SEVERE CATCHUP ON A TRAVEL DAY

Ho there ye rogue of this here musical theatre....

It has been nary a three fortnight and here I am a non-twittering updates on yonder musical of Pink.

it has been three cities and I thought, " Hmmm enough has happened that its time to update and add some pics."  I do this while we embark on our 3 hour bus ride to West Palm Beach, having been fully fed by a free Chick-fil-A press event on the corner of the glorious Bohemian in Orlando.

Des Moines ended with all us longing for good food, entertainment, and some warmer weather.  It also saw the sad departure of our Assoc Electrician and Josh Walden.  I dont know if I am allowed to disclose the electrician, so I will say as a last hoorah with Walden something amazing was done.  Our entire changing gondola went to a glamour studio and had pictures taken. The catch is that it is a CHILDRENs photo lab, so there were teddy bears and little chairs all over the place.   The parents stared at us, we were all sweating because we were laughing so hard, and i think we made the photographers week. I will also guarantee that we will make the wall amongst the babies and smiles.  Something tells me Walden will be back after he gets done with RAGTIME at the KENNEDY CENTER.   Only time will tell......

After an epic travel day, thanks to Mother Nature blazing the countryside with winter storms, we pulled into our trusty DoubleTree at around 8pm---nowhere near where our original 8 hour travel day would take us. So, whilst the majority of the company snacked and dined at the trusty TGI Fridays, I ventured to BEALE STREET. And, it was suprisingly bumping for a Monday.   I saw a simple three piece band singing hits.  A half rack of ribs and a brew later, I was relaxing to the tunes of classic rock and blues. The guy headlining the band, whose name I cant remember, helped re-open sun studios some 20 years prior. So not only was it a concert but a history lesson as well.  Nothing like hearing PINBALL WIZARD to the tune of RING OF FIRE.  Spencer then met up with me and we headed across the street to B.B. Kings( which i believe is the original) and heard an amazing R&B House band.  WELCOME TO MEMPHIS--where the homeless are more aggressive than in Times Square.

Here was my major goal for the week: Eat BBQ at least once a day for the entire week.  ( what i didnt know is that finding veggies along that quest would be close to impossible).  But here goes....

Tuesday found me at not only SUN STUDIOS ( where Elvis originally recorded his first album under the rues that it was for his Mammas Bday( which was a lie)), but also eating a healthy lunch of TOPS BBQ. I will call this the most blue collar BBQ you will find in Memphis.  Its simple, cheap, and easy. Not life altaring but a nice "in the meantime" meal.

Mic Check was easy breezy, following a quick stop at the great Local Folklore Craft shop/Museum/cafe for some coffee( which I have found out is the only way I can jump start through an opening night).  Its a great place on Main Street, mere streets from the Trolley, that is full of local artists music and wares.  They also serve some simple gnash.......( i suggest the greens  with hotsauce and cornbread).  There was a great lil opening night party, then we were out rocking it again at Slicky O' Sullivans hearing a double piano concierto.  This time, great gumbo and some sweet sweet wet ribs.

Wednesday found us all recovering from the travel day blues, as well as a put in for Barry Anderson and Kyle Brown--who are now in the show. For those who follow Wikipedia and their insider info, you may already know this.  Both guys did great in rehearsal and in their first night back at in the show.   Barry now plays the Josh Campbell track--also covering Dad/Winthrop + Callahan + Emmett, and Kyle plays Carlos and is now our resident Adonis.   Watching he and Adam strut around in GAY OR EURO is liking two mythological gods do an intimate tango.  In a word: priceless.   This night I went back to BB Kings, to discover that their ribs are amazing as well.

Thursday found me not only visiting my Uncle Buck in Arkasas across the river (which looks like a bomb zone still from the huge Ice Storm) but also with our Company Manager's Bday.  The gloriously young Nathan Gehan.  We jammed out to one of the best bands in town at  RUM BOOGIE.   Once again, wet ribs and love were had by all.  But then we hopped down to a few more clubs on Beale.  All the while, being accosted by guys shlepping their Strip Club cards, then asking to be bought a sandwich. Classic bums----handing out the blues at every turn.

I finally went home when we ventured into a bar and found out that "Morally Challenged Freelance Entertainers" ( which was my 10th grade English Teacher's nice way of saying HOOKER) could be acquired by stating that you "wanted some roses."  I didnt want any. I wanted sleep.

