I guess 2 weeks is long enough...
...to go without writing. I apologize. The tour is consuming every ounce of energy I have. i've never watched so much TV or drunk so much beer in such a short period of time. But it's going relatively well i think. Despite all the stress and work and exhaustion, we're taking this really great story out to kids and sharing it with them, often in places that probably never get shows; kids who have never seen theatre before and probably never would have if we hadn't come. The feedback we get from people who've come to see the show is always fabulous, and when Gina went home for a couple days at the beginning of November, she brought back an envelope full of cards that classes had made and mailed to Childsplay. It's really great to know we're having at least some impression on these kids. I attribute much of its success to the writing-it doesn't talk down to kids, or beat lessons into them like a lot of children's stories do-and the actors. They really are a talented pair, especially Gina. From Day onw i knew she'd be amazing-with only 1 week of rehearsal to learn a show for a national tour she pulled it together, and continues to shine in her roles. Enrique (Tomas's younger brother) is easily my favourite character if only because of the way Gina plays him.
We have yet to have a trouble free load-in, if it isn't lighting problems than there's usually a buzz or hum in the sound system that takes an hour to fix. That part is getting down right tedious. Today's load-in in West palm took the longer end of the spectrum-2.5 hours, but on the upside the lighting girl was super cool, kinda cute, and really good. Unfortunately, there was a fun high pitched tone in the sound system which took forever to fix. But at least the actors got significant time off. We also had back to back shows today for the first time, 10am and 11:30am, which with a run time of an hour made turn around about 20 minutes-just enough time for a super fast reset, pee, and cup of coffee. LOL. But both shows went well, and the kids LOVED it. And it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO nice to not have to load-out....and then realize we don't even have to load-out until Wednesday. WOOHOO!!! ASide from the 7am load-in today, this West Palm venue has been a nice transition back into the tour.
Which leads me to.....I GOT TO GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For 5 days!!!!! It was AMAZING. Of course Eric and I were kind of gross most of the time, but we hung out with Ryan too...who also told me he wouldn't give me a ride to the airport yesterday 'cuz he doesn't want me to leave. (AAAAAAAWWWWW! I'm loved) Wednesday Mandy drove up from her parents in Tucson to pick me up. I suggested we go over to Rainforest for lunch, and got to see a couple people still there from when i worked. We had good conversations and good food. On the way out I saw Jack (my favouritest FOH manager ever...and cutest but that's besides the point) up by the bar so I told Mandy I was going to say hi. So I walked up to him and he wasn't looking right at me so I just said "What? You weren't going to come say hi?" 'cuz i knew he knew i was there-everyone did, lol. that's the way it is. And he looked up and cracked a smile and apologized for getting all caught up in the kitchen and then forgetting. Then he asked if we'd already cashed out which we had, and he said "oh, I was going to give you a discount" So I got a rainchecked discount next i go in. haha. I think he luuuuvs me! lol. but that's not the best part. He asked if I was gone forever and I kind of chuckled and said "well my contract is up March 14 so i could need a job" Jack-"I'll be here waiting" Now if that doesn't make a girl feel like she's good at a job nothing will. So I said bye to him and as Mandy and i walked away she promptly scolded me for not forewarning her how attractive he was. I just laughed and I said i wanted it to be a surprise, and "oh by the way-he's Hawaiian too." ;-) LOL So I definitely have a job to go back to when this gig's up that I like, though the money's not so good. But, at least I'm wanted there.
So anyway, after Rainforest we drove down to Tucson and met up with her parents. I saw the cute little rental apartment they're currently in, and the AMAZING house they've bought and are in process of moving into. It's fucking ridiculous, one floor but HUGE with a really nice patio with a spa pool, built in bbq, and private entrance onto the golf course directly behind them. Crazy. Then we went out to dinner at this place Mandy's been telling me about for as long as I remember (her grandparents have been in tucson for years) called Pinnacle Peak's that's this hilarious old western town mock-up with a restaurant in it that serves some pretty good steaks from their own cows. After dinner we went and saw a production of "Scrooge, or Older but Miser" at the Gaslight Theatre which was a comically shmacted melodrama version of A christmas carol. My favourite part being towards the beginning of the show when Tiny Tim and his sister enter from stage left without Tim's cane! The dad looked at him and went "Oh my God! You're healed!!! It's a miracle!" then took the kid under his arm and half-whispered "Next time bring the cane" to which the kid smiled. They finished the last couple minutes of the scene and then when they all exited out the store door into the street, you could see Tiny Tim suddenly limping again offstage through the windows. Hilarious. Unfortunately it lasted waaaaaaaaaaaay too long and i was falling asleep in the end just from being tired. We didn't get back to Tempe until 1am which basically ruined Mandy and my's original plan of drinking tequila and making stuffing for the bird. oh well. we still started the stuffing and had a drink and went to bed around 3am.
