Holiday Hiatus and funky internet connection

So i received a FACEBOOK from our captain JERRY MITCHELL saying to update the blog, so this is the end of the holiday hiatus. I also spent the last two hours trying to upload what i had written and then it was all erased. SO, just know that the last two weeks have been grand and life is well. This new week brings new things and change however.

I had the weekend off, so coming in last night i learned a few things. Not only was Larry and Nell visiting, and Michelle Kitrell( original Dance Captain for the BWAY show)---but more people than just Stacey are leaving now. Amber Efe came in to start rehearsals, but Rhiannon found out some bad news. She has a small fracture in her Tibia, so she is out for a month. She will be returning in ST LOUIS. So, here is the magical understudy fandango.

Alex will be playing MARGOT for the next month. This morning, Tiffany Engen flew in. She will be playing KATE/CHUTNEY for the next month. So, we have two new people going in next week. The deal is that alot has changed from the Bway production. But, seeing as how Tiffany was the BWAY swing, i am guessing she will be our new vacation swing. It should be an interesting week!!!!! So we will just hold the PEEPSHOW T's that Jerry sent for xmas and rock back and forth to find our happy place. The only constant in life is change ( thank you greek philosophers and Frank Wildhorn), but when change happens on this tour it seems to happen on a monumental scale. TIER B TASTIC!!!!!

Wait for the epic entry that got erased earlier...

Super Swing Sundays

Well Saturday went on without a hitch.  Then yesterday, Lauren called out sick. But, because Sara Andreas was already on for Kate/Chutney, Leslie had to go on in her track. Thing is, she hasnt really been covering her thus far. THIS HAS NOW CHANGED. So, throw some greasepaint and costumes together and she was on. Then, after WHIPPED, Brian called out. His knee was in really bad shape, with him hopping around. In talking to him, I think its the high impact landing when he jumps off the table as the Karate Attacker. So, Spencer rallied and came on in everything from BEND AND SNAP on. The REMIX was a small cluster&%*$ but we all pulled it out. Thanks to the BERLONI for their sweet treats for taking such good care of the dogs. OH_____So Bill was here all weekend.

For those who dont know, he is the Dog Handler Guru. Hartford is close to his farm, so his family was in and out all week. But also, Marjorie, our chihuahua handler, had to go back to NYC to move unexpectedly, so he just so happened to be here when the ROXY swithceroo happened. Sometimes the universe makes the magic happen.

Lat night, we all went out to celebrate the weekends shinanigans. We had made friends with a local bartender, so we got a table late===just in time to see my COWBOYS wallop on the GIANTS( though in all truth I was semi scared halfway thru the 4th quarter). However, our quote unquote "friend" decided he would try to manhandle not only two of Crystals Aunties but also Coleen. So amidst our wings and SMORE-making brilliance we got a drunken bartender fired. The saddest part, other than he losing his job, may have been him riding into the cold horizon on a harley with no motorcycle. Who thinks that is a good idea? Oh gentlemen of the night......

As i sit here sipping my morning coffee, I am excited for the day. We rented a party bus to take us to PHILLY and we are going to see the EAGLES play the BROWNS. What will happen? One cannot be all that sure. But I am sure of this, with a team of 12 people its going to be hard not to have fun--especially with a 4 hour busride and blacklights. Just try and stop us Philly, you just try!!!!!!!

Proposal 8 the Musical

Thank you Marc Shaiman and friends!!!!!!  

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... by Jack Black

TGIF and sunshine

So last night's WHIRLYBALL was amazing.  There was only one court, sadly, but the bumper cars ran at probably double the speed of the ones in Ohio. And, in order to score you actually had to hit the area in the middle of the backboard.   The highlights of the night were Sara Andreas blindly running into walls at breakneck speeds and our company manager Nathan Gehan getting so enfuriated that he started smackin' the side of his car with the stick.

Today, the monsoon rains let up and the sun came out.  With the sun came Ass. Dir. Marc Bruni straight from mounting a bazillion productions of WHITE XMAS!! He was watching understudy rehearsal today, and then the show tonite followed by a copious note session for an hour.

ALSO, i found out that Alex will be playing Margot all weekend. So, she will also be swung out tonite to watch some specifics. Therefor, Sara Andreas will be Kate/Chutney from tonite until we reach D.C.

And now i head to the evenings show, with a full blown headcold.  If only i can have a river of transparent slime oozing out of my nostrils during the entire beginning of WHIPPED INTO SHAPE like last night!!! I guess the first couple rows did pay a lil' extra for extreme closeups.  Be careful what you wish for!

HASTA LA VISTA PHILLY....for a week

So a week has transpired, and now my father is mad and insists that internet must exist in the NE or the grassroots campaigns would have never gotten OBAMA elected.  TO that i say" Yes true, but your hands are tied when the ethernet cable at the HAMPTON INN says too many subscribers are online and you are not allowed."  It truly feels like the fable of Mary, Jo, and the christian babe being rejected from the inn......

Well Philly was amazing!!!!!  I truly love that city.  The theatre is great, the people are great, and the food will knock your socks off!!!!!  Plus, the sights are majestic and historic. On Thursday, we had a great understudy rehearsal that consisted of all scene work.  Lauren was in all day, then Tally got added, then me, then Stacey ( which is slightly ironic which you will hear in a sec), and then Sara Andreas as Kate Chutney.  

For those of you out there actually following, Becky will be taking a one week vaca in Houston. So, Lauren and Rhiannon will be splitting the week as Elle.  I wanna say its the first week, but i dont remember. 

STAY TUNED FOR A BAR TO THE RIGHT THAT SAYS WHEN PEEPS ARE ON VACA

Also, Rhiannon is out all this weekend so if you are coming expect to see some glorious covers.

But i digress........

That night we had a tremendous show, still continuing to collect for BCEFA.  But, we actually got cheerleader outfits from the BWAY show to sell.   One did, and I dont know about the other.  They belonged to Lindsay Chambers--original company swing and petite lady.  And oddly enough, also a college friend of mine from Otterbein.

On Friday, I got a personal tour of INDEPENDENCE HALL. 

 My cousins husband JOE has been working for the Park Service for over 30 years, and has m

ore or less helped make it all work.  He even wrote all the literature and designed the models around the Liberty Bell---which was originally called the FREEDOM BELL but when it was acknowledged that the slaves were still not free they changed the name.  And here are two quick facts......#1 the crack was made on purpose and #2 in circa 2001 an ultra hippie was hanging out around the park for a week then came in with a drum mallet and hit the bell 4 times yelling FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM before he was tackled and prosecuted because he had caused 4 chunks to fall off the bell.  And here is random fact 3-----all of the historic sites are actually owned by the city of Philly and the state of Pennsylvania. So, the national government leases the property for $1 for 100 years.  This is why the bell has stayed in Philly.....