Friday found me adventuring with my uncle John, Aunt Debbie, and a few others.  We first went down by the mighty Mississip, seeing a great and saddening sight.  It was the memorial to , a man who saved a bunch of boaters in 1956.   We gafawed at the writing of the original phalic and boring granite plaque stating he was a "worthy negro" and then walking further down to find the artistic memorial.  In a time when segregation was still rampant in memphis, a poor black man that couldn't swim saved over 30 people from a sinking ship.  If that doesn't say AmeriCana I dont know what does.  Well there is a correction, that would be CORKY's BBQ.

It is the most infamous place in Memphis, having been made famous by TV, Presidents, and stars alike.  And for good reason, the half ribs and brisket combo leaves one thinking they got both the milk and the cow.  It was amazingly sweet and I suggest the Apple BBQ Sauce. And for those fellow "Former Fat Kids of America" out there, they also deliver.  XANADU.

That night, once again we hit up the B.B. Kings for some entertainment.  It was great----with people jamming all over the place and some of the finest musicians I have ever seen.  They played breakless from song to song for at least a half an hour, all the while bringing up different lead singers and crooning between Stevie hits, MJ power ballads, and old Earth Wind & Fire funk.  

Saturday brought the BBQ of Rendezvous---another world famous abode. But, theirs is for DRY ribs.  Which, for the novice is when they simply put a rub of spices on the rack. There is no sauce, though you can add it obviously.  It is downstairs in this side alley, and by they time we came out was a good 2 hour break.  Our gondola of fellas (Kyle, BPM, Adam, &I) killed some serious BBQ, and we neared our overall intake for the week.  We rolled back to the theatre for  another show, and then hit up the party thrown for us at Meridian Grill.  Its a great place on on main, with a delicious spread of comida that any artist would ravage. There is an old addage that you provide free food and an actor will be there, and thats pretty close to real.   Also that night, we said goodbye to our man Jason Gillman.  Due to family things, he had to leave the contract a day early. And we are sad to see him go.....but as all for all of us I am sure we will see him back soon. So, once again I was on the for youngest DAD ever!!!!!

Sunday we were fed by the glorious ushers. Its apparenty notorious, and for good reason.  The Potluck spread would have put any local Presbyterian Church to shame---even though the local Presbyterian church was probably partly responsible.  Any kind of southern cuisine possible was there, including homemade cobbler and pecan pie, which I can never say no too.  There was so much left, that we all got a to go box, bought one of their cookbooks, and rolled our glutenous butts back to the show.  That nights theme was "EXTREME....pooch."

Over the past two weeks, we have also seen Becky move from flats back to heels.  What with her toe, a carefully manicured swap of flats and open toed stilettos have been swapped.......and I am guessing by the end of WEST PALM will be totally back on point( dont mind the pun).  

ORLANDO brought sun and happiness in the way of the classiest hotel on tour thus far.  The GRAND BOHEMIAN ( formerly known as the WESTIN).  They have a great pool positioned on the 6th floor, is right in the middle of downtown madness, and put us in close proximity to NKOTB, The Chicago Bulls, PINK's Husband, and another basketball team i cant remember.  The week also saw the arrival of Paul Canaan and Rusty Mowery, who were doing another OVER THE TOP teaching workshop.  So, certain lovers were happy for a reuniting.  But, on Monday night our ASM Sharon Del Pilar also got to go moonlight in her old show at Disney....The Fantasmick.  She was the Wizard Mickey with Pyro coming out of her hands for two shows.   OH BOY!!!!!!!

The crowds in ORLANDO were the best we have had on tour, bar nun.  The first two nights were filled with every line receiving a whooping, and I am guessing also adding a good 5 mins to our runtime.

Mike Isaacson then made another appearance saying that things are looking great with this weird economy, and dates are being swapped around but we will definitely allready be going back to Houston.  Nothing like job security!!!

Throughout the week people shopped, hit the club scene ( which is crazy on Church street), loved the discovery of PITA PIT, hit UNIVERSAL, all the MOUSE parks, and soaked sun.  Whether HOLY LAND EXPERIENCE (now infamous from RELIGULOUS) was toured I am not sure, but sunday also brought our 200th show.  So as a hoorah, we drank some cahpagne in Ken and DB's dressing room, then venturing out and about to say goodbye to Meriah.  She has been our Assoc Hair  thus far, and is leaving to go back home.  So Meriah, you and your beautiful soul and style will be missed.

yesterday, we took over DISNEY en masse.  We were hooked up with VIP passes and ushered around the parks. We got FAST PASSES- which we all felt bad about passing 100s of families uncomfortably waiting, and then also getting snuck into the back of SPACE MOUNTAIN. But, one of the heights of the day was meeting the whole cast of the CASTLE SHOW.    It was a mutual celebration of craft, with some of us even breaking into tears from the sheer joy.  All the while the Evil Witch kept hanging in back and not talking to anybody.......but from insider info I am told its actually a man and thats why.  Apparently they dont trust females to lift the massive staff.    Ah the magic of theatre!!!!  We would like to thank our trusty guides Jay and ?.

