Jess Makin' Some Magic

The End.

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 13:22:44 -0500

A little over 10 months ago I boarded a plane at LaGuardia to the start of a contract that would give me some of the most amazing experiences that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

And a little over two weeks ago I stood in the middle of the Dallas airport and shed a few well-gaurded, fought back tears as I said good-bye to some of the most amazing people anyone could ever be lucky enough to encounter.

And now while home for the holidays as I browsed a boutique in Columbus I heard the faint whisper of a song I’ve come to love more than I already had because so many of the lyrics now remind me of those fantastic 10 months.

The song is “Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan (and, yes, I’m aware that I’ve become “that girl” who writes her blog in coffee shops and quotes Bob Dylan and I’ve made peace with that) And contrary to popular belief “Mr. Tambourine Man” is not about Dylan’s drug dealer, but is actually about the “artist’s search for inspiration” and “musician Bruce Langhorne, who played a large Turkish tambourine during many of Dylan’s previous recording sessions.” Or at least that’s what Wikipedia tells me and I much prefer anyway because how much fun does a Turkish tambourine sound? Way fun.

So shout-out to all of my avid followers during these 10 months (read: “Hi, Mom”). And I hope that I gave you something entertaining to read when Facebook had nothing new.

I’ll leave you with some of Mr. Dylan’s pretty wicked lyrics and some pictures I thought best represented the memories I keep now with them.

Cheers!!

Jessica

Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin’ ship

My senses have been stripped, my hands can’t feel to grip
My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels
To be wanderin’

I’m ready to go anywhere, I’m ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it.

Though you might hear laughin’, spinnin’ swingin’ madly across the sun
It’s not aimed at anyone, it’s just escapin’ on the run

Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.

The End.

“HAPPY THANKSGIVING!....I feel like I’m in prison...”

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 12:56:33 -0500

This was my greeting from a fellow cast mate as I entered the crew mess for our Thanksgiving meal.

As we all know performers have a flare for the dramatic and tend to over embellish some situations, but as I stood in the long line unsure of what my “Thanksgiving” meal would hold I couldn’t help but wonder how much truth this semi-sarcastic statement held.

Not necessarily because of the quality of the meal (it was actually a pleasant surprise) but I guess more or less because of the length of time our cast has spent on board… almost 8 months to be exact.

It’s such a hard predicament to describe, but as far as I can tell no matter how much you love what you’re doing (and don’t get me wrong I thank my lucky stars every day for the opportunity to perform for a living and see the world… seriously, every. day.) somehow the human condition finds ways to see the dark instead of the light. This also may be combined with the fact that as a cast we watch A LOT of the television show “Locked Up” and I do occasionally see ship deck hands cutting each others hair in the stairwell*

….so of course one contrasts and compares.

But as I sat around the dinner table during this day of family I looked around and didn’t feel lonely. Instead, I looked around and saw what this 8 months made… it’s own family. Ya know that family love where you know Uncle So and So is going to tell his story about how he scored the homecoming game’s winning touchdown for the millionth time, but you let him tell it anyway? Yeah… that kind of love.

8 months of anything can make you want to pull out your hair, but it can also create something wonderful. And it seems almost fitting that with only two weeks left on board the ship we spent this last week before the new cast joined us giving thanks. Thanks for all that we have gone through as a family. For inside jokes and shared secrets, for moments of advice and wisdom in the dressing room, for nights out with stories only we can know by heart, and for times when a friend can tell in the blink of an eye something isn’t ok, but nothing needs to be said only a knowing glance that when you’re ready to talk about it… you will. It’s that kind of love that only comes with time. It can’t be forced, but you wouldn’t want it if it came that quickly anyway.

And best of all, it’s that kind of love where even when you have to say goodbye it doesn’t mean forever. Because on that day, maybe even years from now, when you see each other at a party and they tell that story you’ve heard for the millionth time… you let them tell it anyway… because, yeah, it’s that kind of love.

