So many things

I'm just going to list the fun and crazy things that have happend recently and then some musings too.

1. Sally Feild is amazing. If you don't watch Brothers and Sisters you should start.

2. With my recent freeing up of time, after leaving Producers, I have had a greater chance to expand my horizons (by watching more tv)

Desperate Housewives is as good as ever. Pushing Daisies is quaint and charming. Law and Order SVU - stellar. And The Office is as funny as anything on TV. If you haven't seen 'the commercial' epsiode watch it on NBC.com.

3. Last weekend I ran a traditional jewish deli in the Bronx. What?, You may find your self asking. But it is true. On craigslist I responded to a caterer looking for some help over the weekend.

It consisted of me basically running this jewish deli while the owners went out to events they were catering. We are talking babaganoush, bagels and many kinds of herring. Quite the experience. By the end of the day I found myself asking 'Oi, you want I should shmear a little spread on that for you? Bubala! I need more lox'

4. I am currently living in harlem which isn't as scary as it sounds. It's not the same harlem it was 5 or 10 years ago. Still kind of ghetto but doesn't ever feel particularly unsafe. (Hopefully I won't now get mugged tomorrow)

5. I am having a birthday get-together at splash on Monday Nov. 26th. Around 9ish if you're in NY.

6. I'm trying to eat just special K for breakfast and lunch and then a lean cuisine for dinner. Trying to be smart before thanksgiving so I can gorge that week. My body has hit the part of the diet where it has started to eat itself. I'm also drinking my protein shakes so that helps a little. Sympathy cards can be sent to my parents home and i will read them later.

7. I'm going to Ian's parent's house for Thanksgiving. Should be wonderful. Two little neices of his, an eccentric aunt to bake with and football on tv all day. Who could ask for anything more.

8. I think I might audition for Big Brother 9 on Sunday. I don't really expect to get on it but it would be fun to audition. I just get so nervous. I hope I don't get in the room and have zero personality. I'd rather do Project Runway though. Except I don't design clothes. . .

10. Reason 103,409,424 to loathe Tyra. On last night's top model (I told you I have been watching a lot of tv lately) when she announced who got the last picture, she stood there and talked to the girl for like 2 minutes while the poor girl who was voted off had to stand there and wait for her pity speech. It was so awkward and strange. Like Tyra. And her bangs.

I guess that's all that's new for now. Happy Holidays. (And yes, I mean Thanksgiving and Christmas because it's never too early to start wishing the world a merry christmas)

It's the end of the Road

Today is my last day on the road. At least for a while. Sad? A little. Excited? A lot.

I can't wait to spend a little time taking lessons and pounding the pavement. I've solidified a lot of bad habits in the last few years and the time has come to fix that.

I will definitley miss a lot of people but I will also get to see/hang out with a ton of friends that I never get to see.

I will be in New York and Chicago for the month of November and then I will be in Spokane for all of December enjoying the month of Christmas. Then it's back to NY in January to look for an appartment, a job and a future.

Here goes nothing. . .

Tour Wrap up musings

Summer is coming for me and I can't wait. It's strange to be touring this late in the year and even stranger not to be doing summer stock. This is my first time not at either CDA summer theatre or The Theater Barn in 8 years!

I'm starting to go through withdrawl but hopefully I'll be so busy I won't have time to get too down. I have only 18 shows left (16) after tonight and then it's home. I do miss the orchestra rehearsals and the apartments though:(

We've been in Tampa all week and it's been wonderful. The hotel has a pool that's open 24/7 so it's been BBQ and pool party til all hours of the morning. (Of course I usually peace out around 2 or 3 because I have a week constitution). Last night a few injured Yankee pitchers that are down here doing rehabilitation came and hung out.

I tried to set one of them up with a show girl but I eventually got tired and had to go to bed.

Last week I got to see my friend Dustin from High School, who lives in Memphis. He's doing amazingly and it was so great to get a chance to hang out. We were a few years apart in school and mostly did theatre and music together so it was fun to get to know each other as adults now.

I scheduled my U-Haul and my storage unit in NY yesterday so I guess the drive is really happening. I think I conned a friend into driving to Chicago with me:) and then Ian will go the rest of the way to New York. Then it's bumming around the city and Ocean City, Maryland until Producers starts rehearsals again in mid-august. Ian's grandparents had a property there that we're going to pull a 'This old house' on. Should be fun.

Well I guess that's about all that's new.

