We Survived Opening Night!

Slightly tanned (or pinkened), I sit in my hotel room now in Stockton, CA. It's been a pretty easy day today and we're all grateful for that! We had a two hour drive here then have been lounging at the pool before we go do the show. We're in that honeymoon phase where we still enjoy doing everything together.




Fresno was decent once we found the part of downtown that actually had things to see and places to eat. And thank god Starbucks is the same in every city. We have super-powered vision when it comes to spotting those green awnings. Our hotel was in a super ghetto area with lots of bail bonds places and empty store spaces so we were a bit trepidacious. The hotel was nice though even though the pool was under renovations so we couldn't use it. Booooo!


The theatre was beautiful. It is named for Fresno's own famed playwright William Saroyan and there are little tributes to him all over town. The stage was huge and especially deep to the extent that we could have done another show behind our set. The wingspace was insane and we had so much room we didn't know what to do with ourselves. I've attached some video I took of my dressing room and a loop around the stage so you can see. I hope it doesn't make everyone too nauseous! There's no sound so no need to adjust your settings. My camera sucks. The stage was really slick and they had to coke it (mopping with a coca-cola mixture to make it more tacky) for us. I nearly wiped out twice in "Who Will Buy?". Maggie also had my shoes rubberized the next day before the show and that helped a ton. I had a big private dressing room right off stage right and an awesome dresser named Shannon who was always waiting for me in my dressing room and had everything layed out. I made sure I remembered to tip her!



Opening night was Tuesday and the show went pretty well. We're starting to find our rhythm and get to try new things now so we're having fun with it. The audience seemed to enjoy the show both nights and I'm guessing we played to houses of about 800 both nights. We even had to sign some autographs at the stage door. I knew this would happen but I had forgetten and my head was still in the show when I left so it came as a surprise anyway. Our producer hosted a little opening night soiree at the hotel and we had free appetizers (which I should have eaten but didn't) and beer and wine. I started with wine and was ok but on an empty stomach it hit me fast. Then Will bought me a shot of Jack Daniels (which was actually a double-shot) and I thought well I hardly feel anything so I'll buy myself one more. BAD IDEA! After two more glasses of wine I was so hammered I think I told everyone I loved them at some point. Hence the pics of me way happier than you're accustom to seeing me. Then we moved over to the casino thingy next to our hotel (which was WAY cheesy and had poker and that was about it). Then when we closed THAT bar down we went back to our stage manager's room at the hotel before I finally made it to my room and passed out. I had fun but I was so looped that I think I'll stick to just the wine from now on. I was tres hung over Wed. and was still hurting a bit this morning as we departed.

Yesterday we hiked to the IHOP for a much needed brunch and last night's show went well. The poor crew had to load out last night, drive to Stockton and load in this morning. Tonight they will do the same thing since this is a one-nighter and drive to Reno. This weekend will be insane as we have a show tomorrow night in Reno then two, two show days for Sat. and Sun. Going to be a busy busy weekend but we're all looking forward to Reno baby!

In super awesome news, Mike is coming out to Colorado Springs next weekend so I'll finally get to see him!!! We have a private room for his visits so we're set there, he used his US Air points for a free airline ticket and also points for an almost-free rental car. We won't have a ton of time together but he'll get to see the show for the first time and we'll be in the beautiful Colorado Rockies together. I grew up going to CO on vacations as a Kansan so I'm happy to revisit the state as an adult with my husband. I can't wait! I'm very homesick.

So since I've included him in a very scary pic above where my head looks ten times larger than his, I will feature Alaggio Laurino in today's Meet the Cast. Alaggio is 22 and hails from Idaho, one of seven children. Alaggio is an off-beat kid but very sweet and extremely talented. His is in Fagin's gang and also plays the creepiest Noah Claypoole I've ever seen (and this is a good thing). He says he's not a dancer but he's pretty damn good. He hit his head really hard in rehearsal one day and gave himself a black eye then made some off-color joke so we like to say he hit his head and now he's a racist. He's not btw.



More to come!