NYC Adventures (2010 Day 2)

We opened our eyes at the lovely Hampton Inn (on our 10th Wedding Anniversary) and made our way down to the complimentary breakfast. For the first time that I can recall, Jackie actually made it out of the room for breakfast (normally I'd bring her something back to eat on her own in the room). We then marched ourselves down to Rockefeller Center to do The Top of the Roc.
Having been to the Empire State Building 3 times, I can tell you that I'm no longer taking groups there- being in one of the first groups on top of 30 Roc is SO MUCH BETTER! You get great shots of Central Park, Empire State, Chrysler Building, New Jersey... and you get the world's coolest elevator ride up to the top. Our group loved it and it was worth it.

From the top of Rockefeller Center we directed students where to go for their Wednesday matinee tix. Jackie took a group to Lincoln Center to get student rush for South Pacific (success), I took students to get rush tix for Fences with Denzel Washington (no-go, but we did get valuable information about how to get them on Sat.), a fellow RHS faculty member and her husband to Million Dollar Quartet lottery (success- and the two kids that wanted Fences also made the lottery) and I settled in for the long TKTS line. My parents and the Coxes were on the other side of the line- and they ended up being ahead of us. So Brent got 4 tix to A Little Night Music with Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta Jones (Row B!) and my parents got great seats for South Pacific. Jackie was waiting for me (in the rain) at one of our favorite lunch spots, Nougatine at the Trump Building, but since I was taking forever, she came down and met me at TKTS. We quickly grabbed lunch at another great place, Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center. We ate our goodies in shelter from the rain next to the A Little Night Music theatre in the hotel breezeway of the hotel we stayed at with our 2002 group. Altogether, our group saw the following shows for their matinees: Wicked, Million Dollar Quartet, In the Heights, South Pacific, and A Little Night Music.

A Little NM was great- we were all the way to the left, but I could rest my arms on the stage if I cared to. There was a man sitting next to Jackie that looked like he wanted to join in on our conversations (I wasn't noticing it but it was cracking Brent and Amanda Cox up- they were sitting right behind us) and we got a special sneak peak of Catherine Z Jones when she flashes open her robe to her suitor- and since we were on the extreme edge of the audience, we could see her plastic/body stocking upper body.



We were really impressed with the simplicity of the set and the amazing singers in the cast. It was great (even if Catherine did strange choices in Send in the Clowns- we figured she was being so specific that she was directed that way).

After that, we ran in a downpour to the subway and went to one of the oldest steakhouses in NYC, Keens Chop House. They had all of these crazy smoking pipes on the ceiling and an actress got arrested in the early 1900's for refusing to leave (they didn't serve women then). She won her case. Jackie had crab cakes and lobster bisque and I had steak hash (which was so much I couldn't finish).

We then ran to the hotel to meet everyone for The Addams Family- which I led everyone to in a downpour. When I got to the theatre, I was literally wringing the water out of my clothes.

Now I'm conflicted with The Addams Family- I think the cast did the best they could with some weak material. Nathan Lane was fantastic (as was most of the cast- esp. Kevin Chamberlain as Fester and Jackie Hoffman as Grandma), the set was amazing (including all of the puppetry) and I think most everyone had a lot of fun with it- but I wanted more. I love Andrew Lippa (the composer) and except for the opening number and a fun duet between Wednesday and her fiance, I thought the music was pretty weak (but the orchestra sounded great). However, my group loved it and we got to have a great talkback after the show with some of the leads which was a lot of fun.


After the show, we went up to another of our favorite places Eatery for dessert- Jackie got a killer ice cream sandwich and I had red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. Happy 10th Anniversary! Nothing like spending it with 71 other people (and a hotel room with your parents!)

NYC Adventures (2010 Day 1)

Aah, the pleasures of a red-eye flight. Arriving at 9:30pm- checking everyone in (well, I socialized, Jackie did the checking), having 3 students get detained at security because they were over 18 and didn't have a government issued ID- just a student id- having a guard call homeland security on them- taking forever- then finally letting them through- calling parents to send a birth certificate so we don't have the problem coming back- ahh, fun times.

