdoors is off the menu. Thankfully, most hotels have a fitness room and an indoor pool and spa. I am worried my hair will turn green, though!
5) Our hotel in Traverse City (Fairfield Inn Marriott) was right behind a Cracker Barrel. Oh, happy day! Just the night before, I was talking to Gilligan, and we were wishing we could cook. I said, "Well, let's think very hard and put all our energy toward there being some good home cooking where we are next." And, voila! There it was. The Cracker Barrel evokes home to me. When I was younger, my parents would always make us stop there on road trips between Tennessee and Cincinnati, when all I wanted was McDonald's. But I grew to love it. My mother's home reminded me of a Cracker Barrel because of all the knick-knacks and old doo-dads she had hung up all over her cabin in the woods. and, of course, I was a Par 1 server at the old CB in Sweetwater during the summer after my sophomore year of college. I was so happy to be going there for lunch, I could've cried. I was also feeling blessed that five of my cast mates chose to go with me, which made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I had the Chicken N Dumplins with Green Beans and Carrots and Biscuits and Sweet Tea. What else does a person need in life? It turns out, a small blackberry cobbler, which they did not have any of. However, I was not put out, but merely took my go plate happily, and bought a yo-yo on my way out.
6) Yes, you read that right, kids, I am back on the yo-yo. This is interesting, because this good quality Duncan yo-yo is nonetheless a wooden axle yo-yo, which is not my yo of choice. However, I am finding it very responsive and a good sleeper. I googled "yo-yo tricks" and found some videos by Yomega (my preferred yo brand) of the regular tricks (even Split the Atom!) and got back into it pretty quickly. Now I just have to make sure not to break anything, or anyone, while I practice!
7) Because, I am a terrible klutz. Currently, I am a mass of garden variety Alexia-style injuries. I have a burn on my right hand where I was scalded by the steam from a hotel coffee maker. I have an angry looking scab on my left hand where I got too close to the rough hotel room wall. I have 6 bruises on my left arm and 2 on my right, and a similar number on my respective legs (mostly show related - who knew Mrs. Howell was such a physical role?). Not to mention the bruises I'm sure I have all over my head from where I've wanged it against the the bus's cargo bay doors on multiple occasions. It's been a while since I've pulled this many "Alexia"s in a short time period. I can only hope I can get control over my flailing ways to come home in one piece. The upside is, Mrs. Howell doesn't show skin, otherwise it would look as if Mr. Howell was a mean drunk!
8) I had Vernors! Yay Ohio!
9) Interlochen made no impression on me. I though that since Crazy Camille had gone there and talked about it so much, I would have some kind of feeling about it, but I guess it's just a sign, that I've really just moved so far past that part of my life. Yay Alexia!
10) Sleeping in the top bunk of a moving bus is strange. On one hand, I sleep pretty well, but a couple of times last night I woke up, feeling that the bus was moving VERY fast, and fearing that we would wreck. What would you do if you wrecked in that position? Would you even have a chance? It was very scary, so I told myself that there was nothing I could do about it, so I'd better just forget it and go back to sleep. In any case, my hotel roommate is a bit of a snorer, so I enjoy a quieter sleep on the bus. Not everyone shares my viewpoint!
11) Hotels are different than they were last year. I know that sounds weird, but I think the last time I was in a hotel was last year, and they weren't like this. Just about every hotel or motel we've been too has offered free wireless internet access, a refrigerator and a microwave. Not just suites, all of them. It's very fancy. And helpful!
12) Baraboo, where I am now, is home to the Circus World Museum. We're performing at the Al. Ringling Theatre, which "has been proclaimed America's Prettiest Playhouse." Apparently, according to the Skipper, it may be haunted. That, I'm looking forward to. In a couple of days, we'll visit the home of the World's Largest Ketchup Bottle, but more on that later.
13) Oh, you want to know about the show, huh? Well, it gets tighter in some places, looser in others. Different audiences respond differently, and what gets a laugh one night gets a yawn the next. I have one line I'm constantly tweaking to try and get a laugh out of. Most of my lines are now finally getting their due chuckles, but this one eludes me. Hopefully, I'll have it down by Glendora, CA when the writers will be in the audience! The dancing remains a challenge, especially last night, where the stage was so slippery, I didn't dare give my all in the waltz section. I can kind of play it off that my character is old (just like me!), but I really want to be able to hit all my steps just right, so I can possibly go on to dance in another production, and feel confident. The singing feels great. In our second act duet, "I'll Spend My Time With You", I'm told I bring the Julie Andrews vibe to the stage, and that's all right with me! I can't really speak to how everyone else is doing, but I think we all continue to improve and find our grooves in the show. I'm so happy we have so many performances to do. And Toccoa, GA is back in! guess, I'll have to update my Google Map...
