Rain to Snow

[mrdreamjeans]

I just peered out the window of my room at The Biltmore here in Providence, Rhode Island. The cold rain of earlier hours has turned to blowing snow; the rooftops below are uniform in their pristine blankets of white. We left Washington, DC this morning, bused to BWI Airport and made an uneventful flight to Providence. The only downside was an hour delay in taking off and missing luggage. (It was a full flight and 40 bags were pulled at the last minute.) I was one of the more fortunate travelers ... I got both suitcases, though they were soaked.

The Biltmore is beautiful. It’s one of those historic hotels which had a sort of tattered elegance for decades. It’s been renovated and redecorated; I would rate my room as the most luxurious I’ve had in 15 months on tour along with the Westgate Hotel in San Diego and Westin Hotel in Greenville, SC.

My jaw dropped when I walked into the room; it’s a two-room suite decorated in greens and golds, has a big walk-in closet, a living room with suede couch and large comfortable chair and a desk. The bedroom has two king size beds with luxury satin linens and a flat screen television mounted on the wall opposite the beds. The bath even has a television. Why I need three televisions in one hotel suite isn’t clear, but who am I to complain? :)

Providence has really made an effort to repurpose it’s historic district and it’s fun to stroll the streets. There is also a big successful mall with a 16 screen movie theater a couple of blocks away. if the weather turns really nasty, there will still be activities to keep our group from going stir-crazy.

We’re having rehearsals this week for a replacement for Candy Olsen. Her name is Robin Wilmer. They are giving her three days to learn the show. We are six weeks from closing, so I believe Robin will be the final cast change in the line-up for “Evita”. She makes her debut on Friday night.

The snowfall tonight is my first real touch of Winter and I like it. I spoke with my folks yesterday and it was 82 degrees F in the Houston area on New Years Day. I’ll take a couple of days of winter wonderland as long as we’re not traveling in it. Meanwhile, we’re scheduled for 10 to 12 inches of snow by tomorrow evening with periodic interludes of freezing rain. Our crew starts loading into the Providence Performing Arts Center at 6am. I'll be happy to view it all from my 12th floor windows.

Comments

[jodfoster.livejournal.com]

Is this same Robin Weigert/Wygert that was on Deadwood?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

As it turns out, I had Robin's last name completely wrong. It is Wilmer:)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I don't think so ... She's a young dancer and I just met her a couple of hours ago ...

BTW, Happy New Year to you! Perhaps, we'll have an opportunity to meet when I come to Seattle at the end of February to work at the 5th Avenue Theater. I've heard so many wonderful things about you from isitandlookout and pyrogeoff.

Also, in a separate thought ... I'm looking for housing for about three months in downtown Seattle or perhaps on Capital Hill ... If you know of anything, please give me a heads-up.

HUGS!

[jodfoster.livejournal.com]

What will you be working on out here for that long? And I'll be sure we'll find time to meet! I'll do some checking into the housing thing for you and will let you know what I find out!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I begin rehearsals on 2-21 for "Wonderful Town". We open the day before my birthday, on March 21 and close April 9. I was living in Seattle before I got the "Evita" tour, so the 5th has hired me as a "local". "Evita" closes on 2-12, so I have to move quickly. I'm debating whether to drive ... 2844 miles from Brenham to Seattle ... or to fly (if I can find convenient housing). Rehearsals are at the Seattle Center and performances at the 5th Avenue Theater.

Thanks for assistance in advance ...

[gotmoof.livejournal.com]

Make that call we discussed last week.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I intend to do so. Since I'm looking outside at a Nor'easter and we've gotten 9 inches of snow so far, I'll certainly have the time. I'm glad I'm indoors.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Silly! You need three TVs in one hotel suite so you or the little woman can put the same reality show on all three TVs, and wander from room to room unpacking your luggage and/or local purchases without missing any continuity. This includes pooping and bathing. :)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

LOL! It gets better ... I accidently hit the split screen and am now watching two shows at once on the flat screen:) I can understand a television mounted on the wall where you can watch it as you bathe in luxury, but this one is tiny and sits a foot from the sink. Makes no sense whatsoever.

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

I think you need company to share that huge suite with the 3 TVs with you!

I'd volunteer for that if I could get there. But then again I'm busy preparing for The Woman in White. ;-)

Oh, and, btw, thanks for the icon!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

LOL! I just noticed that you turned it into an icon. I didn't think anyone read the picture post:) I think you look handsome and happy ... (I guess that's why I sent it to you and asked Tim to post it:)

With two king-sized beds, it would certainly be the week for company...

