Aloha!

Posted on June 29, 2013 by CaseyT

The past few days have been a bit of a blur! Since finishing the Movies show on Tuesday, our schedule has been filled with review times and full runs of both productions. We also spent some time cleaning up the Welcome and Farewell numbers that we learned the very first day of rehearsals. My brain has been working hard, and my body has been working even harder!

Each day has had a special sprinkle of excitement, so I haven’t completely lost my mind. Wednesday evening, my cast had a luau at the apartments to celebrate a cast member’s birthday. It was awesome! She decorated the apartment, and we played “pin the flower on the hula dancer”, hula hooped, and ate… a lot. It was so nice to hang out with the full cast. It really is an amazing group of people!

Love my cast!

Thursday we ran the first half of the Movies show in the morning, and after notes and cleaning time, ran the entire show again in the afternoon. When we were done, we got to watch one of the other casts perform for their office run. They did another Broadway themed production. It was fun to cheer them on before they embark on their trip to the Caribbean!

Friday was a very long day! We had our “unofficial run” in the morning, during which we performed our Broadway show with lights and mics for members of the staff. It was a little unnerving to have an audience, especially for my Cell Block Tango monologue, but it went pretty well! We won’t run that show again until we are on the ship! In the afternoon, we ran the Movies show. It was our first run with lights, and just the second full run of the show!

Surprise guests before the afternoon run

At rehearsal on Saturday, we are running the Movies show twice through, and spending time working out any kinks. We have a day off on Sunday, and our last day in the studio (and our office run) will be Monday! I can’t believe how quickly this rehearsal period has gone by! I’m looking forward to all that is in store for us!

For your listening pleasure today, I’m going back to the 80s. Fun fact: this was randomly my high school class song.

A Lot Like Love

Posted on June 26, 2013 by CaseyT

A lot has happened in the past few days! I’ve been a busy bee, but have enjoyed flying around.

Cast Jackets

Friday, we had a special delivery. Our cast jackets arrived! We spent the morning learning a quirky, “rock and roll” style girl number, rehearsed our Cell Block Tango monologues on mic, and ran the Broadway show. We hadn’t rehearsed that show in almost a week, so the run was a bit under par. I have a lot of notes to apply and details to review before our next run!

Saturday I was able to sleep in before rehearsal. The morning was mostly review time, and in the afternoon we ran what we had learned of the Movies show. We had exciting guests in the audience: my family! They will not be able to come see me perform on-board, so I was thrilled that they were able to watch rehearsal and see what I’ve been up to. After rehearsal, I met back up with my family for dinner in Miami with an old friend of my dad’s. We had a lovely dinner outside in the Design District. Since my parents had woken up early to catch a flight, I parted ways with them just after dinner. I rejoined some of my cast mates for a Lipstick and Lashes party at the apartments. It was a great night!

Lipstick and Lashes

Waking up Sunday morning was a little challenging, but the rest of the day was pretty near perfect. I met the family at their hotel, and after a tasty brunch and about 4 cups of coffee, we hit the beach. It was wonderful to be able to catch up with everyone without the usual interruptions. As usual, we laughed a lot! I had to cut off my fun in the sun (or, more accurately, fun in the shade) to run home and deal with laundry and groceries.

Sisters on the beach!

I was picked up later for dinner with the family. We drove into Fort Lauderdale for a delicious meal at Market 17. I spent almost half the meal close to tears from laughing so hard. Our waiter got quite a kick out of us, and gave us some great recommendations. Saying goodbye to my parents after dinner was hard, but I hope to meet up with them in Asia!

The whole family

Luckily, I had one more day with my sisters! I only had rehearsals before lunch on Monday, so I was able to meet up with them relatively early. We wandered into Downtown Hollywood, and found a great little happy hour spot. Before stopping for dinner at a sushi restaurant, we strolled through the downtown area. I love my sisters’ husbands, but it was so nice to have the time and privacy for girl talk! My single girl stories kept them thoroughly entertained. After dinner, we grabbed ice cream and walked through the food trucks set up in Young Circle. I never knew Hollywood was so hopping on Monday night! Parting with them was rough, but I know we’ll be in touch. I’m so happy they were able to come spend time with me!

Sisters!

Tuesday was a long day! We learned the finale for the Movies show. It’s a Bollywood number, so there are a lot of details and unfamiliar hand positions. I love it though! It’s a fun way to end the show. It isn’t too technically difficult, but is still interesting. After learning the finale and bows, we ran the last 3 sections of the show, in order to become more accustomed to the transitions between each. I was worn out by the end of the day, so I was thrilled to partake in Take Out Tuesday and watch a movie with my cast. Mean Girls and Ramen? Yes.