Most Amazing Tour Moment Ever!!!

Yes, you read that right. 'Most Amazing Tour moment ever!!!' complete with three exclamation points. (I don't know that I've ever actually written the word exclamation until just now)

Occasionally in 'Producers land' we have a local celeb (ie television news affiliate anchor or radio personality) guest start as the foreman of the Jury. The foreman has one line and then walks off stage.

Up to this point the guest stars have been merely amusing. Some forget the line and sort of make it up. Some walk off the stage and skip wing one trying to squeeze off stage between the light tower and the proscenium.

But our latest takes the cake. He delivers 'We find the defendant . . . . (Pause for dramatic effect) INCREDIBLY GUILTY'.

Then he walks about five feet downstage and takes a Liza Minelli solo bow. He then turns upstage with arm outstretched to acknowledge the little old ladies and the judge.

He then proceeds downstage, stepping off the show deck to start a round of applause for me and the orchestra (we're not playing at the time but he doesn't seem to mind).

Then to top it all off he Shuffles Off to Buffalo into wing one. And yes, he was from a Fox news station.

After the bows the entire playing company Shuffled off to Buffalo offstage in some sort of tribute. Maybe my favorite 30 seconds ever.

Calgary and such

I'm sitting in myvhotel room in Calgary, AL and all of the news channels are from Spokane. It makes me a little homesick to see the skyline of Spokane during the weather segments and getting to see Dana Haynes talk about Spokane issues. Beautiful.

I have one week in Calgary then off to Southern California for a while. Should be a blast. Between the two I'm heading to New York for a few days to see Ian and hopefully to take a piano lesson with a great jazz pianist.

I can't wait to hit some warm weather and finally mail my winter coat home!

Trapped in Midwest

Don't get me wrong I like the midwest. We've just been here for a while. I'm ready to hit the Southern Calinfornia portion of the itinerary. It's time for swimming pools and movie stars.

We leave Wichita, Kansas today and head to Bismark North Dakota. Two weeks from today I'll be heading from Canada to Palm Desert and I can't wait.

I sent out several emails to various piano teachers in cities we're playing. I'm hoping to set up a few lessons with each. I figure I might as well not wait until I'm back in the city.

I guess that's all the new 'news'.

Around the World

Tonight the Producer's tour hosted it's very first around the world party. We were lucky enough to have the night off so of course we had to put it to good use.

The evening started in Wisconsin where we partook in a quiz covering the history of the 'Dairy State'. Jello shots and Cran/vodkas were provided as well as a meat and 'cheese' platter.

We then continued to Ireland where Guiness and Bailey's flood like beer and liqueur. A fiery 'lute off' broke out but quickly subsided.

On we trucked to the Carribean. A few pirates greeted us at the door and forced everyone to limbo under swords for entrance to the room. Once inside we saw that the hosts had moved there mattresses and bed frames into the corner providing an island in the middle of the room for food. (I guess it was very easy) I don't remember the drink but I'm sure it was strong.

In New York City, the room I co-hosted, we treated the guests to an Appletini straight from the big apple. I've never had or made one so it might have been a bit vodka heavy. Ok a lot. We provided a New York/Producers cross word puzzle which proved to be harder than the New York Times'. Then the gang had to bob for apples in the Jaccuzzi tub.

In the next room, representing the Republic of Chad, we ate a small piece of bread and worms covered in dirt. When broken up into teams we did a project Chad, outfitting one team mate in clothing made from a collection of bathroom towels a la project runway. The bathtub was filled with coffee grounds and tea lights reminiscent of a muddy Chad river. Except for the tea lights.

We fled chad and headed off to Paris in the Spring. The room was decked out for lovers complete with chocolate covered croissants, champainge (however it's spelled) and blind folds.

The USSR provided some potato and cheese dish and black russians. I prefer a white russian but you can't really be picky. Their activity was a photo op with Stalin, provided by Jason Flanders in a Stalin wig and mustache from the show.

Finally, Mexico brought up the rear. With a pinata, tequilla shots, margueritta shots and sunbathers it really did feel like the streets of Tiajuana. Again, my spelling awful.

Even though the party was held in various rooms and last no later than 7:30 PM we got a few noise complaints and had to shush the rest of the evening. But oh well. It's nights like this that make touring worthwhile. And it was only 7:30.

I was very impressed by the lengths to which people went. Kudos. I tried to put some pictures up but blogspot.com has a new set-up. Oh well.