Cast Reunion...Babes In Toyland

A few weeks ago an event popped up on my Facebook feed advertising a little get together for the cast and crew of a show my daughter and I last winter. Because I'm working so much lately, I wasn't sure if we would be able to attend.

Turns out, we could. And so we did.

Each show is different and therefore, the way you feel while doing and after the show has ended is also different. There was something special about that show. Maybe it was because it was new and we created much of it ourselves, but something made us bond as few casts do. So, suggesting a cast reunion six months since and from Christmas sounded reasonable, almost expected.

We had food, conversation, catching up, all in an incredible home with an equally incredible backyard in which to enjoy each other's company. Not everyone made it--many expressing regrets that they couldn't come because of other commitments. They were missed.

Driving home with my daughter I felt like we were coming home from doing a show or having just finished a rehearsal. It's been a while since she and I were in a show together and I don't know when we'll get to do it again. So, not only did seeing everyone bring back a lot of good memories, the best part was spending time--again--with my daughter talking about shows and life. Thanks to everyone who organized the event. We're glad you did.

Curtain Call...

I was fortunate enough to participate in another production and that show ended last night. Because of a change in the schedule, I did the final show for both casts--a first for me. I took along my camera and snapped some pictures of the cast. Unfortunately, I was unable to get everyone's picture.

Here are pictures of those who dedicated our time and pledged our talents to make the show the best it could be. Tonight we didn't arrive at call. We didn't check out our mics or do mic checks. We didn't gather for fight call and run it at either 1/2 speed or 3/4 speed. We didn't meet in the green room and warm up our voices, and especially if it was our cast, the kids didn't swarm their adult friends, those friendships meaning everything to those beautiful children.

So, for all of us who made the journey together, this is for you. 

Toyland, toyland, little girl and boy land

When you dwell within it...

You are ever happy there

The Happy Side Of Theater...

As our cast prepared for tonight's show, I stood and watched the players gather on stage while the curtain was down. What I saw made me smile. It was a cast who truly loved being together.

The scene before me made me think of a conversation I had with a dear friend about the arts in Utah. He said that most of the art in our state is supported by free labor. It's basically true. He and I have discussed this phenomenon many times. There are so many opportunities to perform in our state, and some shows, the performers are actually required to pay in order to participate.

Over the past twenty or so months I've been involved in numerous shows, a couple of them were paid gigs, but only a few. The rest, I volunteered.

So, is there a benefit to giving up so much of one's personal time, a non-financial benefit? Looking around before the curtain rose, I believe there is. We come and put on costumes, apply makeup and perform for different reasons. One loves to see friends. One is going through personal troubles at home and uses the theater as an escape. Yet another wants to make performing his or her career and sees the change to be in another show as a stepping stone to bigger and better roles. Whatever the reason, there is a happy side of theater, and I saw it on display tonight.

Being in many shows you see how casts interact. Some get along and every once in a while, a cast gels like a sports team, each member showcasing their talents for the betterment of all. That's when theater's really fun, and really worth it.

The Tale Of The Tickets...

"You what?"

Steve from work said after I told him I couldn't find the two preview tickets I promised him for last night's show. The theater has a Preview Performance for friends and family of the casts. It's technically our last dress rehearsal, but it's a nice thing for them to do. It give us cast members an opportunity to perform in front of a live audience and we can also work out any last-minute quirks that are always present in a new show.

I had two tickets for my co-worker. I put them in my backpack while at the theater on Monday night. I came home, slept then got up and left for work. It wasn't until I got to work that I noticed the tickets were gone. 

I was sick.

He had everything arranged to make it to the show after work complete with transportation from work to the theater. Now, he'd have to make new arrangements. I sent off an e-mail to the theater explaining the situation, but I didn't hear back from them. So, I told him I was sorry and that I'd make it up to him in some way. I thought the tickets must have fallen out of my bag either at the theater, at home, on the bus or on the street leading to my building. I called home to have my wife check to see if they were there. Nope.

And would Steve allow me to forget my blunder? Oh, no. During the entire work day he kept reminding me that me doing too much and my lack of sleep was causing me to forget things, and more to the point, losing things like show tickets.

Ouch!