12) By the way... Barry Williams is in our show. That's what we named the Tiki Head! Unfortunately, most of the press around is implying (or outright stating) that the actual actor Barry Williams is in this tour, which he is not. Neither is Dawn Wells, the original Mary Ann, who played Mrs. Howell in the 2006 Barry Williams tour. It's quite disturbing!
OK, that should be enough for a while. I've been blogging for hours! Catch you after Karaoke at Bonzo's tomorrow night! It's the Skipper's birthday!
Monday, March 09, 2009
White Ibis Morning
We left Jacksonville last night, and it was a bit sad to leave a place where we had done four shows and slept in the same beds for two days! The Wilson Center for The Arts at Florida Community College of Jacksonville is a small theater, but lovely. Our audiences ranged from quiet to uproarious, and we even had one patron dressed as Gilligan! I think it would be really neat if we developed a Rocky Horror style cult following!
My dresser, Gail was so perfect. She altered my opening number dress so I don't have to pull it over my head any more, and made my quick changes so smooth and stress-free. Thanks, Gail!
I also had my first experience at a Dave & Buster's. After practically melting down into a blubbering mascara mess due to stress and hunger, I pulled myself together enough to join the gang for a quick walk to the D&B near the hotel. Now, when I'm hungry, I always choose fat and salt over salad. So, naturally, I ordered cheesesticks, a sirloin steak (medium-rare), loaded mashed potatoes, and something called frazzled onions. Washing it down with a sweet tea made me happy to be south of the Mason-Dixon line! One bite of the potatoes -- mashed with cheese, bacon, onions, and sour cream -- filled me up, so I took a to-go box and let the rest of the group enjoy the arcade games. I'm such a pumpkin these days! It was midnight, and I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore!
Of course, if you go to bed early, you get up early (thanks, Ben Franklin!), so I was able to run off that steak on A.C Skinner Parkway. I passed by several industrial parks, frequented by business travelers and conferences. Everyone is carrying a tub full of A/V equipment around there! One complex had a sign out front for space to rent, but they worded it "Opportunities Available." Opportunities! I decided that today would be a great opportunity to create the best Gilligan's Island ever!
Well, that didn't happen in the matinee, which was, let's say, not great. But once I got to have a talk with my better half, I was ready to focus, so I listened to bodhipaksa's Guided Meditations for Busy People and practiced Being in the Moment. Our 8 pm show was amazing. Mr. Howell's parents were in the audience, and I know we were all giving it our best to make it perfect for them.
Yesterday morning, I was going to skip the run, but I was so logy from sleeping in a hotel bed that I thought I'd take a walk. Well, as soon as I got out there, my feet started running, so I decided to take myself down Salisbury Road for a spell. On my return to the hotel, I saw the most beautiful birds feeding in the grasses around one of Florida's aforementioned "natural" water formations. There were two, and they were small, obviously wading birds. Their feathers were snow white, except around the eye, which was pink/red, like their thin, long, curved beaks. Their long legs were also pink, and they dipped their beaks into the ground to pick up bugs? seeds? probably bugs with a silent grace, completely ignoring my presence, at first. However, after about a minute of watching them, they seemed to sense me staring at them and they went stock still. If they spoke to one another, I imagine the conversation went something like this:
BIRD 1: Psst. You see that big thing there?
BIRD 2: Yeah.
BIRD 1: I think it's watching us.
BIRD 2: Don't panic, don't panic... let's confuse it.
BIRD 1: OK, you fly off that way, then I'll go the other way. Don't look back. I'll see you on the other side of the highway.
BIRD 2: Stay safe! Don't be a hero!
As they flew away, I noticed black points on the undersides of their wings. A Google search revealed that I was stalking a couple of Ibises.
A nice way to start the day!
Our matinee was uneventful, and after a harried trek to the local Walgreens for supplies (SUPPLIES!), I joined the group on the bus for our overnight trip to Glen Allen. A terrible car accident slowed us down on I-95 near Savannah, but we finally got moving once it was cleared. One of our cast members had never seen Ghostbusters before (!), so I had the surreal experience of watching Ghostbusters on a moving rock n roll bus in the middle of the night. I never realized how much of that dialogue I have committed to memory!
Early this morning, we checked in to the beyond spacious Comfort Suites of Glen Allen, VA, which seems to be closest to Richmond, VA, by way of big cities. I've been enjoying the sitting room, giant flat panel TV and WiFi all morning, and I intend to hit the indoor pool anon. Hmm, "anon"? Well, it works. Tonight we have a Meet n Greet after the show for VIP audience members. I hope they enjoy seeing my stage makeup up close and personal! Until then, I am, from Virginia, your faithful Mrs. Howell.
My dresser, Gail was so perfect. She altered my opening number dress so I don't have to pull it over my head any more, and made my quick changes so smooth and stress-free. Thanks, Gail!