*For the record, I have a never and will never get my hair cut by a deck hand in the stairwell… just wanted to clear that up.

Forward

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:42:20 -0500

I want to remember this moment. The moment I stood in the middle of a Disney gift shop and cried out for joy when MY home state decided the future of this country. A future to move forward with strength and equality. The moment I watched the people standing next to me from all over the world from Canada to Nigeria let out a sigh of relief and smiled as they watched Obama take the podium and speak to settle their nerves about the future of America and hear them speak about what it means to their families, their countries, their future. The moment I held friends who cried tears of joy because the life they envisioned could finally be a reality. To marry the ones they love regardless of who that might be.

This is the moment in history I have been waiting for. The moment we leave the past behind and move forward together.

I want to remember this moment.

The post of all lies... or is it?

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 14:28:35 -0400

So, this past week it seems like the world has it out for us. Specifically, those I hold very dear to my heart in my favorite city in the world.

And like a nervous parent watching a child stand up to a bully on their own I watched the news like a hawk and paid (way too much money) for internet updates from friends and loved ones on the island whilst I sat helpless in the middle of ocean. Unfortunately, it is incredibly hard to decipher truth from fiction while watching the news and not being able to double check the facts via another source (aka the internet). Will this storm really be “catastrophic?” Will it really flood the subway system? Did Mitt Romney really say he had “Binders of Women” during the Presidential debate? When you hear things that sound so outlandish it’s hard to believe that it can actually be true.

But thankfully, our city - much like the cockroaches who also live there - can’t be squashed out no matter how hard one may try (so take THAT Hurricane Sandy). And while there is still a tragic amount of damage we are strong and beautifully so even stronger together in the face of adversity.

During this time of hurricanes, blizzards, and earthquakes that occurred this week I suppose you could say I was feeling a bit superstitious so while in Cozumel this week I thought I’d check out the Mayan Ruins… you know, just in case.

As you may or may not know the Mayans made a calendar about a bazillion (a rough estimate) years ago and so far everything on the calendar has happened fairly accurately. So you can see why some might be worried that the calendar is stopping rather abruptly this December. No one really know why. Some say it’s the end of the world… some say the guy making it probably just got tired and stopped. I’d like to think it’s the latter, but who can really say, ya know?

Now we’ve come to the end of my previous knowledge of the Mayans and their kooky end of days calendar.

So when going on this tour of the Mayan Ruins that still stand today (a bazillion years later) I thought our tour guide, Carlos, could help answer some of my questions. But, after leaving the ruins I felt more confused than ever.

As near as I can tell the Mayans were six fingered, three feet tall, “maybe Asian, maybe Black, maybe White…. ya know we’re really not so sure” (direct quote) inbreds who cut out the hearts of people to feed to Jaguars to honor their God, Chuck.

(Kid you not) These were all things told to us from our tour guide. I would have liked to Wikipedia these facts, but due to severe lack of Wifi these days (please refer to above re: hurricanes and newscasts) I’m about as good a fact checker as any presidential debate moderator (zing! Ba-doom-boom Ching!) Needless to say, I left my tour less than consoled about the future of our precious little Earth.

And then I came home and saw footage on the news of New Yorkers pulling together volunteering their time and homes to those dealing with so much loss while my Facebook feed flooded with outpours of people wanting find out where they could volunteer or offer a warm couch and electrical outlet to a friend in need and there I saw the future for our precious little Earth.

The Mayans can say what they want, but when I see so much good come out of such devastation I see that nothing can stop us and our future will always be bright no matter what we face. And I don’t even need to fact check that on Wikipedia to know it’s truth.

C-R-E-A-T-E... Create

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:59:23 -0400

Living in a moving city in the middle of the ocean can be one of those experiences few are able to understand unless you’ve actually lived it. It’s an interesting dichotomy when some things many consider “once in a lifetime” moments become your everyday life.

