Peachy Keen, Jellybean

     I apologize for the almost month-long silence over here on the blog. I was completely overwhelmed with James And The Giant Peach. I loved my character and enjoyed being a physical, comedic actor, but I would lie if I said the rehearsal process and performance schedule wasn't taxing. It absolutely was.   I had bruises all over my body (still do, actually) and allergies and fatigue had affected my voice. It probably wasn't too noticeable and I'm probably being too hard on myself but I hate feeling like I'm doing less-than-my-best work. Sometimes (most of the time) you don't get the luxury of an understudy and a day of rest and you have to push through two-show days, rude audiences on their cell phones, and illness running rampant through the cast. But I really did love it overall. Now that I've had some time away from it I definitely miss it. I know the kids in the show had a great experience too and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. The sad truth is that I don't know when I will be doing a musical comedy again. It might be a long time. (I hope not!) So I'm glad I stayed as positive as I could and that this show has me filled with great memories.

 (Above photos by the lovely Heather Canterbury)

For now I am focusing on teaching kiddos, which will occupy my entire summer. I have a class right now of five 7-8 year-olds and they are a lot to handle, I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to handle about a hundred more! But they are sweet kids and it makes me happy knowing I am helping them gain confidence in themselves and guiding them to be creative little people. I have a few more weeks before I'm full-time teaching, so I really have to find some things to do to keep my occupied. Should I clean my apartment? Of course. Am I going to? Very unlikely. Hopefully I will get some bike time in before the weather is so unbearable that biking would be suicide. Arkansas summer, I am not prepared for you in the least. Have pity on this poor Jersey girl.

Here are some recent off-stage moments.

I took far too many pictures of myself as the worm. I might have been a little obsessed.

On his big 3-0 Jeremy arrived to the green room to find a pretty wonderful birthday cake made by the boy playing James. Biggest sweethearts ever, both of them.

Accurate Centipede cake with 42 (not 100) pairs of boots, dragon flesh (well aged, not fresh), a beetle with just a splash of vinegar, and noodles made from poodles on a slice of garden hose.

The old-people bugs.

The insects.

Ex-Billy Goats drinking Goats do Roam wine.

Just a quick catch up

 Currently:

 Anticipating...  I'm really excited that James and The Giant Peach is coming together and really anticipating when we can start running the show in it's entirety and watch all the magical elements come to life. Trying to do it on a bare stage with no "peach" has been fun but I think the whole play will change drastically when we have the full set.

Reading... How To Be A Working Actor - Mari Lyn Henry & Lynne Rogers

 Relieved About... I'm crazy relieved that I have a restaurant job for supplemental income to get me through the break between contracts coming up. I'm relieved there was a mistake on my income taxes and I don't have to pay estimated for next year. I still get anxious and stressed but I've been trying to stay grounded.

Watching... Just finished watching The Extra Man, which I enjoyed very much. Watching Kevin Kline perform is like sitting in on a master class. I've also been catching up on Arrested Development in anticipation of the new season starting in May!

 Craving... Primo's water ice and ice cream. Nothing I've tasted anywhere in the country compares to the little ice cream stand in my home town.

And now a little photo catch-up:

View from my grandparents back patio.

Splash Mountain with Mom!

American Idol Experience.

Aren't my Grandparents adorable?

Things I Learned On Tour

The picture isn't blurry, that's just what the sunrise looks like when you're up that early.

So Friday was my last day of touring for this season and I am very happy to be done that part of my job. It was rewarding but exhausting and I'm ready for a few days of rest and a trip to visit my Mom and Grandparents before tackling James And The Giant Peach. (Which I am super pumped for!!)
So I made this list and I thought I'd share with you some things I learned on tour.

SOME THINGS I LEARNED ON TOUR:

1. If a line in the play is "Y'all like stories?" a child sitting front and center WILL scream out at the top of his lungs, "I LIKE TRANSFORMERS!!!" and proceed to make you crack up for the next ten minutes while you are trying in vain to go on with your lines and stay in character.

2. Signing autographs will probably never get old. I was that kid when I was little and I remember how much it meant to me.

3. Finding a comfortable way to nap in a captains chair that does not recline in the van is a talent and a skill.

4. Throw pillows are wonderful travel companions.

5. A Styrofoam cooler might not be great for the environment, but it is a luxury in the van.

6. I will never perform for a tougher audience than middle school aged kids who were clearly too cool and too old to see these weird actor people dance around and sing like idiots. It felt like doing a play in front of my graduating class of high school. I'm talking nightmare material, people. But if I can confront those demons with as much grace as I can, then I can do anything.

