The road to a dream's reality

DREAMS COME TRUE

2009-08-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

Ok Every body.

I'M ON BROADWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm in the Broadway Show SOUTH PACIFIC!!!!!

I START AUGUST 18TH

Approaching an Open Door of a Dreams Actualization

2009-07-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Alright, I know I have been absolutely awful at keeping up to date about my occurrences and auditions ever since I returned from Florida from doing BARNUM at the beginning of this year, and all I can say is please forgive me. Figuring out how to live in the BIG NYC is a huge learning process.

Alright I know you're going to want me to give you all the juicy details as to what happened with SPIDERMAN, but you are just going to have to settle for the cliff note version of things so I can try and update you with all of the worlds of things that have gone on in the past 6 months.

Let me just start off saying that I don't think I have ever danced as hard as I have in my whole life then in theses past 6 months. The reason I have not kept up writing is because there have been too many too detail about, and not having an adequate source of internet. It has been a very frustrating 6 months as well, because I have danced so hard, and well and haven't felt like I have gone anywhere. This recession has hit Our industry pretty freakin hard, I think I've already said how they bring in Movie and tv stars to be our leads on BWAY, and then that makes the leads be ensemble, the ensemble chorus, the chorus to the regional theatre, and then us left to fend for anything and everything thats left. From cruise ships to industrials and small dance gigs, to settling for real jobs. But what gets hard about looking for real jobs is still wanting to audition, and when your in prime audition season there can be an audition 6 days a week for almost a moth straight. So there goes any available tim you have to work. Thats why people who aren't in the bizness don't understand that auditioning is our job! We are constantly going on interviews so to speak that can last anywhere from 20 mins to 8hrs, and I am not exagerating. But enough boring fact lets get down to the reasons why I am still pursuing this crazy Artform!

There was a period at the right in the middle of spring where I was really getting down, cause it seemed that everything was going to be great for me being a chocolate man cause there were 3 shows that were calling for blacks guys approaching. And I danced my A#$&* off! MEMPHIS, FININNIAN'S RAINBOW, and DREAMGIRLS. 2 new Broadway shows, and revival Nat'l tour. But I would dance my heart out, pass the cut to sing , and wait for a call, and be left waiting. Or I would keep getting called back, or invited to comeback, but I would never get the gig. And this is what made me feel down. I felt like it was always between me and Tyrone, and he would always get asked to stay over me. It was killing me, I was already taking as much class as I could, learning how to tumble, working on new songs, I din't know what else I needed to do. I remember asking my big bro James(whos in CHICAGO), what was wrong, and he then enlightened me that I have reached a new place in this biz. He told me that I was talented, very, and that now it is not about my talent. I was like what? Yeah so now I have reached the point where it is about politics, time, place, people I know, and if Ifit the costume. Semantics. oh yes. Well that information was all good, it eased my mind in my lack of self confidence, but I still was unhappy with why I wasnt getting picked. So I asked Tyrone to critique me, give me some feedback. And you know what he told me, that I dance to big! That I am always trying to prove that I can dance. WOW. And you know he was soo true.
I always felt I had to show that this big guy wasn't coming in to play the wrestler who could just throw people in the air and catch them. It's just my nature to go all out, and give a hundred percent. But he was telling me that, yes when they first see me to give it, kick my face, do my tuns, jump high, but when they call me back, to show them as much style as they wanted, or even better as they showed. That I didn't need to be so aggressive they already know I can dance thats why they called me back. So It was pretty priceless feedback.

Then Came along a SPIDER and sat down beside me, and then made me throw myself all around, and free style krump for 5 days straight!! HA! So that was pretty amazing, after all this rejection, on a whim to audition on Monday I passed the cut for tuesday, which of course was the actual invited call as I talked about previously in post. Well how awesome I pass that cut on tuesday, and get calledback to dance on wednesday for the official callback. Show up that day and there are cats there from LA, and VEGAS, as well as all these other cats who ar currently in BROADWAY or OFF Broadway shows, gees I thought, the real deal here we go. and Yes Tyrone was there. hahaha. Well that all goes well pass the first initial cut to learn another combination. But then I had to leave to run to an invited call for the LITTLE MERMAID. (I tell you about that in the next paragraph). I had asked them if they wanted me to just shoot right over after that but they said no, if they wanted me they would call. Oiy! More waiting. Well they did call me, and told me that they wanted me to preapre for being with them later that evening all night, cause the chroeographer Daniel Ezralow wanted to have one on one time, and they wanted me to dance for Julie Taymor!! Awesome!! Well It was pretty cool making it to the last group of guys for this new Musical SPIDERMAN. They told us that there were no more cuts. It was kind of crazy cause we weren't going to dance again cause Julie got stuck in the studio with Bono from U2,( yeah I know), but then at the last minute she came in. And let me tell you we worked it out! We all ended up improving for her one by one and let me just tell you I have only experienced energy like that a couple times in my life. People were flippin, spinnin, krumpin, and sliding on their heads it was AWESOME!!!!!!

Never been so Close part 2

2009-06-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

SO I went to the open call for Spiderman monday morning. I should have guest it was going to be a special experience when I went to the place for the audition and it happened to be the very theatre they plan on creating and putting up the production. I was also surprised that there was a line of guys outsides the door, like if it was one of those reality tv shows. I was like what is going on, for we never have to wait outside to audition for Broadway shows, it's kind of obsurd. None the less once the time approached for the audition to began, we were let inside.

When we got into the room I was surprised to see Ari as one of the dancing assistants. I danced with him for Pilobolus in Spain last October. Pretty cool. The Production team for this is the very same team from the Movie ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, which I talked about in on a blog when I was on tour, which seems like a million years ago. So the famous choreographer Daniel Ezralov was also there, so just getting to dance infront of him alone was pretty cool. Anyway the combination was pretty fun and unique, it started like formalized crumping, yeah awesome Crumping,( if you don't know what that is go get the movie doceumetary called RIZE, or google it). We also had to improv, and it just so happened that I went last and it was good too cause I was able to give them a lasting impression. So I passed the cut and then we had to do this strength assesment routine consisting of roles, slow cartwheels, and handstands, with kip ups. After that was over I actually ran over to Ripley studios to jump into the last group of 101 DALMATIONS, A new tour they're putting out this fall. I was weary about auditioning for this one cause its the same company I toured EVITA with, and if you remember they fired me from the second half of that tour, for reasons that are still unknown. But I did and made it thru that as well. The thing however that sucked for my singing was the pianist . He was obviously new, and I thought I had everything clear when I told him how I wanted to sing my song, but as I finished the first verse of my song, he ended and put the tag on it. I thought to myself what the heck, are you serious, and looked at him with dumbfoundedness, as he then says oh. and the production team behind the table was like thank you. So I was like oh well. Then Later that day was The GREASE tour. Now I knew that there was no chance for me for this, since there are no black people, but I had to go to just to say I did 3 auditions that day. But while I was at Grease I got a call from Telsey casting that they wanted me to come back to the invited call the next day. So it would be day 2 of Spidy for me. I am trying to change the way I think and speak, and and instead of being frustrated with being called back to the invited call, and not freaking having an agent so I can skip the freakin open call, but say hey I keep making it Praise God.

So day 2 Tuesday I went to the theatre and saw a whole bunch of guys I have never seen before, and some I had not seen in a while, And lots who were good, and already in Broadway shows. That's also always frustrating to see people who are already in shows, makes you feel like they are just being greedy, or ungrateful for what they have. But I know thats not always the case. So as usual we do the same combination,Just with the guys they are actually really looking at. I see a couple others from monday as well, so we feel a sence of commoradary for the pain we are feeling from the day before, and for making it thru. This was not a totally easy combination, for the crumping was the frist part of the routine the second part was the Spidy part whee we had to crawl and dive and swing our legs, and again after this we had to improv and I was last again. Now this was somewhat disconcerting cause, everyone was throwing in all there tricks, and dance moves, and I was like what the heck am I going to do now! But I ended up being a goofball, and doing something totally different which made everyone laugh and smile and remember me. One thing I did was crump really hard, which no one had done. WHich I found later was the best thing. So later that day, I get a call from Telsey casting asking me to the actual real callback on wednesday, and told me to keep the whole day open. Awesome, but I knew I was coming up against a problem for I had my appt for THE LITTLE MERMAID on wednesday, so I was afraid about how I was going to make this work..........to be continued.

2009-06-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

EveryBody thanks for being patient with me,
I will update soon!!!

Never been so close part 1

2009-05-03T06:21:00.000-07:00

Living. It has been a crazy venture actually living here in this Metropolis. This city is absolutley the place that makes or breaks you.

Since I have gotten back from Florida, I have really started understanding what it means to live here, and truly be pursuing this whole lifestyle, and dream experience. It hits me every now and then, either when I leave a really great dance class, or am standing in a high rise that looks out over timesquare, how amazing it is that I'm here. That I'm actually living and walking around new york city, pursuiing something that I have been dreaming about since Highschool. I just think Gees, I'm really here!

But Also what comes with really living here, and being in this environment, is the anxiousness, the discouragement, the reality, disconcernment, fear, and even the feeling of no hope. Thats why New Yorkers are strong and hard, cause this place will eat you up and spit you out. So it's a matter of finding out how to be strong and hard, and when you need to apply that.

This spring audition season was absolutely brutal. It was absolutely packed, I think there was only 4 week days in march that I didn't have an audition on, and some days I literally had up to 4 auditions. And everybody has been there, it has been nothing but survival for dancers, no less. We need jobs. That has been the main reason why I haven't kept up with all the auditions, there has just been way too many of them, and most with not much to talk about. From Broadway shows, National tours, regional theatres, to cruise ships, dance agencies, and circus entertainment companies.

However, some of these auditions have made me absolutely alive! and feel Like I was really living for the first time. I auditioned for the newly returning broadway show MEMPHIS, and the combination was so hard, and demanding, and awesome, that it created this atmosphere of fun, and true commorodery. After we had broken up in smaller groups so we could actually use the whole space, and my group went, I realized how good of job I did by the hand fives I was recieving. I as sat down to watch the next group go, And just was over whelmed by the live music and great dancing, and encouragement we were all giving I almost broke down and cried. There was another moment like this when I was auditioning for the Nat'l tour of A CHORUS LINE. In this audition they have you line up by 2s and come down the room doing the combination while everyone else claps in time for you and screams out the starting counts. I literally felt like I was dancing for my life! You wanna talk about dancing fiercely.

The most awesome experience of this season has just happened this past week, and so worth remembering forever. I have never been as close to Broadway as I have been this past week.
On friday of the week before I got a call from a big Brroadway casting agency, asking make an appt for an immediate replacement audition for the show, THE LITTLE MERMAID. I don't even know how this agency got my information cause I haven't auditioned for anything they were doing in a while. I ended up finding out thru friends in the show, and around that they were looking to fill the black track, so all the 5'9" guys were getting called. I got another call from them asking me shoe size, and making sure I was available immediately, So I was like man they are really looking to fill this role now. They were going to have us do a jazz number, and tap number, and there was going to be no way I didn't get this from not being able to tap so I decided to take as many tap classes as I could. The appt was for wednesday at noon, so I had at least 3 days to take class. I also found out that my friend Tyrone was going. He is like my direct competition. He's my height, a dancer, and alwasy placed next to me in a group it seems, he's just not as dark as me. So I knew I had to be prepared. Well Sunday night came and I decided to look at the audition sites again to make sure I had everything down for the week, and then I saw a random audition for SPIDERMAN, that was happening the next morning,Monday. Oh crap, I was so thankful that I had looked. Anyway, So I decided to make sure I hit this one as well, and planned accordingly for the rest of the week.

to be continued.....

2009-02-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

Well here we are.

Back home and back to the life I lead here in the city. You know I had lived longer in florida than I did in my NYC apt! So I have been trying to get acclimated back to the city, and find my way around, and find my life here again. It was actually pretty great that when I came back I was already doing work with Pilobolus again. They needed me to come in and do some alphabeting for them, pretty soon you'll be able to use Plo's body font to send messages to people, and you be using my body, oh yeah! I've found some new dance studios to take class at, and I have already been keeping up with my aerial skills by taking some Silks classes so that I can become awesome. Although I have gotten a little bursitis on my left knee right below my knee cap, so I have this swelled bump now, please pray that it heals, and doesn't flare up anymore.

So as you know back to the life in the city means, back to auditioning, and what a season it is turning out to be. I've already had 2 auditions. Because of the economy and everyone freakin out about money, everyone everywhere is doing lots of big dance chorus musicals, which is pretty good for all us dancers, but because so many shows have closed everyone is coming out of the woodworks to audition. I really want to work at this theatre in Sacremento, and there season is known for being called the music circus, cause you are constantly working, rehearsing in the day and performing at night. But they have an awesome season of dancing that I would love to be apart of. I also auditioned for this other theatre, that had its audition on sunday, which we were all not to pleased about. It's hard to tell you specifics about shows these days, cause this is the time where you are auditioning for a theatres whole summer season, but here are some pictures for some of the shows involved, the ones that I haven't been in.

Happy New Year

2009-01-18T19:08:00.000-08:00

Well, it is a new year, Woo HOoo!

and you guessed it, I am still in Florida doing Barnum. It has been a long time, but I thank God and am grateful that I got to finish the year and start the new year, working and with a job, Amen. We're actually coming up on our last week, we have tomorrow off to prepare and then straight into a full 8 show week bangout!

So it's a new year and a new me! Actually it really is, because Jan. 1 is my birthday! So while you were all out getting trashed, smashed, and waisted( and for those who were in church), You were ultimately celebrating the coming of my birth as well. (My best friend, JC and I have that in common, with our bdays a week apart) hahahaha. Anyway, no disrespect Lord, but I thought new headshots would be nice, and since one of the guys in the cast is trying to build his portfolio, he was giving out free sessions, so here are some, You like? Are they great, He has a great eye.

We our now in a new theatre, the Maltz Jupiter theatre, over in Jupiter Florida which is on the east coast, the oppisite to where we were in Sarasota. we were all very worried about doing the show over at this theatre cause we knew we weren't going to have our wonderfully experienced circus crew, and the other scary fact that the stage was even smaller than at the Asolo. But we came in with open minds knowing that it was going to be a different show. The stage was so much smaller that we had to remove the swinging Trapeze, and place the spanish webs in a different location,( you should have seen the first time I tried spinning, as my legs kept hitting the pole, yeah I wasn't happy.) But they ended up moving them to an cooler place, in the audience right in the aisle!! And Matt is feeling a whole lot better, and doing the straps, but again since there was no space on stage, he flys out around Barnum and over the audience. Yeah they go wild!

The other really awesome thing that was able to happen was, I found out that Pilobolus Dance Company was going to be performing an hr away so I was able to hook up with them for there day off, and they were able to see my show!!!!!!!! Yeah for family!!! It was soo great to see them, and have them see me dance , and do the other thing that I do. And theye were able to give me great feedback, and more over great validation that I was doing well. Man I love those Guys!!

This has been quite an amazing experience, I have made some great new friends, and have done some fun stuff. Being down in florida for the winter has been absolutely wonderful. I Love the beach and have seen some amazing sunsets over the ocean. And besides all that I am the one who has gotten the most out of it all. I had to learn the most circus tricks, and learn how to be dance captain, and have the most fun with the locals! I am excited to go home though, I miss my friends, and young people!!! and things to do, and places to go all the time. I love New York!! though I'll be missing the sun ever so ferociously! I have done so much great stuff, over the next couple of days I will just post some pics of the adventures!!!!

Watching something scary!

2008-12-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

Well here we are, we have one week left of our shows here in Sarasota, Fl.
It has been a pretty incredible journey here, from our crazy rehearsals, and circus lessons, to our sold out performances. It has been an even more challenging experience for me taking the role of dance captain. And I wish I can say everything has gone ok, but actually I was the first one to get hurt and therefore have to be cut from my circus tricks. Yup, for a week I couldn't juggle, or do my spanish web in the finale cause I had hyper extended my thumb playing catch with a football. It still hurts but I just where an ace bandage during act 1 now, and just pray for it every day( also 4 200 ml of Ibupropin). But the absolute scariest thing happened yesterday afternoon during our matinee.
While Matt was flipping down the straps he dislocated his shoulder. Talk about one of the most scariest things to be watching on stage. Usually it is a very disctinct 3 slow flips down that goes with the music. There was only one flip and then pretty much him just twirling,spinning, or more like unravelling down to the ground. Everyone on stage knew something was wrong. I was backstage getting into my stilts, and could only see the straps, and from the specific change of movement I saw in them, I knew something had happened. Everyone was running around back stage trying to help and figure out what was going on, and everyone on stage wast trying to perform there best improving off the top of there heads, and fill in His scenes. It was pretty scary. The paramedics came and took him to the hospital, and we had a cast meeting during intermission to figure out how to do the second act. This was the other challenge for me, now I had to step up and figure out who would do what in his stead. And all on the spur of the moment. Well it all worked out fine, but we had to have a meeting after the show with the musical director, stage manager, st mgn ass, Crew chief, circus captain, and me to figure out how we would work the show out, it ended up being alot smoother then we thought. But while they were all done and resting I had to specifically go over dance numbers, so I was on the stage going thru choreography, and trying to make the show look good again. We had to call everyone in a half hr earlier to go over all the changes and to make sure things worked out. To my surprise I ended up having to run everything, and Praise God it all worked out, and everyone was attentive. Matt came back to the theatre and hes doing just fine, he'll be back in th show next week, though his circus tricks are cut. We almost made it thru. Just one week left, darn it!!!!

Quatro Marketable

2008-11-23T07:43:00.000-08:00

Wow! what an incredible journey this has been so far!

Man it has been quite an exhausting feet but it has all come together and we are finally having a good time running the show.

Now this has been one of the most frustrating and tiring shows I have ever been involved in, but it has also been one of the most beneficial. I have to admit when we first started rehearsals, I was startled by some of the other actors, for I thought as professional and big this production was going to be, that people should've been at a higher level of professional maturity, but I was reminded that people work at different paces, and learn and take things in very uniquely, so I had a little life lesson in character, and dealing with differences, (it was good for me).

The amazing thing about our cast is how amazing the cast really is!!! All our leads accept 1 has been on Broadway, and fairly recently as well. THE PRODUCERS, MISS SAIGON, THE PAJAMA GAME, CHORUM BOY, FUNNY THING...FORUM, just to name a few. We have a National baton twirler, and a National gymnast, 2 people who were dancers and clowns for Cirque de Soleil, A guy who was a clown for Ringling Brothers, an Opera singer from China, and a girl who does character voices for Disney! Yeah, pretty tight right. And on top of that, we were directed by an up and coming sought after Director who just directed the tour of HAPPY DAYS, and The Broadway dancer Josh Rhodes, to choreograph it, and a fabulous costume designer.

Now the rehearsal process was gruelling. There was a new concept they had for the show where they wanted to add more of the ensemble into the show. There's alot of solo numbers for the main characters, but not many big production numbers. So they changed the format of the show as if we were all telling the story of Barnum's life, helping unfold the stories. So there was alot of music rehearsals, cause we would try something, change it, learning something new, and change it, and so on. So it got kind of hard memorizing parts and then doing totally different parts. Also on top of that, our director had to keep leaving to go direct another show, so it got very wonky cause Our Choreographer would stage numbers and do blocking, and then the director would come back and change everything, so it got very very, did I say very yet, frustrating, and it kind of set us back a little. We ended up having the longest week in theater possible. 3 ten hr days, and then 3 12hr tech days, which is unheard of, and nothing I have ever done before.