The song below is one of my “happy songs”. I’ve been listening to it a lot because it always makes me smile! I first heard Lord Huron during an emotional time back in November, and was able to see them live at The Independent. They’re amazing! Since I’m gearing up to disappear for awhile, I like that this song is about searching for the girl that got away. I am that egotistical…

The next few days are going to be pretty intense. We have a lot of cleaning to do in rehearsals, and will be running the full shows frequently. Monday will be our last day in the studios, and then we’re off to Korea!

It Takes Two

Posted on June 21, 2013 by CaseyT

I’ve had unimpaired vision since Wednesday (hallelujah!), and have been trying to pick up any slack from my days of partial blindness. My rehearsal schedule has also picked up, so I’ve been very grateful that my body is finally cooperating. We’ve been working on a Ballroom section and a Latin section for the Movies show, so I’ve been doing a lot of partnering!

Battle wounds

There is always an adjustment period when working with a new partner, so learning 2 new styles with 3 different partners has been quite an experience! My partners have been great, but we’re still working out some kinks. In our attempts to master some of the more complicated lifts, I’ve developed some very colorful bruises! I’ve also been acutely aware of my own faults and weaknesses.

Girls’ Night

Due to exhaustion and the unavoidable signs of my own imperfection, I’ve been a bit emotional this week! I needed a good cry, and luckily wasn’t alone. My roommates and I kicked back one night with homemade brownies and The Notebook. After chocolate, a few tears, and 2 hours of Ryan Gosling’s face, life seemed a lot better.

Searching for normalcy

With so many new styles being thrown at me, I’ve been craving something familiar. For me, that means a bit of ballet. I have gotten critiques about my dancing being too “pretty” and too balletic, so I’m trying to balance barre with jazzier warm ups and conditioning. I’ve also been trying to hone my “beast” status, “fierce” energy, and inner “sexy kitten”. It’s been… amusing.

Since some of you enjoyed the song I shared last week, I decided to post another! This has been one of my warm down jams this week. The band (Slow Club) is awesome, and the video shows a different side of Daniel Radcliffe (you will soon know what drunk Harry Potter looks like). Hope you like it!

I Can See Clearly Now

Posted on June 17, 2013 by CaseyT

Since my last post, I’ve been more than a little frustrated. I seem to have scratched my right eye, so I’ve been unable to wear my right contact lense. I’ve been wearing my glasses as much as possible, but can’t dance in them. The safest/most productive option has been to wear just my left contact at the studio, and rely on one eye. My depth perception has been skewed, and it’s been hard to pick up details when learning new movement.

Rehearsal

As a dancer, I learned quickly how to handle injuries. I know how to decrease pain and inflammation (RICE!), and when to push through discomfort. I can deal with injuries, but with eyes… I’m at a loss! There’s nothing I can do to make them heal faster.

While I was struggling, we learned a quickstep and a pasadoble. Both styles were brand new to me! They are really fun, but I had a hard time feeling confident, especially with the lifts! My partners were very helpful and understanding, and I know there’s nowhere to go from here but up. I have video footage from rehearsals, so I’ve been watching and taking notes on what I need to work on.

Glasses…

After a difficult couple days, I was thankful for the weekend! My roommate and I went downtown for a drink Saturday night and spoke with some amusing locals. Sunday we took the bus out to the beach. It poured down rain when we first arrived, but luckily I had an umbrella in my bag. We still ended up quite wet!

Drenched en route

Once the clouds dispersed, it was beautiful! It was nice to have time to relax and crack open my giant book. I loved having some time in the sun. Even with multiple applications of 2 sunscreens, I got a bit of color. It was worth it though!

Big book, burned legs, and beach!

I enjoyed a lazy Sunday afternoon and am looking forward to an early morning Monday. We’re doing a short ballroom workshop, then continuing with the Movies show.

In many ways, I can see clearly now… my lack of physical focus has allowed me to hone in on what I need to mentally focus on. Hopefully this awareness will make the remaining weeks of rehearsal even better!

Putting this week behind me

After You’ve Gone

Posted on June 13, 2013 by CaseyT

My rehearsal schedule has been relatively light again this week, but I’ve enjoyed the rehearsals that I have had. We started working on a new show set to music from movies, and a majority of the numbers I’m in relate shockingly well to my life. The common idea seems to be “You shouldn’t have let me go”. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I’ll admit that I’m dancing to the words that I want to say, but won’t. I get to dance as a strong, sexy woman, and am able to be a bit cheeky.

Relaxing

Monday evening I had an uncontrollable chocolate craving. Those of you that know me well know that I am a chocolate snob. I convinced a cast mate to drive me to the store so I could satisfy my craving, and ended up going on a 2.5 hour field trip to the mall to get good chocolate. It was wonderful to get out of the apartments for a bit, listen to some cheesy pop music, and chat. And, of course, I was thrilled to get some yummy chocolate (dark, of course).

