May 17, 2013

NYGASP withdrawal:  (noun) The process of ceasing to perform Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas with your dearest friends, resulting in a melancholy  experience when a NYGASP tour comes to an end. 

I know I speak for all of my colleagues when I say we are all suffering from this infliction as we settle back into our daily lives in the Big Apple.   It’s always a little sad to trade fun filled days with our NYGASP family for the reality of NYC.

I think Ko-Ko, (pictured here in Carmel, CA)  was a bit dejected as he realized this was his last show of this lovely tour.

(company member David Macaluso)

As I took my first steps at returning to ‘City Life’, I couldn’t help but want to procrastinate my ‘back to reality’ moments.  I walked somewhat slower at first, rejecting the pace of the city.  “Where are the glorious mountains? The palm trees?  The beach at Carmel???Waaaaaaaa!!!!!”

(photo courtesy of Chris-Ian Sanchez)

SLAM!!!!! (Someone smacked against me in the subway) “Welp, I’m back!” I think… And little by little, I feel myself grateful for the life I do have here.

On my first trip to Starbucks on the Upper  East side, I glance over at a gentleman’s coffee drink, and I see “Michael Jordan” written on his Starbucks cup.  No, it wasn’t Michael Jordan.  But it made me chuckle and feel somewhat better. :)

Most New Yorkers use Starbucks as a place to take a break during a hectic day…and then I remembered Central Park!  Nature!  Perfect!

So I decided to make a trip to Central park to ease the blow a bit, and write this final blog post. 

I am so grateful that spring has finally sprung here, making this transition much easier!  As I gaze around in Central Park, I vow to spend more time here this spring.  Many of us felt very humbled on this tour as we experienced glorious beaches and mountain views from our tour bus windows.   Nature has a kind of healing effect.  I think we forget that here in NYC.  Perhaps my NYGASP friends would like to have a picnic here this summer!  Knowing my colleague Elisabeth Cernadas, she may just show up in her Mikado make-up!

Carmel was a perfect little town to round out our tour.  Quinto Ott sent me this stage view from our last venue, the Sunset Center, where we received our final standing ovation. 

This trip to Carmel was way too short.  There was so much to see and do there from amazing restaurants, wine tastings, and art galleries.  You could truly feel how supportive of the arts this community was.  There was even a post show gala including women in authentic Japanese dress in honor of our performance of the Mikado!

For the second time, I stayed at the Hofsas house, a German inspired bed and breakfast.

(photos courtesy of Sarah Hutchison)

There are no traditional hotels in Carmel ala ‘Holiday Inn’.  The little town is packed with charming little inns, each one more amazing  than the next.  NYGASPERS were spoiled with fabulous amenities such as wine and cheese hour, perfectly manicured court yards, and  in-room cut glass carafes  of brandy! These are the moments it’s all worth it, and you kind of get to feel like a star! 

Groggy and tired, we met our 8am bus that took us to the San Jose airport, where we had a lovely last breakfast together before we departed for NYC.  “I’m gonna miss you guys! When is our next performance?”

“It’s Wolftrap Theatre in Virginia!”  someone replied.

And this is where we will be with each other once again, traveling, laughing, and hanging out around our road box backstage.

I am so proud to belong to this wonderful group of people! We are the “Vitality and Living Legacy of Gilbert and Sullivan”.  This us our company’s  mission, and I we will continue to deliver!! See ya in Virginia!

- Rebecca O’Sullivan

May 11, 2013

“I hear the train a-comin’… It’s rollin’ ‘round the bend…”

I must confess to having only heard of Folsom, California from Johnny Cash’s famous “Folsom Prison Blues,” so truly had no idea what to expect.  Would our theatre be next door to a prison?  Nay, dear reader, the town is beautiful!  

We arrived on Thursday afternoon to our second “sit-down” location.  Here we would sing Thursday evening, Friday matinee, and Friday evening performances of “Pirates.” The Three Stages theatre, a beautiful, modern facility, is situated on the Folsom Lake College campus.  

