Home for the Holidays

I've been waiting, less than patiently, for winter break from "Miss Saigon," and it is now here in earnest. The road can be stressful, despite the fact that my workday only lasts 5-6 hours, including practice time, preparation, and performance. Still, the number of people which makes up your entire work and social interactions is small -- fewer than 80 people! That may seem like a large number, but consider that it's the same group for MOST daily interactions -- work, play, and at home (read: the hotel room). It becomes obvious that this gets tedious over time. Still, I like and love each and every one of my colleagues/friends on the gig. Now I am back home, shuffling between Scranton, PA and New York City, and wouldn't have it any other way. There are no shows to perform, no boring, used-to-be-happening (or never-were-happening) cities, and no tour drama. There is only the excitement of the season (in the most interesting place on earth), and a bunch of old faces, and old places which briefly make themselves new again. The little things in life really DO give us supreme delight -- take advantage of it! Before you get caught up in the nitty-gritty of holiday shopping, crowded streets, and blustery winter weather, take a moment to appreciate some small wonder. Those are the moments the true spirit of the season reveals itself. Happy Holidays!

Cleveland Rocks!

I don't really know if that statement is correct, but it's fun to say, even if it isn't true. Truth be told, it's been too snowy and cold to see much of anything here. But dont worry, you'll be the first to hear about my visit to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame --- just as soon as I thaw out enough to walk over there. So far, there is nothing interesting, no wild adventures, and no wacky people to report about. Life in Cleveland is boooring (just like this blog, you say? OK, I'll admit that much). It doesn't matter though; There are only 7 more shows left until a 2-week holiday break, so there!

A (Not so) Late Night Hang

One of the benefits of travel is you never know what adventure you'll have next. Well, last night the adventure involved one of the people on my '200 Most Like to Meet' list, trumpeter Jens Lindemann. Also in attendance at our after-show hang was noted soprano Arianna Zuckerman. The two were in Columbus, OH for several days to perform with the ProMusica chamber orchestra. Nick Snaith (the other trumpeter on "Saigon"), met Jens on the elevator at our hotel and Jens decided to invite our brass section out for drinks after our respective Sunday evening performances. Upon our arrival at the Westin Hotel bar, Jens, Arianna, and several members of ProMusica greeted us warmly as we sat down and ordered some wine. Forget that they are some of the most gifted and accomplished musicians on the planet, they are also some of the nicest I've had the good fortune to meet. After much laughter, jokes, and the usual shop-talk, it was time to say our goodbyes. I hope they all had as much fun as Nick, Jeremy and I had. Meeting great musicians (and other creatives) always gets my own creativity flowing and inspires me to work harder in the practice room. It also helps me to raise the standard, as far as my own playing goes. So, many thanks to Jens, et al. Soon it's back to NYC for a holiday break from "Saigon, " and I can hardly wait...

'Tis the season

Earlier this afternoon I had an interesting lunch with my friend (and 'Miss Saigon" Asst. Company Mgr.) Jack Stephens. Jack is a nice guy who happens to be very good at his job, and is also a magician of note. Over some excellent mediterranean cuisine, our discussion turned to Jack's magic act and how his interest in the art began. It was then that I found out about how, around this time of year, he has been performing his act for the benefit of individuals and families who may need extra financial support, or who may be alone or otherwise disadvantaged. In fact, it has become a bit of a tradition over the past several years. This year, because of his commitment to "Miss Saigon," it seems that he will be unable to carry out his annual holiday gift for those in need -- unless/until he receives a little help from someone else. This is where YOU, dear reader, enter our little story... Jack has only a few days in the month of December to pull it off. He has the act, the props, the scenery, and the heart; All ready to go at a moment's notice. What he *doesn't* have is a venue in the Denver, CO area willing to donate space for the cause. So, if any of you know of a venue or person to whom Jack could propose his fundraiser, please let me know via e-mail. Also, should a venue come forward in support, Jack could also use some help on the promotion side. If any of you have contacts in broadcast radio (even college stations) or any other local Denver media, please let me know that as well. Perhaps some of you know an influential individual in Denver who could help make it all happen... ...and wouldn't it feel good to know that YOU were, in part, responsible for making it so? (Hopefully you answered: "Yes!") