Friday, January 26, 2007

San Antonio Updates

SAN ANTONIO VENUE

So we survived our 2 shows in San Antonio. We were performing at the Laurie Auditorium on the campus of Trinity University. The venue is one of the stranger venues that we have performed at. We actually had a lot of fun during out 2 show...it was just the arrangement of the venue that was odd. It is an auditorium that is used more as a lecture hall...and is very well suited for lectures. (This is the point where I should probably say that it is perfect for a lecture hall...and I know this because I have actually been to a lecture in the venue. That was in my previous 'professional' life. And it's a story for another time.) ANYHOO...the layout of the place is so odd because we were performing on the ground level....flat on the floor...while the audience sat up in stadium seating. And they stretched almost in a half-circle around us. We did do a school show that had another batch of super cute little school kids...and both our audiences were very appreciative of the show. But I did think it was a strange enough set up to snap some pictures and show it to all of you. OH yeah...and the floor was UBER slick! So that added an element of fun, too.

So here is a look at the stage from the front row of seats. See...how it just goes from floor to stage? We are LUCKY the rabid fans didn't RUSH the stage at the end of the show. Phew.

A couple of views from the stage looking out to the audience. Um....duh.

Here's the cast in San Antonio.

And....here's some of the cast down near the dressing rooms....following Jeffrey in some kind of arm-swinging-warm-up-thingy. Not quite sure? Let's check out the VIDEO!





Um...here they are in action. I think it's safe to say that Jonny is having the most fun out of this entire group.

SAN ANTONIO DAY OFF

So today was our day off in San Antonio...and it coincided with one other event...which I am going to grit my teeth and tell you about now. Today, our day off, was actually my birthday. Now...I'm not a big birthday guy. I get EXTREMELY uncomfortable at the celebration of my birthday...and I can't explain why and it surprises people...and yeah yeah whatever. The bottom line is that I never like to make a big deal about it being my birthday. But because everyone kept asking me what I wanted to do, I decided to rope everyone in to going to see STOMP THE YARD with me...since I've been wanting to see it since it opened, and I figured you can't really deny the birthday boy his wish!

Before the movie, I slept in, and then had lunch with my friend, Ann Knoebel who works at Trinity University here in San Antonio. Ann and I used to work together while I was at the speakers bureau. I would help her with her speakers details that she had coming to her conferences and events here at Trinity. She took me to a really great local Mexican restaurant, and it was DELICIOUS...but more than the food, it was great to catch up with Ann and laugh with her. Post-lunch, I spent some time at the mall...doing a little shopping for myself before the movie.

AND.....people....it was MOVIE TIME! All I'm going to say is that it was SO much better than any of us thought it was going to be...and we had a really great time watching the movie. On the MASE, for what it was, I would give the movie a 9. That's right...a 9! And I am happy to report it. The dancing was fun...the script was ok...the acting was not that great but not horrible...and we all had a fun time cheering for the 'good guys' at the National Step Team Championships. What more could I ask for on my birthday?

Here we all are AFTER the movie...celebrating the magic of STOMP THE YARD!

WELL...I guess the only other thing I could ask for was dinner at Chili's. And that wish came true, too! So all in all, it was a nice, low-key happy birthday for me!

Excuse me for another personal indulgence...but I need to send a HUGE thanks to my cast and crew for making it a memorable day...and to the family and friends who I talked to today or got emails and notes from, the sincerest thanks for everything. (And to those that I talked to twice, because the first time you didn't realize it was my birthday until you spoke to your wife who reminded you...it was great to speak to you TWICE! Carlos.) I've now been around for a good while....and I've come to the conclusion that my life has been extremely blessed and enriched by the friends I have been lucky enough to have around me at different times in my life. From Boise to Washington DC and beyond. From DirecTV to the Washington Speakers Bureau. From my community theater life to my professional theater life. From all my dear friends who have supported my dreams and my path that has gotten me to this point...I love and appreciate the examples you are to me and the support you've been along the way! Thank you ALL for 33 years of laughter, memories, adventures, tears and LIVING! Here's to many more.....

MUCH love - G

Roe can hardly WAIT for the movie. OR to dance around the May Pole.

So come Chili's....it was time for everyone to get their DRINK ON! UM...but does someone see something backwards here? My Felicia...that is a BIG drink you have. Compared to Jonny's baby maragarita.

You know a party is going well when everyone looks as happy as THESE 7 folks! Well, either the party is going well...or the alcohol is flowing well. You choose.

Here we are...the entire group of 12. LIVE from Chili's.