As we pulled in for the first of our final three Pirates performances of the tour, we were greeted by a giant digital billboard, announcing our shows.  The bus actually erupted in cheers when we saw our names in lights!

Photo courtesy of David Auxier

Our Thursday night performance was a very strong one; our cast was starting to feel in a real “groove,” as it was our third night singing “Pirates” in a row.  We headed back to our lovely hotel, pleased with our show, and looking forward to a pizza party in the hotel’s bar, thanks to the generosity of longtime Company member, Alan Hill!  (Alan kindly made sure there was vegan pizza for me & Matthew Wages!  We loved it!!!)

The next morning, though gearing up for a two-show day— our first since City Center!— many of us explored the Historic Folsom district, just up a hill from our hotel.  

We snapped photos in a one-block-long historical depiction of old Folsom, and imagined life, searching for gold in brand new, uncharted territory.  Like my Pirates character, Kate, says, “Why, in all probability, we are the first human beings who ever set foot on this enchanting spot!”  (Poor Kate— what wishful thinking.)

In the downtown area, bars, antique shops, and restaurants filled the old storefronts.  It was a beautiful day for strolling & photographing!

During Friday’s matinee, we were introduced to a new actor in our show… Of sorts!  Standing downstage left in spotlight, just off our playing space, was a woman signing the entire show in ASL!  We tried our best not to peek while she interpreted our patter & double choruses!  Stephen Quint, our esteemed Major-General Stanley, was so impressed with her performance of “Modern Major-General” (including the double time encore!!) that he marched right over to shake her hand at the number’s conclusion!  Audience and cast alike were tickled by his spontaneity & his interpreter’s skill.

Our Friday audiences were even more animated than Thursday night’s great audience!  We are feeling pretty confident & content that we are doing something right, given all the hoots, hollers, and standing ovations we are receiving!

Our time in Folsom has offered us with a renewed sense of family, collaboration, and deep love for one another.  We are so grateful to be sharing our affection for this material with audiences around the country.  Our final performance of the tour is this evening.  We have just passed through some heavy traffic en route to Carmel, where we will perform “The Mikado” for the first time since beautiful Denver.  

I will leave you with a brief video clip below of some fantastic orchestra members & NYGASP company member, Lance Olds, performing an impromptu bluegrass tune between Friday’s shows!  These brilliant instrumentalists had never before played in this style together— it was a true “jam session,” and all who heard it were grinning ear-to-ear, captivated.

What a joy to be sharing music with so many talented, kind people…. “For joy reigns everywhere around.”

-Amy Maude Helfer

May 10, 2013 - Santa Rosa, CA

“One of the reasons I enjoy touring so much is all the traveling we get to do, we wouldn’t be here otherwise!” exclaimed my cast mate  Monique Pelletier as we enjoyed our ‘capital lunch’ at a quaint little deli cleverly named, “Leap of Taste” in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

As Amy mentioned in her last blog post, there was a tremendous thunderstorm that day.. It began as we were  noshing at this down home  little restaurant.  We too made a run for it!

One  unique aspect of traveling with NYGASP is how we all end up dispersing into each city we visit.  Once back together on the tour bus, we end up with a vibrant collection of entertaining stories to share with one another.  There is rarely a dull moment in tour life!

(company members Quinto Ott, Caitlyn Burke, and Sarah Hutchison)

We all continue to be in awe of this gorgeous country we live in.  Here are some of the beautiful landscapes that made the four hour bus ride from Klamath Falls to Santa Rosa so completely doable!

Kinda makes one rethink living in New York City..but we are the NEW YORK Gilbert and Sullivan Players after all, and from time to time, some cast members do appear a bit ‘homesick’!

(company member Chris-Ian Sanchez)

I for one enjoy escaping NYC, and sometimes  when on the road, it feels like a sort of mini vacation.  This was especially true in Santa Rosa.  Perfectly situated in the middle of wine country, we enjoyed fabulous amenities at the “Fountain Grove Inn”. 