Check out the video of my cousins hubby playing the ARMONICA---an invention of Ben Franklin that was based on wetting your fingers and playing your mammas good crystal. It was dwarfed by the invention of the HARMONICA and the modern day piano.

Later that day, we learned that Stacey Sargeant had given her four week notice.  She got a gig at the McCarter doing a great 5 person play, and couldn't get a month leave. So, maybe Amber Efe will be joining us soon.  She didnt have to do the DELTA NU scenes originally, because two tracks were combined for the tour.  But, never a dull time.  That being said, we also found out our drummer Marc Pardy will be doing LION KING in vegas. So, we lose him so he can be closer to his family.  I support but will miss our constant beat in the varying pits that we experience across this PURPLE MOUNTAINS MAJESTY.

On sunday, Josh Walden took a day off. So, amidst the ARMY-NAVY football game madness Jay Garcia became CARLOS.  It was hilarious and completely different from Walden. And, an exciting way to end the week. That night, a majority of us RAN ( literally) to the 30th street station to catch AMTRAK home.

Monday was GYPSY OF THE YEAR. THis is the annual BCEFA fundraiser endcap, which results in an ecclectic type VARIETY SHOW by the Bway shows ( with the addition of some OFF BWay shows). It was beautiful, hilarious, and sad all at the same time.  IT was inspiring to see Tyne Daly reminisce about the 80's( which i am sure most readers dont even remember because they werent born). But, LION KING did a beautiful dance, and the cast of TITLE OF SHOW wrote the final number, which curtailed on HAIRSPRAY singing I KNOW WHERE IVE BEEN with all the Motormouths to date and what castmembers were around.  I felt reinvigorated and inspired as an artist, and proud of my community of friends. 

That being said, i was ill on Tuesday and actually had to call out of the show---as did Leslie.  I could barely walk. So, i sat in the rain overlooking the park whilst our first show in HARTFORD happened.  It was an interesting fate seeing as how a year ago, i was here in Hartford and my life took a change i was not expecting.  Its funny how life comes around in full circle and the only constant is change and to just embrace it.

That being said----tonite we play WHIRLYBALL again!!!!!!  thats right, another hotbed of bumpercar madness.  Its a full day. I am doing a reading of a PILOT i wrote in our Bfast Buffet area, a show, and whirlyball?  It could be topped off by nothing better than Ass. Dir. Marc Bruni visiting and then us renting a party bus to PHILLY for the EAGLES vs. BROWNS game on monday........oh wait thats really happening.  Is it a dream? No, just the life of a touring gypsy!

My grandma is mad its taken so long----but welcome to PHILLY!!!

Thanks to an INCREDIBLE lack of good wireless internet i am just now chiming in.  That and the last week and a half have been chock full o' crazy!  So, grandma and dad here is what has been happening---other than my dead cellphone.

So sit back, sip a latte, and read on.....

The last thursday in Cleveland we did a cool thing called WHIRLYBALL.  We rode in two parybuses lined with blacklights to the hinterlands of CLEVELAND and embarked into what may be the most fun i have had in the sports realm in a fortnight or six. WHIRLYBALL is a sport that combines hockey/basketball/lacrosse/soccer/.  You are in what looks like an indoor hockey rink, and are riding around in bumpercars.  THATS RIGHT----bumpercars.  You are equipped with a plastic field hockey stick from high school gym class.  On teams of 5, the goal is to hit what looks like a basketball backboard at either end of the court( depending on your teams color). You can also get a massive amount of points by hitting the net behind a small circle cut into the middle of the backboard.  There are also rules about hitting an opposing member with your stick, running over the ball, etc...

You play in 15 minute increments----and i think i may now try to open one in LONG ISLAND CITY.  

( see both videos for more fun).  

That night, after rejoicing from the spectacle, most of us awoke to a beeping.  Then, Rhiannon was screaming and banging our door. THE RESERVE SQUARE WAS ON FIRE!!!!!!  Thats right....but unlike college where most of the fire alarms are fake, smoke was bellowing into the hallways. SO, i gathered what i needed( passport, cellphone, and MAC) and ran outside as quick as i could, past the naysayers that were timidly peering out their doors as SPencer and I reached the speed of sound down 8 flights of stairs.  Surprisingly slowly, people started oozing out of the building.  People in nothing but boxers, people in wheelchairs, and all walks of life appeared--including the fire department.  We tried to make sure everyone could be found, but some were in the other tower clear of harm, and other people simply didn't answer their phones.  As we all froze to the bone, we learned that there had been a fire in the trash compactor chute. It runs the height of the building.  2 hours later we were ushered back in, also after some city buses showed up to house the temporarily frostbitten folk.  In the end, everyone was allright. But, the upper levels reaked of burnt plastic, and some got a little shaken up.  I have never personally be in a fire, so I guess i can now write off one natural disaster i have been apart of.

 The rest of the weekend seems to dwindle in comparison to that event, which is probably why i cant remember anything other than my mom and brother coming to visit. and then there was the intestinal plague....

The night of AROUND THE WORLD, Sara Andreas had to be taken to the hospital due to uncontrollable vomiting. She was given 3 IV's, and then we found out that she had an intestinal disease that has been sweeping through the "Mistake on the Lake"--Cleveland.   Two days later, Courtney got the same thing.  They live together, which is how we think she got it.  She felt like crap, but Leslie got to go on for SERENA.  It was hilarious and brilliant in different ways. But, here is the most mind boggling part.  The disease is passed on through fecal matter. Thats right----the infamous POOP PLAGUE.  It gives the term CLEVELAND STEAMER a little bit of a more ominous tone.

Schenectady, however, was then a horse of a different color.

Upon arrival in the burb of our states capital, we learned that Paul's dad had passed away. We knew that he wasn't well back in BOSTON, but it never makes it easy. So, we prepared for him to be gone all weekend.  Then, after tuesday nights show we learned that our head carpenter had been fired. So, Jason got to step up.  The next night was an interesting journey of slow moving pallets and odd mishaps.  One of these was the pallet moving out of HARVARD VARIATIONS too soon, while BPM was still standing upon it, and it gave him whiplash.  Then, at the end of CHIP, it wasnt out soon enough.  The girls came out and Mamie was stepping on it when it was whisked out from under her.  She flopped on her back hard, and later went to the hospital during the 2nd act---with Leslie throwing on the Mom costume for the REMIX.  This all happened while JENKINS was swung out to watch the show and make sure everything looked good from the house.  WHAT A NIGHT!!!!! That day we also found out that our head props man, Johnny, had his dad die unexpectedly.  2 in the same week---that combined with the head carp going endcapped the bad things in 3's.