I know what you’re all thinking…first world problems, right? Well, just hear me out for a second.

All my life I (just like every other actor, musician, artist, waiter, bartender you meet) have been a person driven by inspiration. Whether it’s something inspiring me to write, to sing, to design, to create in general I suppose. And here on the boat inspiration seems like a hard to come by commodity… unless you make it on your own. So you find ways to invent, to create, to feed the artistic part of your soul that keeps you alive.

So what do nerdy theatre kids do when presented with this problem? Why put on a show of course :)

And so with 5 days of semi-freedom from the mouse (a 5 day re-postitioning cruise to a new port without guests on board) it seemed like a perfect opportunity to have a little fun and put on a show that didn’t involved princesses, pixie dust, or a paycheck (although there is a time and place for all of those things, especially the last one ;))

For the first time ever I decided to put on my producer/ director hat and put up a staged reading of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” starring some of my fellow cast mates to be performed for the officers and crew onboard during this guest free cruise.

As someone who is still in the early years of my career I have yet to have the “but what I really want to do is direct” feelings, but I am here to tell you that I officially believe every performer should direct or produce a show in whatever form, small or large, they decide at least once in their life. Talk about a learning experience. Gratefully, the show went off without a hitch to great success and with many laughs from the audience.

Make no mistake, directing and producing are not easy tasks, but the reward at the end of it all unlike anything that designing a show or even performing in a show can bring and it definitely scratches the creative itch. At the end of the day it was a “mission accomplished” and also a whole lot of fun.

So far...

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 15:12:14 -0400

On September 12th, our last day docked in New York City, an odd thing happened. It wasn’t planned and I doubt many others noticed, but I could feel a difference. For the first time today Times Square fell quiet. Maybe only for a few precious moments, but it happened. Maybe it was because of 9/11 just the day before or maybe because kids are finally back in school, or maybe it was just me… my perception of this city; it’s chaotic beauty. Where else in the world can you be surrounded by thousands and still be so at peace? As we sailed out of New York on our way to Texas I couldn’t help but reminisce about where I’d been and what I’ve learned so far. And I thought about all the places I’ve seen and I think if they could speak their advice to me, here’s what they’d say:

“Have patience when dealing with people, internet, and service that move at a glacial pace. And maybe next time just carry a sign that says “For the love of God, I do NOT want my hair braided.” It might save a lot of time.” - Nassau, Bahamas

“Some things Disney got really, REALLY right… and this is one of them.” - Castaway Cay

“Sometimes all you need is a trip to Target, a night out bowling, or a barbecue in the park just to be a normal person for the day. And on the other days, there’s always drinking around the world in Epcot.” - Port Canaveral / Disney World

“Amazing coffee, record stores, stores full of hippie trinkets and vintage stores on every street? Of course you love us.” - Halifax, Nova Scotia

“Often the best memories aren’t made on beautiful beaches or in theme parks, but instead in little “hole in the wall” places with great wine and great friends” - St. John, Nova Scotia

“Go, explore, see more and come back when you’re ready. Don’t worry… we’ll still be here” - New York City

Now onward to Texas….yee.haw.

Seriously Great Week

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:43:00 -0400

This past week will go down in the history of this contract as a seriously great week. Ship life is all about ups and downs. Some of this week’s ‘ups’ included:

Monday night meteor showers

Spending the night laying under the stars in the ocean is already pretty great, but top it off with more shooting stars than you can count? Seriously Great.

Tuesday afternoon in Halifax

Halifax may be my favorite port of call. More vintage stores than even I know what to do with paired with $1 rooms in record stores, street art, coffee houses and endless (though sometimes over priced) seafood. Seriously great.

Tuesday night spa

After the shows on Tuesday night our cast was rewarded with a whole night in the Vista Spa. But before I used the amazing steam rooms, face and body masks, and the “Rainforest Room” I took the “Body Bootcamp” class with 4 of the boys in our cast. And although I can barely move now two days later it was still totally worth it and, of course, seriously great.

