Rehearsals Begin

Greetings from Orange Park, FL and the Thrasher Horne Center for Arts. I arrived here on Tuesday. First meeting/rehearsal was Wednesday morning. It was great to see some familiar faces and meet so many new people. Everyone seems really great and the kids are very sweet and cute. Everyone was really excited to get start. The first read through went great and everyone seems to be very talented. I know it will be a great experience once again. Because it is a little different cast with different strengths and approaches there are elements of the show that will be different but of course "Annie" is what is and always will be.








So far I haven't done much at rehearsals as they work on getting new folks up to speed. I will have my first real work session tomorrow after lunch. I imagine as opening week gets closer I will be very, very busy. I have noticed that my approach to the play and the character are a little different this time as I am more relaxed about some things and more uptight about others. It is still a lot of fun and I can't wait to get on my feet in front of an audience.


Some interesting facts about the cast: our "Grace" is also from the Nashville area. She lived in Murfreesboro. At least 4 of the cast members (maybe more) are originally from Texas! The oldest "orphan" is 13 and the youngest 7. I have chosen to have a roommate this year. At least at the beginning. The company should be good and saving money will be great especially in these difficult time.

We get to stay in some really nice places these first few months which is exciting. We have rehearsals here for the next two-and-a-half weeks before heading to Raleigh, NC on Sunday, November 16. Cay will be coming for opening night which is exciting and I look forward to seeing many of my hometown friends in Chattanooga, TN.

Give me a call or shoot me an e-mail as I love to hear from you all!

Clothes Make the Man

Yesterday I flew to New York for a costume fitting. I left Nashville at 6 a.m. and got back about 10:30 p.m. after missing a connection (long, angry story). I spent of total of 4 hours in the city with 2 of those being in the car going to and from the airport and the other two at the tailor's.



It was a very interesting experience. Joe Scafati is the tailor and he had created three new suits for me that were designed by Jimm Halliday. The suits were "half" put together. I don't really know how to describe it other than to say they were barely pieced together. Just enough stitches and finish to try on for fit. I would try on the pants and have them fitted, then the vest, and then suit coat. Joe spent about 45 minutes per suit tugging, and marking, and pinning. He would pull seams out and pin them back to get the exact fit they were looking for. He padded the shoulders of the jackets to make them look just right on me. Did things to fix the fact that I lean to the left slightly because of one leg being just slightly shorter than the other. It was all very different and not something I was very comfortable with. I am not really comfortable being fussed over. Still haven't gotten use to the "Star treatment."



It doesn't sound like a big deal, but standing still for 2 hours while someone pulls and tugs on your clothes is tiring. It made my knees and back hurt.



I am home now trying to make sure that I have everything I need to be gone for 8+ months. My problem is I take things I don't use and then have to lug them around with me for 8 months. So I have packed and unpacked once and will probably do that once more before Tuesday. Then in three weeks I will have Cay bring me things I need and left to Raleigh and send things I took and don't need home with her.



I am excited to meet everyone and get started again. I just hope I can get over this cold I have been fighting before next Wednesday's first rehearsal.



Hope you are all having a great week.



David

Alayna's Home

Alayna came in yesterday to spend the weekend. It is good to have her with us for a few days. She has become an amazing young women with a huge heart and an almost uncontrollable passion for life. She possesses an optimism that is contagious.

We plan on spending the weekend just hanging out and seeing friends she grew up with.
10 days and counting until I leave for Orange Park and three weeks of rehearsal. The most urgent thing I have to do between now and then is vote. I won't trouble you with how I will cast my ballot. Only that I will and I hope that you will as well.