Goodbye Crockett, TX; Hello Alma, AR

Damien, Ryan, Cameron as The Men in Black, with Chris adding
his charm from the back.

Here's what happened on Days 3, 4, & 5 of the tour:

Sunday, 10/23 was a day off and most of us literally slept or laid around most of the day; it had been lots of travel and a big show, and a late night with the American Legion Veterans on Saturday. We did have a fantastic lunch at what seems to be the town's pride and joy for home-cooking - Hilltop Kitchen - homemade fried chicken, greens, veggies (baby brussell sprouts!), taters, water-boiled corn bread, and home-made pies!

Sean after a hearty lunch

All you can eat for $7.49! In fact, some folks liked it so much, they went back for dinner! (I was still too full!).  When we were there for lunch, so many locals (who were clearly there for their after-church dinner), had seen the show the previous night and graciously told us how much they loved the show.

Funny thing in small-town Crockett; most of us went to see the movie, "Ides of March" at the $4 theatre on the square, and after seeing the three previews twice-through, the lights came on and the lovely old couple who appeared to own the place, said they were having trouble with the new HD cable (or something), and gave us our money back. Cute, classic for a small town, and more of a memorable experience than if we'd seen the movie. We ended up all hanging out in the living area of the hotel, some of us watching "Wedding Crashers" on the huge tv screen, and the other playing poker with suger and sweet-n-low packets.

I share stage left with Nick, Chris, Cameron, and Kevin

Day 4 (Monday, 10/24) was an early morning and a long day: We had a 9:30 am school show back at the Crockett Civic Center, so were up by 6:30 to check out of the hotel, get over there, and warm up.  We did the shortened version of the show (65 minutes instead of the full 95 minute version) for about 600 (800?) middle- and high-school kids.  They were a little squirrely (to be expected), though there was a time during about the middle of the performance when they were rapt and totally with us; it just got long for them.  We had a brief Q & A and the most common question seems to be, "Are any of you in the service?" One of our cast, Lucy, did get asked if she has ever been on a t.v. show :-)

We left Crockett and drove the two hours back to Houston, ate in the airport, flew to Dallas/Fort Worth with a couple hours' layover and had a drinky-drink there, then made it to Fort Smith, AR by 9pm (the bathroom was so phenomenal, I had to take a picture!), and to our hotel in Alma, just 20 minutes away. We all pretty much fell into bed, knowing we had an early day with THREE performances.

Mother Jeanne with Nick, Chris, Kevin (it's hard to believe
that I'm playing the mother of young men this age, but
mathematically, it is right ;-)

Ellie, Sean, Kevin in Houston

Mango Margarita during layover in Dallas

That Fort Smith, AR bathroom was CRAZY!

Today, (Day 5, Tuesday, 10/25) began early, with leaving the hotel at 6:45 am, and performing in one of the most beautiful high school auditoriums any of us have ever seen: The seating capacity is 1500! The lights and sound are state of the art. The assistant principal told someone in the cast that they have a very large tax base.


As an aside, I found out that TODAY is the five year anniversary of the death of a soldier named Sgt. Tommy Gilbert, a friend of my friend, Erin Harrington Doty; while I didn't know him personally, I participated in his memorial service five years ago, when I played guitar for Erin's vocals. I recall the service - my first and only military memorial/funeral - as being extremely moving.  Today, I dedicated my performances to Tommy.

Alma HS Auditorium viewed from the stage

Our 9:15 am performance was for 1100 high school students - the entire student body; they were a very good and polite audience. Afterwards, a man who is in charge of the ROTC there at the high school - a retired Naval officer - came backstage in his military wear/uniform. He was extremely moved, choked up, telling us how much the show meant to him, how real the portrayals were. He was so moved that he moved many of us to tears.  This is the joy of doing this show.

We then had a break and were treated to lunch in the cafeteria (again, state-of the art - amazing food! - much more like a really good college cafe than high school). Many of the kids came up to us and told us how much they liked it; some of the cast sat with some students. There are many students at this school with parents over in Iraq or Afghanistan, so it seemed that it was especially touching for some of them.

Ellie and Cameron enjoying the 86 degrees during break.

Alma HS Asst. Principal chatting with some cast during break.

Nick, Chris, Cameron hanging with the Alma HS students

We did the same shortened version of the show at 1:30 for slightly fewer middle school students (maybe 800 or 900), who were bussed to the high school. They, too, were much more mature and respectful than the kids in Crockett; however, while I didn't hear any inappropriate comments, some other cast members said they did (they were just quieter than Crockett).

The full cast in the Alma HS Cafeteria

I have rarely (ever?) performed in such huge venues as those we have already encountered - and will continue to encounter - on this tour. This is a great challenge for me, as I have extreme nerves before my first monologue/letter, and continually fear blanking on a line; since these are all monologues, there is no other actor to save me if I blank; I have to find a way to save myself.  It is terrifying, and also a bit exhilarating, to have this opportunity to master this.  I believe I'll be a stronger actor and performer as a result of this tour.

We did the full (uncensored) 95 minute version of the show tonight. While the crowd was much smaller (about 200), they were extremely moved during the performance. One woman in the front seemed to cry through most of it. When, as an actor, you are performing and can audibly hear sniffles and gasps and weeping, let me tell you - it connects you to that audience, making for a very powerful performance. Tonight, many of us on stage had some powerful emotional moments. It was a beautifully satisfying show on all counts.

Tomorrow, we leave the hotel at (gulp!) 4:30 am for an early flight, arriving in Reno/Tahoe at 10:30 am after a layover. We have a couple days free there, then one in Oregon; much fun will be had, and many pictures and stories posted, I'm sure. I am realy enjoying my other 9 castmates, and my director. We seem to make up a really good group together (which is good, since we have two and a half weeks to go together!)