Not only did we have our regular rehearsal for the show, but we had our Circus lessons before. So we would have to go to the Circus tent downtown Sarasota, and meet with our Coach and trainers, Pedro, who is a world class circus performer and sought after trainer and consultant, Susan, and Anna. Dudes let me just tell you the first day we were in there, as I was stretching and looking up at the circus tent, I just thought" Oh my gosh, look at where I am!" Who ever knew I would be learning to do amazing things under a real circus! It was definetly a moment that most of us had. Now the guy who plays our Ring Master is the one who was in RINGLING BROTHERS CIRCUS, so he was also our circus trick coach, and taught us all how to do our little tricks and gags in the show. Juggling, plate spinning, unicylcling, flame tricks, magic scarves, all those fun things clowns do. We had even different times set up for those lessons, at an even different place from the other 2. SO it was pretty extensive.
But It all worked out. I actually ended up being one of the most used actors for the press. They came to the Tent with the cameras, and took footage of us there, and interviewed 2 of us, which they played on their local news station a couple of times. Here's the link to it, http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081110/VIDEO01/811100380&template=video . Now I hate the way I sound on it, my little lisp comes out, and I was caught off guard, so don't hate me. Anyway, I was also in the sunday Paper, and I was on this local community show that this old lady with Hats has, that was cool to be inteviewed on a show, it's just getting me ready for the big time, Good Morning America here I come!! And then I again was on A live segment of news FOX 13 down here, which was also pretty cool, got a little more exposure for some other cities in the area.

I was also after some debate, and some relinquishing, and some declines, asked to be the Dance Captain. So I now have another credit to add to my resume! Man this show has just been the most amazing gift from God for me, 4 wonderful things to make me more marketable, and more wanted. AND THEY WILL WANT ME, MARK MY WORD!!!!!! AHAHAHAH

2008-11-21T21:26:00.000-08:00

HEY LOOK OVER TO THE LEFT!!!! THERE'S A NEWS REEL FOR YA!!!!!!!!

2008-11-17T20:32:00.000-08:00

becoming a circus freak

2008-10-25T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well hello again, it has been 2 weeks now here in Florida, and we have been workin our butts off 6 days a week. We have been busy learning songs, adding new vocals to other songs, changing harmonies, revamping music, addind longer dance breaks, and going back again and changing it all over.

On top of that we have had circus rehearsals as well, having full juggling lessons with different sizes of balls, hankerchiefs of varying weight and color, 3 and 4 rings, and big ole bowling like pins. Those who have that down are advancing to 3 man juggling stunts. I have also had to learn how to walk and be comfortable on 4ft stilts, because I and another guy will be dancing on them for a number with Tom Thumb, who is suppossed to be 25 inches tall( by the way this was an actual real person in life, he actually found another small person and married her.) That would be fine but the stilts that I was suppossed to be using our one cast members old stilts which are not as supported as the new stilts, and are way more wobbly and uncomfortable, and not even easy to walk in let alone dance in, and so being I fell back off them and landed on my hip. So now I'm am going to fight and make sure the theatre will buy me the right stilts for the show. I was on the good stilts today, and O was able to do kicks and everything with them on.

The other really cool thing I have been learning is the spanish web!! As you see in the video up top. Now this isn't really that hard, you basically have to learn how to climb the rope with your strength mainly coming from your legs. And then you just get whipped around, and have to create different positions and shapes while you're turning. No I have to admit I have put the stopper loop to far down my wrist and have cut off my circulation, and have felt that tingly sensation in my arm for 2 days, and was worried when I put my foot in the loop that I was going to have to get my foot amputated, but it all worked out fine.

Now since we work our butts off like crazy, our one day off is filled with absolute relaxation, which consists of laying by the pool, or even better, going to the BEACH!!! Of course since we're crazy dancers and performers, and now weird circus freaks, we act goofy at the beach. Did I mention I love my job!!

Las Gracias

2008-10-09T05:34:00.000-07:00

So 2 weeks ago today I was arriving in Madrid, Spain with no real idea what we were going to be doing, besides the information that pretty much everyone didn't know what we were getting our selves in including the executive producer. So it was already turning out to be one incredible adventure.

I got a call on monday (2 weeks ago) and on wednesday I was flying to Spain! Talk about wanting to live the life. I was so excited and grateful. Now I want lie I did have to let them know I was interested in going. I was talking to my friend Jeff who went to Germany with me, and he told me that Pilobolus had called him for this gig, but he couldn't do it. So I called the office and asked if they still needed a guy, and they called me back and said yeah.

It was awesome being in SPain. From the moment I got on the plane I felt that I was in for a new experience. The people were of a european look that I had not been so accustomed to seeing, and the language of spanish that was spoken was more regal, more formal it seemed, not accented or yelled out that I hear most days, but respectful, and I loved it. As soon as we arrived I understood why things were so different, the average look of people is handsome, and good looking. The culture is way laid back, and it's just infused with history and decorum that shows in the architechture and design of the city. Every major intersection has a some kind of big plaza, and usually some kind of fountain or statue or both. It was absolutley amazing.

Well we found out that we were going to be taping 4 different commercials for this Bank BBVA that is taking over alot of stuff in Spain, and wanted to show that they were going to be good for everyone. So the themes we had to work with were, security, protection, and helpfulness you know stuff banks want to be associated with. We spent the first days brainstorming, and coming up with ideas, and then the last 4 we were there taping them. It was all shadow work, so I didn't have to worry alot about live performance movement. We ended up surprising ourselves with how good we were at creating the images they wanted us to create, and how much we got done. Just shows How much God has blessed this P-lo crew. What was also amazing about this experience, was that every meal was taken care of, and since we were doing tv stuff, we were catered. Dudes I have never had so many different forms of Ham in my life. I never knew there were so many ways to have ham and cheese. from regular grilled cheese and ham sandwiches, to cordon bleu style breaded and everything. It was pretty cool, they would even just slice pieces of ham right off this leg of a pig right in the window of the food truck, which I have to admit was kind of scary looking, but tasted great!! Oh and the other staple food we had was Calimari! yeah can you believe it! at least once a day I felt we had it. If not a breaded snack, then scewered, on a stick, or in some kind of pasta. It was an pretty cool gig.

We really only had one day off, and the morning and early afternoon of the day we left . SO when we went out we had to totally do it up, which meant party hard the night before out late, and up early the next morning to get as much as we could in. And they have a crazy night life which doesn't even start til midnight and gets hopping around 3am, and goes all the way until the sun comes up, pretty crazy.Needless to say I was tired most of the time. But I really got to see a lot of the city, and felt that I got a good taste of the area we were in. I would walk back to the hotel from wherever I was so that I could really get a taste for it. And I ended up loving it, I have totally fallen in love with Spain!! I got to go to the famous Prado Muesum that has the famous painting " Garden of earthly delights". I was so excited to be able to see all this history and beauty in these renaissance paintings and glorious marble statues.

SO now I am back home, and running around trying to take dance classes, work out, and get everything done so that I am ready to go to florida. My plane leaves this sunday!! and there was lots of things I still had to take care of from faxing papers, to getting boxes to pack, to registering to vote, it's just crazy, and trying to see as many friends before I leave. This busy life is not easy, but I love it, and I praise God that I am WORKING!! BARNUM here I come!!

I love dancing

2008-09-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

Alright last week was my last audition for a while, since I'll be going down to Florida soon to do BARNUM. In this bizness you're always trying to work, and have consistent work, which means setting yourself up to have back to back gigs or shows, hince why I have still been audtioning for stuff. Just trying to make sure I have work next year. So Last week I auditioned for the tour of DORA DORA. Nothin special to report. The only thing that really happened was when I was called to dance the casting Lady had to also add the fact that I had a job already to my name, pretty much putting me on blast in front of everybody. She is the same casting company that cast BARNUM, so she knew me from that. So I felt bad that she did that in front of everybody. With my mind on all of that it made me totally mess up my audition, but I still made it thru, and sang my song. Oh yeah and the pianist is a friend from school who was actually in my choir at Penn State, who is now a piano sub for THE LITTLE MERMAID

The more important thing that happened last week was my dancing gig for this Bahtmitzpha. My friend contacted me ealier this summer to dance for her for this gig. I also found out that the man who was her, and our boss, was also another Penn State graduate that I had known. Go STATE! Any way the theme for the party was old Hollywood Glamour, so Katrina came up with the idea of the IT girl thru the ages, and to have the birthday girl come out at the end to be the it girl of 2000. We had 3 rehearsals during the week, and then performed at the party saturday night, though we had to be there all day. Let me just say that I knew this was a big deal when I found out how much I was getting paid for this, and then times that by 10 for all the dancers, and realized wow if they're planning on spending that much just for our part of the entertainment. Then I found out that they didn't like they carpeting in the country club of the ball room, so they had it taken out and white tile put in. Yeah it was like that. They even had little California Pizza Kitchen, KFC, and McDonalds stands for the kids, and to top it off, at the end on the way out they had a whole mock Dunkin Dounuts stand set up. No joke. I heard the whole thing was around....$250,000. And that's all I have to say about that.

The other really amazing thing that happened last week happened on Monday. I gave myself the goal this year that by the end of the year I would be tumbling. I've found that with my body size, and look people assume I tumble, and everything has tumbling in it these days, especially Disney shows. I thought I wouldn't be able to uphold that goal cause all summer I was in Ok city, and the only place I knew gave classes here in the city was expensive. That is until I found out that the dance studio where I have been taking most of my classes has an acro class, Great!! So I took last monday to try it out, Lets just say that after the class was over I was doing standing back handsprings, and roundoff back handsprings!!!!!!!!!!!

UMM YEAH TOTALLY AWESOME!!

This week in class he moved me into the power tumbling group with him, and made me perfect my roundoff backhandsprings so that I could start doing more handsprings. I also started working on my back tucks, which is just standing and jumping up and doing a back flip, they usually come after you do a tumbling pass to end it off. It's all very exciting, And everyone is pretty amazed that I am learning so quickly without ever having tumbled before. I just give all Glory to GOD. As Albert Einstein said, "dancers are the atheletes of God." So maybe He gives extra grace and strength to us. I'm just sayin.

So the other cool thing that happened Monday of this week was I got a call from Pilobolus to see if I could go to SPAIN for a gig for them, and if I could leave Wednesday(today). Umm, YEAH!!

Monkeying, for Jesus

2008-09-10T05:52:00.000-07:00

So, as of right now this will be the first week since I got off the plane from Ok city on july 29, that I will not audition! Can you believe that. Actually the funny thing is on monday I was slated to go to 2 auditions for a new semi/broadway show(which means it is at the Lincoln Center), and GYPSY, which is currently running on Broadway right now. But I was just tired of it, so I planned on staying home and chillin out. That is until my friend Kenneth texts me, and says I should be there, so I grab my stuff and go, only to just miss the last group to go in, cause they decided to rocket thru all of the groups, and then when I got to the GYPSY call, I just really didn't feel like being there. there was alot of people, and You know they're not really looking for guys, and all the guys in the show are only on stage for a hot min, and look young, oh and are all white, so I left and went to work out. Oh well.

So last week I also Auditioned for TARZAN, and also had my callback for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. TARZAN was a really fun combination very atheletic and of course all about being a monkey so it was very low to the ground, rolling, jumping, like an animal, and I looked really good(people told me). I felt really good doing it, I think one of the pluses I have for myself is I can portray different characters well in dance. Praise God for that. I made it all the way thru, but when the guy came out to read off who they wanted to sing, it was only one guy, which we were all totally shocked at. whatever, then they started lining the people up to sing, and then we got yelled at by the monitor saying if we're not singing to leave, (sometimes these equity monitors act like there job at that moment in time is the most important thing in life, and take it way to seriously!) So what ever I grab my stuff kiss my friends and leave. So I get a block away from the Chelsea Studios and get a call from a number I don't know, now I usually don't answer unknown numbers, but lately they have all been about some kind of work, so I did. It turns out it's my friend Will, who is at the audition still cause he got asked to sing. He proceeds to tell me that I am in the group for people they wanted to stay and sing!

"WHAT"! Yeah apparently the guy was walking around with a group of headshots of people they wanted to keep from my group, and I just happened to be on the outside, they asked to look at my pic, to call me to tell me to come back. It was absolutely crazy. Praise God I had not almost turned to get into the subway. So I run back get back upstairs in the studio, and am like whats going on. Well, the guy hadn't finished reading off the list of people they wanted to hear sing, just started moving on. It was such a disorganized audition. And then when we had to line up, I had to save someone else from not getting the info that they called his name. It was crazy. After I sang one of the artistic team asked me about being in Pilobolus, so we talked and I told him How I went to Germany, and then he's like you know Holly! and I like yeah, I love her!! It was great to connect with the team like that. Then of course the old man had to shove me out, saying I'm sorry Alfie, we're on a tight schedule. Man I swear.

Again to prove how disorganized they were, when I finally get home at 930pm I get a random call from an unknown number, asking me to come to a callback almost 12 hrs later, 10 am the next day. Gee wiz I thought.

The Callback consisted of all the same stuff, made it thru again, sang my song, saw great friends made new friends, yadda yada,

Off to my JCSUPERSTAR. It was a much smaller callback, of 13 guys, so we were really the last guys they were lookin at which felt totally cool. Now what was hard about this was the woman who choreographed it was kind of crazy in her mind, so you felt like you weren't getting the same information out of her all the time. and since she was older and her assistant was an older non dancer guy, you couldn't figure out what the full extended shapes of the movement was suppossed to be. But after learning 2 combinations, we turned to face the table of onlookers, which totally sucks I might add, especially when a combination is a traveling one to have to shorten everything, and maintian spacial awareness. We went in groups of 3. Now we had been doing the 2 dance for a while, so remembering the first dance was hard, and lets just say when I went I didn't remember all that well, and had not 1 but 2 brainfarts. Oh well I thought, I have a job, hahaha. But low and behold, I made it thru and got asked to sing! Wow, God must be all over me today! The only thing that made me feel even more sunk was hearing Her assistant from the hall way singing my song, and really singing my song. The only thing that is really cool about this musical, is that this version is being done all gospel, and they got the rights from mr weber himself to do it, so its a big deal.

So we'll see what happens.

BARNUM

2008-08-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

So, My BARNUM call back.

Yesterday morning I had an ivitation to go back in to Chelsea studio for another chance to book this show. When I got there I saw that there were other people there I had not seen from the dance call, So I was trying to figure out where they could have come from. Turns out there were people from the singers call, and who had been submitted by their agents. Darn them and there agents! I had recognized a guy from being on BROADWAY in the dance musical HOT FEET, and found out that there were other guys there who had just been cast in the new BWAY show ANGELS, which sadly got put on hold cause of financial decisions.
But here I am, this is the level of my oppisition, everyones trying to get a job. There were probably 20 of us give or take, and right before we started to dance the casting director says "ok and Alfie Parker, you are the only one who is not in the union of equity?"
Gees I thought way to totally call me out and ostrisize me. Oh well, hey at least I made it that far right being the only non ec guy. Anyway we danced in 2s, and I have to admit I didn't do my absolute best, but I ended up making it past that cut. They cut maybe 6 or more guys, and then we had to tap.
So I was debating on whether I wanted to put my tap shoes on or not since they're new, and since I haven't taken a tap class since my sophomore year in college. I am not the best tapper, I know the vocab but not the body weight distribution, I stay to upright and rigid and don't relax my muscles. So needless to say I was scared, but I put them on and stood in the back. Then the worst part happened,
He made us do it one by one, ... oh s*#&^$%!
Well the Choreographer is awesome and he stood right up there with us working on certain parts, just making sure we could get it with 4 weeks of rehearsal, He seems like he would be a great guy to work for. Well they decided to keep all of us to sing. So here we go, made it past dancing phew, praise God.
They wanted us to sing the same song, so I changed it up a bit, and sang it slower and more melodic, which they liked, but then they asked me to sing something that was fun and up beat so I had to pull my Mean Ole Lion out of my bag of tricks so to speak, from THE WIZ. Now I haven't sung that song in a while so I was just doing this for the fun of it. It was fun, I was over the top, and they were laughin right along with me, I even messed up the words, and it was still good.
What was interesting that had never happened to me before was after I sang they asked me what my EMC status was. Which means where are you in terms of getting your equity card, and joining the union. Which I thought was an entirely weird question to ask. But I told them that I was actually presented with a contract that would give me my card in October, Then the casting Lady says, but our show starts rehearsal in October, which I slowly replied, with maybe a slight smikr, or smile on my face, "I Know", and then explained how I have not signed a contract with them yet. SO then they asked me to read another scene which went well, he had me read it twice, and then they let me go.
SO all and all it was a good time, good audition.

Well I got a call around 5pm from the theatre in florida that is doing the show, to offer me a contract in the show. Not just any contract but a Full Equity Contract!!!
WOO HOO God did it!
SO I will be a full fledge union member when the first day of rehearsals starts, which is in 6 weeks!
Yeah Now I can buy groceries!!!

Life in the big city!

2008-08-27T05:53:00.000-07:00

Ok Ok, so I suck at keepin up with all my auditions, forgive me. But it's really hard now!

So here I am, I have officially moved outside they great city of Manhattan, and pretty much have just hit the pavement running. I've had up to 3 auditions a week since I moved into my home almost a month ago, starting off with the one that was the next day after getting off the plane. They've ranged from Non equity tours to Symphonic concert performances, to Broadway shows. I've been doing well, so that makes me happy.

Here is just a list of the shows I've gone in for.

MY FAIR LADY

IN THE MOOD

THE PAJAMA GAME

IN THE HEIGHTS

ON THE TOWN

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

BARNUM

LEGALLY BLONDE

I got a call back for BARNUM for this friday so I can go more into detail about that later, that was a pretty fun audition.

Life here is pretty cool, It's kind of surreal in a way, that I actually live here. I have been dreaming about this for such a long time.

WHat OK City got to see

2008-08-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

here are some of the professional shots that were taken of us on stage this summer,

You can see more at Mutz photography.com, all credit to them!!

SHining WHite Knightress

2008-07-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

SO we have opened 7BRIDES!!! YEAH!!!

We were actually scared if we could pull it off in time cause learning this big show in one week was real daunting at first, during rehearsals there never seem to be a point where we could get every aspect together. Out tech rehearsal even went well into our dress rehearsal, oh this past weekend was so long, at the theatre past midnight. And then one of the worst things that could happen did. Melissa one of our beautiful dancing brides had to get rushed to the orthopedist. She already has had surgery on her ankle and foot, and during SWING had rolled over it the wrong way again, and this would now be the second time she has twisted it in rehearsal for 7BRIDES. We knew at this point it wasn't good.

This all happened during our dress rehearsal the night before we opened! So we all went home no knowing how she was and what was going to happen. But everyone was talking about who they could even possbliy replace her with since no one has an understudy, and there are no swings.

It was kind of like the situation in SWING when I had to step in for Richard in the bungee number. He hurt his shoulder and they didn't want to take the chance, so since I had been there learning it just in case,( which we call swinging something) I was in. So we get the call to come in hr earlier cause we have a new girl that we have to put in the show, Ha theres nothing like live theatre! Turns out they got Lauren back!! Lauren who we call Lulu was the only one in our swing ensemble to not be in 7BRIDES, so we were all real excited that she's back shes a great dancer, infact she just had to choose between the tour of the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR, and the tour of MOVING OUT. They called her late monday night, and she got in her jeep at midnight drove 200 miles and was here by 630am for a 9am put in rehearsal, talk about a shining Knight, and her Jeeps white too HA!

But, hey when it comes down to it, everybody knows that as soon as theres an audience some how evereything seems to work out. God uses his muses to always make sure of that.

Anyway, we've had standing ovations both nights Lulu is fitting right in and looks great! Only 4 more shows to go!!

2008-07-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

SWING is officially over now, well it has been for a week now sorry. The shows were for the most part great! In fact they were all pretty good accept thursdays show. For some reason the audience on that thursday was horrible. they gave us no energy, no feedback, no nothin, and in a adrenaline show like SWING, you need the high energy from the audience to bounce back on you to hype you up, so that night seemed to drag on, which made people tired, and make mistakes, and just effect everyones mood. Of course that had to be the night when some of the guys from our 7BROTHERS cast would come to see us. But ever other show was great!

