Finishing Out 2006

So how did we wrap up 2006? It's been a long time in waiting...mainly because the last 4 weeks of 2006 were so CRAZY for us! But the ONE word that sums up our December (and even starting back in late November) is: REHEARSAL! Lots and lots of rehearsal for lots and lots of different things! And all that rehearsal, plus all the performing plus ALL THAT DRIVING made for a tired Wonka Cast...and one EXTREMELY tired blogger. So I took a break over the holidays....while I rehearsed and performed some more at the Kennedy Center. (But that's a story for another time....)
So back to Washington State we go (ONLY IN OUR MEMORIES....) And actually, to get the whole story, I have to take you back to PRE-White House visit...to Stockton, California...when Tara decided to RUN downstairs to the stage and ended up falling down the stairs and throwing her knee out of whack. She went on with the show - but she was clearly hurt. And over the next few days, it didn't get better. We were REHEARSING the White House show every day along with performing 2 shows a day in Stockton.
After we got back to Washington State from the White House, we knew Tara's leg wasn't getting any better...so she went to a doctor, and was given a CANE and told to stay off the leg as much as possible. SO...we entered into a NEW week where we REHEARSED a new show - that included a Violet complete with a cane (which I am STILL slapping myself for not taking pictures of!) until we could get her understudy out to the West Coast with us.
Things finally worked out for Cristina (Tara's understudy) to pack up somethings and head out West for our last 5 shows - while Tara flew home and tried to rest her leg. And as soon as Cristina got into town, we headed CROSS STATE to the Idaho/Washington border of Pullman for one show. That's right. ONE. But before that show? REHEARSAL. Because we had to go back to the original show since we had a Violet who could do everything now. So we rehearsed, and we performed, and then...through the magic of our scheduling, we headed BACK to the Western side of Washington State for our last 4 shows on the road with the fall group. The shows were in Kirkland, Washington. But enroute, we ended up NOT making it there when we were supposed to because the 2nd MAJOR STORM of winter 2006 hit the Seattle area...and forced us to stop in the snowstorm in Ellensburg, WA.
And as we slept, the weather worked HARD on the Pacific Northwest...and forced us to cancel our FIRST of four shows in the Kirkland area the next morning. We didn't actually cancel it. The venue had to - since we were in Ellensburg AND schools were closed AND the venue had no power. OTHER than those factors, we probably could've done it. Being the brave FOOLS that we are, we loaded up the van and trucks and headed the last 100 miles from Ellensburg to Kirkland...which ONLY took about 5 hours over the Snolquamie Pass through the remainder of the storm. We arrived to find 95% of the area we were staying was without any power. That's right. NONE. LUCKILY - our hotel and the 2 restaurants in it's parking lot were part of the lucky 5%....so we checked in...and waited. And waited. And slept a lot. And waited some more.
LONG story short, the power didn't come back on in a timely matter....so our last 4 shows in Washington were cancelled. Which was sad...since Cristina had flown all the way out to Seattle to meet up with us. BUT - them's the breaks. PLUS - we also had 6 straight days of driving to "look forward to" - so no tears were lost on 4 lost shows!
And then the drive started...and it went on and on and on. And for the most part, I slept through most of it. And what I didn't sleep through, I think I blocked out. Because it was a LOT of driving and it was just too much at THAT point of tour. We had been through a LOT the past month...and ending it with 6 days of driving ALMOST pushed me over the edge. I survived. We ALL survived. But I'm pretty sure if you look close, I have a few scars.
That's about the blanket-explanation of the close of the fall portion of Wonka 2006. We survived...only to find out that along with performances at the Kennedy Center, we were going to have another EXTENSIVE set of rehearsals for our week between Christmas and New Years. But those stories and pictures and FUN are for the NEXT blog entry. You have enough to process with all these writings and pictures.
And I need to go to bed.
TOMORROW: Drive to Lafayette, LA and a look at our 2 weeks at the Terrace Theater in the Kennedy Center in Washington DC! Plus a chance to get to see our NEW Charlie and Violet! (NO...Tara didn't die. Her contract ended.)
Later, folks.
G

Cristina jumps RIGHT into the tour life...on a trip with everyone to the grocery store.

Elisa looks as thrilled to be at understudy rehearsal as we all were.

My collection of CRISTINA IN ACTION shots from our rehearsal. For those who are wondering: The girl gets an A+ + + for coming in with a great attitude, for knowing her stuff from the minute she stepped off the plane, and for making a seamless step into the show AND the madness that it WONKA 2006!

Cristina backstage and READY. TO. GO!

Old friends right before the show.

Um. This is in the lobby of our hotel in Ellensburg, WA. And this is MOMENTS after Roe mysteriously just FELL DOWN - and couldn't get back up. AND of course, we were all laughing so hard that no one really could help her. I don't even think I know how she eventually got up...but the place had some DELICIOUS chocolates in a candy dish near where I was taking the picture. Seriously though - the fall was hysterical and I'm SAD I didn't have a video rolling.

Scenes from our 5 hour/100 mile over Snolquamie Pass.

Bathroom break at this gas station. Yes. There is a gas station under there. Jeffrey is used to show you scale.

Everyone heading in to the gas station that has no power...which means no light...which means FIND THE BATHROOM IN THE DARK! OR - by the glow of your cell phone.

These are all bathroom shots taken INSIDE the powerless gas station. OH the drama....

The trip BACK over Snolquamie Pass...2 days later...on our way CROSS COUNTRY to Washington DC.

Not quite sure why they wanted me to take this. Roe couldn't get over the bathroom lady having arms.

This was somewhere between SLC and Rock Springs, WY. Jodi was looking GOOOD...and excited to find Ice Cube Chocolates. So excited, she bought the WHOLE bucket. I'm glad she liked them...because I tried one and it was NO BUENO.

One of my most FAVORITE pictures ever. PURE JOY at the Old Chicago in Kearney, NE. Seriously - I LOVE IT!

The trip home REALLY took its toll....

ON EVERYONE! (but atleast I look rugged and pretty hot here.....)