Of Mice and Men Tour 2009

This Is It

2009-11-22T14:56:00.001-05:00

We're getting ready to start our final performance of the tour. We're in half-hour before our 3 PM show at Brooklyn College.

Crossing the Hudson on the way to New York

Whitman Hall at Brooklyn College

We got to the city around noon and everyone took off for lunch at various places in the neighborhood then we came back to the usual pre-show ritual of fight call and sound check. We all feel the reality of this wonderful tour coming to an end but first and foremost we have a show to do and our job is to maintain the level of performance quality that we've tried to provide at every stop. And we all know that.

Whitman Hall in the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts

But it's going to be tough to say goodbye to the friends we've come to know on the road and to the experience we've shared together. Most of the cast and crew will be leaving right after the show. Only a few of us are riding back to Abingdon together. Some of us will be working together in the 2010 season at Barter but as is true for any show some of us may never work together again.

We're all going to miss each other and this show. I can say that for me the tour has been an educational experience on so many levels and I'm very grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me to do this show, to represent Barter and to experience the beauty and variety of this country. It literally has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I will never forget it or the people with whom I've been lucky enough to share it.

Thank you all.

New Bedford, Massachusetts to West Point

2009-11-22T00:50:00.003-05:00

The tour comes to a rushing finish this weekend. We had two terrific shows on Friday at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a 10 AM matinee with over 1000 students and a general public audience nearly that big for the evening show. New Bedford is home to our dear friend and fellow Barter actor Michael Poisson and he had given me some tips about places to visit but I didn't get a chance to follow up on them. Several folks stayed downtown for the afternoon but I unfortunately wasn't one of them. I hadn't slept well the night before so I went back to the hotel for a nap.

We did, however, get to see another friend at the evening show. Meg Atkinson, a Barter alumni, now lives and works in nearby Boston and she came down to visit. A couple of other cast members also had family and friends in attendance so New Bedford turned out to be quite the reunion spot.

Getting ready for sound check at the Zeiterion

Fight call before the morning show at the Zeiterion

We were up Saturday morning for our drive across Rhode Island and Connecticut into New York.

Driving along the coast in Connecticut

We had an 8 PM show at the Eisenhower Hall Theatre on the campus of West Point. We're staying about 45 minutes from the college in Fishkill, New York so we had a short break after checking in the hotel before we got back onto the bus for the ride to the oldest military academy in the country.

The lobby outside the Eisenhower Hall Theatre at West Point

We're in good company

The folks at West Point were extremely kind and accommodating and we were fed dinner in a private room in the restaurant that is part of the theater complex. Eisenhower Hall is a huge facility, the largest we've played the tour with a seating capacity of over 4400. So, not surprisingly, it wasn't a full house and according to the folks there it rarely is. We had about 700 in attendance, a good house for a college town on the Saturday night before Thansgiving and they seemed to really appreciate the show. It was certainly a thrill for all of us to perform on this historic campus.

View from the stage at the Eisenhower Hall Theatre

This is the largest venue we will play on tour

We had a brief talkback session with some high school students after the show, then loaded the bus for our drive back to Fishkill. Tomorrow morning we all load up one last time for our drive into NYC and the final performance of the tour in Brooklyn!

What's With the Water in Orono

2009-11-22T00:40:00.000-05:00

Okay, I've filed a couple of posts dealing with some mysterious substance floating in the water of the Stillwater River in Orono, Maine.

What is it?

Our friend, playwright Rick Whelan, is a follower of the blog and his brother teaches at the University of Maine in Orono, so Rick and I have been corresponding via e-mail in an effort to get an answer. Here's a portion of his most recent communication:

"[J]ust above Orono, there are strong sets of rapids on the Stillwater and the Penobscot rivers (the Stillwater is just a branch of the Penobscot) He [Rick's brother] says they just had a big rainstorm, the river level went up and foam forms with the water plunging over the rapids and then floats through the calmer parts downstream.

"The rivers used to be polluted by paper mills, but they are either gone now or cleaned up. So now you know the rest of the story!"

So there you go and thank you, Rick Whelan!

The once again beautiful Stillwater River in Orono, Maine

By the way, John Hardy seems to think I am inordinately interested in this situation and he therefore questions what he terms my neurotic need to continue to pursue it so I think I'll stop and let this be the last word. At least for now.

An Inconvenient (and Disappointing) Truth, then on to Massachusetts

2009-11-20T10:15:00.002-05:00

In my last post I marveled at the ice floating in the Stillwater River early in the morning in Orono, Maine. Unfortunately later that morning I was able to get a closer look and what I thought was ice was in fact some sort of pollution. I hope it's an aberration but there was so much of it for so long I'm afraid it's not. It was really disappointing and I almost didn't share the truth with the rest of the world. But maybe there's a lesson in there.

Not ice

We left Orono and headed south toward New Bedford, Massachusetts backtracking some of the way through Maine and then going through the small part of New Hampshire on the coast.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Downtown Boston

We continued south directly through Boston and arrived at our home for the next two nights in North Dartmouth, MA. Since Thursday was a travel day off the crew also had the night off so it was our last chance to all get together before the tour ends Sunday.

Marcy Bates, Ben Mackel, Mollie Slattery, Rebecca Reinhardt, Robin Bloodworth, Holley Housewright

We have a terrific crew. Their job is so much more difficult than ours and I have tremendous respect for the things they have accomplished on the road. It's their job after every show to tear down the set, load it onto the trailer and drive to the next venue, almost always traveling overnight and sleeping on their bus. Then they get to the venue, construct the set and get props and wardrobe ready for the show. Sometimes that process begins as early as 6 AM. They are the best.

Vince McGill, Mike Ostroski, me, Michael Catalan, Anthony Fisher

We've got two shows today at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford. Tomorrow morning we'll leave for West Point and our penultimate performance of the tour.

Self-portrait with Mike O

Icy Orono

2009-11-19T09:07:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post from Orono before we head south this morning on a travel day off. I finally feel like we're getting a little New England fall. There's ice in the Stillwater River and a heavy frost on the ground outside my hotel room patio.

8 AM in Orono

The icy Stillwater

Now it's on to New Bedford, Massachusetts!

Ogdensburg to Orono

2009-11-18T19:09:00.002-05:00

We had two packed shows in Ogdensburg, New York, an evening show for the general public and a morning show for students. Ogdensburg sits on the St. Lawrence River directly across from Canada and I understand we had some folks from up north come over for the evening show.

The view from my hotel room of several flocks of Canadian geese flying south over the St. Lawrence. (Click on the picture for a larger shot to better see the geese,)

The geese

After the morning show I taught a master class on Steinbeck and "Of Mice and Men" before we all loaded up and headed east. We went across upstate New York and into Vermont near Lake Champlain.

The glow of sunset over Lake Champlain

When we first got our schedule for the tour and I saw that we'd be in upstate New York and New England in November I figured for sure that we'd have snow when we were here. But as has been true for this entire tour the weather has been fantastic. We reached Concord, New Hampshire for an overnight stop around 8:30 Tuesday night and a few of us walked up the street in the crisp night air for dinner at the Common Man Restaurant. The meal was great and so was the company.

After a good night's sleep we continued eastward to Orono, Maine. Our stop in Orono represents our easternmost point of the tour. We're doing tonight's show at the Collins Center for the Arts at the University of Maine.

More geese, this time on the Stillwater River outside our hotel in Orono, Maine

Another shot of the Stillwater River

The Collins Center for the Arts on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono

Tomorrow morning we'll head south and west on a travel day-off toward New Bedford, Massachusetts. Friday we start our last weekend on tour with two shows at the Zeiterion in New Bedford then drive to New York to close it out Saturday and Sunday.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Canada. What day is it?

2009-11-16T20:34:00.004-05:00

After spending the night in Harrisburg we got up early Sunday morning for our drive to New Jersey.

Railroad bridge over the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, PA

The John Harris Mansion, home of the man who founded Harrisburg in the 1800's

Robin taking a walk in the park near our hotel before we left Harrisburg Sunday

We arrived in Newark early in the afternoon and after checking into our hotel across from the airport we drove to the campus of Kean University in Union for our 3 PM matinee in the Wilkins Theatre for the Performing Arts.

A view of Manhattan from my hotel room near Newark Airport

The Wilkins Theater in Union, NJ

Fight call before the show in Union

The show went well and afterwards several folks went into the city to visit friends. John Hardy grew up in the area so he drove around with an old friend and visited some of his childhood haunts in New Jersey. A few of us just headed back to the hotel for dinner and TV. I watched the inexplicable decision to go for it on fourth down inside his own 30 that New England Patriot coach Bill Belichick made that subsequently led to Indianapolis getting its ninth win of the NFL season. (If you don't know what I'm talking about you're probably not a football fan and you wouldn't care. If you are a football fan you already know what it was. I don't care what he thought. It was not a good plan.)

Newark by night

Got to sleep relatively early since we were leaving at 8:30 this morning for our drive to Ogdensburg, New York. After a lunch stop in Syracuse we made it to our hotel on the St. Lawrence River just before sunset. I can look out my window to see Canada just across the river. (Not quite as good a line as Sarah Palin seeing Russia from her house but I'm not running for anything.)

Sunset over the St. Lawrence River with the US on the left and Canada on the right

As I write this we've just started tonight's performance at the George Hall Auditorium in Ogdensburg that begins our last week of the tour.

The George Hall Auditorium in Ogdensburg, NY

Waiting for fight call

We've seen both Mexico and now Canada on this trip, plus beautiful views of almost every region in the US all along the way. Over the next week we'll go across New England and back before heading home to Virginia. What a tour!

