Obviously, I'm back from my adventures on the ocean. It was a short six week contract, which I have decided is the PERFECT length to be on a ship. Since they were shows I had already done, it was very easy going back into them. I have learned my lesson about swearing not to do any particular show again. You never know when you'll be back. Except GODSPELL. I really swear I'll never do that show again.
The ship went to some amazing ports of call. Rome, Naples, Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Kusadasi, and Istanbul. The best part of this trip was the FOOD. I swear...If I lived in Europe I would weigh at LEAST 500 lbs. Everything is SO delicious. I had my first encouter with the crepe. Who knew something could be so tasty? And in Naples (the birthplace of Pizza) I had the most AMAZING buffalo mozzarella. I can't even explain it, it was so good.
Aside from seeing all these great places and eating all this great food, I also made two really great new friends. Having joined the cast at the end of their six month contract, by the time I got there, everyone was ready to leave and they had all already developed their own little cliques and such. But I ended up spending a lot of time with Jackie (one of the singers) and Frances (one of the dancers). They're crazy and fun. Speaking of which...here's some pics from the cruise. Fun!
I got back from the ship on October 13th and flew back to Omaha where I had left my car and my dog. I spent a couple days at home with my parents. It was nice being home. They had been in the process of choosing new linoleum for their kitchen, since the stuff they had in there was put in the year I was born. It made me sad, though because that floor was really the last part of the house that had remained the same since my childhood. I learned to draw on that floor and had many races in cake boxes on it, so I was sad to see it go. It's a good thing I arrived when I did. It was exactly like an episode of the Wonder Years where they're picking out new linoleum. "My mom picked out what she liked...and my dad picked out what he liked...and then the settled on the one style of linoleum that no one on earth would possibly like." So...being the good gay son I am, I convinced them that perhaps they should look a little more. We went to the Nebraska Furniture Mart and picked out what I considered to be an acceptable choice. And...being Handy Jack, I helped them out by laying the subfloor for them since the contractors wanted to charge them a million dollars to do that. It only took about 6 hours and it was nice spending some time with Jack and Ceil and also helping them out. This is a pic of me with the floor before it was covered up forever. :(
Then back to KC to start rehearsals for A TUNA CHRISTMAS at the American Heartland Theatre. I've wanted to do one of the TUNA shows ever since I saw a great production of GREATER TUNA in high school. It's such a challenge to play 12 different characters. I'm working with Jim J. Bullock which has turned out to be lots of fun. He is CRAZY and I love him. He's really great to work with. Very generous onstage and a keeps me entertained off stage. He really is funny. We've started making it our Sunday tradition to go to the Peach Tree Buffet after the show. For those of you who don't know...the Peach Tree is an AMAZING soul food buffet here in KC. Fried chicken, collared greens, sweet potatoes in brown sugar, corn bread, mac-n-cheese....it's ALL ridiculously tasty and I'm pretty sure all fat free.
We've been doing previews all weekend and have our official press opening tonight. Here's a sneak peek at some of the show.
I almost forgot to mention the election! By some act of God or perhaps the American people just woke up from their Bush induced stupor...BARACK OBAMA won the election!!!!!!! I know change will be slow coming, but I am finally proud to be an American again. Go Team USA! Oh...and I'm excited about the low gas prices again. $1.79/gallon....WHAT? I feel like it's 1995 again and I should be drinking Beringer white zinfandel out of a plastic solo cup with my friend Holly in college.
Well...that's it for me. I'm supposed to be painting my living room, but I'm procrastinating. I wonder what else I can find to distract myself.
