A Little Bit of Life: On the Road

"Thank You For The Music"

2010-07-20T03:43:00.004-04:00

“Memories are scattered all over the immense world, and it takes voyaging to find them and make them leave their refuge!”

-Milan Kundera

- Opening Night in Peoria, IL: cards and flowers from friends and family, Michael in the audience, the first moment I looked out at the audience during “Money, Money”

- Apple picking and hiking in Ithaca

- Pumpkin Carving in Schenectady

- Halloween Party/smashing piñatas in the street

- Family coming to the show in Pittsburgh, PA… the most emotional performance of my life

- Memphis: Graceland, Beale St., National Civil Rights Museum/Lorraine Motel with Rachel, my 1^st Beading Class with Sweetie!

- The Company Christmas Party in Ottawa, sing-a-long at the piano

- Day Cruise to the Bahamas: the silliest most unexpected day on tour, the day Adam talked me into traveling alone!

- Drag Show in Buffalo

- Spelunking Mammoth Caves

- 7^th Anniversary Party and the amazing bluegrass band

- Curling in Duluth with an Olympian

- Hiking Tahquitz Canyon with Monette and Natalie

- The Palm Springs Follies

- Hot Air Ballooning in Albuquerque

- Andrew’s Broadway Debut

- Broadway Cares Benefit in LA, the first time I played piano/sang with a band since high school

- Seeing a live taping of “The Price is Right”

- Hiking Saguaro National Park with the girls

- Monette and My Honeymoon in Kauai: hiking/getting lost in Waimea Canyon, rafting around the Napali Coast, Fire Sticks and Mi Thais!

- Maui with Adam, Monette, Rachel, and Natalie: Road to Hana, Venus Pool, Jumping off waterfalls, Haleakala at sunrise, biking down a volcano, snorkeling with giant sea turtles, and a farewell luau!

- Surfing lessons

- Night dive with giant Manta Rays on the Big Island

- My Awesome 80s Birthday Party

- WNBC in Toledo… “Mamma Mia! We went to see Leah” t-shirts

- Salsa Dancing

- Living in Rach’s grandparent’s amazing condo in Palm Beach for a week: ocean, hummus, wine and the first “sesh”

- Girls Tea Party in Dallas

- My first time riding a mechanical bull

- “Telegram for a Miss Leah Joseph”… Rachel’s most brilliant backstage performance!

- Greece. The best 10 days of my life.

- Spa Night in Tulsa

- Lyndsey’s “Passion Party” Bachelorette Party in Sioux Falls, SD

- Cast trip to Mt. Rushmore

- Dancing at a gay bar in San Antonio: Monette, Elena and I had money stuffed down our dresses

- Friends visiting in Little Rock… learning to let go

- A perfect fall day in Lafayette: apple picking, corn maze adventures, climbing/falling out of a tree, wine tasting, and carving pumpkins.

- Halloween in Cedar Falls, Iowa: homemade 7 Deadly Sins costumes

- Cast party at home in Cleveland: wine, food, friends, an unbelievable sing-a-long, and the cheese ball!

- Performing at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland with everyone I know in the audience, there are no words.

- Pole Dancing class in Hartford, CT

- Boston: Secret Santa, Christmas BC/EFA Benefit, decorating the hotel room, snowball fights, Christmas morning, the ballet, and the lavish Company Christmas Party!

- New Years on a snowy rooftop in Ottawa

- My 1st Strip Club in Montreal… oy.

- Adam’s gansta’ B-Day party

- F.O.N.M. (our hip hop crew)

- New Orleans: Bourbon Street, hurricanes, balcony parties, “Who Dat?”, the Superbowl!

- Atlanta… something new

- The City Museum in St. Louis, a giant playground for adults

- A cancelled show and subsequent late night of put-put in Sarasota!

- Planning Sarah’s Baby Shower

- 8^th Anniversary Party in Nashville

- Hiking the Grand Canyon with Mom, I still can’t believe we did it!

- My 1^st trip to Las Vegas with Liana

- A week in London to visit Andrew!

- Segue Tour of Paris by night

- 2 months in Toronto: Liana and my amazing condo, Sunday Night Supper Club, Toronto Island, Niagara Falls, tree climbing, pottery painting, show-tune power hour!

- My 25^th Birthday Party, “Dancing Through the Decades!”

- Crying through the closing night performance in Vienna, VA

- Exactly 600 shows in 80 cities in 30 states in 2 countries… the perfect combination of even numbers makes my sentimental obsessive compulsive head spin.

I didn’t know how to explain that this has been the most profound, humbling, transformative experience of my life… maybe through the memories there is a glimpse at what I couldn’t find the words to say.

"Don't you hear it? She asked & I shook my head no & then she started to dance & suddenly there was music everywhere & it went on for a very long time & when I finally found words all I could say was thank you. "

–Brian Andreas

Certain Uncertainty

2010-01-03T01:42:00.023-05:00

I’ve always had a particular affinity towards metaphors. The idea that a symbolic concept can clarify the ambiguous is almost paradoxical in its loveliness. I’ve just begun and already I digress… I’ve not written anything in months (much to Rachel’s chagrin), not because I’ve had nothing to say and certainly not because I haven’t had the time. Over the past 4 months I’ve lived in a sort of pleasant ambiguity, a certain uncertainty.

Several nights ago Adam and I were reflecting on 2009 and looking ahead to 2010 (as one does this time of year). Late night conversation and a few glasses of wine guided me towards metaphor, as is often the case. Trite though this may sound, this past year has been like living in a snow globe. Feel free to laugh or roll your eyes (I would were I were reading this) but stay with me for a moment. At the beginning of ’09 my life was clear: a dream job, unfaltering friends, a true love… the future was an apparent path of mindfully thought-out intentions: a detailed figurine in the center of a crystal ball. Slowly the globe began to shake, scattering snow across the pristine sphere. As the months past, what started as a flurry grew into a storm, muddling the clarity that I had once been so sure of. To be honest I grew quite used to the chaos, dare I say I even learned to enjoy it. After having been so certain of everything for so long it was almost a relief to throw up my hands, shout, “who knows” and get on with life. Eventually the snow began to settle and where there was once a detailed figurine, now nothing but snow covers the ground. The shattered bits of a life I thought I wanted now pave the way for a life I know I need.

Here ends my metaphor, the simplest way of explaining what I’ve found to be unexplainable.

I’ve never been one to make New Years Resolutions; I’ve always fancied the reflecting but never the obligatory goal setting. This year however I’m setting a goal, nothing particularly tangible and nothing particularly original, in fact I’ve borrowed my resolution from a piece of jewelry… "I want to be forever the me that greets change with open arms and heart.” This year I will find balance, stability, excitement and adventure in my new reality.

That being said, in this time of extreme change I’ve come to solidify a few beliefs:

I Believe in the transformative healing power of time.

I Believe that we really do get by with a little help from our friends.

I Believe that the end of a love is not the end of love.

I Believe in something between fate and coincidence.

I Believe in perfect chance encounters.

I Believe in abandonment within structure.

I Believe that I am lucky beyond my wildest dreams.

I Believe.

A Look Back at 2009:

Day Cruise to the Bahamas

The day Adam talked me into traveling alone

With Rach at the theater in Bloomington, IN

Hiking Tahquitz Canyon in Palm Springs, Ca

Monette, Me and Natalie

Hot Air-ballooning in Albuquerque, NM

Andrew's Opening Night on Broadway!

Hiking Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ

Waimea Canyon, Hawaii

If any picture represents 2009... this is it.

Waterfall Adventures on the Road to Hana

Natalie, Monette, Me and Rachel

Sunrise of the top of Haleakala

Rach, Nat, Mo, Me and Adam

My awesome 80's Birthday Party!

Salsa Dancing in Charlotte, NC

Riding a Mechanical Bull in Dallas, TX

Me and Natalie

Athens, Greece

The first of the best 10 days of my life

Delphi, Greece

The most beautiful place I have ever been

Mt. Rushmore

Eric, Me, Donell and Adam

A perfect fall day in West Lafayette, IN

Monette and I climbed the giant tree on the right

Pole Dancing Class in Hartford, CT

Monette and Me

A Perfect Day in Boston

Rach, Monette, Me and Natlie

Greece: With Open Arms

2009-09-21T23:49:00.026-04:00

It would be impossible for me to encapsulate my trip to Greece in a single reflective blog. So, I’ve decided to copy down excerpts from the journal I kept over the course of my 10 days abroad. This is sure to be exceedingly long so feel free to read as much or as little as you care to… bon voyage.

Wednesday August 26, 2009

10:45pm (New York) – Flight from New York to London

I’m finding it difficult to begin writing about my impending adventure. Perhaps because I’ve been planning for so long I’m having trouble believing that its actually here. I’m excited for what I know is to come but my body hasn’t found the excitement that my brain understands. The other day Rachel said that “our minds are so much smarter than we realize,” that “somewhere your subconscious knew that you were going to need this trip and that you were going to need to do it alone.” Obviously she was right, but there is a part of me that can’t actually believe I’m doing this. Certainly its something I’ve always talked about wanting to do, I’ve always fancied traveling alone to be a romantic adventure into self-realization, growth and independence. I cannot believe that such a grand fantasy has turned into my very real reality. Perhaps there is always a sense of disbelief when an outlandish dream is realized… jumping out of a plane is very different when sitting on a couch fantasizing than it is 10,000 ft. in the air strapped to a 200 lbs. man.

It feels like only a few days ago that I was sitting on a beach in the Bahamas with Adam talking about the possibility of traveling alone. That was last January, and now I find myself on a plane with only a backpack and a purse, flying to a country across the world where I don’t speak the language. And yet, I’m not scared. I’ll find my way. I have to. There is no other choice.

Thursday August 27, 2009

8:08pm (Athens) – Buzavtivo Taverna, Plaka

After touching down in Athens I exchanged my American dollars for euros and hopped on a bus towards the Student and Traveler’s Inn, the hostel I’m living at while in Athens. I checked in and paid a very reasonable 50€ for 2 nights, dropped off my backpack, changed out of my travel clothes and started walking in the general direction of the Acropolis.

I’ve quickly realized that almost every Greek in Athens speaks enough English to give directions, which is very helpful! After a lovely walk through the tree lined cobblestone streets, I found myself at the gate of the Acropolis. As I climbed the hill, magically or rather mythically, giant Doric columns began to reveal themselves like blades of grass bursting from their seeds.

Once through the ancient entryway I finally saw, through tear filled eyes, the Parthenon. I cannot say exactly what it is that took my breath away. Even through the heavy construction that surrounded half of the edifice, there is a sense of mystery and haunting magic that courses through the air. I can still see the fireworks exploding over the Acropolis as the world rung in the new millennium. The authentic juxtaposition was tremendously powerful, the celebration of the modern world above the icon of the ancient. The image has always struck me.

It’s hard to believe that real people lived, worked and prayed at the site. Greek history is so inextricably intertwined with myths that it is hard for me to separate the fact from the fiction. The gods and sensational creatures of mythology didn’t necessarily exist, but the people who believed in them did.

These ruins of the 1^st great civilization now stand atop a modern city that is constantly celebrating the glory of its past. Compare this to New York City. The center of New York is a square, which is not even square, overwrought with lights, ads, stores filled with useless huzzari and tourists. New Yorkers avoid Times Square like the plague.

On my way back to the hostel I got happily lost amongst the winding steps and streets of the city. I meandered through the evening, stopping to ask for directions now and again. I was continuously surprised by all the stray dogs roaming the streets. I had been warned that Athens is filled with dogs, but warnings aside, it’s a bizarre site to see. Also surprising about the streets of Plaka (the area of Athens where I was living) are the gelato carts spotting the way. I had always thought gelato an Italian desert, but as it turns out, it’s also popular in Athens.

The view of Athens from the Acropolis

The Parthenon

Friday August 28, 2009

10:00am (Athens) – Student & Traveler’s Inn, Garden

I’m trying to learn to like coffee. I’ve never cared for it, though I suppose I’ve never really tried. It somehow seems appropriately European to wake up with coffee… I’m going to work on it. Breakfast is simple and tasty, yoghurt (to say Greek yoghurt is perhaps redundant) with sugar, granola and honey, toast and orange juice. International CNN is on in the background and travelers from around the world surround the tables.

1:58pm – Filopappau Hill

From where I’m sitting I can see all of Athens, complete with an unobstructed view of the Acropolis. There are butterflies everywhere, which I’m choosing to take as a good omen.

The National Archaeological Museum was beautiful and the enormous collection of Ancient Greek Art is mind blowing. Several times I found myself holding back tears for no obvious reason. I think they are the moments that I can’t actually believe I’m here.

After the museum I took the metro to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple in Greece (albeit it is now only an entry arch and a few surviving columns). From there I walked along the walls of the Acropolis and up Filopappau Hill to where I am now, gazing over Athens at the most important ancient site in the Western World.

6:55pm – Taverna of Psaras

I am sharing my room at the hostel with a boy from China, a girl from Japan (the two converse in French) and a boy from Germany (we chat in English). Athens, more than anyplace I’ve been, is accessible by a variety of languages. Shopkeepers converse with tourists in Greek, English, French, German and Spanish. These polyglots make me wish more than ever that I could speak any language other than English. Additionally, anytime I’m asked where I’m from, there is a part of me that wishes the answer wasn’t America. Not that I’d want to live anywhere else, but there is always a general response of “Oh… I’m so sorry.” Although when I add New York City, it seems not so bad. Perhaps from now on I’ll answer only, “New York.”

I didn’t much care for the area around the museum; it looked like any crowded, dirty, metropolitan city. Plaka however, Plaka is magical. Touristy, yes, but the cobblestone streets, live music around every corner, innumerous cafes, breathtaking views of the Acropolis… “charming” sounds quaint and “magnificent” too grand, but it is somehow both of these things.

I’ve just finished my delicious dinner at tonight’s taverna… salmon, white wine and a cappuccino. I added 2 packets of sugar and while still bitter, a lovely end to the meal (I’m working on it).

10:13pm – Student & Traveler’s Inn

After dinner I walked over to the Acropolis to see it lit at night. I asked a random boy to take my picture; he did and then asked if he could buy me a coffee… I walked with Michelé to a café beneath the floodlit Acropolis. He spoke almost no English but he bought me a coffee and walked me home.

12:20am – Rooftop Garden, Cine Paris

It is intermission of “The Name of the Rose” a movie staring Sean Connery. The movie theater is a projection screen on a rooftop garden beneath the eastern wall of the Acropolis. The night is clear and the sky is dusted with stars and cigarettes ends.

The view of the Acropolis from Filopappau Hill

The Acropolis at Night

Saturday August 29, 2009

10:58am – Blue Star Ferry, Athens to Santorini

I settled into my chairs on the ferry, had a cappuccino, cookie, wrote an email home and opened my book. I began the 2^nd chapter of “Zorba the Greek” by Nikos Kazantzakis and was greeted with the following passage:

“Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean Sea… to cleave that sea in the gentle autumnal season, murmuring the name of each islet, is to my mind the joy most apt to transport the heart of man into paradise. Nowhere else can one pass so easily and serenely from reality to dream… it is as if here in Greece necessity is the mother of miracles.” (pg 16)

Yesterday butterflies followed me up Filopappau Hill, today my book joyously greets me at sea. If it is kismet, I shall follow it with an open heart and outstretched arms.

7:58pm (Santorini) – Lithos Restaurant

I dropped off my backpack at the charming Loizos Apartments (a white washed building with royal blue shutters and a pink flowering tree out front) and walked straight into the bustling heart of Fira, Santorini’s Capital. The cobblestone streets are endlessly lined with shops and restaurants. It could easily feel like any cruise ship port were it not for the fact that the streets are draped over massive cliffs that fall into a sea the color of melted turquoise crayons.

