You have probably been wondering where I am. I mean – I know you know I am in Europe cruising around and all. I have just been really bad at blogging. I really wanted this to be a travel blog but between work and traveling and the super slow and expensive internet on the ship I have not really been able to blog too much. So here are some highlights:
Malta is awesome. I love it. It looks like biblical figures should be walking around but they would end up walking into a Diesel store. Rome is pretty cool and Josh and I and his parents (who were coincidentally vacationing in Italy while he was cruising with me) went to Pompeii for the day. Pretty awesome!
One more Med cruise then on our way to the Baltic!
Don’t give up on me…but you will probably follow me better on facebook!
Safety is always being talked about when you live and work on a ship. Drills, meetings, tests. It’s half annoying and half comforting. I’m sure you read my other posts about such things. Here’s a story for you!
Picture it. The Magic, 2010. It was the second week on the ship and a few of us were “enjoying” lunch in the mess when my friend Mo swallowed a piece of lamb stew and it got stuck. He couldn’t breathe. Zack said “does anyone know the Heimlich?” and it turns out I do. So I got up and got that sucker out of his wind pipe. It was surreal. I was shocked at how calm I was. I am just glad that he’s okay. Weeks went by and I had to go and take one of our safety tests. Coincidentally, I was dressed up because we were “earning our ears” that day. I went to go and take the test and I was escorted to the bridge by my awesome manager, Rachael. We oddly went to the bridge instead of the conference room – which I thought was weird but whatever. Then I was met by Captain John, Jim the Safety Officer, Max the Character Manager and Mickey dressed in his Captains outfit. I received a certificate, a pin and a photo with all of them thanking me for my quick thinking. It was a true surprise and an honor! I still had to take that safety test though.
We are finally open! Villains is open and I think it is going really well. We are gearing up for the crossing to the Med in one week from today. After 3 weeks of teching it was a joy to finally perform the show for an audience…I think that they liked it too!
I know I have been laxed in writing to you, dear reader…but I’ve been busy…busier than I have ever been in my life and that’s saying a lot since on top of auditioning in New York – I also worked 3 jobs…so, you know. I promise that once I’m in the Med I will write more good time stuff.
For fun – here’s a picture from some of the shows:
We have been pretty lucky on the Magic thus far. Our first week was pretty rough but has been smooth up until this past Thursday. A fierce head wind made our ship like a roller coaster ride! My room is a the front of the ship so I hear when the waves crash against it and I feel when we go up and down. It’s fun most of the time and I hardly notice it anymore…except this past Thursday when it didn’t stop and was tossing us up and down. I had to do three shows that day and up until call for the first one I felt like I was going to puke – but didn’t thanks to the wrist bands that I bought that apply pressure that equalize your equilibrium or something. They closed the pools and closed deck four which is closer to water level. Then I hear that a smaller ship in Barcelona got attacked by a wave and it killed two people and injured 19 or something. Not to worry anyone – but I think that’s why they closed deck four. If it’s one thing I have learned whilst on this ship it is that safety is first. And they don’t mess around on the Magic. Lots of drills and safety precautions are constantly being taken. I even had a drill where I went down in the life boat that I am the assembly leader for and we drove around in it. They constantly are doing drills with us. So on top of rehearsing and opening shows we are learning the ways of sea life.
Luckily the seas calmed down by showtime. It was still a little rough and waltzing was a problem for me during both shows that night. At least we were able to have all the effects and didn’t have to cut anything!
I was able to enjoy St. Martin for a bit this week. It was beautiful but I forgot my camera!! Blargh. Becca Schwartz – help a brotha’ out and send me some pics you took!
I don’t have any new photos but thought I would at least leave you with something!!
We start Villains tech tomorrow and Josh sets sail with us in one week! I can’t wait to share this with him.
Opening week is now over! I am sitting in Barnes and Noble in Port Canaveral, Florida enjoying free internet and strong coffee. This was our opening week and we did our first solo safety drill for the guests, opened the “Welcome Aboard Variety Show”, “Twice Charmed”, “Tea with Alic and the Mad Hatter”, “Once Upon A Song”, “Pirate Deck Party”, “Disney Dreams”, “Farewell Variety Show”, “Till We Meet Again”, worked character greetings and did wet drill (in which I got hypothermia…yay) – all the while rehearsing during the day. So shows open – time to rest and relax – right? No way! This week we are teching one of our new shows “Walt Disney: The Dream Goes On” while doing all those shows and then next week we begin our three week tech of “Villains Tonight”. It’s busy and yet not all at the same time!
I got to go to Walmart today. I usually would choose not to shop there (prices are good but I don’t agree with their business practices) but I needed stuff and it really is one of our only options. My room will now have purified air! HOORAY! I still need some things for my walls – I will post some pictures after I get that taken care of.
