Birthplace of Freedom

So we walked to see the Liberty Bell today. It seems like a big fuss for a big bell with a crack in it. (I offered to repair the crack but the security guard declined)

We had the requisite photos taken with the Bell. It's a cool little museum, though the documentary takes itself a tad too seriously. It boasts that the Liberty bell is the most important bell in the world. In all honesty the list of important bells in the world can't really be that long. But it was fun none the less.

The weather in Philly has been beautiful. Sunny and in the mid sixties. Philly's like a scarier version of NY. I was offered Oxycotton, pot and 'stuff' on the walk home from the theatre the first night. The city is great but makes me miss New York so much. There's no place quite like it. I can't wait to see the tree at Rockefeller center or the store windows when we play Newark. New York at Christmas is amazing and I haven't seen it since '03. I'm going to try to get tickets to St. Patrick's Cathedral for Christmas Eve.

Captions

The top photo is one of our trumpet players Shannon Seals dressed as Kasey RT Graham for Halloween. The next is Matt Wade dressed as Franken-room. And the final is our Assistant Company Manager as Dan Weisberg as Mary Catherine Gallagher.

Halloween Pictures

Pirates, Halloween and Lobsters, Oh My!

I got to see my first 'out of town try -out' preview of an upcoming Broadway musical. The experience was a mixed bag. It was great to get to see something that undoubtabley will go through a metamorphasis before hitting the great white way.

But on the other hand it feels like it might need to be an entirely different show for it to really work on Broadway. Everything in the show is really tepid. The score is supposed to be romantic and lush and it just kinda sounds like western family Les Miz. The cast is good but their talent deserves an emotional, engaging story. One thing that they can improve on easily is the transitions. In their current state most are completely abrubt and anti-climactic. It feels like an evening of clapping because you feel like you're 'supposed' to at that moment.

Oh well. I was hoping that there would be a big, splashy, beautiful and grand new musical heading to the Broadway skyline but I'm afraid this isn't going to be it. It might be too early to call though so who knows.

Here's a few Halloween photos from our party in West Virginia.

Penn State

Having a blast playing Penn State. The town is amazing with great stores, restaurants and bars. The show is going really well. It's not selling great but the product is wonderful. Hopefully the sales will catch up.

With a few days off this next week I'm travelling to Chicago to visit a friend and to see a preview of the Broadway bound musical 'The Pirate Queen'.

I'll post some Halloween pictures soon