First Week on the Road!

On the road again! Just can't wait to get on the road again....!
CTC's first 2012-2013 tour started this week! I am proud to say I am apart of the talented cast of "The Sleeping Beauty," and we have had quite a week! Our tour is 3 weeks long and it goes all over the west coast! As you can see to your right, we started in Oregon! YES! We crossed the border of my lovely state of California to cross over to our mountainous sister, Oregon. We unfortunately passed through Ashland :( It was for a good cause, though, because we were in a hurry to make it to our motel in Grants Pass: the Redwood Motel! This motel was actually a lot classier than we all expected! It had a pool, a steaming hot tub, and huge flat-screen TVs!

 We went out to dinner that first night to a place our Motel suggested. Even on our room keys, there was an offer for 3 samplers of their beers the restaurant had brewed themselves. Anyone who knows me knows I don't drink beer, but I went with everyone else. It felt important to us all to start the tour with a heart-felt toast, especially while we're all still getting along! Below are my cast-mates and our Stage Manager. We have such a versatile group of performers with different backgrounds, experiences, and personalities. I won't give any names, but from here on out, I'll refer to them with their Road Names, pin-pointed by yours truly :)

Starting from the left to the right, we have Sebren Snooch, then Papa Char, Sar Benj, Cray Cray Ray Jay, Killer Kelly, and Mama Bupp. This is my road family :)

We performed twice in Grants Pass at this amazing high school. No really! These kids have no idea how spoiled they are in Oregon! Their theater had amazing acoustics, seated about 800, and was architecturally modern and beautiful. Did I mention the dimensions of their stage?! Probably not because I have no idea how much more exact I can get other than "IT WAS BIIIG!" Again I say... SPOILED! It was a fun experience, and actually really hard. I have such a respect for bands and performing troupes who do nothing but perform in different venues all the time. Its really difficult to be in a new space and adjust to the surroundings and make it work. We usually only have 2 hours before every show to get all the sets, props, microphones, and costumes set in the new space, THEN put your makeup on, THEN have sound/mic check, THEN have fight and dance calls... and then do the show!

After a classic burger lunch, we said goodbye to Grants Pass and Oregon. Grants Pass is about an 8 hour drive from Sunnyvale, so NO! We did not drive all the way back after that. We hit the road for about 3 hours south of our first destination. Hello Redding, CA! My roomie that night, Cray Cray Ray Jay, made an observation: we all kind of stayed in our room and had "me time" that second night. Oh no, are we all ready getting tired of each other?! Nah, being on the road and performing twice in front of children is really exhausting. As you can see to the right, Killer Kelly looks up to Papa Char a lot and there's nothing but love to and from we performing artists.

Oh, and FYI, I may not like beer, but I'm a much happier camper when I have a Margarita in my hand!

 I'm a sad panda when the Margarita goes away! Boo :(

 Our second day of performances was at another high school, but this one had a much more charming and vintage feel to it. Anyone from the South Bay or Peninsula of the Bay Area knows about the Fox theater in Redwood City... it was kind of like that! Another group of spoiled teenagers who have no idea how lucky they are! ... No, I'm sure they realize how lucky they are, at least I would hope so! Another theater that seats about 800, but this time with classic red velvet seats, white red and gold accents around the classic architecture, and the dramatic and comedic masks painted in gold all around the chandeliers. Classy and sassy! Just like me! :)

 That's all I have to report this week. All I'd like to add in this parting moment is be kind to yourselves and each other on the road. When you spend a lot of time with a group of people who are not your family, the dynamics and emotions are always changing. Be professional and be an adult, but always remember to loosen up and have some fun too. This way, your experience will remain meaningful and fun!That's my tip as a first-time, touring actor!