Weird Nights And Rainy Days With Boats

The past few days have been both rough and weird. Plus, Houston is currently in the midst of a random rainy season. I might be boating the bayous to work tonite. With injuries and the flu, I will have been on all week. Several days it was for more than one girl. (Two tracks one girl?). It's been rough hopping in as we move onto the stage for the first time, but last night brought a whole new level of weird. The company is very proud of not using their covers, so they hire a few but don't finish the process. So last night swinging on during the first dress, I was costume less and without a space to sit in the dressing room. Judy, head of the large costume running crew has got me shod in shoes at least. Thank goodness. (Since she's spraying an old pair of my personal boots, she also replaced the jump split destroyed rubber with some super nice new rubber.) I've got two more nights of going on costume-less amongst the extravaganza. I've got to keep focused because any mistake I make is magnified by my lack of period dress and hair (for instance me mucking up most of the Charleston last night. Which is just the final impression I want to leave for the night). It's time like these that I have to remind myself that it's a job. It might not be in a cubicle, but it's still a job. Let go and don't get upset about the things I can't control. And in honor of the torrential rainstorms

Survivor: Cotton Blossom

21:09 Amidst the flurry and joy of a Cotton Blossom wedding extravaganza, there is plot beginning to unfurl. With a pop, a shoulder goes out. Another shoulder starts to ache in unison, and a second and third dancer go down. Stage management has the incidntment forms ready. Workman's comp is there and waiting for the dancers, but where did this all begin? And what will happen next? (Cue spooky music)

1:27 The first shoulder returns from the ER in a sling. Dancer out. She's game and making Dr.'s appointments, but the questions are rolling in. What is happening on this showboat?

9:42 Another dancer seeing a Dr. Is it flu, strep, or possibly consumption (a favorite operatic disease)? Only tests will tell. 2 Dancers out.

12:22 Dance rehearsal canceled for today. Swing brought in for the evening piano tech, but she can only do one track at a time. Perhaps this is a nefarious plot. Who else would like to join the high kicking ladies? Is it Gay Ravenal? Is he even now waxing his stashe and preparing to attempt some stashe twirling? Could it be the seemingly sweet Nola? She's already the star but she likes the girl's snazzy red footwear. Or perhaps it's one of her folks. Parthy has never liked playing second fiddle to her husband's Showboat. And let's face it, Cpt Andy has way too much fun imitating Ellie's sassy, bad girl walk. He might want to join in the high kicks. Or it could be Ellie, tyring to make the showboat a one girl show. Let's be honest, it could be anyone or everyone (except Joe, cause it's just too much work for him!). What will happen next? Stay tuned for the next episode of Survivor: Cotton Blossom and we shall see! (Plus Frank might try and eat his red satin top hat in desperation. His palette has been destroyed working this old boat, and he's hungry!)

Coping With Berets and Bevels

It's always the way. Once you have one part of your life in good shakes, another part falls to pieces. I've got my professional life in a good place. I'm working with some phenomenal people (including some really amazing fellow swings), I've got good friends, and I know where I'm headed. The personal stuff has been a little sketchy of late. Less than a week from burying my Grammy, we were back in hospital rooms with my uncle. The diagnosis is still lacking in specifics, but he has lung cancer. At first I was mad at the powers that be more than anything. It was the other side of the family but still, must we constantly be screwed? After six years in and out of hospitals with Grammy and my other Grandma going with a surprising but very blessed speed via heartache, couldn't we at least have a week off? Perhaps a few months? A year would be nice. I bargain shopped and danced my anger out today. (Currently really into striped boatnecks, skinny pants, and berets. I look absurdly French with my short hair and coloring). I'm grateful my family is caring and supportive. I'm grateful that we support each other thru both the shit and the roses. I love my crazy messed up Tennessee Williams family and I will be there for them thru this and whatever this and the next year brings with a smile and a bevel. And I know they will always be there for me. (Though when times get tough, chocolate, bubble baths, berets, and wine are excellent ways of coping.)

