Friday, July 16, 2010

An Epilogue

I'm sitting in a Barnes and Noble on the Upper East side as I pen this remembrance, which seems like a rather appropriate place to reflect on nearly six months of touring. After all, Theatreworks actors are incredibly adept at locating free internet wherever we may be, and I spent many an afternoon in Barnes and Noble's across this great country typing away at my aging BlackMac to bring the memories documented in this blog.

Tour ended as it should have. Our final performances in Vermont were preceded by a wonderful meal, the "Click Clack Moo Awards" (see Colleen's blog for the results) and an evening of heartfelt reminiscing. Our last two shows were as energetic and fun as anyone could have hoped, the drive home smooth and the goodbyes tearful. I arrived back at my apartment in a state of moderate shock, still unused to the fact that I was now sans-tour, a state I had not found myself in since November of 2009. The security guards in my building inquired where I had been all this time. "Everywhere," I told them. And it was true.

Click Clack Moo
was one for the record books, in the best way possible. Theatreworks tours are famous for creating both lifelong friendships and bitter enemies among their cast members, but this one was an anomaly. I can honestly say that I truly miss all eight (yes, Shaun too!) of the smart, talented and funny actors I got to see the country with. I miss our long dinners, our daily cow jokes, our camaraderie. It's still odd to wake up every morning without seeing Aaron in the next bed over, or eat breakfast without Alaina a table over enjoying her daily bagel. Claire's "claire-ogrophy" has worked its way into my daily life (come up to the zoo and see the new Captain Cocoa entrances; it's all Claire), and the wonder that she and Grace were able to find at the smallest moments still remind me stop and smell the roses. Thanks to Kristen (and a really big hole in my jeans), I now have a new wardrobe, and Colleen and I already have a Bikram Yoga date (something we were planning all throughout tour). And Shaun pops up on Twitter daily, reminding me that, no matter what we all shared together, life goes on, and everyone is bound for new adventures. They are still all a part of my life, perhaps more than they even know.

A few days ago, I had an audition for another Theatreworks tour, one based partially on a sequel to Click Clack Moo. When I entered the audition room, Molly (Theatreworks' casting director) smiled and asked me if I was ready for another few months in a Sprinter van. While I'm always eager to tour (this one would mark number five for me), I think the last six months will retain a very special place in my memory. I made dear friends, worked with outrageously talented performers, saw spectacular places, ate incredible food and performed in venues I could only dream about. This show in particular pushed me to grow as a person and a pro and, together, we created a magical experience for our audiences every single day. I could not be prouder to be a member of the "barnyard family," and to forever be linked to the world that is Click Clack Moo.

Oh, and what did I sing at that Theatreworks audition? "Loretta's Anthem." Of course. And they loved it.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Click Clack Moo Memorial Day Cookout 2010

Memorial Day. A day for trips to the shore, bbqs and the celebration of the impending summer. Unless you're the tour of Theatreworks/USA's new Lucille Lortel- and Drama Desk-nominated hit show Click Clack Moo. (Oh, did I forget to mention those nominations? Yeah. They're all for the Off-Broadway production. But still. We're kind of a big deal.) If that's your current gig, you're headed for the New York-Canadian border, which is roughly a six hour drive, in preparation for a week of shows. Thankfully, traffic was light. However, our rustic inn (The Stone Ridge in Ogdensburg, NY) provided fodder for some unexpected fun: a propane grill inside a gazebo, overlooking a lake. And thus, I present the results of Click Clack Moo Memorial Day Cookout 2010:











Call tomorrow: 7:00am, Stone Ridge Motel, Ogdensburg, NY. We have a 9:15am show. That's early.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Lights Out

The day started like any day of Theatreworks touring should: we trundled out of our hotel (a lovely Hyatt) and into the waiting vans, groggy and gripping our caffeinated beverages of choice. Yet, today was not like any other day. Today was our fair Stage Manager Alaina's birthday!! A day for celebration and jubilation!! Or at least a nice dinner in the evening. Either way, we were headed for George Mason University, where we had two shows to get through in their lovely space before any festivities could begin. We loaded in, set up, sound checked, ventured out for more coffee and headed into the dressing rooms to get ready, as over a thousand children filed into the auditorium. It looked like it was going to be an awesome show.

Or so we thought.

It was just around the time where the cows present me with their first letter. I reintroduce the duck to the audience, review the sounds that some of the other barnyard animals make and then prompt the cows to "moo" (which, of course, they don't; they're too busy typing). Or that's what's supposed to happen. Because, about halfway through the duck's quacking, all the power went out. Not just in the theater, or on campus, but in the entire town of Fairfax, VA.

And does anybody remember what happens when about a thousand children are unexpectedly plunged into darkness? They start screaming. Loud.

Emergency generators quelled the deafening noise, but there still appeared to be mass confusion among the munchkins and their keepers. Seeing that it was clearly going to take a while, we congregated backstage, awaiting instruction from Alaina. When it came, the answer was clear: first show canceled, and we had to evacuate.

Not wanting to disappoint our loving fans, we headed to the lobby (where there was lots of natural light) to greet the kiddies and apologize for the power outage. Thankfully, teachers and parents were more excited than frustrated, and our time was spent taking pictures and giving high-fives. Between photo sessions, individuals from our sponsoring organization showed up to keep us updated on the status of our second show. Police and firefighters were fixing the problem, and it seemed we would indeed have a 12:30 performance.