Pirate Samuel (David Macaluso), decided to take advantage with a little spa day.. He didn’t even mention “our life preservers or skeletonic keys even once!  It was so nice to see him relax! Sheesh!

(Company members Elisabeth Cernadas, myself, and Carlos Loyola partner to David Auxier)

And, what would a trip to Santa Rosa be without a little vino?  Post show we were able to enjoy a little wine…a perfect reward after our excellent performance of “The Pirates of Penzance”

Even Mabel (Sarah Caldwell Smith) was out and about enjoying herself despite  her vocally demanding role!

(company members Monique Pelletier, Sarah Hutchison, Sarah Caldwell Smith, Caitlin Burke, and myself)

We had a very special audience at the Ruth Finley Person Theater.

My cast mate, and fellow  ’dancer in crime’ Laura Sudduth had 35 friends and family in the attendance, as Santa Rosa is her home town.  You could definitely feel the excitement and extra support radiating from the audience from these folks.  They were certainly very proud of her!

We were also extremely humbled and honored to have a very special guest among us, Mr. Scott Hayes.  Mr. Hayes is Sir Arthur Sullivan’s Grand Nephew.  I was beyond excited to make his acquaintance, along with his gracious wife Kitty.  They both enjoyed the show thoroughly, and posed for a photo with us to boot!

(Company members David Wannen, David Auxier, myself, David Macaluso, Steve Quint, Sarah Caldwell Smith, and of course, Mr. Albert Bergeret!)

So this morning, I find myself sitting next to my extraordinary colleague Erika Person who is diligently looking over her “Pirates of Penzance” score, and I realize how extremely lucky we are-taking in the sites and doing the job we so love!  Now onto Folsom!!

- Rebecca O’Sullivan

May 8, 2013

Greetings from the bus!  We have covered literally hundreds of miles since you last heard from Rebecca.  Since leaving Denver on Sunday morning, we have crossed state lines and made lunch stops in Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and Oregon!  The scenery was breathtaking, and we all had such fun announcing to one another, “I have never been to this state!”

Stunning photos by David Wannen

After two days of 10+ hours on the bus, we weren’t sure if our views out the windows were of snow, salt, movie sets, or postcards.  But we all had a blast watching movies, telling stories, writing G&S madlibs, and indulging in more salty snacks than we’d eaten since the new year.  We were relieved to finally arrive in Klamath Falls, Oregon on Monday night.  Michael Galante, Bus Captain extraordinaire, had called ahead to a brewery and restaurant right next to our hotel to make sure we had a place to eat dinner.  The restaurant management kindly brought in staff enforcements and stayed open for us to try a local brew and finally stretch our legs!  (Thanks, Travis & The Creamery Brewpub!)

With our Tuesday bus call at the late hour of 2:30pm, we took advantage of the sunny morning to explore Klamath Falls, a delightful little town with bookstores, boutiques, and karaoke bars inside old bank buildings.

Nearly every storefront boasted a poster for the evening’s performance of Pirates!

The glowing sun of the morning suddenly gave way to threatening, dark clouds, and our anticipated stroll back to the hotel to gather our Pirates makeup & garb became a sprint through pouring rain!  Lightning flashed and thunder cracked so loudly, I actually screamed!  Another bonding experience with my friends and colleagues!

Me with cast mates Caitlin Burke & David Macaluso

We were called to the theatre at 3pm to hold a three hour orchestra rehearsal and wandelprobe.  Our wonderful Denver orchestra, with two performances of Mikado under their belts, now would learn our Pirates score & production.  We love hearing new instrumentalists on the beautiful scores!

But the ladies of Pirates eagerly scrambled off the bus to be laced into our brand new costumes, designed & built by the immensely and multi-talented Quinto Ott.  Typically, our afternoon spacing rehearsals are done in street clothes with our character shoes, and our pirates usually wait in the wings until their moment to capture the “bevy of beautiful maidens.”  But in this rehearsal, our gentlemen filled the orchestra seats, equally as excited to see the new stage picture.  The new costumes use the same color palate as the original, beautiful designs by Gail Wofford; flirty purple for Kate (moi!), haughty crimson and cream for bossy Edith, sly yet delicate pink for beautiful Mabel, and a rainbow of rich colors for all of the wards.  

