I'm hanging in the Tour Actor lounge right now, and the musical director of the company just came by to tell me how he liked what I had to say last night at our End of the Summer Party. I don't remember anything specific, but he said my enthusiasm reminds him of himself when he was on tour. Michael was the first person I met when interviewing for the job, and I am thrilled with the compliment... SO PSYCHED for the Fall Tour!
Jamie & I have just finished our Check-IN and our partnership has come to an end. Mom & Dad flew in last night, and met the staff. We're having a great time catching up in Missoula, and we found out that Gordon (who manages all our trucks) knows my homeroom teacher from high school - Once again, SMALL, SMALL world!
Tomorrow we hit Glacier National Park and then California Here I COME!!!
Friday, August 26, 2005
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Summer's OVER
Well, this week flew and tomorrow we commence on a 4-day journey back to Missoula. I have been in Appalachia (Kentucky) for the past week, and I couldn't help thinking of the "Appalachian Emergency Room" sketch from SNL. All we could see for miles on our drive in was mullets and trailers. Now I know why it is called "Kentucky" Fried Chicken... Everywhere you look there is fast food, and much of the obesity in America lives in the town we were in. We had to make some costumes to fit the kids... I felt really bad when we ran out of our XL Jungle Book T-Shirts, and there weren't any other sizes to fit the kids who wanted to buy them. I have sort of indulged this week on Wendys (picked up a Frosty yesterday) and Taco Bell (tried their new "Cheesy Gordita Crunch" mmm...), but as I head back to Missoula, I will eat only healthy truck snacks. Overall, I have toned this summer, but haven't really lost weight... haven't gained though, so I'm on my way. Over my two week break, I am going to work on the book that I'm writing about actors on tour and precautions to prevent weight gain.
I am psyched for the upcoming week! Tomorrow, I head to WV to check out my friend James's summer stock play, and Monday I will meet up with some college friends in Chicago. We'll also meet up with another team (Maryann & Trish) and caravan back to Montana on Tuesday morning. Wednesday we'll arrive in Missoula, and Thursday Mom & Dad fly in!
I'm spending the following two weeks outside of San Francisco with family, so please let me know if you'll be in the area, or if you have some recommendations on places to check out.
Looking forward to the Fall Tour with my new partner, Nick. We've been chatting much, and should have a great time!
I am psyched for the upcoming week! Tomorrow, I head to WV to check out my friend James's summer stock play, and Monday I will meet up with some college friends in Chicago. We'll also meet up with another team (Maryann & Trish) and caravan back to Montana on Tuesday morning. Wednesday we'll arrive in Missoula, and Thursday Mom & Dad fly in!
I'm spending the following two weeks outside of San Francisco with family, so please let me know if you'll be in the area, or if you have some recommendations on places to check out.
Looking forward to the Fall Tour with my new partner, Nick. We've been chatting much, and should have a great time!
Monday, August 08, 2005
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Home of the B-2 Bomber
8/5/05
10pm
Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri
Well, I survived my first week on a military base. I have spent the past six days at the Whiteman Inn on the base that is known as the “Home of the B-2 Bomber”. It’s a crazy coincidence that I am only 20 miles from my good high school friend, Amanda’s hometown of Sedalia, MO ( I’m planning on checking out their State Fair tomorrow on our day off).
It has been a difficult week, but as usual, I feel great at the end of our show day! Unfortunately, I was feeling burnout early in the week, and our circumstances (rehearsing in a noisy gym w/ kids not used to structure and lack of energy from partner) were not encouraging. We hold our dress rehearsals before the first show, and it was TERRIBLE…. No exaggerations…. After many prayers, and personal pep talks, I felt like I almost single-handedly pulled the show off… Cues were missed left and right, kids talked backstage, but the friends and families of the kids seemed to enjoy in spite of or maybe because of its imperfections. During the first show, the whole group of wolves (a large group in “The Jungle Book”) left the stage prematurely, leaving it to me and three child actors to improve… It worked… These kids are smart! At another point, our little elephant never came onstage, and the assistant directors and my partner, not paying attention, didn’t notice, so I left stage to bring him on to join me… Fun, fun! Our second performance was much improved, but not without bloopers like one of our rocks (set pieces) flipping over during the wolf musical # “Leader of the Pack”, and the skipping of two scenes because, yet again, no one told our little elephant when to come on…poor little guy!