Refreshed after a nap and shower I head out to Lithos, a restaurant recommended by Lonely Planet for equally spectacular food and sunset views. Sitting atop the rooftop restaurant, Santorini takes my breath away. A glass of white wine in hand, I watch as the sun paints the sky a palate of perfection and finally disappears behind the volcano, leaving only a paint streaked sky and a sea of melted wax.

As I was being seated I had my first lonely traveler moment; I couldn’t sit at a certain table, it was for two. Once settled in my terrace corner I was greeted with a glass of sangria for “the lady.” The waiter was extremely helpful in recommending authentically Aegean dishes: pastry flutes (fried fillo dough filled with edam, smoked cheese, sundried tomatoes, capers and a spearmint/yoghurt sauce) and a grilled white snapper.

And here I sit now with my cappuccino (+2 sugars) gazing into a black, starless, perfect night in the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.

Fira

Dinner at Sunset

My View of the Sunset From the Dinner Table

Sunday August 30, 2009

12:19pm (Santorini) – Kamari, Black Sand Beach

I’ve never been to a black sand beach before. Now here, I’ve learned that the “sand” is not, in point of fact, sand proper but rather innumerous smooth, black, lava rocks.

After I left the restaurant last night I wandered in and out of the shops, lured in by expensive trinkets and offers of free sweet wine.

At 12:30 I went back to Lithos to meet Eric (my waiter), who had asked if he could take me out. When I got there, he had a glass of white wine waiting. We sat there for about 20 minutes with several of his friends, as they joked in Greek he did his best to translate for me. His English was good, but by no means great. The guys attempted in vain to teach me how to swing the kombolói (traditional Greek worry beads). Every Greek I’ve encountered has great facility with the beaded strings, but it is the older men that are constantly flipping, twisting and caressing these de-stressing beads. For this American tourist, the beads had the opposite effect. I could not do it to save my life. Maybe I’ll buy some and practice…

We said goodbye to his friends and walked up to “Murphy’s” an Irish bar in the heart of a Greek Island and then to “Enigma” a posh club with an outdoor bar under the stars. Both places were packed with trendy locals and chic international tourists. We stayed out dancing until all hours of the morning and ended the night in the town square, eating greasy pizza. This couldn’t possibly be my life.

8:23pm – 1800 Restaurant, Oia

The sun has just set on my second day in Santorini. At 7:15 I got on a bus to Oia, the northern tip of the island, to watch an unobstructed sunset. Every person I’ve spoken to said that I must got to Oia for sunset and it seems as though every person on the island has made the migration. To get a view worth the journey, I had to climb over a wall and onto a rooftop. I was in a storybook; people lined every wall, restaurant and rooftop. Floating on the sea below was, what I can only describe as a pirate ship; sails at mast, wooden decks, something out of Colonial England. The blazon sun sunk into the horizon amid wild applause and the sky remained awash with the colorful strokes of its departure. Magnificent.

I walked over to 1800, a restaurant recommended by my guidebook and was seated at a table in the front garden. I’ve read that wines from Santorini are particularly delicious, something to do with the nutrients found in the lava rich soil (their house white, Athiri, is the best I’ve had in Greece). With their homemade bread I was given a small cup of Greek olive oil with feta foam, compliments of the chef… rich but delicious. For dinner I ordered the champagne, cherry and asparagus risotto: unbelievable, on par with the artichoke risotto I had with my parents in Lake Louise. While waiting for my risotto, the waitress came over and said, “its so nice to travel by yourself. To write and travel, its beautiful.” Yes. Yes, it is beautiful. Beautiful, life affirming, a little scary and perfectly marvelous.

I’ve just got a glass of vinsanto, a traditional sweet wine from Santorini. Delightful, tasting like something between a traditional port and a German eiswein. For desert I’m having a poached pear covered in mascarpone cheese with dates and a caramel sauce. This is a restaurant Andy would have gone crazy for.

As I finish this fine meal, I remind myself that I am not on a fancy vacation. I am traveling around Greece with a backpack. But one night of lovely decadence can’t be helped.

Kamari, Black "Sand" Beach

Sunset in Oia (this may be my favorite picture from the trip)

Monday August 31, 2009

11:15am (Santorini) – Airport

I’m sitting at the outdoor restaurant in the Santorini Airport waiting for my flight to Athens before my bus ride to Delphi. I just finished my sandwich and am now sipping my frappe, I’m committing to this liking coffee business… The travelers at the surrounding tables are reading newspapers in Italian, Greek, German and French.

4:39pm (Athens) – Bus Station

As I was flying over the Aegean, I was thinking how my entire trip has been filled with signs, clues that I’m on the right path. It is the 5^th day of my trip, exactly halfway through, and I’m heading to Delphi, the navel of Ancient Greece. How perfect, the center of my trip has lined up with the center of Greece’s spiritual existence. Everything is in its place. Perfect.

Then I got lost in Athens.

Now when I say, “lost” I don’t mean romantically among the cobblestone streets, I mean lost. Good and properly lost. Hansel and Gretel had nothing on me.

I got off the plane and bought my ticket for the x93 (the bus to the bus station). Listening to my “Greece Mix” on my iPod, I waited for the last stop or the stop in front of a large bus terminal. As it turns out, the stop I needed was neither of these things. After half the bus emptied, I turned to my neighbor and asked which is the bus station stop, “the last one” he says. Shit. He said to get off at the next stop and take a taxi. That makes sense, I can do that. I get out at the next stop and find myself in the middle of a highway, no taxis in sight. I run across the highway lanes, dodging traffic and find a gas station to ask where I can get a taxi…

“This is not a taxi.” “I know, this is a gas station. Where can I get a taxi?” “You are going to a taxi station?” “No, I’m going to the bus station.” “Oh, you need a taxi.” “…” “At the corner” “Efkharisto (Thank you).” I wish I knew Greek.

After several failed attempts to hail a cab, I finally found one willing to take me. “Bus Station, parakalo (please).” “?” I madly flip through my book. “Leoforio?” “Ah, ne leoforio (Ah, yes bus).” We pull up to the station at 3pm, my bus is at 3:30, I was going to make it! I graciously thanked the driver and ran inside to get my ticket. “Sorry lady, wrong bus station.” You must be kidding me. The woman at the counter gave me directions by way of bus and metro, “or you could take a taxi.” Taxi it is. Then I saw the cab line, JFK the day before Christmas. I had half an hour before my bus left, it would take me an hour to get to the front of that line. Wait, could I walk there? “Lady, it will take you half an hour.” Bus/metro is it. I had half an hour, I could do it.

Once on the bus, I was breathing a bit easier. “Which stop is Omonia?” “Two stops, lady.” I get off two stops later. Not Omonia. Through the crowds I saw what looked like a square in the distance and ran. Omonia! Mischievous Gods, 5. Leah, 1. I got my metro ticket towards Kato Patisia, things are looking up. I check my phone for the time, 3:30. There went my bus. Mischievous Gods, 6.

I get off the subway and emerged into the light of what I expected to be a bus station. “Excuse me, do you know where the bus station is?” “?” “Milas Anglika? (Do you speak English?)” “Oxi. (no.)” Of course not, I’m in Greece, they speak Greek.

Leah, crying will do you no good. Get it together and get there in one piece. Ok. After sever more failed attempts, “Milas Anglika” “Yes, lady.” Huzzah! “How do I get to the bus station?” “15 minutes that way.” AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. “Efkharisto. (Thank you.)”

As I walked in the way of, what at that point had become a hypothetical bus station, it began to thunder and lightning. I couldn’t write this. Lolita looks to the sky and cries, “I am not a lady and do not like lightning.”

I ask for directions again and finally see, through the lightning streaks, a bus station in the distance. The mischievous gods shouted through the thunder claps, “alright little one, you wanted and adventure… and learn Greek next time.”

I arrive at the bus station at 3:50, twenty minutes late. I was in one piece, I hadn’t cried, I bought a ticket, drank some water and started hysterically laughing. Before settling down for my wait, I ran to the restroom. 0.50€ to pee? The woman handed me some toilet paper. Odd. I open the stall door and find what I can only describe as a porcelain hole in the floor. I pile my bags and pants in a corner, squat and pee into a fancy hole. Yesterday I lived a fairy tale, today… Murphy’s law.

9:00pm (Delphi) – Taverna Vakhos

I’ve made it to Delphi in one piece! As soon as I arrived in town, I dropped off my bags and flipped through my Lonely Planet for a dinner recommendation… Taverna Vakhos. I immediately order a glass of their homemade white wine, which is much needed and surprisingly nice. For dinner I order the shrimp saganaki, I wasn’t entirely sure what saganaki entailed, but it had appeared on every menu I’ve seen and is “traditionally Greek.” When in Rome… According to wikipedia, saganaki (when not referring to fried cheese) is “a dish prepared in a single-serving frying pan… typically feta based and includes a spicy tomato sauce.” My response to wikipedia: heaven in a pan. This dish is hearty and unpretentious… I am tempted to return tomorrow for the exact same meal. I would eat this once a week if it were available in New York.

I am finding that dining out alone is forcing or rather allowing me to taste food in a new way. Eating has become an almost sensual pleasure. Each bite is a treat I share with no one but myself. I eat slower, I notice subtle details, eating becomes a journey of tiny discoveries, a joy.

11:18pm – Hotel Sibylla

I don’t know why I wanted to travel alone. I know it is something I’ve always wanted to do. But why? Traveling abroad alone is one thing in theory and quite another sitting alone in a hotel room across the world from everything you know.

When I planned this trip I had a handful of people who didn’t understand, who thought I was a crazy person, namely a boyfriend that I loved very much. I can’t say what it was that compelled me to abandon everything and run halfway around the world. I know with some certainty that I’m not running from anything, I have a pretty spectacular life at the moment, the most loving, supportive family and friends that I could imagine and a job I love (that is sending me on this trip). So if I’m not running from something, what am I running to? What am I looking for?

I wanted to experience something, something that will forever be mine. I never had a secret box of treasures as a child, I wasn’t Scout hiding trinkets in trees. I’ve never lived by myself. While I’ve always been independent, I’ve never done anything alone. Even overnight camp, summer programs, college… I embarked on these adventures alone but quickly melded into a group. I say this as if it were a bad thing; quite to the contrary, I count my blessings that I’ve been fortunate enough to have always made friends. I have no desire to become a hermit or a recluse in the mountains but I do want to experience a slice of this world by myself. I want to meet the me that gets by on only myself, no help from others, just me.

I need to know that I can accomplish things, that I can overcome my fears, that I can be stronger, braver… that I can be afraid but I can learn to lose the fear of fear. I can be fearless.

Tuesday September 1, 2009

8:26pm (Delphi) – Taverna Skala

In my wildest dreams I could not imagine a place as magnificent as Delphi. This is the Greece poets dream of. Perched on the southwestern slope of Mount Parnassus, the town overlooks the Valley of Phocis and the Gulf of Corinth. The ancient Greeks believed Delphi to be the navel of the earth, the center of the universe. Mythology has it that Zeus released two eagles in opposite directions, they flew around the world and met at Delphi.

I must immediately record that a woman’s phone just began ringing… “Dancing Queen”… either a sign that I am on the right path or the gods are out to get me again!

This morning I woke up and walked over to the archeological site at Ancient Delphi. The 10-minute walk curved along the mountainside and looked over the cypress tree lined, olive forest covered valley. Once at the site, I buy my ticket and begin climbing the mountain towards the ruins. The initial ascent weaves through column bases, shattered walls and stone markers that indicate where greatness once towered. I continue past the treasury of the Athenians (the first standing edifice), toward the Temple of Apollo. A marble floor and several columns are all that remain of the most sacred place in the ancient world. It is here that the Delphic Oracle gave prophecies to the leaders of the world.

I ask a stranger if he would mind taking a picture for me (using my usual miming). “Yea, no problem.” “You speak English?!” His name was Tom, a PhD student at Boston College. With two masters degrees in Religious Studies and Theology, my new friend was sensibly hidden from the sun by a floppy hat and sunglasses. We climbed the mountain together, Tom all the while telling me of his travels through Europe, the detailed history of each ruin and theories of apocalyptic Islam. He asked what I did… “So you’re not a student or a scholar? You’re just traveling Greece alone, for fun?” He didn’t understand. We continued on, talking about literature, traveling, Shakespeare, Boston… it was a joy to talk with someone who not only spoke English but who was also intelligent, interesting and intellectually challenging (this is a rarity in America and everyone speaks English there). After an hour or so we parted ways at the at the site entrance. What a wonderful little man he was.

A short walk further down the mountain brought me to the Sanctuary of Athena. Nestled into the olive trees, the circular structure holds three re-erected columns amongst its shattered ruins. According to my book it is “the most striking of Delphi’s monuments.” Lonely Planet has yet to lead me astray. 20 minutes later I found myself at the museum filled with relics, statues and the ruins of Delphi’s magnificent past. A sphinx dating back to 560 BC is a highlight. After an hour or so, I head back to the town for some lunch and a nap. How simple a luxury these daily naps have become.

Around 6pm I headed back over to the site for no reason other than to sit high on the mountain and look down over the ruins into the valley. I would stay asleep my whole life if I could dream myself into this landscape.

On Mt. Parnassus Overlooking the Temple of Apollo

The Theater at Delphi

Delphi: The Most Beautiful Place I've Ever Been

Wednesday September 2, 2009

10:43pm (Kalambaka) – Hotel Meteora

Travel Day #2. The trip from Delphi (pronounced Del-fee or Del-fos, I’ve been saying it wrong my whole life) to Kalambaka, the town just outside Meteora, is a long, tricky day of bus swapping. Luckily, while waiting for the 1^st bus I stumbled into conversation with James, a 46 year old British fellow and Hadi and Sameera, a young couple that just graduated from law school at the University of Michigan. Over the course of our 3 bus, 5 hour-ish excursion the 4 of us became an odd rag-tag-team of sorts, chatting about who we are and where we’ve come from:

James is a sort of Jack-of-all-trades, having worked all over England and Scotland as a stagehand, director, stage-manager, masseuse, aroma-therapist and fly fisherman (amongst many other odd jobs). His mother was a celebrated British actress and as such we talked for hours about classical theatre.

Sameera grew up outside of Palm Beach, in what I have gathered to be an affluent family. She did her undergrad at Harvard before attending Law School at Michigan. She is beautiful, intelligent and funny, the sort of person I would naturally be drawn to in America.

Hadi (Sameera’s boyfriend) is Iranian but grew up in America and has lived and traveled all over the world. Before Michigan he did his undergrad at Johns Hopkins. He and Sameera have just arrived in Greece from Istanbul, where his parents are now living.

Once we arrived in Meteora, we all went out separate ways with a plan to meet up for dinner. At 8 o’clock I met Hadi and Sameera (we couldn’t get a hold of James) and for 3 hours we talked about politics, art, religion, etc. It was a joy sharing a meal with two educated, extremely intelligent, well-traveled young people. Both Muslim, we talked at length about religion and discrimination, traveling and intolerance. They are two of the most interesting people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.

Thursday September 3, 2009

8:43pm (Thessaloniki) - Ya|Mas Restaurant

It has been a long, tiring and marvelous day! I woke up this morning at 8am in order to pack my backpack, wash up, checkout and eat a quick breakfast before catching the bus to Meteora at 9.