But that's all over now, and 7BRIDES has started rehearsal, in fact we go into tech tonight! Geesh, things here run so fast! This is what is considered summer stock theatre. Where you are rehearsing one show during the day, and performing another at night. It's how almost every musical theatre college student, and up in coming professional builds there resume, cause you get a couple of shows in a little bit of time. For instance what would usually be a 1 show contract of 5 weeks, is 2 shows down here, and, if I was in the next show, it would've been 2 shows and a full week of rehearsal for the next show! So needless to say this is the fastest I have ever put a show together. But it's been very good cause I have had to continue to train my mind to be professional, and learn quickly. But this has also been the most professional contract I have done, even over the tour of EVITA. I have never worked with so many talented working people before. I'm surrounded by TV stars, people who have been on BROADWAY in, LES MIZ, KISS ME KATE, MOVING OUT, TOMMY, WICKED, and others who have been working consistently or who have been concert dancing professionally with Mia Michaels, and with Desmond Richardson in Complexions. It has truly been a great experience here. All that said, I am tired of Oklahoma, and I'm ready to go home. Especially now since I have a new home!

Anyway, the 7BRIDES cast is pretty cool, of course most of us have all been here this summer, but they brought in 8 more guys of course. SO this is an incredibly huge cast. We have the 7 suitors,( which I'm one of, they're the original boyfriends of the brides), the 7brides, the 7brothers( who the girls end up marrying), a gaggle of annoying kids which consist of 2 boys and about 7 girls, 4 parents, 1 preacher, and a baby(but it's just a doll).

To try and round us all together, we had another theme day!!! This one you could day was for the boys cause we decided to go Camo! We had a good time, and lots of people joined in.

This weekend will be once again filled with 12hr tech rehearsals, accept for sunday which is so nice around here. Then we open on Tuesday! and then I come home next sunday Woohooo!!

Bounce me brother

2008-07-09T21:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a little clip from rehearsal on that fun day when skiddles upchucked all over us. By the way they mmade me wear that shirt!

2008-07-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

It has been a whirlwind of rehearsals, dance combinations, costume fittings, and tech calls.

And we have finally opened!

It has been crazy busy, and I have had no time to to do anything besides work. There would be a whole lot to write to catch you up, but I don't think you wanna read all that. SO I'll tell stories thru pictures using caps.

The ensemble is one of the awesomest groups of people I have ever worked with! And I love everyone of them! Especially this little dude who I've nick named Mighty mouse, who can just standing kick his leg back and hit the back of his head. My roomate is Josh, He's a goofball and we have a good time, he's also my shauffer for our great PT cruiser.

One really great day was when we decided to all come in wearing the most brightest, miss matching colors that we could. We had totally shocked everybody cause we had come in all black the day before.

We opened the show last night, honestly I felt horrible afterward, it was my worst show, I'm not in alot of the dance numbers unfortunately, and everyone I was in I messed up, so I felt really sucky, about myself, to the point where I was going to have a drink at the bar at the opening party.( If you know me you know I don't like alcohol, but I didn't end up getting that one drink). Despite my screw ups, we still got a standing ovation, how awesome, Praise the Lord!

The only reason I have the time now to write is because I am in rehearsal right now for the next show 7 Brides, and of course I'm really only in 1 scene in this musical, so theres a lot of time to rest and catch up. NO rest for the weary.

Lyrical atmospheres

2008-06-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Hello from Oklahoma City!!

Yes I arrived here on tuesday of this week, and have been in rehearsals everyday since. Dude it is awesome here, I was greeted by a cool guy at the airport, and I was given keys to my rental car. Yes my own rental car. And guess what kind, a PT Cruiser! ha, a blue one. Yeah that's the rental car they give everyone, so in the apartment complex where they house us out of towners, there are a line of Cruisers around every corner. Man if I only had my drivers license.

Well Rehearsals have been incredibly intense. We're doing the show Swing which is a dance revue show, so there are 28 dance numbers! We have 7 couples of ensemble dancers, one featured ballroom dance couple, and 4 singers, and 2 of them have to dance as well. I have never gone at such a fast pace to learn a show in my life. On our first day of rehearsal we learned 3 dances!! And this just isn't any ole dance number, these are all fancy fast partnering, and swing footwork choreography. It has been absolutely kicking my butt!! AND I LOVE EVERY MOMENT OF IT!!! Almost every number we have is a "get it" dance number. You know those big like show stopping dances. It has been such an amazing experience so far, all the staff is wonderful, even the artistic director is cool and down to earth, and has a relaxed fun attitude about him, and they just have this demeanor that treats everyone who works here like a top notch union professional. It's truly awesome, I've never experienced this kind of atmosphere before. I wil definitely be coming back here if they will have me.

Some news for you all. I was offered a role this fall in the ensemble of ALL SHOOK UP, at the Carousel dinner Theare in Akron Ohio. And you know what else, they are going to give me my equity card!!!! That's right something I have been waiting for, and need to really set me up as a true professional in this feild. So Praise God!! I didn't have to acrew points, I was worthy enough to have it negotiated in my contract. YEAH. And I also got a call from Cree, (my future roomate)telling me that he found a place for us to live in Jersey City that he likes, so It looks like I will be living right outside of Manhattan afterall. But HEy praise God I have a place to live now as well.

BORN in the USA

2008-06-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I am sory it has been a while. I am now back on American soil, and it's been great to be home. I've been home for about a week and a half now, but I did a dumb thing and left my computer cord in Germany so I have not been able to use my puter. Oh well, live and learn.

Since I have been back I have been searching madly for apts in NYC. man it has not been as easy as I thought, makes me want to go back to Germany.

Germany was awesome!! The whole experience was incredible, and felt like I was on some great vacation, but the coolest thing about it was I was actually working!! Talk about the best job in the world. All the performances went really well, even when I sliced Mollys ear with my foot, when I slightly fell off the guys backs, and when people almost slipped and fell on sweat spots. They loved us , and treated us like stars, it truly was great!

Here are some random fun pics!!

Stay tuned, I am getting ready to do new shows!!

The Germanic adventure, and the 3 Gates

2008-06-08T04:46:00.000-07:00

I've been here in Germany for 2 weeks now, and it's like we live here. We know our way around, and can get from to and fro with ease. Our days have been filled with adventure, discovery, and exploration, and a whole heck of a lot of walking. We would just get on the tram, take it farther then we had before, get off, and start walking around. We have found some awesome places, and parks, and it has been a totally incredible way to really feel at home in this city.
Something that is very popular nowadays, especially in Europe, is this outdoor acrobatic exploration called Parkour. It was named by the french, if you've seen the latest James Bond Movie than you have seen it. It's the beginning seen where He is chasing some black guy thru the city and he is flipping , and jumping off, and twisting thru all sorts of everyday equiptment. There is also a Madonna video with all of it in it. Well anyway being who we are of course we are going to do some playing, so Mauriah found this park that had all these cool things to play off of, A very interesting and awesome playground, that just happened to be right next to a nuclear power plant.

We also try and get as much culture as we can, which I think is just right on and awesome, so we went and checked out this modern art muesum. Now it was not the Modern Art Muesum that we wanted to go to, it actually ended up being the, let's say contemporary art Muesum. Dude this place was weird, and had some pretty stupid exhibits. And it also had some pretty unsettling pieces. For instance it had this one room with these 2 video monitors on the floor, and the one had this crazy painted guy humping this mayonaise jar, and the other monitor had him pouring all these condiments over his necked body, it was pretty horrible. On the top level there was the big open space with these bean bag chairs facing this empty white wall, and the piece was how the metal scapultings shadows hit the wall. kind of cool, but still weird. Outside was beautiful however, and going downstairs I got some good pics too.

So on another day when the crew went exploring they hit a huge jackpot, so the next day they gathered almost all of us to go back to this magical fantasy land, they called Narleyia( a mixture of narley, and Narnia). So we took the train to a stop further than most of us had taken, got off walked past some more residential housing blocks, a school, (of course thru all this we are warming up our parkour skills) and we past thru our first gate.

The first gate was this big nice wall, that looked like the entrance to some nice government park. We were greeted by beautiful gardens on each side of the paved path, How lovely we thought. As we kept walking I was just thanking God for the beautiful sunny day, and all the great nature I was seeing that seemed to be so far away from the city. We were all enthralled at how so much life and growth was in this place, and then we come across the fork in the road, and in so discover that this luscious garden of beauty, is actually the land of the dead. We were actually in a big cemetary. Talk about being thrown for a loop. This realization put a whole new dimension on how we were feeling, and added this extra level of awe.

Well after being lead thru there we came upon the path to a hedge wall, and as I saw the leaders dissapear , I knew we had reached gate number 2, the doorway to The fields of the children tamed Beasts. We had passed thru this small opening fence door in the hedge to an actual petting zoo!! Hahaha, it was awesome, so we walked around petting and feeding the sheep, and goats, and just watched the pigs playing. They also had baby ducks, and chickens. I have to admit half the fun was watching these cute kids around this place, absolutely adorable. There was also a small swing set which I got to be on and get that fantastic feeling that runs thru your body when you hang upside down going backwards. Man that is awesome!!!

We again are heeded by the crew of leaders to continue on, and they take us on this dirt path by the side of the zoo, and end up in some kind of maze. Literally some kind of garden labrynth, with the wall hedges being as high as over my head, but mostly at shoulder level, and what we saw over these walls were beautiful and funny. It was The Garden Village of the Dwarves! We saw all these luscious garden plats and they seemed to be hiding these small one roomed cabins. But it was a whole village of these extravagant gardens and bush walls with these little wooden shacks in the middle of the garden plot. It was incredible and the likes I had never seen before I had gotten here. I had seen something like this the first day we got here, for I went and got lost and ended up in another one of these garden village plots, it's truly amazing. It's like they move to these plots in the summer to soley plant and garden.
We go thru a series of leafed archways and stand in awe of our final destination.

THE SPIDER CASTLE!!

WOW! It is this extravagant public playground right behind these big soccer fields that is made up entirely out of intertwined rope. Not just some kind of jungle gym, this thing was huge, and shot clear up a story or 2 in the sky, with this rope connecting everything. There were 3 main spires, The 3 towers if you will, connected by bridges, and one other bridge to get on in easier way. There were also 2 other smaller circular ones on the sides not connected so that you could just jump up and down in like a trampoline. It was Freakin Awesome!!! Oh and we found out the hard way if you shake one area the whole thing shakes,(poor little girl). Man we spent the rest of the morning and afternoon there acting like monkeys and subjects of the Spider Kingdom.

One of the most awesome trips we took was our day trip to one of the top 4 cities to see in Germany, Cologne. Now in German it's spelled koln with a special double dotted o, think about how confusing that was trying to by a ticket. It was only about a 20 min ride, and the train station lets you out right in front of the Cathedral. he only place that did not get bombed during the war since it was the highest and most recognizable building. And It' amazing! This place took 600 years to build. And it is astounding, full of atherial awe, artistic magistry, and spiritual enlightenment. It also has a spiraling tower of somehwere between 500 and 1000 steps,(Cree counted), we went up and saw the whole city. It was just surreal, but absolutely worth it. Just amazing that I can have this experience being a dancer. God has totally blessed me, and this was the perfect place to give him reverence for it. Coming down of course was very dissying, and when we got out some of our legs were shaking for like 10 minutes after that. The courtyard behind was full of life size statues for entertainment, they were all pretty lame, except for one , he was the only one worth getting a picture of and giving money too, but when we're around in open space, there is nothing next to us, and we started playing around and doing some of our dances, and we ended up stealing the crowd from them, which gave them a smoke break, it was soo funny. I spent the rest of the day shopping, absolutely fabulous, I love Germany.

all things German

2008-06-04T16:46:00.000-07:00

So so much has been going on. It is hard to keep you updated on a regular basis cause we don't get regular all the time wifi access, we only have it set up for all day or all night. So if I'm out all day, and then go out at night after the show, I'm pretty much screwed. And then On top of that we are 6 hrs ahead.
Ok, so the venue that we perform in is this big glorified tent, that from the inside does not look like a tent, just a glorious very chic restaurant. This is the Super VIP lounge for the clients and customers of Heidelberg Printing Press( who we're working for). The format goes they drink sit down have dinner, watch our show then have there dessert and continue drinking. Let me just reiterate there is mad money behind all this. Crazy stupid money!!!!
It is absolutely amazing for me to be here! I have crossed over to become an international dancer!!! Dudes that is so awesome!! I never in my life thought I would ever be in Germany, let alone considered high talent, and semi living here for a period of time. I'm just an awe of the fact that I'm here. You know it's very surreal for me. I have not had much contact with folks from the states, and so I'm not really feeling emotional, or spiritual intimacy here, so I feel like I'm not all together here, like I'm plucked out of my life for this period of time, to experience this weird dream. I think I also feel this way cause I have not been able to share this experience on a personal level with any of my close friends. All the times cool things happen I just want to do what I normally do, which is calling somebody, and I haven't been able to do that at all, which has been killing me. Some times I get lonely cause I might not see people till we meet to go over to the lounge. There's been a lot of solo exploring, which has been good but, I still would like to share it with people.

None the less a lot of cool things have been happening. Most of the time to and fro from the hotel to the tent Lounge, we've had this taxi bus, driven by this totally sweet older man with horribly bad teeth named Lucian. Great guy. Well one day he finally got to come in and watch the show. Man he loved it, which made us fantastically happy. To further our ecstaticness, and to show how much he likes us, after the show he gave us all little teddy bears that he had bought for us from Ikea. I have no idea when he bought them and when the idea had hit him, but let me just tell you it hit us all in that great spot in our hearts to get these bears. I'm still working on a name for mine though, it's got to be German.

The other thing that makes this a really weird experience for me is this, the dancers in the company call me a demi god. Which I do not encourage, and I hate, and I try as much as possible to give all the praise back to God. But what seems to have happened here is that everyone really loves me for some reason. Now in the show there are kind of 2 distinct parts where I stand out. There's this whole eygpt section where I'm like the pharoh and am the main focus in this 4 man duet. At the end of the dance there's this fun like hiphoppy dance party section, and they gave me a part where I have a little solo. I come out into the middle of the stage do like 3 or 4 turns in the silence and then do this big toe touch right when the music comes back in. It's a big little to do.but really not like a special thing. Well the President of the company has read our names out after the show one by one so we could bow, and both times for my name there has been shockingly more applause and shouting for me. It makes me feel bad. It is like this to the point that one night after the show, I was asked to go out and meet 2 young lady admirers, and have drinks with them. That was a weird night. Just didn't feel like myself at all, I'm not a smoozer. BUt I had to take one for the team and do it for the company, cause the ladys were very high profile in our clients company. we also went out one nite and in the club apparently we were told by a club patron, that everyone thought I was beautiful and was looking at me. So it's been really weird for me cause of everyone's high perception of me. It's definitely cool, but it's weird cause I don't know how to stay humble when there is this constant compliment. So I had a shirt made, it says, " Dusseldorf dunkle schocolade,". Guess what that means!?

SO Heidelberg wanted to make us feel special and thanks us so last night they took us to the rich part of Dusseldorf, over the Reign river, to this real italian restaurant. Exclusive, we end up going downstairs to this wine cellar where they have this elaborate dinner set up for us. Man it was all the expensive amazin stuff you think it would be, and let me just say I had pasta with truffles in it, you know it's high class now. It was just a total amazing experience.
I'm in Germany, WOW!

A German ER

2008-06-03T17:18:00.000-07:00

So, I had my first accident ever.
Last night right at the end of our performance. During the last section of the dance which is like this hip hop party, I have a solo where I do some turns, and then do a big toe touch. Well right when I do that the girls come in around me, and we all dance, and we all have to exit at the same time. Usually I would just dive role with Molly slightly behind,beside her. but I have been developing a sore, and rough spot on my bone right where I slam into it on the role, so I changed it to a cart wheel, so I wouldn't hurt myself anymore. In the process of me trying to not hurt myself, my second leg ended up coming down on Molly's head, and when trying to compensate away from her, I almost went off stage. She is a huge trooper, and the show was almost over literally like 3 more counts of eight or something, and she said she was alright. Well it wasn't until one of the dancers realized that the color red tricking down to her neck and shoulders wasn't from the sweat running her makeup, So we ended up going straight to the ER. My toenail ended up slicing her ear right on the seem of the top of her ear, and she needed to get 5 stitches. Well Of course I felt totally like the biggest dog poopie there is. But dude the waiting room in a German hospital is sooooo boring!!!
So when we back to the Hotel we found that the staff saved us dinner, which was great of them. And to help make Molly and I feel better Marco made us these amazingly awesome, Icecream sundaes!! And man that act of kindness simply raised my whole demeanor.

the Request, and the turn away

2008-06-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, So my boss Micheal comes to me after the show last night raving about how good we were, and how the show just keeps getting better and better, when in actuality, it was the best worst show we've had. It was really kind of weird for him to not even notice anything, but we just take it all in stride and move on, knowing what we need to do, and nodding and saying yes.
So he comes over to me and is just really complimenting how really good I was and how I just impress people when I'm on stage, (yeah you could tell he was going somewhere) well apparently there were these 2 ladies who were all giddy about me, and really wanted to meet me. WELL one of the girls just happens to work right under and with the person who hired us to dance, so Of course she just goes over to Micheal and asks, and or suggests that He have me come out and meet them, so he came back to beg me to go out, and spend time with the ladies for the sake of the company.
Let me just say it was real odd for me to go and smooze, and semi flirt like this, with 2 German woman I'm really not attracted to, and being really hungry, and wanting to just go back to the Hotel.I just totally felt like I was fake. But whatever I took one for the team. Actually in the course of the introduction, Micheal ends up leaving me, which was not the plan at all, so I felt deserted in this big desert with a wolf at my foot. So they took me over to the Bar and they bought me a Mojito, which by the way was really great, and didn't taste too much like Alcohol, well til the end. She was all about me though, kept saying that I was so muscular, and had no fat, it was obvious I was hardcore eye candy.
I call myself Dark Chocolate for Europeans
We were also invited out to a club by some of the hostesses at the lounge that wanted to meet us out, so a couple of us got ready and headed out. We Don't even get to the beginning of this empty cue line, and this big guy rushes over and is proclaiming to us that it's members only night. Now the expediency at which he was able to tell us this, is what makes the situation feel shady. It was Roberto, Cree, and myself, Lauren, and Mauriah. So I have to say it felt more like racial profiling. but we found a better club for us to go to that was basically kiddie nite, 18-24. but as usual we worked it out and had a great time.

Th Photo Shoot

2008-05-29T23:33:00.000-07:00

SO they made this little booklet for all the guests and clients who get to be invited to eat in our performance venue, of the makings of the whole place and everything in it. Here was some of our contribution in it. Oh and I have to say the really cool thing for me was, there are a bunch of pics of me in the book!
Of course it got to the point that we were having our own fun, HAHAHAHAH

2008-05-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

GERMANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOWEEE WOOWEEEE!!
SO my first International experience has been incredibly awesome so far. Dude we got a hot meal on the plane, and 2 movies!
Ok it's almost 1am here, and I am way tired so I will just put some pics of the first few days.

Solid Gold

2008-05-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

Absolute craziness!

Wow what a crazy ride this Rehearsal process for Pilobolus has been. We were on a weird schedule as it was with weeks of nothing in between just a couple of days of rehearsal, so our bodies could never get used to the rigorous athletic partnering. But we have been in rehearsal now for the last 2 weeks straight. That is only because one of our guys quit our cast. So we had to find a new guy to relace him. Now don't be mad at Mark for leaving, I never was, and if you still want to see him, he is now in the Broadway Nat'l Tour of WICKED!!!! So we were fine with him leaving, even his wife, though she is sad that they can't be together in Germany, but we're all trying to make up for that.

The replacement we got is awesome! His name is Roberto. Actually the cool thing is his twin brother is in the main company of Pilobolus, and he actually is in Momix, which if you don't know, was started by one of the founders of Pilobolus, so it's kind of considered to be the sister company. So He already understood all the weird body vocabulary, and he came into our put-in rehearsal already knowing most of his choreography from watching the video, which was just incredibly awesome!! We love him, and he already fits right in. In fact he is kind of a crazy dance improver like me, and we're always playing off of each other and creating "fierce" dance moves for us to do. Oh and he also calls me "OSO", which means bear in spanish, because of my big flat feet that when I step gives me one large footprint. So I call him Monkey clown. It works.