Even with Jet Blue's lovely leg room and TV, it's still a red-eye. I tried to be prepared and took a melatonin before boarding- and I even bought Jackie and myself inflatable neck pillows with fleece covers. I over inflated "the bladder" (as it says on the package) of the pillow which wouldn't let my head go one way or the other- it looked like I was in a neck brace. I released some of the air- only to find it uncomfortable. Jackie was on the other side of the aisle nestled against a window seat by the Coxes- I was next to my parents- my mom sleeping somewhat soundly after taking a combination of 42 pills while my dad stayed awake watching a shark movie on the USA network. Oh- Jet Blue also passed out free Hanes T-shirts as we boarded. I tried to use it as a pillow but it was still uncomfortable. But, no matter- our group of 70 (2 people already had flown in from Arizona and were doing laundry because a can of hairspray had exploded inside their suitcase) was ready to go.

We were stirred around 1:00am by an announcement from the pilot asking if there was a doctor on board. I prodded my dad but I don't think they were looking for a doctor of mechanical engineering. The person turned out to be ok, but the pilot put his foot on the gas because we arrived at JFK 20 minutes early (around 5:40am).

Looking and smelling like zombies, we collected our luggage (nothing lost) and loaded our three buses to the city. I don't remember our drivers name, but he was great- he pointed out lots of stuff to our group and got us to our hotel pretty quick (even taking some detours to show my students some other stuff). The other half of our group had a first time driver that got lost and wasn't sure where he was going.

The Hampton Inn was a little overwhelmed by our groups arrival (they had 1 poor porter taking in all of our luggage- students and Mr. Cox helped) but they welcomed our group and told them to come in and eat breakfast. My mom was so delirious that she tripped and fell in front of the hotel- and asked if she could check-in then (at 8:00am no rooms were ready).

After our group ate, we were off on the subway to Brooklyn. I was a little nervous about it because I have never been to Brooklyn- let alone leading a group of 72. The subway was right across from our hotel and it was hilarious waiting for the entire group to get through the turnstiles before we all entered the train.

We got to Brooklyn and, on a clear, sunny and warm June day walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. The group had a great time and when we reached the other side- even though we were going on no sleep, we were off to St. Paul's by Ground Zero. St. Paul's wasn't open until 10:00am so I took a few students to Ground Zero- but our group got separated and divided (Jackie was at the back and I was at the front) and it took MUCH longer to get to the viewing windows of Ground Zero (and when we got there, my entire group had to pee- led of course by my mother...) but we made it back to St. Paul's and then it was off to Grand Central.

We were going to attempt a little tour of Grand Central but, because of sleep deprivation, everyone was a little loopy so we all ended up eating and relaxing at the Food Court underneath Grand Central- while Jackie took me, my parents and the Coxes on a little guided tour.

We then (after almost leaving my parents behind because of dawdling) were off to the NYC Public Library- which, while being open, is having it's front facade redone so the awesomeness of the building was dampened a bit- but students loved going inside and looking at everything Jackie recommended- everyone that is except my parents who were going to go try to see if our room was ready (it wasn't).

After that, it was off to Times Square- but we were sidetracked by the arrival of The Naked Cowboy which caused our group to be split up all over the place. We met up at the Times Square Visitors Center where I briefly became the tour guide to people not in our group because they were overhearing my advice to my students about how to get cheap tickets the next day. My favorite was the cute Indian couple asking me if i recommended La Cage or Fela! like I worked there. We then took students to show them how TKTS works- and again, I became a tour guide to other people listening to my explanation.

After that it was check-in- for some people (almost everyone except Jackie, me and my parents). After getting everyone situated (and Jackie only becoming delirious briefly), it was into our room for a nap.

After the nap, we met everyone for Next to Normal- which most of our group loved (we had one student weeping so loudly at the end of the show the mom next to him was worried about him). I still think the show is amazing and I was happy to see Alice Ripley before she left.

After the show, kids got autographs and then it was time for John's Pizzeria (famous from our 2008 trip where Jackie and I took half our pizza into Spring Awakening and where my tech boys saw the Jonas Brothers eating lunch) right across the street from the theatre. Our group had unlimited calzones, salad, soda and wood-fired pizza. I collected the $$ as students came in- and after everyone left, me, Jackie and my parents looked like mafia counting out all of the money for the restaurant. After that, we walked up to the hotel and quickly went straight to bed for fun the next day.

