Motor City in the Rear View Mirror

[mrdreamjeans]

Check off another city on the "Evita" tour. Our run in Detroit is over and we're closing in on our 50th performance. The time in Detroit has been a mixed bag...small but enthusiastic audiences; a soul-draining hotel experience interrupted by fun times such as a tour of The Henry Ford and the Rouge Factory and the mid-week performance of the "Radio City Music Hall Spectacular". Some of my favorite dressers work at The Fisher Theater, but the theater itself is inhospitable. I'm ready to get to Wisconsin. :)


The interior of the Guardian Building, one of the few historic buildings
to be preserved for future generations and still in active use.



A slightly blurred, but evocative photo of the historic Fox Theater in Detroit.
The scale and decorative architecture are impressive.


Helicopters Flying Round My Head (instead of Sugar Plums) :)

The management had several surprises for guests of the Marriott in the Renaissance Center over the weekend. Early yesterday, I was returning my rental car (I had to leave the building and drive a couple of miles to do laundry) and found out that most of the Ren Cen was going to be shut down for a helicopter airlift exercise. I had a first inkling when there was a helicopter flying outside of my room on the 22nd floor. :) I made a quick call to our company manager, knowing she was going to be blind-sided as our shuttle drop-off was blocked off. We managed to get the word around, but the hotel didn't get signage up until the damage was done.



The Renaissance Center, GM's headquarters in Detroit, location of our hotel.
Staying here was like being in a Sci-Fi movie.
Thanks to Joel Briel for the photos of the buildings.


"Brave New World" - A Tour of the Ford Museum and the Rouge Truck Factory

This past Monday on our day off, I rented a car. It was imperative to get out of the ant hill where we've stayed the past two weeks. Joel Briel and I drove out to Dearborn (thanks Joel for the tickets to both places) and visited the wonderful Henry Ford Museum and then the factory where they make the F150 pickup truck. It was a really fun time. Joel and I found out we are very compatible museum-goers. We both move at a quick pace. Joel, trained as an engineer is fascinated by how things work; my background and degree in History and English focuses on the information in the displays and how it is presented. We both like to take lots of pictures.

Among the notable exhibits at the museum were: the 1961 Presidential Limo in which President John Kennedy was assassinated; a 1923 Canadian Pacific snowplow engine and cars; the first McDonald's Sign advertising 15 cent hamburgers; Charles Lindbergh's 1927 travel trailer; one of the first Chevrolet Corvairs (made only from 1960-1969); a 1931 Bugatti Royale Type 41 Cabriolet; the bus that Rosa Parks was riding when she made her famous decision not to move to the back of the bus; and finally (and oddly) the first Oscar Mayer Weinermobile which is the neighboring exhibit.


The Ford Rouge Plant - nearly 100 years old

A bus took us on a ten-minute ride to the site of the Ford Rouge Plant. The plant at its peak (and before automation) employed 100,000 people. We were met at the door of the Visitors Center by a Mr. Flanoy who has worked for Ford for 65 years. In his 90s, he was still volunteering to meet visitors at the plant. The tour consisted of four parts, the first two film experiences.

The first film focused on the beginnings of Henry Ford and the creation of the Ford Brand and facilities. It actually was involving, bolstered by a wonderful score played by the Detroit Symphony. (I liked it so much I purchased a CD.) :)

The second film took you through the complete process of building a Ford 150 pick-up truck. It was one of those 360 degree sense-surround theatres. You felt the heat, the wind, the vibration while sitting on seats that swiveled around. It was fun and silly. :)

Station Three was an observation deck overlooking the manufacturing facility. The roof of the Dearborn Truck Plant is a "green" roof or living garden. The roof is made of Sedum. The living roof lowers temperatures up to ten degrees, absorbs four million gallons of rainwater, converts carbon dioxide into oxygen improves air quality and requires no maintenance. The area around the plant has been designated an Urban Wildlife Habitat. There is a crab apple orchard and bee hives.

In the Paint Plant, fuel cells turn paint fumes into power. The historic Glass Plant was designed by Albert Kahn. A tour of the actual plant completes the tour. Joel and I were fortunate to tour on a day where a ten-hour shift was in progress and we saw the assembly line in full action. There are 1800 components that go into each truck. The Rouge Plant (the name derives from the river around which it is built) assembles 60 trucks an hour. The day we visited, the lines were up 77% over the previous day in production.



An early Generator as displayed in the Henry Ford Museum.
Joel took a picture of me to give you an idea of the scale
of the generator. Even I look small. :)


Secret Santa

The week has been broken up by the fun of picking names for Secret Santa and then trying to be clever in the gifting. Being on the road, the small tokens of affection are best if they are edible, disposable and most of all, light, as they will have to be traveled ... at least until our first week off. I've been very fortunate. I picked the name of someone I know well, have known a long time and have had a blast surprising and pleasing her...secretly, of course..... At point the person I am gifting took over the stage manager's microphone to announce to everyone that she had the very best Secret Santa ever. (blush) I only aspire. LOL!

Time to Get the Hell out of Dodge ... uh ... Detroit

Despite my highly enjoyable meeting with wonderboymi (Brian) and our day trip to Canada, a reunion with my friend Barb Scanlon with whom I toured in "Phantom" and the events that I detailed here, I can't wait to get out of here tomorrow. There is snow on the ground and more expected tomorrow along with considerable wind. I am hoping the weather holds and we make our short trip on puddle-jumpers to Appleton, Wisconsin. The planes are so small that we've been divided into two groups.

I'm in the early group and the adventure that is staying in this hotel continues right up to the last minute. The city is shutting down the hotel elevators between the 9th and 40th floors in the morning for testing. They have refused to accommodate the exits of our tour of "Evita" and a production of "A Christmas Carol" starring? Barry Williams (Brady Bunch), Jeff Conway (Grease and Taxi) and Jackee Harry (227). The names are not typos:) We have to hope that they don't begin their testing early and force us to carry our large suitcases down multiple staircases.

Appleton will be a different touring experience than we've had so far. We're in a new performing arts complex in a much smaller city and are playing Appleton for just one week. The only tourist attraction seems to be the Harry Houdini Museum. But, I intend to enjoy the run there, as it will be our only Wisconsin date. So, it's time to hit the road and put the Motor CIty in the rear view mirror.



Thanks to Santa's helper for the "Red Balls" shot:)

Comments

[bruinwi.livejournal.com]

If you have the chance, might you come down to Madison to catch Nutcracker? It would be interesting to hear your views on our show...a professional, yet detatched oppinion concerning our efforts.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I would love to see your performance, but I believe our schedules don't permit. I do 8 shows this week, Tuesday-Friday nights, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. The company has booked me on a 9:30am flight on the Monday, the 20th to Houston via Cincinnati for the Christmas layoff week.

I don't think my opinion would be detached since I have a friend in a very visible role and would be cheering for you:) Maybe it will work out another year!

[bruinwi.livejournal.com]

*Heavy sigh* Such is life.

Appleton is DEFINATELY getting their money's worth!