Well and just like that we had our last day of rehearsal yesterday. And let me just say that I am so happy about that. The last 4 days have been really tough, cause we have had to change choreography almost each time we ran it with our horribly cut music. Even up to yesterday we added new moves and lifts, and throws, and at this point you just get so freakin FRUSTRATED that you just can't rehearse what you've already set. but we got thru it and we move on. On top of that we had costume issues. Yeah ummm, ... they just weren't what we expected at all. Again some changes had to be made. And we got thru it. AT this point we're just like Dude Lets just got to Germany. And so

WE ARE!!!!!!

Right now I am on the bus back to philly from New York, and have all day to run errands and pack, and not just for Germany but try and pack as much of my apt as I can. Dude I am so awesomely excited, I"M GOING TO GERMANY!! WOOOOOHHOOOOOO!!!!

Oh and here's some other really cool blessing from God, Last week I got called into the office And the rehearsal director asked if I would be interested in being in the real Satelite Company for this next year! AWESOME. This second company of Pilobolus only travels internationally, so I would get to see the world. I'm sorry but God is awesome! and I am so glad that he had me get fired from EVITA. And yesterday I got a call from another theater that wants me to do there show in the fall, so now comes the hard part of negotiating and saying no. I never thought I would be in a place where so many different people would want me, and I woud have to choose. It's just a testament to How God is using me, and what he is doing to redeem my life. Hopefully I won't have to pick and choose, pray for me that I could do both the musical and the 2company.

Well next stop...... DUSSELDORF

The Pass Around

2008-05-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

WOw!! Talk about busy!

Well it all started out with an audition last friday at the Walnut Street Theatre here in philly. I have been trying to get into the Nut(as we all cal it), since I got here almost 3 yrs ago. The closest I ever got was when I crashed the singers call last year for PETER PAN, I wrote about it(the title of the blog starts out with Green Tights).

The audition was for HAIRSPRAY. Now this is one of the musicals on my Havetoo list. I would love to be in this show, the joy and merriment that the music in this show gives me is just too overwhelming for me to not be in this show. I had an audition before for this show in NY for another theater in CA, which was awesome, the combination was fierce as all get out, but I wasn't able to go to the call back cause fortunately I was in rehearsal with Pilobolus. So that just means it wasn't my time to work there yet. Because of that routine, I was expecting the same level of choreographic intensity, um which it totally wasn't. But anyway, I passed the dance cut, and I along with a Hip hop teacher at Koresh(the school I take class at, and Company I interned with), was asked to talk to the director and choreographer. The next thing happened that I would never expected. 1:They asked us if we could grow hair, 2:when the last time we saw our hair was, 3:and if having hair made us look younger.

The figured since we were great dancers they would still here us sing, "oh boy!"

Anyway, Last sunday I went to the big apple for an audition for ALL SHOOK UP. It's kind of seen as an Elvis musical, though it really kind of isn't but has his music in it. It was explained to me as a more Disneyer version of Footloose. Outsider hot guy comes into small country drab town, and makes everything go from black and white to technicolor, and everyone can do triple pirouettes. The first thing we learned was this type out dance. What this is is just everyone doing the simplest 3 8 count dance just so they choreographer can just cut the people He's not even going to look at, cause they either don't have the right type for his show or whatever. So pass that and we learn this total fun combination, It was great it had turns, sycipation, a big kick and the twist, what more do you need, and of course I put some unjulations in it. So I got pass that cut and actually was told to come to the callback that was on tuesday morning to dance and sing again.

I was trying to go to 2 other auditions on Monday and tuesday and was not able to even get seen cause I was not Equity, Man I can't stand this not non Equity crap, the next show I'm in in the fall, God willing, I will get my card.

Monday night I get a call from this girl named Sarah at Binder Casting Agency, WHOAAAA!!

Um Binder Casting Agency casts Broadway and movies! Now I have gotten to the point where Dave Clemmons casting had called me in for invited dance calls, but that is most a nonequity agency, so to be called by her was awesome in itself. This is where it got weird though, she call and invited me to dance call for the show ALL SHOOK UP. She said she had gotten my headshot and resume from the same guy who ran the other audition on sunday, and who was directing this show for another theater, and around the same time too. What? yeah I was thinking that too. So apparently this guys is doing this show at 2 different theaters in the fall. So of course I said I was coming, now this call was for wednesday at noon, man I love invited calls, but this meant that I again would either have to stay in New York over night from tuesdays call back or make another trip back and forth, again it was just the final confirmation that I am moving to New York.

The callback tuesday morning was nothing but great fun. The guy we were auditioning for was Marc Robbin, a pretty know guy in this world of regional theatre but I had never heard of him before. He was tubuler, and was so laid back and fun, it totally eased the tention of the audition. Something fun he had us do was clap for everybodys group when they were dancing, which gaves us a hightened since of support and goofiness when we danced. It was just really nice. So pass the dance cut again, and now he has us sing, I end up being the 3 person to go, which was cool, I don't think I've ever sang so early before. I go in and the first thing he says to me is how awesome of a dancer I am, and how I captivated everybodys attention when I danced! Way cool!, Now I have also heard, and seen first hand that this man is known for complimenting out the wahzoo, while he will continually put you on the cut list. But hey take it where you can get it. And then he asked me why I haven't auditioned for anything at the Walnut since I lived in philly, cause he choreographed PETER PAN and would haved loved me in it! HA! and we both agreed that Walnut was stupid, hehehehe. But on my way out he made sure I was coming the next day, and I was just kind of smerking and was like yeah of course and asked him if it would be the same thing, and he was like yeah, pretty much everything. ...ok, great

Now I am trying to find work for the fall, thats what all these auditions are for. I just want to make sure now more than ever that I always have rent money coming in, I am so afraid of not being able to pay rent and live in Nyc, hey man if any of you want to contribute to the Keep Dark Chocolate Dancing and Eating fund please go right ahead, email with any donations, We appreciate the kind that jingles but love the kind that folds!!!

Moving on, So I have been trying to get any kind of dance gig for next fall, So I went and auditioned for this dance company that is based in Brooklyn but that is getting enough acclaim is perfomring in the Olympics this summer in China! Now one of my goals is to also dance in the Olympics, which is pretty much I think the only reason why I ventured all the way out there to audition. It was very intimidating to be watched and scrutinized by these 6 people, and in the course of the one on 6 audition you could just tell that my body structure was just not right for the movement, oh well, I kind of want to stick to doing theatre anyway.

But While I was there I recieved another phone call from some other guy Whos doing a production of THE FULL MONTY at some other theatre some where else. He tells me that Bob Kline Casting agency gave them my headshot and resume and told them I would be good for this, they were the agency that was doing the first call from sunday and this callback on tuesday. But I ended up totally missing this call cause it was the same time as my Dance Company audition.

But the fact that from one audition I ended up being invited to 3 was totally cool for me, an dsuch an amazing realization, that man as soon as I get to NYC and become Euqity I'm going to always be working, and then I'm going to hit every goal I can!!!! CIRQUE here I come!!!!!!!!!

The meeting of Bermuda and Germany!

2008-05-01T09:14:00.001-07:00

SO now I'm on the bus home from Nyc, and Ct where I just came from rehearsal with Pilobolus. Thats right internet on the bus, man I love this new company, Boltbus all the way!

Rehearsal was of course great in seeing everybody! We haven't all been together now in about 5 and a half weeks, and we really kind of like each other alot, and have a really good group of dancers together. In fact I called everyone the night before just to tell them I couldn't wait to see them, and Holly said she had a surprise for me which ended up being a bracelet she made for me out of the present I bought the girls before we left,( which was a bead kit).

But the thing that was horrible about coming back after having so much time off, was actually doing the dance we created. Oh Gees! Talk about stiff necks, sore thighs, and cranked backs. And not a single one of us could figure out the whole dance from beginning to end, thank God He gave us all different minds to remember different things. So the first day was spent on going over everything we had forgotten, and trying to remember what exactly the choreography was. Oh we also had our first costume fitting!

Well, if there was ever a time when I wanted to be a solid gold dancer, it has now been fulfilled, 10 times over. We all have these really glittery silver or gold peices of clothing on. I think the fabrics were made out of glitter, anway there's glitter every where on us , I am going to be nothing but sparkling for almost 3 weeks in Germany. Talk about standing out, I'm already going to be the darkest one there, Now that is going to be enhanced byt these small reflecter dots all over my body that the sun is going to catch, and glimmer in peoples eyes. Oh, I always wanted to feel special right!! Ha!

But running thru the dance in costume as much as possible, we realized we're not going to be able to do as much of it as we thought, so we had to try some new costume ideas the next day, in which she made these fabulous moon pants for me that were just emaculate! I love them so much, and I want to keep them as lounge pants. You don't even understand how awesome they were, I'll try to get a picture of them the next I have them on. of course we had a great time playin around with each other as well.

Anyway, The other great thing about being back up there in the woods of Conneticut, was that the other cast for Bermuda was there rehearsing as well across the street. We haven't been able to see each other, or hangout at all since we've started, so we were all freakin excited to be staying in the same hotel together, and see each other dance. It was way cool for us newbies, we haven't seen each other since the audition, and there is a special connection we have since we were the ones hired. The Bermuda crew just hired 3 guys( to our 2guys and 2 girls), and actually the one guy they hired is also going to be in the main company in the fall as well, he got the best gig! They were able to come over and watch us do our dance, which made us excited but nervous. But it was good for our directors to get feedback from the others. I think the best time we had was hanging out the one night in the haunted hotel room. Whatever, it's an old nice big bed and breakfast that the company always puts all the dancers up at, and this time we had totally taken over, and there is one corner room upstairs that has these 2 pictures that are old, and eery looking because of the faces of the people in them. So we were trying to scare each other by scratchin, and knocking on the wall, which worked at times. Of course being who we are, we were playing around, picking each other up, and balancing all over everything acting goofy.

It's very exciting the Bermuda crew leaves either may 8 or the 10th, So it was fun to see them off. It's getting crazy for us now to, we leave in 22 days!!!! wooohoooo.

2008-04-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

Ok this is a couple weeks old post, I'm sorry again for not being as fervent to post as much as I need to, I AM going to change, especially cause alot of exciting things are going to be happening soon.

(couple weeks old post)
Yesterday I experienced something that was totally new, and incredibly awesome, and I owe it all to my housemates! I was preparing to trek up to the nyc and they told me about this new bus system called bolt bus and apparently how cheap they are. So I figured I'd give it a try. Well it ended up being cheaper then China town! which is usually the cheapest way to get there 20 bucks. Well this was 16.50 and would have been cheaper if i'd done it earlier, and then it turned out to be nicer than Greyhound!! How awesome!, The first bus I went in had all leather seats, and both buses (to and fro), had a power socket off the back of every seat, and Internet access. It was just way cool.

Anyway, so I trekked up there for some Broadway stuff. The 2 shows were WICKED, in the morning, and an old show they're bringing back to Broadway called, PAL JOEY, in the afternoon. Now it was really kind of eery cause as I was approaching the studio I didn't hear any noise, and there was no one in the halls, I wondered if I was in the wrong place or maybe at the wrong audition. I looked in the room, and saw all these equity men, and my friend General, phew someone I knew. Well turns out people were just showing up late, and my feelings of questioning should I be there were quickly diminished when I saw all my audition buddies! I didn't realize how intense these auditions are in making us come together, and support each other, and how much I could miss people, that I barely knew. It's so funny cause I remember the days when I was so uncomfortable and scared and intimidated cause I didn't know anyone.

Now WICKED is an audition that every one has gone to at one time or another, and so knows the combination that they teach cause it never changes, and it's so weird. And so does not look good on my body, you just come to those realizations that there are really some shows you are never going to be in. Oh well.

Oh by the way,

Some updates on EVITA. No I haven't found out why I was fired, but get this little bit of info I got from Andrew who I've been surprisingly seeing at auditions. Well after I was terminated Hank quit, then Samantha, then Andrew( hence the surprise sitings), Then Cameron, real big shocker cause she played Evita! Then Stephanie quit who was playing the mistress. Also there's been a couple of musicians who've quit the tour as well. Sunday I received a call from the Company Manager Brad, telling me that he was sitting in an airport cause he just got fired!, he called cause he thought I would think it was funny, which of course I didn't, cause I am not in the bizness of other peoples misfortune. All that to say, looks like God got me out at the right time, and the best way out of all.

So on to the next audition, I end up walking Andrew to meet Sam for lunch, fun little Evita dancer reunion. Again as I said before when they have new Broadway shows, every body and there mother comes out for it, people you just ain't never seen before, or haven't see in a while, now these people are mostly veterans to the Broadway stage, not old fogies( well not all) but just cats who have been in other shows there already, like my friend Joe Abraham who was in HAIRSPRAY!

2008-04-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

Well There hasn't been any auditions lately that I've thought beneficial for me to go to, hence why I haven't wrote much.

I have just been dancing, and resting, and working out my body. Trying to see people and spend some quality time with folks before I move and really never get to see them.

But maybe something you all don't know, is that I sing as well. Being in my business, you have to be a triple threat! ( someone who can sing dance and act).

Anyway, I am apart of a choir, well during college I was in this choir that was so awesome that an alumni entity had to be made so we could handle the demand, and make a professional part for us. SO this weekend I had to run back and forth to York, Pa to sing with the choir. We had a great time seeing each other and making music together. Now this is not just some choir, there are lots of people in this choir who are performers on Broadway, and Broadway calibur musicians who teach music. Some of the shows we represent are: A CHORUS LINE, RENT, HAIRSPRAY, THE PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, GREASE, BLAST, just to name a few.

So I thought I'd let you in on the fun a little bit.

a 7yr olds imagination

2008-04-07T20:21:00.001-07:00

Someone wanted me to show you how creative I can get. I made this when I was in rehearsal, and basically was cut off from the world, with massive creative influence. Actually this was inspired by a 7 yr old, Otis's son Max. So I made it for him

Where do we go from here

2008-04-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

Ok,

so last monday I went to another Disney Cruisline call for dancers. I can't even remeber how many times I have done this audition now, and every time I make it thru, and nothing happens. So after the dance cut, the guy calls me over to the table and says, "alfie did they ever call you from the last time?" Yeah Ok. So apparently he had talked me up, and tried to sell me to the other parks and shows. But to no avail I guess, I asked if I should even stay, and he said yes, he wanted to keep trying, which I have to admit made me feel good.

Later on that day I made my way to the same studio I had the 7BRIDES audition in, this new space is getting used all the time now, for an audition for a new BROADWAY show called ANGELS. Now the posting said be prepared for some big atheletic combination, so all the guys were ready to pull out all the stops and were stretching everything, and working on there tricks, but it ended up being some real kind of modern lyrical combo. Well again since this was a new show, every came out! In fact they weren't even finished with the girls when we were suppossed to start. They ended up seeing like 170 something girls, maybe like 120 guys. By the time they got to us non equity boys they shortened the combination. It was nice, simple and atherial. but I got cut, so I treated myself to popeyes fried chicken.

I've been back in philly for about a week now. It feels weird, I feel like I should be working, and not just resting. But I've had 2 sets of parents tell me that this was a good settle time for me, right before things get crazy for me, and that I should just take class, and rest , and see people I need to since I am about to go international, and then move out of here. So I am going to try and do that as much as possible, so if anybody wants to send money my way GO RIGHT AHEAD! You can also just invite me over for dinner and meals and that would suffice too.

2008-03-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

So, here I am back in Nyc,

You know what, I have only been in my home for the weekends this whole month, and where I seem to be shuffled back to is New York, so that's it and I;ve decided, I will be moving to NYC at the end of june!!

I have been here all week cause there has been an audition every day that I wanted to go to. Well, Once you get here, or I should say once things actually start panning out, and you're in the week, and life happens to you, you end up picking and choosing what is actually worthwhile auditioning for. For instance, I decided to not go to the WIZARD OF OZ call, cause it's only for a dinner theatre in Ohio! and Would I really want to do that show for an extended period of time, yeah I didn't think so.

Tuesday comes I get up early and go to another call for a new Broadway show, that is untitled. Now things like this bring people out of the woodwork, all kinds of people I hadn't seen before, and alot of the Equity regulars. And I mean alot, there was over 100 equity boys there, and then came us non ecs. Usually male calls don't get over the hundred mark. So I knew this was going to be a long wait, on top of that it was for a Gershwin project, which means old, and WHITE. This is just probably going to be a show with non so many black tracks(ie. roles for black people). SO I decided to leave and go work out, I figured I had another one later that day so wasn't worried about it, but what was funny is that on my way to the other studio, I stopped by Gershwin again and found out that my name had just been called to go in, I did wait and ponder if I was going in, but I decided not too. I headed down town to a studio I had never been before, and after finding it, was kind of weirded out. The ambiance was weird cause there were african type trinkets everywhere, it was a Capoeria studio. The weirdest place I have ever had a Broadway audition.

Well after waiting for what seemed to be a day, they finally got thru all the equity boys. It had been over an hour, and it was good thing they were done, cause we were making ourselves delirious with laughter, from the long wait weirded out environment, and crazy anxiousness. We had already seen one group come out incredibly soaked from sweat, and knew this was going to be an intense combination.

So we learned the most fun, fierce dance combo. It was great!!! It was a dance worth waiting for, haven;t had that much fun in an audition in a while.( though Lyrics audition was pretty fun). But again they were not making any cuts cause it was the first round of their whole process. Oh well. They let us dance it one more time just for the sheer fun of it. Awesome!!

Man I love to dance.

Well I was supposed to go to an audition on wed. but lets just say I only got home an hour before the morning news came on, so by the time the audition rolled around, I was sleep. It's ok, It wasn't a huge dancing show. But the great thing was despite that, I got a call back from MEMPHIS for thursday!!!, And then on top of that, I got a call from OK with a contract to do both SWING and 7BRIDES!!!!!!!!!!! WWWHHHHHOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!

So I was way excited and happy to land this gig, with these 2 shows that I really wanted to do. And it's great timing in my schedule it will start like a week after I get back from Germany and London. I'm so totally stoked for that experience!!!!!!!!!!! Man I can't wait to find out I'm one of the brothers!!!!!!!!!!hahahahahahahha

Lyric theatre of Oklahoma

2008-03-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

So I traveled up to New York again Last Tuesday for an audition for the tour of MY FAIR LADY, the National Tour and SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS,and, URINETOWN, that this theatre in Oklahoma is doing for the summer. Now there was no real reason to audition MFL cause that was for just replacements for the tour which is only going til June, it was kind of weird and stupid that they were even having an audition, so that was just about auditioning.

WHat I mean by that is auditioning for auditioning sake. To sharpen my skills, at presenting myself, having a good time, picking up the dance combinations quick, that sort of thing. In this bizness, it's not just about being good at dancing and singing, but it's about auditioning well at the same time. Yeah that's another skill you have to learn. Now The combinations we learned were fun, and totally opposite, and all about being a character. In fact we really didn't have to stretch at all for these dances. The first one we had to act like we were drunkards, and the second like upper class snobs. Nice contrasts. Now what happened when it was all done is something that pretty much everyone agrees to hate on, and that's when the people who are looking at us don't make cuts. So they didn't cut any of us, and just gave us a blanket covering of information, and crap. oh well.

Now what I really wanted to perform well for was for the theatre in OK. I would love to dance in 7brides for 7bros. Now don't get mixed up by the name, it's not 7 Brothras, trying to find wives, No actually it's the opposite it's this mountain family of men in some country town. The movie is awesome, I totally recommend renting and watching it, it's freakin awesome, and all the Brothers have red hair! And the dance sequences are incredible. It's just a great male dancing musical. So I finally get in there to learn the dance, in he freakin teaches us the whole long thing, which is really complicated in just ten mins!! Lots of us were frustrated, cause this dance is all about guys gettin it! I mean big toe touches, and leaps and athleticism. And it was a pretty fun invigorating combination so we wanted to do well. At first I was scared and frustrated cause I couldn't get the transition of some steps, and sometimes, no matter how proficient you think you are, you feel to intimidated to ask questions. But Praise God by the time I had to perform it, I knew where I was going. I did a pretty good job, but what was to my benefit were the big jumps at the end. I praise God for the power in my legs, and I was surprised that a lot of the men couldn't get up as high, and stay on beat with the music. After everybody went, the Director asked to see a group go again, and he called 4 guys out, which I happened to be one of. One was this tall guy with big legs that were really spread wide when he was in the air, this other was this kid that you could tell he liked from giving him corrections before. SO I new this was a special group he was looking at. So we went, and people were cheering at us, and pumpin us up to dance well, and really perform, I had a fantastically great time!! And was so exited that I got called out.