Everybody took turns taking pictures throughout rehearsal, including the men in our audience!

Final pose captured by David Wannen

We all felt so feminine and attractive in our new frocks; one of our ladies remarked in the dressing room, “It feels like prom night, seeing all our friends in our new dresses!”  

We have always loved to flirt with and tease our pirates, and have always delighted in our dear papa’s charade as orphan boy, but the ladies felt that our new look added a new character dimension to our performances.  Surely our audience felt the energy and excitement.  The Klamath Falls audience guffawed and applauded and caught every joke of Gilbert’s, Sullivan’s, and our own.  They roared with laughter at the policemen, and could barely contain their delight at the Major General’s ballad.  We felt like rock stars!  

I am longing to look out the window at all these northern Californian pine trees under sleepy low-lying clouds.  Santa Rosa tonight… More soon, dear reader.

- Amy Maude Helfer

universalshout:

King Willem-Alexander crowned king of the Netherlands today.

I saw this and couldn’t help but think “I am the Slave of Duty!” from the NYGASP Production of ‘The Pirates of Penzance’

photo source: www.spiegel.de

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Coffees in hand, and Nevada bound, NYGASP departs this morning from Denver, CO.  Though excited to move on, our departure is bittersweet, as Denver brought us back to nature, humbling us with it’s beautiful landscape.

We were lucky enough to begin our Western tour with what is referred to as a ‘sit down’, which means we stay in one place for more than a day.  How fortunate that we got to do it in beautiful Denver!!

When we arrived at Denver International Airport, our first task was to pick up our 3 rental SUV’s. Company members David Macaluso, Steve Quint and David Wannen proved to all be excellent drivers, and as we navigated ourselves from the airport to the hotel, we immediately noticed the majestic Rocky Mountains, infinite, snow-capped  and expansively beautiful.

(Photo courtesy of Monique Pelletier)

Since we had an early rehearsal the next day, most of us turned in early, adjusting to not only the 2 hour time change, but the  ELEVATION.  I should mention that Denver is situated one mile above sea level.  Us New Yorkers are used to a bit more Oxygen.  However, we gladly traded our usual city vapors for the clean mountain air… I experienced a sort of euphoric experience, and as my lungs adjusted, I  realized the Peep-Bo’s obi just might have to be tied on a little looser for the performances!

It’s always exciting to be in a new theater, and one of my favorite parts of touring is that first moment we get to check out our new ‘home’ where we will bring our colorful Mikado to life.  Denver University’s Newman Center for the performing arts certainly did not disappoint!

(Photo courtesy of Caitlin Burke)

True to form, from the technical side of things to the performances themselves, NYGASPers made themselves right at home.  Our lighting designer, Brian Presti, put his own ‘touch’ on the stage.

And our beloved  Ko-Ko, David Macaluso adjusted his famed list song adding: ‘I cannot find that stanza here, I’m sure I want to read, perhaps it’s the high altitude or maybe too much weed’. The audience roared with laughter and altogether had a great time. (We received standing ovations both nights)

Backstage shenanigans included an impromptu poker game in the green room hosted by the Mikado himself!

 Lucky to have plenty of free time in this beautiful mountain town, we took in the sights.  A trip to ‘do-lo’ and Larimer Square was a perfect afternoon jaunt for some lunch and light shopping.

Company members: Monique Pelletier, Sarah Hutchison, and Chris-Ian Sanchez)

And what would a trip to Denver be without some delightful Mexican cuisine enjoyed at “Casa Bonita”, a restaurant put on the map by the popular tv show “South Park”. We were delighted by  pirate shows, cliff divers, and sword fights as we ate way to many sopaipillas!