Many geologists refer to the terrain of Meteora as a “rock forest,” where one would expect trees to appear, there are instead massive rock pillars. Somewhere around the 11^th or 12^th century AD (or CE, depending on your preference) Greek Orthodox monks took refuge from the Turkish occupation in the massive pillars of Meteora. Over 20 monasteries were built atop the rocks and 6 now remain. For centuries the monasteries were accessible only by rope ladder or a rudimentary net, rope, pulley system (meaning that monks who were too old or weak to climb would be raised hundreds of feet in a rope net).

Over the past week I have seen some of the most beautiful places on earth. All hyperbole aside, Meteora is (bar none) the most unbelievable place I have ever seen, or could imagine for that matter. If I hadn’t stood atop and beneath these magnificent crags, I would not have thought them possible. Although millions of years old, the rocks look like something out of a science fiction film, imagined by a lunatic poet or apocalyptic visionary. There is something about the ancient monasteries precipitously perched atop the pinnacles that give the majestic landscape a simultaneously haunting and ethereal quality. There are no words that could do Meteora justice. It is simply mind-blowing.

I met Hadi and Sameera on the bus and together we wound our way up the terrain to the Moni Megalou Meteorou (the Great Meteoron monastery). We climbed the hundreds of steps carved into the rocks to reach the monastery proper. Once inside, we explored the courtyard, katholikon (the main church, lined with ornate frescos), refectory, a mini museum and the ossuary. Until this morning I hadn’t a clue what an ossuary was, which may have been for the best. An ossuary is a site “made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains.” Translation: this room that we innocently stumbled upon held shelves lined with hundreds of skulls (a startling sight even if you are expecting it).

From the Great Meteoron we parted ways; I climbed several kilometers to reach a panoramic point and my 2 new friends continued on to other monasteries. After a respite at the panoramic point, which was well worth the hike, I made my way down to the Moni Agias Varvaras Rousanou (the Rousanou Nunnery). A climb of several hundred more steps through the rocks brought me to a much smaller, although equally as beautiful monastery. Here, the nuns walked about the tourists, attending to their daily chores.

Once descended from the great heights, unable to find a taxi, I walked 10 kilometers through the rock forest (chatting along the way with a backpacker from Germany) to the small town of Kastraki before catching a bus back to Kalambaka. Meteora hosted the most peculiar demographic of tourists: the majority being (assumedly) religious groups on tour busses, aged 50+, the other prominent group, 20-something backpackers. Virtually no one else was there.

After a quick lunch in town I hopped on a bus to Thessaloniki by way of Trikala. I arrived in Thessaloniki just after 7pm, the last stop on my Grecian tour. I walked along the waterfront towards the famous White Tower looking for a place to have dinner and quickly realized that I was in a very urban city. After a week exploring ancient ruins, a storybook island and a majestic rock forest this high-speed metropolitan city hit me like a ton of bricks. I had forgotten what life was like outside of cobblestone streets.

Reality is far harsher when juxtaposed by fantasy. Ironically, for the past week my fantasy has also been my reality. I’ve been Alice, Candide and Gulliver all wrapped into one little package.

View of a Monastery in Meteora

The Katholikon of the Moni Megalou Meteorou

A Rock Forest

Meteora

Friday September 4, 2009

11:05am – Bus from Thessaloniki to Vergina

Every time we pass a church the old women on the buses cross themselves. Yesterday on the bus to Thessaloniki two women across the aisle (seated in different rows) crossed themselves in perfect synchronicity. A gesture so innate, it seems a part of their being. I’m not sure why, but there is something comforting about it.

1:35pm (Vergina) – Bus Stop

After dinner last night I decided I wasn’t much in the mood to walk through Thessaloniki today, I didn’t particularly love the feel of the city. It’s hash, aggressive and a little dirty.

Yesterday, while talking to my mom about my adventures and some of the people I’ve met, she reminded me how important it is to continue to nourish the academic in me. She asked if this trip was making me regret my career choice. It hasn’t, but it does make me wish that I could be 2 people at the same time. I wouldn’t change my life path for anything, I love my job, my friends and the community I feel privileged to be a part of. That’s not to say however that I wouldn’t like to press pause on this life and spend several years studying philosophy, religion, literature, history and traveling the world. To abandon everything I know to study in an ashram in India or go on safari in Africa or study architecture in Rome or learn how to cook in Tuscany or paint in Florence or, or, or, or… but I know myself, the wild gypsy within needs structure. This city girl needed two weeks in small villages. I live in New York City and Thessaloniki is too harsh for me?

It’s the Gemini in me, two people in one. A life of duality confined to one body.

5:15pm (Thessaloniki) – Mandrino Hotel

Once arrived in Vergina (ver-GEE-na), I walked to the gate of the Royal Tombs and bought my ticket in Greek.

The museum and tombs lie inside an earthen mound or “tumulus.” The tombs were excavated from 1977-78 by archaeologist, Manolis Andronikos. 4 tombs were unearthed (2 unknown due to ancient pillaging) the 2^nd tomb is believed to belong to Phillip II (Alexander the Great’s Father) and the 3^rd belonging to Alexander IV (Alexander the Great’s Son). Within Phillip II’s tomb a gold larnax/ossuary (you go your whole life without hearing a word and then twice in 2 days) was found with his wine stained bones wrapped in a purple and gold cloth. The tombs themselves are built to resemble Doric temples and are visible through glass. To see a tomb, which resembles an ancient temple and is the size of a small modern house, that for thousands of years held the remains of one of the great leaders of the Ancient World is overwhelming to say the least.

From Vergina I took the bus back to Thessaloniki and from the bus station I took a cab to the Church of Agios Dimitrios, the largest and most sacred church in Thessaloniki. Dedicated to the city’s patron saint, Dimitros, who was martyred in the Roman bath beneath the church. The Byzantine edifice was built in the 5^th century; its walls are covered in ornate mosaics, painting and wood carvings (there is no shortage of opulence). A fire in the early 20^th century caused major renovations and the crypt beneath the church was resurrected and is now open to the public. This eerie martyrdom site felt far more spiritual than the lavish church above. The stark ruins told a story of faith and persecution more clearly and divinely than any gold plated mosaic could even attempt.

8:24pm (Thessaloniki) – Kitchen Bar Restaurant

Thessaloniki is a fascinating city, certainly more interesting than my first impression. Through my very limited time here, it seems to me a city caught between two generations: the younger yearning for a modern urban city, the older dreaming in the past, with hopes of preservation. Churches and monuments are beautifully kept and their gates are covered in graffiti. Magnificent churches, centuries old, sit alongside rundown apartment complexes. On my walk home from the church this afternoon I passed several columns in a gated ditch on the side of the road. It is a city inextricably tied to its past and a city reaching for the future.

The White Tower

My Last Night in Greece

Tuesday September 8, 2009

12:08pm (New York) – Midwest Flight from NY to Kansas City

I’ve spent the past 2 days readjusting and relaxing after the most unbelievable 10 days of my life. I’ve tried to reflect and gain perspective on what has just happened, but I know that I cannot fully understand just how life altering and impacting this trip was. I don’t know how to explain how this one experience has completely changed my understanding of who I am, what I believe and how I want to experience life. Spending 10 days alone (regardless of where in the world) forced me to honestly examine and come to terms with certain strengths and weaknesses that I had never admitted to myself. Theodore Isaac Rubin once said: “I must learn to love the fool in me – the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries.”

Experiencing a trip like this alone allowed me to listen to and acknowledge my instinctual feeling and opinions about things. Since there weren’t often people around sharing ideas, I was allowed to explore, internalize and digest slowly and patiently. With that said, some thoughts:

What initially struck me about many of the sites, ruins, architecture and art was its permanence. Most of the things I saw dated back to the BC era; minimally these relics were over 2,000 years old, that is 1,500 years before Shakespeare ever took pen to paper, Christianity wasn’t even an idea yet. It makes much of our contemporary society feel very impermanent. We don’t have the patience to construct buildings over a century, we get anxious if a waiter is too long in getting us our bill. Masterpieces, works of genius; these require time and patience. In this dot-com era, we have neither. When everything is available at the click of a button, the joy of exploration is lost. Everything has a definition, a title, and explanation… an element of wonder has escaped us.

Standing beneath the stars gazing up at the Acropolis, watching the sun set into the Aegean Sea from a cliff-side rooftop, looking out over the holiest land of the ancient world into a lush valley, climbing massive pillars in a rock forest: in this my soul was renewed. In this, the very existence of the world became a miracle again. In the sheer beauty of all that surrounded me, I became more alive and more appreciative than I’ve ever been.

Dallas: The End of an Era

2009-08-24T10:45:00.011-04:00

I’ve always had a partiality towards numbers, organization, compartmentalization, and structure. 10 months and 26 days ago I joined tour and in that time I’ve visited 41 cities and done exactly 300 shows. Within this solidly quantifiable time my life has been irrevocably and immeasurably changed.

Last Monday our company arrived in Dallas, TX for a two-week sit-down and the last tour stop for 4 of our company members including Rachel and Natalie. Due to my vacation, I would be gone for our second week in the Lonestar State, making this past week my last on the road with the girls. So we made it count.

We arrived in Dallas at the start of restaurant week (participating high end restaurants offer a $35 pre fixe menu), which we decided to take advantage of our first night. A group of us headed to Craft, Tom Colicchio, of Top Chef fame’s restaurant. As we pulled up to the restaurant a butterfly was flittering about the flowers so picture perfectly that an overwrought coming-of-age novelist couldn’t have written it better. Several hours and bottles of wine later we headed back to the hotel for a night of “loaded questions” by the pool (loaded questions being my favorite board game).

The next day Monette and I were hard at work finalizing details for a farewell tea party all-the-while running around the city buying goodbye presents and putting finishing touches on gifts. That night after our opening, the theater threw us an opening night soiree. From my meager experience, it is true that everything is bigger in Texas. The party was held at the old train station, catered by Wolfgang Puck, reporters and photographers were stationed around every bend, a live band played for hours and upon leaving we were given “goodie bags.” There certainly is something to be said for southern hospitality.

Wednesday afternoon, Monette and I hosted a high tea in honor of Natalie, Nicole and Rachel (the girls leaving at the end of Dallas). The restaurant had set up a long elegant table with fresh flowers and porcelain teacups, and all 14 women looked perfectly lovely in their party dresses. Monette welcomed everyone with a tear-filled speech before I introduced a little activity I had planned. “Handprints on the Heart” is an idea I borrowed from my BBYO days; each women was given a paper with her name inside of a heart inside of a handprint on it, we then passed the papers around the table and each person wrote something kind about each of the lady's “handprint.” It could be sincere, silly, inspirational, anything at all. Tea itself was perfect, 3 courses (scones, little sandwiches and desert) each with its own delicious tea pairing (who knew I liked white ambrosia tea). At the end of the afternoon each person was given their paper, filled with the ways their handprint had touched everyone’s heart. Cheesy? Yes. But I like cheesy.

That evening before the show I went out to dinner with Aunt Esther, who I hadn’t seen in over 6 years. It was wonderful catching up after so long, what a beautiful woman she is. It was a warm, tear-filled and simply fabulous day.

Saturday night after the show a group of us went to Gilley’s Dallas for live music, line dancing and a ride on the mechanical bull. After a few drinks, one by one we got on and flew off the infamous bull. No one was terrible, but Eric and Ayme were amazing! After another drink, Natalie and I decided to go on together, or rather Natalie was terrified and I made her. We were a mess, she yelled at me from start to finish and I couldn’t stop laughing.

The next day I woke up with an extremely sore right inner thigh, due to holding on to the fated bull for dear life. I showered and prepared myself for what was sure to be an exhausting day of goodbyes. I made it all the way to “Take a Chance” of the second show with no tears in sight when all of a sudden, without warning, the flood-gates opened. We were in the booths, I looked over and saw Nicole and Rachel singing and I started crying, just like that. I pulled it together, walked on stage for the wedding and as soon as Natalie and I started making our regular jokes, I lost it again. I made it through the rest of the show like a leaky faucet; I was in 7^th grade graduating from Stagecrafters community productions all over again.

After the show Rachel, Monette and I changed into pj’s and went over to Natalie’s room for my last night on tour with the girls. When Mo and I arrived, Nat and Rach were waiting for us with glasses of riesling. They had set up a spread of all our favorite snacks: wine, cheese, crackers, fruit, hummus, pita chips, pretzels, brownies and tubs of funfetti frosting. For hours we sat there: eating, laughing, crying. These 3 girls have been my saving grace out here, my heart, my home. There is something very special and decidedly unique about the bond between a group of women, or perhaps its just these women. Tour is about to become a very different place.

I don’t actually know what I’m going to do out here without Rachel. She is the one who I go to at all hours of the night, who will always give me an honest answer (whether I like it or no), who knows when to let me cry, when to buy me ice cream and when to kick me in the ass. I could never have imagined finding a friend like her when I joined tour. A forever friend.

300 shows ago, I had no idea how dramatically my life was about to change. 41 cities ago, "Rachel, Monette and Natalie" were just names. 10 months and 26 days ago, I couldn't have known that 3 women were about to make me a stronger, braver, wiser and happier me.

Natalie, Monette, Me and Rachel before the Tea Party

High Tea

Riding the Bull at Gilley's

The Girls

Summer in Pictures

2009-08-14T13:08:00.018-04:00

I own everyone an apology for neglecting my blog over the past few months... its been a crazy summer. I'm going to catch up with pictures and I'll be back writing soon!

My Awesome 80's Birthday Party in Reno, NV
Happy 24!

Girls weekend with Rachel in Lake Tahoe

WNBC comes to Mamma Mia in Toledo, OH

A little bit of home on the road
Monette and Natalie visit Cleveland

4th of July rooftop party in NYC

A perfect day in Central Park with Adam and Gillie

Teaching a dance class for Broadway Connection in South Bend, IN

Opening Night Party in Charlotte, NC
Rachel, Me, Adam and Natalie

Salsa Class in Charlotte

All gussied up for a night of dancing

Salsa Dancing with our amazing teacher, Rodrigo

At an amazing Ice Cream Parlor/Candy Shop in West Palm Beach, FL
The dolls are supposed to be life sized for 8 year olds...
We're tiny.

Our company did a photo shoot for the NO H8 campaign,
a photo project and silent protest that opposes the passing of Proposition 8
(the amendment banning same sex marriage in California)
www.noh8campaign.com

My individual NO H8 shot
(I was actually hanging upside down over a wall)

The Funny Thing About Flying

2009-06-30T16:25:00.010-04:00

Until yesterday I had never given much thought to saying, “Rise Above It.” Certainly I’ve heard it said innumerous times, each an attempt to help its recipient overcome life’s present obstacle. But what exactly do we mean when we say it, what is the intention behind the cliché? Are we telling our family, our friends, ourselves: try to attain distance from the problem and thus put it in perspective? If so, how exactly do we gain perspective? How can we detach without disengaging? Is there a way to step away from life’s encumbering trials without disconnecting from its lovely details?

On average I fly on approximately 6-12 planes a month. Regardless of recent chronicles of crashes in India, Buffalo, the Hudson River, Atlantic Ocean, etc. I step (right foot first) onto each plane without a moment’s hesitation, putting my trust in family superstition and a team of strangers, to guide me to my destination. Although I spend an inordinate amount of time on planes, I have never (like the aforementioned saying) given them much thought. They’re all relatively the same: air vents that accost you with gusts of recycled air, clear plastic cups, an inevitably oversized/smelly/fidgety person in the next seat over, appropriately pleasant flight attendants, a book, a nap, a snack and an efficient landing in a new city.