Now this was just the day of no cuts, cause they didn't make selections either, but kept us all to sing. Which made the day even longer. Time passes, we take over the floors and lay around and become friends with people, including this guy who I met before at other auditions, who turns out to be in the movie I love ACROSS THE UNIVERSE! So I finally get in there to sing, I was forewarned about the pianist semi egotistical attitude, and saw exactly what everyone meant. sang my song nice and short, and on the way out one women gives me this compliment, " you have a beautiful head." umm, what I thought. Yes She proceeded to tell me that the shape of my head was great. Well what can I say, it was definitely weird though. I left the room, and went back to the holding room, and just about when I got to my stuff that woman came and chased me down and proceeded to secretively talk to me. I say that cause she was all close talking low, and asked me if I had the schedule open to dance in their other show that they still needed a dancer for, which happens to be SWING. Another show I would love to be apart of. So that made me feel totally awesome, and I'm just praying that I get that whole gig. It would be right after I come back from Germany. I added the famous barn dance for you to watch over on the side,!!! Please Enjoy

A quick breath

2008-03-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

PHEEEEEWWWWW!!!!!!

Well, I am finally back. And I can finally get back into a groove of letting you know what's going on. I am sorry for those of you who have had nothing to do while I have been delinquent in not writing and keeping you updated. My life has been a whirl wind of travel, and opportunity, and new experiences!! Which is totally, fantastically, Awesome!!!!!

SO I have been in New Milford, CT rehearsing with the Dance company Pilobolus. Now I should clarify, I am not in the main company, no they are touring as we speak around the globe. But since they are wanted so much they have to have satellite companies that can do other gigs, hence where I come in, and the other cats in my company.

Now My company consists of the Director Otis who was in the main company for about 10 yrs, actually if you look down he's the white bald guy holding up those 3 other people in the picture. Yeah he's totally awesome too. He's like My big brother, we have the same kind of body type, and bald head, and love for dessert! Oh and we both have this really uncanny knack to become characters, just change our bodies and faces to create different people. So we're kind of paired against each other in our piece.

Then we have 5 others who have been performing with the satellite company for a while, Cdub, Cree, Holly, Molly, and Mark. They have been great in helpin us newbies learn the material, and feel comfortable about being ourselves and being there, and opening ourselves to create. The 3 others who got hired like me for this cast are, Mauriah, Lauren, and Jeff. So there are 10 of us, and the awesome thing is we all get along, and have a great time with each other.

Now Pilobolus work is very physical, and at times crazy, as you can tell from the pictures I've shown you before, so getting our bodies acclimated to this style took a while. Let me just tell ya, a 9 o clock felt like midnight, so after a 10 hr day, we pretty much crashed at 10pm the first week. Which explains why I was too tired to really write at the time what was going on. Now by the 2 week, we were starting to grasp things, so we were able to start hangin out with each other in our hotel rooms at night, but again only for like an hr or so, cause we would still need to go to bed at decent times to crank our bodies out the next day.

The piece we're working on is for a performance in Germany, and it's just a 1 time gig so we'll put it together, go over there and work it out for 2 and a half weeks and then be done. And if Pilobolus doesn't like me, they can just never call me again, but hopefully the plan for them is to keep using me, which is what I hope. Now since it is a one time gig, we don't have a consistent rehearsal schedule, actually it's kind of on crack. We had 2 and a half weeks on, and now we have 6 weeks off, then 3 days on, then 2 weeks off, then 5 days on then we go to Germany. The only nice thing about the time off is we can actually get back in shape again. Now It's not that we're not being physical, but it's not technical dancing, or even aerobic dancing, it's a lot of choreographed movements with certain dance flair. Now what's funny is that I am considered to be this Dancer- dancer, this ballet boy, who is just all about technique, Now I don't know how this came to be, but whenever there actually needs to be a beat or a count to a rhythm, they get me to count it. Or they'll ask me for some dance move or always assure me that they'll be some dancy moment. I just laugh. So I just try and live up to that.

More to come!!

Pilobolus day 2

2008-03-05T17:27:00.000-08:00

WE come back for day 2 at noon, ready and warmed up for partnering. Actually the ballet class that was using the studio before us went over time, so we ended up stretching our mess in the hall way. Aw well do what you have too.

SO they seperated us girls and boys, about 11 or so in each group, and they sat us down and got our availibility, gave us some information like they were going to use all of us, pretty cool. They started out with us doing , big surprise!!!,....IMPROVS! We split up on the sides of the room, and they would call a number and that many people would run out and improv. That was fine. We do that agian, and I end up going in a group with 3 other guys. Well it was 2 martial arts guys, and another dancer like myself, so they tried to make us all have the same kind of movement which wasn't really happening, so they stopped us, and had us just simply be in competition with each other. What started out as me jumping out in front of the line ended up being us in a circle jumping up and down primal like, beating our chests, and throwing our arms in the air. It was hysterical for everyone.

After this pass they had us do another you guessed it improv, but this time in duets where they picked our partner. It's way easier to create with one person, umm that is as long as you have a good person. I was watching everybody, and seeing who were good movers and had a creative flow, and worked well with others, and the one person I was absolutely asking God to not be with, or course ends up being the person I am paired with. SO I try and just change my attitude and make the best of it, grab her hand and walk into the middle of the space, as I stop to turn front to get direction, she keeps going and ends up jerking my arm, and from that I knew that this was going to be nothing but conflict. Well it ended up not working so well, that they once again stopped us, and simply told us to play the slap game, so I slap her hands( and not softly either).So we're slapping, I mostly, and then she slaps my shoulder, and then the next time she like shoves into my stomach. Now at this point I am at a loss for words cause this is definitely not the definition of the slap game, so I am getting upset. So upset that basically I end up totally picking her up swinging her around my body a couple of times so she looses her baring, and maybe gets a little scared, throw her semi over my shoulder and just slap her butt continuosly, and she ended up slapping my leg upside down. The end. Well they loved it, while I hated the whole thing.

We then Headed into some real partnering, big lifts, and cool flips over shoulders, and fun weight shifting, and weight sharing excercises. We ended moving about 5pm, thats right 5 hrs. We were done at this point, and got to change our clothes and chill out. They wanted to talk to everyone one by one. and all the girls got to go first. So basically we were just playing around and chilling out from this long process, getting to know the other dancers and cultivating relationships.

I was one of the last 3 people they talked too, at 645pm

SO I sit down in this circle of the 2 original starters of the company, the head producer, a couple company members, maybe an artistic director. The main person who is speaking to me is the head producer I think, and the first thing he says to me is, well" when you first walked in here we immediately thought you had the totally wrong body type for their company, and that I was not going to really even be looked at." yeah um I was kind of flabbergasted and really didn't know how to react, but he continued," but as you kept moving, that where was not a point where each one of us didn't say wow he's awesome!" Pheww! So we continued from there, and they asked me what my goals were, and personal stuff. I told them about being let go from the tour, and how I was preparing for Cirque, well when they heard that they immediately went into securing me. They told me that they wanted to offer me a contract with them, but wanted me to say yes to them right there before they offered it to me, despite what happened with Cirque. Yeah definitely a little shady on there part. But I agreed realizing that this company would be a great thing to be apart of. I found out that this company is like a huge family. In which they constantly call people out of the blue to do different gigs, and performances, and commercials, so I wanted to get in.

Otis called me the next afternoon. He was one of the alumni company members there who was helping running the auditions, and he offered me a contract to dance with him and his crew for a gig in Germany!

In the family!!

Pilobolus DAY1

2008-03-02T11:48:00.001-08:00

Well, here we go
Sorry I thought I was going to be able to write during the week after rehearsals, but man I end up going to bed at like 10 just knocked out. So here it is Sunday, doing what the Lord says to do and taking a day of rest, to catch up.

So, Wednesday( 2 weeks ago). I catch the 10am greyhound bus to NYC pretty standard, it'll get me there by 121opm and I have 20 mins to get to the studio, and check in, for the 1pm go, not stressed no problem. Well of course there happens to be some massive traffic problem, of course the day where I have no time to spare in between. So this uncomfortable ride where the bus is packed and I'm sitting with an odd shaped bag under my feet, which doesn't cause me to sit up, and an overweight bag in my lap, that usually lasts 2 hrs, ends up being pretty much 3, without a lot of pauses. Very Painful. As I look at the time I figure Ok, I guess I'm not meant to be at this audition, which I thank God this was not the major thing I was trying to go after, cause I was able to just stay relaxed, and say oh well, Cirque is Saturday!
But I was trying to figure a way out to still audition today, now I knew I would be cutting it close, so I figured worse comes to worse I could just try and finagle(I have no idea how to spell that), my way into the call back the next day. We finally get into the city, and I scramble to get to the subway and get the quickest train I can up town. Now I haven't been to this studio space before so I didn't even know exactly where I was going, but I end up getting on the wrong train then I anticipated, SHOOOT! this will take even more time, gees maybe I'm really not supposed to be here. Well As I shoot pass the stop I think I should be getting off at, I settle for the extra blocks I'll have to walk, It's all about changing your attitude, but as I get off and start trying to find an exit that leads me closer to where I need to get out, I realize that I made a mistake in my address, and that I was actually only a block up from where I needed to be, and That God had once again put me in the place where I needed to be, despite myself. HA
Anyway, so I rush to find this place, end up going in the wrong building and finally come to this place. I get up stairs and I see this young woman hanging out in the stairwell, with what looks like a sign in sheet. She realizes I'm there to audition and shes like umm, I ask if it's to late, and she decides to just teach it to me right there in the hall way, so I throw my stuff down, change clothes in a storage closet and go. No warm up, no stretch, Oh well, gotta do what you do.
SO I learn the phrase, it wasn't really a dance just movement, running, jumping, stopping, rolling. The thing that was perplexing me though was how quiet it was, there was no music coming from the studio where they were auditioning, and I just saw these guys, half topless, just waiting by the door looking into the studio. So after the phrase you go back to the corner and then one by one improv across the floor. So I join the last group, the last guy to go, we walk in stand in a line of which I am on the end of on the right, between 10-15 guys. We all state our names, age,where we're from, and how tall we are, and then we go off to the side, and GO.
So I pass the cut, and as they delegate what else needs to be done, I try and warm up, and stretch. They Have us do another improv pass, and he tells us to bring it, so I stretch out my hyper extension, and plan to bring it. I work it out starting off with some fast turns which go right into a turning leap to the ground. Do a toe touch, and a kick to my face and then a layout which is another kick to my face, and then while my leg is in the air I bend back. Awesome. and then I do a huge horizontal barrel turn( I love barrel turns), but as I land my foot semi slips, but my hands catch it just in time, and it all happens right when they called time,YES! They have us do another pass, they say they want something different, and full of energy, so I decide to do the opposite of what I thought was strong and manly, so I totally ditz out, just kind of skip hopping and flailing my arms, not dancing just really acting flamboyantly queer actually, but in the middle I break out into a krumping mode(popping my chest back and forth real quick, for all you non hip hoppers). I get mad laughs from that, so I feel good. They have us do another pass! this time they ask if we can loose our shirts, and then says well actually as much skin as possible. I have to admit I turned to the lady who taught me the phrase and asked if she wanted me to go down to dance belt, we laughed and agreed I was fine. Now I was running low on creative ideas, and was so relieved when I saw that he was directing to people on what to do. He made this one guy stand as tall as he physically could on his tip toes, which of course was not tall enough, then brush his teeth fiercely, and sing marry had a little lamb. Um, it was hysterical. Another guy had to from a neutral position turn into a hunchback, Another did half is improv with his eyes clothes, very daring. Now I went up there and presented myself, and in a stance that said alright give me your best, and actually one of the other guys leading the audition saw that , and said Yeah Bring it on! Well first he had me bring my shoulders to my ears, no make them touch leave um there, no dance! All the while he's yelling at me to keep my shoulders up and keep dancing. It kind of felt like he was saying "DANCE MONKEY DANCE!"
Well I was the end of all that, they had another cut, and then told the rest of us to come back at 5pm with the other group of guys, but what was really cool is they asked the 6 of us that were left when our availability was, and how soon we could start. That's never happened to me in an audition before. Oh and out of the 6 the teeth brusher, the hunchback, the closed eyes, were all in it. Now I thought the call back was the next day, so I figured they just decided to have it tonight instead, which was all fine by me. During the break I find the nearest gym, and stretch out some more, and do some crunches, gotta stay as snatch as I can. I get back around 430 to find that they are having the girls call back, and I find my friend Sara(the one who was doing Cirque with me who can stand on her shoulders, you know). 5 comes and they call the guys from the first group in and let the 6 of us watch them, actually we were all in by this point, including the girls they kept. Now they only had to do one improv pass, and then they made a cut, I felt that was unfair, but I'm also glad I was in the group I was in cause this group had a lot of acrobatic, martial arts type of guys, while ours was more dancy. Well after the made their last guy cut, there was some confusion as to what was going to happen, it was like 630 by this point, and we were only supposed to be there til 7. So they decide to just work with the boys for the rest of the night. We work on some cool partnering things, some sharing of weight exercises, and cool shifting moving things. Now I started out with a pretty rough partner, that just wasn't making me look good at all, but then God worked it out as usual that I got the best person, in fact this guy was the only other diesel guy there besides myself(dare I say). Actually one of the guys from the company came over to us and was working with us, and told us that they were actually really looking at us 2 for their company and that they really liked us, so needless to say I felt really good. and I was wrong, they told us to come back the next day at 12 ready to do a lot of partnering. That was day 1

2008-02-26T19:09:00.000-08:00

I am sorry it has taken me a while to let you know how things went last week,

But,

I MADE IT!!!!!!!!!

Yes I went up to New York, and I straight up represented!!God totally let me rock this city!!! Infact God blessed me so hard, I haven't been able to keep everybody updated on what happened because I am still dealing with the effects of this past week, and weekend.

Not only Did everything for Cirque work out, and I made it all the way thru and get put on file, but the audition that I went to for Pilobolus dance company was a success. Infact that went so well, that right now I am in Connetticut rehearsing with them for a part time gig, performance in Germany. I also crashed an audition for a theatre in California, which I made it all the way thru, and was asked to sing.

Now it is an absolute alot to write about, so I will be taking these next couple of days while I'm here in my hotel room at night to tell the stories one by one.

The big Finish

2008-02-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

SO after 6 weeks of training, dancing and dieting, I am off to New York!

Man what a ride.

God has been teaching me some pretty incredible things about myself, Let me tell ya it hasn't been easy trying to figure out how to prepare for all this, and the crazy mind games I've had to go thru, for instance me thinking that I was the sole person responcible for me getting this Job, and if I don't it was because I didn't work hard enough.

Yeah that's a load of crap, with a side of HOO hAAW. God was the one who opened this door, and He is the only one responcible for the outcome, My job was to just prepare myself, and will be to do the best that I can do, going in there confidently that I am a dancer, and more so that I'm vaulable to God, and that really is all that matters.

SO, Here I go, Pilobolus is tomorrow, which apparently will be quick and sweet, and then the callback for that will be thursday, and then I will try for some Theatre in Cali on friday morning, followed by the tour of Legally Blonde that afternoon, both equitys that I'll crash, and then I end the week with the fabulous Cirque du Soleil!!

Now I don't know whats going to happen or what God is going to do, tonight I was told to keep my eyes open, the only thing I know is only up from here!!!

Please keep me in your prayers hard core this week.

the calming aspects of fried chicken

2008-02-14T20:52:00.000-08:00

Sorry again for the long period of time, I haven't auditioned much cause of trying to stay focused on training, and there really hasn't been too much of anything, but all that is changing now.

SO last week I was called by Dave Clemmons casting, this company actually has been the casting agency for a couple of shows that I've auditioned for now, including the tour of Evita. Now as you know I haven't got every show I've auditioned for, but I tend to make it thru most of my auditions, because it is not up to the casting agency, but the director of the show, thats why I would not neccesarilly be what they wanted, but the Agency would come back and tell me that they have me on file. Now one hears this alot, but you never really think it means anything. Until, you get a call.

So they called me and invited me to audition for the European tour of West Side Story. The funny thing about this was I was actually already planning on going to the open call anyway. Now the open call was at 930am this past wednesday, now for some reason I had 43opm written down on my calender. SO me truckin right along in life preparing for things, not really double checking just plan my day accordingly. Get up early, work out, take the 8am bikram yoga class, go to ballet, have a hf hr in the gym to tone and stretch, and take the 1pm bus to new york. That bus was a Peter Pan, and they are better rides, with better interiors, and they show movies!, SO I was all excited and ready to go. SO I wake up early do my thing, and am about to head out the door, when I give it one last check at the studio on line, cause I haven't been to Chelsea's studios in a while( remember it's the one that has m&ms). Well I check it out, and the audition is at 930am! Oh noo.

it's aready after 7 which would be the bus I would need to ride to be there by 9am so that's out. If I hurry I can still take the 8 and be there by 10, and still sgin up, So I'm ripping things out of my bag that I won't need like I thought for ballet, and Bikram, and just rush out the door, only to realize that this is the day that the whole ground is covered in ice. yippee. On the way to the Subway I check my phone message from DC casting, and remembered why I had 430pm, cause that;s the time they told me! So now I'm pondering, and slightly confused. I decide that if there is an error, it is on them, and they will hear from me, and decide to continue on like I had planned, with all the training I had planned, and that I would just leave it in God's hands. Well turnd out it was a special invited call that was at 430 so I was fine. I love this whole being invited thing, there's more respect involved, don't have to go thru the whole cattle call hassle, it's just so more at ease.

I did ok in the audition, I was the darkest one there, and the buffest one, so I don't know How likely it is that I'll be called back, and everything that the sharks do dance wise is on their left leg, with the famous old picture with the left leg kicked out to the side. Well My left leg can't kick my face yet. And he really wanted that, So it was an unevenful day, though walking down the hall the Choreographer did thank me for coming which was nice of him. But I felt alone, and a little down so on the way home after we arrived in philly I bought some fried chicken!.

Now I have a pretty rigorous schedule coming up.

My Cirque audition is next saturday and sunday, but I have also been invited to audition for Pilobolus on wednesday, It's another world reknown dance company that does alot with human sculpture kind of images. and there is a Legally Blonde Tour Call on friday. So I will go up and stay in nyc from wed til sunday. Now my knees are doing ok, they are still healing, but now my right groin muscle is acting up on me iving me sharp pain at times when I turn out, so please those of you who pray, lift me up!! cause it's only up from here!!!

Aloha

2008-02-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn't want to go to Haiwai!!

Yeah I think everyone in this country would hope to make a life stop on those islands one day. Well that being said when I got a an email that told me there was an audition for Norwegian cruiselines specifically for there Aloha cruiseline I immediately bought a bus ticket, even when it was only like 8hrs til I had to get up for it! That is how things kind of go in this bizness, when you see an oppurtunity, you gotta just get up and go.

I had to get up at 530am so that I could stay in my routine of working out for my Cirque aud. before I got ready to get the bus. Ugh, gruelling. Got the 7am greyhound,(which by the way they uped there prices which sucks, but it's only 50 cents more then china town, with subway ride, so still worth it.) The studio they used is this new studio, called The New Dance Group, which is this beautiful space with like 9 studios, and tons of all types of classes, I can't wait to take class there!

One thing I've learned about cruiseline auditions, all the students come out from the woodworks for these, and so there is a total difference in attitude and professionalism, and a naivity. Kids who just talk and talk, and can be annoying, and can't really dance, or just don't understand how to properly present themselves yet. It's ok though, it'll come in time.

