BRIEF RECAP

Greetings!

So I thought I'd do a brief recap of tour up to now, as a little explanation of the photo albums...

We teched and had opening #1 in York, PA. We were given a week off for Christmas, then met up in New Haven, CT (at the Shubert) for our official opening weekend. Another week off for New Year's, and officially started tour on January 4th. Day 1 of travel was something else. We were supposed to fly out of Newark...except that our flight was cancelled because the flight's crew didn't show up. So we were put in vans and bussed to Baltimore, where we waited for a delayed flight to Atlanta...Welcome to tour!

Week 1 was a lot of backing and forthing in the northeast. South Carolina to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. Back to Pennsylvania. Up to New Hampshire. Down To Connecticut. And all 1-nighters (1 Nighters: Drive all day, do a show, go to bed, get back on the bus to a new venue, repeat). But in that week I got visits from my brother Seth and my parents, so not all bad!

Our first Golden Day was in Pittburgh (Golden Day: A day with no travel or show). This company is being really great about Golden Days. They know we have a grueling schedule and don't always get to explore fun places, so they're trying to make sure all of our Golden Days are in fun cities we wouldn't otherwise see. We stayed in a luxurious hotel right in theater district with a view of Pirate's Stadium. Took a trip down to the Pier. Found a Martini bar to die for. A much needed day off!

Week 2 was spent in Ohio...Ohio...what to say about Ohio...IT WAS COLD!!! It was so cold, we were told it was warmer in Alaska. Apparently we were there for "Arctic Blast 2009" and I believe it. It was just downright miserable. The week itself wasn't so bad. Had a visit from my great friend Kristen. Played to 6 sold-out audiences in Toledo. Not much more to say about Ohio.

Week 3 was Baton Rouge, LA and Arizona. And Inauguration Day. We listened to Obama's acceptance speech while driving through Mississippi. Talk about a moment I'll never forget. Arizona was incredible. I've never been to the desert (unless you count Las Vegas...which I don't). We went for a hike up the mountain behind our hotel...ok, we kind of made our own path up it...and I stood next to cactus! I couldn't get enough. was like a kid in a candy store. Our first stop, Wickenburg, looked like a bad movie set. Cheesy storefronts set along desert landscape. Priceless. Our second stop was...umm...not so fun. Queen Creek. We arrived at a HIGH SCHOOL with NO WATER (the water main broke hours before we arrived) and we almost didn't do a show. The show did go on...only later did we find out that we were billed as a youth event...meaning lots of children...children who were given candy at intermission to appease them and their parents for lack of bathrooms...meaning fidgeting, screaming and lots of lound candy wrappers...Oh, and they were MORMON, so at intermission we had to cut the show's remaining curse words. I think it was best summed up by the presenter during her curtain speech: "But things could be worse. At least we don't live in Iraq!" At least we don't live in Iraq...I couldn't make this up if I tried... We were glad to be done with Arizona...

Week 4: California! Golden Day in San Diego to start us off. We rented cars and drove up to La Jolla where we saw beaches covered in Sea Lions. Then drove to the island of Coronado and the gorgeous resort of Hotel del Coronado. I think we all agreed we could move to CA. Spent 3 nights in Santa Barbara. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been. And the most beautiful theater I've ever performed in. Just incredible. Next, a 1-nighter in Carmel. Carmel is a resort town that is not bus-friendly. The streets are so narrow there were certain places we couldn't drive. And not only were we there, but a movie was filming and the one major parking lot was filled with movie trailers. The town is absolutely adorable. Like something out of a fairy tale. And the ocean is the most stunning I've ever seen. We were split up into 3 boutique hotels. Lindsay (my amazing roomate) and I were in the Coachman's Inn...which would have been quaint and adorable...except that other rooms had suites, jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, etc...and ours none of those and a twin bed...and it was Lindsay's birthday...happy birthday, Lindsay! After the show we walked down to the ocean and took in the stars. I have never in my life seen such a clear sky and so many stars. Shain spent his summer in the Denali Nat'l Park in Alaska, and he said it was almost like an Alaska sky. Incredible.

And now we're all caught up. Phew! Just arrived in Thousand Oaks, CA. We're here for a week. Starting it off with 2 Golden Days: Super Bowl Sunday and Knotts Berry Farm Amusement Park Monday (courtesy of our producer). I'm off to watch Super Bowl...

Enjoy!