Thursday (Thanksgiving)I got up at 8:30 and started finishing the stuffing. Mandy got up shortly thereafter and headed back to Tucson. (OH I forgot to mention what she gave me for my birthday/xmas present......the George W Voodoo Doll!! hahaha) Eric got up and washed the bird so I could stuff it, then we got it in the oven and I went and took a nap just after ryan finally got up. lol. All in all dinner consisted of turkey, stuffing (I think i forgot to mention that I made my mum's stuffing for the first time and it was AWESOME), ryan's famous broccoli salad, mashed taters, gravy, cranberry, and pillsbury biscuits. it was DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELICIOUS!!!!! lol. not only 'cuz turkey dinner is always awesome, but also since i've been eating in restaurants for two months with the exception of breakfast at Anna's in madison.
Friday I slept in, worked out, and headed out to Childsplay to meet with Antho and Gretchen (prod manager and assoc prod manager). Had a good talk with them about things antho observed when he flew out to observe our load-in and shows in memphis, and things that can be improved on their part for the spring tour. I feel it was productive, and it was good to see gretchen again. Also saw David, our director and artistic director of the company, who gave me a hug and said "you guys are doing a great job out there." After the meeting I headed back to the apartment and didn't do much of anything, except eat another turkey sandwich for dinner. hehe. Saturday was a relaxing day of hanging out in my PJ's pretty much all day, doing a bit of laundry, and watching movies. All in all it was a good few days off, but certainly not long enough. I can't wait until dec. 18. Also, it was very weird to be in the apartment without Jake. He moved back to Buffalo last month.
But for now, I've got another two nights here in West Palm, and I'm having dinner with my cousin (who i haven't seen in a couple years) and his new wife (who I haven't met yet) tomorrow night and i'm very excited about that. Then we're spending three days in Jacksonville, including my birthday Friday night which will be great 'cuz my friend Matt, aka crackdaddy, just moved there in september. Then we go to Coral Springs where hopefully Connie and Andy from Naples will come visit. Then we have a few one nighters in New Port Richie and Clearwater, before going to Orlando to spend saturday the 8th at Disney World. That should be fun. marcos got us hooked up with a couple tickets so we only really have to pay for one. woooohooo. From there we go to sarasota, then take two days to drive up Hopkinsville, KY, do a couple shows and take three days to drive to Albuquerque, NM for the last three shows of the fall leg. December 18th we drive home to Phoenix. I can't wait.
I suppose I've blathered on enough for one entry. Just know that I read more than I post so keep me up on your lives and i'll try to say hi every once in awhile. All my blessings.
We have yet to have a trouble free load-in, if it isn't lighting problems than there's usually a buzz or hum in the sound system that takes an hour to fix. That part is getting down right tedious. Today's load-in in West palm took the longer end of the spectrum-2.5 hours, but on the upside the lighting girl was super cool, kinda cute, and really good. Unfortunately, there was a fun high pitched tone in the sound system which took forever to fix. But at least the actors got significant time off. We also had back to back shows today for the first time, 10am and 11:30am, which with a run time of an hour made turn around about 20 minutes-just enough time for a super fast reset, pee, and cup of coffee. LOL. But both shows went well, and the kids LOVED it. And it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO nice to not have to load-out....and then realize we don't even have to load-out until Wednesday. WOOHOO!!! ASide from the 7am load-in today, this West Palm venue has been a nice transition back into the tour.
Which leads me to.....I GOT TO GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For 5 days!!!!! It was AMAZING. Of course Eric and I were kind of gross most of the time, but we hung out with Ryan too...who also told me he wouldn't give me a ride to the airport yesterday 'cuz he doesn't want me to leave. (AAAAAAAWWWWW! I'm loved) Wednesday Mandy drove up from her parents in Tucson to pick me up. I suggested we go over to Rainforest for lunch, and got to see a couple people still there from when i worked. We had good conversations and good food. On the way out I saw Jack (my favouritest FOH manager ever...and cutest but that's besides the point) up by the bar so I told Mandy I was going to say hi. So I walked up to him and he wasn't looking right at me so I just said "What? You weren't going to come say hi?" 'cuz i knew he knew i was there-everyone did, lol. that's the way it is. And he looked up and cracked a smile and apologized for getting all caught up in the kitchen and then forgetting. Then he asked if we'd already cashed out which we had, and he said "oh, I was going to give you a discount" So I got a rainchecked discount next i go in. haha. I think he luuuuvs me! lol. but that's not the best part. He asked if I was gone forever and I kind of chuckled and said "well my contract is up March 14 so i could need a job" Jack-"I'll be here waiting" Now if that doesn't make a girl feel like she's good at a job nothing will. So I said bye to him and as Mandy and i walked away she promptly scolded me for not forewarning her how attractive he was. I just laughed and I said i wanted it to be a surprise, and "oh by the way-he's Hawaiian too." ;-) LOL So I definitely have a job to go back to when this gig's up that I like, though the money's not so good. But, at least I'm wanted there.
