Alrighty, we've done three!
So our "Opening Morning" was in Rutland, VT. At the beautiful Paramount Theater!
Seats about 850 people!
We played to about 600!
The show was super fun. Nothing beats the sound of children laughing and having a good time. After the show finished we broke down the set, packed up the vans, grabbed some lunch and headed to Burlington, VT.
Luckily, today was an easy travel day, and our hotel was only about an hour and 45 minutes from Rutland. So we were able to get to our hotel early and relax for the rest of the day.
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| Motel 6 |
I can honestly say, I am super lucky to be traveling with this fantastic group of people. These guys are top notch!
After a fun filled night of laughter, some tears shed, (by me of course), realizing that I just made an incredible group of friends and that I'm finally getting to do what I love, I hit the sack. Because grandpa was tired and we all had to be up at 6:30 a.m!
TUESDAY MORNING: 6:30 A.M.
Soooo, getting really good at this up early thing. We're all up at 6:30, we leave the hotel at 7:00, make a quick stop at the McDonald's in the parking lot of the hotel, for some coffee and breakfast and head over to the GORGEOUS Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.
And hey, we arrive at the theater and LOOK WHATS OUTSIDE!
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| Pretty darn cool!! |
But really, LOOK. AT. THIS. THEATER.
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Burlington, VT
Seats 1400 PEOPLE!
And don't worry, it was completely SOLD OUT!!!
What a thrill!!
So, normally when we get to a theater, we unload the van, and put our set together. BUT, when we got to this theater, we were SPOILED. We were greeted by about 7 INCREDIBLE and friendly stage hands who essentially unloaded our van for us. AND, get this, helped us put everything together. When we told them, it was our job to do it, they insisted on doing it for us.
Now, let me tell you something about putting these sets together. It sounds daunting, it IS daunting, but its completely idiot proof. All the bolts are color coded, put in separate bags which correspond with the different set pieces. We actually have gotten the whole process AFTER load-in to about 35 minutes of putting the set up.
Here's a few pictures of our set being put up, and a view of the stage from the audience after we set it up!!
Not too bad, huh?
We also lucked out here, and got some pretty cool lighting for the show.
So the only technical elements that we travel with are our sound system and microphones. If the theater has a sound system, we use our mics and their sound system. If not, we use our own. That being said, we do not travel with lights, so we have to use whatever the theater has available.
***Side note, my computer just restarted just after I wrote the last sentence. I just had a huge heart attack, thinking I would have to re-write this whole blog, but luckily Google saves drafts every few seconds.. PHEW!!!!!***
The show was AWESOME. When the presenter asked the children before the show if they were excited the WHOLE theater shook with the screams of the children. NOTHING can beat that feeling. We were all super pumped and had a blast. Performing for 1400 children was an indescribable feeling.
After the show, we went down to the dressing rooms to change, because we had a talkback with a group of children afterwards. And on our way up to the stage, we realized that the crew guys had already taken down the majority of our set. Talk about being spoiled. Here's a HUGE shout out to the crew guys at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.
And of course, I wouldn't let them go, without having them pose for the blog:
The talkback was super fun. The kids were a bunch of 3rd graders who were in a drama class. They were actually "working" on scenes from our show in class. We answered a bunch of questions about how we all got started as a performer, school, why we do it, and a bunch of other things.
After the talkback, we packed up the van. Before we grabbed some lunch we took a family picture under the marquee!
So we hit the road! Off to New Hampshire! After a quick hour and a half ride. We got to our hotel. And I took a NAP! And then my step-sister Dail, and my nephew Kyle came to visit. They took me out to an awesome steak dinner, and I got to spend the night at their hotel. ***Side note, my computer just restarted just after I wrote the last sentence. I just had a huge heart attack, thinking I would have to re-write this whole blog, but luckily Google saves drafts every few seconds.. PHEW!!!!!***
The show was AWESOME. When the presenter asked the children before the show if they were excited the WHOLE theater shook with the screams of the children. NOTHING can beat that feeling. We were all super pumped and had a blast. Performing for 1400 children was an indescribable feeling.
After the show, we went down to the dressing rooms to change, because we had a talkback with a group of children afterwards. And on our way up to the stage, we realized that the crew guys had already taken down the majority of our set. Talk about being spoiled. Here's a HUGE shout out to the crew guys at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.
And of course, I wouldn't let them go, without having them pose for the blog:
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| THEY ROCK!!!!!!! |
The talkback was super fun. The kids were a bunch of 3rd graders who were in a drama class. They were actually "working" on scenes from our show in class. We answered a bunch of questions about how we all got started as a performer, school, why we do it, and a bunch of other things.
After the talkback, we packed up the van. Before we grabbed some lunch we took a family picture under the marquee!
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| Evan, Natalie, Stephen, Tom, Kasie, Lucy, and Me! |
After a nice night with the step-family, I hit the sack. They drove me to the theater in the morning and I met my cast and we loaded in for our show!
We played the beautiful Claremont Opera House.
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| Claremont Opera House |
Today's show was very intimate. A small audience, but a great show nonetheless. The kids seemed to love the show. My step-sister and nephew had a great time! I'm beyond thrilled that they drove up to New Hampshire to see our show!
Here is me and my nephew Kyle, after the show!
Here is just a picture of me trapped in the elevator taking our set down to the van. Just after I took this picture, the elevator stopped at the wrong floor, and the BACK DOOR opened and then poles fell out, and blocked the door from closing, and I couldn't make it over to close it. After a minor panic attack, I called our stage manager, Natalie, who ran up the stairs and saved the day.
After the show today, we took a lunch break and made the trek back to NYC. We have a day off and then some shows that we are traveling to and from NYC. AND a show in Tribeca on Sunday! WOOT.
Before I go, I just want to share some pictures of the INSANE scenery that the New England area gives us! Driving through Vermont and New Hampshire is absolutely STUNNING.
And sometimes at a rest stop, this happens:
Alright guys! Thanks for reading. Heading to sleep soon, early call time tomorrow morning! We've got a show at Monmouth University tomorrow morning!
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