Happy Thanksgiving

I have been away from the Internet for a while so I have some updating to do. Tuesday we were in Chattanooga, TN where we played Memorial Auditorium. Cay and Ashlea drove up to see me and the show as well as Tiffany and Mackenzie. The show went well and it was really great to see them. I forgot to take my camera but took pictures with my phone of theatre. It was like most other theatres we play that were built in that time period.

Wednesday we were in Hamlet, NC. It was a very pretty auditorium in a very small town. It is amazing to me how many little places have really nice theatres. I keep hoping our city officials will see this and be motivated to build something like one of these in Hendersonville. It would be a large investment but well worth it in the long run. And I know someone who would love to run it for them!

Thursday we traveled to Lowell, MA and had Thanksgiving dinner together. It was a good night but did not come close to taking the place of being at home with family.

Friday we did two shows in Lowell. The theatre there was really small and we weren't able to use much of our set. No drops, No orphanage, No stairs. So pretty much just props, costumes and wonderful performers. The shows went really well and the audiences had a great time and really enjoyed themselves. After the final show they had a reception for us which was nice.

Today we were in New London, CT. Another older theatre built in the 1920's. It was a beautiful auditorium but also very small stage. We were able to use most of our drops but on the orphanage or the stairs. It was well received. This smaller venues are some of our best audiences. They sell lots of tickets and the audiences are very responsive.

This was our second day of two day shows in different venues. With the travel this is very difficult and tiring but nothing compared to what it is like for our crew who have to strike and set up within just a few hours. Friday our last show ended at 9:45. The crew then spent 3 hours loading out the set, drove for two hours and arrived in New London at about 3:00 a.m. At 5:00 a.m. they started setting up for the 3:00 show in New London. They are amazing. And they have to do that again tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow it is going to be a very long day so, so long for now.

Tonight we played Hamlet, NC. The venue here was one of the smallest we will play. The house sat 968 and was SOLD OUT. This is always exciting regardless of the size of the venue. The audience was great and really friendly. They laughed at all the right places and were really into the show.

I promised earlier that I was going to do a better job of taking pictures so here we go. This is the venue we played tonight in Hamlet. Those of you in Hendersonville, this is the type of space we need to build in our area. A medium size house with modest dressing rooms and adequate conference facilities. This would be ideal for our area for Steeple Players and other local productions large and small. This facility, like many of those we play were built near college campuses with private money and made available to the college for use on a scheduled basis. Maybe our county executives would consider something of this nature near Volunteer State Community College. It would definitely benefit all of Sumner County.

There were 4 dressing rooms. Can't show you those because we are not allowed to take pictures in the dressing rooms due to privacy issues. Two of them were large enough for 15 to 20 people each and two were designed for 2 people each. In addition there were 3 large meeting/banquet rooms. Again, a really neat facility in a community not nearly as large as Hendersonville.

More pictures will be coming, especially when I am somewhere with a little better internet service. Hope all is well with all of you and have a great Thanksgiving week!

Week One - Raleigh, NC

Well, last night we closed in Raleigh, NC and we are now headed to Hamlet, NC. The week in Raleigh went well. We had OK audiences as far as size is concerned and those who attended really enjoyed the show. We got a standing ovation every night with thunderous, genuine applause. This is important because it is the way we, as performers, judge our success. If the audience leaves happy, uplifted and in good spirits, then we have done our job. Here is picture of the house at Raleigh. The two folks in the front are our merchandisers, Mark and Lacey. They are the ones who sell you the souvenirs.

We did have several mishaps here in Raleigh. Moustaches that wouldn't stay on, flying wigs, and a few other "incidents" that will not be named here. We managed to maintain our characters and our poise through it all and the audiences often didn't realize they were mistakes and when they did they moved on through it with us. Made for an interesting week and lots of dressing room talk.

The local crew here was really great. They made us feel at home and did everything in their power to make our show and our stay a good one.

Cay was here most of the week which was great. We got to spend some quality time together and she got to meet many of the people I will be traveling with. It is a great group of people. I am still getting to know them but I am certain that we will all have a grand time.

I have done a poor job of taking pictures on this tour thus far so my objective this week is to get out the camera and get some pictures to post here so that you all can get a glimpse at life on the road with Annie.

Opening Night in Raleigh, NC

Tonight we opened, officially, in Raleigh, NC. The day has been a very busy one! We had a 10:15 bus call for an 11:00 company meeting followed by sound check and a full dress rehearsal that began at 1:00. Following this we had a brief notes session and then Cay and I ate dinner before having to be back at the theatre at 6:00 for a 7:00 curtain time.