Wine day Wednesday

Wine. Atmosphere. Friends. Music. Wi-Fi. — Serious Greatness.

Wednesday night reading

Making people laugh with great actors in a reading of “Picasso at Lapin Agile” …Guess what? Seriously great.

Mix in a dash of late night laughs and chats with friends and that pretty much sums up my week.

You know, some weeks on board can feel like work, but some weeks, like this one, can actually feel like I’m the one taking the vacation rather than the guest….and that’s pretty much seriously great.

"Travel is little beds and cramped bathrooms. It’s old television sets and slow Internet connections...."

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:35:06 -0400

““Travel is little beds and cramped bathrooms. It’s old television sets and slow Internet connections. Travel is extraordinary conversations with ordinary people. It’s waiters, gas station attendants, and housekeepers becoming the most interesting people in the world. It’s churches that are compelling enough to enter. It’s McDonald’s being a luxury. It’s the realization that you may have been born in the wrong country. Travel is a smile that leads to a conversation in broken English. It’s the epiphany that pretty girls smile the same way all over the world. Travel is tipping 10% and being embraced for it. Travel is the same white T-shirt again tomorrow. Travel is accented sex after good wine and too many unfiltered cigarettes. Travel is flowing in the back of a bus with giggly strangers. It’s a street full of bearded backpackers looking down at maps. Travel is wishing for one more bite of whatever that just was. It’s the rediscovery of walking somewhere. It’s sharing a bottle of liquor on an overnight train with a new friend. Travel is “Maybe I don’t have to do it that way when I get back home.” It’s nostalgia for studying abroad that one semester. Travel is realizing that “age thirty” should be shed of its goddamn stigma.””

- Nick Miller - Isn’t It Pretty To Think So? (via renscribbles)

Writers block or just internet block?

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:44:14 -0400

First of all, my apologies for the month long hiatus. It seems my brain has yet to settle down enough to focus into a singular topic of post. That combined with a severe lack of internet access equals a month gap between blog posts. So without further a due, here goes my attempt at a jumbled post that may, or may not reflect my jumbled life that I’ve been adjusting to for the past month or so.

So let’s start at the beginning…. the happiest place on earth.

After Canada, the Magic 28 cast left the chilly winds of Toronto and headed south for the next leg of rehearsals (and a mini-vacation) in Orlando, FL, but most importantly, Disney World!

At first being put up in one of Disney’s famous All Star hotels with all expenses paid seemed like a dream come true, but we discovered that we were in for an aggressive awakening…B-E aggressive.

That’s right. Cheerleaders…lot’s of them. Apparently our All Star hotel also housed about a thousand or so of America’s loudest and most annoying competition cheerleaders cheering at all hours of the day and night.

But, cheerleaders aside it was a pretty cool time in Florida. We spent our days at Disney University and nights at the parks (AKA drinking around the world in Epcot).

After a couple of magical days in Disney World we left Orlando with our Disney degrees in hand and plenty of mouse shaped treats in our belly and headed off to our new home for the next 8 months… the Disney Magic.

Now imagine you’ve been dropped off in a foreign planet where everyone else lives cohesively and seamlessly together and you are expected to instantly absorb all information given to you and immediately fall into place with the rhythm, language, and lifestyle

…oh, and you’ve only had about two hours sleep.

Well, if you can envision this then you are perfectly prepared for your very first day of ship life.

And yet as overwhelming as the first few weeks on board can seem there are still glimpses the sometimes relaxing, always exciting moments and the progress and growth that lie on the horizon.

After our first week on board I sat at the most forward point of the ship for almost 3 hours and felt the sea air in my lungs and looked out at the most beautiful orangesicle colored sunset I have ever laid eyes on and felt the strength and joy of knowing that although this may be a sometimes overwhelming and trying experience it will also have the power to be one of the most exciting times in my life and will forever shape me as a person.