Heading Into Our Last Swing North

2009-11-14T23:41:00.002-05:00

We performed last night in Morganton, North Carolina and after a night of rest, headed out this morning for an overnight stop in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Looking out over the City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium (CoMMA) in Morganton, NC

The CoMMA lobby

A beautiful fresco in the ceiling of the CoMMA lobby

Pretty calm bus ride occupied by the Florida-South Carolina game, the Alabama-Mississippi State game, and Holley Housewright's birthday!

Celebrating Holley's birthday on the bus

Happy birthday, Holley!

We leave in the morning for a three hour ride to Newark, New Jersey and a 3 PM matinee in Union. A few folks are making plans to take cabs into Manhattan after the show. We'll be back in the NYC area next Sunday to close out the tour, but it'll be a much shorter stay. It's almost inconceivable to me that we're heading into our last week of the tour. In many ways it seems like it was just a few days ago that we started this trip. Amazing that it's been eight weeks. Amazing.

Watching the game on our way to Harrisburg

Charlottesville by Night

2009-11-13T09:36:00.003-05:00

We're getting ready to load up and drive to Morganton, NC but I've got a few minutes to file a quick entry about last night's performance in Charlottesville. First a note of thanks to our hosts who have treated us royally. The meal last night was outstanding and it's been a real pleasure to work with everyone at the Paramount. The folks here couldn't have been more accommodating nor have we played a more attractive venue. The theater sits in the middle of Charlottesville's Open-Air Mall which is truly a beautiful location.

The front of the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville

The Paramount marquee

At dinner we all got a laugh at an ad for the show which ran in the Hook, a local paper that covers the arts (and lots more).

The Hook ad for our show

Everybody threw in their two-cents worth about the ad but I think my favorite comment was Hardy's. He just observed that they obviously pasted somebody else's head on a shot of his body. Does the phrase "robust fantasy life" mean anything to anyone?

We got a nice surprise in the lobby when we walked out to get a few pictures before the show - our boss, Barter's Producing Artistic director Rick Rose was in the house. I'll have to admit it was nice to hear his distinctive laugh in the audience. I've missed it.

Rick and Ben share a laugh over the Hook ad

We load the bus in a few minutes for our drive to Morganton, North Carolina and a show tonight at the CoMMA (City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium). More to come!

Hazard, Kentucky to Charlottesville, Virginia

2009-11-12T17:10:00.003-05:00

I've gotten a little behind in filing a blog entry lately due to a few technical difficulties plus my blogging time being a little limited because I've had the chance to spend some quality time with my wife! So I'll try to compress the events of the last three days into a single blog entry.

We made our way from Valdosta to Hazard on Monday and all along the way several of us had little reunions. We stopped for lunch in Atlanta where Robin had the chance to spend a little more time with his wife Kelly. Then as we headed north Ashley and Sean got a chance to see several of their family members during a brief stop in Ringgold, Georgia.

Ashley's dad, Butch Oliver, and our driver Scott Holmes

Ashley and Sean's roadside reunion in Ringgold

Then when we reached Hazard, I was happy to find my wife, Bunny, waiting for us at the hotel. This tour has been a wonderful experience but it does have the drawback of being away from family and friends, so having the chance to see some familiar faces means a lot.

With my lovely wife Bunny at the motel (thanks for the photo, Mike O!)

Our stage manager Holley housewright also had a reunion in Hazard with her fiance, Josh.

We did a student matinee to a full house at The Forum in Hazard on Tuesday morning. Later that afternoon I also got a chance to share dinner with my dear friends David and Patty Browning who had driven two-and-a-half hours from Bristol to see the show. We had a good performance that evening and after giving David and Patty a tour of our bus we bid them goodnight and went back to the hotel for a rest before heading out for Charlottesville, Virginia on Wednesday.

The Forum in Hazard, Kentucky

Getting ready for the evening show in Hazard

I was sorry to see Bunny head off that morning for her drive back to Bristol but shortly after she left we all loaded the bus in hopes that we'd soon be on the road ourselves. But unfortunately the bus had some engine problems. A couple of sensors were malfunctioning and by the time they were repaired we ended up being six hours behind schedule. Fortunately we didn't have a show on Wednesday but unfortunately we still had to make the seven hour trip from Hazard to Charlottesville.

Actually, the burden on us wasn't nearly as great as it was on our incomparable driver Scott Holmes. Scott is such a great guy and he remained calm and imperturbable throughout the ordeal even though his glasses got broken during the repairs. Yet even with a long repair session, broken glasses and a long drive in rain (and a little snow!) Scott always maintained his good humor through Kentucky and West Virginia right to our hotel in Charlottesville.

We got to the hotel around 11:30 so we immediately checked in and headed to our rooms for a night's rest. Thursday morning we were up and making the fifteen minute ride downtown to the beautifully-restored Paramount Theater.

Getting ready for fight call at the Paramount In Charlottesville.

Pre-show sound check at the Paramount

One of the Paramount's chandeliers

A wall mural in the Paramount. The theater was built in 1931 and restored in 2004.

Our reunion sessions continued in Charlottesville. Sherry Pilcher, a Barter alum who lives near Charlottesville, stopped in for a visit and our Company Manager Rebecca Reinhardt also had a reunion with her beau, Damon while we're here.

The student matinee this morning was electric. It seems that student audiences always provide us a thrill, maybe because students rarely hold back the way they feel and the feedback that an actor gets from an audience can be such an energizing factor. These kids were certainly with us today.

We go back to the Paramount tonight for a public performance. Tomorrow we'll pack up and head south once more for a show in Morganton, North Carolina.

Valdosta, Georgia

2009-11-09T08:27:00.001-05:00

Sunday in Valdosta was a beautiful day with clear skies, temperatures near 80 and truly friendly people everywhere we turned. Since we had flown down from our last venue in Iowa we didn't have our bus (or our great bus driver Scott Holmes) to travel to the venue but a small caravan of folks from the Turner Center for the Arts took us around town. Valdosta is a very arts-friendly town and in talking with folks from the Turner Center we found out that several businesses in town had provided food and sponsorship support for our trip.

Mathis City Auditorium in Valdosta, Georgia

We performed at the Mathis City Auditorium and had a great crowd. The Turner Center sponsors touring shows at the venue each year but our production of "Of Mice and Men' was the first non-musical that had come there in several years. That fact combined with the current state of the national economy made folks a little apprehensive about what kind of turnout they would get but although I never got an exact count there were several hundred in attendance which pleased everyone. (Let's hear it for straight plays!! Yeah!)

Getting ready for the show in Valdosta

After the show our hosts treated us to supper at the Smoke'n Pig which as you might guess is a local barbecue restaurant. The food was great and our new Valdosta friends couldn't have been more gracious. After a quick driving tour through some of the city's restored older homes, we were back at the hotel to get a night's rest before our long drive back north.

Scott has made it back after his two-day drive from the north so we'll load up this morning and head out. Our next stop is close to home - Hazard, Kentucky - and a couple of shows on Tuesday.

Georgia On Our Minds

2009-11-08T13:07:00.001-05:00

As was obvious from my last post, we flew from Dubuque to Valdosta yesterday. Dubuque was a cool city to visit. The downtown area where we stayed and where the theater is located is full of beautiful old architecture. After dinner and before the show Friday night several of us rode an elevator up the side of a hill that overlooks the city. The elevator was constructed in the late 1800's by a Dubuque businessman/politician who wanted a quicker way to get to his home on top of the hill from his office downtown. It became a favorite for others on the hill and now continues as a local tourism stop.

Entrance to the Fenalon Place Elevator

An elevator car coming up the hill

Dubuque at night from the hill

The show in Dubuque went well, although it was kind of a strange one for a couple of reasons. Connected to the theater building (which dates back to the 1800's, too) is a civic center which includes a hockey arena. There was a hockey game that night so it was a little odd to be sitting backstage and hear the PA announcer ("Heeeeeeeere Theeeeey Coooooooooome!") blaring just on the other side of the stage left door while Lennie and George are trying to camp for the night amidst California night sounds on stage. I don't think the audience could hear the game but we could. Weird.

Dubuque Five Flags Center (you can just make out the edge of the hockey arena to the right.)

Beautiful theater in Dubuque

The other strange thing about the show was the presence of a pretty good sized bat that was swooping around through the show. Hardy says it actually circled his head once. Everybody kept it together and the show progressed as normal without incident, although Sean said that if it landed on him he would scream like a girl while he was trying to swat it away. Actually I think that would have been worth the price of admission itself but (alas?) it never happened.

Crossing the Mississippi one last time on tour

Driving through northern Illinois farmland

We got up Saturday morning and as I mentioned in my last blog entry we took the bus to Chicago where we boarded a flight to Atlanta. We had a two-and-a-half hour layover in Atlanta before taking a short flight down to Valdosta.

Sean's char-dog lunch at O'Hare

We had wifi on the plane!

The plane ride was fine but we all think the bus is the way to go.

The Atlanta skyline reflects the setting sun.

Sunset over Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta

We had a fun little party in Valdosta Saturday night. It was Sean's birthday so we got him a cake and sang in the dining room (which was actually closed but the folks at the Holiday Inn were very accommodating). And we also got to meet Robin's wife, Kelly, who had driven down from Atlanta to be able to spend some time with Robin while he was relatively close to home.

Sean, Ashley, Kelly and Robin and what's left of the cake

We have a three o'clock matinee here in Valdosta this afternoon then tomorrow we'll take the long bus ride up to Hazard, Kentucky for a couple of shows. It's really hard to imagine that just last Monday we were in Longview, Washington and in only two weeks we'll be closing out the tour. That clock keeps ticking....

Greetings from 30,000 Feet

2009-11-07T16:49:00.001-05:00

We drove from Dubuque to Chicago this morning for our flight to Georgia. (I'll have a Dubuque report a little later.) We're currently flying to our stop in Atlanta where we have a two hour layover before heading to Valdosta. So this will be a short report. I just liked the idea of filing a blog entry from the plane.