After 30 minutes of meeting and greeting, the time came to reset and return to the dressing rooms. I, for one, was a little sad to leave the kids. If nothing else, it affirmed to me that the kids both understand what we're doing and appreciate and enjoy it. Theatreworks keeps a strong separation between audience and cast, which is good, because it maintains the sense that this is a professional production and not some sort of "assembly" or "kiddie show." However, breaking that fourth wall and meeting the kids, particularly while still in costume, reminds me of the impact we are having. That sense of trepidation before meeting us that some of the younger ones display seems indicative to me that what we do onstage is extraordinarily real for them. Which is quite cool

We reset, prepped, and got ready for our 12:30 show. Which, of course, went off without a hitch. Yet, for me, I think I was a little more enthused on that stage than I have been in a few weeks. Getting a little thrown during a show is good for the brain, and I was feeling pumped to give these kids the show their predecessors never received. After weeks and weeks of shows, it's nice to have a reminder of why we do what we do. Even if it requires a city-wide power outage on your stage manager's birthday to do it.

Call tomorrow: 7:30am, Holiday Inn in Baltimore.

Kid Quote of the Day: When the Duck yells "Duck!" and the cows hit the ground, one little boy leaned over to Alaina and informed her that "the duck killed the cows."

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: (Remember our proximity to Washington DC) "Ethan Marc Angelica!! Our forefathers would be very disappointed in you. George Washington never told a lie, and he always put away his tractor."

Friday, May 21, 2010

A Week of Snafus

This has been a week to remember, both for the good and the bad. After two glorious days off, we headed out for a make-up local show in Montclair, NJ, a school that was a snow-out for us way back in March. It was a very exciting show for me, because my mother was to attend, the first time she had seen me in a Theatreworks show. However, Montclair also began our week of snafus, which I have detailed below:

Montclair, NJ: During the first of two shows, right in the middle of the opening number, the lights went out in the auditorium. But not the sound. We muddled through the rest of the track in darkness (only about five seconds), and then waited. From somewhere, an expectant "Moo" was uttered. After what seemed like an eternity, the lights returned, but the music did not. Claire, Aaron and Grace looked at me expectantly from the barn. Suddenly, music appeared and I continued on with the show. Later, Colleen reported that some crew members had been messing with circuit breakers backstage. Good timing, guys.

Centereach, Long Island: This was our most recent school and, while the shows went great, the day was fraught with some peril. Not only was the show repeatedly announced as "Click, Clack, Moo-Moo" (we've requested a version of this show to be written by our artistic staff to compliment "Moo" from Alabama), our already-long drive was plagued by rain, severe rush-hour traffic and more construction than I can recall of late. We got in to Delaware just after 9pm, and collapsed into bed.

Wilmington, DE: Two days of shows at the charming Dupont Theater. Great crew, cool space, nice dressing rooms and a lovely coffee shop nearby for refreshments between shows. The problem? As I made my way across the stage with my one-dimensional tractor during our final performance, the music just cut out. I looked out into the audience and saw Alaina scrambling with wires and the minidisc player. My knowledge of this technology has taught me one thing: there is no "fast-forward" or "rewind" in situations like this. Suddenly, the rooster crowed, I shuffled back to my entrance position and began the show all over again, as a very confused audience stared me down.

Annapolis, MD: We performed at Maryland Hall, which has received a nomination in the upcoming Click Clack Moo Awards (known as the "Clickies") for worst load-in. Why? Well, it required that we carry all of our set pieces up three flights of stairs. The snafu? Our green room turned out to be some woman's office, and she was quite surprised to find a few of us in various states of undress when she arrived to start her day.

Did I mention that this was also an 11-show week?

Annapolis also held a decidedly more pleasant surprise for us. Unbeknownst to me (at least), there's more to Annapolis than sailors and a naval academy. We enjoyed a lovely evening in the historic downtown area at the Docks Bar and Restaurant, where we feasted on all manner of crabs. A few of us followed the contingent of sailors to a local ice cream shop, where we continued our evening of mid-Atlantic pleasures with pecan fudge ripple on a waffle cone.



Ah, the joys of touring.

Call tomorrow: 10:10am, 108th and Amsterdam. We have two afternoon shows near Trenton, NJ (which finishes our 11 shows), and then we start heading for the DC area.

Kid Quote of the Day: When the cows began playing with the computer, a little kid clearly couldn't make out the sounds. He shouted, "They farted!"

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: I'm pulling from stock here. I had been talking up Asheville since it first appeared on our schedule. Thus, "Ethan Marc Angelica!! We are not going to Asheville until you put away your tractor!!"

Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Farmer and the Law

After a long day of shows and driving, we finally arrived at our cozy Days Inn in very small town in Tennessee, which bills itself as "The Sweetest Town in Tennessee." Maybe. Problem was, our location seemed to be very far away from all this "sweetness," as the only food options available to us were a McDonald's, a Burger King and a scary-looking little restaurant called the Family Waffle Kitchen, which boasted about the "big salad bar" and was missing four letters from its sign. Alaina and I ventured across the street to BK for burgers and sodas, and then headed back to the hotel, for there was little else to do on this strip. The internet was slow, so I headed out of the room for a phone call to my friend Diane, whose recent return from nearly three years in Rome meant some serious catching up.