7. The calories in Pop Tarts, Starbucks Frappe Drinks, and Doritos absolutely do not count while on tour.

8. Trying to maintain gas station etiquette when you are clearly in there just to pee. My tip is to just look like a hot damn mess and nobody will approach you. Check!

9. Some 11 year old boy might start a fight and cry in the audience (that's 3 feet away from you) because he wasn't picked to come on-stage and act like a chicken for about 30 seconds.

10. I've learned what NOT to send my child to school wearing. (Particularly, I would not dress up my obese daughter in a light purple Cookie Monster shirt with the word NOM emblazoned on it paired with sweatpants the color of said Muppet. Just SINFUL.)

11. As tough as this is, I still love it and want to do it again. And again. And again.

Looking Forward

Hi there! It always feels good when I actually have time to update y'all on here. This week is my last week on tour!!! Next I will be working on James and The Giant Peach so my hours will be far more consistent and I will most likely have a little more down time. With this being the last stretch of tour, I am excited to give my poor back muscles a break and prepare for the end of the season. I actually got to thinking about all of the stuff I have to look forward to that will also keep me going this week.

Things I'm Looking Forward To (To distract myself from my 6:15am call for the next two days):

- Nicer weather that means more bike rides, walks, and runs around my apartment and downtown.

- More time to read! I bought a ton of plays at the library's used book sale last week and I am determined to actually read them instead of allow them to gather dust on my shelf until I dust them off again for a future student (hopefully).

- The farmers market will be back soon!! So excited to be able to get fresh, locally grown produce just a few blocks away and not rely on Walmart for my produce. (It felt a little sad just typing that fact.)

- Hopefully being better with my money and making a little bit more in the coming months.

- Booked my first REAL role (I mentioned I wanted to do this on my 25 before 25 list!!!) so that is happening in September and I'm floored.

- Getting more calls/emails about work. (Just had to put that out into the universe. Who knows? It might work!)

- I'm going to be teaching improv and acting this summer, and I am excited for the opportunity to grow as a teaching artist. I want to become better and learn from the kids as much as they will hopefully learn from me. I've already begun to do this with my improv class this semester but I know I am still very green. I fully plan on being a theater teacher down the road and I want to get as much experience as possible. Probably reading some more books probably wouldn't hurt.


Okay. Enough of my blabbering. Here's some photos to update you on the past couple of weeks:

Proof I was on the Rock N Roll Highway.

Shoes I was so close to thrifting. Definite regret.

Another thrift store find I left behind. This stein combines two of my loves, beer and owls. GO TEMPLE!

I did however take home this awesome tin of 70s metal coasters. It's kind of a weird thing to collect, but now I have 2 sets of coasters from that era. (Ignore the fact that I don't actually use them for my drinks)

A lot of times the best part of my day is just hanging out with Sinovia in her office.

This cat ran into the school we were loading into and Garrett had to grab it and take it outside. The cat kept trying to evade him and get in during our load in!

It was cold. Poor Kitteh!

I know New Jersey has farms, but I've never seen this much livestock out in my life in any other state I've travelled to so far. I freak out like a little kid when I see anything with four legs outside the van window.

Passed this little store several times this season while on tour.

Not gonna miss this view. 5 am call time comes very early!

It's cool when your friends let you borrow their dogs. Reminds me of home.

Sunrises and Furry Friends

Howdy! Long due for an update. Two weekends ago Jillian, Garret and I drove to Memphis for UPTA. I felt much more prepared and relaxed than last year and am pretty satisfied with the outcome. I also got to see some beautiful faces from back home. I had a lot of fun but am glad the stressful part is over. Now it's just the waiting game while I have my fingers crossed for some good contracts this next year!!

We've been traveling a lot with the tour and have been having a really good time. We survived our first two show day, so hopefully this marathon of shows starting tomorrow won't be as bad as previously thought. I've also have had a lot of down time to go on adventures around the city! And now, for a slew of photos.

It's UPTA time!

Temple Reunion UPTA style.

So happy the stressful part is over!

I sneakily took this on our way to an early morning call. They are pretty adorbs.

A beautiful view of the sunrise from our van.

Been spending a bunch of time with this little nugget, Ripley.

Finally got to see Adam Faucett and The Tall Grass play. I've been obsessed for months. Sarah, you need to check him out.

Found some awesome stuff in this antique store.

Terrifying, sad doll shoved in a corner. Probably for good reason.

Another pretty sunrise.
 

Met Snap the goat at our last show!!

Feel like Mrs. Doubtfire every day on this tour.

Fort building at 24 is awesome (especially when whiskey and puppies are involved).

Fort Building Team!