Now, fast forward to where I sit a month later and I have already met so many new friends from all over the world, laughed until I cried, felt completely overwhelmed until I cried, ate some incredible food with beautiful views, ate some very questionable food at the crew mess, sailed into tropical beaches, sketchy Bahamian ports, and New York City at sunrise with a lump in my throat and still find myself so grateful each and every day that I get to wake up and play make believe for a living.

So long, T-Town. It's been real.

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:47:04 -0400

Thanks Toronto for a pretty stellar 2 months. I will miss:

The unusual flavors: i.e. ketchup chips and the obsession with anything pickle flavored
The need to plaster the Canadian flag all over anything and everything.
Being considered an exotic foreigner from New York City
Being accustomed to carrying around all of my purchases as a result of my stubbornness toward paying 5 cents for each bag.
The dive bar we FINALLY found on our last weekend here. It was only one night, but it will be missed.
Milk in bag form.
The beautiful apartment, housekeeper, perfect location and all around baller status that comes with this.
People watching on Queen St. and Kensington Ave.
Thrift and vintage stores as far as the eye can see.
Waking up every morning to a beautiful sky-line filled with people in their cubicles and feeling damn lucky I’m not them.
“S(ore)y, Eh?, AL-to, etc.” and the half Minnesota accent that is Canadian speech.
Pretty, colorful, and sometimes too confusing monetary system.
That one week when we had BEAUTIFUL weather in the 70s and I wore shorts and forgot for a second that it’s (almost) always freezing here.
The coffee…so. much. coffee.
Tim Horton’s, Fresh, Soup Nutsy, Second Cup and other Canadian food chain establishments
In fact, London Fog Tea Latte from Second Cup…I may miss you most of all.

All in all Toronto has been a pretty cool place to live, if only for a couple months. But now it’s time for the next (much warmer) leg of the adventure.

DISNEY WORLD.

(The Last) Sights of Toronto

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:52:23 -0400

More coffee, surprise, surprise

As easy as that?

Kensington knick knacks

Mom made a friend at Dundas Sq.

“You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em”

Canada, you can keep your ‘poutine’ but these can come with me.

Cast jackets, so fresh and clean

Torontoians (yes, I made that up) love a gimmick with their alcohol. In this case, it’s popsicles and catch-phrases

The view from above

Canada, how did you know??

Home is wherever I'm with you

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:25:36 -0400

After about a month and a half in Canada I can say without shame that I was indeed a tad bit homesick. Not necessarily homesick for a place, but more just homesick for people… friends, family, and the like. So it was PERFECT timing when my amazing family made the drive up to Toronto for Easter weekend.

We had a blast and I had the opportunity to be tour guide in my newly appointed city.

One of the highlights of the trip was our Easter dinner 1,815ft in the air atop the CN Tower in their formal rotating restaurant, aptly named ‘360.’ It was absolutely stunning and a perfect sunset transformed into an evening lit by a full moon.

And, of course, it wouldn’t have been a complete Dyer family reunion until we broke out the BBQ and Beer… so naturally this vacation would be no exception. But this time we did it in style…

Yup…grillin’ on the rooftop.

And now that I think about it I would have to say that it’s OK to be a tad bit homesick every now and again. To be homesick means you’ve got something or someone that loves you and you love back, not only in one location, but maybe even 2 or 3 different locations… and that’s pretty darn lucky.

…oh, and yes, I did steal the title of this post from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. But it’s ok… I bet they won’t mind.

Why Being In Your 20s Is Awesome « Thought Catalog

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:35:00 -0400

Why Being In Your 20s Is Awesome « Thought Catalog:

I know I talk crap on being a twentysomething but I’m only half-kidding. In actuality, there’s no age I’d rather be. (Besides maybe seven years old because they don’t do anything besides eat ice cream and poop themselves. That sounds like an ideal life to be completely honest.)