My general M.O. when chatting with folks over the phone is to go wandering. I am definitely one of those people who will stroll up and down the sidewalks of New York, BlackBerry in hand, yapping about my day or whatever turn the conversation happens to take. And touring is no exception, except that, often, those sidewalks are replaced by hotel hallways and lobbies, or country roads.

My wandering this evening took me up and down the rural highway on which our hotel was located. I passed a Comfort Inn, a truck stop, the "Hill Top Motel" (guess where it was located?) and, finally, wound up in the parking lot of the Micky D's (which happened to be right next door to our Days Inn) as the conversation continued and continued. I found myself strolling the lot, sitting on the steps that led to the hotel, laying in the grass and just generally keeping myself moving. Night had fallen, and I didn't want to get too far from the hotel.

A few hours (yes, hours) in, a strange white SUV arrived in the parking lot, and started revving its engine at me. A gaunt, pale-white guy was seated behind the wheel, brow furrowed, staring directly at me. Unsure what this could be, I decided it was best to head back towards the hotel as casually as I could. I climbed the stairs between the two buildings and sat myself on the top, ensuring I was in a well-lit area, within eye-shot of the room I was sharing with Aaron that evening.

Next thing I knew, there was a flashlight in my face, held by a guy wearing a vest that said "POLICE" in reflective letters. A gun holstered at his side.

"Diane, I think I'm going to need to call you back."

And the questions started flying. Apparently, the McDonald's employees had reported a "bearded figure" hanging out in the parking lot near closing time and wanted police protections for... well, any number of reasons, I suppose. Anyway, the officer seemed moderately unconvinced that I might just be on a phone call with my friend. "No, Officer, I'm an actor from New York," I said, as I produced my ID, Equity Card and Days Inn key-card. "I'm doing a touring children's show about striking cows. See that big white van? That one's ours."

For future reference, pointing out an oversize, white, windowless van and telling a police officer that it belongs to you is a bad move.

Without actually asking to see the van, he grilled me on the details of our show, our travel itinerary and our past whereabouts. Where were we going? How long had we been on the road? And how was he so sure that I wasn't up to anything fishy? Finally, after as much sincerity as I could muster (and another close look at that Equity card; I guess union membership is good for more than health insurance), he decided I was OK, apologized for the interrogation and suggested that I head back to my hotel room for the night. I watched the SUV until it was sufficiently out of sight before scurrying back to the hotel, recounting a barely-intelligible version of the events to Aaron, and diving under the covers to go to sleep. Not sure if I mentioned this or not, but police officers have ALWAYS made me uneasy.

The next morning, Aaron and I recounted the tale to the rest of the cast, who laughed and laughed. At lunch, I learned that the vote was a close race among burglar, child molester and terrorist, with terrorist just barely edging out the other two. Because only terrorists have beards.

Call tomorrow: 7:50am, 108th and Amsterdam. We're back in the Northeast, y'all!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Good Eatin'

I think I've probably mentioned a few times before that we are a decidedly "foodie" cast. The charge, led primarily by Claire, took a deliciously interesting turn come Birmingham, and boy are we grateful for it.

The Vegans (my nickname for Grace and Claire) spent most of our time in the South seeking the perfect soul food. We're talking collard greens, mac and cheese, corn bread and sweet tea (and maybe some chicken or BBQ for the carnivores among us). Anyway, we'd tried many a spot on our venture. A BBQ joint in Dothan, AL had incredible pulled pork, but did not answer the call for collards. There was some good "fried corn" and turnip greens at a lunch place in Montgomery, but The Vegans were not satisfied. There had to be some place that would give the authentic, tried-and-true soul cuisine.

And it came, not a moment too soon.

With our time in the south coming to a close, Claire got serious. Our Birmingham show marked the last show before a long trek back to the Northeast, and Claire knew she had to make it count. At the vans that morning, she announced, with her usual bravado, that she had discovered "an amazing place" (this is a typical refrain, but always accurate) that had "the real thing." A little skeptical from the rather sketchy photos on the very-1990s website, Aaron and I reluctantly agreed to join in (Grace and Kristen were on-board from the get-go). Out came an iPhone GPS, and we followed the blinking blue light out of downtown Birmingham, and into a downright depressed neighborhood. Nothing nearby showed any signs of life, except for a line of cars outside of the little shack that held Eagles Restaurant. We hopped out of the car and, staring down bars over the windows, started to wonder what we'd gotten ourselves into.

But, one step inside, and we knew Claire had done it again!

The people behind the counter initially looked at us with minor suspicion (this is very much an in-the-know spot), but they served us up their decidedly-exceptional fare with a smile and grace. I went for their "three vegetable" plate (where Mac & Cheese was an option, so you know things are good) and a sweet tea, which was beyond-sweet. My total? $5.75. The guys got chicken wings, which looked exceptional. The Vegans gathered heaping plates of veggies, and we began. And it was exceptional. The food was perfectly cooked, and precisely what you want when you want soul food. It was likely some of the absolute best food we've had on the entire tour.