For some reason I can't find my jazz shoes so I figured I would just do it in socks or barefeet. Now I ended up being in the 3 group to go in, only because I went up to the moderator and asked him if I should have been in that group, which then I had to run in late and figure everything out in the back, cause they had already learned like the first 16 counts of 8. The choreographer yelled something like," You alright back there?" to which I replied, I will be. And by the grace of God I was. Long Story short, I made it passed that cut, even in barefeet.( though when I had to perform the combination they turned us sideways to face the table and cut off all our space to dance, not very smart of them. I ended up nicking my toe on the bar from a kick, and getting kicked by another guy.) After all the guys who got picked learned another dance, cowboy themed. We all did well, and they kept us all, put us on tape, and kept us on file. That's the way Cruises work, you make it by getting on file, then if they want you for a certain ship they call you. I decided to stay and sing as well, and I did, it was nice and pretty, and they told me I had a good day, which I only hope means we'd really like to use you, and plan on hiring you. They have an immediate need for a male starting feb 21. which is only 2 days from my cirque aud. Now I would love to be offered a job, anywhere!!!

meeting a genius,BTJ

2008-01-30T19:01:00.000-08:00

Hello there!!

It has been a while since I've said what's up, but that's because there has been a lot of stuff going on, and I have just come home late and tired.

I'm finding that it is hard to remain disciplined in my training, and dieting when I let something then what I have planned deviate me from my plan. Last week was a hard one cause there were 5 nights in a row that had some kind of special social gathering that I had to attend that of course involved food. SO I just let it go to be my free week. So I decided that for theses last 4 weeks I was not goin to do anything but be focused. So I worked out like crazy on monday, starting my 2 a day workouts, and classes. That is ballet in the morning, full gym workout( which intales at least an hr elyptical, stretching, weight toning, and steam room), and then coming back at night to stretch in the gym before another dance class, usually modern, or hip hop. Work is paying off though, I have found that my back is becoming more flexible, and now I can do a pretty decent back bend where my hands are pretty close to my feet, and I was able to kick over for the first time and do a walk over! The next day I was so excited and had to shown my friend in the gym I ended up doing like 3 in a row, kind of jumping into them like they were back handsprings, it was pretty cool, (I got so tired by the fourth one though I almost fell on my head), so movin right along.

The activity that has taken most of my time and energy these past 2 days, has been the incredible chance to work with the world reknown BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE modern dance company. I had the priviledge along with 2 other girls to be used as extras and guest dancers in their performances here in philly! Let me just tell you how awesome and surreal the whole experience was. Yesterday we arrived at 2:30pm for our teaching and rehearsal, and then we had a tech rehearsal til about 5:30 with the company, and with Mr. Jones demanding perfection. I must say it was high stress for a lot of that time, cause we didn't want to mess up and get yelled at. But we did fine, and the performance that night was awesome. Today was kinda of cool, the only thing that really sucked was the fact that I had to get up at 5am to work for a friend at the gym. Then off to ballet, the to a master class the company gave the community, then back to the theatre to be apart of the companies class they invited us to. Then another show. It was pretty cool to perform in this space, with this really big deal company, and get to bow with them and everything. It was pretty sweet!!!

TRAINING!

2008-01-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I received my formal letter from the headquarters casting director in Montreal on friday, so it is all official. Now what I have decided to do since I am still getting paid to be on tour for a couple of weeks,(though I'm not on tour), is to use these 5 weeks as intensive training to get ready for this audition. This is actually the biggest audition of my life so far. Now You might think that Broadway would be pretty much up there too, but the thing is I've auditioned for Broadway since I was a sophomore in college, and it's only a matter of time before I get a show there. This is the biggest because this is something I thought I would never be able to be apart of, so big infact I was trying to see if I should go to their circus school so that I would have something they wanted. Also the fact that it's an invitation only audition shows how really huge this is, and prestigious they can be, cause they can. I want this so so bad!!!!!!!!!! I was able to look online and find someone's writing on their audition experience, and let me just tell you it scared me something fierce. There were so many parts to this all day tryout, with cuts and selections to move on all day. And pretty much the thing that scared me was the part I read about having all 3 splitts, and having to do perform a 1 min solo. But I am doing what I can to stretch like I never have before, so that I at least have a good 2 out of 3, it's so hard to do the middle split, you just have to have open hips. But I have also decided to go into this auidition with a totally new mind set. I am going in there with the attitude of confidence, and the expectancy to do well, and to get the job. WHy! Cause I want it, my heart is in it!! And I am going to make sure I do everything I can to do the absolute best job I can. In Jesus Name!

The other totally awesome thing is when I went to Ballet this morning, Sarah comes bouncing in and says, "guess who's coming with you to NY on the 23d!!!" How awesome, my friend Sarah who has also been an intern at the studio has applied and been invited. Now she is one of those flexible freaks, she was watching a video of cirque and saw this girl totally bending herself to put her feet on her shoulder blades, so that is what she is also working for. Crazy! ANyway that is another part of training saturating myself with dance, and with Cirque material. Pictures, images, music, videos, choreography, anything that can get stuck in my head and used as ideas for creativity and performance.

Though I am focusing on this audition, I will audition for COLOR PURPLE this fri. They haven't seen me in a while, don't want them to forget about me. I'll let you know how that goes.

closed and open doors

2008-01-10T21:47:00.000-08:00

YO Yo YO!

So Today I received an email that was my invitation to audition for Cirque du Soleil.

umm.....

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being that I really can't think of words to say for how loud I screamed as I read the invite( and my poor friend Rick was on the phone with me, sorry bout the ear drum buddy). Those exclamation points will have to do. I can't even begin to tell you how incredible this is, not only for me but in general. Everyone doesn't just get a call from Cirque asking them to send them stuff. They don't need too. That alone was something outrageously special they did for me. Not saying that I'm anything great, infact I didn't even feel like I put my strongest foot forward with my video, but I am so glad that God shines thru my weaknesses.But none of their auditions are open from what I know, it's all by invitation I have been dreaming about being apart of one of their shows since I think I was 18, but I never thought I had a chance cause I couldn't do acrobatics. This is just more than I even know how to deal with. I won't say more than I can ask for, cause I really want this show so bad!! I want to do so well at this audition that they hire me on the spot. My audition will be on February 23, 2008 in NYC apparently. So I have 5 weeks to get ready. I will be dancing as much as possible, and in the gym pretty much everyday, accept sunday,maybe. The styles that they are looking for for this new show is contemporary and hiphop. So I will definitely be in these 2 styles of class alot. And ballet every morning(accept friday when it's in the evening)

So what did I do tonight to celebrate? besides having my last bit of dessert for 5 weeks,I went and took class!!

here's the combination that mis Beautiful Crystal Frazier who's on faculty at UArts gave us. I'm the dark one in the middle. It's been a while since I've been in a hip hop class, so I'm kind of stiff, don't hold it against me.

Happy New Year!!

2008-01-05T17:26:00.000-08:00

Well, life goes on. and on the new year I turned 27. Happy Birthday ME!!

I haven't found out any more information on the termination, and it kind of looks like I have to go the route of legal representation. All of my professional friends in the bizness say that I really need to get an answer. So, who knows.

Now I look at this situation in 2 ways. Being a very spiritual man, and striving for a real relationship with Christ, I have to believe that in my life is working out for my ultimate good. I believe this cause it says in Jeremiah 29:11 " for I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future." So it works out in my mind like this,

Being that there is someone who wants my good, there has to be someone who wants my bad. This enemy has been given power to do things to destroy my heart, discourage me, and ultimately ruin my relationship with God who wants this good for me, So this could be something he has done to bring me down, if that is the case, I know that what ever happens will work out for me well, cause God said that He would work it out for my good. And the other scenario is that God had it in His plan for this to happen, and happen as smooth as it did, and clean as it was, so that a greater good could happen( hmmm what a great coincidence that I got this call from Cirque du soleil!, and now the time to really prepare for it, and go balls to the wall for them) oh and I don't believe in coincidences. I have the faith that things are going to be just fine.

In fact I've already gone to nyc to audition! As I was there I realized though I was not in the condition I needed to be in though to be there, and that I really wanted to take this month to really get in shape and get good for Cirque, so I decided to scratch the other auditions I had planned to go to. I've already got my job back at the gym, and now just have to find a day to clean the studios again, I'll be better than ever in no time!! Here is a little of the video I made for my Cirque du Soleil audition.

the day after christmas letter

2007-12-29T07:56:00.001-08:00

So,
Well it has been a wonderful vacation.
I hope you all have had a merry christmas, and happy holiday.
As we know life is not without its uncertainties, and in my business especially,
here today, gone tomorrow.
Well in the case of the national tour of Evita, I was gone on dec 26.
I received a formal letter of my termination from the tour, and how I would not be rejoining the cast after the break.
That was all, no explanation.
Because there was no fault on my end, I would really like to have an explanation, this means that I need to ask a lawyer to find out for me.
SO life resumes again, just at a quicker pace than I anticipated, and I will be praying to find a place to live in philly, and getting back on my audition horse. I will no longer be writing about tour life, but will resume my audition stories as well.
I feel however God is already working things out, and his exciting plan is only just beginning to unfurl, are you ready for the ride!

IT"S ALL OVER

2007-12-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

WOW!!!
IT"S OVER!!!!
WHHHOOOOOOOHHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I am so ready to go home!!!!

These last 2 shows today have been absolutely crazy! There was so much energy and excitement going on that all kinds of mishaps were happening.
You know what else, I am also way to excited to even right. I will tell you that we had some fun time playing on stage. Sometimes the most intimate quiet moments on stage is when the worse conversations or games are played, cause that's when you're trying to break everyone. so in the middle of lets say our funeral scene someone will bust out crackin up. The other games we play on stage are tag. That's right you have to tag someone and they are it, but what makes it fun, is you can't let it mess with the show, or let the audience know or see what you're doing. So you have to be creative to figure out when you're going to do it. Sam tagged me right as she went into this huge layout freeze where I hold her hand. It was fabulous!!!
I leave you til later, the next time I write, I'll be at home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-12-15T01:16:00.000-08:00

We are finally down to the last day!

We are here now in Phoenix Az, We had a long day of driving to get here, but I was on the floor for most of it so it went by pretty fast for me. I am just so excited and so happy that I will be going home in well, tomorrow!!!! YEAH!!!!!

Now to have a little fun, we have been playing and gift exchanging thru Secret Santa. On the bottom of our lists that described things we liked we put down a wish. Now this wish is something you would want done that has no involvement with money, but can be anything you can think of, that is in good standards and boundaries. The only real stipulation is that it can't effect the show, and it has to be done on wish day.( there were actually 2 days to fulfill it) And our secret santa is suppossed to set it up and make it happen.

Now Elizabeth's wish was to have Omar where his Halloween costume all day. Now it's a pretty standard Frat boy costume, has to do with alcohol, and there's something on him that says blow here down by his you know wheres. Apparently the costume is a Breathalyzer. So he obliged and did. They can be as simple as back rubs, to as extravagant as 2 crew guys in their boxers with big red bows around their chests caroling to you. It's all pretty much in your imagination. In fact Ralphie our guitarist wanted to walk across the stage with the Aristos from the show while being fed grapes. Well now there was no way he could have done that during the show, but Elizabeth his SS made it happen still. After sound check she got the aristos all together to make their cross, and she stood next to Ralphie as they walked across singing, and fed him fruity gummy snacks. So it's all a matter of being creative. Hanks wish was to have his own dressing room, so His SS set up this posh space, with mirror and all in the bathroom stall! It was extremely hysterical, and Hank loved it and chortled like we did. Now since his SS was Omar, who is a lead and has his own dressing room usually, he just gave him an I O U that said he could use it sometime. Now I know you're wondering what my wish was, well mine was pretty crazy, I wished to have the whole backstage crew tuck me in one night singing to me "you are my sunshine" in their underwear. See I went to the wild side. Needless to say it didn't happen. Actually I have been feeling pretty jipped by my SS all together. One day while we were at a bus stop, someone comes on the bus handing me this black bag of peanut butter cups, chocolate covered peanuts, and this plush stuffed dog. Now our mass limit was 20$, and he left the price tag on everything, which all added up to 20, so I figured and am right so far that I am not getting anything else. I think my SS is Jet. He didn't even know that I despise dogs! But anyway, My person to give gifts to is Gabriel. His secret wish was to just have an awesome day of fun, or to get an intense back massage. So I made him have a big people scavenger hunt. What he had to do was figure out who the clue on the card was talking about, and go to them to get the next clue. And the last clue lead him to Chris miller, one of the 3 most saught out back meusers on this tour. He was going around all day trying to figure it all out, He kept saying how much fun he was having. So I felt good that I had a cool accomplishment on . and still have more presents for him.

2007-12-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

So they fixed the internet connection YEAH!!!!!!

Today I was awakened by a phone call from my friend Jess on the east coast. She is the girl that pretty much started this whole thing. Her picture is the first pic I think I ever put on my blog, it's the one with me next to a beautiful blonde, and I'm in a black tie.( I think it's on my second post.) Anyway, we have been friends since our first show together, which was Aida, and she is the one who told me to audition for CHICAGO,(oh by the way, she didn't know I would have such a bad time there.) She is a beautiful girl, who writes passionate songs, and is a fierce dancer. Well, I haven't heard from her in a while, and was wondering what show she has been in, well the great news she told me was that she, after multiple auditions, and various callbacks, and visits infront of the director, was offered the role of CHRISTINE in the Broadway show A CHORUS LINE!! That's right she made the show with my big bro James!!! Now she is the first replacement for the girl who is on broadway right now, and if the girl happens to renew her contract than she is the Christine for the First national tour that will go out in March. This is such an awesome thing for her. I am so happy for her!

And I was able to tell her about the cool thing that happened to me yesterday.

So yesterday after I found out that we could check our email in the airport, I was one of the many who wipped out there laptops to sign on. I had been getting emails from Cirque Du Soleil telling me that my online application was not finished, that I needed to send them my video demo so they could fully review me. Well I have no way of making a video for them, and on top of that I had no idea of what they wanted on the video, cause I couldn't find anything that told me the requirements. ( oh When we had visited Las Vegas the first time, and I got to see that Cirque how KA for free, is what inspired me to send them my info). Well this email was to tell me that since they hadn't receieved everything, that they were not looking at me anymore, and goodbye. Oh well, I thought, better luck next time. So time passes, and I go check my coat to make sure everything is in it's place, never can be to safe at an airport, and I see that I have a voice mail, so I check only to hear this uhh umm.." hello this is Sonya from Cirque du Soleil, and I wanted to speak to Alfonso parker about his online app. and his video submition, We would like to see this so we could decide whether or not to bring him in for an audition, so please give me a call back." (abridged version), WHAT!!!!! yes that's right they personally called me and wanted me to get ahold of them. So um of course I did, and had to leave a message cause she wasn't there, ... But then she called back!, She was able to tell me everything I needed on the video, and my time frame. She then preceded to get all my vitals, ht wt, birthdate, Oh yeah, this was real. Now I couldn't freakin believe this, now I don't know what their audition process is like, but I am sure they do not call everyone to send them full applications just so they can see if they might want to fly them in for an audition. And even if they do do that for everyone, I'm freakin one of them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It just feels so awesome to even be this far in this process of this big dream I've had. So when I get back to philly I will just be getting this video together, so pray that I make a fierce video.

Tonight was the first night that I didn't perform in the show, So you know how I told you yesterday that I was going to get my knee checked out, well the only place I could go was the ER. So I went and waited for a year, and found out there is nothing wrong with my knee. In fact from my resting heart rate I am an athelete! The Doc check out my knee and told me that my body was telling me to freakin chill out. It is doing this thru the means of bursitis, which is just inflamed sacks of fluid that we have on all our major joints. SO I can't do any other kind of excersize besides my occupational dancing, but gave me a note to get out of the show tonight, which my friends was fine with me. In fact they should probably be here in any minute. It has been a wonderful night of relaxation, and on line errand running. So thanks for praying for me, keep doing so, cause I'm gonna freak out since I can't be active, and especially since I can't dance as much as I wanted too, i'm gonna feel like a fat slug.

That's all thats new here tomorrow we head to New mexico.

I am thankful for the ability to pursue my dreams!!!!, and SEE THEM COME TRUE!!!!

here's some other fun pictures from Las vegas!

5 days left of crazy

2007-12-11T22:05:00.000-08:00

Please bare with me. I have found out that the thing that is worse than bad internet connection, is no connection at all. We have just travelled thru Nevada, and since everywhere we stayed had a cacino, there was no free internet. There has been so much that has gone on, and right now I can't even go into everything because we are at another hotel that has again very bad connection, actually out of the whole cast, My roomate Tripp is the only one that is able to connect. So He is letting me use his puter just so I can somewhat update.
I guess I'm just going to have to for go all of the video and pictures I took of all the days gone by,maybe I will just post them all over my break so you have fun stuff to look at. Well I left you off in fresno, ca. I had a great time with my friends there, got to do laundry and eat real homecooked food and vegetables. It was beautiful. However there did seem to be some tiff that happened with the guys in the dressing room, concerning tipping our dressers, but that's all resolved now. The next day when I came back to my room from spending the night with my friends, I came in to find my bed double occupied, and a party mess around my bathroom. Apparently the party and power hr had gotten busted, and so moved to my room. Needless to say I wasn't very happy. But we got over that as well. There was also a spell of a real bad stomach ache, and horrible sinus ache. That has also passed. My knee however has not gotten better, and this thouroughly disturbs me, since my body is my livley hood, and because I love to dance and be active it's just killer. The problem is, I don't know what's wrong with it, and I need to go to a valid Knee doctor, who can actually give me an MRI. So I have been dancing with soreness and pain, now I just take 3 motrin before each show.
We left Cal, for Reno ,NA, and a real rough weekend. It was our first 5 show weekend. A show friday nite, 2 on sat, and 2 on sun. Absolute no rest. And we stayed in a big ole casino hotel. Now I don't know if I told you before from when we were in Las vegas, but I hate casinos. THis place takes the cake for Cities I never want to be in again. The only cool things about this city was this great coffee shop that we found that was right across the street from the theatre. We ended up just hanging out there between shows, and my dresser fixed my military coat on her on accord( the lining had come apart from the coat, and she sowed it back to the sleeves) Awesome!! you don't even know how much trouble those sleeves caused, so I was so grateful( and hence gave her a tip), in a joke one show when she asked what else she could do, I said something to the effect of having cupcakes ready for us. Well to my surprise, when we walked to take our last costumes off from finishing the show we were met with tupperwares of cupcakes on our chairs! It was awesome, and totally made the bad experience better. because I was so blessed, I had to bless some one else, so I shared one of my 2 cupcakes with Rob, the Bus driver. he loved it! Also it was the first time Stephanie called out who plays our mistress, so that ment that there had to be a desicion made for who was going to take her place and sing her song. Well it landed on one of our Eva understudies, and Malia sang this one out. Man It was awesome. Now I told you how the ensemble loves when stuff like this happens cause it actually makes us think again, and keep the show fresh, rather than going thru the motions. It was great, you should have seen us back stage before she went on for her seen. Everybody did there quick change in the wings just so we could all watch her. It was a great sense of commonality, and brought us together. And she tore it up, and looked very sexy in her nittie.
The most crazy thing that happened in reno was this, The presenter who brought Evita to this theatre is was also bringing it to El Paso Texas, which was on our schedule for Tomorrow, Wednesday, but he made a comment to our manager about getting hto El P in time for the show on tuesday. Well Brad(our Manager) laughed like it was a joke, and was met with the most serious face from the presenter. That's right, no one had told our company that they were selling tickets for a tuesday show!!!! WHOOOOOO Let me just tell you *!%5E$#$ HIT THE FAN! Where we were was over 12oo miles from El P and we only had a day to get there. The plan for us was to head to Las vegas, for a night off, then head to Tuscon AZ, for another travel day, and then be in EL P, well what ended up happening was that had to fly us this morning from Las vegas to Texas.
Las vegas again! Now I really don't like this city, but the people are way more comfortable to be around then in reno. We ended up staying at the same hotel again, yep, HOOTERS. Now most of the great shows to see in Vegas were dark, they were off that night, so my plan was to just do nothing. Being that it was Monday and I only had 7 days left before we all get to go home, I really don't care to do anything but help the days go by faster. I did however want to have my hooters experience, so Tripp Geoff and I went downstairs and ate at there. WOOHOO!! We had a very nice waitress who wasn't acting like a totall ditz, it was a good time, and I ate too much. December in Vegas is known thruought the country as well," country" month. This is because in the beginning of this month they have Rodeo Week! Yes, Which we happened to arrive just in time for the kickoff festivities. Cowboys everywhere!, you better believe I was scared, especially in Hooters. Oh and there was also in extra influx of Brits there cause if the Ifc boxing fight that happened a few nights before. so it was a pretty crazy mix of people. We ended up watching a lot of the rodeo with dinner, quite entertaining. I was just going to go back to my room, finish watching Clue, and call it a night, but tripp convinced me to go with them to watch the fountain show at the Belagio hotel. You know, I am so glad I did, ( in the middle of the show I even turned aside and whispered thank you to him). the show was great! I'll try and post the video of it. After that we had some fun takin pics of the strip on the way back. The night was capped off by playing a wonderfully team card game called kemps! And celebrating is absolutely intense, and mostly to adult to talk about hahahahahah!
Well this morning we got up and took a plane to El paso, and now we're here in Texas. The show here was fine, though the audience gave us absolutely no energy. You can tell we are all tired and want to go home, there is an edgyness to everyone, people snap more quickly at each other, everyone's pretty much done for the 4 moths we've gone with no real break, or grasp on reality. And I am numero uno when it comes to wanting to go home, just trying to make it til sunday. What's really funny is that the ironic thing about our last week is that it's probably one of our hardest weeks. On friday we have a 12 hr drive, where we get up at 5am, to go straight to the venue, and perform a show, and then have to drive 35 miles to our hotel, and then I'll have to unload eveyones luggage, oh joy and rapture. Please pray for me and all of us. I'm going to get my knee checked out tomorrow, pray that goes well too. Oh and I have awesome news to tell you as well, so really pray that my knee heals quickly and is fine!!!