Mike took this shot with his laptop on the plane and e-mailed it to me. Isn't this cool?

It's Sean's birthday but so far I haven't been able to convince everyone to sing happy birthday to him on the plane. I'll keep trying.

Into the Land of the Giant

2009-11-06T10:19:00.001-05:00

Long bus ride Thursday from Gillette, Wyoming to Blue Earth, Minnesota. Not long after leaving Gillette we entered the northern edge of the Black Hills region of South Dakota.

Near Rapid City, South Dakota

As we traveled east the land began to get flatter. Riding on the bus is an interesting experience. Like several others, I had planned to use the travel time as a way to get some extra work done, writing or studying. But frankly after watching the scenery day after day I've been hesitant to do anything other than look out the window in fear that I'll miss something spectacular.

Along I-90 in South Dakota

When we are able to pull ourselves away from the sites whizzing by outside the bus each of us in varying degrees will either read in our bunks or in one of the lounges, watch a little television (movies and sports seem to be the favorites with Family Guy episodes occasionally thrown in for a laugh), discuss various problems in the world and how we would solve them if we just had the chance, and talk about philosophies of acting and/or life.

Sunset over the Northern Plains

Although we all miss family and friends back home we've also talked about how we're going to miss this life when the tour is over. Acting is a unique occupation. For a limited time a group of unrelated people come together to create an intense, intimate and exciting little world that they share on the stage. But when the play is over that tightly knit little group disperses and often the people involved never see each other again. That duality of togetherness and separation is true for any play but I think it's especially true at Barter and doubly so on tour.

Not only do we work together on stage but we live together whether back home in the Inn (for many at Barter) or traveling across the country in a bus. In three weeks the tour will be over and, although I can't wait to be home, I am going to miss these friends and the experiences we've shared.

Last night was a good example. After we checked into the hotel I settled in for the night when Mike O called and said "Come on, dude, we're going to go see him." "Him" is the Jolly Green Giant. To make a long story short, Blue Earth, MN was once home to the frozen vegetable company that eventually became Green Giant. In the 1970's a 55-foot fiberglass statue of the giant was erected in Blue Earth to commemorate the completion of I-90, the longest four-lane highway in America. Blue Earth marks the midpoint of the highway. Over 30 years later the big guy still stands within walking distance of the hotel in which we were staying. How could I not go?

I got dressed and met Mike, Robin and Vince in the parking lot to make the 600 yard hike in the cold Minnesota night to see him.

For more photos of our expedition, visit Mike O's blog at http://ofmiceandmen2009.blogspot.com/

These are the experiences that come once in a lifetime. I know I'll miss them.

Gillette, Wyoming

2009-11-05T01:58:00.000-05:00

Our eastward rush continued today with an eight-hour trek across Montana and Wyoming. This tour has been so wonderful in so many ways, but the opportunity to take in the beauty of America in these concentrated doses is unquestionably one of the most memorable aspects of the trip. The chorus of "look-at-that's" continued again today. Montana and Wyoming are both sparsely populated and it isn't unusual to go for miles without seeing a home or business. But you can't go five miles without seeing spectacular scenery.

The Yellowstone River with the Rockies in the background

A rocky ridge along I-90 in Montana

Prairie, rolling hills, and mountains in Montana

We reached Gillette in the late afternoon and headed to the theater almost immediately after checking into the hotel. Our show tonight was in the Cam-Plex Heritage Center, a facility that is jointly operated by the town of Gillette and Campbell County, Wyoming.

Auditorium in the Cam-Plex Heritage Center in Gillette, Wyoming

Lobby of the Cam-Plex Center

After a wonderful dinner provided by the venue we performed for an appreciative crowd and then immediately got back on the bus for our trip back to the hotel. Had a chance to see the final inning and a half of the World Series and the Yankee fans rejoiced as we pulled into the parking lot.

These days where we travel for long periods and then do the show are long but it seems that before you know it the day is gone. Tomorrow is a travel day off but what a travel day it will be. We'll cover over 600 miles tomorrow from Gillette to Blue Earth, Minnesota. No show but still a lot of ground to cover. Then we return to Iowa on Friday.

Butte, Montana

2009-11-04T01:59:00.001-05:00

We left Idaho Tuesday morning and drove across the Rockies into Montana. Although Wyoming and Colorado had some snow last week, it didn't look like any had fallen in Montana except on the tops of some of the highest mountains. But it was cold. The low had been 17 Monday night in Butte and the high Tuesday wasn't expected to go much above 50.

Into the Big Sky Country of Montana

Snow capped the tops of several mountains

One more beautiful view of the country to add to the growing list

We checked into our hotel and made our way to the Mother Lode Theatre in downtown Butte. The Mother Lode is a beautifully restored theater that originally opened in 1923 and it has a pretty illustrious history. Charlie Chaplin made his American debut there and Harry Houdini played there several times.

The Mother Lode Theatre in downtown Butte, Montana

Butte is an interesting city. The city had a population of around 100,000 back in the boom days of mining around the turn of the century but now it has dwindled to around 33,000. But among the other businesses that keep people employed in Butte the city has become a tourist destination because of that mining history, plus there are several historic buildings downtown, including the theater.

Just behind our hotel is the Continental Divide and sitting on the ridge is a 90-foot statue of the Virgin Mary called Our Lady of the Rockies. The folks at the theater told me the story of its construction and it's an interesting tale. The statue was erected in the 1970's by the people of Butte and the full story of how it was built and how it affected the spirit of the people of Butte is well worth the time to read, but rather than take the space here I'll just refer you to this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_the_Rockies

After a delicious dinner provided by the folks at the theater we performed for a crowd of over 840 folks who - judging by their response - really enjoyed the show.

The Mother Lode Theatre is an incredibly beautiful old theater

After the show we headed back to the hotel to settle in for the night. We leave earlier than usual tomorrow (8 AM) for an eight-hour trip to Gillette, Wyoming for our next show. We're really covering a lot of ground these days as we make our way back east. Hard to believe on Saturday we'll be in Georgia!

Longview, Washington

2009-11-03T11:40:00.000-05:00

We arrived in Longview, Washington Sunday and after checking in at the motel headed to the Rose Center for the Arts on the campus of Lower Columbia College. The performances in Longview were presented by the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, a 1920's era vaudeville house that is currently undergoing renovations. So while the renovations are being done, they are holding their events in the theater on the school's campus.

The auditorium of the Rose Center for the Arts

Getting ready for fight call

The Rose Center for the Arts at Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA

We had a show Sunday afternoon and a student matinee Monday morning and both shows went well. The attendance was great (dearly full Sunday and sold out Monday) and the folks at Longview were terrific.

After the Monday show, we loaded back into the bus and headed east, making the turn that will eventually lead us home in three weeks. We started out by going back south to Portland and to our east we could see both Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood.

Mount St. Helens

Mt. Hood overlooking the Columbia River

When we reached Portland, we turned east and drove alongside the Columbia River which delineates the state line between Oregon and Washington. I know folks probably get tired of me saying it, but the scenery was again incredible.

We stopped for lunch at Multnomah Falls, a 620-foot waterfall east of Portland. There were even salmon spawning in the creek at the base of the falls. We continued east through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, backtracking the path of Lewis and Clark.

Multnomah Falls

Colombia River Gorge

Monday was a long day and we arrived for an overnight stop in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho around 9:30. I did a couple of loads of laundry and finally got to bed around 1:30. This morning we'll head out for Butte, Montana where the low tonight is forecast to be 17. Last Monday we were in San Luis Obispo and in the 70's. Time flies.

The sun sets over the Columbia River with a hazy Mount Hood on the horizon

Quick Post from Roseburg, OR

2009-10-31T23:17:00.001-04:00

Our last golden day off on tour was spent in Roseburg, Oregon and it was a pretty lazy day for me. Started out as a cold, drizzly day so I pretty much stayed in the room. Mike O and I walked up to Walgreens after the rain let up. Mike, Robin and I went back to Casey's for lunch then I came back to the room and read and slept through most of the afternoon.

Just to get out of the room for a while Mike O and I decided to take a walk in a park not far from the Windmill Inn. The clouds broke up a little and we got a chance to taste a little fall foliage, Roseburg style.

The Umpqua River which runs through Roseburg

Sunset over Roseburg

Back in the room for the night and watched a little of the World Series. (Did you know Lou Gehrig had the highest World Series batting average? .361) We get that extra hour of sleep tonight (just in case I didn't get enough during the day) but we leave at 8:30 in the morning for Longview, Washington and a 3 PM matinee.

Happy Halloween!

From Santa Rosa, CA to Roseburg, OR

2009-10-31T14:05:00.002-04:00

Haven't had a lot of spare time to make blog entries the last couple of days, so I've got a lot of ground to cover - both metaphorically and geographically. Santa Rosa is almost as far away from southwest Virginia as we get on this trip, but it was also the place where I have seen the most people with connections back home.

Robin and Hardy warming up before the show

The stage at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts

Entrance to the theater

We arrived at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts Thursday morning for a sold out student matinee. The show went well and afterwards I had a chance to visit with Don Bowman and his girlfriend Julie. Don is the son of Larry and Joyce Bowman, friends back in Bristol.

During the afternoon break Robin, Mike O and I took a cab to Paradise Ridge, one of the many vineyards that make the area around Santa Rosa known as California's Wine Country. It was a quick but relaxing visit.

Mike O and Robin kicking back with a view over one of the Paradise Ridge vineyards

Llamas on the hillside overlooking the winery

Had our second show that night and things went well. The Wells Fargo Center hosts a lot of different types of entertainment, from music acts to comedians to plays. In fact, the folks there told us that Wells Fargo is one of HBO's main places to tape specials. The folks there were incredibly kind and accommodating.

