And back to Germany...with holiday cheer

(Paper lanterns sold at the Weihnactsmarkt -- one of many Christmas markets that pop up all over German cities this time of the year.)

David and I returned to Germany last Tuesday. We flew into Dusseldorf, from where we were taken by car to Essen. We stayed in Essen for two nights, over the course of which we achieved various things and visited more German cities: on the first night we went to see "Cats" in Cologne, and on the second night we went to Dusseldorf to walk around the Japanese shopping area and ate dinner at a fabulous restaurant, led by our New Zealander colleague, Karin. All this we did as we kicked off more casting, mostly in search of dancers.

After Essen we spent two nights in Hamburg. And now we are in Berlin. It's been a bit of a whirlwind traveling and we have already consumed a great many mugs-ful of gluhwein (mulled wine) and bratwursts... but now we settle into being in Berlin for a week. We're in a different hotel in a suite this time, which makes things more comfortable... and now that we will stay put and not city-hop, we have been able to unpack! Hooray.

Here are just a few snapshots of our travels thus far:

(Delicious feuersangenbowle -- mulled red wine with rum, with a burnt sugar cube dripping into the drink.)

(On the audition tour in Essen with Christoph and Perrin... having a bit of a break with some feuersangenbowle to warm ourselves...)

(David pretends to be a wild boar... eating a wurst made out of wild boar...)

(In Berlin in front of the Weihnachtsmarkt in Gendarmenkarkt... we hear it is one of the prettiest Christmas markets in Berlin...)

(Baumkuchen!!! It is a cake that is a "tree" (baum) made up of layers and layers of thin cake that gets rolled around a metal pole...)

(Fancy baumkuchen ....)

(Feuersangenbowle -- in a big pot with flamed sugar block dripping into it...)

(David with his new favorite drink -- a mug of heidelbeergluhwein, a blueberry gluhwein with amaretto...)

New York, New York!

David and I returned home to New York last night. Again surrounded by suitcases, bundles of mail to be opened, nothing in the fridge... but we are so happy to be home.

I am back onto preparing for the next round of auditions in Germany, but I can do this from the comforts of our own apartment!

David and I are also just looking forward to watching the Food Network (TV in English! In HD! On a big screen!) and playing on the Wii.

Ah, simple pleasures.

London today. New York tomorrow.

David and I flew from Berlin to London on Sunday -- a sort of last-minute tack on to our European work travels. David has not had the chance to work with the new cast members of the London company (as he was in Chicago), so our few days in London proved productive albeit packed.

Tomorrow we finally FLY HOME!!! Cannot wait. It's been so long since we've been home properly. Berlin casting went well, we are mostly cast for the principals (very good actors), but we shall continue to cast the ensemble... which means we fly back to Germany in December. But for the time being, all I can think of is being back in New York for at least a week and a little bit.

More soon.

In Berlin

(David and I wore our animal-y printed outfits on Halloween -- as we had no costumes and nowhere to go -- me in zebra and David in elephant prints -- and pretended to be on a safari...)

Back in Berlin now... and continuing on with the search for the new DD company. A bit exhausted, really -- long days of casting, focusing on actors and dancers and singers, trying to find exciting performers... we want the Berlin show to be a NEW show, a show that reflects the evolution the production as a whole has underwent since the Hamburg show. We've been seeing some serious German actors, who could be downright WACKY, but it's been an interesting journey, and I feel we have learned quite a bit...

... although maybe not quite enough German. We intend to learn more, and are inspired to do so more than we were when we were in Hamburg. David and I really like Berlin so far -- we love the energy, the atmosphere, the "edgy" vibe, the late nights and the various dining, cultural and social options. It has qualities of New York City, in a way, the sense that there is always something going on, the day and night in Berlin can turn out to be as big or small an adventure as you want... at the very least it suits us far better than Hamburg ever did, and we are already happier in Berlin than we ever could have imagined being in Hamburg, which, despite the fans of the city we know, we find dreary, conservative, and downright dull.

We'll post photos soon... for now, off to bed!

Last Days of Chicago (at least for now)

So David and I are in Berlin (Germany) as I type, packed up to travel back to Hamburg for a couple of days tomorrow... but this is the first moment (at 3AM here) we have had time to post some photos of our Chicago days leading up to the opening.