Being in your twenties is all about discovering which things hurt you and what makes you feel good. You go in blindly, practically pricking yourself with a dull blade, and then you walk out with tougher skin. One day you’ll stop pricking yourself altogether. Maybe. I don’t know. How would I? I’m just a twentysomething, remember?

This is what your twenties are for — to feel and see as much as you can, to take advantage of not being tied down to anything and anyone and to go balls to the wall with everything that you do. You’re a raw nerve. You hate getting upset over little things, about being constantly unraveled by ignored text messages, parents, grades, and friends, but you have to remember something: you don’t know yourself entirely yet. Before the age of 20, you were mostly under your parents care, a reflection of what was going on around you. You didn’t have the option to make your own choices. You were merely living the life someone set out for you. Being in your twenties allows you to start carving out the life you want for yourself. Everything is on your terms now which seems daunting but is actually liberating. For the first time in your life you’re the boss.

It’s important to talk about why your twenties are great because it seems like we spend so much of our time wanting to be somewhere else other than where we are. Think about it. Why the hell are we in such a hurry to live some boring grown up adult life that we saw at a Crate & Barrel? Because once we do get there, we’re stuck for a long time. The novelty’s going to wear off, we’re going to get married and have babies, and everything will be amazing but don’t think for a second that you won’t be nostalgic for this time. Don’t think for a second that you’re not going to miss those nights you spent putting on your make up, changing five million times, drinking wine, smoking cigarettes out your apartment window, and going to some silly party, a party that feels like all the others you’ve been to but still has the right to feel special. You will miss all of this. This is a luxury. It’s going to leave us eventually so you better freaking enjoy it. You better enjoy every lame ass party, every awkward kiss, every 5 AM hangover, every crappy apartment, because one day it will all be gone and you’ll just be left with the pictures and the bruises and nothing else. Don’t you get it? Look at your skin! Touch it. Look at your smooth legs and stomach. Grab it. When you’re older, you’ll want all of this again so bad. You’ll possibly spend so much money to get some semblance of it back. Now it’s yours for free.

We’re not stuck. Even if it feels like we are, it’s not true. We’re the opposite of stuck. As twentysomethings, we’re constantly moving — apartments, relationship, cities, jobs. Anything is possible. People are ready for you. They want to hear what you have to say. They look at you and are curious about what words are going to come out of your mouth. You’re the new generation. What do you have to say? Don’t bite your tongue. One day you’ll be pushed aside for a younger “fresher” perspective so you better get it out now. Make a mark. Make a stain. Make something.

I want to remember the fear, I want to remember the promise, I want to remember the nights I wanted to curl up in a ball, I want to remember the people I’m not supposed to remember, I want to remember not knowing myself, I want to remember the moment I started to feel safe and like this life I’m leading is really mine. I’m going to be scared, I’m going to bruise my knees and not know how they got there, I’m going to try to fruitlessly forge a connection with someone who won’t ever get it, I’m going to lose the person that means the most to me and find my way back to them. I’m going to be a twentysomething because that’s what I am and all I know how to be. And you should too. You should love every single moment of this hot mess of a decade. Chances are you’ll miss it before you even get to say “I’m 30.”

Party like it's 2006

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:06:37 -0400

…that’s right, 2006. The most important night of a teenager’s life (or so I thought at the time). Prom.

But, thanks to the lovely Jen Dillow and Ali Madurowicz (both so crazy talented that they left high school, and their senior prom, to become dancing princesses) I get to relive my high school memories and party like it’s 2006 at the Disney Magic 28 Prom!

In lieu of a poorly decorated gymnasium, punch bowl, and jocks we upgraded to a party bus, Pizza Hut/KFC, and cross-dressers.

Obligatory pre-prom photo shoot

And, of course what would a prom night be without a Prom QUEEN.

