Out of the mountains and into the... mountains. Trading in the rusty desert mountains of New Mexico for the famous frosted skiing mountains of Utah! We flew into Salt Lake City just as the Sun was setting over the mountains, adding to the already majestic landscape. There was no daylight left by time we boarded the bus to the hotel, which allowed us to take in the lights of downtown Salt Lake City. I had no idea of the view I was missing out on until the following morning. I had breakfast, hit the gym, and did some reading before I finally opened the curtain in the room. When I did open the curtain, I just couldn't believe how breathtaking this city is. I've seen mountains filled with pines out in Maine, and recently the rustic landscape of New Mexico, but these mountains are quite different. There's a certain indescribable elegance to them, the way they flow along the horizon, the way their beauty changes every time the sunlight shifts.
We unpacked Monday night and grabbed some food from a local treasure called "Red Iguana". This is a place known for its authentic Mexican food, specifically their mole (moh-lay) sauces. There are two locations within 3 blocks of each other, each one with at least a half hour wait... so I figured they must be doing something right. They didn't disappoint- just what I needed to cap off a long travel day.
We had the next day to explore the city, grab some groceries, and prepare ourselves for a week in a new city. That evening was the weekly event I've come to treasure most... the introduction of a new theater. There was something special about this particular place. So far, we've been in some pretty large venues, all beautiful in their own way. However, this was the first place we stepped into that I felt like home. I noticed right away the eerie resemblance to the Grand Opera House in Oshkosh, the theater I had grown up with. The similarities were staggering- the color and feel of the seats, the chandelier, the pristine artwork on the ceilings, the layout of the balcony and the light booth up top. When the house lights went out, the silhouette of the theater brought me a comforting familiarity. When performing out to the audience, I picked the same visual horizon I always fixed my eyes on at the Grand- the doors at the back of the first level, just below the balcony. All of these things connected me to a place responsible for growing and nurturing my passion for theatre. Looking up to the balcony here in Salt Lake, I can vividly remember watching various dress rehearsals and performances in an identical balcony seat at the Grand as a kid, House Right just above the staircase leading to the balcony. Here, at the Capitol Theater, we brought Whoville to life yet again. We soldiered through another 10 shows, and exploring as much of the city as possible in between.
Many experiences we had here in Utah were centered around the all encompassing Mormon religion. We walked to Temple Square, which is set just off of the major tabernacle. The tabernacle and the surrounding buildings are so regal and historic looking- it looks like a huge castle in the middle of the downtown. There are fountains everywhere, all of which seem to be symbolically connected. And everywhere there are these paper bags with lights inside- sketched onto the bags are words like "love", "hope", "faith", all translated into different languages. The lights all around and on the trees got us thinking about what this Square must look like at night! Unfortunately, they don't light the lights until the day after Thanksgiving, and we'll be long gone. We went from Temple Square up to the Capitol Building, which sits on top of a hill overlooking the city. As we climbed the steps, we avoided looking back until we reached the very top. When we got there, we turned around together and took in one amazing view. There was a slight haze below, looking like we were above the clouds. The buildings of downtown were all in plain sight and all set against a backdrop of mountains as far as the eye can see.
After taking in the view from the Capitol Building, we took the trolley to the University of Utah campus. The campus reminds me of University of Wisconsin- very clean and spread out. It has a lot of modern buildings, but yet has this cool history behind it. The city of Salt Lake in general reminds me of Madison. There’s a good amount of things to do, but it’s all kind of stretched out- it doesn’t seem like a typical crowded downtown area.
The next day, a few of us went to learn about dinosaurs and horses at the Museum of Natural History. There are many things I have kept a love for from childhood: Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, family, dairy products, the Green Bay Packers, and DINOSAURS. There was an incredible array of fossils, pictures, and tid bits of information to study. Even all of these years later, I’m still amazed by the size of those things! It makes me wish I could take some kind of indestructible vehicle into the past and see how they moved, how they behaved. It’s sad to have missed out on an entire species here on Earth. A species that I have not missed out on is that of horses, an animal the museum just happened to be highlighting with a special exhibit. I have been on a horse exactly one time, thanks to Jeff and Lisa, my friends out in Amish country (Lancaster, PA). I have to be honest, I was terrified of being on a horse, something about not having control of an animal with such speed and power. Even though I approached top speeds that would make a pony ride at the petting zoo look like the Kentucky Derby, it was an amazing experience. And now, in Salt Lake City, to learn more about how these creatures have developed over time, how they have been used by mankind, and how special the bond between a human and horse can be filled me with even more respect for them. Their intuition and need for emotional connection is really endearing, and something I never thought they possessed at such high levels.