Yesterday as I sat on the plane from Dallas to New York (my 10th flight this month) I engaged in my standard book, nap, snack routine and 2 hours later we began our “initial decent into the New York area.” I raised my plastic window shade and searched for Manhattan below, though I didn’t find New York, I did surprisingly find something else. Perspective.

As a looked down at the paved grid below, filled with hundreds of houses lined like a monopoly board, I had a sudden moment of emotional deja vu. Within each house there lives a family (a trite revelation thus far, I know), every one of them with their own daily trials, inveterate tribulations, their own stories of love and morality, obstacles and overcoming; each and every house carrying lives with problems and joys as big and important and mine and ours. This concept of familiarity of experience felt exactly like a moment in Israel 11 years ago, during Shabbat at the Western Wall I realized that for 24 hours, somebody somewhere in the world is lighting Sabbath Candles. Familiarity in the vast unfamiliar.

As the minutes passed we flew over a parking lot filled with rows of school buses resembling the boxes of yellow crayola markers that fill the backpacks of the children they carry every day. Moments later Manhattan drifted into view, nobly lead by the action-figure-sized Statue of Liberty. Manhattan, home to 1,634,795 people, an island so small it can be blocked out with a thumb if you close one eye. Funny.

Minutes later we touched down at LaGuardia, no longer Gulliver towering above the Lilliputians, just a real person in real life who rose above and touched down with a fresh perspective.

“It was an awe-inspiring and humbling thought… the whole of contemporary history, the World Wars, the War of Dreams, the Man on the Moon, science, literature, philosophy, the pursuit of knowledge – was no more than a blink of the Earth’s eye.”
-Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things

Paradise Islands/The Longest Blog Ever

2009-06-12T17:46:00.029-04:00

It's no secret that I am and have been surround by wildly superlative people for the better part of my life. By superlative I don’t necessarily mean people of high quality (although I would argue that this is also true), rather people whose use of hyperbole extends beyond what most would consider normal. “This is the best meal I have ever eaten.” “This musical will change your life.” “What’s better than Webb’s chocolate covered peanuts? Nothing.” “This is the best ice cream in the history of the world. Part 1.” I would say that this constant immersion in grandiose thinking has led me to a somewhat fair perception of what is and isn’t “the greatest thing ever.” With that said, a few opinions:

The meal that tastes most like home: Mom’s Stroggie
The best thing I’ve ever eaten: The Post Hotel’s Artichoke Risotto
The most delicious ice cream: Mitchell’s Strawberry
The coolest person alive: Max Joseph
The craziest/kindest person alive: Michael Joseph
The greatest book ever written: Peter Pan
The most amazing month of my life: The past 4 weeks in Hawaii

When I first joined the tour Hawaii was a sort of mythical paradise that existed far on the horizon. As time progressed and plans started being made, it never managed to cross the line from fantasy to actuality. Even as I sat on the three planes it took to get to paradise, it never felt real. It was only the next morning when I woke up, stepped outside onto my balcony and saw lush green mountains to the left and sandy beaches leading into an endless turquoise ocean to the right that I finally understood that this paradise was not a myth but in fact reality.

Traveling the show to Hawaii was somewhat difficult; the company had to ship the set and all accompanying accoutrement across an ocean and the most cost efficient way of doing this was by boat, resulting in a two week layoff. Deciding to take advantage of our break, I spent the first week split between Cleveland and New York and the second week split between Kauai and Maui.

I landed in Honolulu late Monday night and checked into the condo that Rachel and I rented for the month. Located in the heart of Waikiki, the place was a beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo complete with a full kitchen, living room and 3 balconies. It was outrageous.

WEEK 1:

Tuesday, my first full day in the Aloha State, I was busy scurrying around Waikiki running errands and trying to get settled. Of prime importance was the purchase of a brand new pink bicycle, which would be my primary means of transportation around Oahu. The next morning Monette and I hopped a flight to Kauai where we would spend 2 days before meeting up with Rachel, Natalie and Adam in Maui.

Our first day in Kauai Monette and I hiked through the Waimea Canyon a.k.a. “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Over 3,000 feet deep, the canyon is filled with rugged crags and gorges that seemed to be painted every shade of red, green and brown imaginable. We hiked along several different trails over the course of the day, my favorite leading us to the top of the majestic 800 ft. Waipo’o Falls. Perhaps unwisely or simply stupidly, Monette and I decided to climb down a 20 ft. rock ledge in order to sit atop the falls. As I was hanging from a tree above the now 780ft. falls gazing into the canyon and distant horizon I had the first of several Galileo Moments that would hit me while on the magical islands of Hawaii. By Galileo Moment I mean that surprising instant that forever alters your perception of the Universe, and your place in it. As we climbed back up the rock ledge, over the fallen trees and through the river to rejoin the trail I had to laugh, I was actually living a fantasy. I had gone over the river and through the woods and stumbled upon paradise. After a 2 hour detour, we took a wrong turn through a field of flowers and ended up on an unexpected 3 mile trail, we finally found our way back to our intended path and completed our day’s adventure, a little dirty and physically exhausted but ultimately euphoric.

The next day we left land behind as we went on a 6 hour rafting trip around the Na Pali coast. This 15 mile northwestern coastline of Kauai is made up of rugged cliffs that plunge thousands of feet into the ocean. Our ocean explorer was half speed boat, half white water raft that speed across the ocean through sea caves and waterfalls. On our way out out we fortuitously found ourselves surround by a pod of 20-30 spinner dolphins. The aptly named creatures would leap into the air and spin before diving back into the water. In an instant Monette and I became 12 year old girls running around the boat screaming with delight. We were so enthralled with the acrobatic dolphins we hardly noticed the massive cliffs approaching.

I know no word grand enough to describe Na Pali, literally meaning “the cliffs”; the sheer scope of their size was overwhelming enough. Around every turn the landscape seemed to magically change, one moment the cliffs were barren jagged rocks jutting out into the water and the next moment they were a verdant ecstasy dipping into valleys that spilled out onto untouched beaches.

After a wild ride around the coast we stopped at the Nualolo Kai beach for lunch, hiking and snorkeling. Once settled our captain explained the ancient Hawaiian mythology of the waterfalls, cliffs, and valleys we had seen: one waterfall cures infertility, the spires in one valleys are bird gods turned to stone for flying too close to the sun, and a large “X” on one of the stone cliffs is a mark left by the Goddess of Fire, Pele, as a reminder to leave the island of Kauai untouched by Volcanic eruption (geologists say a volcano hasn’t erupted on the island in approximately 5 and a half billion years). Somehow these legends made the cliffs even more spectacular, the depth of history gave new meaning to the beautiful landscape. As we crashed through the waves on our way back to the harbor I actually couldn’t believe what we had seen and experienced.

That night Monette and I went out to celebrate the last night of our honeymoon. We had an delicious Hawaiian meal, mai tais and listened to some fantastic live music.

The next morning we left Neverland behind as we hopped on a plane to meet Rachel, Natalie and Adam in Maui. I must admit after the unimaginable beauty of Kauai I was nervous that Maui would be somewhat of a let down. However, within the first 5 hours on Maui I swam in a waterfall pool, hiked through the rainforest, a bamboo forest and drank coconut milk out of a freshly picked coconut. Maui had put me in my place.

Our first escapade on the island was driving the long and winding Road to Hana. The 52 mile drive twists you through the tropical rainforest along the northeastern coast of the Maui. Along the road there are countless places to stop and hike, swim and snack on freshly baked banana bread. After several hikes through the forest we stopped at the Puohokamoa Falls to swim and eat lunch. After an hour or so in the falls we continued on our drive stopping occasionally to marvel at our surroundings and learn how to crack open coconuts. Eventually we arrived in Hana where we had rented a cottage for the night. Once we were settled in, we ran to the general store to pick up a few provisions. Our first night in Maui consisted of wine, veggie burgers and s’mores by moonlight.

The next morning we hiked out to the hidden Venus Pool, a freshwater pool directly next to the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. We spent the morning swimming, relaxing and jumping off of the 15 ft. rock in the center of the pool. Later that afternoon we drove back along the Road [from] Hana and across the island to Lahaina and the beachfront condo we had rented for the rest of our stay on Maui. That night we ran out to grab dinner in town before our early morning adventure (more on that in a moment). As we toasted to the beginning of an incredible adventure we looked out the window and saw a textbook perfect rainbow reaching across the sky, falling into the ocean.

1:45 am, the alarm goes off and our day begins: it’s an hour drive to Haiku (the place not the poem) where we begin our adventure on Haleakala, a 10,000 ft. dormant volcano. We arrived at the Haleakala Bike Co. at about 3 am and were set up with bicycles and gear for the 37 mile ride down. By 5 am we were on top of the volcano, above the clouds and peering into the 3,000 ft. deep crater waiting for the sun to rise. It was about 40° outside and the five of us remained huddled together trying desperately to keep warm. Slowly the sky turned bright red and bit-by-bit oranges and yellows broke through the clouds expanding and spreading across the heavens. The clouds caught the light and like cotton balls fluffed and expanded along the horizon. The morning had evolved from cold blackness into a child’s canvas, splashing color in ever direction.

Once we were officially overwhelmed by the beauty of the morning and freezing from the cold, we were driven down 2,000 ft. to where our 37-mile bike ride down the volcano would begin. At first I couldn’t help riding the breaks (35 miles an hour downhill on a bike can be more than a little frightening) but after a few minutes I was zipping right along. We stopped at the Kula Lodge about halfway down for a big decedent breakfast of eggs, toast, juice, pancakes and coconut syrup! After we were all sufficiently stuffed we continued on our way biking past lavender fields and hillsides of grazing sheep. We arrived home at about 1 pm, 11 hours after we had left, and passed out! 3-4 hours later we woke up, picked up some take-out and watched the sun set over the ocean from our balcony. It was the first time I’ve ever watched sun rise and set in the same day.

Monday was the last day of vacation proper and we did everything in our power to take advantage of it. The day began with a snorkel trip on the Pride of Maui, a 6 hour snorkeling expedition to Molokini Crater and Turtle Cove. The underwater life was breathtaking: fish and corals and sea turtles… oh my! The enormous sea turtles at Turtle Cove were by far the highlight; they were close enough to touch. Between snorkeling stops the boat had a BBQ lunch complete with veggie burgers, macadamia nut cookies and an open bar.

After a quick nap and shower we headed out to celebrate our last night of vacation at the Old Lahiana Lu’au. We arrived in our island chic outfits and upon entering were greeted with flowers, leis and mai tais. Before the formal festivities began we were encouraged to walk around and see the traditional instrument and craft stations. Suddenly there was a loud call and the traditional unearthing of the pig began. I watched, I took a few pictures and I didn’t throw up. Dinner was an unending feast of traditional Hawaiian foods, some delicious (crab salad) some not so delicious (poi, a purplish-grayish paste made of taro root). As we were enjoying our meal and fruity beverages the sun began to set and the traditional hula began. The performance told the story of Hawaii’s history through dance, chanting and song. As we left with our hearts’ light and bellys’ full I truly understood the spirit of Aloha.

Waimea Canyon

Na Pali Coast

Puohokamoa Falls on the Road to Hana
Natalie, Monette, Me and Rachel

Sunrise on Haleakala
Rachel, Natalie, Monette, Me and Adam

Snorkeling at Molokini Crater
Monette, Natalie, Adam, Me and Rachel

At the Old Lahiana Lu’au
Natalie, Rachel, Adam, Me and Monette

WEEK 2:

Tuesday morning we boarded a plane and flew back to Oahu for our Hawaiian opening night. Rachel and I arrived at our condo with a few minutes to spare, grabbed a quick snack, hopped on our bicycles and rode to the theater. After two weeks off, the company couldn’t have been more excited to be reunited in Honolulu. The performance was electric (everyone was a bit nervous after so much time off…) and after the show the theater threw us an opening night party where we were lei’d at the door.

After such a vigorous vacation week our first week of performances was relatively mellow. We played on the Waikiki beach during the day and did the show at night; though I did interrupt my beach relaxation on Thursday to take a surfing lesson. We had a quick 15 minute tutorial on the beach before paddling our boards out to the waves. Paddling that surfboard was the most difficult thing we did all day; it was exhausting. Eventually we hit the reef and reviewed all that we had learned ashore and then it was time to go… Our instructor held the back of the board, pushed when a wave came and yelled “Up. Up. UP!” I may not have been the best surfer on the beach, but I got up on my first try. After several successful rides and several wipeouts our teacher asked if anyone wanted to try a surfing headstand. While most of our group looked at him as if he had 6 heads, Monette and I both thought that would be a excellent idea. My first attempt didn’t go so well, I ended up flipping backwards over the board and tearing my foot up on some coral. My 2nd and 3rd times however, I got up and rode the surf on my head for a good 30 seconds!

Sunday night after the second show a group of us drove up to a beach house on the North Shore for a birthday blowout for Adam, Nicole, Bradley and David. Adam’s family has a time-share that they offered to us for the night and we drove up in, I kid you not, an old beat up VW Van from the 1970’s. Once there we ate, drank and ended up on the beach singing around a bonfire. Around 3 or 4 am we stumbled back up to the house and crashed in our twin sized bunk beds; I was back at overnight camp and couldn't have been happier about it. The next morning we woke up to a homemade breakfast, Adam had been up cooking. After we had our fill of eggs and toast we played on the beach for a few hours before heading back to Waikiki for the company lu’au.

Shaun and Ro (our company managers) arranged for the entire company to attend the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Lu’au as a Hawaiian treat. While not nearly as extravagant as the Old Lahiana Lu’au in Maui it was still a brilliant night, the highlights being an electric ukulele player and a 200lbs. fire-eater.

Surfing

A Surfing Headstand!

WEEK 3:

Tuesday night Andy arrived in Hawaii!

Coincidently Andy's friend Matt was in town visiting family so he spent Wednesday running around the island with us. We began our morning with a stop at Leonard’s Bakery for malasadas, traditional Portuguese hole-less doughnuts covered in powdered sugar. After stuffing ourselves on delicious fried dough, we drove up the east coast of the island and ate fresh papaya with lemon on Matt’s favorite hidden beach. From there we continued our drive up the coast and stopped at Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, which looks like a broken down, graffiti covered truck on the side of the road, for lunch. Alas, never judge a book by its cover, inside the dilapidated truck is a wonder of the culinary world. We ordered the traditional plate, 2 scoops of garlic rice and a heap of shrimp covered in garlic and butter. While it may not sound like much, it was easily one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. After having spent the majority of the day eating, we completed our day’s adventures gazing over Honolulu at the Pali lookout.

Thursday I took a personal day so that Andy and I could spend 36 hours together, uninterrupted by ABBA. We began our boundless day with a light breakfast at home before driving up to the North Shore. Our first stop was the Waimea Park where we took an easy hike up to a waterfall in the valley. We then crossed treacherously hot sands to take a dip in the crystal clear ocean at Waimea Beach. After a refreshing swim we drove into Haleiwa to stop at Macky’s Shrimp Truck, our 2nd shrimp truck in 2 days. Following another delicious greasy lunch we ran down the road for shaved ice at the legendary Matsumoto’s. Perhaps my expectations were too high due to the hype, but the truth of the matter is that “shaved ice” is really just a fancy snow cone. Andy will argue that it’s all about the texture of the ice, that may be so but shaved ice and syrup will always be a snow cone to me.

That night I had my first experience in fine French dining at the elegant Le Mer. We were seated in a love seat beside a window that opening out onto a balcony overlooking the ocean. A light breeze blew in off the water, the sun began to set and we were brought a complimentary glass of champagne, it could not have been more romantic. The meal was delicious and was topped off with freshly baked soufflés (banana and chocolate). Following dinner we took a walk on the beach before heading home to pass out after a perfect day.

