What We're Up To, What We've Been Doing...

Just a few things yet to be thoroughly updated on this blog.... here goes:

David's Green Card Re-application: As we approach our third anniversary, we must petition to have the "conditional" status of David's permanent residency removed. Yet another process in the many hurdles of our international marriage. Lots of paperwork involved, trying to prove that we are a LEGITIMATE couple. Very strange and upsetting in many ways, that a marriage simply can't BE. It's a stressful and elaborate process, especially difficult to go through while putting on a show, but we are plodding along......... crossing fingers!

My new role -- International Casting/Creative Associate: A little over a month ago, my new title within Dirty Dancing Worldwide was announced to the international team. This title had been in discussion for some time now, and I have yet to finalize "the deal," but, for all intents and purposes, I was officially given this title and my work began with a BANG. The bang being (1) completing the Toronto casting (done!), (2) finishing up the London casting process (big task, but somehow I finished it), (3) beginning the Berlin casting, and (4) continuing to deal with on-going... changes... within the US Tour company. It's been a challenging role, but a role I had been doing in many ways unofficially already -- so it is nice to have the acknowledgment and title to go along with it. I go back to Germany for almost a week in October to move along the preliminary stages of the Berlin production casting, which should be interesting, if perhaps daunting, as it will be my first venture out ON MY OWN to begin the casting process with solely the local team.

CHICAGO: The Windy City continues to treat us well and charm us with all its energy, activities and fabulous restaurants. It's very easy-going living in Chicago, and David and I are enjoying the city and our life here. Our apartment is spacious and comfortable, and since many members of the company are also staying in the same building, there is a nice community/dormitory-feel to the whole stay. We have gone to a variety of fantastic restaurants..... and we promise to be more detailed soon (photos included). While we miss New York, Chicago has been a very easy city in which to live.

REHEARSALS: Today was our last day in the rehearsal space. We have a long weekend this weekend, and when we come back together on Wednesday, we will be at the theater to kick off the tech. The show is looking terrific, we have a fantastic company, and it will be good to finally get on stage and put the show together in the environment.

MINI-BREAK!: David and I fly out to California early tomorrow morning. We have booked ourselves a little weekend getaway to Carmel Valley, which is a couple of hours' drive south of San Francisco. We will be staying at Bernardus Lodge, which is a spa/lodge in a vineyard. We will be hiring a car in San Francisco, then driving down the scenic drive along the coast, through Monterey, and onto Carmel Valley. David is looking forward to driving (a convertible, of course), and I am looking forward to the wine and relaxation!

And so we are hastily packing now... and we shall post photos of our weekend trip when we return!

Final Week in Rehearsal Studio

Last week in the rehearsal studio -- the show is coming together, and from here onwards we will be busily fine-tuning as we begin tech next week, adding all the other complicated elements to the show.

A lot going on at the moment, which makes life hectic, packed, demanding and at times stressful. We did have a great weekend, though, as we had a house guest in the form of Gerald, who came to visit us. There was a cast party on Saturday night, which worked out perfectly for our weekend activity with a friend in town... and then David and I had a gorgeous dinner at Alinea, about which I shall blog when I have a bit more time.

This weekend is Labor Day Weekend, so we FINALLY get more than a day off for the week -- we finish rehearsals on Saturday and then have time off until next Wednesday, when we begin tech (since the holiday weekend coincides with our change-over from rehearsal studio to the theater). David and I are going for a little R&R out in Carmel Valley -- looking very much forward to it.

Must be off to bed now -- but this weekend when we have some chill time I hope to blog more and post some photos of our adventures in the Windy City. Stay tuned!

Update on Things...

Life in rehearsals in Chicago has been a non-stop whirlwind. Busy busy busy, with no time outside of rehearsals other than eating dinner and trying not to drink too much wine (which is basically what I'd like to do after a long day of rehearsals).

We're enjoying living in Chicago. It's a beautiful, friendly city with fantastic restaurants. And rehearsals are going very well. But time seems to fly by, with not enough down time or sleep time. And definitely not enough time to blog thoroughly.

For the time being, I shall post a photo from an architectural cruise we took with the creative team and our actors playing "Baby" (Amanda Leigh Cobb) and "Billy" (Ben Mingay):

Back in Chicago Together

I returned to Chicago nearly a week ago, in time for full company rehearsals... the first week of which is about to conclude as of tomorrow.  All going very well so far -- the company is nice and very professional, and there is great work being done.  It's great to be back in one place, together again, and starting to settle into life in Chicago...hurrah!

More soon, but for the time being, we are happy to report that we are reunited in Chicago and couldn't be happier about it -- we'll just never quite get used to being apart, and that's probably a very good thing.