2010 Trip Show Previews

Our first show will be Next To Normal which just won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Jackie and I saw it in 2009 and LOVED it. Here's a preview:



After that, on Wednesday night we are seeing the great Nathan Lane in The Addams Family:



On Thursday we see the musical Memphis which is nominated for Best Musical:


and on Friday we see Kristen Chenoweth and Sean Hayes in Promises Promises:


Saturday we see Lend me a Tenor (which I've loved ever since I directed it at my high school):



and finally, Billy Elliot which won Best Musical last year.



Come with us in 2012! We'll have a great time (or we may be going to London...)

2004 New York Trip

Since we had so much fun in 2002 (and we didn't lose anyone), we decided to go again in 2004. Our group doubled in size since everyone heard how much fun we had in 2002- so we had about 40 people. We also had entire families come (including one family of 4- the father not only had never been to NYC, but he also couldn't remember if he had ever seen a PLAY before in his life- he thought that he had...) we also had the fun additions of Bradley and Shawnda Moss + my cousin Austin Cope (who had the pleasure of going to Pomme Frites with us and Jared Stromberg and eating amazing french fries).
Our first show was the high energy Hairspray which was hilarious. Michael McKean (from Laverne and Shirley + Christopher Guest films) was Edna. The group loved it.

The next show was Assassins at Studio 54- this is the first and last show I ever paid full price for. It was nominated for Best Revival (and won) and it had Neil Patrick Harris, Denis O'Hare, Michael Cerveris and lots of fantastic actors. It was amazing (but I still don't know if it was worth $210 for both Jackie and myself...)

Our group split up that night and Jackie went to see Thoroughly Modern Millie and I went to The Lion King. The Lion King was in Disney's amazing theatre that used to be Ziegfeld's back in the 20's. It was visually impressive.
After that was our play Sly Fox with Richard Dreyfus, but the most memorable part was going to take students to the Empire State Building--- only to have the Olympic Torch arrive in Times Square from Greece. The crowds were a big as New Years Eve and we were literally holding students shoulders to keep them from getting separated. Bradley and Shawnda reached the Empire State Building only to be turned away because it had reached capacity.
After that it was Billy Joel's Movin' Out- most memorable was afterwards waiting for dancers to get their autographs only to have Hugh Jackman come out from the theatre next door and sign some students programs (he was starring in The Boy From Oz).

We then went to Forbidden Broadway- which I was worried about because it was in a small Off-Broadway theatre- and everyone had a great time (I still remember Austin Cope's face when the cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show came out...)
Last, but not least, we got to see Wicked with the original Broadway cast 2 days after Idina won Best Actress for the show. Unfortunately, she was out filming a movie- BUT we still had everyone else (and Eden Espinoza was fantastic). The best part was Norbert Leo Butz (playing Fyero) slipped and fell on his butt causing Kristen Chenoweth to break character, laugh and leave the stage. Very funny. She was really nice to students afterwards and took pictures with everyone. It was a fantastic trip!

2002 New York

We leave for NYC with our group of 72 (don't you wish you were going with?) in 4 days. I also should be currently cleaning my drama room for end of year check-out, but I don't want to. However, I was dusting some posters up in our room from past NYC trips and it provoked memories.
1st Broadway show EVER in New York City:
Oklahoma! Some people may poo-poo this show, but our entire group (we had 20 including me and Jackie) fell in love with this version that came in from London. It was beautiful- and it was great that the dream ballet was danced by the actual leads. We had front and center seats in Gershwin theatre (which is where Wicked is currently playing) and we all loved it. This same version was released on DVD with Hugh Jackman playing the lead. It's not as good as it was live, but it's pretty much the same show we saw. It also makes me laugh whenever parents come up and say, "why don't you do something high school appropriate like Oklahoma!?- because Oklahoma has an attempted rape, murder, and drug induced dancing.

On our trip we also saw The Producers- which, while being very funny, was most memorable for the steep stairs in the balcony causing a gentleman to fall into my lap before the show began and for our opera student tour guide- while being very nice (and trying to figure out what Mormons from Utah were doing in NYC), had the LOUDEST laugh I ever heard in my life. He was getting more laughs than the actors were on stage.

We then saw what turned out to be everyone's favorite show of the trip Metamorphoses. This play has a huge pool of water as the set, and I had heard there was some brief, partial nudity. Well that brief partial nudity turned into full frontal male nudity (although, since he a Cupid, he was wearing wings...) and he walked very slowly right to our section of the theatre. As I had visions of my teaching career going down the toilet, one of the parental chaperones on the trip turned to me and said, "that's one naked gentleman"- and I knew I was safe. The show was FANTASTIC and everyone's favorite (right Arianne?)
We then saw Chicago for 1/2 price (I liked it, but my favorite was a junior male student of mine was in the front row- right in front of all of the ladies doing their Fosse splits right in front of his face...), and we saw Urinetown with the original Broadway cast- and it was hilarious!