More fun. L: Roe explains that SOMEONE had a good time at the Mexican Market! Thanks ROE! LOVE YOU! R: Craig gets caught up in a Felicia-Jodi Hug! And evidently, decides to call it a touchdown.

AND FINALLY....

I had to share these pictures with you all! I got an email from my friends, Steve and Allison - and the email had these pictures of their daughter, Louise...wishing me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY from their home in Washington DC! I mean HONESTLY...could there be a cuter baby out there? Enjoy the pictures. Thanks Steve and Allison!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Oompa Oops!

Well, our last day in Austin brought 2 school shows...and I think it's a cast-wide belief that the children we performed for at those 2 shows are probably the cutest kids we've performed for this entire run. I think both audiences were the youngest overall group that we have had. There were about 800 kids in each audience, and I'm guessing that they were Kindergarten and First Grade students. MAN they were cute. They were pretty quiet throughout the show - but they were VERY attentive and you hear them reacting to different parts of the show. And I think overall, they were big fans! It's always fun to have those audiences that are swept up in the "MAGIC" that we serve in Wonka. A HUGE thanks to the students and teachers in Austin for coming to the show and being the great audiences that you were!
Our second show in Austin is what we like to call a 'Golden Tits' show. (Let me explain that before we go on. Back in rehearsals in August, during a really terrible run of the show, Jeffrey got to a point where he is supposed to say '...5 golden tickets will be put in candy bars' - but instead, said, '...golden tits and candy bars.' And of COURSE we were all in stitches...and it caused Graham, our esteemed director, to dub all further TERRIBLE runs of the show 'Golden Tits' runs. So there.) From the get go, everyone was a little delirious and punchy....and little THINGS kept happening through the show that kept cracking everyone up. But the REAL clincher was on the very last Oompa pass...when we are all on stage with our Oompas. As we are rolling on stage from stage left, we are moving the heads up and down and walking across the stage. After 2 or 3 head nods, I heard a SNAP, and felt SOMETHING fall in to my lap. I took a QUICK glance down and noticed that the entire bottom half of my Oompa body was sitting in my lap....while the top half was stuck where it had been seconds before...but the head was now immobile. Well, it set me off...and instead of rolling to my place, I simply continued rolling across the stage, picked up my left Oompa hand, waved and rolled OFF stage left. It was a MESS people. Oompas falling APART? Splitting in HALF? I'm surprised many of the children weren't traumatized by seeing an Oompa fall apart. I pulled it together - while everyone off stage was laughing with me and everyone ON STAGE was trying NOT to laugh - we finished the song and the show and all was well! (I'm happy to report amazing Katie did a big surgery on the Oompa today and everything should be fine. Thanks Katie!)

I will just call these pics 'The Aftermath.'

After our shows and lunch in Austin, we packed things up and were on the road again. Our next stop was due South in San Antonio. Everyone is excited to be in San Antonio...probably more because we have 3 days off over any other reason....but we are excited to do some exploring of the San Antonio area, and eating some serious great food down on the Riverwalk and beyond! Oh, and we're going to see the basement of the Alamo on Thursday, too. Tomorrow we have our only 2 shows here, and then Thursday and Friday OFF! Saturday we head out to Dallas.
Check back in for the stories of our free time here in San Antonio...and for any other mishaps we might experience during our 2 shows here.
Have a great Wednesday!
Adios....
G

I got a FULL Pecan Pie from my cousin, Jeff's friends in Austin who came to see the show! It was VERY nice of Wendel and his family to send the pie...and it was a HUGE hit with everyone in the cast! There ain't NOTHIN' like a pecan pie in Texas. So good.

So as I get to know Jonny, I'm starting to learn that he has some STRANGE practices in our dressing room between shows. I don't ask questions...I just point and click.

Here is the MTV Real World AUSTIN house in broad daylight. Loved me my dinner at the Rio Grande cafe! Check it out if you get to Austin.

But before you get to the Rio, head to Iron Works BBQ. This was a recommendation from my brother, Tim...and people...Jeffrey, Steve, Jonny and I all agreed that it changed our LIVES. Plain and simple. I had the brisket...and it was amazing. And even that doesn't seem like the right way to describe it. Thanks for the eats, Iron Works...and the recommendation, Brother! This was a definite 10 on the MASE!

This is just a couple of shots of the Frost Bank Building...my favorite building in the Austin Skyline. It's nice. Trust me.

Jonny getting close to some street art in Austin. It wasn't loaded....don't you worry.