A single mom, Denise, and her two daughters Tynedria and Tyshana had so much fun… The girls have lived in New York, England, and Oklahoma before moving to Missouri… Our crazy contact, Connie who raises snakes… Her intro to the show was awesome and so fitting for our production, she was dressed as "The Crocodile Hunter" and brought her ball python onto stage with her, psyching the crowd up for the show… "Danja, Danja, Danja.." Wish I had a picture!
10pm
Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri
Well, I survived my first week on a military base. I have spent the past six days at the Whiteman Inn on the base that is known as the “Home of the B-2 Bomber”. It’s a crazy coincidence that I am only 20 miles from my good high school friend, Amanda’s hometown of Sedalia, MO ( I’m planning on checking out their State Fair tomorrow on our day off).
It has been a difficult week, but as usual, I feel great at the end of our show day! Unfortunately, I was feeling burnout early in the week, and our circumstances (rehearsing in a noisy gym w/ kids not used to structure and lack of energy from partner) were not encouraging. We hold our dress rehearsals before the first show, and it was TERRIBLE…. No exaggerations…. After many prayers, and personal pep talks, I felt like I almost single-handedly pulled the show off… Cues were missed left and right, kids talked backstage, but the friends and families of the kids seemed to enjoy in spite of or maybe because of its imperfections. During the first show, the whole group of wolves (a large group in “The Jungle Book”) left the stage prematurely, leaving it to me and three child actors to improve… It worked… These kids are smart! At another point, our little elephant never came onstage, and the assistant directors and my partner, not paying attention, didn’t notice, so I left stage to bring him on to join me… Fun, fun! Our second performance was much improved, but not without bloopers like one of our rocks (set pieces) flipping over during the wolf musical # “Leader of the Pack”, and the skipping of two scenes because, yet again, no one told our little elephant when to come on…poor little guy!
A single mom, Denise, and her two daughters Tynedria and Tyshana had so much fun… The girls have lived in New York, England, and Oklahoma before moving to Missouri… Our crazy contact, Connie who raises snakes… Her intro to the show was awesome and so fitting for our production, she was dressed as "The Crocodile Hunter" and brought her ball python onto stage with her, psyching the crowd up for the show… "Danja, Danja, Danja.." Wish I had a picture!
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Pictures from Valentine, NE
A Prairie Sunset
Up Close and Personal with Buffalo
Jamie and I with the Simmons girls
Crazy Cloud- It was rotating!
Nebraska Moon
Where the East Meets the West: Prairies meet the Rockies
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Bye Colorado, Don't worry, I'll be back
Who would have known that I would spend an entire week in Littleton, CO? Last spring, I saw COLUMBINUS performed at Roundhouse Theatre in Silver Spring, and was totally affected by the intense, realistic portrayal of kids at the Columbine High School shooting. The play was the most moving piece of art I have experienced, so you can imagine how I felt seeing the "Welcome to Littleton" sign on our way into town. Of course, there is no trace of the incident anymore, and my work partner didn't even know Littleton was the place of the school shooting... proof that Littleton is like any other American town.... your basic chains (well healthy chains! NOODLES & COMPANY!! WILD OATS).
Julie (Iggy) and Greg had a gorgeous house that they graciously opened to us for the week. I will include pictures when I get a chance of their fun, huge dogs. One is part Newfy, and the other part St. Bernard I believe. They have a gorgeous inground pool in the back and my bedroom smelled of strong citronella.. I LOVED IT (in fact, when I open my suitcase, I an still smell the citronella!)
I recently read The Secret Life of Bees, and I swear it has affected my view of bugs. This couldn't have come at a better time, since I encountered many interesting species in Colorado, and now Nebraska.
So, yes, I've reached Valentine, Nebraska, and I was pleasantly surprised at the sights out here. It's gorgeous. Last night, the Simmons invited us over to their ranch, and after dinner we toured some of their 160 acres. We went straight to the highlight: In their prairies they have some 40 buffalo, and we drove right up to the middle of the herd, it was awesome! Check out the pictures!
Julie (Iggy) and Greg had a gorgeous house that they graciously opened to us for the week. I will include pictures when I get a chance of their fun, huge dogs. One is part Newfy, and the other part St. Bernard I believe. They have a gorgeous inground pool in the back and my bedroom smelled of strong citronella.. I LOVED IT (in fact, when I open my suitcase, I an still smell the citronella!)
I recently read The Secret Life of Bees, and I swear it has affected my view of bugs. This couldn't have come at a better time, since I encountered many interesting species in Colorado, and now Nebraska.