We, apparently, made such a fuss that the owner (and cook) Ms. Leslie came out to greet us. She was shocked to hear that Claire had found the place, and was clearly tickled when Kristen suggested that the place be featured on Oprah. I chatted up a guy at a nearby table who told me he'd been coming almost-daily for lunch. He told me, "Nobody knows about this place, and whenever they see the outside, they ask me if I'm crazy. But, look at that score." He gestured to her Department of Health rating, which is 100. "Ms. Leslie does not mess around." Having befriended the entire restaurant and staff, we asked for a photo:

(Photo Credit: Grace)


If you wind up in Birmingham, AL, you absolutely must check out Eagle's Restaurant. It's a bit out of the way, but decidedly worth the trek.

Call tomorrow: 11:00am, Days Inn in Sweetwater, TN, or whenever Alaina gets back from the shop with Proud Mary. She needs a little TLC before the long trip back north.

Kid Quote of the Day: When I ask where the Duck went with the laptop at the end of the show, a little kid very excitedly pointed to the back drop and shouted, "He went that way!! He went... oh, there he is." (Guess what happened in the "..."?"

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: She caught me with tractor in hand today. "Ethan Marc Angelica!! That's what I thought."

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Our Cast Motto

One of the things each Theatreworks tour I've been on has had is some sort of "group thing." Often times, it is a song. For Max & Ruby I, our "thing" was the Sara Bareilles's song "Love Song." Max & Ruby II was marked with a folksy song about all the different ways you can eat your eggs. Christmas Carol had two: a Hebrew version of "It's a Hard Knock Life" from Annie and Faith Hill's sneaky "A Baby Changes Everything" (long story on the last one). Click Clack Moo, however, has a motto:

I Deserve It.

This one came from Claire. One of our resident vegans (Grace is the other), Claire is a true foodie. We frequently rely on her to find us great restaurants, and she's almost never led us astray. One of the problems, however, with good food, is that you always want that one thing on the menu that you know you shouldn't have. You know, the bread pudding. Or the chocolate cake. Or the warm-peach-cobbler-topped-with-a-scoop-of-ice-cream-and-drizzled-with-a-caramel-sauce-plus-dash-of-Frangelico-to-spice-things-up. Yeah. Claire likes things like this sometimes. Well, we all do. However, Claire's rationalization is the best. When she sees a decadent food item that she must have, she turns to us and said, very calmly: "Guys, I deserve it."

Initially, we teased her about it a little (in that loving, family way, I promise!), but then it stuck. First Grace started it, then Alaina and Colleen and, finally, the guys jumped in. And it's sorta become our thing.

And now it really is.

Alaina is our resident tattoo enthusiast. She's got a few really nice ones, and has been eager to get a few more. Well, whilst lounging on the sand in West Palm Beach, FL, Alaina broached the idea of a tattoo to memorialize this tour. "I've had so much fun with you guys," she said, "I want to get something to remember you with." After batting around a few lame ideas (the tattoo of a Sprinter van and cow got dismissed early on), Alaina had a stroke of brilliance: Get our cast motto, in French, in a whimsical design by it's originator. A quick Google search provided the translation of Alaina's soon-to-be tattoo:

"Je le mérite"

Claire produced a beautiful design and, in Montgomery, Alaina headed off to a tattoo shop for the work. The final result is a real thing of beauty:



She Deserves It!!

Call tomorrow: 7:45, La Quinta Birmingham. Last show in the south, and then we start heading home.

Kid Quote of the Day: When Darlene asked if she actually had to talk to "those obnoxious chickens," a little boy shouted, "Yes you do!"

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: Today Colleen caught me in the middle of putting my tractor away. "Ethan Marc Angelica!! As you were..."

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Alabama Redemption

We finished our time in Louisiana with more crawfish, lots of fried oysters and, in Shreveport, a vampire search (some of you may understand this reference; suffice it to say, our True Blood fans Alaina and Claire were thrilled to be in the "motherland" when the tenth book came out). Shreveport also brought us an exceptional crew, full of great IATSE characters who were particularly happy to see a pro-union show treading their boards. The lighting guy actually held up a raise "solidarity fist" during "Loretta's Anthem." We lunched, drove to Meridian, MS, played two show, slept in a cramped Microtel and the headed off to the portion of the tour I dreaded most: Alabama.

'Bama and I don't have a very good history. My last visit to the state involved an unfortunate stop in Talladega, which is a place I would prefer never to revisit. Anybody who needs a refresher can read this entry. Meeting my friend Stephen on A Christmas Carol last year helped break down some concepts, but when I announced my arrival in Montgomery, AL to the world of Facebook and the response was "hide," I figured something was up. Worse? We had four days off, and THEN a show. What on earth were we to do?

Plenty, it turned out.

First, we should not forget that Montgomery is the home of Martin Luther King Jr's Dexter Avenue Church, the site of the Rosa Parks-started bus boycott, the birthplace of Hank Williams, the headquarters of the Southern Poverty Law Center and the base of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. That's sorta a lot, if you are into that sorta thing. And I am. Grace and Claire accompanied me to check out Hank William's museum, where we indulged our love of honky-tonk, and realized that his music is clearly lost on our generation (the next youngest person was at least twice my age.) Feeling countrified, we strolled the deserted weekend streets and then headed for some Shakespeare. Which is located in a place that looks like this:



A downright cultured first day.

Sunday, Mother's Day, brought a trip to Waffle House (where there was a wait!!) and then a visit to the Montgomery Museum of Art. I guess mom's everywhere love waffles and Edward Hopper.