After the show we went to the opening night party where we celebrated another beginning in the continuing event we know and love as "ANNIE." It was nice to be able to gather together as cast, crew, and musicians and simply enjoy one another. After three very stressful weeks of preparation this was a moment for us to relax just a little and celebrate our success in simply being at this place.

This opening was very different from last year. It was exciting but in a different way. This year it wasn't "new" but it was "welcoming." It felt a little like coming home after being away for 5 months. The neighborhood had changed, familiar faces had moved on and been replaced by new ones, but it was still "home."

I continue to grow as a performer. With every performance I discover something new. Sometimes it is a word that I hadn't noticed before. Sometimes it is a moment, or a breath, or a look. With each new discovery I marvel at this magical thing we call theatre. Unlike movies which are always the same and often dull with time and age, live theatre continues to grow and change and live and breathe. It is affected by everything around it; actors, stagehands, directors, audiences, communities, economics, politics, and so much more. All of life affects our little world of theatre. I believe it is "Annie's" ability to exist in all and any of these worlds that in some small way accounts for its success and longevity. I doubt that "Annie" will ever go "out of style" or be put on the shelf, never to see the light of stage again.

It is this "life" that draws me to this wonderful musical. I don't think I will ever get tired of walking onstage as "Oliver Warbucks." It is simply too much fun and too full of joy to ever become a drag.

So on this opening night I look forward to 14 months of opening nights and the magic that occurs when audiences enter the theatre and the lights go up on "ANNIE!"

Opening Night...Almost

Friday Night was a great night as we did our first preview performance before an audience. While official opening night isn't until Nov. 18 in Raleigh, NC, for those of us here in Orange Park, FL tonight was the REAL DEAL! We had a great audience here at the Thrasher Horne PAC and everyone in the cast gave a great performance! After 260+ performances last year I didn't know I would feel the same excitement I did a little over a year ago on opening night. While it wasn't "the same" it was very exciting.

There is nothing that can compare to hearing an audience laugh, cry and applaude as you work on stage. There is also no way to describe it for those who have never experienced. It is a high like no other. After the show our director was very pleased. I don't remember his exact words, but I remember thinking "that is the biggest complement he has ever given me." It felt great to have my work so appreciated by someone of Martin's ability and reputation.

This afternoon we had our final preview performance. It was another great audience and the show went well although I didn't feel as good about my individual performance. As a cast we are still struggling to get consistancy in our performances. The fatigue factor doesn't help any either. It will be good to have two days away from the show, even if one is on the bus.

There are alot of great moments in the show. Those of you who saw it last year and get to see it again this year will undoubtedly notice some of the changes. On a personal level I feel as I have grown tremendously in my portrayal of Oliver Warbucks from last year to this. It is a lot of little things that most people won't notice but thing I think you might notice is the difference in the approach to "Something was Missing." Little changes can make big differences. Martin call it being "less actory." I call it being relaxed and confident. I will let you all be the judge.

The political jokes and pokes are getting much bigger reactions this year. Orange Park is largely a Republican town so they love the digs at Democrats. I fully expect that in Democratic areas such as New Hampshire and New York that they will find the same jokes equally amusing but from a different view point. It is amazing how we can see the same thing so differently. No wonder politicians have such a hard time getting anything done.

Tomorrow we get on the BUS for our trip to Raleigh, NC. There is a strange comfort in getting on the bus for me. It becomes a part of your routine and I have come to appreciate the time. While not always comfortable or enjoyable it is oddly comforting and relaxing. It also carries the promise of new adventures!

Monday is a Golden Day meaning no travel and no show or rehearsal. We have the entire day to ourselves. I will be exercising, picking up Cay at the airport, and grocery shopping.

Then Tuesday is our official opening night! And now the ADVENTURE BEGINS!

Tech Run Through

Today we had our first full run through with all the technical elements except for costumes and orchestra. By all accounts it went very well. We didn't have but a couple of hiccups which to the average audience member would probably have gone unnoticed. Our stage hands have done amazing work putting the show "up on its feet." It still amazes me how the show takes on an entirely new feeling with the addition of sets and lights. They truly become "actors" on stage with us setting and adding to the mood and atmosphere. If done well no one leaves talking about the lights or sound which is the way it should be but is also kind of unfair considering the amount of work and talent it takes by those folks to pull it off.

Tomorrow we have our first rehearsal with the orchestra. We will do the choreography/blocking for the songs without the sets and get accustomed to how different everything sounds with the full orchestra. This is another very exciting and sometimes difficult day. We will then break for dinner and come back for our first and probably only full dress rehearsal. I anticipate it being a great night! I am a little worried about my quick change at the end of the show into the tuxedo but I am confident that we will once again pull it off flawlessly (just maybe not the first time.)