Gems From a Bona Fide (Awesomely Well Deserved) Diva

I heard many stories of Francesca before she arrived. Especially coming from musical theatre, I was really excited and slightly worried of some opera diva-ness. But she's really chill and just right (and I love the scarves. Werk!). She doesn't sugarcoat and has great things to say. Plus she's keeping making me laugh. Here are some of my favorite Francesca gems. "You're an actor. Fix it." "It's like a symphony of Uggs." "It's an active song. Not a flaccid song." "Let me tell you how I feel about blackouts-I have never used blackouts in my entire career!" I'm sure more gems will occur (and have occurred when I was hopping up and down in a different room). I'm just glad I get to hear as many as I do. And I think I might rock one of my grandmother's scarves tom ala Zambello. Perhaps the leopard print one?

My Tribe And Caitlin's Christmas Shiner

I have been really lucky to be where I am right now. HGO was wonderful about giving me time off, and then all the wonderful folks involved with both Showboat and the company made coming back to week amazing. My fellow swing got my back, and worked up the most amazing condolence card from cast. And there are some heavy hitting names with wonderful personal messages on that card. Lots of hugs and good thoughts. (Though Morris wins the hug contest. He's our Joe and you can't beat a hug big black manwith a delightfully low voice and a heart bigger than his body) (Though all the hugs were amazing, and I appreciated every one of them) I got thoughts from lots of folks from previous jobs. As Patrick used to say in his philosophical moments at Westchester theatre folk are a tribe. It was beyond lovely to feel supported by my tribe when I needed it. On another note, I got my first experience swinging in yesterday. A whoopsies in a lift left poor Caitlin with a Christmas shiner. I got one time to rough it through, a few notes from the marvelous, talented, and supersweet Michele Lynch, and it was off to show it to Francesca (who is a quite a character in a marvelous way. More about her later). Francesca hadn't seen the number yet. It's a new one that wasn't done in Chicago, so there was a lot riding on us. Smile and Charleston! It went well and it felt great to get in there and dance. It also felt good to roll my hamstrings out after some surprise face kicking. Happy baking everyone and stay away from the mall if you can! Kisses!

To My Grammy

It's been a rough week for me. Monday morning, my folks got a call at three in the morning. My Grammy, who has been in and out of the hospital for the last six years, was dying. Ensue mad rush, long hours in the hospital, and an early morning Catholic blessing. Soon enough,I was back home to rush thru the shower and get to the second half of work. Thankfully Tues was just a short evening rehearsal, so I was able to sleep in and work on music for the funeral mass. At first I was averse to the idea of singing at the funeral, but I soon realized it wasn't something for me. It was something I could do for her and my family. It was tough, but I'm glad I did it.The funeral was yesterday. I wore a pair of her old evening shoes from the fifties. Green satin covered in fishnets with a rhinestones where the fishnet meets. There was an arctic front so my mom wore her mink coat. I'm sure Grammy was smiling down on us. There was plenty of desert, lots of people, and lots of cute shoes. All things that mattered to her. After we buried her, we toasted to her with a bottle of 16 year old Bushmills I had picked up. It was a good way to say goodbye to a life well lived with lots of love. Slainte. To microwaves. To high heels. To cookies in your purse. To a woman with more character and love than anyone I know. To my Grammy.

Beginning at the Opera!

I've been remiss in writing. Folsom was an experience. There were lots of ups and downs, and now onto Showboat! Just finished day two of Showboat rehearsal. The staff is all super sweet, the dancers and singers are great, and I really love the choreographer Michele Lynch. Her choreo just feels really good in my body (plus it's super cute. Life upon the supercute stage). She's really chill and I love the way she works. The biggest challenge has been the building. Putting together my swing notebook of death is so much easier!For all of us new to HGO, navigating their studios in their Wortham is a little challenging at first. There are chorus girls plans to investigate the tunnels. I shall write soon my own Phantom of the Opera! Or Phantom of the Opry. Knowing my life.....