First let me say that JAY STREET is adorable in downtown SCHENECTADY. There is an awesome crepe restaurant, a coffeeeeshop/grill called AMBITION, a cool head shop owned by an INDIAN national named ANDY, and a tattoo parlor/recording studio that some of us may have gotten some tats at.

Also, the theatre seems to be haunted.  PROCTOR's ghost is around-some of the girls have felt it. And, they just gave him a name---which also ended up to be his actual name and that of his 2nd wife.  CRAZY!!!  But, its an adorable theatre with a great ARCADE attached with shops and a coffee shop.  

TURKEY DAY proved beautiful. The weather was amazing----most everyone was bussed to a great restaurant called the CENTURY HOUSE.  They have stone fireplaces and is apparently fancy.  Some loved it and some said the service was slow and the food canned---but when you come together as a family for the holidays anything is better than IHOP.

I took Stacey with me to go visit my dads college roommate, who is truly an uncle and my dads doppleganger. He and his family live in QUAKER STREET--its a cute lil' hamlet on the SW side of ALBANY. It used to be a QUAKER colony starting back in the day, but has since gone into a bit of remission. They have a wee organic farm behind their 150 year old farmhouse, that they have had since they moved their in the later 60's.  It was amazing!!!!! And truly, dont know if there was a better way to spend the holiday.  Homemade grape juice and pecan pie?  I call that PARADISE!  A wee walk, and then some took a nap while I finished off the last half of the pecan pie.  What can i say, I am a glutten.  That night, the producers also paid for  a lil party at the great hotel next door to the theatre called the PARKER INN.  It was great, and I dont know the last time I saw everyone so happy.  Paul and Johnny were commiserating in the corner over the loss of their fathers, and it felt truly like a family holiday.  I am tearing up as I write this, and as Johnny walks into the cafe across the room.  I am grateful for all my friends and love the size of our companies heart.  That being said, as I weep quietly for the departure of all the people in my life, lets go to PHILLY.

OH NO-----so Leslie went on for MAMIE til saturday, when she finally came back from back recovery. She was just bruised. Also, Adam was out due to neck injuries, which have apparently been a problem for a bit. AND, Josh Campbell got to go on for Paul all weekend. It is what i like to call SUPER SWING WEEKEND!!!! It felt semi like playing dress up as a kid and doing college theatre where we are playing roles 20 years our elder.  

So after a 6 hour bus ride at 85 miles an hour, and witnessing JENKINS puppy doing a front stall whilst pooping, we arrived in the city of BROTHERLY LOVE.  I love this city, having visited it 4 times in the last two years.  I quickly hit up some of my favorite places, EL VEZ and MONKS, and we were into it.  The company is glad to be back in such a metropolitan town, and i think the trip back to NYC for alot of people was a nice recharge. Also, the crew loaded out and in in record time. SO, the whole switcheroo and Johnny being gone proved how resilient our stagehands are. SNAPS!!!  What the week will bring nobody really knows.....but the weather is brisk and the theatre is dropdead gorgeous.  I love the gas lamps out front.  ANd now, to understudy rehearsal.

Week 2 and THEFT #1

So last week ended with Adam taking a personal day(for love reasons) and Jay was once again on for Sundeep/Carlos.  Also, Leslie had a personal day to fly to LA( for love reasons and a man called FLERN). I think the 2nd show was where Mamie hurt herself halfway through---she tripped over a table or something. So, we got to do a little fandango while she iced her feet. 

We escaped to find horizontal rain.  Thats right---the kind that no umbrella can do a damn thing about.  But, amisdt the rain and horror we then went bowling.  It is a great place down on 4th street( which i dont remember the name of). But, a mass gang of us took over 5 lanes.  Some were great, the majority of us were horrible. But, nothing a little buffalo wings and some beer doesnt remedy.  It was black light bowling, and we actually got comped alot----i am guessing they were making more money on apertifs!!!!!!!

Monday brought 6 inches of snow.  I flew out early in the morning, going to NYC for a rehearsal of a reading called BLITZKRIEG. Some chicas went to the ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME, while others simply hybernated.  I think they also went to LOLA, which is the restaurant of the American IRON CHEF( whose name i cant remember).

Tuesday, we were back in full force---some more recharged than others.  Something happened that night.....oh yeah. Stacey couldnt find her mail.  She thought she had left it in her dressing room, and then was hoping she had taken it back to her apartment.  Sad to say, she did not. So, living up to the reputation that Jill Johnson( head of Props) has had something stolen everytime she comes to Cleveland----Stacey fell victim to the curse. 

 Also, Megan saw someone stabbed outside her window Monday night. SO, now we are all on high alert!!!!! This town is madness!!!! As my friend Mike Cassara ( who grew up here and whose family owns JOHNNYS STEAKHOUSE) says----CLEVELAND IS DYING!!!!!   But on a happier note, BPM's girlfriend came into town.  So, we all watched a bit of the last BOND movie and then i crashed.  

Yesterday proved interesting.  Stacey waited from 11am until 7pm for the police to show up, also calling them 3 times within that time period.  Then, at 7:10 the dispatcher called her and said a cop was at our apts.  No wonder so much stuff happens downtown when they are laxidazical to come.......or there is just so much crime that they are overwhelmed.  Then an amazing thing happened: BPM's back zit burst.

In Boston, Ven had been trying to squich the cyst/zit on BPM's back that had apparently been there since April.  But, to no avail. Then, while watching TV Cortney had been playing with it and it burst.  We all were quickly rallied and ran downstairs. 

 This thing oozed white puss for close to 8 minutes. We caught it all on film, showing the remains on a black BALLYS TOTAL FITNESS card......but the unprecedented seepage may be too much for YOUTUBE. We will see.  It looked like PLANET EARTH when the spores growh is set in high speed as you see it grow to a full flower.

Then last night, with his back devoid of puss, BPM went on for the UPS guy. Ven is in FLorida for his Dad's 60th Bday.  HAPPY BDAY VENS DAD~!!!  He did great, and our music supervisor James Sampliner got to see it.  He is in town doing a standard visit to make sure we aren't all making up our own harmonies now.  He raved and was really happy, which prepared him for the great thing we like to call AROUND THE WORLD.

Different apartments create different themes, and we travel from one room to another in 20 min increments until we reach the end.  
1st was GRANDMA BOOTSIES SURPRISE BDAY party.

2nd was XMAS #1.

Then we had WHITE TRASH.

4th was XMAS #2.

5th was GAYLAND.

 

6th was THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOYA. 

