Haiku #123 - Macon, GA

Cherie and Kurt photograph our dessert.


what could be better 
before a performance than
hot bacon dressing?


After a failed attempt at eating well yesterday, Kurt, Cherie and I had dinner between understudy rehearsal and tonight's show at Michael's on Mulberry, about a block from the theater.  It was all photogenic, and as delicious as it looked.  We shared Creole nachos, crab cakes, pecan-crusted chicken, a bunch of sides, and pecan and key lime pie for dessert.  The South continues its quest to make me fat... Yummmmm...


On to Huntsville, AL tomorrow for a 5-show weekend.  

Haiku #119 - Usnavi Cake

Usanvi cake with one of our lovely hosts
Lexington Opera House
Look, it's Usnavi
standing on a city cake.
He found his island.


The woman who makes the cakes for the shows that come through Lexington makes each one specially-themed to suit the show - hence Usnavi standing on top of a cityscape for our show.  


Would like to write more about the lovely time we had in Lexington and the yummy meal they served us between shows, but I'm exhausted and we have an early bus call tomorrow.  Hope to see you again soon, Lexington!

Haiku #118 - Lexington, KY

surrounded by blue
an ocean of avid fans
dressed for college hoops

This was the scene in the hotel lobby this morning - fans of University of Kentucky, who were playing University of Alabama at the nearby Rupp Arena.  The director of the Lexington Opera House announced the Wildcats' win in her curtain speech for the benefit of those who had made the dubious decision to come see a show instead of going to the game.  

Haiku #116 - Scramble and Other Addictive Apps

Cherie and Uke-snavi, right, and Kurt, left, probably playing Scramble
Bryan carefully navigates the bus down a snowy highway
all day on the bus
worthy Scramble opponents 
help to pass the time


We are Somehwere in Ohio, heading to our overnight stop on the way to the weekend's shows in Lexington, KY.  Snowing all day.  Our bus driver, Bryan, is getting us to our destination steadily, if a little slower than planned.  This long ride is helping me solidify my new addiction to Scramble on my phone.  I've been playing all day with my usual suspects, Kurt and Cherie (with occasional breaks for cribbage), and Perry and Greer have also challenged me to a game.  Time to get some actual work done for the rest of the trip...

Haiku #115 - Corning, NY

Cherie & Alex after our impromptu music store jam
what is that I hear?
the ominous rattle of
an awkward giraffe?


Two shows in Elmira, NY, and in between we have had today free in nearby Corning. This town is so cute - it reminds me of my hometown with its main drag of brick buildings that house small businesses.  While apparently Corning is famous for blown glass and - duh - Corningware, my pals and I had a non-touristy but very restful day of Indian food, an impromptu jam in the local music store (pictured), and getting out nails done.  We found a giraffe shaker in the music store and bought it for Kurt.  The awkward giraffe is an inside joke - thanks for indulging my haiku.  Also bought a regular egg shaker, so now we have two percussion instruments to accompany Cherie's ukelele "Uke-snavi" (named after Usnavi, the lead character in In the Heights).  


One more show in Elmira tonight, then on to Lexington KY for the weekend!

Haiku #113 - Hasta la Vista, Chicago...

State Street - my favorite place to cross the river
Downtown Chicago -
I'd never tire of this view...
Farewell til next time!

5:30 this morning saw me competing with my tourmates for elevator space to get luggage down to the bus, and now we are well on our way to Erie, PA. (And the wifi on the bus is working! It's the little things.)  This week we'll also be bringing Washington Heights to Elmira, NY and Lexington, KY.  I'll be seeing a lot of America the next few days!

I think it's safe to say we all had a great time in Chicago - I know I did.  Hope to be back again before too long!

Haiku #111, 112 - Lowdown Brass Band

Andrew (right in front of the sousa bell) and the LDB
the Lowdown Brass Band
happy former band nerd (me)
you should have been there


Our trombonist, Andrew, is from Chicago, and he actually had a couple gigs this week after our show.  Last night, a bunch of us went to Martyrs hear him play with his New Orleans second line band.  It. Was. Awesome.  If you like second line music, or loud brassy music in general, you should get their CD.  Or hear them live, if you're near Chicago. 


will have been worth it
if you go deaf hearing a
good second line band

Haiku #110 - Conducting

the ones at the helm
don't fall asleep at the wheel
the show must go on


Today's matinee was the first time I've conducted since our break.  Last night I had a craaaazy dream about the show: we had technical difficulties at a performance, and the entire cast and crew got in a 15-passenger van (there are about 40 of us), and our director fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a concrete barrier and a guardrail.  Anxious much?  I was a little nervous at the show, but overall it went well for the first time conducting in a few weeks.  Whew!  Back to my regular chair at the second keyboard tonight.  Three more shows in Chicago - I like it here and I'll be sorry to leave!

Haiku #108 - Green Mill

Al sitting in at Green Mill, impressing the hell out of everyone 
a badass bassist
cleverly disguised as a
sweet Jewish princess


Apologies for the delay, folks, but I was out with this one and several others from our show, and I was too sleepy by the time we got back to the hotel to string 17 syllables together.  Our trombone player, Andrew, is a regular player with the Thursday night swing band at Green Mill when he's not out on tour, and he invited us to check it out.  Alex and Giancarlo both sat in with the band, and Kurt and Giancarlo danced with Chloe and Cherie and me. Kurt taught me a move called the slingshot, which we later practiced verrrrry slowly while we waited for the train (prudence of practicing swing dancing on a snowy train platform late at night after even just one drink: questionable).


3 more days and 5 more shows in Chicago!

Haiku #106 - Chicago (3)



John Hancock Center, among other buildings
I spotted on my power walk this morning...
Chicago's full of
corn-fed Midwestern towers
tall and strong and proud


I've only been to Chicago once before (aside from the numerous times I've flown through/been stuck at the airport), and I love the architecture.  Chicago, as it is wont to do, kept me an extra day due to weather.  I spent part of my extra day in the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock Tower, sipping a cocktail and watching some technicolor storm clouds.


We open tonight at the Oriental Theater - gonna finish my supper and head back over there!