Weekend Wrap-Up From Duluth, GA

ORLANDO WAS AMAZING!!!!!


I wanna live there - SERIOUSLY.  Weather was kickass, the atmosphere was laid-back and welcoming, and I saw a wonderful show at the Orlando Shakespeare Company.

I also went shopping at an Outlet mall that was 3 times the size of Crabtree Valley Mall.  I may or may not have pushed aside my general dislike of shopping to peruse the outlet stores of Adidas, Journeys, and Forever 21.  I purchased my first official pair of converse (gray), two pairs of cute dress pants, and a polka dot shirt - you know how I feel about polka dots.  :)

On Saturday I checked out Lazy Moon Pizza at the suggestion of Margaret Ellen, and saw some of the UCF campus - they offer an MFA in Acting.  Hmmm.

Then I skated over to Orlando Skakes to see if I could get a ticket at the student rush price.  I scored hardcore - a $10 ticket for a FRONT ROW SEAT.  The show was excellent and made me want to work there.  Made me want to live there.

We'll see.   :)

Weekend/Week/Weekend Update from Florence, SC :)

It's been a busy time and I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while.

I was in Raleigh this past weekend and week, catching up with people and absorbing their positive energy and enjoying every moment of privacy I could steal.  I saw a bunch of theatre (you'd think I'd be sick of it by now) and ate at Gypsy's 3 times!!!!!  I'm lame.  :)

Still editing the video from my day o' fun with Will Stutts  - look for that soon!

I've actually just wrapped up a lovely weekend.

Saturday morning I performed at the Tryon's Children Theatre - an event over 30-years old where many different types of acts come and perform: from jugglers to mimes to ventriloquists.  We shared our space with the best ventriloquist I've ever seen in my life.  Too cool.  We performed in an art-house movie theatre, very similar in design and vibe to the Rialto Theatre of Raleigh - Truly Awesome, except that I fell on my ass (yes, literally) both shows.  Well, God has to keep us humble.  :)

Tryon Theatre - The slipperiest theatre thus far!

Our show was well-received; the Prince jokes were greatly appreciated by the adults in the audience.  :)  We also got to participate in the parade; they closed down the street in front of the Fine Arts Building and we walked behind a banner and waved at children.  It was one of the most adorable things I've ever been a part of.

Then I continued my adventure to Greenville - a mere 40 minutes from Tryon - to meet the divinely lovely Meghan Meier!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd told her I just wanted to go to Barley's for pizza; the rest of the activities were up to her.  We traveled to Simpsonville to celebrate one of her friend's birthday, and played on the swing set in the backyard.  She took me to see the house that she's closing on the end of the month, and then we were off to downtown to participate in the Google event.  The city of Greenville asked people to come downtown Saturday night to gather in the park and spell out the word 'Google' with red, blue, and green glow sticks in an effort to get Google to bring their fiber optic network there.  It was amusing making fun of the people who were a little too excited/enthusiastic to spell, but when all 2500 volunteers did the wave, I've gotta admit, it was a sight to see. It was a really fun, once-in-a-lifetime thing to do in downtown Greenville.

I'm in the big G, part of the tab part!

Having walked around all evening, Meghan and I decided to ride a rickshaw to Barley's.  (As many times as I've wanted to ride one in downtown Raleigh, I find it amusing that the first one I ride is in a town I'm visiting.) Pizza was kickass as usual, but we were exhausted as ever, so instead of getting into more trouble we decided to head home.  After a pathetic attempt to watch Bedknobs & Broomsticks, we settled into sleep.

I slept really well.  And I actually got enough.  I REALLY needed that.

Sunday was brunch at an uppity place called High Cotton.  Wasn't sure if they were actually going to let me in -  I mean, it was South Carolina, and I was wearing jeans - but it was a pretty fancy schmancy place.  The food was eh.  It was okay, I guess.

Then Meghan and I finally sat our butts down in her living room and watched Bedknobs & Broomsticks.  Being that it was the 25th anniversary DVD edition, there were many deleted songs added back into the final cut.  They should've left them out, quite frankly; the editor has a job for a reason.

And now, I am back on tour - the final stretch.  13 days to be precise, with as many performances.  We're basically going in one big circle:  Columbia, SC to Orlando, FL to Tifton, Ga to Cumming, GA to Columbia, SC and then back to Asheville.  I'm planning to treat myself to a LEGENDARY drive home; I've most definitely earned the right to control my travel destiny for a day of awesome.

Stay Tuned!!!

Weekend Wrap-Up From Columbia, SC :)

First week of tour:  DONE!

Despite the snow, we got in 7 solid performances of The Life of Frederick Douglass.  All of the sponsors we've met thus far have been very welcoming and enthusiastic about the show - and every single one of them has given us something free - either a memento(like an Obama tote bag) or buying us lunch.  It's been a lovely first week with very appreciative audiences.

On Friday, we performed in Wadesboro, NC, located in Anson County.  We performed for the high school freshman(tough crowd) and for the 7th and 8th graders at the middle school.  Both of these shows were performed in the school's gym; neither of the school's have an auditorium.  Furthermore, there isn't a theatre in the entire county.  Hearing this made me grateful for the opportunities I've had.  I can't imagine how different my high school experience would have been had there hadn't been a theatre program.  My "drama club" not only offered me a place to escape from the unfortunate parts of high school, but it also provided me with a platform to ulneash all of my creative energy.

I recall how I used to complain that students in WCPSS now were so lucky to have so many more opportunities than I did, but these shows reminded me how blessed I was to be exposed to the arts at a young age, or even at all.

If you would, tell me how developed (if at all) your theatre/arts programming was in public school.  I'm curious to hear what people's experiences were like.

Next up:  GEORGIA!

alwayslove.
Lorma Doone :)

City #1: The Acorn City - Raleigh?

I write this from my Mom's bedroom in Raleigh, NC.  I guess this is what you call full circle.

Snow has not been good to this tour thus far.

My tour partner and I arrived in Raleigh around 1:30 this afternoon, and as I pulled onto my block I did not have a good feeling about the odds of us performing in Wake County.  My block is covered in ice, and several bus routes travel through this neighborhood.

Around 6pm, Wake County announced they're closing schools for the third straight day.   :(

On Wednesday, we travel to Robbins, NC, which apparently does not have to shut down for 5 days because of precipitation.

Hope to give a full report on our FIRST SHOW tomorrow.

(Maybe we had to come to the Acorn city for luck before starting our journey?)

Love to all.  :)

Day 1 Wrap Up

Chilling here at the Bright Star actor house in Asheville. Pictures to come.

Today was rehearsal from 10 - 5, followed by a 30 minute nap, followed by a documentary about Fredrick Douglass.

In an hour or so I will start line review.

This week will be probably be the hardest the entire tour. We have to get 2 shows to performance quality in 5 days. We blocked Once Upon a Time today, which is the longer of the two pieces and the more complicated one, as far as character, costumes, and plot. Comedy is always harder, y'all. ;)

Not sure how much I'll be able to update this week. The internet here is temperamental and I do expect most of my off-time will be spent doing line work - or reading one of Fredrick Douglass' 2 autobiographies.

alwayslove.
Lorma Doone :)