"The unforeseen does not exist"...until you work this show.

80 Days is settling down, and by that, I mean it's in it's run, so the crises have slowed to a trickle.

Jack, who replaced Monal, the ASM who had to leave because of a family emergency, also had to leave us, as he had conflicts for the rest of the show. So, last week we trained Roderick for Jack/Monal's part, and Roderick has stepped in. We miss Monal and Jack, but Roderick is doing a bang up job (literally unfortunately. Last night he hit his head on a prop and chipped his tooth. ouch!!!).

Last week as a 9 show week, which included a 10:30 student matinee. Normally student matinees (or brat mats as we call them) tend to be very rowdy, loud houses, but not last week. we only had 42 kids in the house. (the theatre seats over 230). They seemed to love the show, but there just weren't a lot of them.

That's pretty much sums up this run. Everyone who sees the show loves it, people just are not seeing it. Which is scary. Come on economy, come back to us.

This past week or so i've also been getting started on my next gig for the summer, which has so far been a lot of paper and computer work. We'll see how it goes.



Not-work related stuff:

I had a great birthday last week (i'm now solidly in my mid 20s). I went out to dinner with some friends from work and then met up with some more people for a beer after. Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!!

I'm also reading a book, A Voyage Long and Strange, by Tony Horwitz, which I recommend to anyone who loves history and/or adventure stories. It's a very intriguing, and funny, look at early American History (all the stuff that happened between Columbus and the Pilgrims - what we forget about), which he echoes with his own adventures while tracing the history he's writing/learning about.

Other than that, i'm hanging out with Anna whenever we get the chance (we've become regulars at a really good blues bar by her apt), saving up money to fly to Michigan this summer (Steve Spence is getting married!!?!?!), and generally having a blast!

Finally, we're open!!

This show, Around the World in 80 Days, is probably the hardest show i've ever worked.


We cancelled the first preview, because we were not nearly ready.



The next morning, we lost one of our 2 non-equity company members (the actors we hired in the guise of ASMs - what I do). we then had 5 hours of rehearsal to prepare another person (Jack, my hero of the week) to go on stage that night, to do about 35 scene shifts and 8 costume changes. phew.



For this show, I spend three hours tracking props up and down stairs and playing "tetris" with scenery and actors. i'm going to loose weight and gain muscle definition. As long as I don't stress eat it all away.


Oh yeah, I also moved this week.


i'm exhausted.

"But why do you keep calling him Oysterpuff?!"

The cast of 80 Days is inspired, and that's the easiest way to explain it.

In the words of our director, "you know, laughing is supposed to make you life longer. I think this show is going to add about 20 years to my life."

It's a group of 6 actors, playing about 20 roles over the course of a couple hours. These guys, and gal, switch accents, physicality; demeanor on a dime, and they are great at it. They are truly comic geniuses, and I enjoy sitting in rehearsal, watching them 'create' (goof off until the director spits water from laughing) magic. Rehearsal grinding to a halt for a good couple of minutes for people to catch their breath is a common occurrence.

The eldest of the group, Ed, a long time theatre veteran, will do whatever he can to pause a rehearsal (telling stories and jokes are some of his standbys; the more inappropriate, the better in his book).

David and Jay are the other two musketeers in the trio of mischevious actors. These are the guys who might be off on the side heckling each other, giving each other ideas to try, or cracking fart jokes in the green room.

Kevin, who plays Passepartout, is slowly becoming the Frenchman he spends 8 hours a day rehearsing and perfecting. His accent will just stop in to say hi, even when he's not working.

Rob, carrying the weight of Phileas Fogg, started the rehearsals as a quieter, 'serious' actor, yet is making his presence known. He knows comedy, and he makes a great foil to the musketeers.

Maureen, 'the girl', has no problem whatsoever keeping up with the guys. Fart jokes included.





The show is going to be great.

If we can just get it to fit on the stage.




To give you a taste of the talent in the room - here's a video of two of the cast members doing a take on "Who's on First" for a local New Year's Celebration