My big trip, however, came on Monday. My day. In search of some civil rights education, I decided to take the bus (!) to the Southern Poverty Law Center and Rosa Parks Museum, curious to see what was going on. The Southern Poverty Law Center has always been in my psyche, as my dad is a long-time donor, and their materials have always been either available or discussed at home. And their Civil Rights Memorial and Museum did not disappoint. The museum in particular is sort-of the perfect mix of memorial interpretation and explanation of the SPLC's mission. Plus, it's short, interactive and heavily reliant on multimedia, which makes it very manageable for school groups and individual visitors alike. I "nerd-ed on" for a while:




Rosa Parks's Museum is similarly well-done, recreating the event through media, sound clips and a nice array of historical documents. My trip there was cut short, however, with a report that the Technical Director for our venue had invited us to a BBQ at his place that evening. WHAT??? This is the stuff of Theatreworks legend, and, in four tours, it had never happened before. Anyway, Adam welcomed us with open arms, burgers, brats and beers, and we spent the evening in his house, playing Rock Band and getting to know each other. As it always does, being in a house after months of hotel rooms was such a relief:




The Southern Hospitality did not end there, however. Post-show the next day, Adam and Josh (another staff member) took us out to lunch. Another first. Clearly, one of the best days of our tour. We were all quite sad to head off for Dothan.

If this redemptive experience in Alabama has taught me anything, it is that, regardless of sites and "culture" (which were great, really!), the people really make or break my view of wherever we go. Theater people the world over seem to "get" each other, and my experience in Alabama proved that our shared experience, plus some true hospitality, can make what should be a rough town into a great place to visit. 'Bama, I'll be back.

Call tomorrow: 7:40, Super 8 in Dothan, AL. Let the Southern good times roll!

Kid Quote of the Day: One kid seemed to doubt the authenticity of my performance. After my first scene with Jenny, one little girl called out to me: "You’re not a real granddad." Thanks, kid.

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: "Ethan Marc Angelica!! If you can remember the show after three days off, I'm sure you can remember to put your tractor away!"

P.S. Montgomery did have one fault, however. Here was the marquee on our venue:



We're hoping that Billy, Kevin and Brad (the writers of our fair show) can script this one for us. We're thinking something slightly Brechtian?

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Cajun Cows

We arrived in Lafayette, LA after an epic drive across the northern part of Florida, southern Mississippi and Alabama, and a good chunk of Louisiana. Crossing over the bayous provided for a lovely view of town, but, by the time we arrived in Lafayette, the tummies were a-rumblin'. Being the foodie cast we are, it naturally occurred to us that the appropriate food option for the evening would be local fare: Cajun! Sunday in Lafayette affords limited options, but the very Cajun attendant of the front desk at our La Quinta offered a solution, a place that included live zydeco and dancing. What followed was easily one of the better nights on this tour:




Alaina samples her first taste of 'gator





Crawfish étouffée


Colleen gobbles down the world's best bread pudding



In case you couldn't tell, this is an alligator statue


Call tomorrow: 7:30, La Quinta parking lot. Time to entertain the kiddies once again.

Kid Quote of the Day: When the cows start to learn how to type on the laptop, a little boy turned to Alaina (who, this time, was exposed in the house) and told her, "You know, those cows are gonna break that computer."

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: "Ethan Marc Angelica!! I believe one of the Ten Commandments is to honor thy father and mother, and you can start by putting your tractor away!!"

Friday, April 30, 2010

West Palm Beach

After a rather-uneventful, although very muggy, trip through parts of central Florida (stops included Ft Lauderdale, Avon Park and Ocala), Theatreworks placed us in West Palm Beach for three days, with a “sit-down,” of sorts. One of them was a day off. Clearly, this was a major blow to cast morale. In fact, it was so demoralizing that Aaron and Colleen flew their significant others (wife and fiancé, respectively) in from NYC to help them cope. For the rest of us, well, it was just sheer misery. What is there to do in West Palm Beach, besides…

Stay at an unfortunate hotel in the middle of nowhere,



(Photo Credit: Hyatt.com)

Where we do nothing but sit inside the hotel room,


Completely sober.


Nearby, there was no nightlife at all.



Oh, and the venue was just a boring shack.


Sometimes, touring is the pits.

(P.S. Sadly, our time in Florida didn’t end quite as delightfully as it started. On our last day in West Palm Beach, our fair Proud Mary (also known as “the Passenger Van”) refused to drive in the morning, and had to be towed to a Sprinter dealership. After six hours of work, she was ready to roll. Then, the following day, our La Quinta in Tallahassee refused to honor our reservation, sending us an hour out of our way to find available lodging. Needless to say, it was a bit of a relief to get to Louisiana.)

Call tomorrow: 9am, Country Inn and Suites, Marianna, FL. Onward to Louisiana!

Kid Quote of the Day: At one point during their confrontation, my chicken calls the cows “scaredy-cows.” One little girl didn’t appreciate that, and decided to tell me so. In the clear, she bellowed, “It’s called a scaredy-cat!”

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: “Ethan Marc Angelica!! It’s Sunday, we didn’t go to church and you didn’t put your tractor away. Therefore, you’re going to hell!”

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Duck, Duck, New Duck!!