So, yes, I've reached Valentine, Nebraska, and I was pleasantly surprised at the sights out here. It's gorgeous. Last night, the Simmons invited us over to their ranch, and after dinner we toured some of their 160 acres. We went straight to the highlight: In their prairies they have some 40 buffalo, and we drove right up to the middle of the herd, it was awesome! Check out the pictures!
Friday, July 08, 2005
Week off in DENVER
It felt so good to be driving into the city Monday night. Although, I've found it interesting to check out these small towns, the city is always calling my name, and I miss going into DC.
RIDE DOWN: The cow town of Medora, ND was fun... I picked up my authentic cowboy hat (don't worry Dad, I'll still wear the blue one, it was just too large to pack :-) ). We also checked out the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is in the center of North Dakota Badlands. I definitely MISSED the Bristol 4th of July, but I supposed Mount Rushmore would have to do. It was kind of surreal being there... not like this whole trip isn't! We finished on through South Dakota and into Wyoming. While stopping for gas in Cheyenne, a woman approached us, and told us about her experience as a kid with Missoula Children's Theatre, and said it was an experience she's always remembered (this was over 15 years ago). Pretty amazing!
Washington Post has called Missoula Children's Theatre the "PEACE CORPS of THEATRE". There is definitely a documentary in the near future lined up, and our director, Jim Caron, has gotten offers for a reality TV show.. 2 partners, one truck, thousands of miles, hundreds of kids... Can we say drama??
So while in Denver, I've been checking out some shopping sights, catching free concerts, and yesterday afternoon, I rented a bike to tour some paths around the city. What a cool city this is... Everyone seems so health conscious, "Whole Foods", "Wild Oats", and so many people biking, blading, and running. AND everyone follows the laws of the road, including pedestrians and bikers waiting for the walk and don't walk. These people aren't in a RUSH. Imagine. I can definitely see myself living here for a time, and I'm really thinking about auditioning for the National Theatre Conservatory again, which is in the heart of the city (Denver's Center for the Performing Arts). This is probably the MOST COMPETITIVE program though... 8 people are accepted!
Another Missoula Children's Theatre team is coming into town tonight, so we will probably meet up tomorrow, and trade stories. They are on their way from New Mexico to Nebraska. It will be awesome to see some familiar faces! Next week, I will be about a half hour south of Denver, so I'm sure I will experience as much of it as I can before we go back into the heartland (Nebraska, Missouri, and Kentucky).
Much love to all!
RIDE DOWN: The cow town of Medora, ND was fun... I picked up my authentic cowboy hat (don't worry Dad, I'll still wear the blue one, it was just too large to pack :-) ). We also checked out the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is in the center of North Dakota Badlands. I definitely MISSED the Bristol 4th of July, but I supposed Mount Rushmore would have to do. It was kind of surreal being there... not like this whole trip isn't! We finished on through South Dakota and into Wyoming. While stopping for gas in Cheyenne, a woman approached us, and told us about her experience as a kid with Missoula Children's Theatre, and said it was an experience she's always remembered (this was over 15 years ago). Pretty amazing!
Washington Post has called Missoula Children's Theatre the "PEACE CORPS of THEATRE". There is definitely a documentary in the near future lined up, and our director, Jim Caron, has gotten offers for a reality TV show.. 2 partners, one truck, thousands of miles, hundreds of kids... Can we say drama??
So while in Denver, I've been checking out some shopping sights, catching free concerts, and yesterday afternoon, I rented a bike to tour some paths around the city. What a cool city this is... Everyone seems so health conscious, "Whole Foods", "Wild Oats", and so many people biking, blading, and running. AND everyone follows the laws of the road, including pedestrians and bikers waiting for the walk and don't walk. These people aren't in a RUSH. Imagine. I can definitely see myself living here for a time, and I'm really thinking about auditioning for the National Theatre Conservatory again, which is in the heart of the city (Denver's Center for the Performing Arts). This is probably the MOST COMPETITIVE program though... 8 people are accepted!
Another Missoula Children's Theatre team is coming into town tonight, so we will probably meet up tomorrow, and trade stories. They are on their way from New Mexico to Nebraska. It will be awesome to see some familiar faces! Next week, I will be about a half hour south of Denver, so I'm sure I will experience as much of it as I can before we go back into the heartland (Nebraska, Missouri, and Kentucky).
Much love to all!
Thursday, July 07, 2005
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