We had a great opening tonight in Utica! The theatre here is beautiful! It was originally built in 1929. They ran out of money and let parts of it unfinished, such as the chandelier that was only a single bulb until the renovation last year. They spent 20 million dollars upgrading the theatre and remodeling it and it turned out amazingly well. The stage house is magnificent, the dressing rooms are wonderful and the house is beautiful. They also threw us a big after show party! It was the best this year so far and went a long way to lifting every ones spirits on the road.
We also got to see one of last years orphans who was at the show tonight. It was so good to see her and her mom. I continue to be amazed at how much these young ladies grow and mature in a year and at what beautiful and gracious young women they have become.
Needless to say, Utica is now one of my favorite stops on tour! Who ever said that Yankee's don't know how to be hospitable never visited Utica!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Utica, New York
Wow, times fly. I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted. It has been a very busy week for us. We have traveled over 2000 miles since I last blogged and played in Fayetteville, NC, Shippingsburg, PA and Toledo, OH. It was a very difficult week with the travel over such long distances. With that travel stress was high. But as with most things we weathered the storm, did the show, and continue on the journey we know as "Annie."
A couple of revelations hit me this week. The first being that even as wonderful as performing professionally is we begin to take it and each other for granted. We all need to be reminded of our connectedness, of the fact that we all need each other and are all in this together. We need to be about encouraging each other every day.
Second, in Toledo I got a glimpse at how much this economic downturn is really effecting people. It is easy to dismiss when all you see is news of corporations and banks struggling. But when you see a little girl told by her mom that she can't have the "Sandy Dog" or the souvenir program because they "costs too much" you begin to realize that this recession isn't just about money and jobs, it is about people. Every person with the power to do something about this economy of ours should have to look into that little girls eyes and explain to her why they keep fighting with each other instead of working together to solve these problems. (Is that too political? Sorry.)
We are in Utica tonight where we have shows tomorrow and Wednesday. I took a walk through the downtown area and found it to be very quaint and interesting. It is odd to finally see a city that I have talked about for two years now.
We have a reception here tomorrow which should be fun. It is always nice to be treated to special events in the city's where we perform. It will also be nice to only have one bus trip this week!
Seven weeks of tour left and then it will be on to the next step on this journey. I can't wait!
A couple of revelations hit me this week. The first being that even as wonderful as performing professionally is we begin to take it and each other for granted. We all need to be reminded of our connectedness, of the fact that we all need each other and are all in this together. We need to be about encouraging each other every day.
Second, in Toledo I got a glimpse at how much this economic downturn is really effecting people. It is easy to dismiss when all you see is news of corporations and banks struggling. But when you see a little girl told by her mom that she can't have the "Sandy Dog" or the souvenir program because they "costs too much" you begin to realize that this recession isn't just about money and jobs, it is about people. Every person with the power to do something about this economy of ours should have to look into that little girls eyes and explain to her why they keep fighting with each other instead of working together to solve these problems. (Is that too political? Sorry.)
We are in Utica tonight where we have shows tomorrow and Wednesday. I took a walk through the downtown area and found it to be very quaint and interesting. It is odd to finally see a city that I have talked about for two years now.
We have a reception here tomorrow which should be fun. It is always nice to be treated to special events in the city's where we perform. It will also be nice to only have one bus trip this week!
Seven weeks of tour left and then it will be on to the next step on this journey. I can't wait!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
I dreamed a dream!
Up until the spring of 2007 being a professional performer was only a dream. I had never taken advantage of a real opportunity to see that dream fulfilled mostly because of a lack of self confidence and partly because opportunities are rare and the odds are stacked against anyone landing a "dream" role with so much competition out there. Then in March of 2007 I was encouraged and pushed by my wife and daughters and friends and students to take a chance and go for my dream. Thanks to their support (and unwillingness to let me say no to this chance) and the open mindedness of Martin Charnin, Trisha Gentry and Networks and their willingness to take a chance on someone with no "real" professional acting experience my dream has come true.
This week I watched with amazement, joy and happy tears as another 47 year old saw her dream come true. You may have seen her on the news or YouTube. Susan Boyle's story is one that I can identify with and one that has inspired and awed me. If you haven't seen it I encourage to go to YouTube and search for the clip. If you have seen it then you got a glimpse of what I felt like two years ago, standing in that audition room as Martin Charnin said "We would very much like for you to play Daddy Warbucks." It is a moment that I will never forget and one that I am eternally grateful for. Thank you Cay, Alayna and Ashlea for not letting me say no to that chance to live my dream and thanks to Martin for taking a chance on someone like me.