Good luck with the preparation ... I'm watching for orchestral openings for you. I mentioned you just the other day to someone who does a lot of studio work.

We've got to keep each other's backs! HUGS!

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

Ah, The Biltmore. Sent tour groups there.

Wish you were closer....sure could use you in the group this spring.

5th Avenue Theatre....memories. Rehearsing at Seattle Center....Hmmm

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You did right by your groups to send them to this hotel, especially since they've redone so many of the rooms beautifully ...

I wish I was closer too... I am going to look at Minneapolis as a place to resettle after the Seattle gig ... at least come to town and visit folks ...

Hmmmm to rehearsing at Seattle Center? DO tell:)

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

I just have the hardest time seeing Seattle Center as a rehearsal space. There's so much public stuff there.

Would love to have you here.....:)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

The main hall has the food court, performance space and shops, but up on the Third Floor there are several rehearsal halls which are also used for auditions by the 5th Avenue, Seattle Rep, Intiman and Theatre Puget Sound, etc ... the past three shows I did for the 5th were rehearsed in these studios. Working for The Village Theater in Issaquah was another matter. Have to have a car to get out there ...

I am determined to make it to Minneapolis in the Spring ... When are auditions for the Childrens Theater, the theater in St Paul and other companies that use Equity Actors? (Then the trip would be a write-off:)

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

Hmm....let me do some hunting and I will let you know!

You'll be within spitting distance!

[bearhedded.livejournal.com]

They've also managed to shove a high-school in there, somewhere! I think it's in the corridor that used to be the opera costume shop

Re: You'll be within spitting distance!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Good! Then maybe we will actually have a chance to meet! I'd like that!

[crunchmd.livejournal.com]

I know the owner of the Biltmore. Jon and his partner live in Annapolis. He is a former accountant who ventured into hotels working for a former employer. His first property was an abandoned hotel in Denver. He had no idea where he was going to get the money to renovate it and thought he was in over his head. Then a miracle happened: Hollywood called and wanted to use the hotel for a movie. They paid for all the renovations. The movie was "The Shining". They filmed the movie backwards; showing the hotel in decay first, then restoring it to it's former glory for the flashback sequences. So, not only did he get free contracting work, he was able to capitalize on marketing the property as the "Shining" hotel.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful story!! Please tell Jon that they've done a terrific job with The Biltmore. The beds are astonshingly comfortable. I slept soundly last night for the first time in months ... and you have no idea how necessary that was ...

I should have known that only a Gay man would have this kind of good taste:)

[quietkub.livejournal.com]

Hey Neil!!!!

I sent you a message asking if you were going to be in Providence, RI and you are..

how long with you be in Providence for? I am only about 1 hour away!!

you should try to make it out to the area near Brown University...cute little shops and restaurants...

It would be nice to see you again if its in the cards!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'm in Providence through Sunday of this week. I have shows at 7:30pm tomorrow and Thursday night; 8pm on Friday; 2 and 8pm on Saturday; 1 and 6:30pm on Sunday.

If the weather improves, I'll certainly take your suggestion. I was here in 1995 with "Phantom" for 8 weeks. I stayed in Newport at a wonderful B&B and commuted. I've always been a big fan of this area!

I have a rehearsal on Friday afternoon, but Thursday is free till show time; also if you wanted to see the show this time, I would be able to have dinner between shows on either day.

Next Monday, it's on to Cleveland.

Hope to see you! Big HUGS!

[quietkub.livejournal.com]

How is your weekend shaping up in terms of time?

Sat night??

Weekend is the only good times for me and Mike.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Are you thinking about coming down to visit or to visit and see the show? I have an 8pm show which puts me out at about 10:20pm.

There's not much bar life here ... The Yukon Trading Company no longer exists, so I'm not sure what there would be to do other than to chat for a couple of hours (that would be terrific); if you came down earlier ... between 4:30pm and 7:00pm, we could have supper? I understand that everyone has a schedule, so just let me know:) HUGS!

[quietkub.livejournal.com]

well there still is the Providence Eagle which remains.

It would be to come down to see ya again!

Sat for dinner is a possibility.

Lets talk about this off LJ. My e-mail is Quietkub@gmail.com

parting with the party suite

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

You need to throw a party in that hotel room before you leave! Unlikely you'll be back soon. May be an or... org... orgis, you know?