Here we are at the end of week 5 on the Godspell National Tour! Just one week left until we fly home to Ontario (then we hit the road again mid-January).
When I left you last Friday, we were set to perform in Clinton Township, Michigan that night. It was another fun show and surprise, surprise: our director David Hogan and musical director Mark Payne drove across the border to see us! More than just the 'creative team', they're also the heart of this Godspell family. Thankfully, we did them proud and they loved the show. It was really nice to see them after all this time, though they couldn't stay for long. They were in the middle of producing yet another stellar show back home!
The cast & friends w/ dir: David Hogan & musical director Mark Payne in Michigan
We performed twice more at the Macombe Center in Michigan the next day (Saturday), and were fed and watered by an older lady known simply as "Mom". She's a long-time matriarch and employee of the theatre who's as sassy as she is generous, and as witty as she is petite. She graciously prepared a huge thanksgiving feast for us between our matinée and evening performances.
We also had a number of out-of-town visitors that weekend including parents and grandparents, wives & kids, siblings, friends, and by the time we got to Texas on Monday, my husband joined the fold too! We like to think of these people as honourary Godspellers. And/or groupies.
Alessia with friend Aly Workman
We arrived in Austin, Texas on Sunday night after a stopover in Charlotte and a few delays. It was the first flight we'd taken on the tour so far (we've been travelling solely by bus), and it went pretty well, all things considered. We had the next day (Monday) off, so that's when our Texas adventures began.
A bunch of us sat down for an authentic Tex-Mex lunch and it was gooood. I was the first to brave a server-recommended drink called 'The Hurricane' that was a tasty blend of EVERYTHING. It was icy, sweet and so strong that it was probably the only drink I needed for the rest of the day... or week (as if). Some castmates began a bar-hopping expedition after our spicy lunch that continued into the wee hours of the morning! Texas has amazing night life & a thriving live music scene, so naturally it's become the new favourite tour stop for many of us (I'm still holding on to good memories of St. Louis, but that's just me :-).
Bright and early on Tuesday morning, Jake Stern, Alessia Lupiano and myself had an interview at KUT - a radio station operated out of the University of Texas. The host was (unintentionally) hilarious, teasing Jake about his cowboy hat, leading us into an impromptu acapella performance, and closing our interview with some random song called "Day After Day" because he couldn't find the song "Day BY Day" in his track listings (the one that's actually in our show). So much funny in a single morning.
Alessia, Jake and I after our KUT interview
Amidst all these Texas shenanigans, we had a SHOW to put on! Tuesday night was our first show in Austin at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. It's a phenomenal venue, seating approximately 2500 patrons, and the crowd was on fire! It was one of our most exciting shows, where the audience was with us from note-to-note.
Our stellar band at the Long Center in Austin, Texas
These were painted all over the sidewalk outside the Long Center:
Wednesday night was another great show, another great night on the town afterwards, and Thursday we were blessed with an American Thanksgiving Dinner at one of the few local restaurants that were still open. After dinner, some of our crazy little bunch went to a make-shift amusement park situated behind our hotel. Bumper cars, rides and gaming ensued, with winners and stuffed thingies all-around. The fun just never stops. Unless you're this guy:
Jake's new bus-buddy
It's Friday, and we've just arrived in Crockett, Texas for another show tonight. It's a wee little town with a population smaller than the seating capacity in some of the venues we've played thus far. Apparently the theatre here is unable to house some of our larger set pieces like... our stage. And much of our lighting. But have you MET this Godspell cast & crew? Do you know what we say to that??? Challenge accepted. Our set may be scaled back, but our performances would never and could never be.
I can't wait to tell you how it all went down in next week's post. So check back!
Xoxoxox
~ Lisa Michelle
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