This week I watched with amazement, joy and happy tears as another 47 year old saw her dream come true. You may have seen her on the news or YouTube. Susan Boyle's story is one that I can identify with and one that has inspired and awed me. If you haven't seen it I encourage to go to YouTube and search for the clip. If you have seen it then you got a glimpse of what I felt like two years ago, standing in that audition room as Martin Charnin said "We would very much like for you to play Daddy Warbucks." It is a moment that I will never forget and one that I am eternally grateful for. Thank you Cay, Alayna and Ashlea for not letting me say no to that chance to live my dream and thanks to Martin for taking a chance on someone like me.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Birthdays and Travel Days
Wednesday was my birthday and I had the great fortune of spending it with my wife and one of my best friends. We drove to the Makers Mark Distillery in Kentucky and had a great day enjoying the scenery and each other. That night we performed for a very appreciative crowd in Danville, KY.
Thursday the company traveled to Athens, Ohio and performed on the Ohio University campus. The audience was wonderful, the show was fun, and the fellowship afterwards with friends in the cast was amazing. (They even got me to dance with them which I never do!) The best part of the day though had to be walking out and seeing a giant orange ball in the sky and feeling it's wonderful warmth!
Today we traveled to Columbus, Ohio were we will be for the weekend. The theatre is nice and we were able to get all of the set elements in thanks to the ability to "fly" the stairs to store them. This is really complicated to explain, but basically the huge staircase used in the final scenes is broken into 4 of 5 pieces that are then flown up into the fly space above the stage so that it doesn't take up needed floor space. The pieces are attached to motor lifts that raise them up into the air one at a time with each piece then being attached by cables to the piece above it. It is amazing the steps we will go to in order to make this show happen. Our crew is the best.
The hotel here is really nice as well. We are in suites at one of the nicest hotels around. A rare treat to live so extravagantly while on the road.
But the best part again is amazing weather. I was able to walk around today in my shirt sleeves! Finally, spring seems to have arrived!
Thursday the company traveled to Athens, Ohio and performed on the Ohio University campus. The audience was wonderful, the show was fun, and the fellowship afterwards with friends in the cast was amazing. (They even got me to dance with them which I never do!) The best part of the day though had to be walking out and seeing a giant orange ball in the sky and feeling it's wonderful warmth!
Today we traveled to Columbus, Ohio were we will be for the weekend. The theatre is nice and we were able to get all of the set elements in thanks to the ability to "fly" the stairs to store them. This is really complicated to explain, but basically the huge staircase used in the final scenes is broken into 4 of 5 pieces that are then flown up into the fly space above the stage so that it doesn't take up needed floor space. The pieces are attached to motor lifts that raise them up into the air one at a time with each piece then being attached by cables to the piece above it. It is amazing the steps we will go to in order to make this show happen. Our crew is the best.
The hotel here is really nice as well. We are in suites at one of the nicest hotels around. A rare treat to live so extravagantly while on the road.
But the best part again is amazing weather. I was able to walk around today in my shirt sleeves! Finally, spring seems to have arrived!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
OOPS and Evansville
Ok, I guess I really like the month of February because I have made the same mistake twice now. Our tour ends on June 14 in Tampa not February 14 as some of you may have seen if you get this by e-mail or read it early.
We played Springfield, IL last night and are in Evansville, IN tonight but play in Henderson, KY. Not sure why we are staying in Illinois and playing Kentucky, but a bed is a bed as far as I am concerned.
Happy Birthday to Ashlea and Caleb. Hope you had a great day.
We played Springfield, IL last night and are in Evansville, IN tonight but play in Henderson, KY. Not sure why we are staying in Illinois and playing Kentucky, but a bed is a bed as far as I am concerned.
Happy Birthday to Ashlea and Caleb. Hope you had a great day.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
South Bend, Indiana
Happy Easter!
For the past three days we have been in South Bend where we did three performances Friday and Saturday before having a day off today. The theatre here is great. It is one of those old, ornately decorated houses and the audiences were wonderfully responsive. While we were here "Annie" had it's own resurrection experience as we discovered new life and new focus in our performances. I always get asked if it is difficult doing the same thing over and over. "Do you ever get bored?" is the way one young person put it too me recently. While we aren't really bored it can become "routine" and in theatre that is something we seek to avoid. Well, this weekend we broke out of our "routine" and had three great performances. I found a new energy within myself as we played here and while it probably went unnoticed to those who see me do this day in and day out it was real and tangible to me onstage and left me each night ready and excited to do the show the next day.