(For a show about cows, there has certainly been a lot of Duck talk in this blog).

Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing our newest cast member, and Duck. Meet Kristen:



After just over a week of five-person shows (which we were performing very well by the end), Kristen swooped in to join us on April 19, while we were performing in Coral Springs, FL. We had just finished the first third of our second show when a strange figure appeared, laden with bags and suitcases, at the stage door. Turned out, Kristen had been flown into Fort Lauderdale and taken a taxi all the way to join us, as nobody from the show could really leave in the middle of a performance. He watched from the winds (script in hand), and we all made friends afterward. A big "new family" lunch ensued at a Panera nearby, and then it was off to our La Quinta for rehearsal.

Now, here's the thing: Kristen is good. Like, really good. So good that he walked into the rehearsal with new choices, strong convictions and a seriously-funny new Duck already formed. On top of that, he had his lines completely memorized, and blocking (and choreography) perfected. It was totally incredible. Our rehearsal (all one and a half hours of it) might as well have been a performance. And good thing, too. Because Kristen was going in on Wednesday.

After a travel day and a quickie rehearsal the night before, Kristen's debut performance arrived. We loaded in at our venue (a school with a disgustingly-beautiful theater space), warmed up, ran through some of Kristen's big numbers, and then started. And it was great! Kristen's Duck brings a level of sass and class to the role that is new and exciting. And his lisping chicken is still making me giggle. (He also plays well onstage, so there are some added moments in that scene which are just a ton of fun.) Alaina had mentioned afterward to our venue manager that we had added a new cast member to the show today. His response: "Which one?" Really, it was that seamless.

Now comes the part that I'm very interested in. Casts are interesting social beings, very much alive and always changing in little ways. With a brand new personality, the dynamics are starting to shift. Thankfully (and we have been so lucky!), Kristen is a wonderful, charming, funny and smart guy, and is fitting into our mellow groove very nicely. However, the amateur sociologist in me will be intrigued to see how our group changes as we get to know him better. I have every confidence that it will be for good. Mostly, though, I am glad that, as Grace has said numerous times, "our little family is complete again." It really feels that way.

Call tomorrow: 7:30am, La Quinta in Miami. We're returning to the Beth Am Day School, where I had my car accident on Max and Ruby I. And I'm slated to drive. REDEMPTION IS MINE!!

Kid Quote of the Day: Shortly after Loretta hid inside her pizza box to eat her pizza, a little boy angrily shouted at the stage... well, I'll let Aaron explain:



Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: "Ethan Marc Angelica!! We have a guest today, and I expect you to make a good impression by putting your tractor away!"

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Disney World

Orlando seems to be a favorite Theatreworks/USA destination. It appears that the children of the surrounding areas require much in the way of theatrical exposure, and we are happy to oblige. Our venue, it turned out, was in Tampa, but it was immediately preceded by a precious day off. Jenn, our hotel booker, was kind enough to place us in a lovely La Quinta right up the road from Disney. Alaina and I both flipped when we realized this. Immediately, the planning began. We were going to Disney World!!

Now, as happened with Max & Ruby I, the opportunity to go to Disney inspired everyone’s excitement. But, as we got closer and closer to our Orlando arrival date, people started dropping like flies. For some, it was financial. For others, sentimental. At the end of the day, however, Alaina, Claire and I stood strong. Alaina, a true Disney expert/fanatic, had a schedule and plan to hit all of her must-visit rides; Claire was tagging along on her plan; I was in it for Epcot and Animal Kingdom, where my good friend Dave works. The night before, he and I had coffee at Universal Studios (his other gig), where he updated me on his exciting new life in Orlando, showed some pictures his adorable baby girl, gave me the run-down for my plan of attack at Disney and, to my utter shock, handed me a free ticket to the park. Thanks, Dave!! It was wonderful to see you:



Back at the hotel, Alaina and Claire had a surprise for me. They had gone shopping for some “uniforms” with which to go park hopping, and had picked up a little something for me. If only they had known the perfection of their choice:



You see, Goofy is my favorite. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto… they’re all fine. But Goofy has always held a special place on my heart. I had one of those Goofy hats with the ears and buckteeth when I was little, and I wore it until all the pieces fell off. One of the greater disappointments of my theatrical life thusfar was being told that I am a quarter-inch too short to play “Santa Goofy” at the NYC Disney Store, despite qualifying with all of the other “actor-ly” stuff. So, needless to say, I was thrilled, and ready to go.

The next morning, the trio assembled in the breakfast room for a hearty meal and some planning. We shuttled to the parks in our hotel’s complimentary vehicle and then headed for the Magic Kingdom for a beginning-of-the-day trip on Space Mountain. Alaina was so excited that she ran:



After fun ride through Disney’s version of space, I bid farewell to the ladies and made my way to Animal Kingdom. Following Dave’s advice, the trip began a trip through the African “forest preserve” walking area, where my zoo-brain perked up as I listened to presenters giving animal facts over a loud speaker (remember, it’s a theme park, not a zoo, so they don’t do placards) and surreptitiously watched a few of the educators doing interactive interpretation with some kids. As a fellow practitioner of zoo-based education, I was beyond-impressed by the set up, and the quality of the educators. I picked up some tips, ate my stolen-from-breakfast apple, and got in line for the safari.

