The Odd Week ... Post-Christmas
Dec. 15th, 2004 10:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeansWe had a successful opening last night here in Appleton. The theater and people are lovely. The building is three years old, decorated in crimson red and was filled to the rafters. Its presence in downtown Appleton has spurred a rebirth of the older part of the city. There seems to be no recession here. In fact, I was told last evening that the theater was built and paid for by several rich families here. The city has no debt because of it, just gets to enjoy the tax revenue generated by its events and from the businesses that have built up around it.
The dressers, many of them from Green Bay, were quite competent and there is luxurious space in the back stage area, a condition that hasn’t existed in our three previous theaters. Who would have thought that Appleton would be such a nice city to play? Everyone’s cheerful, knowing that we have next week off and can spend the holiday with our loved ones.
The week after Christmas is another story. I’ve spent years touring, but it is one of the oddest weeks I’ve encountered in terms of scheduling. I’ve done many split weeks, a “split week” meaning that you do two cities in one week. A triple split means three cities in one week. Normally, a split week has two cities slotted that are fairly near each other. In our case, we play Schenectady, New York on Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28, then jump to Sarasota, Florida a distance of more than 1200 miles. I fly from Houston to Albany via Atlanta on the day after Christmas; I then take a taxi to Schenectady. (I have a 35-minute layover in Atlanta on the 26th. Wish me luck as I had no say in the routing or timing!)
In order to achieve the jump to Florida, the cast will fly on Wednesday, 12-29.The reservations weren’t made in time by the travel agency that books our travel; all of the flights into Sarasota that day are sold out. So, we’re being flown into Orlando and bused to Sarasota. Because the trucks can’t make the trip from Upstate New York to Florida in time, we don’t do a show in Sarasota until New Years Eve at 9pm. I have Wednesday evening until Friday evening off. Suddenly, my mind is filled with possibilities of what to do with the unexpected time off:)
Do I take the bus to Sarasota and stay there till we open? Do I go to the expense of a car and hotel and spend two nights in Orlando? Maybe go to Disneyworld or the Parliament House? Do I go to Sarasota? Check in, rent a car and drive to Tampa to meet up with friends who are there in “Phantom of the Opera”? My wallet says go to Sarasota. My heart says Disney:) Plus, if I stay in Orlando, I think I might just be able to visit with lowfatmuffin (Bob) who leaves early on the 30th for San Francisco. An absolute plethora of choices!
I have to let the company manager know what I plan to do, so she won’t expect me on the bus or at the hotel if I decide to make other arrangements. I could pop up almost anywhere in the next two weeks:) I fly from Appleton, Wisconsin to Houston via Cincinnati, spend Christmas week in Brenham, Texas; fly Houston to Albany via Atlanta and then to Schenectady; Albany to Orlando to Sarasota; after the weekend in Sarasota, we fly to Greenville, South Carolina, perform in Greenville for a week and then I fly back to Houston for a month off. Whew! Look out! Here I come!
The dressers, many of them from Green Bay, were quite competent and there is luxurious space in the back stage area, a condition that hasn’t existed in our three previous theaters. Who would have thought that Appleton would be such a nice city to play? Everyone’s cheerful, knowing that we have next week off and can spend the holiday with our loved ones.
The week after Christmas is another story. I’ve spent years touring, but it is one of the oddest weeks I’ve encountered in terms of scheduling. I’ve done many split weeks, a “split week” meaning that you do two cities in one week. A triple split means three cities in one week. Normally, a split week has two cities slotted that are fairly near each other. In our case, we play Schenectady, New York on Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28, then jump to Sarasota, Florida a distance of more than 1200 miles. I fly from Houston to Albany via Atlanta on the day after Christmas; I then take a taxi to Schenectady. (I have a 35-minute layover in Atlanta on the 26th. Wish me luck as I had no say in the routing or timing!)
In order to achieve the jump to Florida, the cast will fly on Wednesday, 12-29.The reservations weren’t made in time by the travel agency that books our travel; all of the flights into Sarasota that day are sold out. So, we’re being flown into Orlando and bused to Sarasota. Because the trucks can’t make the trip from Upstate New York to Florida in time, we don’t do a show in Sarasota until New Years Eve at 9pm. I have Wednesday evening until Friday evening off. Suddenly, my mind is filled with possibilities of what to do with the unexpected time off:)
Do I take the bus to Sarasota and stay there till we open? Do I go to the expense of a car and hotel and spend two nights in Orlando? Maybe go to Disneyworld or the Parliament House? Do I go to Sarasota? Check in, rent a car and drive to Tampa to meet up with friends who are there in “Phantom of the Opera”? My wallet says go to Sarasota. My heart says Disney:) Plus, if I stay in Orlando, I think I might just be able to visit with lowfatmuffin (Bob) who leaves early on the 30th for San Francisco. An absolute plethora of choices!
I have to let the company manager know what I plan to do, so she won’t expect me on the bus or at the hotel if I decide to make other arrangements. I could pop up almost anywhere in the next two weeks:) I fly from Appleton, Wisconsin to Houston via Cincinnati, spend Christmas week in Brenham, Texas; fly Houston to Albany via Atlanta and then to Schenectady; Albany to Orlando to Sarasota; after the weekend in Sarasota, we fly to Greenville, South Carolina, perform in Greenville for a week and then I fly back to Houston for a month off. Whew! Look out! Here I come!
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no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 08:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-16 08:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-16 08:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 09:07 am (UTC)I'm glad things are going so well in Appleton and that the facility is very lovely and all.
Good luck!
no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 09:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 09:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 02:22 pm (UTC)Logically, your plans should be dictated by two forces: Time and money; what can you afford to do in the time allotted you? Since I have no idea what your financial situation is (and know better than to ask), the prudent thing would be to go to Sarasota and visit your friends in Tampa, satisfying both your love of travel and fondness for visiting friends. Catching the Muffin on the fly in Orlando is possible, but may not be logistically practical. Unless planned well in advance to take advantage of available bargains, DisneyWorld is a money pit; financially, I can't advise it as an impulse stop.
Thems my two cents.
As for Appleton...who knew? Glad you're enjoying your time there.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-16 08:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-15 04:20 pm (UTC)Glad Appleton is going well.