One bit of tragedy on the road this week, our bus was vandalized on Friday night. Someone broke the window out of the door of the bus. Fortunately, with us being in one place for three days and within walking distance of the theatre not much of value was on the bus but it still leaves us all feeling a little violated. That bus, as much as we complain about it, is our home while on the road. We are all just grateful everyone is OK and the damage was minimal.
Monday we head to Springfield, IL and then we will be in Kentucky for two days before heading up to Ohio. I will get to see Cay while we are in Kentucky. I am looking forward to that. I will also be having my 49th birthday on Wednesday which I am looking forward to. I learned a long time ago that every birthday is a day to celebrate life! Getting old is something to celebrate and that brings joy to the hearts of all those who love us.
We have only nine weeks left of the "Annie" tour that began back in October of 2008. We will close on June 14 in Tampa, FL. I tell you all this now so that you can celebrate with me the joy I have experienced in living out my dream of performing professionally in a production of this caliber. I would love to have you all join me in these final weeks to celebrate this "Dream Come True." While "Annie" will continue to tour next season none of us knows for sure what the future will bring and while the "sun will come out tomorrow" we never now what it will reveal. Therefore, let us celebrate the present and thank God for the joy we know in this moment! In doing so, we honor ourselves, our loved ones, and our God.
Blessings to all on this Easter Day and I pray you all are filled with joy and peace on this very special day.
David
For the past three days we have been in South Bend where we did three performances Friday and Saturday before having a day off today. The theatre here is great. It is one of those old, ornately decorated houses and the audiences were wonderfully responsive. While we were here "Annie" had it's own resurrection experience as we discovered new life and new focus in our performances. I always get asked if it is difficult doing the same thing over and over. "Do you ever get bored?" is the way one young person put it too me recently. While we aren't really bored it can become "routine" and in theatre that is something we seek to avoid. Well, this weekend we broke out of our "routine" and had three great performances. I found a new energy within myself as we played here and while it probably went unnoticed to those who see me do this day in and day out it was real and tangible to me onstage and left me each night ready and excited to do the show the next day.
One bit of tragedy on the road this week, our bus was vandalized on Friday night. Someone broke the window out of the door of the bus. Fortunately, with us being in one place for three days and within walking distance of the theatre not much of value was on the bus but it still leaves us all feeling a little violated. That bus, as much as we complain about it, is our home while on the road. We are all just grateful everyone is OK and the damage was minimal.
Monday we head to Springfield, IL and then we will be in Kentucky for two days before heading up to Ohio. I will get to see Cay while we are in Kentucky. I am looking forward to that. I will also be having my 49th birthday on Wednesday which I am looking forward to. I learned a long time ago that every birthday is a day to celebrate life! Getting old is something to celebrate and that brings joy to the hearts of all those who love us.
We have only nine weeks left of the "Annie" tour that began back in October of 2008. We will close on June 14 in Tampa, FL. I tell you all this now so that you can celebrate with me the joy I have experienced in living out my dream of performing professionally in a production of this caliber. I would love to have you all join me in these final weeks to celebrate this "Dream Come True." While "Annie" will continue to tour next season none of us knows for sure what the future will bring and while the "sun will come out tomorrow" we never now what it will reveal. Therefore, let us celebrate the present and thank God for the joy we know in this moment! In doing so, we honor ourselves, our loved ones, and our God.
Blessings to all on this Easter Day and I pray you all are filled with joy and peace on this very special day.
David
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
It's Good To Be Home
I am really nowhere near "home" but just being back in Texas brings back wonderful memories. Sunday we played our smallest stage yet at the Hippodrome in Waco. The show was a lot of fun as we faced the challenges of adapting to small spaces. It is amazing how we get used to a certain thing and how changing it even slightly can bring new life to a production. The audience seemed to really enjoy our "scaled down" Annie. Really, other than the small stage, 28' by 20', and the missing set pieces, the show was the same as every other performance.
Monday we were in Longview, TX. I met up with my father-in-law and sister-in-law by chance at our lunch stop at a Subway on our way to Longview so I drove with them the rest of the way in and spent the afternoon with them and a close family friend who is more of an aunt really than a friend. It was great to just sit and chat with family. The Belcher Center in Longview is beautiful. We played to a nearly sold out house and a lot of fun being there. It was our props guy's last day with us which was kind of sad but joyful at the same time as we wish him well and welcome his replacement. Yet another reminder that this is a business after all.
Today we spent 10 hours on the bus driving to Cape Girardeau, MO on our way to Macomb, IL where we perform tomorrow night, then on to Joliet, IL for a one nighter before spending the Holy Weekend in South Bend, IN. We have performances Friday and Saturday and are off on Easter Sunday. I think some of us are going to go to Easter services at Notre Dame if possible.