As the weekend approached, we were preparing for another weekend in the theater. This weekend meant another 7 shows in 3 days- CRAZY! Friday and Saturday flew by- in and out of costume, back and forth to catering, and sleep somewhere in between it all. Somehow we landed at Saturday evening, slap happy and exhausted. Sleeping for 20 hours seemed like a pretty great way to go, but a group of us made plans to get up at 7:30 the following morning. What in the world could convince us to do such a thing? What does 7:30 even look like? Are people alive at that hour?
Well, it just so happens that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs every Sunday morning, and a group of us thought that it would be a shame to leave this city without seeing maybe the most historic choir in the nation. So we met in the hotel lobby at 8:15, and then boarded a shuttle bound for the tabernacle. It seems someone had called ahead and mentioned we were coming... We were ushered to a side entrance and seated in a reserved row! We had front row seats to the live broadcast of this amazing choir. We had the chance to hear them rehearse before the broadcast, and THAT was enough to make my jaw drop. After their rehearsal and before the broadcast, the members of the Grinch cast were asked to stand to be recognized. Ummmm.... WHAT??? The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is clapping for US? INSANITY! Such an unexpected and humbling moment!
Their half-hour concert was by far the highlight of any city we have been to yet. Traditional hymns were brought to life by a full orchestra, hand bell choir, and sea of male and female voices. The music they made was just beyond words- the blend of the instruments and voices, the transitions, the key changes, the waves of sound, it all combined to make the concert the most moving I have ever attended. Everyone in our group had tears in their eyes, as it was impossible to not be emotionally and spiritually taken on a journey by this music. This was more than just music. It was the joy with which they made this music that made it so inspirational. To see the community and unified purpose of lifting their instruments/voices in song was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Smiles of joy and pride to be making beautiful music for the Lord- what better way to be blessed on a Sunday in Salt Lake City? This early morning inspiration was more than enough to motor us through our final two performances in Utah.
And now, I write these experiences down while crossing the state line between Idaho and Montana. It’s off to Spokane, Washington via a night in Missoula, Montana. The craziness continues, the experiences rack up, and the holidays approach quicker than I can ever remember. Missing family and friends as Thanksgiving comes up, but realizing more than ever that physical distance is a tiny obstacle and distraction from the blessed bond of unconditional love. Love transcends all, and being challenged by that right now has allowed me to experience what it’s like to fall into that love like never before. As the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang, “When I’m tired and I can’t sleep... I’ll count my blessings instead of sheep”.
We unpacked Monday night and grabbed some food from a local treasure called "Red Iguana". This is a place known for its authentic Mexican food, specifically their mole (moh-lay) sauces. There are two locations within 3 blocks of each other, each one with at least a half hour wait... so I figured they must be doing something right. They didn't disappoint- just what I needed to cap off a long travel day.
We had the next day to explore the city, grab some groceries, and prepare ourselves for a week in a new city. That evening was the weekly event I've come to treasure most... the introduction of a new theater. There was something special about this particular place. So far, we've been in some pretty large venues, all beautiful in their own way. However, this was the first place we stepped into that I felt like home. I noticed right away the eerie resemblance to the Grand Opera House in Oshkosh, the theater I had grown up with. The similarities were staggering- the color and feel of the seats, the chandelier, the pristine artwork on the ceilings, the layout of the balcony and the light booth up top. When the house lights went out, the silhouette of the theater brought me a comforting familiarity. When performing out to the audience, I picked the same visual horizon I always fixed my eyes on at the Grand- the doors at the back of the first level, just below the balcony. All of these things connected me to a place responsible for growing and nurturing my passion for theatre. Looking up to the balcony here in Salt Lake, I can vividly remember watching various dress rehearsals and performances in an identical balcony seat at the Grand as a kid, House Right just above the staircase leading to the balcony. Here, at the Capitol Theater, we brought Whoville to life yet again. We soldiered through another 10 shows, and exploring as much of the city as possible in between.
