If you would have asked me last year where I'd be for my 25th Birthday, I don't think Springfield, MO would be at the top of the list. And then if you told me I'd be in Springfield, MO for my 25th Birthday, there's no way I would guess it would be for such an incredible reason. Today has been everything I could have hoped for. Even though I had to leave NYC this morning, I was still able to be with Savannah on my Birthday. I was then able to celebrate by hopping on a plane bound for St. Louis for the beginning of the amazing adventure that is the Grinch Tour. Although going through the hassle of security and lack of legroom when traveling are not awesome, being sung to by a plane full of people and receiving a high-five runway more than made up for it. I even received a huge bag of peanuts and a free beer! Felt more like a Brewers game than a flight, which I was okay with. Getting into St. Louis was great, yet brief. Saw the arch for about 10 seconds out of the plane window, walked by a lot of Cardinals fan apparel, and that was my St. Louis fix. We were immediately shuffling our luggage to the bus, which would be taking us to our final destination (for now): Springfield, Missouri. We made a brief pit stop, at which I happened to come across my oh so favorite snack... WISCONSIN CHEESE! As if my Birthday hadn't already been great enough! After a brief nap and a cast viewing of "Hocus Pocus" on the bus, we arrived in the heart of Missouri State University. We had just enough time to drop off our bags at the hotel and head over to the theatre. Ever since I was a kid, seeing different theatres, traveling to NYC and seeing Broadway shows, touring places like the Appleton PAC and seeing the backstage areas and the view of the house from onstage... I dreamed of performing in a theatre like that. Today, on my 25th birthday, I saw that dream come true! Sometimes in life, you get really excited and wanna pee your pants, but then you realize you can't because you have to look like an adult and also, you realize you no longer wear pull-ups. However, butterflies were going crazy and goosebumps were forming as we toured the backstage area of the theatre. I almost felt as if I were being allowed into a secret area, off limits, forbidden, etc. Then stepping onto the stage and seeing this... a feeling I had anticipated for years did not disappoint. Every day, I am overcome with a new level of humility and gratitude! This is just the beginning, but I am already having the time of my life. Couldn't have written the story better myself to see a childhood dream come true on my 25th Birthday! Walking into this theatre, seeing poster for our show, it's all making it such a reality! Although tech will be looooong and require a lot of work, it's all worth it to be able to share this show with an audience in a few days! Loving the people, the experience, the show, taking in every minute. Sometimes you just know you're in the middle of an experience that you'll talk about forever, that you'll remember vividly forever- I'm in it. I'll remember and cherish these people and these places- I cannot wait to continue making new and exciting memories every day! |