We traveled out of Utah, the state that helped inspire a brilliant Broadway Musical (Book of Mormon), and into Washington, the state that inspired the most brilliant movie series in recent history (Twilight). Hate all you want, but... Team Edward. Not to be overlooked are the two states we traveled through to get here, Idaho and Montana. These two states don't get enough credit for their beauty- speaking for myself, I had heard very little about the landscape of these states, especially Montana. I was expecting vast nothingness. What I got was... well... yes, vast nothingness at times, but in the form of beautiful flat lands with snow-capped mountains in the background. We wound our way around mountains, between cattle farms, and through a brief patch of that beautiful white stuff falling from the sky. Our two day trek was split up by an overnight stay in Missoula, Montana. Wait. You've never heard of Missoula, Montana? Join the club! What are you missing out on? Well... casinos. Casinos in gas stations, casinos in sports bars, "casinos" anywhere you can fit a slot machine.
We rolled into the great state of Washington on Tuesday, early enough to get out an explore a bit! The weather was pretty cliche for Washington... rainy and cold. It was a great afternoon to grab a hot cup of coffee and take a walk. Our hotel is very near the downtown area of Spokane, and between the hotel and downtown lies the Spokane Falls. The lay of the land is beautiful here- the mountains surrounding the city, the river running through, and the historical buildings and churches within the city. It was great to have most of Tuesday and the beginning part of Wednesday to explore the city and pick up some groceries. I even had a chance to talk with some of the locals and, ya know, they aren't too bad for Seahawks fans! Riverfront Park, right across from our hotel, was being set up with Christmas lights as I walked through on Wednesday. All sorts of Christmas trees, reindeer, Santa Claus figures, and snowmen were scattered throughout the park. The increasing Christmas spirit was quite obvious at the mall downtown, evidenced by a two-story Christmas tree, complete with a photo op with Santa! I almost had to remind myself that Thanksgiving was the next day because everything I was seeing was pumping me full of Christmas cheer!
I am having consistent bad luck with opportunities to see collegiate or professional sports in any of these cities. I didn't realize before we got here, but Spokane happens to be home to one of the more uniquely named colleges in the nation. This is a team I always picked to win in the first round of the NCAA March Madness tournament solely because of their name. This would be none other than... GONZAGA. Pretty cool to read, huh? Even more fun to say. You said it, right? Felt good, right? Yeah, unfortunately I left New York for Spokane as the Gonzaga team decided to do the exact opposite.
The INB Performing Arts Center was our home for the week. A beautiful 2,800 seat theaters on the same block as the hotel, this was one of the biggest theaters on the tour so far. We took the tour, found our dressing rooms, spaced out major numbers appropriately, and prepared for yet another run! This week would ONLY be 8 shows, seeming like quite the blessing after so many consecutive 10-show weeks! Our opener brought us one of the best audiences we have had, which only makes the show more fun for us. A great, energized, focus show was a great way to kick off the week. What was strange, but nice about this week was the Thanksgiving break. Off Monday and Tuesday, show on Wednesday, then off again to take in Turkey Day!
This Thanksgiving was one of the more difficult, but simultaneously one of the more rewarding. This was the second Thanksgiving I have spent away from home. And though Skype is a marvelous invention, it can't replicate the feeling of being home. I would have given anything to hug the family, stir the cranberry sauce, laugh at the same jokes, and dig into the traditional pumpkin pie. That being said, this year brought some pretty amazing opportunities to show me all there is to be thankful for. A group of us started the day by volunteering at the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). This was an incredible opportunity to give back to some amazing men and women. This meant something even more special to me as I thought about my Grandpa Hart and remembering his service to our country. Serving them lunch, speaking with them, singing to them, it was all such a gift. It felt good to do some giving on Thanksgiving. It was obvious by the looks on the faces that we were blessing people. People shuffled in and out, some left quickly while others mingled and came back for seconds (and thirds). After a few hours, the group of Grinchers headed back to the hotel. The rest of the day was reserved for football and food. LOTS of football and food. There was a ballroom reserved at the hotel for us, filled with all of the traditional Thanksgiving menu items you could hope to find. Turkey, ham, potatoes, cranberry sauce, and of course... PUMPKIN PIE. Cast and crew trickled in, clean cut and well dressed- keeping it classy this Thanksgiving. With enough food to induce the traditional coma and plenty of smiles and conversation to go around, it turned out to be a great day. The day was capped off by a marathon of card-playing, the beloved Midwestern game of Euchre to be exact. Though away from family, this Thanksgiving left me with full stomach and heart.