Many experiences we had here in Utah were centered around the all encompassing Mormon religion. We walked to Temple Square, which is set just off of the major tabernacle. The tabernacle and the surrounding buildings are so regal and historic looking- it looks like a huge castle in the middle of the downtown. There are fountains everywhere, all of which seem to be symbolically connected. And everywhere there are these paper bags with lights inside- sketched onto the bags are words like "love", "hope", "faith", all translated into different languages. The lights all around and on the trees got us thinking about what this Square must look like at night! Unfortunately, they don't light the lights until the day after Thanksgiving, and we'll be long gone. We went from Temple Square up to the Capitol Building, which sits on top of a hill overlooking the city. As we climbed the steps, we avoided looking back until we reached the very top. When we got there, we turned around together and took in one amazing view. There was a slight haze below, looking like we were above the clouds. The buildings of downtown were all in plain sight and all set against a backdrop of mountains as far as the eye can see.
After taking in the view from the Capitol Building, we took the trolley to the University of Utah campus. The campus reminds me of University of Wisconsin- very clean and spread out. It has a lot of modern buildings, but yet has this cool history behind it. The city of Salt Lake in general reminds me of Madison. There’s a good amount of things to do, but it’s all kind of stretched out- it doesn’t seem like a typical crowded downtown area.
The next day, a few of us went to learn about dinosaurs and horses at the Museum of Natural History. There are many things I have kept a love for from childhood: Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, family, dairy products, the Green Bay Packers, and DINOSAURS. There was an incredible array of fossils, pictures, and tid bits of information to study. Even all of these years later, I’m still amazed by the size of those things! It makes me wish I could take some kind of indestructible vehicle into the past and see how they moved, how they behaved. It’s sad to have missed out on an entire species here on Earth. A species that I have not missed out on is that of horses, an animal the museum just happened to be highlighting with a special exhibit. I have been on a horse exactly one time, thanks to Jeff and Lisa, my friends out in Amish country (Lancaster, PA). I have to be honest, I was terrified of being on a horse, something about not having control of an animal with such speed and power. Even though I approached top speeds that would make a pony ride at the petting zoo look like the Kentucky Derby, it was an amazing experience. And now, in Salt Lake City, to learn more about how these creatures have developed over time, how they have been used by mankind, and how special the bond between a human and horse can be filled me with even more respect for them. Their intuition and need for emotional connection is really endearing, and something I never thought they possessed at such high levels.
As the weekend approached, we were preparing for another weekend in the theater. This weekend meant another 7 shows in 3 days- CRAZY! Friday and Saturday flew by- in and out of costume, back and forth to catering, and sleep somewhere in between it all. Somehow we landed at Saturday evening, slap happy and exhausted. Sleeping for 20 hours seemed like a pretty great way to go, but a group of us made plans to get up at 7:30 the following morning. What in the world could convince us to do such a thing? What does 7:30 even look like? Are people alive at that hour?
Well, it just so happens that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs every Sunday morning, and a group of us thought that it would be a shame to leave this city without seeing maybe the most historic choir in the nation. So we met in the hotel lobby at 8:15, and then boarded a shuttle bound for the tabernacle. It seems someone had called ahead and mentioned we were coming... We were ushered to a side entrance and seated in a reserved row! We had front row seats to the live broadcast of this amazing choir. We had the chance to hear them rehearse before the broadcast, and THAT was enough to make my jaw drop. After their rehearsal and before the broadcast, the members of the Grinch cast were asked to stand to be recognized. Ummmm.... WHAT??? The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is clapping for US? INSANITY! Such an unexpected and humbling moment!
Their half-hour concert was by far the highlight of any city we have been to yet. Traditional hymns were brought to life by a full orchestra, hand bell choir, and sea of male and female voices. The music they made was just beyond words- the blend of the instruments and voices, the transitions, the key changes, the waves of sound, it all combined to make the concert the most moving I have ever attended. Everyone in our group had tears in their eyes, as it was impossible to not be emotionally and spiritually taken on a journey by this music. This was more than just music. It was the joy with which they made this music that made it so inspirational. To see the community and unified purpose of lifting their instruments/voices in song was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Smiles of joy and pride to be making beautiful music for the Lord- what better way to be blessed on a Sunday in Salt Lake City? This early morning inspiration was more than enough to motor us through our final two performances in Utah.
And now, I write these experiences down while crossing the state line between Idaho and Montana. It’s off to Spokane, Washington via a night in Missoula, Montana. The craziness continues, the experiences rack up, and the holidays approach quicker than I can ever remember. Missing family and friends as Thanksgiving comes up, but realizing more than ever that physical distance is a tiny obstacle and distraction from the blessed bond of unconditional love. Love transcends all, and being challenged by that right now has allowed me to experience what it’s like to fall into that love like never before. As the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang, “When I’m tired and I can’t sleep... I’ll count my blessings instead of sheep”.