Each room came with its own brand of libations and food, and costumes were abounding.  I dont know which room was the best---but i was rolling with laughter in full INDIAN garb. You cant wear it all the time, but this was the perfect moment.   

Today, understudy rehearsal and then WHIRLY BALL after the show. what is it you may ask?just wait for it....... Jennifer is back in town for massages and will probably have to correct some muscle spasms.  

also, as a closer, here is the homeless guy from Buffalo that we helped to win the underwear competition....look how happy he is with Cortney.

Horizontal Snow and JAZZ

So this weekend the fall/winter has gone into full swing.  I had to track through horizontal rain yesterday to our matinee, which was then broken by the roaring sound of "DEAD OR ALIVE."  If the gents hadnt been enjoying Jameson and Jazz at FAT FISH BLUE til the wee hours, i would have actually remembered that there is a tribute to LES PAUL this week.

There are rumors that PAul McCartney was coming in, Ricky Sambora, and a bunch of others.  Could i call out to see a tribute concert?  The answer: not without getting written up probably.

Then this morning I woke up to the sight of horizontal snow. Thats right, the lake effect has begun. Somebody told me that snow actually comes up---to which i say poopoo on your theories.  It may blow around but it isnt coming up.

Maybe Cleveland just prefers its weather at a horizontal level.......well the 1st OFFICIAL BROADWAY PAJAMA SUNDAY will tell the tale.   Huzzah.....to my quick change station in the lobby.

I made a mistake and saw a good movie

So first off, let me apologize. Elizabeth Sherman is not a widow----her husband is alive and well. I think it is his brother that is dead.  MY BAD!!!!

But, also go see the new Bond movie.  We took a little ManJourney today to see the latest installment and it seriously rocked. It was Tally, Spencer, BPM, and myself.

Other than that.....i dont have much to say.  I hope the weekend goes well and we will see what happens.

OH-----and it is close to impossible to find a cab in this town for some reason. If somebody knows a secret, please let a brother know.

peace

ROCK AND ROLL, Opening, and some massages

We are now in BROWNS heaven !!!!!

The travel was easy, with my dad driving down from Michigan to meet us at the airport. We checked into our hotel, which also has a grocery store less than 5 feet away which is great because we HAVE A FULL KITCHEN!~!!  We have been on the road for over a month and now we all get to cook every meal if we want.  I guess its the small things that matter.

But that said, a group of us went out for dinner.  We went to STAR, which is actually right next to the OHIO THEATRE.  Its a great restaurant, which is actually in the place of the old entry way to the theatre.  The food----amazing!!! And, found 

out that not only did my dad know Stacey's acting mentor in NYC when they both studied with Strasburg, but he and MAmie both have toured with Kenny Rogers.  Madame Parris in 98 and my dad way back in the 60's.  Even better---STAR is where our opening night party was. So, all things were looking up.

We decided to walk back on 13th street, which is now FORBIDDEN WAY.  Apparently that is where the CL cast got held at knife point, but honestly not that scary.  There is just a scaffolding on the front of a building that I am guessing could be the launch point for some trouble. But, now the producers/theatre are providing a WALKBACK service in groups after the show just so nothing happens. But, according to our sleepy front desk security guard nothing really happens much.  I am guessing it is simply the close proximity of the GREYHOUND station to where we are and the socialites that congregate.

Yesterday also brought an interesting revelation-----PROP 8 reared its dirty head again.  WE all found out that the Artistic Director of SAC MUSIC CIRCUS had donated money. There was a huge uproar in the theatre community, he apologized and in turn donated money to the HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, and then today resigned.  I fear this wont be the last time this will happen.....but in the words of Rodney King---CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!!!!  Live out of love and happiness and not fear. ( i am now removing my soapbox)

So, this theatre is a bit wee in the back.  Rochester was crazy small, but here is an even smaller ordeal--literally.  Some girls are quick changing in a converted loading dock---that is ICE cold.  I may hang meat to dry during the shows.   But, my quick change booth, along with BPM, Zelasko, and Walden is in the foyer to the stage door.  Thats right, our naked j-bird butts are on parade if one walks in the stagedoor.  This could come back to haunt me later, but its hilarious.  The underbelly of the theatre is like a labyrinth, and there is little to no crossover space. So, SL has a metal spiral staircase to help come up from the caves.   Its great--and everything I love about live theatre.

The show was interesting--with i think 50% of the ladies feeling sick.  We had to condense some rails, lose 2 people in the hall sequence prior to SO MUCH BETTER, and it was not devoid of chaos.  Mine was the greatest I think though, with my dad watching and all.  Coming off for the EXTREME cross, i quickly stripped naked to find my dresser with the costumes for the HARVARD YARD. Somebody had grabbed the wrong basket--so needless to say there was no PFORZHEIMER.  Josh and Paul tried their damnedest to make the scene work, but i think it seemed a little----especially with no OPRAH WINFREY line.  I came back on as the band invades, cause there is no way Becky's lift would have happened.

Also, Dame Lewis went up during GAY OR EUROPEAN and sent the intern/callahan bunch into a murmur of silence.  IT was like their was a dance break that somebody forgot to move in, but McLean jumped back on with his FRENCH line.  It felt like a weird show, but the food at STAR was amazing!!!!! A Maryland crab stuffed Rainbow trout with lemons risotto?  COME ON!!!!   Also, amidst the live theatre mayhem, one of our head producers MIKE was in town. And, as I was shoveling piles of Salmon on my plate i was attacked by a man in a leather coat.  This person turned out to be the infamous GEORGE STILES.  

He helped write the new music to MARY POPPINS, which the tour of is apparently opening in Cleveland. So he, along with his writing partner Anthony Drew and the widow Elizabeth Sherman ( whose Husband and brother-in law wrote the tunes to the movie) are in town shooting a PBS special for the opening.  AMAZING!!!!  

CLICK HERE FOR THEIR OFFICIAL WEBSITE

I did George's THREE MUSKETEERS at NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE last fall, and we became fast friends.  it was great having the artsy types around all the time.  Also, apparently he is in talks with Jerry to work on one of he and Anthony's shows.  So, they were doing some homework.  I put in a good word, and am hoping to catch some java before the week is out.  They are great peeps, but I had to go put my dad to bed so no late nights were possible.

We avoided 13th street this time, seeing as how some hooligans were hanging beneath the scaffolding(our instincts were dead on), and pappa and I stayed up late into the night hashing life and this thing called BIZ.

Today, Jennifer the Masseuse( from Buffalo) drove into town to help give our bodies a wee break from the compaction of jumproping.  And, she is amazing!!!  Apparently she used to be the head masseuse for the BILLS, and know Spencer & I are going to try to get the company to fly her out all the time.   Cause daddy is getting old and these bones need some love...in the form of a massage.  