Everyone seemed to do the smart thing and give into the food coma. An early night for most, anticipating back-to-back three show days! After the whirlwind of those two days, it was suddenly our last day in Spokane! I woke up early and went to church with a couple of fellow cast members. The day kept rolling with another performance, and then of course the Packer game! After a long day (and long week), I find myself packing for Seattle all of a Sudden! The weeks are going faster and faster! There always seems to be so much time to go explore when we get in on Monday or Tuesday, but that time sure fills up fast when we start performing. I am thankful for the time we had here! But now it's on to another city- a city I have always wanted to see for myself! Seattle and Denver are the two cities I have been warned about... warned that I may not want to leave them. EVER. Excited to see some friends in Seattle and see what the city has to offer.
Maybe it's the recent holiday, or maybe it's just that time in tour, but the week has shed perspective on what there is to be thankful for. I'm thankful for this tour, a tour that happened at just the right time and in just the right way. I'm thankful for the people I am surrounded by. Theatre people are a special breed and come in many different shapes, sizes, and types. All of them love what they do and offer dynamic personalities to learn from. Fortunately or unfortunately, in every situation in which people are in this kind of bubble for an extended period of time, some people drift apart as people find their "circles". A nugget I have learned by spending approximately my ENTIRE LIFE in the theatre: These circles will always form and that is okay. People with common interests, goals, needs, and personality traits will find each other. The trick is to stay true and naturally find the energies and personalities that put you and keep you your most positive and truthful self. Don't try to be something that you are not to fit in, and more importantly... do not let people make you think you are something you are not and make you think you're missing out by not "fitting in". One of the best life lessons I learned was from a theatre workshop, in which I was taught: You know more about yourself than anybody else. You know who you are. Embrace it. Embrace the people who embrace it. Move forward from the people who choose not to. I am thankful to be surrounded by a small group of people that I really connect with. I'm being blessed with deepening bonds with these friends, discovering common interests, developing trust, growing and learning from them. I am ever-thankful for a family that never stops loving, never stops supporting, never lets me forget where I came from and how to stay true to myself. And thankful for a God that doesn't change. Whether I am in New York, Wisconsin, or Missoula Montana... I feel that unwavering Love and Grace in my life. That comforting Support, that warm Wave of Forgiveness, that Strong Hand to lead me forward. Truly blessed and duly grateful.
We rolled into the great state of Washington on Tuesday, early enough to get out an explore a bit! The weather was pretty cliche for Washington... rainy and cold. It was a great afternoon to grab a hot cup of coffee and take a walk. Our hotel is very near the downtown area of Spokane, and between the hotel and downtown lies the Spokane Falls. The lay of the land is beautiful here- the mountains surrounding the city, the river running through, and the historical buildings and churches within the city. It was great to have most of Tuesday and the beginning part of Wednesday to explore the city and pick up some groceries. I even had a chance to talk with some of the locals and, ya know, they aren't too bad for Seahawks fans! Riverfront Park, right across from our hotel, was being set up with Christmas lights as I walked through on Wednesday. All sorts of Christmas trees, reindeer, Santa Claus figures, and snowmen were scattered throughout the park. The increasing Christmas spirit was quite obvious at the mall downtown, evidenced by a two-story Christmas tree, complete with a photo op with Santa! I almost had to remind myself that Thanksgiving was the next day because everything I was seeing was pumping me full of Christmas cheer!
I am having consistent bad luck with opportunities to see collegiate or professional sports in any of these cities. I didn't realize before we got here, but Spokane happens to be home to one of the more uniquely named colleges in the nation. This is a team I always picked to win in the first round of the NCAA March Madness tournament solely because of their name. This would be none other than... GONZAGA. Pretty cool to read, huh? Even more fun to say. You said it, right? Felt good, right? Yeah, unfortunately I left New York for Spokane as the Gonzaga team decided to do the exact opposite.