The next morning Rachel and Natalie joined us on our trip to Pearl Harbor. We began our visit with a tour of the USS Bowfin, an actual submarine used in WWII. I had never been on a sub before and was shocked to see how tiny everything was, there were 30 beds in a room no bigger than a standard dorm. Two preserved mementos struck me as particularly fabulous: an L.C. Smith typewriter and a pinup girl poster the sailors had scribbled on. Following our exploration of the sub we walked over to the entrance of the USS Arizona Memorial, where we were shown a short film detailing the attack on December 7th, 1941. I found it worthy of note that the number of visitors seemed to be split evenly amongst American and Japanese tourists. I can only imagine the acute difference the experience must represent for the two groups, as I suppose visiting Hiroshima or the concentration camps must be. After the video presentation we took a ferry out to the memorial that sits atop the sunken battleship. Peering out into the water, which still retains a glaze of oil at the surface; remains of the once glorious ship are still visible. Inside the memorial ,the names of the 1,107 sailors entombed in the ship are engraved on a white marble wall. Rachel had spoken to her grandfather, a WWII vet, earlier that morning and he shared an interesting perspective on the tragedy at Pearl Harbor; to him it is symbolically the day the Jews were saved.

After a solemn morning Andy and I went to the beach for a late lunch and some dole whip, which is basically frozen juice that has the consistency of frozen yogurt. Pineapple mango swirl was my favorite and quickly became a staple in my exceedingly healthy Hawaiian diet. The next morning before our matinee Andy and I continued our food bender with a gluttonous brunch at Eggs ‘n Things: eggs, fresh squeezed OJ, fruit, pancakes and an assortment of maple, coconut and guava syrups. That night Andy saw to show for the 6 and a half time (one and a half understudy rehearsals), this time from the pit.

Sunday morning before Andy’s flight back to New York we took a long walk on the beach before saying a sad goodbye to a perfect week in paradise.

With Andy at the Pali Lookout

Love at the Waimea Falls

USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor

WEEK 4:

4 islands in 4 weeks? Yes sir. Monday morning Monette, Natalie, Liana and I hopped a flight to the Big Island for a jam-packed 14 hour adventure. Our fist stop was Volcano National Park, home to the only active volcano on the island chain. Once inside the park we visited the Halema'uma'u Crater, which was aggressively speweing sulfuric vog (volcano smog). Since we only had a few hours to spend in the park we decided to follow the Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road down to the ocean. The landscape seemed to change around every bend, one minute you were in the rainforest the next a lava wasteland and the next you are overlooking waves crashing on a seaside cliff. My favorite stop along the drive was the hike through the Thurston Lava Tube (yes Dad, Thurston like Thurston Howell IV). The hike takes you through a cave-like tube of hardened lava that cuts through the mountainside. Continuing on our drive toward the ocean you could see the paths of lava devastation in the form of cooled black lava “fingers” that reached out to the water. Once we reached the coast sulfuric steam was visible in the distance, billowing from where the hot lava was hitting the ocean (due to acid rain and sulfuric vog emissions we were unable to get close enough to see the lava itself).

It was then a 3 hour mad dash across the island to Kona where our night adventure was to take place. Along the drive we saw a woman who looked eerily like a mythological sea nymph run out of the ocean and, I kid you not, a zebra, horse and buffalo on the side of the road.

Next stop, Big Island Divers for a night snorkel with the manta rays. It took some effort, but eventually Monette and I convinced Natalie and Liana that swimming with 8-16 ft. manta rays in the middle of the ocean at night was a perfectly reasonable idea. Monette and I engaging in outlandish adventures seems to be a reoccurring theme... On our ride out to the dive site, we saw a group of spinner dolphins splashing in the distance as the sun set over the endless ocean. I think this may have been the point of total sensory overload.

Once the sun had set and the moon floated out of the horizon, we got geared up. From our boat we could see the “campfire” a giant circle of light in the water used to attract the plankton, which then attracted the mantas. I hadn’t been scared about snorkeling at night until I jumped into the pitch-black water unable to see anything around me. After a few panic filled moments (I was certain I was about to be eaten by a renegade shark) I began breathing again and enthusiastly swam towards the light. Once we reached the campfire we were surrounded the by the largest schools of fish I’ve ever seen. There were squid, electric eels and eventually a 12 ft. manta ray. For 45 thrilling minutes we swam with the giant ray in the ocean night.

Wednesday, after a much needed day of rest, I hopped on my bike and rode to Diamond Head to hike Oahu’s most famous dormant volcano. The hike is .75 miles almost entirely straight up but the panoramic views of the crater, Waikiki and Pacific Ocean are well worth the effort. That night after the show (and a long nap) a group of us went to Jazz Minds, a local jazz club where Matthew Fox (Lost, Party of Five) was spending the night. My dresser at the theater works in the costume department on Lost and she had just told us all the gossip about the stars, so to see him sitting at the bar drinking with the locals was exceptionally bizarre. Once I got over the shock of seeing Jack/Carlie 3 ft. away, we spent the night dancing and listening to an amazing jazz, funk and hip-hop fusion band.

Thursday Rachel talked me into hiking Manoa Falls, I must admit, I was a little hiked out at that point. Thank goodness for her powers of persuasion, it was easily the most beautiful hike I did on Oahu. The rainforest leading to the falls looked like a neverending pastiche painting of Tarzan and FernGully. We emerged from the dense forest 3 hours later happily covered in mud and mosquito bites. Friday was our last free day in paradise, so a large group of us drove out to a secluded beach on the east coast for a final day of fun in the sun. We built a sand castle, buried our company manager and music director in the sand, swam in the ocean and had the perfect last day in the sunshine.

After two more shows on Saturday we toasted to a magically marvelous month before boarding the plane back to the mainland Sunday morning.

Night Snorkel with the Manta Rays
Monette, Me and Natalie

On the hike to Manoa Falls

Our Last Day on the Beach

It is impossible to describe how magnificent, extraordinary, glorious, unexpected, astonishing, enchanting, delicious, delightful, etc. etc. etc. the trip was, so I’ll let Hawaiian legend Israel Kamakawiwo Ole' (with a little help from Louis Armstrong) do it for me…

"Well I see trees of green and red roses too, I'll watch them bloom for me and you, and I think to myself,
What a Wonderful World.

Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white and the brightness of day, I like the dark and I think to myself,
What a Wonderful World

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of people passing by. I see friends shaking hands saying, "How do you do?" They're really saying, I...I love you.

I hear babies cry and I watch them grow, they'll learn much more than we'll know and I think to myself,
What a Wonderful World."

Cities of Angels

2009-05-16T16:47:00.028-04:00

Aloha from Hawaii!
I realize that this blog is long overdue, so I’m going to do a recap of April in pictures (and 1 video) and catch up with Hawaii soon:

Our first night in Los Angeles!

Opening Night at the gorgeous Pantages Theatre
Fun Fact: The Pantages hosted the Academy Awards from 1949 - 1959

One of my dearest friends from Boston, Matt Wolpe, moved to LA about a year ago and invited me to live with him while I was in town. Amazingly enough, this would be the 6th Passover in a row that Matt and I would spend together!

Matt and I made a Seder for my fellow Jewish gypsies,
we even had homemade matzo balls.

Natalie, Monette and I visited Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame between shows and found our star!

Backstage with Queen Latifah at the Mamma Mia! benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

BC/EFA is the nation's leading industry based HIV/AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization: http://www.broadwaycares.org/index.cfm

My performance at the benefit... its a little hard to hear, but here it is:
"Many the Miles" by Sara Bareilles

I organized a group of us to go see a live taping of 'The Price is Right"
Jenn got picked to "Come On Down" and did cartwheels down the aisle!

We had to wait outside for 4 hours before the taping began... we got a little loopy.

Andy and Matt were in the audience for my first night on as Ali... I was so nervous!

Andy and I spent a day on the Santa Monica Pier and he won me this giant stuffed snake! If that's not true love, I don't know what is.

We found an old fashioned photo booth...

Prologue:
Kittra (the woman who plays Rosie) and I are on a quest to find the best cupcake in the America.

Chapter 1:
I showed up to the theater one day and these 11 cupcakes were waiting in my dressing room.

Epilogue:
They were even more delicious than they look!

While in Tucson, AZ we went hiking through the desert at Saguaro National Park
This is me with a 25 ft. cactus!

Andy came to Cleveland for the first half of the layoff,
this was the one night we weren't all at home cuddling on the couch.

I flew to New York for the weekend and happened to be in town for a college class reunion party. Its been 2 years since we graduated...
and a pretty remarkable 2 years at that!

Let The Sun Shine

2009-04-08T02:44:00.033-04:00

Over the course of the past three weeks I’ve swam in a pool under a snow melt waterfall, watched a 60 year old man do a series of Russian Jumps in a sequined suit, floated over the desert in a Hot Air Balloon and saw my best friend’s opening night on Broadway.

Let me start at the beginning.

We began out adventures out west in Palm Springs, CA and continued on to Albuquerque, NM and Santa Barbara, CA. Thus far Palm Springs has easily been one of my favorite cities we've visited; the landscape itself is like nothing I’ve ever seen. The endless mountains seem to be fighting an epic battle against the earth in the hopes of becoming sky. The snow covered mountain peeks appear to be winning the battle but the blooming palm trees and lush greenery at the mountain’s base are putting up a fight for the earth’s rich beauty.

Since I’ve never been to many of the cities we’re hitting while out west, I decided to take advantage of this amazing opportunity and try to see as many things as possible (I’m currently addicted to the travel website, www.10best.com). After a rather hectic month, our first Tuesday in Palm Springs was a much-needed Golden Day (Actor’s Equity requires 2 days a month with no shows or travel)! We spent the morning lying in the sunshine, relaxing by the pool (not a shabby way to start a day…) and at noon, Monette, Natalie and I went on a hike through Tahquitz Canyon.

The Canyon hikes/trails are maintained by a group of Native Americans who have lived in the area for hundred of years. Guided tours are offered, however there seemed to be far too many rules about not climbing the rocks and swimming in the water, so we decided to go it alone and break all the aforementioned rules. After 2 hours of hiking through the mountains in the beautiful (albeit hot and dry) desert air, we reached a 60-foot waterfall that poured down over a cliff onto a smooth white rock and into a mountain pool. As we dipped our feet in to cool off we quickly learned that the water was not in fact cool but freezing (we didn’t know it was snow melt at the time)! The girls sensibly got right out but I, not using my best discretion, wanted to walk out to the white rock. As I was walking through the ice-cold water, I realized that this was a terrible idea. I began to turn around but I had already made it halfway and all I could hear was my father’s mantra running through my head, “Never give up, never give up, hoo hoo hoo!” So, against my better judgment and much to the joy of my hysterically laughing friends on the shore, I continued on my way. After a few more steps the pool’s floor dropped from beneath me and I was no longer treading thigh high, but rather swimming in freezing cold snow melt towards a slippery rock (the initial romance of the idea was now long gone)… I eventually made it to the rock and back to shore in one popsicle-like piece. Ironically, during our hike back down the mountain the girls were exhausted and sweaty while I, thanks to my dip in ice-cold water, was cool and refreshed. As it turned out, there was a bright side to my brush with hypothermia.

That night, after a long hot shower, we all got gussied up and went out on the town for a night at the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies! Through my online research I found The Follies, “a world-famous, Broadway-caliber celebration of the music, dance, and comedy of the 30's, 40's, and 50's with a cast old enough to have lived it!” It was one of the most gloriously joyful nights I’ve ever had in a theater. Each of the cast members was a retired Broadway hoofer (ages ranged from 55-85), the original Riff in West Side Story is amongst the ensemble! These men and women taped, turned, kicked, and put on a show in enormous headdresses, tassels, and sequined suits like nothing I've ever seen and they do 9 shows a week… we only do 8!

The joy of the night was that it wasn’t just a standard musical review, it was a proper follies complete with a poodle act lead by a 70 year old veteran of the Moscow Circus, a ventriloquist and his dirty Mexican parrot puppet, a headlining act staring John Davidson (the host of the old Hollywood Squares), and an MC who ran the show as if he were in Vegas with Sinatra. After the never-a-dull-moment 3 ½ hour show, we stayed to meet several of the cast members who were shocked and delighted to see audience members under the age of 50. The night was surprisingly inspirational; the cast couldn’t have been more gracious, after hours of dancing they were happy to stay a few extra minutes to chat with us and share stories about “the good ol’ days” (let that be a lesson about stage door etiquette). I can only hope that someday I’ll have half the career as any one of the fabulous Follies members… let alone the chutzpah to dance around in my skivvies!

After our first action packed day, the rest of the week in Palm Springs was relatively uneventful. We did the show, relaxed by the pool, went outlet shopping, cooked dinner, and enjoyed our beautiful surroundings.

Monday we traveled on to Albuquerque, New Mexico and Tuesday night Andy arrived! After 6 weeks apart (our longest stretch yet) it was beyond wonderful having him there. I’d been so busy since we’d last seen each other, so I wanted to do something special while he was in town… weeks earlier while researching attractions in New Mexico, I learned that Albuquerque is the Hot Air Ballooning capitol of the world. Since the first time I watched the wizard float away from Oz, I’ve wanted to go ballooning. Convincing my very practical boyfriend that standing in a basket dangling from a fire filled balloon thousands of feet in the air, was a bit of a challenge... but in the end he agreed to do it.

Our pilot, Keith Fear, picked us up from the hotel at 6am. Not only was I forcing Andy to go hot air ballooning but I was also asking him to wake up at 5:30 in the morning. During our drive to the launch site, Capt. Fear told us all about his 20 years in the ballooning industry, which somehow managed to quell our nerves. Once we arrived at the site everything happened pretty quickly: the crew laid out the giant balloon and set up the equipment, Andy held the ropes as the balloon was filled with air, I ran around taking pictures and before we knew it we were standing in the basket ready for take-off! We floated gently up 1,800 ft. (which when combined with Albuquerque’s altitude is about 6,800 ft. above sea level), sailed through the air and over the city. I was surprised at how calm the ride was, I was expecting a fast paced adventure but quite to the contrary, it was one of the most peaceful things I’ve ever done.

Once we landed (an hour later) Capt. Fear drove us to a local park where we had a traditional champagne toast. The assistant pilot gave me the cork as a “first flight” gift and the aforementioned cork now has a permanent place on my dressing room station. We were also given Official Flight Certificates, Hot Air Balloon Lapel Pins and Skyspan Adventures Ballooning Baseball Hats. All in all it was one of the most wonderfully bizarre things I’ve ever done and albeit Andy’s prior protesting, very romantic.

The next afternoon we shot B-Roll (the pictures and video footage used for press) for 4 ½ hours. We ran each of the big production numbers 3 times back to back for the film crew and by the time 5 o’clock rolled around I couldn’t stand I was so exhausted. The next morning after Andy flew back to New York, a group of us drove up to Santa Fe. The drive itself was gorgeous; it had snowed earlier that morning leaving the desert and mountains covered in the delicate white powder. Once in Santa Fe we went to the Plaza for authentic New Mexican food (the sopapillas were especially delicious), browsed through the shops filled with handmade turquoise jewelry and explored the authentic adobe architecture.