(Company members: Louis D’Allava, Steve Quint, Elisabeth Cernadas, and NYGASP groupie Joel Wheatley)

All in all, this could not have been a better beginning to what I am most certain will be another brilliantly successful NYGASP tour!

- Rebecca O’Sullivan

April 21, 2013

I have never been so excited for an early call time!  The ten Pirates Principals, plus Al, were instructed to meet at LGA at 6:30a on Thursday, April 18.  We all arrived from our various boroughs, some of us caffeinated, others in pirate-related attire (just socks, jewelry, and purses—no eyepatches or peg legs; we have enough difficulty getting boxes of swords through security!), but I am fairly certain I was the most excited to be there.  I had been away from the pirate band for ten weeks, as I was Artist-in-Residence at Dayton Opera, where I also sang the role of Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro.  I missed the extended southern tour & lots of fun memories, but I’m glad I had this blog to keep me a part of the group! 

After I hugged everyone for almost too long, we plopped ourselves down in the swank, iPad-bedecked Delta terminal, and knew immediately this gig would feel a little different.  Firstly, as alluded to, we had to check our costumes & minimal props on the airplane.  Secondly, Al was flying along with us, as no set pieces were traveling ahead of us in a truck.  And, of course, we were missing much of our cast.  While NYGASP stories of yore tell us of hotel bathrobes-turned-Mikado costumes, we were confident all would go off without a hitch.

And indeed it did!  We arrived at the lovely Spokane airport 

and were whisked away to downtown Spokane (pronounced “spo-KAN,” much to our surprise).  We wistfully passed majestic mountains cradling imposing pine trees, but knew our fun would be in the city! 

While I had Googled our hotel to know whether there would be a gym or swimming pool, I had no idea it would be QUITE so beautiful.  Established in 1914, the Davenport Hotel is in the center of the downtown Spokane area.  Through the doors held open by handsome, uniformed bellhops, we were greeted inside by an elegant flower shop, sophisticated boutique, and even a Starbucks in this lobby graced by marble reception & concierge desks.  But I barely have words to describe the beauty of the windowed ceiling, which drenched the lobby in sunlight.  

Upstairs, our rooms were so luxurious, and the king sized beds so comfortable that they were for sale.  (My apartment in Morningside Heights could never accommodate a bed that size, but Lord, I considered it!)

We quickly dropped our belongings & decided— via 11-person group text message—to meet up and explore the town.  Our first stop was the Spokane Falls Skyride, a 15-minute gondola journey over a rushing, peculiarly green-colored waterfall.  We eagerly paid our fare & proceeded to take hundreds of pictures out the gondola windows.  Our jetlag was about catching up to us, so we turned in early (at least, according to the Pacific time zone).

The next day, following our individual exercise routines (long runs, gym visits, town-exploring), we met at the Martin Woldson Theatre at the Fox, a symphonic hall with remarkable acoustics.  The house was a beautiful Art Deco masterpiece and we again pulled out our smartphones to document its splendor. 

We busily got to work, as we had much blocking to work out.  All of us have been performing in NYGASP’s production of Pirates for a number of years, but again, we were without half of the cast with whom we usually perform.  Our chorus would instead be behind the orchestra, on risers.

And then we met the aforementioned Spokane Symphony & Chorus.  As Al cued the opening number, our jaws dropped.  Most of us, and most of our audiences, have probably rarely, if ever, heard the score played by so many instrumentalists.  Three basses!  Full winds & brass!  This is certainly how Sullivan conceived of & heard it!  And that chorus!  What kind colleagues!  Masterfully prepared by chorus master, Dr. Julian Gomez, the ensemble quickly adapted to the NYGASP way and were SO funny & youthful, and became a part of our cast.

After nearly a full day of rehearsing, all of the artists onstage felt great about the performance to come.  With our bodies still on East Coast time, we headed to bed content & confident.

Saturday night’s performance was a smashing success.  The Spokane Symphony was truly an 11^th principal on the stage, and Al, at the helm, seemed to bask in the nearly surround sound.  The backstage buzz was that the house was sold out, and our audience was gracious, warm, and involved in our story.  What more could we want?!  And, we noted that Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin were literally performing down the street at the same time!  How impressive that this community is so supportive of the arts!

