Not quite half way through this tour... I've discovered that there is absolutely no way to keep a show fresh for this long. I've hit a low this week, I've given up fighting the auto-pilot. The audiences have been harder this week too, which makes auto-pilot that much more alluring. We've been in the suburbs this week, and its been very frustrating. The teachers can be so slow! I try very hard to speak to them clearly and concisely, but something as simple as asking, "Where can I park the Jeep?" is met with confusion. So frustrating.
The kids are so different from school to school. Yesterday we had one school that was largely special needs kids. I think 3 out of the 8 classes were special ed, which seems like a lot to me. But they were some of the best kids. They get really involved in the show, and I think they have a lot of fun with it.
After this morning's performance, the music teacher came to talk to us. She was pushing around a cart with an overhead projector, a small boom box, and several cds. She said that cart plus a small box of percussion instruments was all she had to teach music with. She didn't even have a room, she just pushes her cart to each classroom. I can't imagine not even having an electric keyboard for music class!
20 March 2007
13 March 2007
Back to the daily grind
After a very nice, very long weekend at home, very far from Little Rock, it was back to work. We really couldn't have asked for a nicer school today. This morning we were at a private school with very attentive and precocious kids. This school is the type of place I would want to send my kids (many years from now, when I have them, of course!). All of the 2nd and 3rd graders learn to play the violin. All of them! They then have the option of continuing with either the violin or cello through 8th grade. So many kids have opted to continue that they have moved the class into the gym! Also, all of the grades, starting with pre-k, put on plays. They had really cute pictures from past productions.
Today's performance was a lesson for me. I felt awful this morning, with a headache and stomach ache, and I really learned how to push that aside and focus on the show. I can say this... it is freaking hard to sing opera with a headache!
Today's performance was a lesson for me. I felt awful this morning, with a headache and stomach ache, and I really learned how to push that aside and focus on the show. I can say this... it is freaking hard to sing opera with a headache!
05 March 2007
2 more shows
Today started out in a brand new high school theater. Massive stage, massive house. The audience was about 700 kids, grades 1-3, bussed in from all over the county. The space itself was beautiful, but pretty hard to sing in. The house was so wide, it was hard not to exclude some of the kids. Of course, my favorite part is the Q&A. This morning, out of the 6 kids we called on, only 1 had a real question. A lot of kids just like to tell you their favorite part of the show, which I think is just as good as a question. At least if they had a favorite part, they were paying attention!
After a nice hot shower and a long nap, it was off to the second show of the day. One of our few evening shows took place in a gorgeous art deco theater. The original building was built around 1900, and the current structure is the third or fourth reincarnation. Tonight's show was a ticketed event, which always brings a little more stress. It turned out though, that there were only about 50 people there, but they seemed to like it. To my dismay, not a single question after the show.
A little info on the theater before the story continues... While we were setting up this afternoon, the members of the arts council started telling us stories about the building's history. Like any old theater, this one has its very own ghost. This one is a young girl in a pink dress, who has sometimes been seen in the balcony. To show herself, she turned on the scoop lights by the stage during our load in. And just to make sure we didn't forget her, the rope on our set broke during the show! We've been worried it would break at some point, but tonight it just snapped in two. Some friendly advice for anyone doing a touring show, be prepared for anything! Tomorrow morning we have to head to Wal-Mart to try to find a replacement rope.
After the show, a group from the arts council took us out for dinner, which was super sweet. We got to know a lot more about the town. Its so sad to come to a small, somewhat poor town like this, and to talk to the few people really fighting for the arts. They put on all kinds of performances, from plays to classical guitar, and our performance tonight was one of the biggest audiences they've had. Apparently they make most of their money by renting out the theater to touring country and r&b groups. The members of the council are just fighting hard to bring some culture to their town. Such a different world from places like Washington DC and CCM. I'm not a warm and fuzzy person, but it really is great to know we can help by doing our little show for the kids.