Now, this safari ride is somewhat incredible. Disney has essentially created an open-air zoo environment where the animals roam freely and the visitors are trucked through to catch a glimpse. It truly feels like you are in the wilds of Africa. And, as somebody who knows a little bit about the requirements surrounding space and care of zoo animals than the average visitor, I was floored. At the Bronx Zoo, we have two crocodiles, which everybody thinks are impressive, but fake. At Disney? They have about two dozen. Want to see a hippo? How about seven? Giraffes? I counted nine. Beyond my interest in animals, the sheer facilities and upkeep required for this kind of park absolutely blew my mind. It is astounding what money can do:





After lunch with the ladies, and a visit to the Finding Nemo musical (which is a spectacular undertaking – six times a day!), I headed to Epcot, my favorite of the Disney parks. The three of us were planning to meet up and do the major stuff together a little later (Alaina and Claire had to hit the rides at Hollywood Studios first). I strolled along, looked and the flowers, enjoyed the space-aged plants growing in humid air, got a snack and plotted my attack. Alaina and Claire arrived, looking a little tired, and we started. Spaceship Earth, Mission: Space, Test Track and then a trip to the nations of the world, where Moroccan food provided us with a tasty dinner (and Claire, a near-native French speaker, chatted up the servers). It was getting late, and, while the ladies grabbed gelato in Italy, I split away from the group. My day had been wonderful and exciting, but there was one more thing I had to do:




Three sleepy people, we dozed in our shuttle back to the hotel, said our goodbyes and headed to our respective rooms. It was truly a day to remember.



(photo by Alaina)


Call tomorrow: 9:30am, La Quinta, Orlando. Off to Tampa for another 5-person show. We’re getting pretty good at this!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Down a Duck… for good

Big news, world! Shaun has unexpectedly left the tour. We had a little “going away party” the night before his departure in our Albany, GA, hotel room, where we all had more than a few drinks, quite a few laughs and everyone shed a couple tears. Shaun’s a great guy and a very talented actor, and we will all miss him a lot.

With Shaun gone, Theatreworks went looking for a new Duck. The usual suspects were still unavailable, so audition notices went out. We knew things were serious when we spotted postings on ActorsAccess, Backstage and Equity’s Casting Call. However, while Theatreworks put out the legwork in New York to get us a new cast member, we were working equally hard to retool the show around a five-person cast.

We’ve had some experience with the five-person show, as posts found here and here will detail for you. However, with the arrival date of our new Duck somewhat in the air, our preparations became more extensive. Remember that “fall chart” I wrote about way back in February? Well, Aaron was back on deck as the Duck, only this time in the full role. He had to learn the “Chicken #1” part of the Duck track, which, while not rocket science, has a few specific “cluck-ography” moments. It also gave us the opportunity for a nice photo-op:



And then there was the matter of “Down,” the Duck’s big number. The role requires some funky moves, highly-choreographed and stylized, and Alaina was right there to help. Watching her teach Aaron the choreography was one of the greatest moments of the tour for me thus far, both because of Aaron’s new-found dance skills, and Alaina’s surprising ability to “get down.”

With Aaron all set, attention turned to the other two cows. “Loretta’s Anthem” was the main cause of concern, especially since all three cows are present for the song, and each sings a pretty significant chunk. The last time we lost a cow, Claire picked up the whole song, but this time, things were different. Alaina, tossing on her director’s cap for a moment, found an ingenious way to split the song up so that Claire was able to stay in one key (she had been switching between “boy” and “girl” keys, which is extremely hard to do) and Grace could maintain the ambivalence of her character. After a few minutes of script work, a quick run through of the full cast “Boiled Chickens” number and a deep breath, we had ourselves a show. And a good one too!

So far, audiences seem to respond very well to our cut-down version, but, from the stage, it does feel a big foreign. Aaron and I have discussed how the ephemeral nature of live theatre makes it so that the show you see is a moment in time that will never be replicated. Once it is finished, it is no longer in the world, and that is what makes it so exciting. Likewise, the “show” of Click Clack Moo that I know, and have been performing for the last few months, is no longer. Sure, the lines, songs and (many of the) jokes will all be the same, but the little nuances, the way each actor interacts with the other onstage, those “inside jokes” that only the cast knows about are completely shaken when someone is removed. Actors often talk about the sense of “post-partum depression” they have at the close of a show, and I am certainly feeling a little of that for our production. I know Theatreworks and their casting abilities, so I have no doubt that the new Duck will be incredibly talented and will bring a grand vitality to the show (which, nearly four months in, we all could certainly use), but I am taking a moment to reflect on the end of one chapter of our Click Clack Moo tale. It has been wonderful, and I have no doubt that the next one will be too. So, Theatreworks, get us a good Duck!

Call tomorrow: 7:30am, Quality Inn, Niceville, FL. We’re in Florida for a day, back to Georgia for another one, and then we begin the long-awaited “Florida loop.”

Kid Quote of the Day: When the cows side with Jenny and march back into the barn, they give a collective “moo.” One little boy observed, “That’s all they [the cows] say!”

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: “Ethan Marc Angelica!! When we get to Orlando, we’re not going to Disney World unless you put away your tractor.”

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Duck for a Day

It had been a lovely two days of performances in Greenville, SC. Our venue was large and beautiful, the downtown area provided charming lunches and daily diversions, and we were all getting more sleep than we've seen in weeks.