Monday morning (after a long weekend of shows) I flew from Albuquerque to New York to see Andrew’s opening night of Hair on Broadway! After a long day of traveling I met up with my favorite Broadway Star in Mid-Town; our first stop was a backstage tour of the Al Hirschfeld Theater. As we walked out on stage and I watched as Andrew stood next to the ghost light looking out at the audience, I started crying and didn’t really stop for 2 days. After I managed to somewhat compose myself, we went across the street to Kodama for my favorite sushi in Midtown (edamame appetizer, a spicy crunchy salmon roll and a Manhattan roll... delish!). After a few more tears over our raw fish, we journeyed on to my two favorite desert destinations in the city, Red Mango (a Pink Berry knockoff) and Crumbs bakery (hands down the best cup cakes in New York). We had what you a might call, a good old-fashioned celebratory “fat kids” night... it was as delicious as it sounds!

The next morning I met up with Kendal and Austin for breakfast at Columbus Circle, Andy joined us after his Sommelier class. We spent the morning and early afternoon chatting and walking around enjoying a perfect New York day. There are few things I love more than a cool sunny day in New York City.

At about 5:30 I met up with Gillian, Abby and Bobby for a pre-show dinner and champagne toast. We arrived at the theater as the press line was dying down and met Andrew’s Mother, who was my date to the show. As soon as the lights dimmed the audience began wildly cheering and we pulled out our tissues. I have never in my life been part of an audience filled with such electricity; from the band’s first pulsing chord to the crowd’s last raucous cheer, we were enchanted and what happened on that stage was nothing short of magic.

After the show we headed over to Gotham Hall for the extravagant opening night soiree. We ate, drank, schmoozed, danced and celebrated a wildly successful opening. As the evening glittered on, word began circulating that the reviews were being published and they were raves across the board! Even the notoriously curt Ben Brantley of the New York Times glowed, calling the show “Thrilling” and “Emotionally Rich!” Topping off the excitement, Ben Brantley himself called Andrew “particularly expert”!!! That’s right, Andrew got a mention in the New York Times! I don’t think “proud” could possibly do justice to the overwhelming emotion of the night.

Once upon a time and long long ago, we were two kids with a dream of making it in New York City. After Pinocchio, Joseph, Children of Eden, Cabaret Troupe, Once on this Island, Into the Woods, Gypsy, Peter Pan, Midsummer, Songs for a New World, Koberet!, The Who’s Tommy, Merrily We Roll Along, two Cabaret Nights, four years of college and countless hours at a piano later, we finally made it to New York. And here we are now, living the dream that a couple of kids from the suburbs conjured up a lifetime ago. Who could have ever imagined?

The next morning I hopped on a plane and flew back to the west coast, filled with all the love of the night before. I rejoined the cast in Santa Barbara, which is easily the most beautiful city I’ve been to thus far. We spent the remainder of the week playing on the beach, shopping on State St., walking through the hills and eating a serious amount of ice cream/gelato.

Yesterday morning we left Santa Barbara behind and traveled on to Los Angeles, which will be our home for the next two weeks. I can only hope that the City of Angels will be half as remarkable as the past three magical weeks!

“Somewhere, inside something there is a rush of greatness, who knows what stands in front of our lives… Silence tells me secretly, everything. Everything. Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in!”
-Hair

On My Way to the Rock...

Tahquitz Canyon

Filling up the Balloon
(if you look closely you can see Andy holding one of the ropes)

Ready For Take-Off!

Our View of Albuquerque from the Balloon

Backstage B-Roll

Andrew's on Broadway

My Favorite Broadway Star

Hidden Treasures

2009-03-17T02:07:00.023-04:00

The past month has been a non-stop, exhausting, whirlwind of a ride through Middle America. Our first two weeks were spent in Lexington, KY, where we sat down to re-tech the show with our new principals and new set. At first, the idea of going back into rehearsals with the entire company and creative team seemed a fun and fresh idea, however after 5 days of idling about a dark theater, watching walls move for hours upon end, I began to rethink my initial response. After five months of the same basic routine (free days/shows at night), completely flipping our schedule (all day rehearsals/barren nights) began taking its toll on the company: late winter sniffles, aching muscles, swollen glands, busted knees… the works. On an optimistic note, in order to fill the countless hours of free time, I sharpened up my gin/rummy skills and our dance crew had its first (and thus far, only) rehearsal. Let me clarify, a few members of the cast are infatuated with the television show, America’s Best Dance Crew, which is basically American Idol for hip-hop dance groups. As such, they’ve decided that the cast of Mamma Mia! should have a “crew” and that I should be one of its members. Now, I love to dance, however hip-hop has never really been my strong suit… a.k.a. I look like a little white Jewish girl from the suburbs when I try. Nonetheless I was coerced into joining the newly created crew, F.O.N.M. that’s “Full Out, No Marking”. And I’ll tell you what, I may not be the next hip-hop super star but with a little work I wasn’t so bad. Although I’ve been told I need to work on my “street cred.”

On our day off between the two tech weeks in Lexington, I took a day trip with a couple of the girls to Mammoth Caves, the longest cave system in the world. A quick sidenote: the Mammoth Caves encompass the Sand Cave, where 80 years ago, Floyd Collins was trapped, creating the first media circus of the century and giving inspiration to a beautiful musical (Floyd Collins by Adam Guettel). We took the "New Entrance" tour and went spelunking 267 ft. underground through caves that have been researched and toured by humans since the late 1800s. Exploring these magnificent caves was a fantastically exciting way to spend a day off.

Tuesday Night after rehearsal the company threw a 7th anniversary party for the tour, all of our producers and every member of the creative team came down from New York to celebrate. Management rented out a local restaurant and had it beautifully catered, complete with an open bar and live bluegrass band. It was a fantastic night and so much fun seeing everyone all gussied up. Wednesday morning was back to the grind with 3 more long, stressful days of tech before our reopening Friday night, which to everyone’s joy and surprise went off without a hitch. The new cast members are incredibly talented and are giving beautiful performances.

Saturday between shows, we had an enormous home cooked southern feast. Rebecca (whom I replaced back in October) grew up in Lexington and her father (with help from the Baptist church she grew up in) graciously catered a meal for the entire company. They had a seemingly endless amount of meats, corn pudding, corn bread, creamed spinach, biscuits, brandy bread pudding and my personal favorites buttered garlic asparagus, freshly brewed sweet tea and quite possibly the best macaroni and cheese I’ve ever had. Before the meal Rebecca’s father said a prayer and made a beautiful speech thanking the company for being Rebecca’s family while she was on the road and that this meal was the least he could do to say thank you for taking care of his little girl. In the midst of such a hectic and stressful couple of weeks this true gift of kindness was treasured.

Two days later we said goodbye to Lexington as we traveled on to our first split-week. In the 7 years Mamma Mia! has been on the road they have never done a single split-week (Monday-Thursday in one city and Friday-Sunday in another), so I suppose they figured why not introduce them with a bang and start with two in a row, that’s 4 cities in 14 days. We began our bifurcated weeks in Paducah, KY, which was just about as exciting as it sounds. Although the city may have had some hidden gems, I didn’t have the opportunity to scavenge them out, due to understudy rehearsals both Wednesday and Thursday before the shows. The second half of split week #1 was spent on the beautiful campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. Although beautiful, the vast campus felt like a parallel universe of what college life could have been. Saturday night between shows I went out to dinner with Rachel and her brother (who is a student at IU), and over the course of our several hours together we drove by a frat party with red-plastic-cup-carrying-students pouring out of every entryway, we meandered through dorms where every opened door revealed a bong-laden table and poster-adorned walls, and we walked through a couple sitting in the dorm stairwell where, I kid you not, one said to the other “I mean this isn’t the whole its not you its me conversation, but…” I don’t think I realized until that day that the blockbuster summer “college comedies” are perhaps a more honest representations of college life than the over amplified, hyperbolized concoctions I always imagined them to be. I must admit, it was fun to witness a life I truly and perhaps naively did not know existed.

After our weekend back in college, we continued our mad dash across Middle America and took a respite in Duluth, Minnesota. Luckily, our hotel was connected to the theater by a half-mile long skywalk, allowing us to bypass the -4° temperatures and snow storms raging outside our little heated hallway. Thursday morning gave us one of the surprising treasures seemingly lackluster towns can sometimes bring. At 11am I went curling. Yes, curling. The Olympic sport that seems to be a combination of shuffleboard and bowling, on ice. Everyday as we walked to work we passed the Duluth Curling Club, on a whim one of the boys called up to see if we could play. Well, they were so tickled by the idea of the cast of Mamma Mia! coming to curl, that we were given free lessons by a national champion and the hometown Olympic bronze metal winner (John Shuster). For 2 ½ hours we learned the history of Curling (invented by the Scotts), learned proper lunging, sliding, sweeping and releasing techniques, and spent a great deal of time falling on our asses. It was easily one of the most delightfully random things I have ever done.

From Duluth we traveled on to Davenport, Iowa. Unfortunately I have absolutely nothing interesting to say about Davenport… really, nothing. We arrived Friday night, had 2 shows Saturday, 2 shows Sunday and left for the airport this morning at 7:15am. The hotel had excellent pillows, I almost stole one, but I didn’t.

And so our tour of Middle America has reached its end for now. We touched down this afternoon in Palm Springs where the airport is almost mockingly juxtaposed against the backdrop of palm tress and mountains that lay just beyond its borders. We have officially left winter behind and are saying a joyful hello to spring.

Mammoth Caves

Me, Monette, Rachel, Ayme, and Natalie
At the 7th Anniversary Party

With Rachel in Bloomington, IN

My 1st (and not so successful) Attempt at Curling

With Our Very Patient Curling Teachers

Shifting Ground

2009-02-16T23:21:00.015-05:00

Time is a funny thing on tour. Its like we’re in a bubble that floats along a parallel course adjacent to “real world” time. At times our speed is congruous but often our little bubble will float away, drift behind or glide ahead.

I’ve now been on the road for four and a half months and have done 132 shows. I’m not sure how it happened, but suddenly I blinked and it’s the middle of February. The past month has been a wild ride: two weeks in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, one week in Greensboro, NC and Buffalo, NY.

Our second day in Ft. Lauderdale (January 20th) was the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I will never forget the images of the million plus people crowding the streets of Washington D.C. (my brother being one of them) frenzied and eager to be witnessing the historic event. I must admit however that I had a perhaps odd reaction following the inauguration: I have been an avid Obama supporter for the past year and a half. Throughout both the primary election and the general election he was “my candidate.” I followed every debate, every speech, I had t-shirts and buttons… it was the first time in my life national politics became truly personal. The night he won the election it felt like a personal victory, for me, for my family, for my generation, for every community I feel a part of. However after the inauguration, I felt this indefinable shift, a slight detachment perhaps. He was no longer “my candidate.” He is now The President of the United States, the “leader of the free world.” Shakespeare often explored the idea of the man versus the crown; and I suppose the best way I can describe this internal shift is that, to me, Barack Obama was only “the man” and President Obama, while still a man, must now balance “the crown.”

On the interim Monday (our day off between the two weeks in Ft. Lauderdale), a group of us took a day cruise to the Bahamas. I know it sounds incredibly random and bizarre… it was. It was also one of the silliest and most fun days I’ve had on the road. The boat was an old (and somewhat rundown) Discovery ship complete with 1970’s inspired green carpeting and mirrored spiral staircases. We spent the day on the boat and Grand Bahaman Island lying in the sun, eating nonstop and drinking strong fruity beverages. The entire day I had to keep reminding myself that this is actually my life.

On Wednesday my mother came down to Ft. Lauderdale to see her brother, who lives in Miami, and the show (my mom and Andy are currently winning the award for most time spent in the audience, both have even seen understudy rehearsals). That Friday night my mom, Uncle Stuart, Aunt Susie, Remy, Dory, Ron, Aunt Judy and Howard all came to the show. One of the greatest joys of touring is getting the opportunity to see family and friends around the country whom I rarely get a chance to spend time with.

Sunday night after the show, our dance captain and her husband threw a super bowl party for the cast; we grilled, we had an old-fashioned super bowl pool on the back of a pizza box, we drank and snacked; on paper it was like every super bowl party across the country. However the highlights of our night were Jennifer Hudson singing the national anthem and the GE commercial with a mechanical scarecrow singing “If I Only Had a Brain!” we clapped and cheered after both. I don’t even have a clever joke to make… its embarrassingly true.

The next week in Greensboro was a much-needed dull week, though Rachel and I came a day late (we spent Monday at her Grandparent’s house in Boca). Following the hubbub of Ft. Lauderdale and preceding the turbulence of Buffalo (which I’ll soon arrive at) it was lovely having a week to relax, watch movies, take yoga, yada yada yada. A few highlights: seeing “The Reader” (though I’ve yet to see “Frost/Nixon” I’m still on team “Slumdog Millionaire” for the Oscars), a delicious and very filling Hibachi dinner, and Sunday night Aunt Mindy and Uncle David drove in from Chapel Hill to see the show!

This past week in Buffalo was an eventful one to say the least. Tuesday marked the beginning of our cast changeover: 4 cast members (our Donna, Sophie, Sky, and Eddie) have now left, and we were in rehearsals all week with our new principals preparing for the switch. But more of that later. Andy arrived Tuesday morning, somehow he always comes out when I have rehearsals during the days (although this week wasn’t too bad). Wednesday night before the show we went to dinner at the Anchor Bar, home of the original Buffalo wings! I love when we get to hit travel-channel-like-hot-spots… even if I don’t eat wings. Thursday night, we celebrated an early Valentines Day with a romantic dinner before the show and Andy surprised me after with strawberries and champagne in the room! The next day, after Andy left to go back to New York :( I headed over to the mall where I spent several hours in the Apple Store updating and reformatting my computer. I am now currently obsessed with the new iPhoto ’09 and its face recognition/places feature. Also of note in Buffalo: next door to the theater there is an old-fashioned ice cream/dessert shop where Adam (who plays Pepper in the show) and I discovered Apple Pie flavored ice cream… it was even better than it sounds!

Yesterday was our final (and highly emotional) day with our four outgoing principals. I joined the tour at the tail end of a period of several months when people were leaving/joining the tour every few weeks. However since I’ve joined the cast, no one has left, I’ve been the “newbie” for months. As such I’ve never had to experience anyone leaving, which is for the best, as I’ve never been any good at goodbyes. During their final performance, the cast sat in the wings crying as we watched “Slipping Through My Fingers” and “The Winner Takes it All” for the last time. As they took their final bows the entire company clapped, cheered and cried. I couldn’t help flashing back to closing night of “Peter Pan” circa 1994, when I cried and cried because the 7th graders were graduating from Stagecrafters Community Productions. Its funny how life always has a way or reminding you how cyclical it is.

After the show we had a “Happy Trails” celebration (although there wasn’t a whole lot of happy in these trails) where we had a champagne toast and each of the outgoing cast members gave a goodbye speech. As each person spoke, I was reminded over and over what a gift it is to be part of such an unbelievable company. The reoccurring theme in everyone’s speech was how much of a family we are; a big, dysfunctional, singing, and dancing family, yes. But a family nonetheless. An hour, many bottles of champagne, and boxes of tissues later our morose group went out to celebrate and turn the moral around. Just down the block was Club Marcella, a Drag Bar home to such wonders as Fanta-See Island, a 350 lbs queen whose mantra is, “I’m the one ton diva! If you can’t hide it… decorate it!” and Sabrina Williams a midget queen who bounced in and out of the splits, through spastic strobe lights in sequined spandex like a mini jazzercise instructor on crack. It was the perfect ending to a crazy week, and a night I don’t think I could ever forget.

And on our bubble floats, drifting, gliding and touching down on moments of joy, complexity, spontaneity, goodbyes, and maybe just a little bit of sparkle.