Wells Fargo marque at night

The front of the theater reflecting the sunset

After the evening show I had a chance to visit with Mary Ann Slaughter and her husband Allan Moss. Mary Ann is a friend from way back. She and I worked together in radio theater in the 90's and even did some Theatre Bristol work together back in the 70s and 80s. She now lives in Napa (about an hour from Santa Rosa) and had seen in the San Francisco newspaper that we were going to be in Santa Rosa so she'd made plans to drive the hour from Napa to attend our show. Mary Ann also has a Barter connection. Her daughter Lisa was once an apprentice at Barter several years ago.

The next morning we headed north from Santa Rosa toward Oregon. As has been the case so often on this trip, the scenery continued to awe us.

Ben and Sean appreciating the northern California countryside

Going into northern California takes you into the southern end of the Cascades and near the town of Red Bluff we could make out Lassen Peak, the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade range. Before Mount St. Helens, Lassen Peak was the site of the last volcanic eruption in the Cascades (in 1915).

Lassen Peak

As we moved further north the terrain became even more mountainous and in the distance we could see Mount Shasta. It pretty much dominated the horizon until well after we made in into Oregon. As we continued north clouds began moving into the mountains and stayed with us all the way to our stop in Roseburg, Oregon.

Mount Shasta

Clouds roll into the valleys of the southern Cascades

Sunset in Oregon

After we checked into our hotel several of us walked a couple of blocks to Casey's, a highly-recommended diner. We weren't disappointed. It wasn't crowded and the service and the meals were outstanding.

Vince ordered the special for takeout at Casey's. It took two huge bags to hold it all. If you're ever in Roseburg, go there to eat. It's well worth it.

This is our last golden day off on tour so we're not travelling today. It's a rainy day in Roseburg and even the locals admit that there's not much to do in town. Several people are renting cars for drives into the mountains or over to the Pacific, about an hour-and-a-half trip either way. Some of us are taking advantage of the time just to chill and relax here.

I have to say that even though there's not much to do, the people I've met in Roseburg have been - without exception - some of the friendliest and most outgoing folks we've met on tour. If the folks at the Windmill Inn and Casey's are any indication, Roseburg is a truly cordial community. So I might just make a visit downtown if for no other reason than just to chat with folks along the way. Not a bad way to spend a day off.

Leaving San Francisco for Santa Rosa

2009-10-29T14:41:00.000-04:00

We left San Francisco on the morning after a cable broke on the Bay Bridge so (along with everybody else in the city) our way out to the north was across the Golden Gate Bridge. We were sort of concerned that traffic might be bad but we didn't have a show yesterday so there were no time constraints.

We drove through the heart of downtown to get there so I got lots of pictures. Here are some of the best ones:

Candlestick Park

Heading into downtown

The streets of San Francisco

City Hall

Note the cablecar in the center

Down the hill toward the bay

The Golden Gate Bridge

Alcatraz from the Golden Gate

One last look back at the bay from Sausalito

Traffic really wasn't so bad for us since we went through right after lunch. We got to Santa Rosa in mid-afternoon and I headed for a laundry to wash clothes. A pretty quiet night and a good night's sleep got us ready for two shows today at the Wells Fargo Center in Santa Rosa. We've got a packed house of 1600 students for this morning's show and I think we've got a pretty good house for tonight. Tomorrow we head to Oregon.

Redwoods, Pacific, and the City - What a Day

2009-10-28T14:22:00.000-04:00

Our day off in the San Francisco area was incredible! Mike O, Vince and I started out early Tuesday morning and headed south, In no time at all we were climbing the Santa Cruz Mountains. From the top we could easily see the Pacific off to our west and the peninsula to our east.

Looking east from the Santa Cruz mountains at the Peninsula south of San Francisco

Look from the mountains west toward the Pacific

We stopped in the delightful little town of Boulder Creek for a sandwich for lunch before heading into the Big Basin State Park and the amazing redwoods. I was mentally prepared for the idea of these huge, ancient trees but I couldn't really appreciate either their size or age until I actually saw them. All three of us were like kids, but Vince especially wanted to climb every tree.

Downtown Boulder Creek, California

Look in the lower left on the downed trunk to find Vince

And I thought Mike O was tall....

One of the smaller trees at the entrance to the park

What can I say?

Shooting straight up in the midst of a redwood circle

We finally tore ourselves away from the woods and headed for the coast. It was cool and windy but beautifully clear. I'm so used to the eastern coast and the flat, open beaches. California is much different. Driving up the Pacific Coast Highway was a thrill in itself, but stopping every so often to take in the cliffs and the kitesurfers and lighthouses and caves and beaches was a jaw-dropping experience.

From a cliff overlooking the coastline

We made our way down the cliffs to this open space

Wow...

Mike O got this great shot of the lighthouse at Pigeon Point...

...and this shot of kitesurfers taking advantage of the high winds.

Check out the spray from the wave hitting the rocks in front of Vince

Vince admiring the Pacific sunset

After sunset we stopped in Half Moon Bay for dinner then headed north into the city. It was late, but we drove across the Golden Gate into Sausalito, then drove back into town to meet some other cast and crew in the Top of the Mark, a bar on the 19th floor of the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins hotel that offers a full view of the city of San Francisco. What a city!

Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge at Night

The San Francisco skyline from the Top of the Mark

It was a day of incredibly diverse landscapes and terrific fun with my friends. I can see why folks around here are willing to risk the occasional earthquake. It's worth it.

Our Last Run Through Steinbeck Country

2009-10-27T10:03:00.002-04:00

Woke up to a beautiful morning in San Luis Obispo. SLO is one of the most beautiful little towns I believe I've ever seen.

From my hotel window in San Luis Obispo

We went back onto the campus of Cal Poly for a student matinee at 10. The show went well, the students were attentive and it was a thrill to play again in such a wonderful facility. California obviously doesn't hesitate to put money into its universities. The Christopher Cohan Center is stunning inside and out.

The Christopher Cohan Center on the campus of Cal Poly

After lunch we loaded back into the bus and headed north again, this time for San Francisco. Our route went right through the land where Steinbeck was born and grew up and through the land where Of Mice and Men is set. Route 101 runs directly through both Soledad and Salinas (Steinbeck's hometown).

The fields outside Soledad

As we neared Soledad, Hardy and I discussed how neat it would have been to try to find the places that inspired Steinbeck to write the story. The fields are still heavily farmed and you could easily imagine George, Lennie and the rest of the men of the ranch out working. The Salinas River (where presumably George and Lennie camped and where Lennie hides out at the end) runs just outside Soledad.

You just know George and Lennie are out there somewhere

But we rolled on through the countryside headed for our time off in San Francisco. We left San Luis Obispo in calm 80 degree weather but the weather in South San Francisco was a startling change. It was cool and blustery with clouds rolling in and the shorts I wore in SLO just didn't cut it.

A glimpse of the bay as we approached South San Francisco

We checked into the hotel and (after changing clothes!) several of us walked a couple of blocks to a Thai restaurant. I've not eaten a lot of Thai food, but based on what I had and everyone else's reaction to their food we made a great choice.

Today is a golden day off with no travel, so everyone has plans to scatter to the four winds and see as much of the city and the country around it as possible. Mike O, Vince, Matthew and I are renting a car and driving to see the redwoods in the Big Basin south of town. I expect some cool pictures.

San Luis Obispo, CA

2009-10-26T00:47:00.002-04:00

Last night's show in Modesto was outstanding and it was fun to hear how folks from the area enjoyed the local references in the story. We left Modesto relatively early this morning for our four hour drive to San Luis Obispo. We went through the San Joaquin Valley again, this time heading southwest and even a little closer to Salinas, Steinbeck's home town.

The San Joaquin Valley with the Sierras in the background

The fields in the valley are the largest expanse of fertile and productive land that I've ever seen

We arrived in San Luis Obispo in time to check into the hotel and headed to Cal Poly and the Christopher Cohan Center where we would be performing in a 3 PM matinee. San Luis Obispo is a beautiful town and the theater was incredible.

Shot of the Cohan Center auditorium from the back of the set

The Christopher Cohan Center

Looking over Technical Director Michael Catalan's shoulder during sound check

The show was great and I was told that our production was the first play performed in the center in 12 years! Apparently for the past few years the center has only been used for dance and music recitals. So it's kind of nice being the show that brought straight theater back to the center.

After the show the folks there provided a delicious meal then several of us rode in the bus for a short five mile trek to the coast near Pismo Beach. We got there just in time to get a few fleeting shots of the sunset.

Sunset over the Pacific

Vince, Mike O and others shooting from a cliff overlooking the shore

The beauty of the Pacific Coast as night falls

We're up and out early tomorrow for a 10 AM student matinee before loading up the bus and heading to San Francisco for a day off and our last run through the heart of Steinbeck Country.

Modesto, CA

2009-10-24T23:15:00.000-04:00

We drove to Modesto today, leaving LA around 9 this morning.

Traffic wasn't bad as we left town and headed over the Sierras and into the Joaquin Valley.

The Sierras north of LA

The San Joaquin Valley

Going up the highway toward Modesto took us right through Steinbeck Country and close to the setting for our show. It is clearly still important farm land.

A field in Steinbeck Country

Our hotel was about three blocks from the theater so several of us walked there instead of riding the bus. Downtown Modesto is really attractive, lots of interesting little shops and restored architecture.

The McHenry Museum

The State Theatre, a restored old theater that now shows films and other performing art events

Sunset in Modesto

The Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, our venue for the evening

Interior of the Foster Family Theater at the Gallo Center

Before fight call in the theater

We have a sellout tonight in Steinbeck Country. Needless to say, we're all looking forward to tonight's show.

Northridge, CA

2009-10-23T12:44:00.003-04:00

Another long bus ride Thursday as we rode across Arizona and southern California to get to our hotel in Sherman Oaks. Scenery was again incredibly beautiful but flew quickly by our bus window.