Felicia is probably MOST excited to be in Texas. She carries this flag around with her everyone. OR - she found it on the back of her menu at dinner tonight. I can't remember.

Tonight, Jonny, Felicia and I went to the Lone Star Cafe in San Antonio on the Riverwalk. We all got dessert - our desserts all had cherries on top of them - and this picture is of Jonny and Felicia trying to tie the cherry stem in a knot in their mouths. It was pretty entertaining to watch.

And here they are STILL trying...

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Some Quality Texas Time

Well, OPENING NIGHT was a smashing success! Houston LOVED US! We had a great time in The Space City...exploring and doing our own thing. The real treat of Houston was the close proximity of our hotel to the theater we were performing at. From the time we arrived into Houston until we left on Saturday, I didn't spend one MINUTE in the van...because I was hoofing my way around the greater downtown Houston area!
Our audiences in Houston, both school and public, were very appreciative and excited about the show. And we had a limited amount of mishaps and shenanigans going on, so that's awesome, too. And as soon as we got started in Houston, we were DONE! So we packed up the van and trucks and headed Northwest to Austin for a couple of quick days. I think we were all sad to get to Austin, see how much fun awaited us here, and realize that we had to cram it all in to like 48 hours! We all did our own exploring of the restaurants, shops, sites and clubs. I took sometime and went to eat last night at a Mexican restaurant called RIO GRANDE. What makes it so special? WELL....they put it in the house of the MTV Real World AUSTIN cast. It probably means nothing to most of you, but to those of us who love our pop culture, it was kind of a fun event.
Today in Austin, we saw the sun for like the first time since we've been in Texas! Plus it was actually warm - which it hasn't been for 2 weeks...so that was nice, too! Tomorrow it's back to rain - and off to San Antonio...but for one day, we had the sun. AND we also had Lance Armstrong and his daughters at our first show. So that was fun, too. That's right - we're a PRETTY BIG DEAL...if you hadn't heard!
Enjoy this picture collection of our time in Houston and a few shots of Austin.
And have a great Monday!
G

LOOK what came in the MAIL!? Our OFFICIAL White House photos. And yes, that's ME hiding back there behind Tara's big pink bow.

So in Houston, I went shopping out at Rice Village. And while I was there, I kept asking everyone in the area for a recommendation for a great BBQ lunch. EVERYONE, without fail in the area, recommended GOODE COMPANY BBQ. And the directions they gave me were to walk one way a long ways and when you see the BIG armadillo, you've arrived. But take note that the big armadillo isn't actually the BBQ joint...it was across the street from it. And then I wondered HOW BIG is this armadillo. And I found out.

And sure enough, LOOK what was right across the street.

MMMMMMMMmmmmmm....some of the most amazing BBQ I've EVER had. And that jalapeno cheese bread...MAN! Good. high 9 on the MASE!

Roe and I spent a rainy afternoon exploring the area around the Wortham Center where we were performing. Here is Roe with a little water reature and the fog around part of the skyline in the background.

Here is the big MARQUEE out front of the Wortham Center! And here is WONKA!

The Roe and I found the George H.W. Bush Monument near the venue and spent some time looking and taking pictures.

A couple of different angles of the monument.

Ok, I know I took it...but seriously...I LOVE this picture! Bush 41 surveys the Houston he helped build. That is art, people.

My 2 favorite quotes from the monument.

Roe and I were happy to come and learn at his feet.

Felicia and I spent some time exploring the next day, too! And we found our show poster at the Houston Visitors Center. I'm HAPPY to find the poster...and Felicia is sad. I think either because she's not in it - or because I took a blurry picture.

Houston City Hall. Why? Just because....

OK here's a statue I saw at the Symphony Hall in Houston. And...it kind of freaks me out. I feel...lop-sided when I look at it. It's just weird. Anyone with me here?

As opposed to THIS statue...in the Theater District...that I LOVE! I mean, this is a cool statue. But I never realized the Man of LaMancha played the cello. Who knew?

Jonny shows off his best 'TEXAS".

Chuck and Mary Banker brought the grandkids to the show! It was fun to see Christy and Brian's dad - and the kids LOVED the show! Thanks for coming, Bankers!

Felicia, Katie and Jonny strummin' a tune in downtown Austin!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I dedicate this photo to John Loughney.

Shots of The Paramount Theatre in Austin...with Katie, Rachel, Felicia and Jonny out front! THANKS JP Morgan Chase.

The last hint of SUNLIGHT, touching the Texas State Capitol building.

For those who were looking, and having trouble finding some place that allowed it.

For more info.