I am thankful there are only 5 days left

I hate this internet connection

2007-12-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

Sorry again, bad internet connection,

It is December. A time when the hussle and bussle of shopping for loved ones abound, there is good feeling music on about whiskers on kittens, and roasting chestnuts, and everybody is 10 pounds heavier because of all the wool gear they have on, because of the cold. Well actually nowadays, it's thermal, goretex fleece, hahaha.

But Not Here In Fresno California!!!! Man it feels like its early fall down here! We went to them mall in short sleeve shirts, and light jackets if you will. It's crazy, and the sun was shining ever so beautifully. It isn't too much today. Anyway the show last night went well, the audience was real rowdy which was pretty awesome. For some reason it was really hot in stage, and apparently it was in the house too. My friends Jen and Cam were able to come see the show, and they said they were roasting.

Yeah!! JEN AND CAM!!!! These are 2 friends from philly. We went to the same church together, when Cam was in Med school, and now he's interning at a Hospital here. They are from here so it is good for them. I am so happy to be here with them, it has been a long time and I love them dearly. Yesterday was also Jen's bday so we got to have little surprise ice cream cake party too!! Yeah Ice cream cake. So we are also here next to a fabulous, and I do mean that, Mall. Now what makes this hard, is the fact that I need to save money so that I can buy my family and friends gifts, and I've already set some money aside, but it just seems so much easier, and cooler to be able to buy things for them now, while I'm on the road and at cool places, but the only issue with that is, how am I going to get it all home. But the biggest thing that makes this mall Great is the fact that there is a Cheesecake Factory restaraunt!! OHH how I lOOOVe cheesecake. But then J and C told me about this place called BJ's, where I just have to go and get fish tacos. Ok I'll take there word for it, but then they told me about this hookalatowie or whatever, who knows, but this awesome dessert there that is this personal pan deep dish cookie thing, OHHH YESSS. Um if you haven't figure it out by now, I have the biggest sweet tooth there is. and Even before a show, even if it's a big dance show where I am bear chested, I can be coaxed pretty easily into eating a donut. What's funny is the cast knows now that I have that weakness and makes fun of me. Oh well. Looks like I am going to be getting fat all over again, since I can't really do anything physical cause of my knee, oh well, my push ups today have been awesome, so at least I'll have a big chest to go with my belly, hahahaha.It's going to be fun here, I am going to try and post lots of videos

I am thankful for babies!!!!!!!!!!WHOOHHOOOOO

13 and counting down

2007-12-02T23:55:00.000-08:00

so there is really nothing to report. Still here in Modesto, Ca.

The show this afternoon was great.

We have a wonderful day off tomorrow, and I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet. I can't do anything to strenuous, for I rekindled a knee pain from running the first day we got here, SO I am going to have to go to the Doctor to get it checked out. Please pray with me that it is nothing serious.

Oh here's something cool, On our first visit to Las Vegas I was able to meet a fellow penn stater who is working on the cirque de soleil show Love.( the beattles show). Well if you remember from before, she told me about a whole lot of new stuff going on with Cirque, and it has alway been such a dream of mine to be in one of their shows. Well I contacted her again to let her know that we will be in town again, and if she could get me tickets to the show, or help me talk to a dancer that I would greatly appreciate it. She emailed me back with some sad news, Love is dark right now til the 12th, which means they are not performing. So I will not get to see the show, but! she said that she would be able to personally hand all my credentials to the talent scouts!! WooHOOO, I'll be in a show in no time now!!!! Now I just have to find out what I have to put on the tape, and get myself freakin video taped!!!

Tonight I also saw why I don't want to get drunk. There was this guy trying to get in his room, and was just a hot mess, busting his body up trying to get in, soo sad.

We are counting down the days now!!! and now there is only 13 more days til I'll be at home!!!!!! YEAH I am so freakin excited!! All I will do is dance! I will take about 3 classes a day, and then a 2 hr workshop every afternoon. Now this is just for the first week. Then I will go home to State College for Christmas.

Here are some random pictures from days gone by,( yes we are both in a split)

the review

2007-12-01T23:01:00.000-08:00

Day 2 in Modesto,and we had a 2 show day, which means fun in the dressing room. The shows went fine, we actually ended up getting more love and audience participation from the matinee rather then the evening show, which was weird, but we had good shows, and the reviews from last nights performance were great. But the review from Napa Valley came out, and was not so great at all. This posting is in direct relationship with an earlier post titled the "smell of wine in the air", I beleive, the one I talk about meeting Eldon(scroll down). Remember how I said the reviewer told me I stood out, well she also printed it, in the midst of saying our whole cast was pretty much horribly tired, and showed no energy, she printed it. So of course I have been getting crap from the cast. I have copied some excerpts from her review.

"To begin with, the show seemed out of place on the Lincoln Theater stage, which felt too small for the elaborate production. In the first scene, a projected film that usually cues the audience to the movie theater setting was conspicuously missing. Often, the staging was cramped and claustrophobic. Even the lighting seemed a bit odd at times.Such technical obstacles — and the tech was really quite impressive — are to be expected from a touring company, which must readjust for each new venue. It should have been the actors who picked up the slack, the actors who added that extra sparkle. But the acting was lackluster.There were no real mistakes to speak of. Technically, each performance was spot-on. But the energy was what you might expect from a troupe that had just left San Luis Obispo at 5 a.m. and arrived in Yountville for two performances before the end of the day and another "

"Some members of the ensemble gave stand-out performances as well, including Stephanie Barnum, originally from Benicia, in the role of Peron’s mistress. Dancer Alfie Parker Jr. shone in every number. When the rest of the cast seemed tired and bored, Parker infused energy into each and every movement.before the end of the weekend."

This is the blueberry crew, that's the name of our costume gondola "blueberry" all of the gondolas have a fruit name, just so the crew knows how to keep track of them all in loading in and out. Actually every container of everything has a name, and they're weird, Ill take some more pictures of some later. Anyway, my roomate Trip and I and Bj are in the blueberry crew, and here's a stupid little video for ya! ps. sorry about Bj

Awww laughter

2007-12-01T00:14:00.000-08:00

Here we are 4 days in Modesto, California.

How absolutely awesome! We are staying at a double tree, and it is an amazing hotel. You always know its a great stay when they greet you with warm chocolate chip walnut cookies,HELLO! Yeah umm, I took 3 hahahaha.

We are all so happy and excited to be here. Since we're here for a couple days we pretty much emptied the luggage bays on the bus, boy my back is tired, I'm going to have to get major work done I feel, from loading and unloading, and then being in the worst postures ever on the bus, (anybody want to give me massages for my birthday!?)You also know you're in a great hotel by the fitness center, and if they have one, well Let me tell you it is fantastic!! And you know I am going to be in that thing every day, they have such a wonderful set up, with waits and a sauna too, Yeah Jesus!!! Now I can feel like a dancer again. Today I went in there and ran almost 6 miles(thanks to my new friend Dave for the inspiration, though I shouldn't have cause of my knee), and got to stretch it out like I used to, my body is wonderfully sore! I'll take some pics of my stretches and the great gym tomorrow.

Actually my new friend Dave is making me seem to have an all around better attitude about life. Thanks for the new excitement, and renewal of hope in life Smiles!

The show tonight was wonderfully fun! The theater is a beautiful place, and with enough rooms that we only have 5 to our dressing room, it's always nice to have space. Now the evening started out good I thought cause the theatre is in walking distance, which always helps us, especially tomorrow with a 2 show day. But during our meeting before warm ups, there was like this complain session about our sound in the show. It seemed like every negative comment came out, I think it was only bad cause people didn't say how they felt in a way that wasn't so condemning, though I feel the same way with a lot of them. So people were just kind of grumpy, for some reason though, we ended up having fun on stage. And it even started in the beginning, I caught Cameron and Bj laughing, which of course made Buddy giggle. Then all the dancers decided to make our one dance number Spicy! We usually pick a word and try to express that in the number. Well during the whole dance people were talking, and making noices, and giving descriptions of spicyness, it was fantastic, and we all feel it's been one of our best ones. Even in the charity concert Alexis and I were chuckling about something. We got a note that the military wasn't loud enough, so when we got on stage we were screamin for Jesus!!! spit was just flyin out my mouth! it was freaky. And the best thing that happened, right at the beginning of act2 Omar totally changed the words of the song, Instead of ", People of Argentina" he said "people of Europe" which is said later on in the act by Peron, and we're supposed to come right in and sing over him, with Peron, well half of us did, cause the other half was crackin up, it was so amazingly wonderful. So tonights show was definitely our funnest so far.

I am thankful for friends who care, and make you not to do things that hurt yourself!

love people as hard as you can!

A Washington Renewal

2007-11-29T01:07:00.000-08:00

We have made it to Washington!! And we had a great show tonight!!

We arrived here in Olympia yesterday, and about an hr later my great friends Erin and Kevin came and picked me up, and took me back to their house in Seattle!

I had an absolutely fabulous time, I don't think I haven't gotten to see them since I sang in their wedding which was 2yrs ago, so it was a long awaited visit. And you know what was really awesome for me, this: Kevin is a pretty quiet guy( doesn't mean he's not listening though), and poor fellow broke his foot jumping down from his bunk on his Navy ship, so he was seating in the back seat, listening away as his wife Erin and I gabbed away and caught up. Well I made a comment apologizing for not singing the best I could at their wedding, to which he chimed in and said that was his favorite part of the day, and at which the moment when He let go, and either almost cried or cried. Hearing this Comment from him floored me, and I quickly shut up about it, I don't think he knows how much that meant to me.

Anyway we had a wonderful time talking over this wonderful roast that Erin made, and then baking cookies, and brownies, ( which of course I brought all back for the cast), only after I had my share in a delicious ice cream sundae!. All we did was hangout and watch disney movies, The Incredibles, and the new one Ratotouie (it was alright).

Seeing them was wonderful and restored me some more for being on the road. But I ended up getting closer to a new friend as well today, and that also made me lifted, my energy level for the show was awesome tonight, and man I was able to look over peoples crap, and just smile a lot more tonight. I even felt good enough to be the bigger man, and I went and had a talk with someone in the cast that I had been harboring ill judgemental feelings for, and asked for their forgiveness for. Man did that feel good. So though it has been raining here, surprise surprise, If it is God crying , it was because he was happy that I am doing the right things.

Today I am thankful for new beginnings with old friends, taking risks with new friends, and for the freedom of forgiveness!

oh yeah, and for these sweet new water bottles we got tonight!!!

Love people as hard as you can!

next stop a night's rest in redding ca

a ponder on a bus

2007-11-27T15:52:00.000-08:00

We are traveling,

That's pretty much all we ever do. We had a stop last night in Eugene Oregon, actually stayed at the same hotel from when we performed here, you know from earlier posts where I talk about the goobers, and the video of little gabby. We are now in Olympia Washington, which completes my upper left corner of my map. The only thing I'm missing from the west coast is Arizona and New Mexico, though for some reason I feel as if I've been to the phoenix airport before. We perform here tomorrow night, so we have the night and day off to go crazy. What's great for me is that I have a great friend from high school, and college n Seattle who are on their way to pick me up, to give me a night in a home rather than hotel, which is absolutely wonderful.

I think one of the hardest things for people to do is be grateful.

and it makes me wonder how often I live my life with, or in gratitude. I've just been thinking. A lot of people in the cast feel they're entitled to things. You hear alot of complaining, whining, and dislikes about any and everything. Now it's not always hunky doree out here. We've had some pretty disgusting hotel rooms, with mold and mildew, long bus rides with ever changing food stop times, to places with slim to no food options(pity the veggies), an over smelly bathroom that at times reeks throughout the bus, and that is without all the work aspects. But it seems that people will more often complain first rather than be patient and see thru the situation. There's alot of speaking before you think, sometimes I wonder if half of us here have even heard of that before. Now on top of all this, and long tiring days, I still have manual labor to do of unloading, and loading the bus, and from dealing with every ones luggage you see who's considerate and who isn't, If I wanted to I could be the foremost runner for bad attitude, so I've decided that every night I am going to try and sit down and write out what I'm thankful for, and to tell someone what I've written. I don't want to live life grumpy, or have a complaining attitude, or have people remember me as one who always notated the negative.

So right now, I am thankful for a strong back, that is healthy and can allow me to do hard work after a long ride, and the pain of knowing my muscles have been used.

remember

love people as hard as you can.

The smell of wine in the air!

2007-11-25T23:00:00.000-08:00

One of the coolest things about being involved in a tour,
is traveling from place to place, and the experience of choosing to not live in fear. See one can have an attitude that says, hey what do I got to loose, I'm only here for one night, I can be anybody I want, or talk to any one I choose. It gives you an heir of courageousness so to speak. Well Being a people person, I am already inclined to talk and connect to strangers, and the added attitude just makes me super out going Alfie! hahahaha

Let's see, I now am friends with the waiter from Tupelo MS, the bar tender from Billings Montana, the dance studio receptionist from Santa Cruz Ca, and today solidified a new friendship with Eldon, and his wife. Eman was the runner for us yesterday, the one who had to just hang around until somebody needed something. So as usual, I forced him into conversation. We ended up sharing alot about each other, and feeling free to get into a real deep conversation, even in the midst of everyone else. It was pretty awesome, he turned the whole day around. If you remember from before, this was the long start at 5am day that went into a 2 show day, where we spent over 13 hrs at the theatre, SO needless to say everyone gets tired and annoyed of each other, and it was great to have a whole other persons energy to connect with. He was able to bring his wife and niece to see the show the next day, and afterwards they were gracious and took me out to dinner. And now I have friends here in Nappa Valley Ca! How sweet!

The other very encouraging thing that happened here in wine country was this, a reviewer came to see the first matinee we did on sat, and apparently picked a couple of people she wanted to talk to. Not being able to put face with name( cause no pics in the programs) she went up to the merchandise guy and described who she wanted to see. Well it was me, I mean all you really have to do is ask for the deliciously dark chocolate guy, and everyone knows who you're talking about. Anyway, she didn't need me for long, she just wanted to tell me that I really stuck out from the ensemble, and that I was a good dancer. That's all I needed. In this show where there is only 1 dance number, and I have none of the featured dance roles, and just keep feeling like I am getting fat and ugly, to have someone say that I stand out in a good way(besides being black) is such a needed affirmation.

We are now headed to Olympia Washington! It will be my first time in that state as well. It will take us 2 days to get there, with a stop in Eugene Oregon again, same hotel too. So I will try and post some fun video, and pics from the bus or something. Oh by the way I made it so anyone can comment on any posting, so if anyone has any questions they want answered, or anything you want me to talk about, or take pics of let me know!!!!

love people as hard as you can

A Thanksgiving to remember!

2007-11-23T22:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!

(you 'd better believe right now I'm listening to Christmas music, Thank God for Free web radio!)

As you know we have had the last week off here in San Luis Obispo, And for those of us who didn't have the pleasure of going home, and stayed here had an incredibly blessed experience being enthralled by the quality and service of the embassy suites hotel.

It has been a pretty fantastik week! As soon as we got here we set it Lauren had it set up for us to be able to take a free Ballet class, and since it was free, we all went( um, all the dancers). We had a great time, and the School was ever so generous, and welcomed us in with open arms. The great thing about it was I didn't feel so fat and ugly, and un-dance like like at the class we took in Santa Cruz, Yeah!! I am so excited to go home, cause the first week all I will do is dance! You know I think Half of the kids dance company from the school got to see us perform tonight, cause apparently they were screaming their heads off for us, and I think stopped by the stage door tonight. I love having my arts family extended.
Anyway, I haven't done much all week, which has been absolutely fabulous! Again let me just say how great this place is, I opened the door, and walked into my living room. That's right each room has a seperate living room with tv, and a hall way bathroom, that goes to your bedroom with another tv. We had a card for free complimentary breakfast, so I went down the first morning and asked what I was able to get, and the woman proceeded to give a visual tour, here's where you get your omelettes, potatoes, thats the cereal bar, there's the juice bar, pastrybar,pancake,waffle,eggs,fruit, bar. Umm Oh ok. I was fantastically floored! And on top of that there was a happy hour every night from 530 to 730 where we also had a free comp card to, Which is just a bad thing for this cast. Since it was free, one night I decided to partake an a distilled beverage. Now I don't drink, I hate the task and pretty smuch the smell of alcohol, So I told the cast if they could find me a fruity drink that is sweet and doesn't taste like Alcy I would have it( they want to see me drink, and get crazy). Well Phil comes to meet later with this big class of some mixed juices and said just sip it. So I went to the store, bought some cheese,crackers,salami, and lobster patte, and had myself a nice time getting know my friends, ME Myself, and I, people It feels I don't get to see often for quality time alone. I also got a chance to walk downtown, and see the new movie Enchanted.I know you're probably saying why'd I choose that with all the good movies out now, well, I like fantasy movies, especially disney, hey come on I worked there, and because I wanted to so there!

So Thanksgiving, Well we tried to make it as special for us as possible. So James decided to have everyone over in the morning for pastry, juice and merriment as we watched the Macys parade, the only requirement was to come in your Jammies, I wish I got a picture but to no avail. It was great to was great to watch our peers performing in NYC, made us all home sick. For dinner Troika decided to take us all out cast,crew,and pitt to Marie Calenders, a popular place to eat here on the west coast. People described it as a mix between Shoneys and Dennys, maybe equivalent to a Perkins. Ok, so it's going to be a different Thanksgiving, we accepted, and pretty much new were having a broke dinner, but we stilled dressed up, and made our spirits brite. Well we get there, and from the other clientelle, we looked at each other and said,"exactly what I was imagining!" Well it ended up taking almost 30mins for us to be seated, cause of some people who were taking their sweet time leaving, which I don't blame them for it was a holiday, but the restaraunt should have had something ready. Well It would make this whole thing such a long story to tell you all of it's indivisual ghettoness. But we ended up making it a special moment for us. We got them to turn the lights down, find candles, and give us more food than was alloted to us, haahahaha by the end they were just bringing out whole pies, and tins of whip cream, and bottles of whine. We even ended up eating pie straight from the table, it was truly ghetto but we thoroughly embraced it! Thanksgiving 2007 San Luis Obispo, never forget it.

We had 1 show black friday night, and after 4 days off it was good and energized, and everybody seems to be back to their usual selves, bad or good. Oh well christmas is coming! Only 22 days til we have our layoff!WHHOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO.

better go to bed, 5am call, 7hr drive, straight to theatre, a matinee, and then an 8pm show, One very very long day.