We reached LA around sunset and although the traffic was moderately heavy we made great time.

In the evening several of us headed for a cookout graciously provided by Will Bigham and Cat Gray. Will and Cat are Barter alums and many of you will also remember Will's success as winner of the Fox movie-making reality show "On the Lot". Another Barter alum, Seth Marstrand, was there as were Will and Cat's daughters, Cat's mom, and some of Mike O's friends. Food and fellowship were terrific.

Lilly, Will, Cat and Cat's mom visiting the bus

After our short visit we headed back to the hotel for a little rest before heading out this morning for Cal State - Northridge for the first of two shows at the Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall.

Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall, Cal State-Northridge

Gilbert, Arizona

2009-10-22T11:12:00.001-04:00

A drive across the New Mexico and Arizona deserts brought us to Gilbert, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix for our next show. On the way I had a realization of just how much I really love and appreciate the United States. The mountains of southwest Virginia and east Tennessee are home and I love the lush beauty of the land there. But on this most recent leg of our journey I've come to appreciate just how beautiful desolation can be. The southwest US is tough territory. It can be dangerous (especially if you're not tooling along in an air conditioned tour bus.) But it is also absolutely breathtaking.

At a rest stop in the desert

Holley, Hardy and Mike O - Do I need say more?

How many rattlesnakes do you suppose are in this shot?

As we drove across the desert....

...it seemed like every five minutes....

...someone on the bus would say....

"Look at that!"

A stretch of cacti at 80 mph

We reached Gilbert in the afternoon. It was about 80 degrees and we took a little break at the hotel before heading over to the Higley Performing Arts Center, our venue for the evening.

It was an interesting evening. The folks at Higley served us a delicious meal and after some time walking around to let it settle we went into our usually nightly routine of fight call and sound check. The Higley PAC is similar to the Niswonger PAC in Greeneville (where we started the tour) in that it is a venue used by the community that is attached to the high school. We had a pretty small crowd for the show but they all got to see a unique performance.

The moon over Gilbert just before our show

Apparently Rocky was in a foul mood last night. In the scene where Lennie is petting Candy's dog at his bunk, Rocky decided that it was time to pee. And he did. All Mike could do was just watch as it puddled up and began dripping down the raked stage but eventually a towel was brought on stage and - completely in character for the bunkhouse - a farmhand (AKA John Hardy) cleaned it up. Ah, the best laid schemes o' mice and men....

Out in the West Texas Town of El Paso

2009-10-20T22:54:00.000-04:00

We left Ft. Stockton this morning and it was warm - 82 degrees. There's not a lot of settled territory between Ft. Stockton and El Paso, just a few houses here and there (many deserted) and a couple of small towns. But the scenery is incredibly beautiful.

Unfortunately the pictures just don't do justice to the true beauty of the land. It's also difficult to give a true sense of how cool it was to be flying along the roads in West Texas at 80 mph (the speed limit!) while Mike O, Gannon and David were jamming in the front lounge of the bus.

Gannon, Mike O and David getting down at 80 mph

We came into El Paso on I-10 and could easily see Mexico in the not too distant south of us. We checked into our hotel and grabbed a bite to eat, rested a bit and made our way onto the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), home to the Magoffin Auditorium, our venue for the evening.

We'll get up bright and early (for us) to head out at 8:30 tomorrow morning for Gilbert, Arizona just outside of Phoenix. It should be a seven-hour trip including our lunch stop which should get us into town in time to check into the hotel and rest for a couple of hours before tomorrow night's show. So this is our last stop in Texas and it's been a wonderful stay. I've got a few more Texas photos and I'll try to get another Texas blog entry somewhere down the line. For now - on to Arizona!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

2009-10-19T12:58:00.002-04:00

We got to Austin yesterday afternoon in beautiful weather. Checked into the hotel and I did laundry before heading out for dinner before the show. We're staying downtown so it was a relatively short walk to Stubb's, the BBQ place where Hardy and I ate. We were joined by Jon Rogers, a good friend of my son who is from Bristol but who is doing graduate work at the University of Texas here in Austin. The meal was great and then we all three walked to the Paramount Theatre, our venue for the evening for fight call and sound check..

The Paramount is a beautiful old theatre built in 1915. Over the years the Paramount has hosted everybody from Houdini to Dan Rather to Steve Earle. Here's a few shots of detail work in the house:

The ceiling of the Paramount

Sunday was Mollie Slattery's birthday so we all sang happy birthday during sound check.

Singing to Mollie

The show was fantastic. It was another of those magical nights. We have several native Texans in the cast and I know that playing in such a beautiful historic venue in the state capital was special. The audience was right with us all night long and it was just one of those nights when everything was clicking at full speed. Certainly a memorable stop.

Afterwards several folks headed out to celebrate Molly's birthday but I hung out with Jon and we shared some rememberances of times gone by and caught up with the present.

After a good night's sleep and breakfast we headed back to the theater.

Monday morning view of downtown Austin from my hotel room

We have over 1000 high school kids in attendance for this morning's show.

The Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas

As I write this it is intermission and the first act was fantastic. An audience of 1000 high schoolers giving their rapt attention to this classic story playing out on the stage - it can't get much better than that.

Waco, Texas Day Two

2009-10-18T01:01:00.001-04:00

After a fairly quiet morning we loaded up the bus at around 1 and drove two blocks to our hotel for tonight. (See the last post for details about why.) Shortly after we checked in we headed downtown to get ready for two shows at the Waco Hippodrome.

Like many old theaters the Hippodrome has seen various incarnations since it first opened in 1914, from performance space to movie house in the late 1920's to restoration as a performance space in the 1980's.

Among the folks who have performed here over the years are Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Ann-Margaret and James Earl Jones. And, of course, Barter's Of Mice and Men cast.

We had two shows today, one at 3 and then an evening performance at 7:30. In many ways the stage sort of reminded me of the main stage at Barter, particularly in the narrow stage left wing space. The dressing rooms here are downstairs and are reached by two sets of stairs directly behind the stage.

Stairs leading from the dressing rooms to stage right.

Both shows went well and after the show most of us headed back to the hotel. After we got back, Mike O and I headed across the highway to IHOP for a late night snack. I had a short stack of buttermilk pancakes and Mike decided to try the New York Cheesecake Pancakes. Yes, they really do have New York Cheesecake Pancakes. Here's the result:

Mike O's New York cheesecake Pancakes - Before

Mike O's New York Cheesecake Pancakes - After

Mike O after eating the New York Cheesecake Pancakes.

I like to think of it as an early breakfast. Tomorrow morning we get up and head for Austin, about 1 1/2 hours down the road, for an evening show at the Paramount Theatre downtown.

Waco, Texas Day One

2009-10-17T10:56:00.001-04:00

We drove all night after the Albuquerque show across eastern New Mexico and through Abilene and Lubbock to get to Waco, Texas. For the most part everyone slept well and as the day grew brighter folks began tumbling out of their bunks to watch the countryside slide by.

Because we hadn't originally planned to drive straight through we had to change hotel accommodations for Friday night. Fortunately, the folks at the America's Best Value Inn in Waco hustled to get our rooms ready early and we only had to wait for a little while in the lobby.

Robin and Vince in the lobby

Gannon keeps the music coming

Dave passes the time with his book

After we checked in folks went their own ways for lunch. Mike O, Robin and I headed to a Mexican restaurant about five or six blocks from the hotel.

How did we live before cell phones?

Robin and I visited the Texas Rangers Museum which was located just across the highway from our hotel. While we were there we ran into Hardy.

When we left Hardy was wearing a Texas Rangers badge which he said we couldn't get because we weren't Texans. He said they saw something special about him and because of that they gave him the badge. I tend to think the "something special" was money in the gift shop, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Our friend and Barter alum Maxey Whitehead drove down from Dallas to visit while we are in Waco, so Mike O, Hardy, Company Manager Rebecca Reinhardt and I went to eat dinner at Uncle Dan's BarBQ then grabbed a frozen custard at Katie's (voted Waco's Best Ice Cream for 2009).

Hardy, Rebecca, Mike O and Maxey. Hardy looks like he's worried that someone might mistake him for an actual Texas Ranger.

We'll transfer to another hotel this afternoon before heading to the Waco Hippodrome for two shows - at 3 and 7:30 tonight. Looking ahead at the forecast I think today's 75 degrees may be the coolest day we have for at least a week. For all the folks back home in Abingdon who are watching for snow, I apologize.

Another Super Albuquerque Day

2009-10-15T10:46:00.000-04:00

Got up yesterday morning and worked out in the hotel gym before breakfast, then shot the breeze with folks about what they did Tueday and what they were planning for the day. Hardy and I left for the desert again a little before noon. We went out the same general direction we had gone Tuesday with the same intent as before - just drive til we found somewhere to walk and then walk it.

Not long after we passed where we had been Tuesday we found ourselves driving up a long winding gravel road. For a long time we found no particularly promising place to walk. Several of the places out in the dry grass desert are fenced and marked "no trespassing" even though there is nothing around but desert. We finally took another side road that looked even more remote than the one we were already on. It was on this road that we made the most interesting discovery of the day - a Native American sweat lodge.

Hardy and the sweat lodge

A sweat lodge is a small structure built of willow or aspen that was covered in hides. (Nowadays the cover is usually blankets or tarps.) Basalt rocks are heated in a fire outside the lodge then put into the lodge where water is poured over them to steam up and fill the lodge. It's a lot like a sauna. It is used in traditional purifying ceremonies and to just stumble on one was pretty cool.

After looking at the lodge we walked farther down the road until it finally opened into a broad field. We checked out the field a little before heading back to the car.

