Sad News!

So, being on the road with spare time on my hands, I have come to enjoy all that Netflix has to offer. Well, unfortunately because mail gets sent to our home office in Maryland and then to us on the road, and we only get the mail once a week, Netflix are few and far between. You have to watch them the night you get them just to hope you might get one the following week, Well, I was watching Season 3 of Veronica Mars and have been waiting for the last disc, disc 6, of the season for a couple of weeks now. Would you believe, unbeknownst to me, that the Series ended on disc 5 and this disc was just special features???? I feel so betrayed, I didn;t realize that all of the story lines had been wrapped up? Were they? Sad, sad day friends - Veronica Mars is no more :(

Happy Anniversary

So, it's been one year since the beginning of Sucka-tash, and in that year we have gained a Sucka and then seemingly lost it again. I hope I have given an interesting look into the life of a traveling performer and given everyone the opportunity to feel like they are "keeping in touch" with me. I know I have failed a bit mid-year at keeping up with posts, but it is my promise to you the reader to at least try to be better at staying current. I thank you dedicated readers for staying with me and making me want to continue blogging about my life, until the next post . . . Happy Anniversary!!

San Luis Obispo, CA

So, we had 3 shows in Escondido with less than enthusuastic audiences. I am sure the audiences loved the show, but the houses were so small it felt very stoic. We drove up the coast today to San Luis Obispo where we will be playing just tonight. The drive up the coast is just stunning with mountains on one side and ocean on the other, just delightful!! One more night as Roger and then back to the daily grind of backstage singer. Hope to post videos soon!!

Escondido, CA

So, here we are in sunny California, (yes Jill, in Escondido:)) after a very cold few days in Montana. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I spent my turkey day mostly in airports, but it was actually a pretty good day. We definately bond as a cast on these special days and yesterday was like no other!!

The theatre in Butte, MT, where we were on Tuesday, was probably the most difficult venue we will work in, I say that now, eeesh! Then the next day in Billings we had more room and were a bit more comfortable. Just to paint the picture, last year we were a 5 semi-truck tour. We fit into almost every venue except for a couple, where fly space was limited so a couple of drops were cut, you get the idea. Anyway, someone's job was to cut our show by 2 trucks to make our tour this year feasable. Well, they should really go back to the drawing board. We seem to be cutting things in every venue. We have had our full show a small percentage of the time this year. The cast moral gets low when we are always hearing of cuts to the set and things. In Butte, we only had a couch in our townhouse (keep it gay) scene, they had to cut the front door and the stairs, it just looks so weird. The audiences, however, don't know what they are missing and love the show each and every performance!! however, the moral of our show from last year has definately waned.

I am still in the show which is great, but our Roger Debris' grandmother passed away yesterday and he flew home to Florida for a few days. Which means yours truly is on all weekend for the man in the dress. I will try to get a video or at least some pictures to then post for ya'll. I can't seem to not be in the show, crazy!! Hope everyone had a great holiday and I look forward to seeing you all in a few weeks!!

Sucka's Book Club

Well, I hope you enjoyed "A Thousand Spendid Suns" I thought it was a wonderfully thought provoking novel very relevant to today's society.

Now my next choice has been around for awhile, but it is one of my favorite books of all time. I really hope you enjoy it.

The Time Traveler's Wife

This book has everything and reads like a movie, it is actually slated for theatres in 2008 with Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana, so read it before all the hype. I don't want to talk about it too much, but rather allow the reader to experience the book how the author intends, as a journey - enjoy!!

Idaho Falls, ID

So here we are in Idaho Falls, enjoying a delightful autumn day. I have included a few shots from my hotel balcony which should infer how Idaho Falls got its name - just beautiful.

Also, I must give my endorsement to my favorite hotel chain by far . . . Red Lion Hotel. The rooms are delightful and very high class. The beds are perfect!! Best nights sleep are at these hotels. You can find Red Lions primarily in the North West, and I am not sure if they are owned by a larger company.

With that said the hotel that does not get my endorsement would have to be . . . Guesthouse Inn and Suites. These hotels are so gross, not at all inferred from the name. We have stayed at them in Long Beach, CA and Pueblo, CA. In Pueblo there were bars of soap stuck to the ceiling - nuff said!!

One of the character men sliced open his toe, so I have been in the show for a few days and expect to remain in for awhile.

Washington State

So, Antonio guessed it . . . on Wednesday night B Scho came to see the show!! After he sent out en email to everyone catching up I told him I was going to be nearby and he drove 2 hours to come and see the show. Believe it or not, I wasn't even in the show that night, they couldn't make it work, but Brian loved it anyway.

We played two shows in Bellingham and now are in Yakima. Washington state is just gorgeous, probably the closest version to the east coast, with out actually being there. Also the drive was lovely, it offered some amazing mountain, lake, and everything views!!

We saw Dan in Real Life a few days ago - great movie, really surprised me!! Also, who didn't watch the season premiere of Project Runway - oh, it's going to be a good one!!

Well, I was in the show last night and both today because one of the guys split open his foot and had to get stitches. Going to Idaho Falls, ID tomorrow. 6 am leave with 644 miles of travel into a show - that's touring folks!!