 

OH----also yesterday Rev Billie( my dad) and I scoured the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME.  It is one of the raddest places I have ever been. Thats right, i said rad. They have a crap ton o' costumes from different peoples tours, Janis Joplin's car ( which was stolen at one time and then returned and repainted all psychedelic like), and an entire LES PAUL section---to barely nip the tip of the rock iceberg the museum contains.  It is along the lakeshore, right next to the BROWN's stadium and a huge wind turbine.  Football, wind energy, and rock & roll---what else do you need?  

Well to wrap up, this is how Cleveland got the museum. Apparently USA Today was doing a poll to figure out where it should be, and it was judged by call-ins to a 1-900 number. The first day, 20,000 natives called in--blowing the next closest cities call-in # of 1,000 to shame. So, then they conducted a second day.  This time the toll reached 110,00 people.  Isnt that crazy!!@!  The city unified on TV, Radio, and any other form of communication to rally and get the museum.   So in the end, a little while after the Cuyahoga river and the mayor's hair had both caught on fire ( which is true) they got a huge glass pyramid of ROCK LEGENDS that looks like the LOUVRE butted up against a huge ocean.   Never what i thought Cleveland would offer to the table......

oh and Veterans day was yesterday.  So i called my brother, being a survivor/vet of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.  He survived, and i am grateful and will lift him up, but it still doesn't we have to agree to the war.  What with Bush admitting that speaking infront of a MISSION ACCOMPLISHED flag 5 years ago was wrong, its time to do something. OBAMA lets see some magic!!!  Also, here's some history.  TAPS is originally called BUTTERFIELDS LULLABY.  The only reason its been nicknamed TAPS is because its symbolic of the three taps that are played at the end of a day.  So there it is AMERICA......stars, stripes, and rock & roll music theatre!!!

Nuf Said---

This is a rightly said epitaph by MSNBC's Olbermann

BYE BYE BOSTON and Hello Muggings

So today was an interesting one........

Matinee audience was quite possibly the most cadaver-like peeps we have had to date.  I am guessing they were tired from church and green bean casserole in the basement afterward, but it never fails....at the end they were on their feet.  It could be the ole BLUE HAIR MATINEE syndrome.....but I swanee we thought they hated us.

Jay was great going on for Tally---as expected a small bit of misformations but no major tragedies.  And, he drove the golfcart like a pro!!!!!

The evening show proved a little interesting with Mamie hurting herself coming out of SERIOUS. The cafe tables are not eh most sturdy objects ever made by man.  One night Ven sent the entire table and chilled champagne sprawling. But, she seriously injured her foot.  So, going into BLOOD IN THE WATER she left stage to tend to a bloody bruise.  Other than that, not much changed. But, Sara Andreas did have to take a break from Leslie teaching her all the NICEST KIDS IN TOWN ography from HAIRSPRAY to jumprope.  And, Spencer was great filling in for VEN again as well.  For dinner, a wee excursion to FAJITAS AND RITAS was had. The food was great, though STACEY was having a small mexican baby during show two. But, we we are guessing that they had someone not showup to work because they were totally understaffed and full of anxiety filled starving customers.

Also, a wee bit of a clarity.  In the post about Ven I said he had been kicking for Jehovah.  I received a few emails asking if he was a JEHOVAH'S WITNESS. The answer is a no. After some research, and remembering the SCRIVNERS from my childhood, I don't actually know if it is possible for a JEHOVAH'S WITNESS to be in a musical. None the less, for one to be in LEGALLY BLONDE where they say OMIGOD almost 4 million times( please know that its not an exact number).  If somebody else knows something, please help educate me cause the official website didn't exactly dictate whether one could sing or dance. I just know that Delwin's older sister was Valedictorian and couldn't be at the joint worship service or graduation.

To close, we were treated with two boxes of clothes that were used either by the broadway cast or from other shows and made out like banshees.  I got a great suit of Borle's from GAY OR EUROPEAN, though i will have to remove a shoulder pad cause he is a little lopsided and has more shoulderpads on the right side, as well as an Armani jacket of BRIAN DACRY JAMES' from the SCOUNDRELS tour.  Happy day of the Pagan Sun God i say........

And kudos to Lauren, Kevin, and others for completing our mural for the theatre. It rocked and left stripper dust, all over the place, to remember us by for weeks to come.  And i will say it, we would have liked to stay here a few more weeks and loved the deck crew. They were the best we have had thus far.  But honestly, if DIRTY DANCING can be here 10 weeks why not give us another one?  LEts start a petition to come back what do you say?!

In closing, I thought you all should know that we ended up making over $25,000 for BCEFA in a week and a half in BOSTON.  It was totally inspiring, and great to hear the responses from the crowd as wee children threw in allowance money and moms threw 20's.   It will be cool to see how much we get by Dec.

Off we now go to Cleveland.......

Laughter and hurt poochies

So in Ven's update I forgot to include another injury, that being of ROXIE our Bruiser standby. Two days he got excited and ate part of a new phone recharger.  Sadly to say, he had to be taken to the hospital.   Apparently some metal had been injested--but he is on the upswing to be sure.

Yesterday, Spencer once again made the audience swoon( speaking of, they were the most rucus audience we have had and it felt great).  But, Murphy's Law and the gods of live theatre swung their heavy gavel.  Right before the Legally Blonde Ballad, Elle smacks Callahan for kissing her.  

Well, the UPS GUY track has to do the actual slap sound offstage( i hope that doesnt spoiler it. Also, the descant at the beginning of IRELAND is MAMIE PARRIS offstage). So last night, Spencer came about two seconds after the actual slap.  The audience roared--multiple times.  ANd, Ken lost it.  I think he actually doubled up with laughter at one time.  He tried to restart about  4 times and couldnt get the line out, egging the audience on even more.  We all rushed backstage to see what was happening. He finally recovered, but that is one of many reasons why i love doing theatre over film====you never know what will happen!!!!

The crew also have decided that the first friday of each month is now going to be MUSTACHE FRIDAY. So, enjoy some of the pictures of our backstage counterparts. Some involve some odd Amish looking beard. I wish I could have been involved, but our contractual clause is that we must be clean shaven.  Also after the show, we decided to play a little shakey face and hair flip at a wee pub.  This is explains Gretchen's ELVIRA doo........

Here is to our last weekend in Boston.....

Update on VEN

Last night Spencer did a kick ass job covering VEN, but today the verdict came in.

VEN has a muscle strain that involves the PUBIS muscle---i would guess from kicking for Jehovah at the beginning of the IRISH DANCELINE.  So, he has now been prescribed a small Apothecary of meds to take until better.  It could be sunday, or a week, but either way Spencer will be on til at least Sunday.  