In the trees overlooking a field

After we got back to the car we kept driving and looking for another good place to walk, but we got into a part of the desert where there just weren't any places we could explore without fear of getting shot by folks who might not want us walking around their land. (And it was pretty obvious that they wouldn't want us out there.)

We literally drove to the end of every dirt road we could find, probably close to twenty miles just on dirt roads. The bad thing was we had no idea where we were which was, not incidentally, also the good thing.

Finally after a couple of hours we came over a rise in the road and - voila - civilization.

We drove around in the flat part of the desert for another hour or so before heading back to town. Then several of us went to dinner with Frank and Amelia again. We also met up with Derrick Penny who some of you may remember from last season at Barter. Derrick had to cut his stay at Barter short due to some serious health problems but I'm glad to say he's doing great now. He's currently in a production of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later here in Albuquerque.

I mentioned Frank and Amelia's effort to found a new theater company here in Albuquerque. It's called the Duke City Repertory Theatre and they have their first meet and greet a week from this Saturday. You can get more info about the theater on Facebook. Go here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Duke-City-Repertory-Theatre/130123938801 I'm sure they'd appreciate your support.

Well it's back to work today. We have a show tonight at the University of New Mexico's Popejoy Theater then immediately head out for a long overnight drive to Waco, Texas. Our stay in Albuquerque has been great but we've still got two-thirds of the tour yet to go. Onward and upward!

Great Day Off in Albuquerque

2009-10-13T23:47:00.001-04:00

We had a golden day off in Albuquerque today and everyone made the most of it. Our hotel sits in the southern part of Albuquerque overlooking I-25 which overlaps part of the old Route 66. (Yes, as in "Get your kicks on....")

The view from my room

Several of us rented cars to see sights in and around town. Hardy and I headed into the desert southeast of town with no particular goals, just a desire to get out into the desert and see what we could see. We just sort of drove along without even a map and when we saw a little road we wanted to take, we took it. Then we found a spot, parked the car on the side of the road and just started walking up a hill covered in scrub. We had no idea specifically where we were, we were just in the desert.

We'd gone about 150 yards or so into the trees when John stopped dead in his tracks and pointed. Just in front of us, nearly hidden by the trees were the ruins of a very old stone house. We could barely believe it, but there it was.

Near the house we found several old outbuildings and finally we guessed that the land had once been used as a small cattle farm but had apparently been abandoned long ago. Obviously this wasn't the type of thing you'd find on a standard tour so for us it was perfect.

We spent the next three hours or so just wandering around this section, sometimes in the car but much of it on foot. The terrain is rough and distinctly western and there's something about the reality of visiting these kind of places off the beaten path that makes you feel that you're getting a real taste of the region that you just couldn't get any other way.

We got back to the hotel around 5 o'clock then at 6, Mike O, John and I headed north to meet Amelia Ampuero and Frank Green for dinner at The County Line, a BBQ restaurant that sits at the base of the Sandia Mountains.

The Sandia Mountains just north of Albuquerque

For those of you familiar with Barter I'm sure you remember Amelia and Frank. Amelia is from Albuquerque and she and Frank are working together to found a new theater company in town. Sounds like they're making great progress and, even though we sure do miss them in Abingdon, it's nice to know things are progressing so well here.

Frank Green, Amelia Ampuero, John Hardy, Mike Ostroski, Rick McVey at The County Line.

Mike had just said something about scoring a touchdown or something to that effect.

Day Two in Albuquerque promises more of the same. The weather tomorrow is supposed to be fantastic again so Hardy and I are headed back to the desert. Mike O is planning a solo hike in the Sandia Mountains, Gannon is planning a drive on the Turquoise trail, and another group is planning a train ride to Santa Fe. And that's just the plans that I know about.

There's no doubt that all of us are loving being on tour with Of Mice and Men. It's great having the tour buses and playing these venues all across the country with a terrific show. But it's also nice to make the most of these days off. And we are.

Travel Days

2009-10-13T11:37:00.000-04:00

We left Oskaloosa on a cold Sunday morning. In fact it was 24 degrees a record low for that date in Oskaloosa. We drove south through Iowa and Missouri, stopping in Kansas City for lunch before heading out across Kansas for Oklahoma. It was a long day but time on the bus seems to go quickly.

With two television lounges and lighted bunks everyone has plenty of options on how to spend their time - reading, writing, conversation to watching movies or sports. For several of us Sunday travel time was absorbed by the baseball playoffs.

We reached Oklahoma City around suppertime and several of us headed to Red Lobster for dinner, then back to the hotel for the night. Next morning after breakfast we packed up and headed out again, now going west across Oklahoma and Texas.

We stopped in Amarillo for lunch at the Big Texan Steak Ranch, home of the free 72 ounce steak. Free, that is, if you can eat the steak, a salad, three shrimp, and a dinner roll in an hour. I had a 9 ounce strip. It wasn't free but it was good.

Holley and Vince check out The Big Texan

Beautiful scenery across the panhandle of Texas into New Mexico and we reached Albuquerque around suppertime.

Robin on the phone while passing through New Mexico

So we've settled into our hotel for our longest stay in one place since Lexington. We don't do our Albuquerque show until Thursday, so we've got the next two days off. We're looking for highs in the mid-70s for the next couple of days so it's time to do a little exploring. Details to follow!

Pop Bottle Pete - A Side Story

2009-10-13T09:57:00.002-04:00

After the Oskaloosa show several of us met a fellow named Perry at the hotel who was kind enough to drive Mike O and me to Pizza Hut to pick up a late late meal. On the way Perry shared a story that, although I can't necessarily vouch for the truth of every detail, we found interesting and I thought was worth sharing.

There used to be a Oskaloosa character (according to Perry) that everyone knew as Pop Bottle Pete. To all appearances Pete was a likable enough guy but someone who barely scraped by. He had earned the name Pop Bottle Pete because he used to roam around town collecting returnable soda bottles to collect the 5-cent deposit on them and whenever anyone asked his name he would just say he was Pete.

To cut to the chase: after Pete passed away a few years ago his home was found to be completely filled with all sorts of odds and ends he had collected including a large selection of stock certificates. It appears that Pete was heir to a fairly substantial sum that had come to him as the sole survivor of his family fortune. Apparently Pete and his father had some sort of disagreement many years before and Pete had refused to take any money from his father due to their feud. So all the time he was collecting pop bottles, the fortune was growing and he wouldn't have anything to do with it. And his name wasn't Pete. It was George Daily. As Perry tells it, the lawyer that was responsible for administering the estate was empowered to direct the funds for use for the town of Oskaloosa.

One of those uses was the construction of the George Daily Auditorium, the venue where we performed.

I confirmed the general details of the story talking with a couple of guys the next morning at breakfast although they didn't recall George being called Pete.

But if the story is true, then it's fair to say that "Of Mice and Men" came to Osklaoosa, Iowa at least in some degree because of Pop Bottle Pete. I'd like to think so.

(It must be true, by the way. It's on the Internet now and everybody knows if it's on the Internet it must be true.)

On the Road to Oskaloosa, Iowa - Our First Snow

2009-10-11T02:53:00.005-04:00

We left Wausau, WI this morning with snow starting to spit so we made a slight course correction which made our drive about 40 miles longer but allowed us to stay on interstate highways most of the way in case the snow got heavy.

On the road outside Wausau, WI

Although we drove through blowing snow in Wisconsin, by the time we reached Illinois it had mostly stopped. We took a break for lunch near Davenport, Iowa at a restaurant called the Machine Shed, a regional chain that is somewhat reminiscent of a Cracker Barrel and whose motto is "Dedicated to the American Farmer". The food was terrific.

A giant corn statue outside The Machine Shed near Davenport, Iowa.

It was a fairly long drive so along the way some of us watched a movie and most of the Alabama/Ole Miss game.

Mike O and Sean watching a little television

We reached Oskaloosa around 5 PM. Although Oskaloosa had been covered with snow that morning, by the time we got there the skies had cleared and the snow had melted.

Sunset in Oskaloosa, IA

We performed tonight in the George Daily Auditorium, a facility with outstanding technical capabilities that is attached to the high school in Oskaloosa. It was a small but appreciative crowd and, as we have found everywhere we've gone, the folks in Oskaloosa have taken great care of us even though our stay here will be very short. We leave in the morning for a long travel day to Oklahoma City, OK.

The Grand Theater in Wausau, WI

2009-10-09T11:00:00.000-04:00

We arrived at the theater this morning at 8:45 to get ready for a morning show for around 1000 students. The Grand Theater is a beautiful facility built in 1927, restored and remodeled about 7 or 8 years ago. The Of Mice and Men set looks like it was built to fit this space exactly.

According to the marquee it was 38 degrees when we got to the theater this morning. Wausau is less than an hour from Canada and it's the first morning on tour where I could actually see my breath when we walked to the bus. The colors are beautiful here and downtown Wausau is so picturesque. I hope to get some shots this afternoon before we come back for the evening show.

24 Random Hours in Whitewater, WI

2009-10-08T21:56:00.004-04:00

The past 24 hours are sort of an interesting microcosm of life on the road so here are little snippets of what went on during our most recent stop.

We headed out of Appleton straight for Whitewater, WI - about 3 hours south. Got to town and checked into our hotel with a little spare time so I went across the street to a Walmart to try to find a microphone and USB cable. I'm going to be doing some interviews on the road that Evalyn Baron may use on "Theater Matters", her radio show on Emory and Henry's radio station. I didn't find either one but I did find Vince McGill who was also doing a little shopping.

Made it back to the hotel and spent some time reading then it was time to go to the theatre. We were performing in the Young Auditorium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater and the theater is less than a mile from our hotel, so Gannon McHale and I walked over there.

My camera is not working so I've been borrowing one of Mike O's cameras to get shots. But when Gannon and I were starting out for the campus I couldn't find the camera. I looked all over my room but no luck. I knew that I brought it from Appleton, so I just figured I'd find it Thursday morning before the matinee.