You know, no matter how many theatres or gigs we’ve had, we still love seeing our names in lights…

And I always want to pinch myself when I arrive at a new stage door…

On Sunday afternoon, on our way back home, we sat together in an airport restaurant to raise a glass of pirate sherry (or perhaps it was a local beer).  Proving that we were truly meant to be in Spokane this weekend, we glanced up to see the appropriately named “David” pizza shop next to us… Here are our handsome Davids, L to R: Wannen, Macaluso, and Auxier, below another attractive David! 

The NYGASP family heads west again soon, and I look forward to sharing our experiences with you then. 

Until next time, I’m just happy to again be “a full-blown member of our band.”

- Amy Maude Helfer

 (Here’s me, happily recycling on our layover in Salt Lake City!)

Here’s Martyn Green and Ella Halman of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company performing selections from The Mikado on the premiere episode of the Omnibus Television program.

mattpatches:

Poster for The Mikado (1885)

March 16, 2013

Home again, home again. Jiggity-jig. Or something to that effect.

The weather finally warmed up on our last two days of tour in southern Florida. It seemed we’d been dragging a cold front around like a wet blanket all across the South until we reached our last two destinations, Melbourne and Ft. Lauderdale. Unfortunately, we didn’t all have a lot of time to enjoy it properly (though some managed to eek out an hour by the 9th floor rooftop pool - I was not among them :( ). For those of us who headed back to the Big Apple en masse yesterday, we left sunny Florida on a PERFECT beach day…and landed at LaGuardia to flurries and a brisk 34 degrees. (In full disclosure, I am writing this on Day 17 of a 16 day tour. After poor and insufficient sleep on Friday night, shlepping my 46.5 pound suitcase (that’s right, I lost 3.5 pounds. Want to know how? I bought an additional piece of carry-on luggage and therefore carried the extra weight on my shoulders - FIE!), a delivered dinner of MSG-laden General Tso’s Chicken (and subsequent food coma and stomach ache - I miss the salad bar at Ruby Tuesday!), battling roaches in my kitchen and experiencing lack of thermostat control for the first time since I’d left home on March 1st, I was too exhausted to do or write anything. I didn’t unpack much more than my pajamas. And I needed a day to decompress. To try to settle  back in and struggle against my usual post-tour depression.)

Our last venue, the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, has had some illustrious guests. I nearly flipped when I realized that Angela Lansbury had done GYPSY there, that Howard Keel and Jane Powell had done SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS there, that Carol Channing, Rita Moreno, Mandy Patinkin, Mitzi Gaynor, Mary Martin, Rex Harrison and Claudette Colbert had all played the Parker. I was beside myself. “No fate seemed fair as mine, No happiness so great!” NYGASP board member Chris Nicholas was in the front row and his presence and audible laughter were blessings for us. I mean, how many times has he seen our PIRATES? And he’s still laughing? We must be doing something right.

I think David Auxier said it quite well in a Facebook post yesterday, about how seamlessly the members of our Atlanta orchestra blended with the NYGASP family. And I do mean “our” orchestra. We’ve become quite fond (not to say possessive!) of them. I think I speak for the singing company when I say that these incredible musicians/people are most certainly part of the family now and will always have a place in our hearts and on our bus. You really did make this the best NYGASP tour I’ve ever had. On a few occasions, I found myself the only singer at a table full of instrumentalists. And I never felt like an outsider. There’s often a disconnect between singers and instrumentalists - starting in school, both groups of musicians have separate rehearsals and the groups can be rather insular. Well, let’s just say that in this happy case, meal breaks (and long hours on the bus) were the great equalizer. We were all just hungry musicians. I mean that literally, and figuratively. This group of talented musicians was so eager and played with such heart — it made those of us onstage react accordingly. That is not to say that we don’t usually/always give it our all up on that stage. But sometimes, you find that you can surpass even your best efforts. There is a special synchronicity when the orchestra and the singers are united as we were. We thought they were amazing musicians. They thought WE were amazing. We all wanted to be amazing together, above and beyond our usual best efforts. We made those efforts in unison. In harmony, even. After EVERY performance we gave of the a cappella chorus “Hail, poetry” in PIRATES, we got a foot-stomping ovation from our friends and colleagues in the pit. Our mutual respect is, I think, profound. We can’t wait to work with y’all again.