I also had my first experience at a Dave & Buster's. After practically melting down into a blubbering mascara mess due to stress and hunger, I pulled myself together enough to join the gang for a quick walk to the D&B near the hotel. Now, when I'm hungry, I always choose fat and salt over salad. So, naturally, I ordered cheesesticks, a sirloin steak (medium-rare), loaded mashed potatoes, and something called frazzled onions. Washing it down with a sweet tea made me happy to be south of the Mason-Dixon line! One bite of the potatoes -- mashed with cheese, bacon, onions, and sour cream -- filled me up, so I took a to-go box and let the rest of the group enjoy the arcade games. I'm such a pumpkin these days! It was midnight, and I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore!
Of course, if you go to bed early, you get up early (thanks, Ben Franklin!), so I was able to run off that steak on A.C Skinner Parkway. I passed by several industrial parks, frequented by business travelers and conferences. Everyone is carrying a tub full of A/V equipment around there! One complex had a sign out front for space to rent, but they worded it "Opportunities Available." Opportunities! I decided that today would be a great opportunity to create the best Gilligan's Island ever!
Well, that didn't happen in the matinee, which was, let's say, not great. But once I got to have a talk with my better half, I was ready to focus, so I listened to bodhipaksa's Guided Meditations for Busy People and practiced Being in the Moment. Our 8 pm show was amazing. Mr. Howell's parents were in the audience, and I know we were all giving it our best to make it perfect for them.
Yesterday morning, I was going to skip the run, but I was so logy from sleeping in a hotel bed that I thought I'd take a walk. Well, as soon as I got out there, my feet started running, so I decided to take myself down Salisbury Road for a spell. On my return to the hotel, I saw the most beautiful birds feeding in the grasses around one of Florida's aforementioned "natural" water formations. There were two, and they were small, obviously wading birds. Their feathers were snow white, except around the eye, which was pink/red, like their thin, long, curved beaks. Their long legs were also pink, and they dipped their beaks into the ground to pick up bugs? seeds? probably bugs with a silent grace, completely ignoring my presence, at first. However, after about a minute of watching them, they seemed to sense me staring at them and they went stock still. If they spoke to one another, I imagine the conversation went something like this:
BIRD 1: Psst. You see that big thing there?
BIRD 2: Yeah.
BIRD 1: I think it's watching us.
BIRD 2: Don't panic, don't panic... let's confuse it.
BIRD 1: OK, you fly off that way, then I'll go the other way. Don't look back. I'll see you on the other side of the highway.
BIRD 2: Stay safe! Don't be a hero!
As they flew away, I noticed black points on the undersides of their wings. A Google search revealed that I was stalking a couple of Ibises.
A nice way to start the day!
Our matinee was uneventful, and after a harried trek to the local Walgreens for supplies (SUPPLIES!), I joined the group on the bus for our overnight trip to Glen Allen. A terrible car accident slowed us down on I-95 near Savannah, but we finally got moving once it was cleared. One of our cast members had never seen Ghostbusters before (!), so I had the surreal experience of watching Ghostbusters on a moving rock n roll bus in the middle of the night. I never realized how much of that dialogue I have committed to memory!
Early this morning, we checked in to the beyond spacious Comfort Suites of Glen Allen, VA, which seems to be closest to Richmond, VA, by way of big cities. I've been enjoying the sitting room, giant flat panel TV and WiFi all morning, and I intend to hit the indoor pool anon. Hmm, "anon"? Well, it works. Tonight we have a Meet n Greet after the show for VIP audience members. I hope they enjoy seeing my stage makeup up close and personal! Until then, I am, from Virginia, your faithful Mrs. Howell.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
The Ghosts of AARP
A great way to work out the kinks from a restless night of motel sleeping is running in a strange town. You won't go too hard, because you have no idea where you are or where you're going. It doesn't seem that tough, because you're distracted by the new environments and fear of being hit by cars when you wander into un-sidewalked territory. Today, I got my butt outside at 7:30, in a beautiful Ft. Pierce, Florida morning, to work out the kinks and get to know the neighborhood.
Most of my reconnaissance mission revealed a crosswalk light across US One that would get me safely to Long John Silver's for lunch, a Sunoco station with a Food Mart, and the highlight of my run, a closed-off road that ran through a mobile home graveyard. The road was closed to cars, but it looked safe enough for running, so I started down what looked like a path to the beach. To my right, past the excessive growth of tropical weeds along the road, I could see the mobile home community called Plantation Manor (An Active 55+ Community). This was no trailer park. Each home had a yard, a driveway, a carport, and a solid foundation. While admiring these pristine white cracker boxes, I realized I was running through the remains of a similar community. Among the weeds were cement car pads, abandoned electrical boxes and steps leading to nowhere. What was once a light pole was bent completely to the ground, giving the cul-de-sac a feeling of hurricane devastation. Among this desolation would pop up shots of color, as in a giant flowering cactus or ginko tree, thriving in the ruins. At the end of the road, there was a sign warning against swimming in Florida's "natural" water formations, like the one behind the sign, as they have been deemed "unsafe" to the extent that children should not even look at them without adult supervision, lest they go blind and or contract leprosy. Or something.