Well, that is all for now. Life on tour is a whirlwind of activity as we hustle from town to town, performance to performance living our dreams of performing professionally. What a life!
Monday we were in Longview, TX. I met up with my father-in-law and sister-in-law by chance at our lunch stop at a Subway on our way to Longview so I drove with them the rest of the way in and spent the afternoon with them and a close family friend who is more of an aunt really than a friend. It was great to just sit and chat with family. The Belcher Center in Longview is beautiful. We played to a nearly sold out house and a lot of fun being there. It was our props guy's last day with us which was kind of sad but joyful at the same time as we wish him well and welcome his replacement. Yet another reminder that this is a business after all.
Today we spent 10 hours on the bus driving to Cape Girardeau, MO on our way to Macomb, IL where we perform tomorrow night, then on to Joliet, IL for a one nighter before spending the Holy Weekend in South Bend, IN. We have performances Friday and Saturday and are off on Easter Sunday. I think some of us are going to go to Easter services at Notre Dame if possible.
Well, that is all for now. Life on tour is a whirlwind of activity as we hustle from town to town, performance to performance living our dreams of performing professionally. What a life!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Windy Lubbock
We arrived in Lubbock yesterday afternoon and played to a great audience last night. Things were kind of crazy around the theatre. It is next door to the colesium where they are having a huge rodeo and across the street from the baseball field where they have games all weekend. This added to the road construction created huge traffic problems which caused us to start the show nearly 20 minutes late, something we don't like to do. But the audience seemed to tolerate it pretty well and enjoyed the show.
Today I left at 5:45 am to do two TV spots and 4 radio interviews! A really early morning for a night owl. Afterwards I went to Lubbock High School where my cousin is an administrative intern and spoke to their theatre and choir students. This is the school that Buddy Holly went to and graduated from in 1955, two years after my Uncle graduated from the same school! My uncle still has his annual from his Senior year that has Buddy Holly's picture it.
Speaking to the students was terrific fun. It was good to be back with high school students and to be fueled by their enthusiasm and energy. We spent a great two + hours together as I told them my story and anwered their questions about touring, acting, and more.
I had lunch with my Uncle and his wife and we had a great time just chatting and catching up on family things and sharing funny stories. Every family has a "crazy uncle" and Uncle Weldon is mine. It was great to spend the day with them and reconnect.
Tonights show went well after starting late yet again. Scott Jackson from the home office was here to the show. It is always nice to have someone from the production company come and see us. It gives a sense of security to all of us on the road that we are important to them and haven't been forgotten. Scott was very complementary and praised us in our work and efforts. Nice to know we are appreciated.
It is very dry here in Lubbock as it is in most of Texas. Typical for this time of year. When the wind gets to blowing the dust is overwhelming. While it was a beautiful day out today there were a few times when the blowing dust was more than a little uncomfortable. It sounds weird, but I actually enjoyed watching the dust blow and tasting it in my mouth and feeling in my nose, eyes and ears. It brought strong childhood memories.
Tomorrow we will wrap it up here in Lubbock and then we head to Waco.
Today I left at 5:45 am to do two TV spots and 4 radio interviews! A really early morning for a night owl. Afterwards I went to Lubbock High School where my cousin is an administrative intern and spoke to their theatre and choir students. This is the school that Buddy Holly went to and graduated from in 1955, two years after my Uncle graduated from the same school! My uncle still has his annual from his Senior year that has Buddy Holly's picture it.
Speaking to the students was terrific fun. It was good to be back with high school students and to be fueled by their enthusiasm and energy. We spent a great two + hours together as I told them my story and anwered their questions about touring, acting, and more.
I had lunch with my Uncle and his wife and we had a great time just chatting and catching up on family things and sharing funny stories. Every family has a "crazy uncle" and Uncle Weldon is mine. It was great to spend the day with them and reconnect.
Tonights show went well after starting late yet again. Scott Jackson from the home office was here to the show. It is always nice to have someone from the production company come and see us. It gives a sense of security to all of us on the road that we are important to them and haven't been forgotten. Scott was very complementary and praised us in our work and efforts. Nice to know we are appreciated.
It is very dry here in Lubbock as it is in most of Texas. Typical for this time of year. When the wind gets to blowing the dust is overwhelming. While it was a beautiful day out today there were a few times when the blowing dust was more than a little uncomfortable. It sounds weird, but I actually enjoyed watching the dust blow and tasting it in my mouth and feeling in my nose, eyes and ears. It brought strong childhood memories.
Tomorrow we will wrap it up here in Lubbock and then we head to Waco.
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