After a nice hot shower and a long nap, it was off to the second show of the day. One of our few evening shows took place in a gorgeous art deco theater. The original building was built around 1900, and the current structure is the third or fourth reincarnation. Tonight's show was a ticketed event, which always brings a little more stress. It turned out though, that there were only about 50 people there, but they seemed to like it. To my dismay, not a single question after the show.
A little info on the theater before the story continues... While we were setting up this afternoon, the members of the arts council started telling us stories about the building's history. Like any old theater, this one has its very own ghost. This one is a young girl in a pink dress, who has sometimes been seen in the balcony. To show herself, she turned on the scoop lights by the stage during our load in. And just to make sure we didn't forget her, the rope on our set broke during the show! We've been worried it would break at some point, but tonight it just snapped in two. Some friendly advice for anyone doing a touring show, be prepared for anything! Tomorrow morning we have to head to Wal-Mart to try to find a replacement rope.
After the show, a group from the arts council took us out for dinner, which was super sweet. We got to know a lot more about the town. Its so sad to come to a small, somewhat poor town like this, and to talk to the few people really fighting for the arts. They put on all kinds of performances, from plays to classical guitar, and our performance tonight was one of the biggest audiences they've had. Apparently they make most of their money by renting out the theater to touring country and r&b groups. The members of the council are just fighting hard to bring some culture to their town. Such a different world from places like Washington DC and CCM. I'm not a warm and fuzzy person, but it really is great to know we can help by doing our little show for the kids.
04 March 2007
Nothing but driving
Not too much going on today. We have a show tomorrow morning, about 3 hours from home base, so today was chock full of interstates. The good news, we're spending 2 nights at the Holiday Inn, much better than previous motels. Our hotel has an indoor pool, so right after dinner we took a trip to the Wal-Mart to pick up bathing suits. The next two days our performances are in a real theater, with kids being bussed in, so I'm sure there will be many more fun stories. For now, off to the pool!
03 March 2007
Sideways stories...
So many stories from the first month of touring. Lets start with the basics. Three singers from all over the US, living together, working together, driving through the A-state together. Sounds like The Real World: Little Rock, right? Our set for this well-known fairy tale turned opera all collapses to fit into a small U-haul trailer, which we then drive throughout the entire state. Our first show was in a town described to me as God's Country. I wasn't quite sure what that meant... until we arrived on Sunday afternoon to a ghost town. Only our hotel and one restaurant was open. The restaurant was littered with comic books with names like The Star and In the Beginning. A quote, "One year later, Douglas dies in a car accident and he hears Jesus say... Well done, thou good and faithful servant... Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." At lunch the next day, the bbq restaurant displayed the Ten Commandments in the window, and handed out menus with a cross and doves printed on them. God's country indeed!
Our very first performance was in a middle school, grades 5-6. Keep in mind; this show is designed for grades K-4. The kids were polite, but very clearly bored. Each performance brings a new challenge. In general, the younger kids are better, although if they are too young, they just get bored. Also, Catholic school kids tend to be bored, although it could be the fact that 2 of the 3 Catholic schools we've visited so far have brought everyone to the performance. Needless to say, 7th and 8th graders are not too interested in an operatic fairy tale! My favorite crowd so far was the K-3 non-profit school, populated almost entirely with voucher kids. As cheesy as it sounds, it really is exciting to bring opera to kids who have never (and may never) been exposed.
In this particular show, we have a special guest performer for each performance, typically the principal or other teacher, although sometimes a student. Teachers are definitely funnier; especially the men since they dress as a cow, and the costume has big pink bows. Working with someone new each time definitely keeps you on your toes. Most of the time, they behave, and go where you put them, moo at the appropriate times, etc., although sometimes they throw you a curve ball. My favorite teacher was the woman who gave herself a constant monologue throughout the scene, and the scariest would have to be the one who decided to start dancing around, totally messing with our choreography. Since I am the one to bring the cow out, the kids are usually roaring over my aria, but I really don't mind. It’s a bitch to sing, and it helps me work on my focus. I remember how much fun I had when teachers acted goofy, and I know they really love it.