It was refreshing, really. New York children are obviously much heartier than Florida children, as they tend to play in any number of "natural", well, let's say liquid, formations without any kind of supervision!
The Sunrise Theatre in Ft. Pierce is adorable. It's an old movie house, and it's located in the mission-themed downtown district. Because of its origins, there wasn't a lot of wing space, but we made it work! The S.S. Minnow can't be stopped!
Sorry about the lack of pictures, but I didn't bring my camera. There are some people taking pictures and posting them on Facebook, so, you could check my tagged pictures there, but we haven't gotten many of us in makeup and costumes. However, we'll be doing this for a while, so stay tuned!
Currently, we're on the road to Jacksonville, FL, where we will be taking up residence for three whole days and four shows! I don't know if I can handle that kind of settling down!
Most of my reconnaissance mission revealed a crosswalk light across US One that would get me safely to Long John Silver's for lunch, a Sunoco station with a Food Mart, and the highlight of my run, a closed-off road that ran through a mobile home graveyard. The road was closed to cars, but it looked safe enough for running, so I started down what looked like a path to the beach. To my right, past the excessive growth of tropical weeds along the road, I could see the mobile home community called Plantation Manor (An Active 55+ Community). This was no trailer park. Each home had a yard, a driveway, a carport, and a solid foundation. While admiring these pristine white cracker boxes, I realized I was running through the remains of a similar community. Among the weeds were cement car pads, abandoned electrical boxes and steps leading to nowhere. What was once a light pole was bent completely to the ground, giving the cul-de-sac a feeling of hurricane devastation. Among this desolation would pop up shots of color, as in a giant flowering cactus or ginko tree, thriving in the ruins. At the end of the road, there was a sign warning against swimming in Florida's "natural" water formations, like the one behind the sign, as they have been deemed "unsafe" to the extent that children should not even look at them without adult supervision, lest they go blind and or contract leprosy. Or something.
It was refreshing, really. New York children are obviously much heartier than Florida children, as they tend to play in any number of "natural", well, let's say liquid, formations without any kind of supervision!
The Sunrise Theatre in Ft. Pierce is adorable. It's an old movie house, and it's located in the mission-themed downtown district. Because of its origins, there wasn't a lot of wing space, but we made it work! The S.S. Minnow can't be stopped!
Sorry about the lack of pictures, but I didn't bring my camera. There are some people taking pictures and posting them on Facebook, so, you could check my tagged pictures there, but we haven't gotten many of us in makeup and costumes. However, we'll be doing this for a while, so stay tuned!
Currently, we're on the road to Jacksonville, FL, where we will be taking up residence for three whole days and four shows! I don't know if I can handle that kind of settling down!
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
On the Road, Three-Hour Tour Style
Back to blogging, because I'm on tour with Gilligan's Island: The Musical, and not only is there a lot of interesting stuff going on, but I have a lot of downtime.
We just had our first show in Clearwater, FL at a truly lovely venue called Ruth Eckerd Hall. I highly recommend the space and the staff! Then we got into our pimpin' rock n roll style tour bus, which was previously used by none other than Sir Elton John himself! Wacky! Our driver, Rusty, reminds me of a sober Ron White, and I'm sure he'll have plenty of stories to tell us. This bus has bunks with comfy bedspreads, WiFi, and a big hinkin' TV, not to mention the mirrored ceilings. I'm serious.
We're on our way to Ft. Pierce, where our theater is said to be right on the beach. Even Mrs. Howell may be venturing out in the sun tomorrow! So, what do you want to know about touring? I'm happy to give all the answers. But first, I'm gonna eat this Moon Pie I got at a gas station!
We just had our first show in Clearwater, FL at a truly lovely venue called Ruth Eckerd Hall. I highly recommend the space and the staff! Then we got into our pimpin' rock n roll style tour bus, which was previously used by none other than Sir Elton John himself! Wacky! Our driver, Rusty, reminds me of a sober Ron White, and I'm sure he'll have plenty of stories to tell us. This bus has bunks with comfy bedspreads, WiFi, and a big hinkin' TV, not to mention the mirrored ceilings. I'm serious.
We're on our way to Ft. Pierce, where our theater is said to be right on the beach. Even Mrs. Howell may be venturing out in the sun tomorrow! So, what do you want to know about touring? I'm happy to give all the answers. But first, I'm gonna eat this Moon Pie I got at a gas station!
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