West Virginia - The Long, Overdue Update

I've now been here for 1.5 weeks and I'm exhausted! We just opened "Sweet Charity" and it's been such an intense period. Part is because this is my first time doing summer stock and part is because I have such an inexperienced crew backstage. Sunday during the day was my "day off" then we had a final rehearsal that night from 7p-midnight. Monday we rehearsed from 12p-12a. We teched the show (with all of it's huge set changes) and we were only able to dress the first half of the show. Tuesday day we did a dress with the orchestra and opened Tuesday night. Yesterday we did a double show and today we have off till tonight's show. I called my crew in early on Tuesday to give them the "coming to Jesus" speech. During the previous day's tech, I realized that I when I tell them something, I had to detail everything out. For example, just because I said you can park a set piece in a certain location and not worry about it till act 2 doesn't mean you may have to move it before then to get to an act 1 piece you may have stored behind it. Or no cellphones backstage. Or you have to keep your eyes and ears open because when someone calls for something to be done, they want it now and not when you decided to get up stroll over. Urrggh! Everyone on my deck crew are interns and all are inexperienced. The girl I have on my side of the stage is quick so I'm feeling better about her. Our stage managing intern is ok, but always looks like she's on the verge of tears of breaking down. The other girl that's with her and our guy on the fly rail are completely useless. There's such a lack of urgency and presence of mind with those 2. It's quite frustrating and the worst part is that I think we get them again for our next show, which is "Funny Girl" and is harder show (tech-wise) than this one is.

Oh, and during last night's intermission, our Charity fell down the stairs running from the dressing rooms (which is 2 floors up) to the stage and dislocated her shoulder. She popped her shoulder back in and ran onstage to finish out the rest of the show (minus her lifts in one of her dances). What a trooper!

This is the post where I vent. The post with all the positive things about here is forthcoming, but I'm going to do yet another load of laundry and take a nap before tonight's show.

I'm Finally Here

Finally made it into West Virginia. It was a 4 day drive, but I'm finally here! It's definitely much cooler up here. I think I may need a sweater for the evenings. (Don't hate.)

The drive through Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia was pretty. Lots of rolling hills and mountains. Now I'm in my apartment and for the most part I'm unpacked and moved in. That was my main goal for today since once we start, it'll be fast and furious. I'm sharing an apartment with 3 other girls - 2 from the costume shop and the stage manager (not mine) working the other 3 shows. I'll keep you posted on how things go, but for now, I think I'm going to take a short nap before grocery shopping.

My Birthday & Onward To West Virginia

This past Saturday was my birthday party. A group of us tried out a new restaurant, Catalan. We were seated late (it was packed), but the manager was real apologetic (we had a 9p reservations but were seated about an hour later - it was really, really packed), so he kicked in a couple of appetizers. The food was fantastic and the place wasn't as pretentious as their sister restaurant.





Afterwards, we went to Spotlight Kareoke. Overall, it was a great birthday.






Right now, I'm in my hotel room in Memphis, TN. The previous day, I stopped in Temple for lunch with Leah and Al. After that, I headed up to Dallas to spend the night with Eddy, Rachel and Rory. We celebrated my birthday with cupcakes from Sprinkles. Originally from Hollywood, this bakery only does cupcakes. And what cupcakes! I had the Mocha, which is a dark Belgian chocolate cupcake with mocha icing. Yum!!! Nothing eventful on today's drive except that right outside of Little Rock is the Scott Hamilton Parkway. I tried to get a picture, but the sun was overexposing it.

Hawaii, Pt. 2

Here are some pictures from Hawai'i. Yes Charlotte, I did take these myself. These are not postcards with the sunshine Photoshopped in.


Wednesday's beaches & sites




This is the Hyatt hotel & resort at Poipu. I went through the hotel to access the beach they're associated with. Since beaches are public property, they can't rope it off like a private beach.

The back of the Hyatt as seen from...

this beach.

Other sites from Wednesday:

Spouting Horn








Me amidst the plumeria at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens








The ever-present roosters that have NO biological clock! They crow literally at any time, day or night.





Thursday's beaches




Kekeha Beach - if you look closely, you'll see Ni'ihau in the background (otherwise known as The Forbidden Island).

Waimea Canyon

Russian Fort Elizabeth

Friday's beach



Polihale Beach - This was by far my favorite beach. By about 3p, it was starting to get crowded. It was me, my cousin and about 6 others. This beach is so remote that more than 2 people is a crowd.




Saturday's beaches

My 2 cousins, aunt & uncle drove up to the north shore where Hanalei Bay is located. That's the bay that was used as Bali Hai when South Pacific was filmed.











Sunday's beach

My cousins and I went to the south shore and spent the day Baby Beach. It's a protected beach (like a small bay) that's popular with families. This picture is outside the protected area.


Monday & Tuesday - no beach

Ok Charlotte, it rained these 2 days. But it was only 2 days and we got a rainbow out of it.


Wednesday's beach

I left for Houston this day, but I had about a 6 hour layover in Honolulu, so after checking in my bags, I headed to Waikiki. By the way, this was my least favorite beach. I'll take any of the beaches on Kawai'i over Waikiki. I think it's overrated - as far as Hawaiian beaches go (which still isn't bad).


The last picture I'll leave you with is not a beach, but a picture taken from inside the Honolulu International Airport. (Really)

Hawaii, Pt. 1

This will be a short one, but I'll add on to it when I get home.

For those of you who are wondering, yes, I'm in Hawaii. I made it in safely, albeit late. I missed my connecting flight in Minneapolis. Yeah, I had to fly north to fly west (go figure). This is my first day online, so I'll just give you a short rundown on my week (so far) in Kauai.

Monday - flew all day to Hawaii. Missed my connecting flight in Minneapolis, so arrived in Kauai 5 hours late.

Tuesday - rested and hung out with my aunt and uncle

Wednesday - beach

Thursday - beach

Friday - beach

Saturday - drive along the coast of Kauai up to the north side (briefly visited one on the beaches on the north side)

Sunday - beach

Monday - no beach since it rained last night till this morning. May walk down towards the beach though.

So as you can see, there's been a running theme in my visit here in Kauai. I haven't repeated a beach yet (don't want to commit till I've checked them all out and with all the beaches they have here, that won't be possibly to do before I leave). My next post will be a rundown of all the beaches and accompanying pictures. (Don't hate.)