Yet, all was not entirely well on the farm.

For reasons I am not at liberty to disclose (positive ones, though), our fair Shaun was called back to New York City for an important activity. Now we've done the show once before with Aaron filling in as Duck (for those new to the blog, check out this entry), but our venue in Greenville was of particular importance and, as this absence came with some warning, Theatreworks decided to send us a new Duck. For a day.

Now, a replacement is a strange beast in the world of Theatreworks. It is much easier just to grab somebody who's done the part before, give them a quick brush-up and send them out (witness me in Max and Ruby II). However, Click Clack Moo is so new to the Theatreworks repertoire that they're somewhat short on Ducks. And, with the only two other people who know the role out on other gigs, it was time to call in the reinforcements: Josh Isaacs, a friend of mine from college, and Farmer Brown in the Fall 2009 tour.

Josh is a great guy: funny, smart, talkative and very talented. I was eagerly awaiting his arrival for selfish reasons as well: it was been a few years since I had seen him, and I was eager to catch up a little. And I knew he'd bring an nice energy to the cast. Which he did, within the first few hours. After Collen woke me from a mid-afternoon nap with a water gun spray to the face, I knew it was "on." Click Clack Moo 2010 Water Balloon fight commenced immediately in the parking lot of our La Quinta:





After dinner, and a good night's sleep, it was time to rehearse. Josh is a true pro, and came in ready with great choices, an extremely strong knowledge of the show and a sense of fun that made the experience new and different for everyone. By this time in the tour, we've all become a little set-in-our-ways, and it was nice to have someone come in and shake us up a little. Josh's Duck seemed a little Mick Jagger-ish at times, which is a major change from Shaun's. Our first show went very smoothly (a few glitches, but none noticeable to anybody but the cast), but by show number two, we were flyin'. We lunched together, headed back to the hotel and said our goodbyes to Josh, who was headed back to New York that day. It was a whirlwind of a day for all of us.

That evening, I headed off to the airport to pick Shaun up. While it was fun to have a new energy onstage for a day, and I loved spending some time with Josh, I felt very relieved when he jumped into the passenger seat of our Sprinter. One of the interesting things about a Theatreworks tour is that we truly become a "family" of sorts, and changing even one person does alter the dynamic. I am very proud to say that this cast has gelled extraordinarily well, which makes everything (even the most challenging days) great fun. And, with Shaun back, the "family" felt complete again. Which certainly makes me a very happy touring actor.



Call tomorrow: 8:10am, Greenville, SC. Last day of shows during this sit-down.

Kid Quote of the Day: What do you call a granddad without a granddaughter? One kid had the answer: "A meanie!"

Colleen Tractor Quote of the Day: (Remember, this is a sit-down, where we leave the set up for a few days) "Ethan Marc Angelica!! This is a very big day. Put your tractor BACK!!"

Monday, April 5, 2010

What'll We Do Today?

What’ll We Do Today?

Three days off?? A four day sit-down?? Seven days in the same hotel?? What kind of tour is this?!

When we arrived at our La Quinta in Greenville, SC, I wasn't exactly sure what to make of the situation. Theatreworks tours are particularly taxing because we are always in "go-go-go" mode, but, suddenly, we were stopped (nearly) dead in our tracks. What is a company of seven to do?

Here are three highlights:

1) The Super-Stealth Mission

Aaron is one of the two members of our cast who are in long-term relationships. He is married to a lovely lady named Erin. (Yes, he had to clarify this name similarity on the first day of rehearsal.) They clearly miss each other very much. When our schedules came out, Aaron was very excited when he realized that we had days off in Greenville over Erin’s birthday. So, with the help of Kayak.com, and Erin’s sister (who was in on the whole thing), he planned a surprise visit. I got in on the game too, insisting that he wear a blue stick-on bow on his head upon arrival, which I dutifully purchased for him. Aaron spent weeks hiding this visit from his wife, who appeared in phone conversations to be catching on, but really had no idea. On the Saturday of our days off, I drove with Aaron to the airport in Charlotte, NC to see him off, and, later that day, received the following text:

Woohoo! Covert op bday surprise is a success! Thanks buddy! She flipped out (and yes I used the bow)


2) Asheville

The remaining ladies of Click Clack Moo (remember, Alaina was driving Cargo Cathy back to us?) wanted to take a Bikram yoga class. The closest one? In Asheville, NC. Where is my favorite city (so far) in the south? Asheville, NC. So, we day-tripped back to the town we had performed in just days earlier. While the girls stretched and sweated, I strolled the artsy streets, enjoyed a coffee and some novel time at a charming global coffee shop, bought a book of plays at my favorite used book store in town and generally soaked up the vibe. Asheville just makes me happy, and it was delightful to spend an afternoon/evening there. And, with their exercise finished, the ladies joined me for a vegetarian dinner al fresco:



3) The Return of Cargo Cathy

Alaina returned after her epic drive from New Britain, CT, with Cargo Cathy, now fully intact and ready for action. She had clearly enjoyed the mixes and snacks we prepared for her. However, with Cathy back, it was time to bid goodbye to Roger the UHaul and close out the saga:




Call tomorrow: 7:40am, La Quinta, Greenville, SC. Time to load in, and sit down!