We very much enjoyed our time in Chicago -- Chicago is a friendly city with beautiful architecture, atmosphere, as well as some impressive restaurants and cultural life. Most of all we loved our US company, had a fantastic time working with the people, and formed some very special friendships and connections we hope to keep for some time to come. The two of us also received great recognition and appreciation for our work on this production, louder and clearer than ever before -- if I may say so myself, the casting was good (ahem) and the dancing was better than ever, exciting, beautiful, emotional, and, of course, dirty/sexy.

David and I have some photos taken by the company we shall post when we receive it, but for now, here are a few snapshots from preview time through the opening:

At the First Preview cocktail party... David and Elsie find a "stage" and perform...


Cheese!

At one of our favorite Chicago restaurants, MK... where one may bring a bottle of wine of their own to drink (for a corkage fee) -- David and I brought out the MAGNUM we purchased in California to celebrate our friend Valerie coming for a weekend visit, to kick off our pre-Opening Night festivities... the wine was FABULOUS and we had some good times (and kudos for Val for going out on the day she arrived from London -- what a rock star)

Me & Val... this time in Chicago! Val flew in from London for the weekend, the night before our Opening Night. She has now been to DD Opening Nights in London, Utrecht and Chicago! x



OPENING NIGHT PARTY!!! David and me with Amber

David and Easton, one of our ensemble dancers... (his wife is in the show, too) He is a wonderful dancer and company member -- he would call David himself for dance notes, which is rare and great (from David's perspective).

FROM LEFT: Jane (our company accountant), Valerie, Davd, me, Tarlan, and Penny

Me and James Powell, the director

We did a spouse-swap photo... me and Easton...

... and David and Haley, Easton's wife. Haley and Easton are THE tallest couple we know.

FROM LEFT: Britta (who plays "Penny"), Eleanor, Michael, me and David

FROM LEFT: James, Amber, Ben Mingay, and me

With the girls of the cast... and a few others...

After-party at Ben Mingay's apartment... me and my favorite girls (Valerie and Tarlan), with John Antony

David and Val get their groove on...

David and Tarlan act "(they're) too hot for the party"...

Spreading the Dirty

David and I are in HAMBURG!

More to come... for now CLICK HERE to watch David teach a "Dirty Dancing" class at Chicago's Crunch Fitness, complete with an interview!!!

Looking cute and bulky x

Drive-by Homecoming

David and I flew home to New York late Tuesday night... and tomorrow (Saturday) we head out to Germany for 3 weeks. Yikes! Fastest turn-around we've had to do so far. As I face our collection of suitcases on the floor, I get confused as to whether I am unpacking or packing... only to realize I am doing BOTH.

Opening Night in Chicago was FANTASTIC. The show was great -- possibly the best opening night performance we have had -- and we had good times all around. Photos shall be posted as soon as we are in one place long enough to have some serious computer/internet/down-time moment.

Until then... we're packing and sorting out normal home-life details before we fly out tomorrow! (Hamburg first, then we train to Berlin.)

xoxo

Dirty Dancing America Video Podcasts

CLICK HERE FOR -- Dirty Dancing America Video Podcasts!

David is featured on Episode 2 of the series xoxo

Note from Hamburg

Hello, hello.

First preview Sunday afternoon went very well -- very good show, a responsive audience who enjoyed their experienced, and the team all around felt happy about the kick off. We had a big night out following the show -- drinks with the company, dinner, salsa-dancing, then after-after-party at our house. Never mind that I was leaving the next day at 1pm. We rallied on until 4:30am. Somehow I managed to wake up okay, and luckily I had pretty much packed before the weekend (I plan my partying in advance). I ran the errands I needed to run, and was ready to go to the airport.

David did not fare too well. He was, as we say in the DD company as coined by Ben Mingay, HURTIN'.

Anyway, good times were had.

And now I am in Hamburg, Germany, where it is rainy and cold. I'm in a suite at an apartment-style short-term residence. The suite is a split-level loft-style apartment, nothing big but nice. It seems kind of excessive for such a short stay, but apparently our usual hotel was fully booked. I kind of appreciate the coziness of the apartment though, and it feels quiet and homey (as much as staying in Hamburg will feel... yes, you're correct in surmising that Hamburg is not one of my favorite cities in the world). I'm in Hamburg for 2 nights, then I take a train to Berlin and will be there for 2 nights. Then train back to Hamburg and fly back out to Chicago the next day.