Never a dull moment on the touring circuit---lets just hope nobody else falls victim to strain or sickness.  Sunday Tally has a personal day, so JAY will also be on.  This is where it gets interesting.

There is a story that has been passed on down from the BWAY company when Rusty Mowery had to go on at the end of Act 1.  They were one girl shy, and both females swings were on.  So, adorned with FALSIES( fake eyelashes), rouge, and a wig he quickly became the S in WOODS in the Act 1 Finale.  Hold your breath-----this boats about to rock!!!!

Future of Musical Theatre

Ven got this sent to him.....its from THE ONION and is completely fake, but totally hilarious. And I think in all joking there is some truth.

More understudies and a new president

Well lets start with sunday....

Sara Andreas went on for both shows again...and was flawless as expected. She has this red-brown wig and sings the crap out of it(which is actually really hard to get out of parachute fabric pants).

Since Thursday, we have been collecting for BCEFA after the shows---and its going great. As of last night, we have collected $15,000. Its amazing, cause we didnt even collect on sunday. What with 4 more weeks of collection we could have over 50,000 bones collected.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE THROUGH BCEFA's SITE via LEGALLY BLONDE TOUR

Monday, Kevin BeeBee(one of our Company Managers) and I drove up to MAINE for some R&R. This trip completed Kevin's presence in all of the Continental US states. Driving up the foliage was amazing, and the weather...perfect. We ended up in OGUNQUIT, which is actually the P'TOWN of MAINE and has a Political Sign Cemetery as you come off the highway. I worked up at the OGUNQUIT PLAYHOUSE most of last summer, and fell in love with the town.

It is an artists village that didn't become an official town until the 80's. They don't allow any chain stores in town and won't allow a traffic light. In a word: quaint. One could even say, with a Middle Eastern accent, PARADISE!!!! In the winter, the population goes down to a mere 600 folks.

We met my friend KIM ( former company manager of the playhouse) at the best breakfast place in town---AMORE. Leanne, the owner and one of the most shining people i have ever met, greeted us with a smile and a hug. After shoveling dainty morsels of heaven into our mouths, without their amazing HASH, all three of us went for a stroll down the Marginal Way. This is a picturesque mile-long walk along the oceans edge. It leads from the main beach down to PERKINS COVE. It was as peaceful as i remembered, having run and meditated along its edge every day i could last summer. We then took a scenic drive down to YORK, so I could show Kevin the lighthouse---also giving Kim time so she could go work on publicity for our friend and heavenly hilarious friend Sally Struthers, who is currently on tour with an anniversary tour of NUNSENSE. We froze, watching the fattest seagulls i have ever seen and a class of scuba divers from U of NH dry in the wind. We then drove back up the winding country highway to check in to the ADMIRALS INN. This great hotel, which 20 years ago was a sketchy bathhouse, was left solely to our own private occupancy.

So, some blueberry beer and hottub was had before a search for lobster. Dame Starling(Kim) drove us to three places, all to no avail, before heading back to the infamous FRONT PORCH. Its the piano bar in downtown OGUNQUIT, that also has great food. We gnashed, whilst I was recognized by some locals. I tried to introduce myself, to which they gave me a Cheshire Cat grin sand said " Oh, I know who you are." It was a lil weird thinking that men citywide remember that they have seen me pseudo naked and may not exactly place that it was in a show. Thus is my life........

That night BeeBee enjoyed more of the hottub and Salty Dog, enjoying the night. You can see every star in the sky up there, and helps remind you of why we live. Its a simpler place, and a reminder that we have lost track of what is important in life. All you need is natures beauty, friendship, and not always get caught up in the rat race. A night on the most comfortable beds i have been in for 2 months, and then another great Bfast at AMORE. I shoveled some succulent HASH( that had minimal taters) and then caught a beach walk where we collected shells. the recharge was complete, so we headed home.

tuesday night, MAMIE had a personal day, so Sara Andreas was on again--with Coleen back in business.. We were all excited to get done with the show and see how the election was going, also seeing as how a handful of peeps had gone back to NYC specifically to vote ( not having been able to get absentee ballots). After the show, in which Andreas once again rocked, a group of us gathered in Spencer and my abode. We then witnessed the single most influential event of our lives, now knowing what our parents went through with the CIVIL RIGHTS movement, moon landing, and any other major event between 1950 and 1975. A lot of us sat, cried, and listened to the first BLACK man ever to give his presidential acceptance speech. There was in international party, but none like the group of Boston U kids that joined in the streets and blocked traffic. they siphoned the flow of cars down to a single lane, High-5ing and cheering for close to two hours. That was, of course, until a small army of RIOT GEAR CLAD BIKE COPS showed up and sent the kids scattering. it was an amazing night!!! BPM's roommates Jamie Grayson and Landon Beard also came to celebrate.

yesterday, we all were reeling from the bliss, also attempting to buy OBAMA shirts---none of which could be found. And then, Principal Understudy #3 went on. This time, it was Leslie going on for VIVIENNE. Megan was out. Also, HAL( our lead producer) was in the house. And, my Maine ladies came down to see the skit. So, it was a full house. Leslie rocked, Hal was gleefully happy, now tonite VEN is out and SPENCER is on.

yesterday, Ven was feeling like he pulled something. So, combined with today's U/s rehearsal, Paul Canaan coming in to co-teach a workshop with Nat Joy JO, its going to be another action packed day. 

All Hallows Eve and PRINCIPAL COVER #2

Boston is grand-----its been a great week of temperatures fluctuating like the body heat index of a menopausal beauty. But, the bodacious FOLIAGE makes up for it ten fold!!!!!

Thursday, our understudy rehearsal was cancelled to make room for costume fittings.  All the costumes were supposed to have come in, from the now dead broadway company (R.I.P), but then it all got cancelled.  Apparently some costumes were sold to London with the rest of theBROADWAY package(which is typical), but we now learned that we actually dont have all the costumes we thought we would have because they are across the pond.  Its interesting, but I guess comes down to the benjamins when all else fails.  That day, a friend of mine came in from Cali for a workshop out on Cape Cod, and we met up and walked through the Commons.  We actually went through CHINATOWN first and saw this awesome mural. But, we alos just so happened to stumble across the BULL & FINCH pub.
 

This is what CHEERS, the TV show, was based on.  Its on the BEACON HILL side of the park, and is a great place. They shot the outside of the BAR for the TV show, but then used a studio for the rest of the show.  The inside looks nothing like the TV set, but they have since created a replica of the TV show down at the NORTH MARKET--which is actually downtown in the midst of the FANEUIL HALL MARKETPLACE. So, there are two CHEERS--people knowning your name everywhere!!!!!