Josh sails in 2 weeks! I can’t wait to show him where I have been living and even more excited for him to see the shows! I wont get to see him a lot but it will great to know that when I do have free time he will be there!
Reader: It’s my third week on the ship and my first time off and it’s our opening week. I told you we would be busy! In Key West right now and tomorrow we are opening two different shows that I’m in. It makes me a little nervous in the servous! We opened our first show on Saturday and it was A LOT OF FUN!!! We finally got to do one of our shows in the theatre for people that are actual guests.
I know this is supposed to be a travel blog and I haven’t really done a lot of traveling yet. We go to places – I just wont get to see them for a bit still.
However – I did get to do one of my favorite things and that was go to Disney World with Josh when we were in Orland for training! It was super fun as always. Justin and Mo and Prescott went around with us a bit and that was really fun (see photo).
Prescott, Mo, Justin and me having fun in front of Mr. Potato Head
A bunch of went to Hoop-De-Doo Revue and I think had the most fun I have ever had ever! I’m not even kidding. It was amazing!
Then it was on to crossover (which means the cast before us was still performing while we rehearsed and trained). It was crazy. A few high lights were:
The ship getting stuck in Castaway Cay (pronounced “Key” which is our Private Island) and it threw everyone’s schedule off. Hooray. The second strange thing was Mo choking on a piece of lamb stew in the crew mess and me giving him the Heimlich. I’m glad he’s okay. We opened show #1 last night, I open show #2 (my Mad Hatter premiere!!) and #3 (my Wicked Fairy Godfather – Franco) tomorrow and it keeps going from there. I wish this blog was more entertaining but I’m pooped! I know I say that often but it’s true! Broken record = Ryan Dietz. That’s true.
I hope you are fantastic, dear reader! I miss you.
PS – Welcome to the world Owen Picar!!! I can’t wait to meet you in November!
My time in T-dot (Toronto) is coming to a close. As I’m busily packing for the next chapter of this adventure I find myself reflecting on the weekend I just had.
Saturday night was a cast outing to see the Canadian Stage Company’s production of The Light in the Piazza. It’s a beautiful show. This small chamber version was well acted and sung and proved that if the material is strong enough you don’t need a lot of glitz and glamor. The set was very basic and the 5 piece orchestra was visible behind the upstage scrim.
After the performance we returned home. Prescott, Eric, Mo, Charissa, Katie and I geeked out and watched the PBS broadcast of the Lincoln Center production of The Light inthe Piazza. That’s right my friend, we watched the same show two times in one evening. That production was gorgeous with stunning performances. I couldn’t help but get swept up in it even though I had just seen it hours before. Plus we ate chocolate chip cookies.
Well – it’s back to packing. I have a 5:30am call time. Pray my bags are not overweight.
I am not sure when I will be able to report next but please stay tuned!
With the everyday stress of rehearsals and runs and executives and daily drama I have been plagued by several strange dreams over the last week. For some reason I remember them. In no particular order:
Scott Baio and I were doing a show together. I think it was on Broadway. I just hope my Broadway debut wont be in “Charles in Charge: The Musical”.
Saving Becca Schwartz from a predator in the woods. I didn’t look like me. More like an old homeless man so I had to earn her trust. We made a trip wire out of twine and ran through a field.
One of my choreographers, Karma, was in one dream. I don’t remember what happened but it was show bizzy and fabulous.
A Priest took me and 3 other teenagers (I was a teenager in this dream) into the woods for a retreat. The next thing you know we are dressed in leather, he had 2 of us tied up and one boy and one girl in stocks. He then chopped their heads off. It wasn’t a kinky dream – more of a wake up screaming not wanting to shut your eyes to go back to sleep kind of a dream.
Taking a bath and some creepy killer walks into the bedroom. I woke up from that one too.
So reader – if you have any ideas what any of these dreams mean – particularly the Scott Baio dream please let me know. Jeff Bowen said that Mr. Baio is replacing someone in my cast. However – I can’t picture Scott playing Peter Pan. I don’t mean to question his range as an actor…it just doesn’t seem like a wise casting move.
This will be quick since I have to leave for rehearsal in a few minutes. We start learning the farewell show today. That is that last show we are learning. Show #9 for me! It’s been a roller coaster ride and will continue to be I think. As hard as it is to be away from friends and family and all I do love it. We leave for Florida on February 3rd and board the ship on the 6th! The Toronto portion will be finished soon.
So if you think I am not writing as much as you would like just wait until I get on the ship. We will be rehearsing during the day the first two weeks while the current cast is still performing at night. When I say day I mean 7am. OWW! Needless to say I might not update this bloggedy blog for about a month. But I promise to keep you informed of all that happens. I wonder if I’ll cry at some point? Place your bets folks! Whoever guesses how many times I cry correctly will win a prize!
Look out for a post about my trip to Niagra Falls!!