Here’s a picture of the full company, including our fearless leader Al and our awesome Stage Manager, Becca, who did EVERYTHING with a smile. (The only folks missing are our lighting designer Brian (we were under ‘work lights’ - he would never have left the back row in darkness had he known what we were up to), and our very own “Ruth” (aka ‘piratical maid of all work’), Annette, who was backstage striking costumes.

We’re all exhausted and glad to have slept in our own beds (my husband even made sure that I came home to clean sheets!), but I for one could head right back out tomorrow. (Well, Tuesday. After a chiropractic adjustment and a massage.) Long hours on a bus followed by dinner, rehearsal and a show, not to mention a different bed every night can be wearying, but this repertoire NEVER grows old, and I think we all revel in bringing the living legacy of Gilbert & Sullivan to new audiences across the country. I never get tired of working with my friends, and I take pride in working with one of the few fully-professional G&S companies surviving today.

I hope that you readers have enjoyed your time on the road with us. I expect this sort of thing will catch on and you’ll hear more of us as we head out west and to Canada in April and May. Steve, Chris-Ian and I have enjoyed being your travel correspondents, and look forward to seeing you in cities across the country. We’ll be singing PIRATES in Wilkes-Barre, PA on Friday, 3/22, MIKADO in Manasquan, NJ on Sunday, 3/24, PIRATES again in Spokane, WA on 4/20, back to MIKADO on 4/26 and 27 in Brampton, Ontario, then we head west for performances of both shows in Denver, Klamath Falls, OR, and several stops in Northern California between 5/3 and 11. Be sure to check the company’s website for details and information on how to purchase tickets: www.nygasp.org.

Until we meet again, “Hop and skip to Fancy’s fiddle, Hands across and down the middle — Life’s perhaps the only riddle That we shrink from giving up! Then take it as it comes! String the lyre, fill the cup, Lest on sorrow we should sup! Take life as it comes!” And “Happy trails to you, until we meet again.” (That last bit isn’t Gilbert, but it’s fitting all the same.)

- Erika Person

March 15, 2013

This entry will be remarkable in its brevity. Prepare yourself for the soul of wit.

We are at the end of the tour and this is the point at which things really startrunningtogether. It’s lucky that our final “Mikado” was on Sunday, omitting one possible source of confusion with which we are in no condition to deal. Hotels, bus rides, restaurants, putting on makeup, taking off makeup - an actor’s life for me!

Our Atlanta orchestra is very invested in these performances, from knowing us and living with us and sharing the Al Experience. They enjoy playing the shows but are obviously too busy to watch us or hear what we’re saying. Some of the players, the ones sitting closest to the stage, can’t see us at all. So their understanding of what’s going on is a little confused. Travis Cottle, the trombonist, had particularly warped conceptions about The Mikado. He thought that Nanki-Poo was some kind of mailman, because he was looking for someone and had a happy dispatch. He couldn’t tell that Pooh-Bah, Pish-Tush and Ko-Ko were three different characters, and thought their different voices were just part of Louie’s shtick! From what he was able to glean, amidst all the noise, Travis didn’t realize that Katisha actually appeared at the end of Act One - he thought someone was just singing about her. When she reappeared in the second act he thought it was the Mikado’s daughter-in-law Yvette, but figured out after a couple of performances that Katisha and Yvette were one and the same.

The orchestra will be onstage with us tonight for “Pirates,” our final performance of the tour. So hopefully any lingering confusion about pilots and orphans will get cleared up.