So anyway, after Rainforest we drove down to Tucson and met up with her parents. I saw the cute little rental apartment they're currently in, and the AMAZING house they've bought and are in process of moving into. It's fucking ridiculous, one floor but HUGE with a really nice patio with a spa pool, built in bbq, and private entrance onto the golf course directly behind them. Crazy. Then we went out to dinner at this place Mandy's been telling me about for as long as I remember (her grandparents have been in tucson for years) called Pinnacle Peak's that's this hilarious old western town mock-up with a restaurant in it that serves some pretty good steaks from their own cows. After dinner we went and saw a production of "Scrooge, or Older but Miser" at the Gaslight Theatre which was a comically shmacted melodrama version of A christmas carol. My favourite part being towards the beginning of the show when Tiny Tim and his sister enter from stage left without Tim's cane! The dad looked at him and went "Oh my God! You're healed!!! It's a miracle!" then took the kid under his arm and half-whispered "Next time bring the cane" to which the kid smiled. They finished the last couple minutes of the scene and then when they all exited out the store door into the street, you could see Tiny Tim suddenly limping again offstage through the windows. Hilarious. Unfortunately it lasted waaaaaaaaaaaay too long and i was falling asleep in the end just from being tired. We didn't get back to Tempe until 1am which basically ruined Mandy and my's original plan of drinking tequila and making stuffing for the bird. oh well. we still started the stuffing and had a drink and went to bed around 3am.
Thursday (Thanksgiving)I got up at 8:30 and started finishing the stuffing. Mandy got up shortly thereafter and headed back to Tucson. (OH I forgot to mention what she gave me for my birthday/xmas present......the George W Voodoo Doll!! hahaha) Eric got up and washed the bird so I could stuff it, then we got it in the oven and I went and took a nap just after ryan finally got up. lol. All in all dinner consisted of turkey, stuffing (I think i forgot to mention that I made my mum's stuffing for the first time and it was AWESOME), ryan's famous broccoli salad, mashed taters, gravy, cranberry, and pillsbury biscuits. it was DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELICIOUS!!!!! lol. not only 'cuz turkey dinner is always awesome, but also since i've been eating in restaurants for two months with the exception of breakfast at Anna's in madison.
Friday I slept in, worked out, and headed out to Childsplay to meet with Antho and Gretchen (prod manager and assoc prod manager). Had a good talk with them about things antho observed when he flew out to observe our load-in and shows in memphis, and things that can be improved on their part for the spring tour. I feel it was productive, and it was good to see gretchen again. Also saw David, our director and artistic director of the company, who gave me a hug and said "you guys are doing a great job out there." After the meeting I headed back to the apartment and didn't do much of anything, except eat another turkey sandwich for dinner. hehe. Saturday was a relaxing day of hanging out in my PJ's pretty much all day, doing a bit of laundry, and watching movies. All in all it was a good few days off, but certainly not long enough. I can't wait until dec. 18. Also, it was very weird to be in the apartment without Jake. He moved back to Buffalo last month.
But for now, I've got another two nights here in West Palm, and I'm having dinner with my cousin (who i haven't seen in a couple years) and his new wife (who I haven't met yet) tomorrow night and i'm very excited about that. Then we're spending three days in Jacksonville, including my birthday Friday night which will be great 'cuz my friend Matt, aka crackdaddy, just moved there in september. Then we go to Coral Springs where hopefully Connie and Andy from Naples will come visit. Then we have a few one nighters in New Port Richie and Clearwater, before going to Orlando to spend saturday the 8th at Disney World. That should be fun. marcos got us hooked up with a couple tickets so we only really have to pay for one. woooohooo. From there we go to sarasota, then take two days to drive up Hopkinsville, KY, do a couple shows and take three days to drive to Albuquerque, NM for the last three shows of the fall leg. December 18th we drive home to Phoenix. I can't wait.
I suppose I've blathered on enough for one entry. Just know that I read more than I post so keep me up on your lives and i'll try to say hi every once in awhile. All my blessings.