I also got to run into some other princess along the way......one of which was also from Paw Paw, MI and another who I have known since high school vocal competitions.

It was a Magical Monday that helped lead us to a sold out run in West Palm Beach.  Atlantic Ocean here we come!!!!!!!!

We arrived to West Palm and all its beauty only to find a funky hotel.  They had dropped the ball at preparing for our arrival, so management made awesome progress swiftly to get us situated.  But, i will say that this hotel has never heard the term CUSTOMER SERVICE.  Many things happened, but the most colorful was the discovery of a used cathater and pee filled bag behind the door of an uncleaned bathroom. And no surprise, they didnt offer to move them or come get the bag.  On the positive side, at least it wasnt a used and full colostomy bag.  

The crowds here seem dead, due to the massive space between us and the seats.  But, having started BROADWAY CARES again for the EASTER BONNET Celebration, we get to hear the accolades as we collected cash for our show items.  

Oddly, the weather has been rainy and grey.  So unless you drove down to South Beach, the only real sun was had day one.   But, i guess one wouldn't want to be roaming the surf as long as the statewide MAN OF WAR alert was still going on.  I have never seen a purple flag fly on the lifeguard stand before..........

But, the sunny disposition of Mike Isaacson once again brightened the day,  He seems to be the perfect actors producer.  He always looks you in your eyes, asks how things are going, and gives the same support to ensemble and principal players alike.   HE also happened to be here when three girls were out( one with Personal Days and the other two with Floridian Allergies).  So, the swing fandango gave us many things.  The best was another appearance of Jay Garcia as a Delta Nu in SO MUCH BETTER.  Simply put: he should never be a dragqueen. But the greatness of both Sara and Sarah being Pilar made the whole week worth it.  

OHHHHHH--------we also have the addition of a new Bulldog.  Lewis was flown in and China was adopted by one of the Bway company.  Lewis was the standby at the end of the Bway run, and is possibly the cutest thing i have ever seen in my life.  With this picture we head into a long weekend.............and that brought us a new Paulette.

Natalie flew to NY to film some new scenes for a movie she shot last year with Danny Devito. So, Amber Efe became our Paulette---along with Alex going on for Enid.  It was a whole new show.

We then flew into Greenville to find a luscious land of green.   Spencer and I  went up to ASHEVILLE to see my best friend from high school, his newly pregnante wife, and GOMEZ ( a great Brit band that got its come-uppance on the AMERICAN BEAUTY soundtrack) in concert at the ORANGE PEEL, and then drove back for our opening.  Also opening in this cool little town, though a bit less hippie than Asheville, we found that we were adding an intermission voiceover. This was Becky saying to call your South Carolinian friends to come party at the PEACE CENTER( which the title makes me happy in ways i cant describe).  I am guessing because we weren't sold that much, which has proven true as the week has progressed.  But, I close with a special occasion that happened for the ARGITAKOS' joint bday party.  

Actually, I dont think i can actually include in the blog the entirety of what went down ( must protect the young that may be reading this).  All i will say is though WILL & GRACE night consists of 3 Tv Screens at 

CLUB 621

Screen 1= WILL & GRACE with volume up

Screen 2= Gay Porn in HD

Screen 3= Japanimation Music Videos

Add that behind a bar with a pool out back......and add little to no patrons.......and an entire cast of peeps taking over a bar becomes a mighty adventure ending with the owner and Zelasko both driving to bring back pizza.  As Borat would say........GREAT SUCCESS!!!!!!!   

Wish us luck as we have a 12:30 matinee this weekend amongst 4 shows and no sun in sight til well into late next week........................

once again internet is spotty.....so pics hopefully in NAPLES....

Also, HAPPY FIRST PREVIEW to Jerry with PEEPSHOW in Vegas.  For those of you that dont know, our captain and director Jerry Mitchell is directing a new burlesque show at the PLANET HOLLYWOOD.  

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