"Gaston, I'm a Indian"

A throwaway postshow Polaroid, onstage... featuring (l to r) Me (Gaston) , Rochelle Smith (Belle), random child #64, and Jon Reinhold (the very capable understudy mentioned before as the post-transformation Prince)...
I post this because of a story from last night. See, the three of us often pose for pictures (raising money for charity) that are set up in a very organized way after the show. Last night during our photos, a very excited little boy came up to see "Gaston" and threw his arms around my legs in a big hug. I lifted him up to my shoulder for his photo. We went on with the photos, and a bit later Rochelle pointed out he was trying to get my attention from the house, saying "Gaston!" then turning away to his grandmother (?) or sister in embarrassment. Once everyone else who'd arranged to have their photo taken was done, I went to downstage to see what he wanted. It took some coaxing, but he was convinced to approach the stage. In a very matter of fact and apologetic tone he said, and I remember this very vividly...
Boy: "Gaston... I'm a indian."
Me: "...That's cool, buddy."
Boy: "I mean, a different kind."
Me: "Oh yeah, what kind?"
Boy: "I don't want to talk about it."
Boy's Grandmother: "Tell him (name untelligible), tell him you're a Mayan."
Boy: (retreating to her side) "I don't WANT to tell him I'm a Mayan."
(buries head in her side)
Me: "Aren't you going to shake my hand before you go?"
Apparently he'd expected that once I knew he was "a indian" I'd have nothing more to do with him. His smile when he realized that wasn't the case... well, it doesn't take many of those to keep you going. For someone with the Captain Hook complex I often claim to have, I do seem to have a soft heart for some children. Bah.

Getting Extensions

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has been seriously extended.
Originally closing January 31, 2005, now the show will run until March 20.

That'll be about 150 performances by the end. For me, that's about 150 falls to my death, 300 weight-lifting curls of Belle during "Me", two or three thousand instances of LeFou abuse, and countless manly heroic poses.

Our Beast was delayed on the other side of the big rockslide on I-70 after Thanksgiving, forcing our mutual understudy to quickly fully learn the role (he wasn't required to be ready yet, there'd been no rehearsal) and go on last night. He also went on for today's matinee, and he did a bang-up job if you ask me. I'll explain the only unusual occurance during his two shows with this Note to Jon : It's not your fault the beast wig fell off during the fight, dude. You've worn the costume ONE other time and we never even ran the fight in costume. The way the costume is prepped for the transformation makes it a miracle that hasn't happened already. So no worries, you kicked ass.

Great house today. Leaving in one hour to put on the ponytail for show #2.

Pilgrimage

I woke up early this morning and made a big breakfast for everyone here in the actors' house. Yes, I'm just that amazing.

This morning while cooking I contemplated past Thanksgivings, as I'm prone to do with any yearly occassion, and realized something specific about this holiday. See, as a travelling actor, I haven't been in the same place for any two Thanksgivings since I started this line of work. It's never been a holiday I'm motivated to try to get home for - Christmas, yes, but not Thanksgiving. The last ten years...

In 1995, I spent Thanksgiving at home with the family in Kansas.
1996, California, working at TGAM, while running "A Christmas Carol"
1997... Where was I? On tour. I think we were in Georgia.
1998, Louisville, Kentucky while running "It's A Wonderful Life"
1999, Champaign Illinois while running "Here's Love"
2000, Oceano, California (again) while running "A Christmas Carol"
2001, Richmond VA, on tour with another "A Christmas Carol"
2002, New Haven CT, on tour, yet another different "A Christmas Carol"
2003, Lancaster PA, running a Christmas revue
Today... Grand Junction, CO... running "Beauty and the Beast." Our musical director is having many of us over for the big dinner and etcetera. Every year, some great people whereever I'm working come together and form an ersatz family for this day. Amongst other thing, I'm thankful I've been able to share this day with all those people in the past ten years. I miss my family, but I know they have each other, and I'm lucky to be doing what I'm doing.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Funniest thing I've heard today, on several levels: "In Germany, do they call Thanksgiving 'Danketag'?"

I Wish My Hair Were Actually This Long

A little Gaston love for you. Just some photoshop fun with a first night backstage pic. Better shots on the way after our photo call Nov. 30. Also, if you want Xmas cards (assuming I get to them) make sure I have your addresses.  

Updated: Just to clarify for those who've been asking about the set... in the picture above, that is NOT the set, it's a background I photoshopped in in place of the backstage stuff that was there. We are not performing in front of a big cartoon drop.

It begins...

Tonight, I step into the show... my very competent and groovy understudy has covered every show since they opened (late) last Sunday, and tonight I take over.

Wish me well, because I've never gone into a role like this without ever actually running the show. It'll be a thrill ride.

News forthcoming, change is in the air...

This should be on the Photo page

A shot from MUSIC MAN ... A couple more added to the photo page.  

Ridiculous sell-out.

The online store, in whatever state it is, is up. Right now many items are placeholders - you can get them, but I'll be replacing them in the store with other and better items. This is where you'll go eventually to buy scripts (the amazon honor system worked but was a pain, as many patient people out there know), CDs, and anything else.