The INB Performing Arts Center was our home for the week. A beautiful 2,800 seat theaters on the same block as the hotel, this was one of the biggest theaters on the tour so far. We took the tour, found our dressing rooms, spaced out major numbers appropriately, and prepared for yet another run! This week would ONLY be 8 shows, seeming like quite the blessing after so many consecutive 10-show weeks! Our opener brought us one of the best audiences we have had, which only makes the show more fun for us. A great, energized, focus show was a great way to kick off the week. What was strange, but nice about this week was the Thanksgiving break. Off Monday and Tuesday, show on Wednesday, then off again to take in Turkey Day!
This Thanksgiving was one of the more difficult, but simultaneously one of the more rewarding. This was the second Thanksgiving I have spent away from home. And though Skype is a marvelous invention, it can't replicate the feeling of being home. I would have given anything to hug the family, stir the cranberry sauce, laugh at the same jokes, and dig into the traditional pumpkin pie. That being said, this year brought some pretty amazing opportunities to show me all there is to be thankful for. A group of us started the day by volunteering at the local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars). This was an incredible opportunity to give back to some amazing men and women. This meant something even more special to me as I thought about my Grandpa Hart and remembering his service to our country. Serving them lunch, speaking with them, singing to them, it was all such a gift. It felt good to do some giving on Thanksgiving. It was obvious by the looks on the faces that we were blessing people. People shuffled in and out, some left quickly while others mingled and came back for seconds (and thirds). After a few hours, the group of Grinchers headed back to the hotel. The rest of the day was reserved for football and food. LOTS of football and food. There was a ballroom reserved at the hotel for us, filled with all of the traditional Thanksgiving menu items you could hope to find. Turkey, ham, potatoes, cranberry sauce, and of course... PUMPKIN PIE. Cast and crew trickled in, clean cut and well dressed- keeping it classy this Thanksgiving. With enough food to induce the traditional coma and plenty of smiles and conversation to go around, it turned out to be a great day. The day was capped off by a marathon of card-playing, the beloved Midwestern game of Euchre to be exact. Though away from family, this Thanksgiving left me with full stomach and heart.
Everyone seemed to do the smart thing and give into the food coma. An early night for most, anticipating back-to-back three show days! After the whirlwind of those two days, it was suddenly our last day in Spokane! I woke up early and went to church with a couple of fellow cast members. The day kept rolling with another performance, and then of course the Packer game! After a long day (and long week), I find myself packing for Seattle all of a Sudden! The weeks are going faster and faster! There always seems to be so much time to go explore when we get in on Monday or Tuesday, but that time sure fills up fast when we start performing. I am thankful for the time we had here! But now it's on to another city- a city I have always wanted to see for myself! Seattle and Denver are the two cities I have been warned about... warned that I may not want to leave them. EVER. Excited to see some friends in Seattle and see what the city has to offer.
Maybe it's the recent holiday, or maybe it's just that time in tour, but the week has shed perspective on what there is to be thankful for. I'm thankful for this tour, a tour that happened at just the right time and in just the right way. I'm thankful for the people I am surrounded by. Theatre people are a special breed and come in many different shapes, sizes, and types. All of them love what they do and offer dynamic personalities to learn from. Fortunately or unfortunately, in every situation in which people are in this kind of bubble for an extended period of time, some people drift apart as people find their "circles". A nugget I have learned by spending approximately my ENTIRE LIFE in the theatre: These circles will always form and that is okay. People with common interests, goals, needs, and personality traits will find each other. The trick is to stay true and naturally find the energies and personalities that put you and keep you your most positive and truthful self. Don't try to be something that you are not to fit in, and more importantly... do not let people make you think you are something you are not and make you think you're missing out by not "fitting in". One of the best life lessons I learned was from a theatre workshop, in which I was taught: You know more about yourself than anybody else. You know who you are. Embrace it. Embrace the people who embrace it. Move forward from the people who choose not to. I am thankful to be surrounded by a small group of people that I really connect with. I'm being blessed with deepening bonds with these friends, discovering common interests, developing trust, growing and learning from them. I am ever-thankful for a family that never stops loving, never stops supporting, never lets me forget where I came from and how to stay true to myself. And thankful for a God that doesn't change. Whether I am in New York, Wisconsin, or Missoula Montana... I feel that unwavering Love and Grace in my life. That comforting Support, that warm Wave of Forgiveness, that Strong Hand to lead me forward. Truly blessed and duly grateful.