WONKA opens...then off to Des Moines!

Well, we finally and officially OPENED yesterday in Decorah - and we had 2 great shows! The first show was about 400 2nd graders from around the Decorah area, and although I think they enjoyed it, they were pretty quiet. I'm sure they all had teachers who, before arriving, threatened them with their LIVES if they talked, laughed, anything during the show. But our 2nd audience was AWESOME! About 1,000 people - 95% students - and they ate it UP! There is one point in the show where Charlie opens a chocolate bar and finds the golden ticket. (No surprise...and sorry if I ruined anything for anyone out there.) So Eric opened the bar, pulled out the ticket, and the crowd if 1,000 kids went CRAZY! They were cheering, clapping, hollering. It was HYSTERICAL. It was one of the greatest stage moments in my life - and I wasn't even on stage at that time. Tara and I were in the wings stage right, and were hugging because it was so exciting!
Once our shows ended, and we packed up all our stuff and caught a quick lunch, it was back into the Wonka Van and we hit the road for Des Moines - about a 4 hour drive. The drive was pretty un-eventful...but I'm going to be honest. We got OUT of the Iowa I didn't know existed and drove through the Iowa that I THOUGHT I was going to see. Lots of corn - lots of cows - and lots more corn. And there are some stretches along the freeway where you can't see the cows, but you know they are there because you can SMELL them. We watched a few more episodes of 'Arrested Development' (genius on the DVD player, Anderson! GENIUS!) and our show of choice for the whole van to sing through this trip was Les Miserables...and it was solid. He would be modest in admitting it, but I am here to let you know that Eric sings a MEAN Madame Thenardiere.
We arrived in Des Moines and checked into the Embassy Suites on the River. And that is exactly what we got - suites in a hotel that sits on the Des Moines River. And let me just reiterate that the hotel rooms we are in are suites. SUITES. With living rooms and kitchenettes and the works. They really are great rooms...i mean suites. Eric, Chris and I headed out to find someplace to eat - and we're lucky we went when we did, because everything closes at 10pm here. We ended up going to the Spaghetti Works and it was good food. Our waitress, Stephanie, was very nice to us...but I doubt we'll be going to local parties with her.
Even though today is our day off, for SOME reason, I woke up at 7am and couldn't go back to sleep. So I watched me some TV, dropped off my dry cleaning at the front desk and headed to the complimentary breakfast. And once I had done all that, I decided it was time for me to get out and get to know Des Moines - up close and personal. I walked around, saw the Capitol building (which is beautiful), did some window-shopping in the few shops I could find, and ate lunch at a sports bar and grille. I was back at the hotel by 1pm and have decided that after such a hard day, it's time for a nap.
More to come - once we find some fun in the city. (We have 2 days off here....wow.......)
Later!
G


Jackie checks out the stage, practicing Violet's Dream Ballet segment, at Luther College - an hour before the show goes up.


Our glamorous dressing room. They hooked us up, though. We had a fridge with water and sodas both in the dressing room and upstairs just off stage right. And snacks, too. Decorah ROCKED!


My greatest photographic creation yet. This is Eric and Chris - we're all just hanging out before we go onstage. Can you figure out the illusion? TA-DUM!


Jen getting herself ready to go on. The things we go through for the children.


Post-show...Granda Joe lays in his carrying case - waiting for the other grandparents to arrive and the departing trip to Des Moines.


Andrew relives exciting moments from the show to the delight of Tara. We caught lunch at the Student Union Building at Luther College before we hit the road. Calzones = gooooooooood.


MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM........what did I tell you? CALZONES! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! Jackie enjoys her 'To Go' calzone before she's even gone. They were JUST that good.


It was Tara's day to drive - and she handled it like a champ! Look at how CHILL she seems behind the wheel. Of course, she is sitting on 4 phone books we stole from the hotel. Whatever works to see over the steering wheel. We'll send them back when we get a chance.


Eric performs 'Mater Of The House' from Les Mis - to the delight of the van passengers. (It was either this or the pants-changing picture, Eric.)


Elisa knows we're in cow-country. You guess how she knows.....


The sun does down on our opening day! And for all intents and purposes, it was a perfect 10 on the M.A.S.E.