25 Random Facts

2009-01-28T02:08:00.004-05:00

There is currently a craze sweeping facebook where people are writing 25 Random Facts about themselves and sending these facts to their friends. I thought I would share mine here...

1. I have 3 extra bones in my right foot.

2. I haven’t eaten meat in 13 years, although I’ve been eating fish for the past 5.

3. Peter Pan is still my favorite novel of all time.

4. Almost everything in my life is alphabetized and color coordinated.

5. I don’t like coffee, I’ve tried to like it for years… but I don’t.

6. I grew up almost exclusively watching classic MGM movie musicals and inspirational Disney sports movies… it explains a lot.

7. I’m convinced I’ve missed my true calling by not becoming an Olympic gymnast and/or figure skater.

8. I’m pretty sure that there is nothing in the world more delicious than hot apple pie and vanilla bean ice cream.

9. I write in books as I read them. Subsequently I can’t borrow books from friends, sell my books to used bookstores or take advantage of public libraries.

10. When I was a child I had a series of reoccurring dreams about fictional characters that lived together in a heptagon shaped castle. When I read Dante’s Inferno in college, I learned that my castle filled with fictional characters existed in classic literature. Although my fictional characters were mostly cartoons…

11. I have kept a quote book since I was 14 and I can tell you when and where I found almost every quote and poem inside.

12. I sang “Take Back Your Mink” at an audition when I was in the 4th grade. I was cast.

13. I have the best friends in the world who constantly inspire and amaze me.

14. Until I was 18 I thought Curious George was an Italian monkey.

15. I was Bat Mitzvahed on Mt. Scopus in Israel.

16. When I was in kindergarten I got a bead stuck up my nose and caught a piece of my hair on fire.

17. I have won 3 Halloween costume contests, my personal favorite being the headless butler.

18. I am terrified of alligators/crocodiles, tour jetes, and golf carts.

19. I had my first drink with my parents the night before I moved into the dorms my freshman year of college.

20. Without Andy I never would have know I like pineapple pizza, Chinese food, red wine, sushi, and snack packs.

21. I’ve always wanted to work in an antique bookstore and a flower shop.

22. I call “pasta” “noodles”… it really bothers some people.

23. The right side of my body is slightly larger than the left.

24. I played the cello for 5 years. It was bigger than me almost the entire time.

25. I ran into a wall when I was ten and fractured my wrist. My mom didn’t believe me for a week. I have never let her live it down.

Southern Comfort

2009-01-19T20:28:00.004-05:00

After months spent up north in the freezing cold, the past two weeks in Augusta, GA and Naples, FL have been a lovely (and warm) treat.

We rang in the New Year in Providence, RI. The week started off a bit rocky due to a head cold that made me sound like Chuckie from The Rugrats (that reference is for you Chippy), causing me to call out for the first time on Tuesday night. Thankfully I was better by the Sunday matinee when Flo (my voice teacher from college) came to see the show. It was an incredibly emotional afternoon; as soon as I saw her we both burst into tears. Though we’ve talked many times over the past year and a half, I haven’t actually seen her since graduation, which although not too long ago, feels like a lifetime. After the show we went out to dinner, caught up on life and shed a few more tears. She was always such an inspiring and grounding force in my life during college and seeing her again was overwhelming to say the least.

Our week in Augusta was the most mellow on tour thus far. In fact, there’s really not too much to report. The city itself has preserved most of its colonial architecture, giving it a properly southern feel, but the town was quite shut down. Perhaps of some note, there was an old Catholic church directly adjacent to the theater that looked like something out of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It was a white stone cathedral with high bell towers, stained glass windows, a wrought iron fence, and a courtyard garden with stone benches and white stone statues of Mary that were lit from below (which cast ominous shadows onto the cathedral walls) 24 hours a day. It was so epic an edifice, it felt like I was stepping into a different time and place every time I passed.

Unlike Augusta, this past week in Naples was non-stop. My parents were in town from Monday to Friday, which although wonderful, felt a bit like the twilight zone. I couldn’t get over the fact that I was essentially on vacation during the days and working at night. Not to sound simplistic and juvenile, but it was really cool. Also on a completely random tangent, Saturday's matinee was my 100th performance and my mom and I saw Judge Judy on a treadmill!

This past Thursday evening my choir teacher from high school, Mr. Curtiss, who no matter how old I get will never be “Dave”, saw the show and took me out to dinner. We spent the night chatting and reminiscing about high school and although it had been about 5 years since I had seen him it felt like no timed had passed at all. The next day he dropped off a package at the theater with CDs and DVDs with recordings from choirs I sang in during high school. After watching the DVDs I called and emailed several old "choir" friends, many of whom I’ve not spoken to since graduation, just to say "hi, remember how goofy and adorable we all were."

Since I’ve joined the tour, it has been such a tremendous joy being able to perform for teachers from every part of my life. Wendy, Jamie, Flo, Mr. Curtiss, these are the teachers that have shaped who I am as a performer and as a person and in a way, performing for them again after all these years feels like a way of saying, “Thank you. I listened, I learned and I can make you proud.”

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T13:23:00.010-05:00

2008 has been a pretty unbelievable and life changing year. I have so much to be grateful for: an endlessly supportive family, love, the best friends in the world, work… I feel incredibly blessed. Here’s hoping that the new year will be as wonderful as the last!

A look back at 2008:

Opening Day with the cast of Junie B. Jones

The fam comes to Michigan to see Junie

Junie B. Jones

Summer in Central Park

My delicious birthday cake, courtesy of one Andrew Kober

Kendal took me to see Swan Lake at the Met for my Birthday

At the Post Hotel... best vacation ever!

My 1st Wine Tasting

My lovely work uniform for Reebok Sports Club/NY
The job that taught me to love yoga

In love in the Fall

My last morning in New York
with my very handsome, famous and SKINNY roomie

My first week in the show!

The Cast at Intermission

YES WE CAN!!!

My first Thanksgiving away from home

With my three favorite fellas

Company Christmas Party

Happy Holidays love the cast of Mamma Mia!

HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!!

Snowy Days, Warm Winter Nights

2008-12-23T00:47:00.002-05:00

I am terribly sorry for the delay in updates, I realize that this is long overdue… The past four weeks I’ve been in Kitchener, Ontario, New Haven, CT, Rochester, NY and this past layoff week in Cleveland and New York.

Kitchener was a memorable city to say the least. The hotel was a charming old boutique that at first seemed a lovely change from the standard chains. However I soon learned that while charming it may have been, lovely it certainly was not. The heater in my first room couldn’t be turned off so in order to not live in a sauna I had to keep the window open and every strong wind immediately dropped the temperature a good 20 degrees and blew gusts of snow into the room. Additionally the phone in the room didn’t work, which wouldn’t normally have been an issue but I was in Canada and it was my only real means on communication (the spotty internet completely disappeared after the 3rd day). After much pestering, and 4 days in the room of bipolar temperatures, I was switched into a room that simply had no heat at all. Finding this new tundra a difficult place to sleep, I was moved again to a room that had both a working telephone and heat! The things we take for granted… I suppose the entire room hullabaloo felt a bit more difficult since it was my first Thanksgiving away from home.

Thanksgiving Day itself turned out to be very nice; that morning I watched Andrew perform with the cast of “Hair” on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the company threw us a huge party in the afternoon with an endless buffet. After the show the party continued with all the leftovers from the afternoon’s feast and an open bar. Although it was incredibly hard to be away from home, I am extremely thankful for the reason I couldn’t be there and a family that is worth missing so much.

After a fairly hectic travel day out of Canada we arrived in New Haven, Connecticut… I have never been so happy to be back in the United States in a hotel with heat, internet, and a working telephone! Since New Haven is only an hour and a half outside of the city Gillian, Kendal, Adam, Mandy, Eli, Christy and her family all came in to see the show. I was so grateful to have people from so many different parts of my life come in, although it was especially emotional to have Adam and Gillie there (they are literally my oldest friends in the world). To top off a week of love, Andy came in and stayed with me from Tuesday to Friday. He saw the show, watched an understudy rehearsal, and got an excellent haircut from our hair lady. It was beyond wonderful to have him there for 4 whole days!

From New Haven we flew to Rochester, NY. In addition to it being out last week before the layoff it was cold and snowy which led it to be a pretty calm week. Our Secret Santa however, was in full effect and a little out of control. While in Kitchener we picked our Secret Santa recipients out of a hat, and since then we’ve had to give a minimum of 5 small gifts before the big reveal/big gift at our Christmas Party. Now I love things like this but I’ll tell you, I have never seen a Secret Santa so elaborate; people are getting series’ of themed presents, poetry, holiday decorations, and more food than you’ve ever seen (homemade lasagna, hot apple pie, jars of cookies, tubs of ice cream, candies, bottles of wine, etc. etc. etc.). It is so much fun and too delicious!

Thursday afternoon before the show, I taught a master class with two other members of the cast at the local performing arts high school. We taught “Waterloo” and “Money, Money” to a group of 40 students, followed by a question and answer session. I haven’t taught since senior year of college and quite frankly, I forgot how much I love it. During the talkback, the students were asking all kinds of questions about the business and our lives and I couldn’t help but picture myself at the workshop I did with Cabaret Troupe in New York, some 6 odd years ago...

“I remember when I used to stand outside of that stage door and watch all these girls come out of there, with their eyelashes and their make-up and I'd think: "God I'll never be that old. I'll never be that old...” –A Chorus Line

This past week we were on a layoff, which I split between Cleveland and New York. It was such a pleasure to have some time off to do nothing with family and friends, although New York was a very busy few days of nothing. I’m now back in Canada, this time in Ottawa for what should be a cold (it is currently -4 degrees) but fun and festive holiday week.

"Walking in Memphis"

2008-11-25T13:08:00.007-05:00

Greetings from Canada! We’ve just made it successfully through customs and are now on a bus driving from Toronto to Kitchener, Ontario where we’ll be performing for the next week.

I recently finished reading “The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie, one of my favorite authors. There is a line in the novel that stuck me as particularly relevant to my life right now and I thought I’d share it… “They were as rootless as the dunes, or rather rooted in the knowledge that the journeying itself was home.” (96)

For the past two weeks we’ve been in Louisville, KY and Memphis, TN. Louisville was a lovely city, though I didn’t get a chance to see much of it. Wednesday morning I had my first press day… according to the schedule I was going to be picked up at the hotel at 8:30am, do two radio interviews, two TV interviews, and be back at the hotel by 11:30 to get ready for an understudy run at 1:30. That morning at about 8am, as I was getting ready, I received a call from the local press manager asking what I wanted from Starbucks… after I realized that he wasn’t joking, I apprehensively asked for a green tea. Half an hour later as I was waiting in the lobby the man I had spoken to earlier approached, introduced himself, offered me my tea and escorted me to the chauffeured stretch limousine that would be driving us to and from each of the press events. I spent the entire morning watching myself from a bird’s eye view desperately trying not to burst out laughing. I don’t think I have ever felt sillier. The interviews themselves were a lot of fun, albeit early.

The rest of the week in Louisville was spent in rehearsals. We got new backstage vocal booths so both the musical director and sound designer came in from New York to help restructure the blend and what not. Although Louisville was a busy week, we ended it with a bang and a big group of us went late night bowling downtown.

The past week in Memphis was surprisingly fabulous! We didn’t have a single rehearsal the entire week (my first rehearsal free week since joining the tour), which allowed us to go out and really experience Memphis. Our first night in the city I went to dinner with a few girls on Beale Street. Beale St. is one of the coolest places I’ve been, every restaurant was a paper plate, plastic cup kind of joint where the floors were filthy, the food was delicious and musicians played live every night.

Tuesday morning I went to Graceland, home of the one and only Elvis Presley. It was kitschy, gaudy, extravagant and absolutely marvelous! The house is crazy; it’s like stepping into a 1970s time warp, complete with a yellow refrigerator, wood paneling, and green shag carpet. Around the house they’ve built several small museums dedicated to Elvis’ life and career. My personal favorites being the home videos of him with his family and friends and the hall of jumpsuits! I had a wonderful time, I only wish my mom could’ve been there to see it all (although I did buy us matching Elvis t-shirts… feel free to make fun now).

Wednesday I took a beading class from Sweetie (our costumer extraordinaire) and beaded a flower bracelet… it was like arts and crafts class all over again. Thursday night after the show a bunch of us went to Beale St. to hear The Dempsey’s play. They’re this marvelous Rock-a-Billy/Blues band that puts on one crazy show: the stand-up bass player balanced on his bass while playing slap style and he and the guitarist would swap instruments mid song, it was like nothing I have ever seen.

Saturday between shows the local ushers at the theater made the cast and crew a traditional home-cooked southern meal. I think I gained 5 pounds within a matter of 45 minutes. They had a spread that spanned the room twice over, 5 different kinds of cheesy potatoes, pastas, sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes with pecan toppings, trays of fried meat (which I heard were delicious), cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, etc. We all stuffed ourselves with delicious, buttery, greasy, down home southern cooking. That Saturday night’s show was a little rough.

Last Friday, the day before our southern feast, Rachel (one of the girls in the show, who incidentally went to high school with Brian Klein… small world!) and I went to the National Civil Rights Museum/The Lorraine Motel. The museum is built into the Motel and as soon as you walk up there is a memorial stone facing the balcony where Dr. King was shot. The museum is set up as a sort of interactive timeline staring in the 1600s. The timeline takes you through different rooms chronicling the civil rights movement through the perspective of different groups, events and influential persons of the times. The breadth of information and the manner in which it was presented was not only spectacular but also overwhelming. There are newspaper articles from every time period from papers all over the country, original TV reels from the protests, picket signs from the 60s, transcripts between Dr. King and his wife from his prison cell, photographs, a video of the “I Have a Dream” speech, etc. etc. etc. As the timeline progresses it leads you to the preserved rooms where Martin Luther King Jr. was staying the night he was shot and then across the street to the room where the sniper shot from. The tour concludes in a room dedicated to people around the world that have committed their lives to equality and the fight for civil rights.

While the museum itself was beautiful, it was made more inspirational and poignant given our present circumstances. The fact that we as a country have elected a black president is a testament to how far we have come and California’s passing of Proposition 8 is a reminder of how far we still need to go. It is absolutely true that the community I am immersed in on a daily basis is one where homosexuality is not only accepted but celebrated and it is also true that I have a more personal investment in legislation that takes away my friends rights. But regardless of all that, walking through that museum and witnessing the hardships that had to be overcome to reach the point where we have gotten today is verification of America’s ability grow and learn. With all my heart I believe that this country will soon learn that intolerance of any sort (racial, religious, sexual, etc.) is all equally intolerable.

A protesting exhibit at the National Civil Rights Museum

Second Star to the Right

2008-11-10T23:32:00.010-05:00

The past two weeks have been extraordinary in every sense of the word.

Schenectady was a small but charming city; “downtown” was about the size of Shaker Square and had a similar quaint quality. The theater itself was beautiful, built in the 1920s and newly renovated, it was a lovely space to perform in. Our week there was surprisingly busy, filled with understudy rehearsals, an amazing Halloween party and some very special visitors.

One of the local restaurants agreed to open on Halloween night so that we could throw a private Halloween Party. Everyone’s costumes were amazing (as would be expected, I suppose) they were all almost entirely homemade and hilarious. The night’s highlight was the breaking of two piñatas in the street at about 1am… I don’t think I’ve eaten so much candy in about 13 years. It was a crazy, fantastic night that everyone was feeling the next day.