Pueblo and Avon, CO

So, we have been go go goin!! We played a one nighter in Pueblo on Sunday and since it was Sunday the city was dead, we did, however, stay at the Guesthouse Inn and Suites - the WORST hotel chain ever!! It sounds quaint, right? It is not - gross, I have now stayed at two, the other in Long Beach, CA and they are always gross - avoid at all costs!!

The next day we drove to twice the elevation to Avon (or Beaver Creek), CO. I played this city on Crazy For You a couple of years before. It is a great resort town, so cute!! The theatre only holds 450, I say Only, but we typically play houses that seat around 1500. It was a fun night - hard for the crew, the load in had to be done down ramp, up an elevator and through a hole - or something like that.

I am still in the show and plan on being in tonight as well, here in Bellingham, WA. Guess who is coming to see the show tonight?

Greeley, CO

So, we had two shows here in Greeley before we move on, a matinee and an evening show and I was in for both!! Tonights show had one of the best audiences we have had on tour. People remember Greeley for the strong odor associated with the city, they say that is the smell of money, I say it is the smell of cow s%#@! I think that is why the audience was so good, they were excited to spend an evening indoors away from the smell of "money"!! Let's get out of cow country people!!

Step it Up People

So, isn't is frustrating when it seems like every department in a show can make major mistakes and as an actor - you can't. For instance, someone could miss putting a set piece on stage and they would get a "hey, don't do that again!" If we miss an entrance or a line, we get notes, fined, or worse.

We had an understudy rehearsal yesterday to put all the first covers into a run thru. I am the first cover for Roger - the guy in the dress - we were to have costumes to rehearse in as well. I had had fittings earlier this year and let's face it even last year, well, I was called in for a fitting before rehearsal thinking that I was getting some last minute details, make sure the dress fit and all that. Our wardrobe head had NO idea what costumes I was supposed to wear and everything I had tried on last time had no alterations done. He took no notes whatsoever and had to start all over again - what the %*&@#!!! As Dance Captain, I had rehearsal with some of the covers prior to rehearsal as well, to finish up last minute details. The fitting took up my time, well, wasted it is more like it, and took time away from me working with other people as well. All the covers knew their steps, no one had costumes!! What the hell, come on people - step it up!!

So far this week I will have done 4 different parts in 4 days - Go Super Swing Power!! I rock!! ( and I am tired )

Ft. Collins, CO

So, we are in Ft. Collins, CO, about an hour north of Denver for the next few days. Well, because of a smaller fly system, we only have half our drops for the show, so it looks a little shabby. Also, I have been on a lot and tonight I went on for one of the girls tracks because we had 2 girls out. In three shows I have played 3 totally different parts. We have rehearsal during the day this week also, very busy!! Enough of the boring show talk . . .


I was watching TLC tonight and they presented an interesting statistic. Only 1 % of men are 6' 3" or taller, wow, that's why I look so tall in shows - the rest of the 1 % joined the NBA :)

Columbia, MO

So, on Sunday night we did one show in Columbia, MO. Really the only interesting thing of note was that since the backstage was so tight we had to do crossovers outside, good thing it didn't rain.

Well, I just started reading an interesting find "Lies My Teacher Told Me". It is a book centered around 10 subjects that history textbooks get wrong or not completely right. I have read the subject on Helen Keller's life, which was much more colorful after her childhood years and Woodrow Wilson's career, both accounts offered contrary pictures to their known lives. Next, the chapter on Columbus was quite interesting and no I am on to the first Thanksgiving. I would recommend it to anyone who finds history fascinating. When I told someone about the book, they quipped, how do you know what this person is saying is all based on truth as well? The author has a lot of sources and footnotes, maybe too many. Anyway, stopover in Hays, KS - what an exciting town!! Going to see American Gangster at the movies tonight.

Nashville, TN - Golden Day!!

So, we just finished up our Halloween in Blacksburg and then headed to Nashville for a stopover on our way to Columbia, MO. We got there in the afternoon and a couple of us decided to rent a car for our stay. We were staying a fair distance from the downtown. So, on Friday night we made it a night on the town. We walked up and down Broadway and made a pact to only have one drink in each bar, just to keep us moving and enjoying all the atmosphere. Well, just about every you bar you go in has live bands and performers and they are all amazing!! We had so much fun and although I really don’t enjoy country music, it was fantastic!!

On Saturday, we went downtown for a more touristy experience. We did a backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry, which is a must miss!! Definitely go and see the building and walk around, but don’t waste the money on the backstage tour – so lame. The building was renovated within the last 30 or so years and all of the dressing rooms look like nice living rooms, totally modern, not at all historic. We also went and saw the Country Music Hall of Fame, which was surprisingly entertaining. I can’t really say what I liked about it, except that I don’t like country music and I was still able to appreciate what the museum offered!

All in all, a great couple of days and we look forward to doing a single show on this normally 5 show weekend in Missouri on Sunday night.

Halloween 2007

So, another Halloween under our belts and I have to say we had some very delightful costumes this year!! Here are the highlights . . .

Kelly and Jesse as the Deer "bbrrrraaaatttt"ing the hunter

Jason as a Sumo and Lara as a California Raisin

Lauren as her inner child!! :)

And me, as what?

Ah, yes, The Village People - all of them!!

We had a fantastic time!!