In closing, I present you with some photos to take up space. First, my dressing room at the King Center, Melbourne Florida. A full-length mirror and a rug! Sounds logical, doesn’t it?

A body stockinged maniac attracting business at a stolen goods boutique.

Barnabas Collins and Sach! Together at the Parker Playhouse, Fort Lauderdale, in the mid-70’s!!!

So long, folks! It’s been swell! - Stephen Quint

March 14, 2013

Next we have light designer extraordinaire Mr. Brian Presti. Many theaters have tricky lighting systems but Brian always seems to give us the right spotlight in every performance!

Talent and music are just a part of what makes our productions come to life. Costumes also play a huge role and Wardrobe Mistress, Annette Dieli, is in charge of making sure we are all looking our best!

Another very important person on this tour does not quite work backstage per se. He is the one responsible in getting us all to the theatre on time and that person is our tour bus driver Jim! (He’s even seen all but one of our show this tour) we all love him and he was such a great addition in making this tour a great success! 

March 13, 2013

Oh dear, oh dearie me. At 3:07pm I did the math & realized that it was my day to write! (I told you I had no concept of time on the road…) And to think I spent the morning sleeping on the bus! All that precious blogging time wasted, curled in the fetal position in a large rectangular metal box hurtling down the road at 70mph.

Last night, the ladies of NYGASP received a very sweet & thoughtful gift from a dear friend of the company. If we’d been able to iron them onto our nightgowns, we would’ve done it. Instead, we took a picture. Here we are in our skivvies. Thank you, Carlos!

The other day, I read not one, but TWO articles about downsizing and decluttering. Now, this is something I’ve actually been working on in the last year. Let me tell you: I’m really wishing that I’d done that while packing for this trip. I’m getting rather tired of dragging my 50-pound suitcase around. I don’t mind being in a new hotel nearly every night, but MAN, this suitcase is getting heavier every day. Thankfully, I’ve successfully ignored my impulses to spend my per diem on shoes instead of food. We passed two outlet malls (& Disney World) as we drove through Orlando…and it’s just as well. Though I for one wouldn’t have minded a visit to the Magic Kingdom. Nothing says Florida like a trip to Disney World! Never fear, dear reader, we are actually working down here, and quite a lot!

We arrived at our lodgings in Sarasota with a bit of free time before heading to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for spacing, sound check & dinner (or is it the other way around?), and decided to take in some sun. “How beautifully blue the sky, the glass is rising very high. Continue fine I hope it may and yet it rained but yesterday!” (I don’t know if Gilbert himself had any idea of how often/frequently he would be quoted in daily speech by a bunch of zany Americans…or this one, in particular…and yet, here we are. The legacy lives on.)

And now we’ve arrived at the Van Wezel, a/k/a The Purple Cow.

It’s a bit of a maze…

And now, on with the show!

- Erika Person

March 12, 2013

We are into the Florida part of our tour. The Sunshine State! Retirees, ‘gators, and really questionable tap water. Last night was “Pirates” at the Times-Union Center’s opulent Moran Theater, in a somewhat seedy section of Jacksonville.Very good Tuesday night audience.

The company is still getting along swimmingly. We’re on the bus almost every day and willingly hanging out and enjoying each other’s company offstage. Jim the bus driver comes to every performance, sits in the front row, and leads the standing ovations.

Laura Sudduth is experiencing her first NYGASP tour, having debuted in the “Mikado” chorus this winter at City Center. She is the youngest member of the company and has never done a show tour of any kind. She’s had an interesting time observing people adapting into their “tour modes” and feels, like I do, that you can get off the bus or come down to the hotel lobby, go off with whatever company members you happen to be near, and have a perfectly jolly good time.

Below is phone video of the encore from the Major-General song Tuesday night. It features a goat yell, which continues to amuse though I am sure its days are numbered. Recorded by the ever-popular dream girl Angela Smith, who, as Ruth, has a 45-minute break while the girls and I are onstage.

Click here to watch Video!

- Stephen Quint