It's been a transformative month. I can hardly believe that it was only a month ago that I was walking around in Whoville, and now we're a couple weeks into the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers National Tour! In the past 30 days, I have stayed in 15 different cities and have had the awesome privelege of performing for roughly 25,000 people. I could write pages upon pages expressing the level of humility and gratitude in my heart and it still wouldn't scratch the surface. I've said a lot of goodbye's and hello's, experiencing just about every emotion a human can experience.
Today I am bound for Las Vegas. No, I didn't dedicate my life to slot machines and craps... My career choice alone fulfills a lifetime of gambling needs. The tour, which started in the grand state of Arkansas, has journeyed through Texas, Arizona, and California. Now we find ourselves on a pilgramage to Wyoming, another state I can cross off the bucket list.
A few highlights thus far:
Rehearsing in Lancaster, PA was very nostalgic. It was great to be greeted by familiar faces and to meet many new ones. About half the cast returned from our original run last March, which greatly assisted the task of putting this show up in 5 days (not including tech).
I was lucky to be reunited with my East coast parents, as they have affectionately come to be known. Jeff and Lisa, whom I had met a few years ago while performing at Quisisana in Maine, welcomed myself and some cast mates to have dinner at their home in Lancaster. It's this kind of "home away from home" feeling that makes gypsy life manageable.
10 days after the arrival in Lancaster, we were at the end of our tech process in Alma, Arkansas and previewing the show for 1,000 high school students at 8:50... A.M.! What?!?! Who's alive at that hour? I think the show happened that morning, but it's all a blur at this point.
The show opened in Arkansas with great response! By the grace of God, we had pulled together a solid show in 10 days with 15 new cast members! I felt so proud of the work they had put in and excited to be touring this show with people with that kind of work ethic and passion! From Alma, we performed in: Texas (Longview and Midland), Arizona (Queen Creek and Coolidge), and California (Arroyo Grande and Bakersfield).
I was thrilled to have friends in the audience in Queen Creek and in Bakersfield! Amazed that people drove significant distances to come and support this show! Between Grinch and 7 Brides, I have been able to re-connect with so many great friends and family!
This has been a skimming of the journey so far- we've only just begun, so there will be plenty more to report :)