 That night, after the show, we had our first night of fundraising for BROADWAY CARES EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS (BCEFA).  We are selling signed playbills, custom cards by JOSH WALDEN, a signed jumprope, a signed piece of the HARVARD paper Becky pops out of, have the standard money buckets, and VEN is taking pictures with people as the UPS guy.  Our first night we made 2000 dollars, and now have made well over 8000 dollars in just two days( still waiting for last nights total).  Its great!!!!!  We will be collecting into Dec, so wait for a grand total. 

This happens after the show every night, so wait to see cast members in hats as you leave the theatre.  Give $5, $10, deeds to your house, we even take small children or angry spouses to sell on the black market.  

Friday was the great and wonderful HALLOWEEN.  One of our traveling stagehands, Garry, is from Boston and arranged a party for us at BOSTON BILLIARDS.  We all rushed over as soon as the curtain was down, also after a talk back with the EMERSON COLLEGE musical theatre cats, and it was on.  IT was a cluster of random costumes and laughs.  A core group dressed as SEXY Wizard Of Oz characters( with friends from NYC coming up), Becky was SARAH PALIN, Spencer was a MOOSE, Kevin BeeBee was our Head Carpenter Brian( hilarious), J was a UPS Guy/Dick in a box, and one of my favs was Ven dressed like a ghost. 

He cut two holes in the hotel sheet and was walking around going OOOOOOOOHHHHH.  I piddled in my pants more than once, especially when he hid in the corner and pretended like nobody could see him.  Another, which i forgot, was Jeff and Josh as SIERRA MIST. Josh was Sierra Boggess as the LIL MERMAID and Jeff was a stagehand with a mist bottle.  We are some funny M&%*^&% F&#*$%$S!!!!

Saturday, the BCEFA rep Monsieur Graziano came up to see the show and enjoy our fundraising efforts.  He gave a wee speech before the evening show, sharing stories from people that have been helped by the fundraising, and told us that we are the 2nd largest HIV/AIDS aid contributors in the country. THATS HUGE!!!!!   That also coincided with a gift basket being sent by Donna ViVino of the WICKED tour. 

They were McCain and Obama cookies.
 

They were hard, but inspiring......and then ANDREAS was on.

Coleen called out due to ankle problems, so Sara Andreas was on.  They threw some costumes together and a wig, and she was thrown on.  AND WAS EXQUISITELY FLAWLESS!!!!!!

  Following up her YELLOW BRICK ROAD TO THE EMERALD CITY, it was a great weekend for her.  She is the second understudy to go on for a principal contract and showed that people should never get pidgeon-holed as SWINGS.  This happens all the time--but mamma rocks the socks!!!

What will happen today?  who knows.......it is the day of the Pagan Sun God as well as the adopted day of the Christian Jesus.....so all possibilities are GLOWINGLY possible on a SUPERSTAR level!  And tomorrow I get to go to Maine.....

Finally able to post ( Buffalo,Rochester, and now Boston)

So for some reason BLOGGER has been down whenever i try to log on and write--plus the internet at our hotel is still being updated from the mesazoic period. So, here I am with a long post. Grab a chair, a beer(or juicebox depending on age) and get ready for a small yarn of truth.

For those of you who dont know, you can now see SABRINA WILLIAMS(a.k.a. the black lil' person dragqueen) on youtube.  It's amazing---and a sheer spectacle.  lets help make her an american staple...what do you say? EIther look on youtube or on the videos to your right.

Well many things have happened since last i wrote. Wrapping up in Buffalo was exciting, in more ways than one. As if anything could get weirder, things started falling apart.  Rhiannon sprained her ankle in the middle of a show, which was then followed by her having an ashmatic attack while the Entreacte was happening.  Also, some cables got caught on a fly so we had to stop the show and TOM ( our PSM---Production Stage Manager) came over the GOD mic and announced we were stopping the show due to technical difficulties and could the actors leave stage.  I was backstage watching the whole thing unravel---BRILLIANT!!!!  That combined with the residually decreasing talent of the trumpet player.....made for a STAY ON YOUR TOES weekend.  Sunday, the local producers bought us pizza and wings in between shows.  It was gone in a matter of seconds.

That night, a bunch of us went to a friend of Adams house.  It was a middle aged gay couple--and it was beautiful.  It was a huge victorian style house , with complete original 

stainglass window.   They had a nice spread, which is great cause actors always love free food.  Later that night, a bunch went back to MARCELLO's. ANd sure enough, both the homeless guy and

 SABRINA were both there.  Cortney befriended said toothless homeless man, and they became quick friends.  Apparently he is a regular, and totally didnt think he would win and was why he just kept smilin.  Whether he was cracked out at the time is still up for grabs!!!

But, monday a chunk of us( as in multiple people) went to NIAGARA FALLS.  Some stayed behind because they didnt have passports or Birth Certificates ( which is where i plug that all people should get a passport--even though the government IS requiring in the next two years).  It was magnificent.  Most of us hadnt been there since our youth( which was 9 for me).  Our bus was a half an hour late, and then a nice German lady narrated the 30 min ride north.  She was hilarious, every word dripping with dry Bavarian wit. She dropped us off at the HILTON in Canada, and we were off.

First, the MAID OF THE MIST.  It was everything I remembered---only much colder.  They actually shut down the boat after today, so we barely squeaked in.  Apparently there are also 2 suicide attempts a week in the summer months, so sadly we missed that season as well.  Though truly, I feel better just knowing that a small child once went over the falls and was uninjured----she has some guardian spirits/angels working seriously overtime.

After a small concert by Josh Walden(see video soon) we ventured up the STREET OF FUN( no joke--thats what it is called).  We stopped at an arcade, where Spencer adorned his new moosehat, Stacey got ripped off by a photobooth caricature that wasnt meant for PEOPLE OF COLOR, and then we went on a SHOOT THE GHOUL ride.  It was a lot like ITS A SMALL WORLD only with blacklight and blinking lights you shoot while wearing 3D glasses.  It was alot.  But, Paul joined me in my carriage.  I love that he came along.And then, the scariest haunted house I had ever been too.  It is called NIGHTMARES.  Once again RUN, dont walk, because it rocks the socks off any haunted house EVER. We went to one last night, across from THE AUDITORIUM(the name of our theatre in Rochester) and it was complete boots( and by boots i mean bad).  Paul Jackel cowering behind Stacey, at NIGHTMARES, was possibly the funniest thing i have ever seen.  There are other places in town, apparently SCREAMERS is great.  But, we hit the cashprize. Then add in a bit of awesome Indian cuisine, and my day was made.  Literally, cause we had to catch the bus back to Buffalo.