Had a good show with nearly a 1000 in the audience Wednesday night and several of us attended a brief and informal reception in the lobby after the show. Again we found the folks of Wisconsin to be delightful hosts. UWW is a school of about 10,000 students and it is primarily a business school although it has a beautiful theater that any performing arts program would love to have.

After a good night's sleep we got up to head back to the theater at about 8:45. We had to check out before leaving since we would be at UWW until well after noon. I had searched my room again for the camera but still couldn't find it so I scoured the bus for it. No luck.

As I turned in my room keys to the front desk I took one last shot and asked if anyone had turned in a camera case and - hallelujah! - someone had found it in the lobby and turned it in. (The people in Wisconsin are obviously also very honest.)

We got to the theater and I had a little time so I headed out to get a few shots.

Young Auditorium at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

After I got the shots inside the theater I headed to the lobby to go outside to get some photos. I'm not proud of what happened next, but in the interest of full disclosure I will admit to it. I was walking down a corridor that had full-length glass panels that ran down one wall. The glass side looked out over the lawn in front of the theater and I was headed toward the door leading outside. As I walked to the door I was looking out the glass to find a good spot from which to shoot. I was hurrying because I wanted to get the shot and get back to the dressing room to get ready for the show, so my focus was outside and not in the hallway. I was almost at the door when - BAM! - I ran headfirst into a thick glass panel which ran perpendicular to the outside glass and that separated the hallway from the actual door.

The impact busted my upper lip which immediately ballooned to twice it's normal size plus there was a healthy amount of blood running down my face. My eye and cheekbone also were swelling. I headed back to the dressing room to clean off the blood and put ice on my face. Fortunately the Boss in Of Mice and Men can have a black eye and swollen lip if he wants to (he's a tough guy) as long as the audience didn't know that it happened because the Boss was too dumb to watch where he was going. So I figured everything would be fine. And it was.

Again a great audience of around 1000 people and a great show.

But I never got my shots outside the theater because during the show it had started to rain and it rained the rest of the afternoon. Mike O was teaching a Master Class on the business of acting to a classroom of students after the matinee, so most of the rest of us headed downtown via the bus to get some lunch. And finally around 3 PM we left Whitewater on our way to Wausau.

So you see how things work. And no, I don't have any animosity toward Mike O, even though it was his camera that he let me borrow that was the motivating factor in me busting my lip and eye. And no hard feeling for the folks at the front desk who found the camera and returned it to me, either. Nor do I blame the people at UWW who have such a beautiful campus that I wanted to get some photos of it. Nope. No hard feelings at all. Nope. I don't blame any of them. Nope.

Now please excuse me while I go ice my face.

Thank You, Appleton

2009-10-06T23:55:00.002-04:00

I am always proud to let people know that I work at Barter Theatre. In my opinion there is no finer group of human beings and theater professionals anywhere. And there are some nights when that is especially true. Tonight in Appleton was one of those times.

In Holley Housewright's words "tonight was magical". The show was strong from beginning to end, scene after scene and the final scene between George and Lennie was truly heart-rending. I've seen and heard that scene countless times since the spring run at Barter and during the tour, but tonight it reached a new depth. Just standing in the wings listening brought tears to my eyes. And the audience's response during curtain call was phenomenal. Add the great group of 1000 high school students who came to see this morning's show and you can see why we're all so glad to be back in performance after the time off.

Appleton is a lovely town, everyone here has been so nice and caring and frankly it's been fun just to get acquainted with folks. The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is a beautiful venue and the staff here is top-notch. And to top it off with a show like tonight's show is something that will make our visit to Appleton a truly memorable experience.

Heartbroken in Wisconsin

2009-10-06T01:35:00.002-04:00

I am a Green Bay Packers fan. I have been ever since I was old enough to know that a football is shaped funny. I have a cheesehead, Bart Starr and Brett Favre action figures, a Favre jersey (that I don't know what to do with nowadays), a Green Bay model helmet, a Green Bay cushball. I even have a framed field pass from a 1963 game between the Packers and the Vikings. I am a Green Bay Packers fan.

When I saw that the tour was coming to Appleton, Wisconsin I started getting excited. Appleton is less than half-an-hour from Lambeau Field, the home of the Packers. We were coming to Appleton on Monday October 5, the Packers were playing the Vikings on Monday Night Football, and we didn't have a show that night. I am excited.

First problem: they were playing in Minnesota. Okay, I can rent a car. Tickets would be expensive but worth it. Second problem: It's approximately a five-hour drive to Minneapolis. Okay, sometimes you have to sacrifice personal comfort. Third problem: It's also a five-hour drive back to Appleton and we have a 9:30 show the next morning. Now it gets problematic.

So, I give up on actually attending the game but I figure the next best thing would be to go to a sports bar in Appleton to watch the game with home-grown Packer fans. I do so. And the first quarter was fun. Everybody cheers when the Packers do something good and moans when the Vikings do something good. (There was remarkably little resentment of the fact that Favre now plays for the Vikings but I did see one Green Bay jersey with Favre's #4 with the name "Favre" replaced by "Judas".)

But this is where things get ugly. By "things" I mean the way the Packers played. Aaron Rodgers, who I think is a terrific quarterback, got sacked EIGHT times. Favre picked apart the Packer defense like a surgeon carves a turkey. (No metaphor-mixing here. I mean that just the way I wrote it.) The Packers limped to within 7 points until the end when those of us who stayed at the bar til the end of the game were mercifully put out of our misery when the final onside kick failed.

Bottom line is I come all the way practically to the Packers door step and not only don't get to see them play but don't even get to see them win. It hurt.

The Packers have a shot at getting their revenge when the Vikings come to Lambeau to play on November 1. However, we'll be in performance at the Columbia Center for the Performing Arts in Longview, Washington that day.

I'll try to keep up with the score on my laptop in the dressing room. I am a Green Bay Packers fan.

Appleton, Wisconsin

2009-10-06T00:58:00.015-04:00

Left Chicago this morning for a three-and-a-half hour drive to Appleton, Wisconsin. The weekend break was something everyone truly enjoyed. Several of us saw family and friends, many of us saw the game at Wrigley and all of us enjoyed the chance to relax a little.

On the road to Appleton.

Appleton is a beautiful city of a little over 70,000 people just 30 miles or so from Green Bay. We got here midday and walked around town to run a few errands, then dropped in the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center where the crew was busy putting up the set for tomorrow's shows.

Downtown Appleton

Mike O and Robin in front of the Fox Cities PAC

Inside the Fox Cities PAC

The view of the theater from my hotel room.

Should be a full and exciting day tomorrow with a 9:30 school matinee and a 7:30 evening show. The theater is a modern state-of the-art facility that holds around 2000 people. The break was nice but everyone seems chomping at the bit to get back to work sharing this remarkable play with the folks who come to see it.

Wrigley

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The game wasn't much (Cubs lost 5-2) but the experience was terrific.

John Hardy outside the stadium.

Entrance to the bleachers.

Our view from the seats in the middle of center field in the bleachers at Wrigley, baby.

We were sitting just in front of the scoreboard.

The "Of Mice and Men" cast and crew at the game.

Lots more photos at www.facebook.com/rick.mcvey

Heartbroken in Chicagoland

2009-10-04T10:27:00.003-04:00

Well, it's a crisp, sunny Sunday in Chicago. We're getting ready to head out for the Cubs game but I'm disappointed Oprah didn't call. I thought my request for new cars was pretty simple and straightforward. I'm sure almost all of us would have agreed to be guests on her show. But no call. I'm almost afraid to leave the hotel for the game in case she calls at the last minute. (My cell is dead and I'll be charging it while I'm at the game. She'll have to call me at the Doubletree.)

We could do the show early Monday morning before we leave for Appleton. If she calls.

Should I wait or should I go? I mean, just think what she's missing - a chance to have John Hardy just hanging out early on a Monday morning, chatting about going to the Cubs game, maybe comparing chicken salad recipes. Sean Campos talking about how hard it is to hook up his new Playstation 3 on the road. Mike O trying to figure out new ways to lessen his carbon footprint. (Note to Mike: I think if you were shorter that would help a little. Try it.)

I almost feel an obligation to stay and wait.

But no. The bleachers at Wrigley are calling. Some times you just have to have a little "me" time.

Chicago Weekend

2009-10-03T18:29:00.004-04:00

Downtown Cincinnati

Wind farm in Indiana

We've arrived in Oak Brook, IL just outside Chicago for a weekend off. The drive up from Somerset was dominated by college football. We started early with the Alabama-Kentucky game which had an outcome that made John Hardy happy. That was followed immediately by the LSU-Georgia game - a much closer game - which made Dave and our driver Preston happy. (Preston is from LA and Dave is an LSU grad.)

Weather was nice as we left Kentucky and went through Cincinnati but as we got close to Indianapolis the clouds got thicker and thicker and by the time we reached the outskirts of Chicago a hazy drizzle had settled in. We saw an amazingly large wind farm in Indiana which the picture above doesn't do justice.

It's our first day off without a show since the tour began and I think we're all looking forward to our golden day tomorrow off without travel. On Monday we head to Appleton, Wisconsin (another travel day off) with two shows on Tuesday. Right now - dinner time!

From Effingham, IL to Somerset, KY

2009-10-02T18:25:00.008-04:00

The Rosebud Theatre in Effingham, IL

The Center for Rural Development in Somerset, KY

Played the Rosebud Theater in Effingham, IL last night. It's a fairly new theater designed more as a performance space for music acts but it was certainly accommodating to us. The meal provided by the venue before the show was incredibly delicious - rib eye steaks and tilapia. We had about 400 or so for the performance.