We are now only four days away from seeing Cay in Raleigh and only five days away from our opening night in Raleigh, NC! And then it will be "Christmas, every day." Only in the world of theatre and "Annie" can dreams like this come true.

Rehearsals and Ball Games

We have now had several complete run throughs of the show. It has gone really well. Everyone continues to grow and improve each week. Martin seems pleased with where the show is and everyone is beginning to really work together as a team. This is not to say that there isn't still work to be done. It can always get better and we still have a great deal of polishing to do as well as reaching a level of consistency that is acceptable. But things are going great.

We had the day off Sunday (yesterday) and Zander (Rooster) and I went and watched the Titans vs. Bears ball game on TV. Zander is a Bears fan so I don't think he had as much fun as I did but was great to have someone to watch the game with while on tour.

Today we had our final run through before we begin tech. Tech begins tomorrow. This is when we add in sets, lights, sound, props, etc. to the show. For a show of this nature it can be a very tedious process. Every move on stage has been mapped out and know has to be rehearsed so that scene changes happen quickly and safely and that light changes, sound cues, etc. happen in such a way that the audience isn't really aware of them. It is really amazing to watch if you haven't seen them before. The tech for us will begin about 1:00 in the afternoon and we will finish around 11:00 at night. And that is just ACT I. Then on Wednesday we will do the same thing for ACT 2. The last step is to add costumes and orchestra in our first and ONLY dress rehearsal on Thursday. All of this is a little overwhelming as last year we had more rehearsal on stage with all aspects of the show including 2 FULL dress rehearsals.

Needless to say everyone is a little anxious about putting it together but I have full confidence in our cast, crew and creative team. I know that it is going to be a fabulous show!

Rehearsals and St. Augustine

Tuesday we had our first day off. Cheryl, Ricky, Jeff and I drove down to St. Augustine to see the oldest continually settled city in the USA. It was good to get away from rehearsals and spend some time doing something other than thinking about the show. It was also a good distraction from the election process. This is a picture of the oldest continuously active church in the USA.

Here we are standing outside the oldest wood school house in the USA. If you have never been to St. Augustine it really is a neat place to visit. Lots of history, shopping and good food. Jeff bought a hat and we all tried aligator tail. It was really chewy.

Wednesday we blocked act 2. Things went well. Everyone is really focused and working really hard. Today we finished blocking at 2 and then ran act 2. We had notes afterward and I received the fewest notes I have ever received during a Martin Charnin notes session. Don't know whether to be flattered or worried.

I am still getting to know eveyone. The girls that play the orphans are really cute. This picture was taken of them at the theatre where we are rehearsing. They are from left to right (Back Row) Ivy, Siara, Madison (front row) Sidney, Tiana, Mackenzie, and Dominique. They are all very cute and talented. They are a lot of fun to watch and work with.

Tomorrow we have our first full runthrough. It will be good to get all the pieces put together and still have a week to work on things before putting the show on its feet in front of an audience.

Act One

Today we had our first run through of Act I. This is always a little nerve wracking as it is the first time you get real notes from director, choreographer, etc. For a first run through after only 4 days of rehearsal it went amazingly well. Everyone had all lines and songs memorized. No one had to call for a line! That in and of itself is a miracle in live theatre.

It is also fascinating how quickly folks learn new things such as choreography and how well they remember what they are taught. Even the kids (the youngest of which is 7) remember things amazingly well and are able to apply them. I can't express how impressed I am with every one's abilities.

We have changed several things from last years show. Most of it is very small and would go totally unnoticed by the audience who sees it but is big for those of us doing it again and makes it a lot of fun. Most of the changes concerning me have been blocking with a few line delivery changes. All of them work well and of course fit with the overall flow and context of the show. It is mostly a result of those I am now working with and some bad habits I developed over the course of 260+ performances last year.

I am really excited for Cay, Ashlea, and Alayna to get to meet my new friends on tour. They are all really great and we are having a blast so far. It is amazing to me how people from different parts of the country with totally different backgrounds, beliefs, and opinions can come together for a common cause and perform miracles together onstage. Maybe our politicians should take lessons from us actors! Something might actually get done in Washington for a change besides name calling and finger pointing. Enough of that.

We are looking forward to our first day off on Tuesday. I plan on driving up to St. Augustine and spending the day seeing sights, on the beach, and eating sushi while relaxing and preparing for what will be a very intense couple of weeks of rehearsal and tech.