DQ's Final Homeshow/Derek's First Homeshow

After four and a half years on the road, Dana has her last RedCo homeshow.  I caught her and TJ preshow and forced a posed picture. I knew I wouldn't take too many.  I feel like last nights are better in the memory than on a hard drive.  (Regardless, I took a few.)

I'll miss her.

We had a great show for a nearly-full house and a very full bench.  We couldn't f around nearly as much as some last night casts do, as we had Derek onstage for his first homeshow.  I think that was for the best.  You don't want your last show being a total cluster, right?  The set was Dana's, and in SC tradition she got to do some of her favorite scenes from her time on the road followed by improv with friends, including most of GreenCo and some old Red friends.

Backstage was a party between the show and the set with all the guests.  It was a great time for the SC family, with half the new e.t.c. cast being former RedCo (badass), friends from other Co's and the celebration of Dana's "graduation" and Derek and me being newbies.  It was a great night all around, aside from Dana and I barely squeaking our songs out due to lost voices and sore throats.  We soldiered through.

When it was all over, and before adjourning to the party at Corc's, we presented Dana with our cast gift, having secretly framed a poster of hers.  Megan snuck into her apartment while we were in Ohio and made it happen. 

Today was our first rehearsal with the brand new incarnation of RedCo.  I loved my time with Arch and Dana so much and am glad to have caught them before they moved on.  But I'm also really excited to look ahead.  There were a few times during rehearsal today where we were all onstage together and I felt a wave of giddiness knowing this is my company and these are the people I get to share the stage with for (hopefully) a long time to come.  It's a really f-ing solid group...if I do say so.

Tour #8: Columbus and Cleveland, OH(IO!)

Dana's last tour with RedCo.

Who's going to drive when she's gone???

It was also Derek's first tour with RedCo.  God bless him for wearing this Cubs scarf with no irony.
















So we drove first to Columbus to perform at the Southern Theatre.  We checked into the Courtyard Marriott and knew immediately where we were.

We also knew immediately that it would be hard to get to sleep after our show.  The place (set up like a "suites" hotel with the big space with a pool in the middle) was crawling with crazy loud kids there for what we concluded was a middle-school aged wrestling tournament.  I quickly assessed that these people (no offense Ohio friends) are like southerners without the charm.  Lots of adults wandering the halls and lobby in their pajamas and yelling PG-13 profanities at their children.  Nice.

Our audience seemed delightful, though.  Some sponsors (contributors? benefactors?) of the theatre came to our green room to say hello and thank you and take some pictures.  Edgar is always up for a picture.

And so is our newbie.  Why do I look so shocked??  (Oh yeah, I have bangs now.  Thanks, Monique!)

Off to Cleveland, DQ's hometown.  We met some of her family for lunch at TGIFriday's when we got into town.  Other than her neice's disdain for me and the ominous dismissal of our waitress mid-service, lunch was delightful.  We had enough time pre-show to get to our hotel and take showers/naps/gym visits. 

And a bit pic.  Dana and I took a nap in the lobby.

Dana took me on a mini walking tour of the downtown area.  This theatre is the former site of The Second City Cleveland.  This day it was hosting a women's roller derby...meeting?  We walked through and Dana showed me the stage, which looked similar to the old days.  She was pretty nostalgic but happy to see it.

Here was our home for the night.  We were in the Ohio Theatre.  I was giddy to learn that next door to us was Ted Neely playing Jesus for millionth time in Jesus Christ Superstar.  Seriously, he's 66...he's been Jesus twice as long as Jesus was Jesus.  I wanted nothing more than to see him on the street, but instead I was happy to put my ear against their stage door and hear the beginning of Act II.  Also, some of the cast was in our hotel.  When some wirey dudes in skinny jeans, shabby chic beards and makeup remnants came in, I knew they were apostles.  Or guys from my neighborhood in Chicago.  Hey-o!

For the final time, Dana and I shared the makeup counter and she lamented the last of her bronzer, which she's been meaning to refill since our first trip together.  (Yes, Kyle always sits in the girls' dressing room pre-show)

More bits!  Here I am coming out of a weird old telephone booth in Becky's, our dinner and after-party locale.  They are a bar famous for their perogies.  And oh man, are those good perogies.  It was like drowning in a quicksand pit of potato.  Our show was great, despite a late start and some sound issues.  Dana had dozens of family and friends in the audience and we used the set to honor her in her home town.  The party at Becky's featured some blow-the-roof-off-the-joint karaoke, especially Edgar's When Doves Cry.  It was a good trip, although we did have to leave crazy early Sunday to get back in time for both Bryan and I to make it to other jobs.  We made great time getting back, and thus ended my last tour with DQ.  It was a great six weeks, and I am grateful to have had the time with her. 

No trips for a little bit.  Homeshows, then next stop: back to Tennessee!

Tour #7: Nashville, TN

I was in room 2-2-7.  Jealous?  Jackee?

We joined Edgar and Arch (already there for a workshop) in Nashville on Friday and immediately went looking for food downtown.  Nashville's Broadway (really called Broadway) is very touristy and kitschy, but very fun.  There is music everywhere. 

And giant guitars!!  Look closely, my eyes are closed in this shot.  Because I'm so in love with this giant guitar.

We had lunch in this place, Jack's BBQ.  Oh man.  It was amazing.  Pulled pork, five different bbq sauces, and unlimited sweet tea.  Oh and cornbread that was like a piece of cake.  Thanks, the South.