After most shows we do a quick Q&A, and here are some of the most memorable questions...
Are those real pockets?
How do you all sing at the same time?
How do you sing so loud?
Are you a boy or a girl? (Keep in mind, I play the mother and the wife)
How do you change clothes so fast?
and my #1 most favorite
I collect snow globes.
Our very first performance was in a middle school, grades 5-6. Keep in mind; this show is designed for grades K-4. The kids were polite, but very clearly bored. Each performance brings a new challenge. In general, the younger kids are better, although if they are too young, they just get bored. Also, Catholic school kids tend to be bored, although it could be the fact that 2 of the 3 Catholic schools we've visited so far have brought everyone to the performance. Needless to say, 7th and 8th graders are not too interested in an operatic fairy tale! My favorite crowd so far was the K-3 non-profit school, populated almost entirely with voucher kids. As cheesy as it sounds, it really is exciting to bring opera to kids who have never (and may never) been exposed.
In this particular show, we have a special guest performer for each performance, typically the principal or other teacher, although sometimes a student. Teachers are definitely funnier; especially the men since they dress as a cow, and the costume has big pink bows. Working with someone new each time definitely keeps you on your toes. Most of the time, they behave, and go where you put them, moo at the appropriate times, etc., although sometimes they throw you a curve ball. My favorite teacher was the woman who gave herself a constant monologue throughout the scene, and the scariest would have to be the one who decided to start dancing around, totally messing with our choreography. Since I am the one to bring the cow out, the kids are usually roaring over my aria, but I really don't mind. It’s a bitch to sing, and it helps me work on my focus. I remember how much fun I had when teachers acted goofy, and I know they really love it.
After most shows we do a quick Q&A, and here are some of the most memorable questions...
Are those real pockets?
How do you all sing at the same time?
How do you sing so loud?
Are you a boy or a girl? (Keep in mind, I play the mother and the wife)
How do you change clothes so fast?
and my #1 most favorite
I collect snow globes.
Some background on the A-State
After much cajoling (you know who you are!), I have finally decided to start a blog. Lets start with a little background. As of today, I have been down in the A-State (so dubbed by our cable guy) for about 6 weeks. As a northerner, I have to say, people move so slowly down here! It took a very long time to adjust to the complete disregard for time. Although, to be fair, I must say everyone is incredibly friendly.
Before we get into the joys of children's opera, lets learn a little more about Arkansas... For those of you unfamiliar with US geography (because I didn't really know where Arkansas was before I moved here) it is directly above Louisiana, with Oklahoma to the west and Mississippi and Tennesee to the east. Little Rock is in the center of the state, with the closest major city being Memphis, about 2.5 hours away. Arkansas is the 25th state, admitted to the United States in 1836. The name Arkansas is derived from a Quapaw Indian word meaning "downstream people".
According to Wikipedia, in 2005 Arkansas was 82% white and 16% african-american. 86% of the population is Christian, 78% of those are Protestant, and 39% of those are Baptist. 14% are not religious, which means that less than 1% of the population is Jewish. No wonder no one at Kroger knew what kosher food was. Yes, when I asked if they had a kosher section, several employees told me, "Well, we have kosher pickles!"
Some state symbols...
Motto-The Natural State Gem-Diamond
Book-The Bible Musical Instrument-Fiddle
Beverage-Milk Fruit AND Vegetable-Vine ripe pink tomato
Some famous Arkansans (besides Bill Clinton)
Daniel Davis (Niles the Butler from "The Nanny)-Gurdon
John Grisham-Jonesboro
Evanescence-Little Rock
Billy Bob Thornton-Hot Springs
Scottie Pippin-Hamburg
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