After the show we returned to the Hilton Garden Inn, a beautiful hotel a couple of miles from the theater. We had to leave early this morning for a fairly long ride back into Kentucky for a 7:30 show tonight in Somerset. We're performing tonight at the Center for Rural Development.

Life on the Road

2009-10-01T17:18:00.008-04:00

The Baymount Inn in Rolla, MO

Driving through the Ozarks

Mike O needs help

Outside the Leach Theatre in Rolla, MO

Through St. Louis into Effingham, IL

2009-10-01T17:10:00.006-04:00

We just arrived in Effingham, IL. The water hose break repairs slowed us down a little, but we've still got a few minutes before we head to the Rosebud Theatre for dinner and tonight's show. Here are a few random shots from our pass through St. Louis.

Hosed in Cuba

2009-10-01T15:53:00.006-04:00

The bus had a little water line break outside of Cuba, MO as we traveled north toward St. Louis so we had to stop for around an hour at a truck stop for repairs. Gannon coined the phrase "hosed in Cuba" which seemed appropriate enough.

2009-10-01T10:44:00.002-04:00

At the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla

2009-09-30T21:07:00.007-04:00

We drove from Poplar Bluff through the Ozarks into Rolla, MO yesterday. Another beautiful day in Missouri and even through the route we took was two lanes a lot of the way it was a beautiful drive. We got to Rolla about mid-afternoon so we had some time at the hotel before we went to the theater. There's a little man-made lake behind the hotel (which sits on historic Route 66). My memories of our trip through Missouri will definitely be ones of beautiful scenery.

Well fed again by our hosts. The Leach Theater on the campus of the Missouri University of Science and Technology is a nice facility and we had a good crowd for last night's show. Back to the hotel for a night's sleep then on the road this morning to Effingham, IL.

The Forward Lounge on the Bus

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More shots from the tour bus.

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By request, here are some more shots from the tour bus.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri

2009-09-30T00:25:00.004-04:00

We've had a beautiful day in Poplar Bluff. Up this morning for breakfast and then Mike O and I started walking to the laundromat a couple of hundred yards up the road. (There's a washer/dryer in the hotel but Gannon was using it this morning. It seemed that today was laundry day for most of us.) As we were walking we got picked up by a runner from Three Rivers Community College who had been assigned to us for the day and he suggested we take our laundry to the theater to wash, which we did. Then he took us to WalMart for a quick shopping trip to pick up a few items.

After that it was pretty much a quiet day at the Comfort Inn in Poplar Bluff. Hardy made a call to Wrigley Field and got tickets for 11 of us who are planning to go to the Cubs game on Sunday. Sunday is a golden day off (no travel/no shows) so we wanted to take advantage of the fact we'll be there this weekend.

The folks at Three Rivers Community College (home of the Tinnin Theater where we performed) fed us a delicious dinner then we did the show for a fairly large house for a Tuesday night. After that back to the hotel to pack those newly cleaned clothes. We head out in the morning for Rolla, MO.

Getting Ready to Board the Bus

2009-09-28T19:43:00.000-04:00

Leaving Lexington

2009-09-28T14:32:00.003-04:00

We had a nice show this morning with a large audience of students, then grabbed some lunch, got on the bus for the first time and headed across Kentucky. We get to Poplar Bluff, MO tonight and we'll do a show tomorrow. The bus is great. Satellite TV and wi-fi, two lounges with kitchen and 12 bunks. (I'm writing this on the bus just outside Lexington.)

Mike O's mom and dad were in to see last night's show and - as is often the case - Mama O brought a wealth of delicious goodies to snack on. And we are.

Sunday Afternoon Between Shows In Lexington

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Sunday in Lexington

2009-09-27T15:08:00.003-04:00

Two shows today in Lexington, 2 and 7 PM. Houses have been great.

We had a chance to walk around downtown a little last night before the show. The architecture of the buildings around the opera house in Lexington is fascinating. There are several old homes in the neighborhood that have been restored and they look great. Same is true for several businesses on the streets around here. I think it's an example of how the arts are good for business.

Gannon has posted some new shots on Facebook (including some shots from downtown Lexington). Just follow the link on the side panel. I'll also try to get some photos between shows this afternoon and post them.

Another show tonight, a student matinee in the morning and then we're off to Poplar Bluff, MO

Several Shots Courtesy Mike O

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Of Mice and Men and Dogs

2009-09-26T20:12:00.006-04:00

Took advantage of the break today to watch the last half of the VA Tech win over Miami. Go Hokies!

Now we're back at the Opera House for the evening show in Lexington.

Want to take a minute to talk about the coolest and probably most well-loved member of the cast: Rocky. Pretty amazing story how Rocky made it to the stage.

Rocky is a Belgian malinois, a shepherd that was trained in Europe to be a drug dog and then brought to the US to work. After about 12 years (the higher end of the expected lifespan for the breed) the officer with whom he worked decided to put him to sleep, but a lady who worked with the department offered to take him rather than have him euthanized.

Unfortunately shortly after she took him, Rocky's new owner died suddenly. She had owned Rocky for such a short time that hardly anyone knew she owned him and he was left unattended in her apartment for ten days without food or water. When he was finally discovered he was suffering from malnutrition and subsequently put into foster care to be nursed back to health. That was about six months ago.

When Barter was looking for a dog to go on tour it was important to find one that was older and could play the part without being too overactive on stage. We went through a couple of possible candidates before Rocky was found at the last minute. After a little understandable excitement during rehearsals Rocky quickly got the idea. By the time we opened he was taking the stage like a seasoned pro.

Mollie Slattery is primarily responsible for wrangling Rocky, but the whole cast likes to give him a rub and a pat when we see him. Most of the time he rests in the green room but he does like to wander into the dressing rooms on occasion to be closer to us. He's practically deaf and suffers from arthritis but always seems to have the best disposition. Bottom line is that he seems to like being on tour just as much as we do.

2009-09-26T15:10:00.002-04:00

Mike forwarded this shot to me. Tipton's Cafe is a great place for breakfast. If you're in Greeneville, TN it's worth the stop. Just don't go between 2-11:45 PM because they'll be closed. Breakfast only.

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Day Two in Lexington

2009-09-26T14:45:00.003-04:00

We're in the middle of the Saturday matinee. Good house.

The Lexington Opera House really is a beautiful facility. It was built as a theater in 1886 and after a few rough years in the middle of the 20th Century was renovated in 1975. The only thing 1880's about the place is the architecture. All the technical and dressing room facilities are top notch. I've got a few new pictures but Gannon got several really nice shots that I'll post as soon as he forwards them to me.

Gannon's Facebook Photo Album

2009-09-26T08:35:00.001-04:00

Here's a link to Gannon McHale's Facebook photo album page for Of Mice and Men:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=106426&id=821153489

2009-09-26T07:44:00.002-04:00

Heading to Lexington

2009-09-26T07:32:00.003-04:00

After spending the night back in Abingdon we took a rainy drive to Lexington yesterday for our last long leg in the van. We'll get the tour buses this weekend and they have wireless so I'll be able to post on the road. As soon as we got to the hotel in Lexington we grabbed a bite to eat and then headed to the Lexington Opera House for the evening show. The Opera House is a beautiful old theater in downtown Lexington, I tried to take some pictures (which I've posted) but they don't do the place justice. I'll try to get better ones today.

Two shows today and we'll have to contend with heavy rain and the traffic from the Florida-Kentucky football game crowd.

Several of us noted yesterday that it's starting to feel like we're actually on tour now. The trip to Greeneville was great but it was so close to home that it felt more like a day trip than actually heading out on tour. I guess the realization that we won't be back now until nearly Thanksgiving combined with the travel yesterday makes us feel that things are really underway now.

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Back in Town for a Night

2009-09-25T00:57:00.002-04:00

What a super week we've had in Greeneville! Everyone there was terrific and both shows went well.

The crew started loading out the set as soon as we were done. The cast headed back to Abingdon for the night but the crew still has a ton of work getting the set down, loading the truck and getting ready to head out. Hopefully they'll get at least a little sleep before heading out Friday morning at 4:30. They're going straight to Lexington while the rest of us don't head out until later in the morning.

Got a full slate of performances in Lexington at the Lexington Opera House: Friday night, two shows Saturday, two shows Sunday and one more on Monday morning before we hit the road again. I'm looking forward to seeing the opera house. I've heard it's a beautiful venue. Yes, there will be pictures.

2009-09-24T20:40:00.002-04:00

Dear Oprah: We will be spending a day off in Chicago while on tour. Several members of the company would like new cars. Will you give them to us? We will appear on your show (if you'd like) to promote our show. Have your people call our people. We'll buy lunch. Yours. You like pizza? Thanks!

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Opening

2009-09-24T09:20:00.003-04:00

We're here and ready to roll. First show starts at 10 am with 700+ students. Everyone is pumped and ready to get the show going. I'm really going to try to get lots of photos posted on here and several people are going to share their photos with me.

2009-09-23T22:54:00.000-04:00

Tech is Over and We Open in the Morning

2009-09-23T22:46:00.003-04:00

Tech is over and we had a great dress run tonight. We open tomorrow with a 10 AM show for student audiences and a 7:30 performance for general audiences. There was a nice front page story in the Greeneville Sun about starting the tour in Greeneville. (Here's a link to the paper:http://greenevillesun.com/. When I posted this the link took you directly to the story but depending on when you read it you might have to search the site to find it.)

Things have gone so well. Here's a big salute to Rebecca Reinhardt, Holley Housewright, Evalyn Baron and everyone else who has worked so hard to bring the advance work together for this tour.

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Final Dress Run

2009-09-23T19:56:00.002-04:00

We're right in the middle of our final dress run at the Niswonger. Tech went pretty well this afternoon. Had a great BBQ lunch provided by the folks here. They've been super. And the General Morgan Inn is a really wonderful hotel. If our Greenville experience is any indication, this tour is going to be great.

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