Edgar's show clothes needed some steam.

Perfect.

We had two great shows.  They were Arch's last with RedCo, which was very sad, but also fun.  We have a two person scene in the show that we've had a great time playing and it took on some serious bit water in its last night.  I'm very lucky to have played with him and am sad to see him go, but happy that he's going on to some fun new things this year.  Good luck, Arch.

We got done with our shows too late to go back downtown.  Which was unfortunate, because this was the first town we've been in where I was jazzed to go out.  Nashville karaoke bars?? Come on!  But as it is, it's only an hour or so by plane, so Matt and I will just have to have a weekend there one of these days.  Just for fun.  Instead of heading downtown, we hit a 3am bar by our hotel and hung out.  We were all exhausted, but we had a good time watching the Olympics and eating Hot Chicken Chunks.  Not a bit, that's a real menu item.  For the record, I ate no chunks.

I suppose instead of going to a bar we could've gone to this kickass Studio 54 party at the Kappa Sigma house.  As Arch yelled out our car window, "It looks like the real deal!"

My first RedCo.

Tour #6: Albuquerque, NM

Our shuttle ride from the airport to the rental car is already so much fun!

My favorite part of the city.  Thanks for the safety tip, ABQ.

Our awesome theatre.  It had a ghost, whom we never saw.  But who needs ghosts, when your procenium looks like....

I'm exremely serious before the show.

After a great show (with Chad, our last minute sub MD who did an awesome job) we hit the streets of ABQ, which had surprisingly turned into what Dana accurately described as a "southwestern Jersey Shore."  We passed a lot of lines outside of douchey clubs and found a nice little divey beer bar with an awesome iPod lineup.  I left the cast to adjourn to my cushy room at the Hyatt and they hit up a couple more places, including a subpar strip joint.  I'm sad (?) I missed it. 

Kyle and I found a diner the next morning and although we waited waaaaay too long for our food, I was happy to get some real green chile on my huevos.  The flight back was threatening to be eventful, but ended up quiet and only 20 minutes late.  I had to get back to CSz as soon as possible for my 303 class's show.  They killed it!  I was a very proud teacher. 

Next stop: Nashville, TN

Tour #5: Notre Dame

We had two shows in the home of the Fighting Irish.  We were greeted on campus by a girl running in a sports bra and shorts in the 30 degree weather.  Nice work, ND. 

I am sad I didn't get a picture of Touchdown Jesus, but there were beautiful buildings on campus.

Like I said, we had two shows.  The 6pm show was lightly attended and a little quieter, but still good.  The 9pm show was pretty great and much louder.  Although there was one very drunk kid in the front row who slept through the first act and then threw up in the lobby.  Again, nice work, ND.

Between-show dinner.  We had TJ Shan-dogg with us on the road again.  It's been great to have him playing for us, but it's also been a rare treat to get to have our director on the road.  This way he can see how brilliant and hilarious we are instead of just reading it in show reports.  (Side note of snarkiness: please notice how Edgar looks in that black undershirt...then know that he lives on fast food and candy.  Life is not fair.)

This was my improv set night and we went with a quick run of swinging-door edited scenes.  It was pretty stupid and fun.  We tried to get out quickly, as we had a long-ish drive home and an early call the next morning to head off to Albuquerque.  Thanks, Notre Dame!

Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day!

This year is a little different for me, being engaged and all.  Alright, I've never had a Valentine's Day alone.  Before all you lady friends of mine start rolling your eyes and whipping Lindt Truffles at my face (mmm!), I assure you I've had my share of boy trouble.  Which is why it was ten times nicer to have stayed in this year, have dinner cooked by my delightful fiance and know that we will have 50 more of them (or maybe 75, it's the 21st century!). 

I'm well aware at this time of year and at this time in my life, as my friends and I hover around 30, that there are too many awesome women who don't have awesome V-Days.  Not to say everyone has to buy in to the hearts and flowers, but I know too many ladies who deserve perfect guys.  And those guys are taking their sweet-ass time.  Come on, dudes.  Man up. 

My friend and co-worker Sarah is one girl I know who deserves a good guy. 

Three years ago, she went on a few dates with a bit of lame-o.  Just in time for Valentine's Day he accidentally broke her glasses and decided to make up for it with this necklace.  Thanks?  Because Sarah is awesome and has a great sense of humor, she recognizes the bit-value in wearing this thing every year on Valentine's day until it can be replaced by a real token of a great guy's affections.  It serves as a heart-shaped, bedazzled Bat signal for a guy who will truly deserve Sarah's attention.  Did I mention she's awesome?  Guys, if you're lucky enough to find a girl as cool and fun as Sarah, please don't buy her a ridiculous necklace.  Start with flowers.  (Or in Sarah's case, a little dark chocolate and a night of dancing.)

Tour #4: Palos Hills, IL

This one was in our backyard.  A quick 45 minute trip to a suburb and back in time to see Matt play Improvised Star Trek at midnight. 

They gave us great snacks.

There's Kyle up there, shouting out orders, like he tends to do.  Dictator.

The best part of the night was that I became a real RedCo member.  Dana left these treats in my backpack in the dressing room.  Additionally, during the intro announcements being made by the theatre manager, Arch looked at me in the wings and said, "You've been here long enough."  He then tried to shove me onstage. Now, Arch is two of me.  Fighting him was hard, even though he was probably giving it half his strength.  He promised to get me once before he leaves us.  But he may end up with some scratches.