Our last show was Noises Off with Patti LuPone- which had our entire group laughing until we were weeping- except for Jackie. It's becoming a running joke that every NYC trip I take everyone to a comedy that everyone loves... except Jackie.
We also got to see Vanessa Williams as the Witch in Into the Woods- however, the guy that stole the show was the actor that played Milky White the cow- he was out there dancing away on his little cow legs- and that same actor is nominated for a Tony this year as the lead in Memphis.
Since this was our first trip there, it was memorable for:
The viewing platform of the World Trade Towers- which were still smoking and you had to stand in line to pay tribute.
The backstage Times Square tour- we got to go into a few theatres and get some history on them. This tour is no longer offered so it was pretty cool.
Eating way to much food at Carmine's Italian restaurant (and Jerry Hunt getting sick).
Our group tour of the Met Museum- with focus on the phallic fertility canoes on special display.
Did I forget anything Jackie?

10 Years of Teaching

So at the end of the 2009-2010 school year (1 and half weeks to go!) I will have taught high school Theatre, Film Studies and Stage Crew for 10 years. Here are some things I've learned:

1- For every awesome bus driver (and they are out there) there are many crazy ones:

a. The bus driver that ran into a lamp post at Olympus High causing it to crash down on the roof of the bus. I remember students grabbing stuff covered with broken glass on it.

b. Our naked bus driver Clay at Shakespeare Competition. Enough said.

c. Our bus driver that tried to take the bus through the Carl's Jr. drive through. It didn't work.

d. Our bus driver that stood up and covered a students mouth while he was talking "too loudly".

2- Student teachers (for the most part) are fun:

a. Celeste Ballio having a mouse run up her pant leg in the drama office.

b. Celeste telling students about forms and shapes found in film- and talking about breasts.

c. Glen and his Shakespeare birthday party

d. Celeste and Glen going up to Pioneer Theatre Company- and a student barfing all over the bus (at least it wasn't Jackie- she's vomited on many bus rides).

3- Trips

a. driving the Uhaul to Dixie State in January with The Crucible set in the back.

b. Sending a student home from UTA on the Greyhound bus for breaking curfew.

c. a food fight at Golden Corral

d. Students getting ticketed for turn style jumping in a NYC subway

e. Student getting almost arrested for shoplifting in NYC- only to be saved by a cashier that recognized him by his orange shirt.

f. Students almost getting into a Hummer limo in Times Square- and then thinking probably not.

g. Having a travel agency go bankrupt 2 days before your trip to NYC- leaving you 48 hours to put a trip together.

4- School stuff

a. Accidentally erasing the district substitute line with the message: This is Clin Eaton from Riverton High and I don't think I'm doing this right...

b. Using the bathroom in the Men's Dressing room (and locking the door) only to have the door opened on you by a Vice Principal bringing a local pastor around to show him the facilities.

c. Having a student take off their pants in the middle of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window in film Studies.

and many many more...

Shows I've Directed

ST- Shakespeare Team

MD- Music Director/Accompanist

1999-2000

All's Well That Ends Well (ST)

Guys and Dolls (MD)

2000-2001

Fiddler on the Roof (MD)

The Curious Savage

Quilters

2001-2002

Once Upon a Mattress

The Diviners

2002-2003

Titus Andronicus (ST)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (MD)

Lend Me A Tenor

2003-2004

How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

Working

2004-2005

King Lear (ST)

Me and My Girl (MD)

10 Little Indians

Once on This Island

2005-2006

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Soap Opera

Secrets Every Smart Traveller Should Know

2006-2007

12th Night (ST)

Seussical (MD)

Cash on Delivery
The Secret Garden

2007-2008

Anything Goes

The Arabian Nights

Disney Review

2008-2009

The Taming of the Shrew (ST)

No No Nanette (MD)

Rumors

Back to the 80's

2009-2010

Les Miserables

The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza

Lucky Stiff

Funny Video

I know these (there are 3 of them from 2nd City Comedy Group) have been making the rounds online, but I think this one is the funniest- even if you're not into theatre- try it.