Tuesday we caught a 45 minute busride to Rochester, and it was city #4.  The theatre is a huge building, that looks like a school that could be used for rave parties.  There is a neon sign saying AUDITORIUM and ENTER HERE.  It seats around 3000 i think, once again, though we dont feel like we are being swallowed. Before the show, the unmarried straight man coalition and I made our way to DINOSAUR BBQ--which is amazing. There is one in Syracuse, here, and in HARLEM in NYC.  We ate ourselves semi retarded, did the show, and then the theatre threw us an opening night party in the lobby, which had the best vegetable soup I have ever tasted( i feel like i keep saying THIS is the BEST and THIS is the BEST EVER but its the truth).  It was also thrown in conjunction with one our producers, well one of our largest.  it was BILL, from FOX Theatricals.  So, it was good to also see "Daddys" face.....we kind of feel like the kids they sent away to school.  

Wednesday ...what happened wednesday?  well my friend Van Hughes ( who is the boyfriend of swing LESLIE and in the upcoming BWAY musical 9TO5) came into town.  We rejoiced and sang.....that meaning the show. That night we went to a great cigar bar called HAVANA JOE'S(which will be a tradition as we tour this fair country). It iwas an every guys bar, near EASTMAN.  We enjoyed some glorious stogies, and then decided we were hungry.  This is where we decided to enjoy the cities finest and famous.

Recently, there have been a slwe of shootings outside the best known diners...so the city has shutdown some and restricted hours on others.  There is NICK TAHOU's and MARK'S9 which has twon locations). Only one MARK's TEXAS HOT was open.....so lower GI problems called us!!!!

We walked into this small diner, and first ran into two AARP men watching THE GODFATHER on a small portable TV behind the bar.  Two women stood ready at the grill---one of them being Mark's Wife.  ANd it was done--4 GARBAGE PLATE SPECIALS.  Check out the grease spots on the containers...that is what is called LUBRICATION in the food world!

The makings of said "special" are this....

Bottom layer:  Buttered Pretzel Roll, 2 scoops homemade Macaroni Salad, 1 order of Fries

Middle Layer: 2 Cheeseburger patties with onions on top

Top Layer: Special Meat Sauce ( i dont know if that was special cuz Mark made it or just cuz)

And for Garnish: Yellow Mustard 

We all ate like we had never eaten before in our lives, and then the realization of what had just happened hit us.  This is called GAS.  If i could include all the pictures of this momentous journey i would, but I am sure you can imagine.

Thursday proved difficult, having understudy rehearsal, but team #2 did great ( almost getting through the whole show). We tottled over to a great place called STARRY NIGHTS ( which has amazing food and a huge mural of Van Goghs STARRY NIGHTS on the wall) which also happened to be across the street from THE BACHELOR FORUM.  This is a local gay bar that used to be called the MAN CAVE--- i think( according to local lore). On the lawn, outside what looked like a double-wide, were three steel statues.  One was two female symbols, the second two males symbols, and the third was an amalgamation of a male and female in one ( the now universal sign for a TRANNY i guess).  

Friday was for Lazertag.  On the way to LAZERQUEST, i got a call to go on for Jeff.  I would be the first PRINCIPAL cover to go on.  EXCITING!!! After two rousing hours of 2 games of lazertag----scurrying behind walls and down ramps amongst a two story labyrinth and 20 other players, we were tired.  Becky kicked serious ass, getting 1st place every time.  WHen i have the picture of all of us i will post it.  But, it will definitely be something we do again EN MASSE cause it was amazing.  Then came the show....

I was nervous like a whore in church, but it went really well.  As the weekend proceeded, i went on another 4 times.  Jeff had the flu, and actually ended up going to the hospital and geting a shot of MEDICINAL HEAVEN in his rump.  He was feeling better as we rolled into BOSTON, but Send him happy thoughts....cause he still doesnt feel 100%.

We are staying in BEACON HILL area, which is amazing.  There are WHOLE FOODS, a TRADER JOES, and most of us can see FENWAY PARK from our hotel.  Plus, Larry and Nell came up.  

Tuesday, we had a PRESS EXTRAVAGANZA.We first met the Mayor of Boston at MACY's, were a slew of us sang HAPPY BDAY for its 150th Celebration.  

We were then shuttled to HARVARD where we were led around campus by some HASTY PUDDING members.  For those of you that dont know, HASTY PUDDING is the oldest producing theatricl company in the country.  They write a new show every year( all by students). They then produce it in the newly renovated NEW COLLEGE THEATRE( which will be renamed back to HASTY PUDDING once Jack Lemmon ( HP Alum) or anyone else donates 2 mil to change it--much like a BWAY house) for 3 months. They then transfer to NYC for a show, and then trek to the BAHAMAS for a run.  Its a rough life I know.  Well, two members also gave us a tour of Harvard Yard.

It was Brian Polk and Tom Compton----and it was in complete drag.

(See pics for in costume and out, plus the video).

(click here for the article in the GLOBE on LARRY & NELL)

It was exciting because not only are Larry and Nell alums, but so is Paul Jackel.  ANd not only of the UNIV but also of Hasty Pudding.  I also found out that Lowel, Pforzheimer, and Winthrop are the names of dorms.  So wait for those pics!!!!!!!!

We returned to the theatre, where we signed the wall of GUEST ARTISTS, and then it was on. HASTY PUDDING did a skit ( see video) of WHO IS THE REAL ELLE WOODS. They called Becky up and threw some funny stuff at her, but she was a trooper and I threw the improv right back at them.  It was hilarious, followed by a Q & A, and a small performance.  We then bought some HARVARD swag and returned for our first show.

The OPERA HOUSE is beautiful-having been recently renovated.  It was nice to have Jeff back, and nice to have a huge backstage space.  For those of you that dont know, there was no wing space in Rochester. So, for quick changes, all the men had to run to the bowels of the theatre to change.  It was cartoonish at times.

And then, last night the BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA threw us an opening night party at the HYATT.  It was adorned with huge fake reeds, what looked like BROCCOLI crowns, and had amazing food. There was MAC & CHEESE( a tried and true fav), a chicken and fig thing, pistachio encrusted swordfish, and a POOPOO PLATTER of CHEESES.  Also, enjoy the video of Leslie teaching Tally how to give a sensible Body Roll.

What else will happen this week----we can only hope.  OH-but i will leave you with this thought.  Before the show last night, an army of our cast ladies decided it would be a good idea to get BRAZILIAN WAXES.  Note to self: A HOT WAXED VA J J is not conducive to dancing WHAT YOU WANT.    

Nuf' said!