“From one queen to another” - Miss Ja’mes

Congrats Miss Dillow! :)

Sights of Toronto

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 20:15:54 -0400

London Fog Tea Latte from Second Cup

Happiest of St. Patrick’s

Kensington Avenue swag

Birthday. Cupcake. Pride.

Mirror, Mirror

Extra, Extra! Read All About It!

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:42:04 -0400

Extra, Extra! Read All About It!:

The New York Times wrote an article about the production value of Disney Cruise Line shows. Read all about it :)

That time I crashed a parade

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:03:41 -0400

So, being a proud Ohioan from central Ohio roots I thought I knew what it meant to be a die-hard sports fan (OH-IO!)

But Canada showed me who was boss.

Apparently earlier this week a VERY important soccer game. The Toronto FC vs. the LA Galaxy to be precise. And while there were no Beckham sightings (bummer right?) there was however a parade. How do I know about this parade? Well, I’ll tell you.

So after rehearsal I decided to try out yet another grocery store (for those of you that are keeping count (out of all four of my readers) that’s grocery store number five since I’ve been here) and on my way home I started to realize that I was accompanied by far more people on the sidewalk than on my way to the store. And before I could figure out what was going on everyone moved into the street and proceeded to chant, wave flags, and bang drums while on-lookers waved and took photographs of the event. So, luckily I was sporting my super awesome maple leaf hat and fit right in with chanting sports fans hootenanny. I traveled with my new parade friends all the way to my apartment building where we parted ways and they continued to the Toronto sports arena.

Toronto, you’re always full of surprises

Costume Fittings and more

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:56:40 -0500

Today I had the opportunity to do something every little girl dreams of doing. I tried on gowns, crowns, scales, seashells and so much more.

Sometimes I can’t believe this is real life.

This week has been a busy one. We had our first run through of our show Twice Charmed and dived into our next show where I will be having some fun as Mary Poppins!

Here are some pictures I’ve taken while at ‘work’ (I still don’t think having this much fun should count as work):

Our entry way to the rehearsal studios

Our kitchen area/greenroom

Purdy ladies

Coffee table decor

— Also, I’ll leave you with this article that the wonderful Mandy Myers sent me this morning:

Is it better to be a Disney Villain or Disney Princess?

However, I think we all know the answer to that question… (muhahahahahahahaha) ;)

I miss these people

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:01:14 -0500

Ok, so “absence makes the heart grow fonder” and all that jazz, but what if you’re all ready pretty damn fond of them to begin with?

So here’s a shout-out to all of those in New York and Ohio that I love (and miss) oh-so dearly!

^^^^ Especially this boy (a lot, a lot, a lot)

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am loving this new experience and I can’t wait to go to rehearsal each day, but if there was a way to put all of you in my suitcase and take you all with me everywhere I went I wouldn’t be upset about that ;)

Light at the end of the tunnel

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:38:41 -0500

Here in Canada they take the cold weather in stride. Literally. Instead of walking above ground during these chilly months, Canadians have created a complex underground tunnel system called the “PATH” so residents of Toronto can travel easily from one destination to the next while staying dry and warm.

Sound simple enough? — Oh no

During a rehearsal break the (hilarious and talented) Katherine McShane Malak and I decided to make our way to the local grocery store via tunnel. I am here to tell you that these Canadians must use some kind of magical power to navigate this labyrinth of similar looking tunnels.

We tried our damnedest, but for the life of us we could not figure out where we were or where we were going. And all the while (as I donned my maple leaf hat) we very vocally informed everyone around us how we had lost our way. We basically became the Canadian equivalent of a tourist in Times Square wearing an I ‘heart’ NY shirt, holding a map and discussing how they can’t wait to see (insert celebrity here) in CHICAGO.

So after three unsuccessful attempts (3 different paths that all brought us back to the same food court) we reluctantly gave in and decided the golden arches were our light at the end of the tunnel

Better luck next time I suppose…