I didn't sleep at all on the flight, so I should try to get some rest. Today is my day off, for which I am grateful -- I shall have a chill day with myself.

It's weird to be out here on my own, when everyone else on the creative team remain in Chicago. Kind of like going away on a sleep-away camp by myself or something.

I hope David's feeling less hungover today...

HAPPY 3rd ANNIVERSARY!

Happy 3rd Anniversary to us!

xoxo

US PLAYBILL

Finally, after all the years of working on the show, here it is: a U.S. Playbill! With the classic yellow "PLAYBILL" above the logo. It's happening -- our U.S. premiere.

And inside the Playbill, a very cool thing for us. David and I both get title page billing. Right next to each other!

We've worked hard for this acknowledgment, and have done it together, so this Playbill is very special to us.

Catching Up: Heading Towards PREVIEWS!

Long time, no blog.

We've kept busy with the show, which will open for previews this Sunday! New changes going into the show even as I type (I am at tech), but I think it will be an exciting, updated version of the show.

There have been 2 new people that have been put into the company, as two people left -- the male ballroom dancer and the actor playing "Neil." I had to re-cast these parts back-to-back and quickly, which was a demanding task to say the least. Fortunately, we cast quickly and both the performers learned the show swiftly to our great delight. The team is very happy with the new additions, which is good.

So here we go! Finally counting down to having an audience.

Chicago continues to be fun, although busy. Tarlan came to visit last weekend, which was a great, fun, party-filled whirlwind of a weekend... good times were had.

I am off to Hamburg and Berlin next Monday... not a long trip, a week, to kick off the casting for Berlin.

But first things first, David and I will have our 3rd wedding anniversary this Saturday -- which also happens to be Family & Friends performance of the US premier of Dirty Dancing -- the eve before we go public!
x

A Look Back: Labor Day Weekend in CARMEL VALLEY!

(David driving with the top off in our yellow Corvette!)

Labor Day weekend fell on our "change-over," which is when we move from the rehearsal space into the theater and begin working afternoons and nights instead of mornings and afternoons. We had a fabulously luxurious long weekend (all things considering, as we usually only get one day off a week)... so David and I decided to take advantage and have some R&R. Last year while we were in Toronto, we had one long weekend and we spent it amongst vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This weekend trip worked out very well because (1) David got to rent a sports car to drive around, as an "early anniversary present" and (2) I got to drink a whole lot of wine. We took this model and try to make it work for us, currently based in Chicago... and came up with a long weekend out in Central California, in Carmel Valley. I found a lovely place to stay -- Bernardus Lodge & Winery -- a beautiful boutique hotel nestled in a vineyard. Our plan was to fly into San Francisco, rent a car, then drive down the scenic coastal drive to Carmel Valley for our weekend of sun and wine.

The weekend was FABULOUS.

David absolutely LOVED driving his Corvette, and, although I have no knowledge of cars, I could appreciate this one. I thoroughly enjoyed the Mustang convertible in which we drove to Niagara-on-the-Lake last year, but, boy, this Corvette RUNS like a true sports car -- as in what I might imagine would be like to sit in a race car. And we hit some small but delicious wineries, and had a great time. We even returned to Chicago with a carefully selected case!

Here, a pictorial record of our weekend:

(Me in our room -- the bed was the MOST COMFORTABLE BED EVER! I wanted to steal it. The whole thing. Seriously.)

(Two words: WINE GROTTO. Every room at Bernardus Lodge has a "wine grotto" -- they give you a selection of their wines for FREE, along with a free mini-bar of snacks, including organic cookies! Just to David and my tastes.)

(David and I dine on lovely New American Californian cuisine at Marinus, the restaurant at the hotel in which we stayed.)

(Outdoor breakfast... and David is very happy with his meal.)

(David with the car... the car has a very sexy back-side.)

(Beautiful coastal scenery, on the way to the Big Sur from Carmel Valley...)



(These are historic bridges like this all around the coast around Carmel Valley and towards the Big Sur...)

(Another shot of the car... why not, it's hot!)

("Workin' It.")

(David picks up huge kelp on the shores of Big Sur...)


(The water is way too cold for David to swim in... I didn't dare enter either. It's cold!)

(Redwood forest...)


("Workin' It"... part deux)

(David with the car, with the Carmel Valley mountain backdrop...)

(Sea Lions sunning on rocks at a national park...)



(Gorgeous deer feeding... at the national park)

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.