2007-11-20T01:46:00.000-08:00

Hello Hello!

Praise God, We have 4 days off!!!

And let me tell you it is so needed. We're on our way to San Luis Obispo, Ca, that's where our next show is on friday. A third of the cast is gone, including my roomate trip, and my busmate Chris, and let me just say the less people, and this total relax attitude is truly fantastik. It's nice to just chill out. Right now we're staying at this great hotel in San jose. Really beautiful, and the best thing is that all the rooms have this awesome sony radio. I have done nothing but listen to this awesome hiphop dance station all night rockin it out. Another great thing is when we get to SLO tomorrow we can just totally chill out, cause we'll have 2 days off there, oh and apparently something happen with our DAYS INN reservation, so now we're going to be staying in a Hilton, Ha! I'm not complaining at all. I think a couple of us are going to try and have Thanksgiving dinner there. I think some of us are going to try and take a dance class or 2, I'll let you know. So nothing really going on accept random fun.

Oh yeah, so apparently all of these people who I don't know are reading this now, one day on the bus Malia says that her grandmother had found it and was staying updated, same thing happened with James family, so now I really have to keep this as updated as possible. The only thing to talk about now is the craziness that we're doing. Here's some fun from Burger king.

the call,jet's turn,and goobers

2007-11-18T02:07:00.000-08:00

Well it has been one crazy kind of day here in Eugene Oregon.

It was a 2 show day which already means that things are going to be funky, and everyones going to be tired and over it. And we also know by now one of the leads will call out for one show.

Well while I was in the dressing room getting ready for the matinee show, a good friend called me from a number I didn't recognize, so I didn't answer, once I listened to my voice mail I immediately was broadsided by guilt and grief. My friend Eric had called to talk to me, console in me, and tell me that his mother passed away early friday morning. I knew she had been battling cancer, but the last time we talked which was a couple of months ago, she doing kimmo, and was I thought on the up and up. She was only 44. SO needless to say it was kind of hard to take this after not being in touch for a while. Of course I immediately called him to talk. I am glad that in this time of heartache he knew he could come to me and be consoled, and encouraged,or that he even wanted too. it was great to hear his voice and to even hear some joy in it. He was happy that God wanted another angel by his side, and he told me he was even happy to be talking to me. He asked how and what I was doing, which I clearly retorted how much it didn't matter, but he was happy to know that I am living my dream, we Even shared some fun memories and laughed.

Again needless to say, it changed the whole mood and attitude of my first show.Energy level was kind of down, and I was thinking about him, and my own mother alot. Please keep my friend Eric, and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

That was kind of the thing that just set me over, I was done with whatever anybody had to say that was negative, so I decided to stay between shows not go back to the hotel, and chill out. Went and found a place to have some beer cheese soup and salad, which has become a favorite, inexpensive staple for me, and then went and moved around in the studio. Oh yeah, we performed at this beautiful space, it seemed to be a new theatre the way it was clean, and the condition it was in, but we found that there has been many a tour for years that have come thru there. How? you ask, well there is this small black hallway and steps you have to go up to get to the stage from the dressing rooms. On the walls are paintings of the logos of the shows that have walked thru the hall to perform on this stage, with the signatures of the cast around it. The walls were full, it was awesome! People were just glancing thru and finding friends all over the place.

Our biggest adventure for the night was our 8pm show where Omar for the first time called out. I give it to him, he was trying to make it all the way to Christmas, but after 52 shows of screamin Che lyrics, he finally had to call out. Which meant that Jet had to go on for the first time. We like when things like this happen for it gives us fresh energy and a show to anticipate!, and Then we find out that Cameron called out! Whooo, 2 leads, so that meant Malia had to be Evita( now there was some formal mess about it all, but I don't understand any of it so whatever). Anyway, It was a great show, it was kind of nice Malia could go on cause, almost all her family was there, since she is from Portland. It was fun running the show seeing what things Jet was going to do, It makes us all have to be on our toes, cause you have to be ready for anything, and expect things to not go right at all. You prepare yourself to whatever's neccasary to keep the show going well, like moving out of the way when your dancing and Che comes right infront of you cutting off all your space, hahaha. We had a great show though, and it was really the only one people gave us a standing o for, so there.

The most fun aspect of the evening was meeting Jame's Family, for he too is from Portland, so almost all of his world was there including the "goobers"! These are his 2 nieces that we all know about from his semi daily updates on them, oh and cause of his adventourous pursuits to find a postcard in every city we're in for them. They have become our Mascots. Well Last night His mother invited us all to her room to have some Oregon Wine, and gourmet chips, and hangout with his family, minus the kids( his 2 nephews were there as well). We had a great time!! Every single cast member who came was greeted by a Hug from who is now deemed as our tour mom. All we did til 2 in the morning was tell stories of tour, and listen to crazy relational situations about their family. I must say I was truly surprised at how they could all exist in such crazyness, but Hey they do, and they embrace it, we all said they out the fun in disfunctional! HAHA, but we have already grown to love them. The next morning Lisa and I had breakfast with the full crew, and got to hear even more stories, and fully be adopted into the family. FANTASTIC. We had the most fabulous send off today, all the kids got to get on the bus, and we got to run around with them and get them all wound up for there trip home. They all left us with an excitement for the next leg. In march we go to Thousand Oaks California for a week, they said they had already had plans to be there and go to Disneyland, well let's just say we're already making the schedule for who gets to take the goobers and the boys on the rides!

There's so many last names with them all, I'll just say thanks Evita extended Family!! We Love YOU!

ps. the pumpkin cake, ohh, yesss!

Weed City

2007-11-16T23:33:00.000-08:00

Well We just came from Eureka/Arcata Ca, which we were formally told, is one of the biggest marijuana growing cities in the whole North America.

We performed at Humboldt State University. It was a pretty weird town, I'm not going to lie. There wasn't really any good looking people, and it really looked like everyone was just stoned, which was probably true. We even felt like our audience was pretty high. Not gonna lie. We ended up having a brush up rehearsal, which is fine, but they didn't plan it wise enough, so people ended up having to go early and hangout at the theater all day waiting for there slot. So I ended up just watching Muppets Take Manhattan, (which is fabulous by the way), and oddly enough is about a bunch of kids, well animals, and muppets or different people, graduating from school, and trying to make it big on Broadway. Nothing real exciting to report, right now we're in Eugene Oregon, And there seens to be nothing going on here either. Keep me in your prayers though, especially for my voice.

Relaxing Waves

2007-11-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

Santa Cruz,

This will be a place remembered by all of us as great relaxation!

and here's the story.

We were originally supposed to go to San Fransisco for a fabulous 2 night,and day off to explore the city and go crazy. We were all excited, Lord knows I couldn't wait to be in this place that I once again, had only seen from tv, movies, and posters. But then before a show we got the bad news, nothing in San Fran was open because of some oracle convention. Every hotel was booked up, the closest we could get was almost an hr and a half away in Santa Cruz. So our dreams were crushed. Well then we found out that the hotel that the company put us up in was absolute trash. The crew arrived there a day earlier, and couldn't stand it so much they ended up renting a car and traveling some where 2 hrs away, and then called our comp. manager. SO he decided to put himself in harms way, in terms of the company and his boss, and place us in a great hotel. The only hotel that is on the beach here, with every room having a ocean view.

It has been really wonderful, and hearing the ocean has been just a fantastically soothing experience, so much so that we have not closed the balcony door since we got here. At night when it gets cold we just turn the heater on.(and then we turn it off right before we go to bed, so the waves crashing will rocks us to sleep. This morning I was awoken by the shore, and well sea lions barking like crazy.hahaha. At the end of the pier there is a whole sea lion platform where they hangout.

Last night Sam called me and wanted me to take a ballet class, so we went and got lost in downtown SC looking for this dance studio. On the way we found this bikram yoga studio, and a fabulous street to hangout and go shopping on. We thought we had missed our chance cause signs were hidden like crazy, we were late, and almost decided to give up when Sam Spotted it behind some trees. So we get there, and bless their hearts they waited for us to take class(cause we were the only 2 there to take class). OH Ballet class kicked my @#$@%! I felt absolutely pathetic, and thick, and fat, and like I had lost everything. Oh well.

Today I decided to try something new, so I went to that yoga studio and took class. Now for those that don't know bikram yoga is yoga in a room that's like 100 degrees in tempt. So you're sweating like crazy when you're just standing there. It was absolutely hard and fabulous! And then later on met up with Sam and Lisa for some fun shopping. I got a real navy Pea coat for only $55!!!

Onward to Arcata!!

Magic mountain

2007-11-11T22:31:00.000-08:00

We've been in Long beach Ca for 3 days now. We had 3 shows here, and lets say they weren't abywhere close to being sold out, in fact they weren't even close to half house capacity. But oh well, we still had fantastik shows. Had a whole of good support too, seems like half the cast has some kind of friend or family connection here, and of course they were the ones screamng their heads off in the audience. I actually got to meet Kari's friend who happens to be a film and tv stunt double, and I mean the real deal, she's actually been Tori Spellings double in "SCary movie 2"!! Anyway she gave me great tips for getting into stunt work, and gave me great encouragement for learning how to tumble, which I am going to do. I will be tumbling by the end of next year.

Today was actually a golden day! That's right another full day off!! WHOOHOOO, and guess what I did today, go to SIX FLAGS, MAGIC MOUNTAIN BABY!!!!!!! That's right road roller coatsers all day long, screaming my brains out. It was so awesome. James, Lisa, Geoff and I got a car and drove about 45 min away up north to have a fun day away from everyone else.

It was a fantastik day of laughter from screaming, and of fear. We road some of the beast rides I have ever been on. These are the days where I absolutely love being on tour. whoo boy am I pooped

The Endless Night in SIn City

2007-11-08T23:50:00.000-08:00

Well, let's be honest
it wasn't an endless night at all, but hey talk about a title!
I'm sorry it has been a week, I would have posted on wed. but we were at a hotel that didn't provide free wifi. In fact the hotel we stayed at was none other than the Famous HOOTERS hotel. Yes yes I know. Wasn't my choice, or anybodies really. And let's just say it was everything I would expect a hooters hotel to be. But whatever, I'm not going to lie, the rooms were kind of nice, and we up in the high rise able to look down onto the pool. I tell ya it was real cool coming into the city and being able to the strip from miles away.

Oh and a quick word on the drive down, Oh My Gosh! Driving around the west has been absolutely breath taking at moments, at many moments. Traveling all thru colorado, and montana, some of wyoming, seeing the Rockies, has been some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen. It was such a shock to me that, it felt unreal, I kept saying how everything in the movies is true! I felt so naive, Cause it felt weird that this was all here, and I've never seen it before. The saddest thing about it all, is that I couldn't capture it. NO picture I took gave it justice. Especially when we drove from Utah to LAS V, we ended up driving thru this canyon like valley, surrounded by these beautiful rocky cliffs, and boulder mountains. It was amazing, and all of this makes me miss my best friends more and more, cause they are all outdoor guys.

I must say coming into Las V, was a pretty exciting feeling, looking at all the sites, buildings, and attractions. Again feeling like I was entering a set on a movie. The best thing about it all was the fact that it was warm and beautiful, and the sun was shining for Jesus! After unloading the bus, and getting up to my over looking room, I saw Mikey( our fly guy) at the pool, so Of course I called him to bug um, and found out that HE has a friend who works on the biggest Cirque Du Soleil show, KA, and that he was getting an escorted backstage pass, and got special vip box tickets. You'd better believe I tried to get in on that, but to no avail.

Anyway we walked around the strip a little bit, went into the famous MGM Hotel, saw the Lions, which by the way was very sad, there glass cage looked worse than anything I've ever seen at a zoo. One thing I was surprised about was how diverse the employees are here, again another form of my naivety. Of course we had to go into new york, and to the new york hotel. We do anything that reminds of us home. Since we were there we had to ride the famous Manhattan roller coaster. Now I wouldn't normally spend 14 dollars on a ride, and almost didn't, but hey I did. Now the only thing I absolutely wanted to do was go to the M&MS World store. You see ever since my freshman year in college I have been a collector of things that are assoicated with them. I love the Characters, and over the years have found some awesome figurines, and candy dispencers. My mother even stayed up all night one christmas to sow m&ms material to a bathroom set for me. I love her, I call her milk chocolate.

Being in the M store was great! I loved being overwhelmed by the things I like. 4 stories of this crazy madness, and a 3d theatre!!! Of course I made them and stay and watch the movie, It was called I lost my m in vegas. It was how Red gambled away his letter, and how they searched to get it back, it was cute. Las V is a pretty crazy place, I have to say I felt way out of place there, for one I do not gamble, so the biggest thing to do there I didn't want to do. But the whole place is surrounded by a sort of bad vibe for me. The only reason why I would even consider living there would be to be in a Cirque Du Soleil show.

Well, the only other thing for me to do would be to see a show. Now George, our substitute Company manager got a whole bunch of free front row tickets for The Blue Man group. So that was the plan, he couldn't get any Cirque shows cause they are so in demand. So we decided to head back to the hotel when it started getting dusk, wash up and get some dinner before the show. In Vegas most shows are late, Blueman was a 10pm curtain. Well As I am about to leave my little owls nest room to meet them in the lobby, I get a text from Mikey asking me telling me he still had 1 ticket to KA. WHAT!!!!! Yeah let's just say I totally dumped my friends to go there. SOrry! I know I know. They understood fine. I ended up joining Mikey, Trish(spot girl) his friend Bridget who works for the show, she actually deals just with all the shoes of the 80 cast members, for dinner, Wolf Gang Puck, and Mikey was the big brother who payed for it all, Absolutely fabulous!

The SHOW was absolutely splendiffricallamazatasicallyawesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and I ended up buying the stuffed turtle.

re-ignited my passion and dream to be in a cirque show, so you'll probably be hearing more about that in the future,since I ended up meeting 2 Penn staters who work on 2 different cirque shows, and told me alot about whats going on in the future for cirque, I have started applying and getting in the frame of mind to audition for them.

The next morning It was still beautiful so I layed out by pool, got to give the reason to call me dark chocolate!We are now in Santa Barbara California. For the first time what is going on in the world hit us, as we drove in the city and saw the haze and layer of fog above the immediate sky that is from the smoke from the fires. There is this eery feeling over the whole place because of it. We had a show tonight, it went well, it was in a beautiful theater that is made to llok like the outside of a an old spanish town, It was really cool, Everybody voice felt so much better too after having those 3 days off. The nice thing about today was getting up at noon, getting a breakfast burrito from some small shop, heading to the beach, and having breakfast with peace. It was the total contrast to Las Vegas, and very much appreciated.

A salt lake reunion

2007-11-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

While we in Billings Montana, as usual we found the dining hotspot. The brew pub. We didn't know how ever that we were going to be put right smack in the expereince, where Life and Art meet face to face.

We ended up befriending the bar tender, a semi usual occurance, but this time one that would change a couple of our lives, and bring a sense of commorodory to our community here. His name's Jerimiah. When he found out why there were these hords of people, young different and out of towners at his restaraunt, (for the show Evita), a new found connection and purpose to his life was formed. He had to join our community, this Evita family, why you ask, because he is full blooded Argentinian. Not only that, but his uncle had direct life experience with Eva Peron. His Grandmother worked for Eva, and Eva gave her a metal for having 15 kids, and also regularly donated money to their church. So it was pretty cool for us to meet him the real life example of what Our story is about. He really wanted to take his uncle to the show, but the tickets being as they are, he couldn't. So he felt the least he could do was Show us a night on the town. We had a great night, go to a dance club and work it out, Boy I just needed to dance.

(but here's a little interesting situation, one of Jerimiah's friends showed up and J tried to introduce all of us so we can hangout. Well his friend never really joined in with us, but that didn't stop us from having a bomb time. I mean we were all dancers, so we were making up routines and dancing for each other and having a great time enjoying our selves, well as we're dancing his friend proceeds to come over and tell us kind of one at a time that we should not be closed off, and only dancing for ourselves and basically cock fighting! That we should share our talents with everyone. now I didn't know that he was scolding us, I thought he was just drunk and rambling, until all the other guys got mad, and some had to chew him up a little bit. We were all real shocked how he made us feel real welcomed in montana, but anyway)

We were able to actually get them tickets, and they were able to see the show.

We are now traveling down to California, with some fun stops to keep us happy. Tonight we rested in Salt Lake City, Utah. Now I was hoping to get here midday so we could really spend some time in the city, but alas, we arrived after 6pm. It kind of sucks when you get on the bus and it's dark, and you get off the bus 12 hrs later and it's dark, it really puts you in a mood. I was really anxious to get here cause I was able to connect with 2 old friends from Penn State! Haley and Charis. SO I wanted as much time as I could get with them. We ended up just having an extended dinner, it was just great to just catch up, and hang out. Tomorrow we head to LAs Vegas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Montana Halloween

2007-11-02T14:50:00.000-07:00

I'm just going to put pictures up, um.... think what you will...

2007-10-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

And on we travel.

We hit South Dakota, my first time ever in the upper mid west, very exciting and very cool. Let me just say that the mountains up here are beautiful, it has been really great to see all these natural beautys. It is really strange though, cause you drive and drive, and see nothing but what seems like waste lands, dry deserts, seens from movies that you never thought really existed, you wonder if there really is a town, let alone a city that even knows what theater is. We get the 10 mins from the hotel speech, and still come upon nothing that seems to be people established, and then you go over a hill, and swoosh there is a thriving little city town, (seemingly out of no where.)

The crew told us about this good restaurant in town called the firehouse grille, so as what happens in every place, the whole cast usually ends up eating there at one time or another, or all at once thru spurts of groups. We bring the business! It was actually a nice spot to eat at. The wonderful yet weird thing about performing in Rapid Falls, SD, was that both are shows were at 7pm. So we got out at like 945pm which is just bizarre for us to have so much evening time left. We went to hangout at the pub on the corner, and everyone was pretty blasted and was ready to go home, and it wasn't even midnight! Ha! Of course not me,but Mikey did by a shot for everyone, well we basically brought the business to this bar, we had 22 people there from Cast,crew, and pit. and then there was this little table of 4. I did have a sip of the shot, and gave the rest back to Mikey, (he likes getting drunk).

The absolute cool thing was the next morning,oh wait, so I went jogging around this park that was next to the theater, and was aways from the hotel, and was coming up upon this little bridge, and saw there was people hanging out under it. "Uh Oh, why are they under a bridge, here we go, delinquents." So I run in and it's a bunch of spanish guys, and as I run some start getting up as if they were running with me, in front and behind. I had my ipod on,Though it wasn't working cause the batteries were dead, but I just acted like I couldn't hear them. I have to admit I was pretty alert, and tense, and ready to sprint. But I'm alright.

SO anyway, Rob, our bus driver being so cool, decided to take anybody who wanted to go, to Mt RUSHMORE! It was Fantastik!!!! I am the first person in my family to have ever been this far west, and to see the glory that is RUSHMORE! It was truly amazing, breath taking, and patriotic. A couple of us took the presidential path to the highest view point. When we got there we took our pictures, and they left....I couldn't. I just sat down on the one side of the fence and just gazed up at these monumental men. I don't know what it was, but it just hit me, freedom, sacrifice, honor, and an over whelming sense of humility. For some reason I have always been a very home team oriented, patriotic person. After I left that spot and walked further down the trail, down the hill, I found this big rock that was off the trail, that jetted out over the mountain. well of course I had to ran out and sit on it. Well As soon as I got out there and peered out The wind started blowing and God told me HE loves me, and let's just say the whole was way emotional, and I was crying. Blah blah blah, say what you want, I needed to cry.and it felt good! Want to know something really funny, well in the gift shop they sell chocolate bars somehow represented of each president. George Washington, milk chocolate, Thomas Jefferson, milk chocolate with rice crispies, Roosevelt, milk chocolate with almonds, and you guessed it, Good ole Abe Lincoln, DARK CHOCOLATE BABY!! Better believe it! I'd be no where without that man!

The shows felt good, I haven't felt that good with my voice since rehearsals back in NYC, so if you're prayin for my voice out there, keep it up!!!