Fast forward a few hours and I found myself pulling into the driveway. I opened the car door and there on the driveway were the tickets. I snapped a picture of them and sent an I/M to Steve. "Still want to go?" I asked.

Luckily, I caught him with enough time to keep the arrangements he originally made. "Sure," he texted back.

And to add insult to injury, he quipped, "Don't lose the tickets between home and the theater."

I told him I was giving them to someone else.

In the end, Steve made the show and had a good time. All this for free tickets...

"Babes In Toyland"...Begins This Week!

When you do a show at Christmas, a time period that already flies by goes even faster. I can't believe we open Babes in Toyland this week and before you know it, the year will be over.

This show has brought a lot of new experiences for me and the rest of the babes. It's a completely new show, new music, new characters. And because it's not "set in stone" to the point that everyone who comes to see it knows every part of the show by heart, things can be adjusted as we rehearsed and learned the show. There's been plenty of "adjustments" made along the way. But they're good ones, each change makes the show better.

This morning on a local morning news broadcast, they interviewed some of the principles in the show and showed some some video from our last rehearsal. Somehow I got a lot of face time. You can watch the entire segment: HERE.

If you come see the show, remember, I'm the dumb one. Actually, playing the fool has been a blast and (not surprising to many...), it's been a relatively easy part for me to do. If you're interested in seeing the show, check out the theater's website: HERE. And if so, let me know--I might be able to help a little on the ticket price.

Allen Edmonds...Never Heard Of Them

"Hey," I got the attention of my counterpart as he was about to take the stage at today's rehearsal. "Did you get a chance to try on those shoes I got at the D.I.?" For those unfamiliar with the D.I., it's a local thrift store operated by the Mormon Church.

"Yeah, I did," my counterpart said. "Those are Allen Edmonds."

"So? What are Allen Edmonds?" I asked.

And so began my education of Allen Edmonds shoes. The other night I spoke to the costumers for Babes in Toyland, the next show my daughter and I are doing. All but one of my scenes takes place in Toyland. The first scene, however, takes place in the public square (or public market--not quite sure...). The shoes I wear in Toyland would not be suitable for the first scene. The costumers said I could wear any dress shoes I wanted, as long as they were true to the time period. And when we visited the thrift store yesterday I thought I'd take a look at the men's shoes. I saw a pair of wingtips for $6 and they were in pretty good shape. The fact they fit so well was a bonus.

I brought them to today's rehearsal and shined them up before we went on. My counterpart had not brought any shoes for that first scene, but luckily, we both wear the same size shoe so I said he should at least try them on. If they fit, we can both wear them for that first scene. That's when he told me about the shoes.

"Allen Edmonds are good shoes," he said. "I've been gifted a few pairs of Allen Edmonds--they're like, three-hundred dollars new."

Um, I thought. Suddenly the shoes that were in pretty good shape looked fantastic. When I got home from a long day at the theater, I checked out Allen Edmonds shoes online. Most of their shoes new cost almost $400.

I've found many treasures at the D.I., but probably none worth so much. The funny thing is, I almost didn't buy them because they cost six bucks. It's a little high for a pair of shoes, I thought at the time.

Little did I know...

IHOP's Got Nothing On Centerpoint!

Humans, and by extension, organizations love traditions. I think it's comforting when we know what's going to happen--traditions give us at least a sense of that. There's traditions in religion, governments, businesses and even in theater production companies.

This morning Centerpoint Legacy Theatre continued one of its cherished traditions--it fed the casts of the next show. I should say, if you're one of those "it's too early for anything Christmas" people, you may not like these pictures of a few of the table settings that greeted us when we arrived.

Me and dozens of other friends gathered before our rehearsal and were treated to an amazing waffle breakfast. We had waffle options, topping options, fresh fruit options and even beverage options. 

The theater doesn't have to do this for us, but I know it's something the board enjoys doing. We get a chance to sit with each other, enjoy the food and the conversation and share laughs and stories before the hard work begins.

Our show begins in a matter of days. There's a lot of work yet to do, but for a quiet hour early this morning, a group of people with a singular goal gathered and ate together. Now, I don't mean to necessarily disparage IHOP. They serve great food, but when you have friends serving you a meal as a gesture of gratitude, that's special and not normally found in a chain restaurant. 

Yes, we love traditions--especially delicious ones!