After our last show in Schenectady Andrew and I took the train back to NYC. We had Tuesday off, so I got to relax in New York for two full days before joining the cast in Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon. I cannot express how wonderful it was to have two entire days off (my first since joining the tour). I ran a few errands during the days and Andy and I stayed in and cooked both nights (well, Andy cooked… I cut a few veggies).

Tuesday night, November 4th, was one that I will never forget. Andy and I sat on his futon, eyes glued to the TV (CNN with an occasional switch to NBC) and watched as Barack Obama became the 44th President Elect of the United States of America! Witnessing hundreds of thousands of people across the country combust in the celebration of hope and change was awe-inspiring. While watching his acceptance speech on TV (jealous of Michael who watched it in person) I was for the first time in a very long time, honestly proud to be an American. YES WE CAN! The next morning I moved on to Pittsburgh riding the emotional high of the previous night.

This past week was spent performing at the beautiful and enormous Benedum Center in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. After our first show The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust threw us an opening night party at McCormick and Schmick's where we got to eat, drink and schmooze.

Because of the golden day on Tuesday our schedule this past week was a little crazy, we had 2 shows on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday with our regular shows on Wednesday and Friday nights. Not to mention a clean-up rehearsal Friday afternoon. It was a busy week.

Thursday between shows I had lunch with one of my best friends from Carnegie Mellon Pre-College, Ali, who I hadn’t seen almost 5 years. It was such a trip to be able to catch up in person in the city where we met 6 ½ years ago. It really is amazing the way life comes full circle in even the littlest of respects. That night after the second show I went out with Richard Hinkelman, another friend whom I hadn’t seen in years. Thursday somehow became the day of catching up with old friends and it was marvelous!

Saturday night was one of the best and most overwhelming nights of my life. I say this with a complete lack of hyperbole and absolute sincerity. Mom, Dad, Max, Grace (one of Max’s best friends), Maggie, Nanny, Papa Joe, Papa Jerry, Darla, Aunt Evy, Uncle Larry, Aunt Beth, Uncle Igor, Aunt Jane, Uncle Bob, Hannah, Molly, Rachel, Wendy and Jamie all came in from Cleveland to see the show. I’m not sure how to express how overwhelming it was to have this group of people in the audience. I can’t really think about it without crying. These are the people who have watched me grow up, the people who have shaped who I am and who I want to be. If I have been able to achieve anything in my life it is because I have had the love and support of a family that is beyond words. They are all truly magnificent.

After the show we all went out to a local restaurant to celebrate. Looking around that room I couldn’t help but think of all the holidays spent singing around the piano, all the hours reciting lines from Peter Pan, all the living room “performances”, all the hours of rehearsals in OHS hallways, all the late night phone calls, all the tears that each person in that room had at some point wiped from my face… I don’t think I have ever felt so blessed or so grateful.

My father has always told me that the greatest gift you can give your children is roots and wings. My parents have succeeded in giving me that gift and lucky for me, my family knows how to fly.

Some of my favorites from Saturday Night:

Small Town Travels

2008-10-27T15:53:00.004-04:00

I’ve just finished my second week of performances (16 shows total) and am on the bus from Elmira to Schenectady. The past two weeks have been a blast and busy, busy, busy!

I still can’t believe that I got to debut in Peoria, the home away from home of one Michael Scott Joseph. It was so special to have my brother there for my opening night (and another two shows that week), as my mother would say it was b’sheret. The first week of shows was exhilarating although perhaps a bit stressful. I made a bunch of little mistakes (that I’m sure no one but I noticed) during the first couple of shows but by the end of the week I was feeling pretty solid.

This past week we’ve been in lovely Elmira, NY a.k.a. the middle of nowhere. Tuesday morning before our sound check and new city meeting I went to the local grocery store to pick up food for the week. When I asked one of the employees if they had soy butter as opposed to peanut butter she took me to the aisle of organic teas. When I told her that organic tea was not incidentally soy butter she laughed and said she had no idea what I was talking about. The next night I stopped by the hotel bar before the show to get some ginger ale for my stomach and there was a line of burly men (think big beards and unwashed faces) adorned in tattered denim and oversized flannel sitting at the bar eating fried food, drinking mugs of beer, watching Fox News and talking about how “hot” Sarah Palin is and how much more experienced she is than Barack Obama... it was mind boggling to experience first hand this demographic that I have only been conceptually aware of.

Wednesday and Thursday days were spent mostly in rehearsal. Wednesday I learned my entire understudy (Ali) in 3½ hours and Thursday I watched an understudy run of the show so I could watch the Ali track. Now its up to me to really learn it on my own!

Friday during the day a group us took a short road trip up to Ithaca where we spent the morning picking apples, drinking fresh hot apple cider, and climbing trees! Adam, one of the boys in the show went to college at Ithaca and took us to his favorite deli for a big delicious greasy breakfast; the latkes were especially delightful. After our filling breakfast we hiked through the Ithaca gorges to the Taughannock and Ithaca Falls. It was the perfect fall day!

Meanwhile, we had performances every night with 2 shows on Saturday and Sunday. Things are going well, I’m feeling settled, more confident and I finally have all the backstage booth music memorized! Although I tell you what, 5 show weekends are exhausting, by Sunday night I am ready for a day off!

This morning before we left, the girls had Mimosa Monday Morning. Three of us still had our debut champagne, so we got some OJ, snacks and had a lovely pre-travel day breakfast. Tonight, once we’re settled in at the hotel, to remain in the seasonal spirit, a few of us are carving pumpkins. It should be a lovely and relaxing evening off.

This upcoming week is a busy and exciting one: the director and choreographer are coming in from New York to see the show and have a brush up rehearsal. While they're here we also have an Act 2 understudy run in which I’m going on for Ali, which is a little nerve-wracking since it will be my very first run. But I’m going to review all day tomorrow and I’m sure everything will be great. On another exciting note, both Andy and Andrew are seeing the show this week; Andy’s coming in tomorrow night to see the show on Wednesday and Andrew’s coming in Saturday night to see the show on Sunday! How lucky can a girl get?!

In an Apple Tree

Ithaca Falls

Opening Night

2008-10-15T15:33:00.005-04:00

Last night was my official debut and a night I will never forget. When I got to the theater my dressing room station was covered in cards and opening night presents from the cast and crew. I was given specially made “Opening Night” and “Break a Leg” star cookies and a bottle of champagne from our produces and stage management department. One of the girls in the cast rewrote the lyrics to “Alouette” and everyone sang a “happy debut” song before the show, during intermission and after the finale (think classic Aunt Beth/Aunt Jane celebratory songs).

The show was fantastic, albeit a bit of a blur. The cast couldn’t have been more supportive, everyone kept checking in on me throughout the night to make sure everything was going well. I still can’t believe that this is really my job… its kind of mind blowing. All in all, it was an amazing night and I can’t wait to do it again!

My Dessing Room Station

With Michael After the Show

"I Have a Dream"

2008-10-13T17:36:00.002-04:00

I am currently on the bus from Milwaukee to Peoria and figured now would be the perfect time to reflect on the past week.

Milwaukee was a surprisingly lovely city; it felt a bit like a mini Chicago, metropolitan but decidedly midwestern. I found a charming little yoga studio to take class at before my first rehearsal Tuesday morning. It was the perfect way to refocus and center myself for the crazy week ahead.

Since I had already learned the entire show, rehearsals this week were primarily clean-up and review, which was much less stressful and a lot more fun. Thursday was my vocal put-in rehearsal with the cast, we sat in the rehearsal studio and sang through the entire score so I could hear where I fit in the chords and the balance of the ensemble. It was exciting to sing with the cast for the first time and it helped me realize what I needed to focus my attention on musically. Friday was my full put-in on-stage with the cast. We ran my track from start to finish focusing on the major dance numbers. While in rehearsals, as I leaned the choreography I also learned who I stood next to in every number and who I was to look for in all the stage patterns so that when my put-in came along I could jump right in. Everything went better than I could have expected and the entire cast and crew were overwhelmingly supportive.

Yesterday during the matinee I got to swing in and sing in the backstage booths during the show. Anytime we’re not onstage, the ensemble is in booths behind the set singing backup vocals. The booths look like mini-recording studios; we have a music stand holding the score, a flat-screen TV with live stream of the conductor, and headsets for each singer to hear the band and backup blend. I was a little nervous about actually singing in the booths as there is often only one person singing each part and it can feel very exposed. It went well and I’m so glad to have done it before I actually open, one less thing to be nervous about.

During last night’s show, I got to sit on the conductor’s podium in the pit and watch the show/band. I was given a pair of headphones so I could alternate between hearing what the audience hears and what the musicians hear. Watching the band was unbelievable, the way our pit is set up, it feels like you’re seeing two very different shows at once: on one side we have four pianists (keyboards/synthesizers) and a percussionist (timpani, xylophones, etc.) while on the other side we have the drummer, bass player, and 2 guitarists. Its half orchestra, half rock band, and they are amazing! Halfway through the finale I got surprisingly emotional, the entire cast was on stage singing and dancing while the whole audience was on their feet singing and dancing right along with them. It was overwhelming to realize that I am now part of something that can bring such joy and excitement to so many people.

Tomorrow, Tuesday October 14th, is my opening night. I am excited, nervous, humbled and above all grateful for this phenomenal opportunity!

City Schedule

2008-10-06T16:52:00.001-04:00

MAMMA MIA! TOUR SCHEDULE

10/7/08 – 10/12/08 – Milwaukee
10/14/08 – 10/19/08 – Peoria
10/21/08 – 10/26/08 – Elmira
10/28/08 – 11/2/08 – Schenectady
11/4/08 -11/9/08 – Pittsburgh
11/11/08 – 11/16/08 – Louisville
11/18/08 – 11/23/08 – Memphis
11/25/08 – 11/30/08 – Kitchener
12/2/08 – 12/7/08 – New Haven
12/9/09 – 12/14/08 – Rochester
12/16/08 – 12/21/08 – LAY OFF
12/23/08 – 12/28/08 – Ottawa
12/30/08 – 1/4/09 – Providence
1/6/09 – 1/11/09 – Augusta
1/13/09 – 1/18/09 – Naples
1/20/09 – 1/25/09 – Ft. Lauderdale
1/27/09 – 2/1/09 – Ft. Lauderdale
2/3/09 – 2/8/09 – Greensboro
2/10/09 – 2/15/09 – Buffalo
2/17/09 – 2/22/09 – Lexington (Tech)
2/24/09 – 3/1/09 – Lexington (Tech) / 5 Performances
3/3/09 – 3/8/09 – Paducah/Bloomington
3/10/09 – 3/15/09 – Duluth/Davenport
3/17/09 – 3/22/09 – Palm Desert
3/24/09 – 3/29/09 – Albuquerque
3/31/09 – 4/5/09 – Santa Barbara
4/7/09 – 4/12/09 –Los Angeles
4/14/09 – 4/19/09 – Los Angeles
4/21/09 – 4/26/09 – Tucson
4/28/09 – 5/3/09 – Tentative LAY OFF
5/5/09 -5/10/09 – LAY OFF
5/12/09 – 5/17/09 – Honolulu
5/19/09 – 5/24/09 – Honolulu
5/26/09 – 5/31/09 – Honolulu
6/2/09 – 6/7/09 – Reno
6/9/09 – 6/14/09 – Des Moines
6/16/09 – 6/21/09 – Toledo
6/23/09 – 6/28/09 – Austin
6/30/09 – 7/5/09 – Tentative LAY OFF
7/7/09 – 7/12/09 – Columbus
7/14/09 – 7/19/09 – Cincinnati
7/21/09 – 7/26/09 – South Bend
7/28/09 – 8/2/09 – Charlotte
8/4/09 – 8/9/09 – West Palm Beach
8/11/2009 – 8/16/09 – Clearwater

City Dates = Tuesday – Sunday
Monday’s our travel day

"Super Trouper"

2008-10-04T22:27:00.004-04:00

Today was my fifth day out here on the road, and I have now officially learned the entire show. That’s right… music, staging, choreography. The ENTIRE show.

This past week has been a non-stop ride with music and choreography rehearsals during the day and tracking the show backstage at night. The entire artistic team has been meticulously thorough and although supportive, tough. Once something has been staged I’m to be completely off-book the next day. This wouldn’t normally be a problem except that I learn 3-4 numbers a day and sing a different vocal part on every other song. Yesterday, after four consecutive 12-14 hour days I was completely overwhelmed and totally mentally exhausted.

Luckily, today I had a very needed break from morning rehearsal to go shoe and underwear shopping with Sandy (a.k.a. Sweetie), the head of wardrobe. Sweetie is a 63-year-old, self-proclaimed crotchety old British woman who has been in the business since 1963. Once our shopping was done, Sweetie took me to lunch at P.F. Chang’s before afternoon rehearsal, because “I deserved a break”. For 3 hours we talked about life, art, and her astonishing 45 year career: working at Covet Gardens (dressing Margot Fontaine in “Romeo and Juliet”), The Royal Shakespeare Company (with Peter Hall when Trevor Nunn was his assistant), having dinner at home with Vivien Merchant and Harold Pinter during rehearsals for the original production of “The Homecoming”, costuming a young George Clooney on “The Facts of Life”, Betty Buckley in “Cats”, ect. ect. ect. It was one of the most inspiring mornings I’ve ever had.

Taking this feeling of inspiration (and a belly very full of Chinese food), I had a fantastic afternoon rehearsal. We finished the bit of staging we hadn’t done yet and then ran my track from start to finish. Although I flubbed a bunch of lyrics, I had almost all of the staging and choreography down; at this point it's really a matter of repetition, lyric memorization, and building stamina.

Once I got back to the hotel, as per the dance captain’s request, I sang though all the major dance numbers while running on the treadmill (to help with the stamina building), luckily no other guests walked in!

Although the schedule has been rigorous (to put it mildly) it’s been an exciting albeit exhausting week. The cast is phenomenal; everyone has been amazingly welcoming and supportive. The women keep asking if I’ve cried yet, I haven’t… I think I’m too tired.

I’ve only been here 5 days and I have a long way to go before I open but it's exciting and humbling to be a part of such a diverse and talented cast.

A few dorky things I got really excited about…
1. Mamma Mia! Luggage tags
2. My own hotel room with a king sized bed and flat screen TV
3. Finding my cast mates on ibdb.com
4. Wardrobe buying me a robe and slippers for pre-show
5. This in the dressing room…

A Little Bit of Life

2008-09-18T14:59:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!

I realize that I’m not actually on the road yet, but I will be soon, and as such I’ve decided to follow Adam’s advice and start a “Mamma Mia! Life on the Road” blog. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone or exactly where I’m going (although I’ve found a few exciting dates, i.e. Honolulu in May!), I do know that I’ll be traveling the country singing and dancing in neon colored, sequined bellbottoms!

For the moment, everything is great here in New York. I’m working at Reebok Sports Club on the Upper West Side (the fanciest and most amazing gym you have ever seen, Madonna is a member…). Although I’ve loved working there, especially due to the free yoga classes, I’ll be very excited to leave come next Thursday. In the meanwhile, I’m getting ready to pack my life into 2 suitcases and 2 carry-on bags, which should be exciting as per my perpetual over-packing habit. On the up-side, I found a subletter for my room, which has been a point of some stress with everything happening so quickly.

I fly out on Monday the 29th to join the tour in East Lansing, Michigan where I’ll be rehearsing for 2 weeks. Until then I’ll be working, taking classes and spending time with all the amazing people I love here in New York.

This should be an exciting, crazy ride and I can’t wait for it all to begin!

Footnote:
Just to be clear, Mamma Mia! does have and exclamation point in the official title. I find this to be both hilarious and amazing, exclamation point!