There will be a lot of new stuff going in there, better stuff, but anything you buy there now - especially the official t-shirt - helps me toward paying the royalties I need to get out of the way to release my CD. Soon CD pre-orders will be up there.

I think some of you will really enjoy the "melon collie danish" items I made, as well.

Check it out here, or at the permanent link on the sidebar --->

High Gastonic

So, as those of you who know the unusual circumstances of my BEAUTY AND THE BEAST contract already know, my understudy covered the first few performances while I finished up in Kansas. Now, I'm here and gearing up to go into the show. I love this kind of fast-paced stuff, and actually I'll be getting a lot more rehearsal than I'd thought. I'll be doing my first performance Saturday night.

I tried the costumes today, and there will be photos forthcoming. I have a lot of MUSIC MAN photos I'll be adding soon, at least one or two.

In other news, if anyone else has played/is playing HALO 2... I just finished it. My feeling: That's... that's the ending? It's like the Empire Strikes Back of HALO, but without as much closure unto itself. Thoughts?

I was born in the [winter] of my [thirtieth] year...

Don't worry, the modified lyrics post titles are not a permanent thing.

Tomorrow, around eight a.m. CST, I will begin my drive to Colorado. Send good thoughts for a safe and speedy journey, and that I'll be able to step into the show with all good speed.

I've not been in Kansas for so long since... well, since I originally left, way back when. I've gotten used to being here, it's nice to be within an hour of "Home" and for my family and old friends to be able to see me work. Doing MUSIC MAN was really a fine experience thanks to things like that. Hopefully I'll be able to do more work in the area on at least a yearly basis. If you're new to the site here and found it because of MUSIC MAN (or if you're just keen to do me a favor) send a message to Ted at the Crown (316-681-1566 or click here) and tell him how much you'd like to see me back. I'm confident I will be, but a little push from the paying customers can't hurt.

Thanks to everyone who went out of their way to make sure they got to see me in Wichita, I will really treasure this time because of your generosity and kindness.

Now, who wants to come see me in Colorado? BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, I'll step into the show within a couple of days of my arrival.

Coming soon - info on DONCON 2005.

When [she] get[s] older, losing [her] hair(?), many [hours] from now...

My beloved mum will turn 64 on the 10th. I'm so happy I can be nearby and will be able to see her on her birthday. Another perk to having taken this MUSIC MAN gig so close to the Green, Green Grass of Home.

Sitting in Borders watching people and writing. I love my new laptop, I love wireless hotspots.

I've learned my material for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST to the best of my ability, now I just need to maintain it until I'll use it, just over a week from right now. A week and one day from this very moment I'll be driving toward Colorado.

HALO 2 is coming out with all kinds of midnight fanfare tomorrow. Being that I have nothing better to do and the time off, I will be there to pick up my already-paid-for copy at midnight. To watch the show, if nothing else. HALO 2 was going to be my primary time-filler between now and my move to CO, but the week is quickly filling up with other necessaries.

Notice how non-political I've kept the 'blog since the election? Vaguely referencing, at best. I had a couple of e-mails about that. See, I try to keep things here on a certain level because this is the site to which I refer people who might hire me for information. Thus, no comments on **** ******* *** ***** ***** *** *** ***** ****. ******* *******. Right?

New pic or two, new audio sample or two as well.

Yes, I'm endlessly, wildly resourceful

Today was a dreary, cold rainy day in Wichita, Kansas.

I got a few things done, though...

Got some audiobooks for my drive to the next gig...

Studied the BEAUTY AND THE BEAST script as I sat in the Borders coffeeshop...

Paid off my copy of HALO 2 which I'll pick up next Tuesday...

Missed New York and contemplated the direction of my life...

And personally counted every vote cast in the state of Ohio.

Ohio is this year's Florida, and Florida is this year's Missouri.

I don't know what that means, other than that it's landlocked.

One of these things is [just] like the other

Today, I had a nice audition for a TV thing that I really hope works out. Send me good juju.

Tomorrow, I have to go vote. So do you.

Thing is, right now I don't want to vote for either candidate. I will - and I know who I am voting for - but the campaign is such that I feel nothing but contempt for both parties, both organizations, and feel I know little to nothing about the genuine feelings, ideas, or ideals of the men running for office.

"Welcome to American politics," you say. Still, This is the most corporatized, commercialized, pandering, fear-mongering, condescending, mean, spun, outright dishonest campaign in the history of ... at least in my lifetime. No one recognizes any boundaries anymore. There's out and out rage for no good reason. You think things will really, monumentally change if either man is in office? Really? Good for you if you do. I wish I did. Call me jaded, call me cynical, call me anytime really. I'll be here. I'm so desperately lonely. Why won't you call me?

Sorry... got off on a tangent there. Just kidding! Ha ha! [sob]

Seriously, though, tomorrow I will go vote (if not just for the free sticker - hello, ebay!) and hope I make a difference. I do care who gets elected, but only because I appreciate the bad politics of one side more than the bad politics of another.

I think we need to reboot our two-party political system.