Two Weeks From Today…

The Cast!

…we’ll be boarding the Boat in Seattle, Washington, Alaska-bound – oh my goodness, it’s almost time – all the hard work is about to pay off – nine months on the high seas, dog-sledding on the glacier, seeing the Peruvian Nasca Lines in person, taking the “Survivor” tour of the French Marquesas Islands. That’s the real adventure!

The Mayor is whom?

I’ve been interned at the Dorms in Not-So-Sunny Southern California since June 26th – 36 days now- some of my cast has been here longer, some shorter but that’s neither here nor there, we’re been through a lot as a cast; but every hurtle we had to jump brought us closer together. We’ve “bonded” as a group, a cast, an ensemble. We’ve become one cohesive unit, a super-power that will not be denied! I’d take cover if we ever decided to use that power for nefarious purposes…

The “powers-that-be” keep telling us we have something which can’t be taught, chemistry. And I have to agree with them. I believe the chemistry was there from the beginning; as each cast member arrived, those of us who were already in welcomed him/her with open arms and a family dinner. No one was ever made to feel excluded, or less than necessary to the ensemble of performers they’d compiled – as the AD told our two female dancers, “You’re not chorus, you’re featured. You’re as important to the shows as all the singers are, there is no chorus.”

The Multi-Cast BBQ @ the dorm

During most of this process there were three Boats rehearsing at the studios and living at the dorms – NOT all in the same apartment – the Westies, the Jean Claudes and us. The Westies got here about two weeks before us and the JCs about a week ahead of us. The Westies left today, flying off to begin the European leg of their tour. They’r four singers and ten dancers as compared to our six singers and two dancers. The  JCs are a show like ours, but with a Boy’s Doo Wop Show as opposed to our Girl’s Group Show, they live right next door to us and have had to put up with our late-night carousing and my projecting voice… they leave in a week and can’t wait to go.

The finish line is in sight, one more show to get on it’s feet and then it’s review week, a packing day, a travel day and then we board. Light a candle, say a prayer, cross you fingers…