Chocolate!

Tuesday was a comparatively long day at the studio, so when I got home, I joined some of my group at the pool. I was also able to Skype with a few of my friends from SF. What would we do without Skype?!

Wednesday I wasn’t called to rehearsal. I was a little disappointed, but have been assured that I’ll be busy at the end of the show. Now I’m just trying to enjoy the free time! I toyed with the idea of going to Miami, but cloudy skies and a long bus ride dissuaded me from making the commute. Instead, I had a “me” day. I was listening to more “take that” type music all day, dancing around the kitchen like a lunatic. Here’s a sample for you:

I gave myself a long workout at the gym, ran errands, talked with more friends from home, and spent a good lot of time in the kitchen. It was strange to have space to myself for awhile, but was also refreshing! I have a bunch of leftover spaghetti sauce (and wine) to enjoy over the next few days.

Today I have the morning off, then am going in to run the Broadway show. I have a little homework to do to make sure I’m at the top of my game, but I’m looking forward to the run through. Hopefully the end of the week will be as enjoyable as the beginning… with more movement!

Afternoon at the pool

Broadway and Birthdays

Posted on June 10, 2013 by CaseyT

The past few days I’ve had an abnormally light rehearsal schedule. My free time has been filled with various activities, some more productive than others. I’ve rested and iced my ankle, but have also had fun going out with my cast mates. The more I get to know them, the more excited I am for the next 7 months!

My cast at office run #1

Before each cast signs onto the ship, they do an “office run”. They perform one of their shows for the production staff and the other casts currently in rehearsals. They can also invite local friends and family members to come watch. Two casts were leaving this weekend, so we finished rehearsals early on Thursday and Friday and got to watch our fellow performers do their thing! Thursday we watched the unofficial run of another Broadway show, and ended the day at the office run of a boogie show, set to music from the 70s. It was a fun, high energy performance. I’d love to learn it someday, but am not sure I have the stamina it requires! Friday we saw a show based on a few popular fairy tales. There wasn’t much dancing in it, but I loved it! The cast performing was really strong. It was so nice to see what everyone else has been up to!

Office Run #2

On Thursday, my cast finished learning our Broadway show. We did 2 runs of the full show on Friday. There will be some very quick costume changes when we put the show on stage, so I’m glad we’re running it a lot now to build up our stamina. I have a lot of notes to review from last week, but I feel good about what we accomplished in under 2 weeks! I’m working with a very talented group, and it will only get better from here.

Friday Night

Saturday, the other tall girl in my group and I were not called to rehearsal. We decided to make the most of our surprise day off, and went out Friday night with another cast to celebrate their upcoming departure. It was great to meet more performers from the company. Most of them are re-hires, and they had a lot of great stories to share, and tons of energy! Saturday I ran errands, did laundry, squeezed in a workout, and had home made chocolate chip cookies ready by the time my cast mates got home.

Chocolate chip cookies

Two members of the cast had birthdays on Saturday, so we all went out to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. We got really silly after dinner, and ended up taking over the restaurant, singing and dancing all around! Some of the waiters even joined in.

Such a fun group!

Sunday I was able to sleep in, went to the pool, and relaxed all afternoon while it poured outside. Hurricane season in Florida is tough to get used to! The weather changes in the blink of an eye. I joined some family friends for dinner, and went to bed early to get ready for rehearsals on Monday. I’m looking forward to another week and a fun new show!

The cast at dinner

A Little Help From My Friends

Posted on June 6, 2013 by CaseyT

Although I’m thrilled with my cast and am enjoying getting to know them, I’ve started feeling a little homesick. I miss my friends and my “normal” life. Don’t get too concerned, I think exhaustion has just made me emotional. Luckily, my friends in SF loaded me up with lots of little goodies that make me smile when I’m feeling blue.

Emergency kit and sunscreen

At my going away party, I was given a few items that I would not have thought to buy myself, but that I really appreciate having. The masterminds behind the party gave me a big bottle of sunscreen, to protect my oh-so delicate skin. I’ve been applying some everyday before walking to the studio, and while I’ve still gotten a bit of color, this lovely banana scented bottle is the thing saving me from becoming a lobster. Best of all, it makes me think of the awesome girls that gave it to me.

One of my other girls gave me a cute little baggy full of bandaids, motion sickness medicine, mints, and various other emergency items. The bag is adorable, and all of the items were really thoughtful. I’ve already gone through a pack of mints!

Lovely reminders

Another very close friend came to town to help me pack up my apartment. She knew my bags were full, so she sent me the above photo with some sweet little reminders, rather than actual objects. It came on a day that I was feeling pretty overwhelmed, and succeeded in restoring my hope and happiness.

