SUMMER UPDATE #2

So summer is in full swing, and we are gearing up to head into rehearsals for year 2 of WILLY WONKA! But what about last years group? Where are the updates? Well! Look no further. I was going to paraphrase for everyone...but I loved reading their responses so much, I changed my mind and decided to add them up here in their original text. A bold move - but I feel an important one.
Any my update is the same: still doing the SEASONAL WORK at the old office in Alexandria, Virginia. I'm catching up with friends and starting to get ready to head back for another helping of the Gloop. I had a great trip out West to Idaho, Utah and California - and am taking a trip to Atlanta in a couple of weeks to see friends. Can't wait for WONKA 2006-2007 and the pictures, stories and experiences. Cheesy enough for you? I thought so.

And now, the rest of the folks.....

ERIC THOMPSON

my present day consists of waking up at 10am, sitting on the couch watching LOGO, writing an email, and eating lunch. Then I'll either run on the treadmill or play the piano, or maybe even run some errands. I then go off to rehearsal where I make sure 76 teenagers know whether they are a fork, knive, or spoon when dancing in Be Our Guest. I cried one day because I made a reference to 90210, and they had no idea what i was talking about. A world without Dylan McKay is a sad one. I then go home and watch every primetime program I've taped in my absence, and then I'm off to bed. Its a very boring life, and thats how I like it. The life of Charlie on the road was just too exciting, and I need to gear up for the fall.

ANDREW FRACE

I will be taking classes in the sport of underwater basket weaving for the month of August. Then in early Sept. I will be relocating to Orlando, FL for a year long contract performing at Disney World in the Animal Kingdom. The show is Finding Nemo: The Musical and I will be playing the role of Anchor. You can find out more as I will be updating my website soon. www.andrewfrace.com

CHRIS SIZEMORE

So as you know i just finished a great week run of 1776 at the National PortraitGallery with some of the most amazing actors in DC. I am auditioning forPhantom and Carnival (which by the way will be at the KC) and as for actual work lined up I will be playing the Herald in Cinderella at Olney from Nov.14 - Dec. 31.....which by the way...you better come to the show....Thats pretty much it....

JEN MORRIS

got an apartment on the upper west side in Manhattan with two guys(one gay, one straight and me...it's a little three's companyish!)

Moved to NYC on July 1st, turned 25 on July 2, got my car broken into on July 7th!!! haha...that was AWESOME! Was officially welcomed to NYC by the local street thugs. apparently they were fitness-conscious since my yoga mat and two workout DVDs were the things taken from the trunk. sooo...now I'm doing the auditioning thing as much as possible which is great and exhausting. That's about it...hopefully I'll have a gig to write home about sometime sooner rather than later. But I'm just happy at this point for a change of scenery and that I'm really where I want to be at this point in my life!

GILLIAN SHELLY

Let's see...I am a serving wench at Medieval Times (I LOVE it, I figure 8 years serving in dinner theatre's gotta be good for something ), I am also currently the Kaiser Permanente mascot (and "symbol of health and wellness...THRIVE!!") ...yes, I am a large piece of broccoli in a doctor's coat and my name is Doc Broc (ya can't make this stuff up!), my next show is A Man of No Importance as Lily at the Bay Theatre Company in Annapolis and I just had a really fun and awesome audition for something that I am (fingers crossed) hopefully going to be doing in the spring...but I don't want to say what it is 'cause I don't want to curse it! I just bought Roald Dahl's Omnibus so I figured I would broaden my exposure of his works and Aaron and I are planning our wedding for the spring/summer of '08 to be held in...Paris! (We don't want a "traditional" ceremony so we figured why not make everyone come on vacation with us and make it a PARTY!!! And also...as I like to say...It's my job to dress up and have people stare at me everyday...why would I want to do it on my day off?!) That plan is still up in the air but that's what we are shooting for! I guess that's it! Oh, I just costumed my friend Beth's camp show of Seussical for the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts (70 kids!! Crazy!!) and Schoolhouse Rock and Pippin are next! So many jobs!! I LOVE it!! I'm sure I am missing a few but that's it for now! I think that's all...oh, and I went through a phase of seeing if I could eat a pint of "Give in to Mint" Dove ice cream a day...but I am done with that now! That ice cream is not a joke people!

TARA GIORDANO

Re: what I'm up to. Closing "AIRPUMP" this weekend. Heading to NYC to do aworkshop/reading of LOVESONG of the ELECTRIC BEAR, then vacation in Maine with my family. Then back to NYC to rehearse LUNCH for the New York Music Theatre Festival.

JACKIE LAMPTEY

Not much to inform. Working the DC theatre circuit like a whore. AUDITIONING for EVERYTHING and ANYTHING in a new phase in my career I fondly like to refer to as the "The No-Pride Project". Got signed to Central Casting for my non-theatrical pursuits (tv, film, commercials). Currently working as a nanny or "childcare assistant" (which ever one sounds more professional). Traveling to L.A. in September to research living possibilities and attend a few auditions. Taking voice lessons with a voice coach that, I feel, may be able to really push me to my full potential as a musical theatre singer- very excited about this prospect! Taking my first post-collegiate acting classes in the fall with Studio Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre in DC! Doing A LOT of reassessment and strengthening of my craft during this "stagnant period"... and just kicking it and anxiously awaiting a new journey! Big ups and welcome to the newbies of the 2006-2007 National Tour of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka!!!

ARE YOU READY?

So this clock isn't right - and after a busy afternoon of trying to find a good COUNTDOWN CLOCK to include here and failing, I decided to put a quick picture and note to say:

32 Days Until WONKA: YEAR 2 kicks off!

The excitement is so thick, you can cut it with a KNIFE!

Anyone want to make any PREDICTIONS on year 2? HIT IT!