Second Week on Tour...

So! I understand its been a while since I've last blogged anything. This is because my computer decided to go on strike on me in the middle of tour! I went a full week of tour without my darling laptop! Argh! However, my darling laptop is all better. This means I will have to write twice as much to update everyone on the Sleeping Beauty Tour. What I'll do is post about last week now, and then either tonight or tomorrow I will finish the tour information.

Anyway, to the left you will see our van! See? I told you she was big :) In this van we have three seats, including the driver! The rest of the space is completely packed with our sets, props, and costumes.

So, our first stop was in Folsom, CA. We went to the Folsom Lake Community College in their 3 Stages Theater. We spent Sunday in their studio for our two matinee performances. Now, I love our costumes and makeup designs, but they were meant to be seen from a distance. I felt the studio was a bit too intimate for our show ... however, we still received great feedback at our Q&A afterwards! The best part is ... I know people in Folsom!!! In fact, my sister and my step mother took me out to dinner that night! That is my twin to the right. Well, she's not really my twin, but everyone says we could be since we really do look a lot alike. We are two years exactly apart. To the day. So, we're twins, only two years apart! :) So I got to hang out with my sister and step-mother while watching the Giants kick the Cardinals' butts! (Pre-World Series)

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Folsom. Monday morning is when the rain started to make an appearance. Having morning performances is already exhausting enough, but add rain to the experience and you get some not-so-excited actors! That morning, we moved into the larger of the 3 Stages. I forgot to take a photo of the studio from Sunday (sorry about that), but below is a photo of the larger house. The studio sat about 80+, whereas this second theater sat approximately 800. The space was fantastic and the stage dimensions were vastly bigger than the day before's. Unfortunately, 

the sight lines weren't exactly ideal. Sight lines are the spaces in between the black tabs and legs that create the wings on either side of the stage. It is usually where the actors or props wait in between scenes they are needed in. Its so difficult being in the wings of a stage that has bad sight lines because if you're not careful, the audience can see you. The classic line is "if you can see the audience, the audience can see you." This makes movement backstage limited and very frustrating. Nonetheless, we had our performances, they were a smash hit, and then we hit the road for our next location and venue in....

 Fresno, CA!!! Oh Boy! I asked Cray Cray to give me her best “excited to be in Fresno face,” and up above there in the car is the best she could come up with. Fresno wasn't too bad of an experience, but due to the weather and a lack of geographical knowledge of the town, we all stayed in our rooms that night. We stayed at a Best Western and I don't know about the rest of my road family, but I just opted to having a pb&j that night. I was too distracted with Game 7 of Giants vs. Cardinals. Can I just say that was one of the most intense and cinematic/dramatic games I've ever seen?! Playing in the rain, the third inning that just wouldn't end, Sergio Romo closing the night.... It was an epic game with an equally epic result—Giants to the World Series, baby! :) I watched the game with Papa Char, Sar Benj, and Sebren Snooch, ending with lots of hugs and high fives!

 Sorry, back to the tour! The Fresno Tower Theater is actually a fun space. Again, the sight lines aren't ideal, plus the crossover duels as our dressing room, but the house! The house had this 70's tacky charm to it. I kept comparing it to Bimbo's in San Francisco, but no one in my road family could back me up on that claim since I suppose I'm the only one who's ever been there. The theater sat 700+ and, man, the kids loved us! I'd have to say those kids were the most engaged, responsive, and the loudest of any of our crowds! I couldn't get a picture of the house, so unfortunately, a picture of the tower outside will have to do.

 

Once we were done with Fresno, we packed the car up again and headed south for Arroyo Grande. I LOVED our hotel! Once again, we were at a Best Western branch, but it was an Inn & Suites branch. The hotel had a Spanish elegance to it, with a charming garden and stone statues and walls. The pool area was again very Spanish; I couldn't get over the beautiful architecture of the place. I roomed with Killer Kelly that night. I think this hotel is probably my favorite of the bunch. That's only a couple of pictures above there....

 Wednesday morning is when we got to the Arroyo Grande venue. We were at another high school. I still can't get over how many high schools have such amazing theaters! The theater sat 800+ and had a modern feel to it.

 The little town of Arroyo Grande also had its charm. We all went to lunch together and then did our own thing, walking around and exploring. I found a store with the funniest sign in the window. It was amusing enough to take a picture and share; I thought so, anyway....












 Later that day we drove down to Thousand Oaks, CA. The best part about this place? I have family near by! I have some cousins and an aunt and uncle that live in Moorpark, CA. It turns out that's only fifteen minutes away from Thousand Oaks. I spontaneously texted my aunt, not having any real expectations. She actual texted me back. Within a few hours, I was at the Cheesecake Factory, having dinner and eating cheesecake with my cousins and Aunt. I had the pumpkin spice cheesecake, only served around this time of year.... Yes. It was delicious. And yes, I know—my cousin in beautiful :) Oh, and yes, I know—that night the Giants won their first world series game against the Tigers! I was back at the hotel bar with other road family to witness that!

Thursday morning is when we performed at the Thousand Oaks venue. It was some sort of Center for Performing Arts. I'd say it sat about 400+ seats. Some may say the bright orange seats were a bit too much, but I'd beg to differ. I actually thought it made the theater house seem more fun and unexpected.

 Our last stop was in Santa Barbara, CA. The Inn we stayed at, the Sandman Inn, was totally old-school! Palm trees, retro diner of a breakfast room, bright colored lights next to the pool—you name it! We arrived to the hotel earlier than usual: 3:30pm. Because we were all so beat, I think its safe to say we pretty much all crashed immediately in our own rooms. That night I was paired with Cray Cray, but since she has a friend in Santa Barbara, I practically had the room to myself most of the night. (Though I watched the Giant's game in the boys' room!)

Friday morning we had just one performance at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara. This has to be the most beautiful venue we've been to. It seats 2000! The seats are vintage red velvet, and the inside of the house has this out-door feel to it, with stone windows, columns, and flowers cascading from the windows. It almost looks like the Blue Bayou restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean. There were even stars on the ceiling! I wish I could have taken a better picture, but I couldn't get the lighting right at all! Once I found out how legit the theater was, I freaked out! Did you know “Phantom of the Opera” played on that stage?! I acted on a stage a touring Phantom cast performed on! AHHHHHHHH!!!

Oh, and they also had autographed photos from Gone With The Wind... just my favorite classic Hollywood film! Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable are idols of mine! So graceful, so elegant, so sexy! I loved it here!

After lunch, we hit the road and went straight back to Sunnyvale. I think we were all anxious to get back. We really do all get along, for the most part, but we really needed a break—a break from the show and from each other. So I drove from Santa Barbara to Sunnyvale in the van, then from Sunnyvale to Livermore in my car; I wanted to spend my day off with my parents and my dog! :)

And that wraps up my second week on tour with CTC's Sleeping Beauty! Tune in next week for information about the remaining week on tour.