“The Ferngully Tree”

Each evening when I walk home from the rehearsal studios, I smile as I walk past what I’ve dubbed “The Ferngully Tree”. This bizarre, twisted tree reminds me of my sisters, and watching Ferngully with them when we were young. I can’t wait for them to come visit in a few weeks!

My little room

My little bedroom is far from “homey”, so it’s been nice having these reminders of my support system. While I’m still suffering from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), I know these friends and family members will be available to encourage me while I’m away, and will be around when I return in 8 months.

To my friends and family, thank you and I love you!

Getting in the Groove

Posted on June 3, 2013 by CaseyT

Week #1 was pretty intense! In addition to 6 days of rehearsals, I had orientation, new hire training, and a rather invasive medical exam.

At the studio, things move quickly. We learn one or two pieces each day, and must be ready to run any number at any time. We’re already 3/4 of the way through the Broadway show! To keep the details straight, I’ve taken the advice of my old ballet mistress and have written everything down. When we take 5, I write out my spacing, then at night, after the information has had a chance to “marinate”, I write out the choreography one 8-count at a time. It’s a time consuming process, but it has been effective!

My cast, ready to rehearse

The style of movement is very different from what I’ve been doing the past few years. I haven’t shimmied so much (not intentionally at least) since jazz competitions in high school. I feel like my cast, composed almost entirely of re-hires, has a better grasp on the style than I do. Thus, my main focus this week will be to work on how I’m doing each piece, rather than just what I’m doing. It will be a challenge, but it will be fun. I love all the music we’re dancing to, so even when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I can’t help but smile.

This week I’ll also be working on my monologue for the Chicago section. I have to speak in Cell Block Tango! I’ve never spoken in a performance before, so I’m a bit nervous! More than anything, though, I’m excited. I’ve always wanted to be one of the Merry Murderesses. My coaching last week was to think “Stepford wife” or “Joan from Mad Men”. I laughed, since I’ve actually been both of those for Halloween in recent years. Apparently, I am this murderess. Watch out, boys…

Time for a treat

Sunday was my first day off since arriving in Florida, so I decided to treat myself! I grabbed bagels with a cast mate, splurged on a pedicure, baked cookies, and enjoyed a movie night with the gang. Silver Linings Playbook was as good as I’d hoped, though it was nothing like the book! It was a great way to wrap up the first week on the job, and get ready for more madness Monday morning.

When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens

Posted on May 29, 2013 by CaseyT

Saturday night I left San Francisco, my home for nearly 4 years, to fly to Florida for rehearsals. The last week in SF was bittersweet. I had tons of fun, spending as much time as possible with friends, but also had a lot of work to do!

Luggage for the cruise

Packing my life into a storage unit was difficult! It was also really hard to decide what I will need in the next 8 months. I only can have 2 suitcases with me, so I had to leave many things behind. All of my other things are strategically arranged in a 7″x10″ unit in San Francisco. My movers arrived early Thursday morning, so I hadn’t actually finished packing yet! They worked at lightning speed, so I left some nick nacks to deal with later. They had everything else moved out and into the unit in just 2 hours! The following day I finished boxing things up, rented a ZipVan for 3 hours, and with the help of some amazing friends, finished moving into the unit just in time.

Storage unit

I wanted to see as many people as possible, so in addition to a going away party planned by 2 of my girls, I had an endless stream of coffee dates, out of town visitors, and my weekly kickball mess. It was a lot of fun, but there were still many people I wanted to see and spend more time with. I’ve never been good with goodbyes, so leaving is always a challenge!

Socializing in SF… Sangria!

My new “crew” has helped ease the transition! I’m living in a 3 bedroom apartment with 5 other girls! There are 7 girls and 6 boys in my cast, and we are already living in pretty close quarters. The other dancers/singers have come from all over the world… Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Canada. I am one of 2 new hires, so I feel lucky to be part of such an experienced group! The returning dancers have helped show me the ropes, put up with my never ending stream of questions, and have calmed me down when I start feeling stressed out. They are wonderful! I’m looking forward to getting to know them better over the next few months.

Florida

I was a little concerned about rehearsals, since I haven’t danced full time since Nutcracker season. So far, they have been challenging but fun! Choreography is taught quickly and efficiently. Monday started with orientation, so we just danced in the afternoon. In that time, we learned the Welcome number and a Farewell piece. Tuesday was also a shorter day than usual, but we knocked out the opening of the Broadway show, as well as a part of the West Side Story bit. It’s been awhile since I’ve done much jazz dance, so it’s taking me a minute to get back into “sassy” mode. I’m loving it though!

While this has been a week of changes, I’m feeling good. I can’t wait to see what the next week will bring!

waltzing on water

Author Archives: CaseyT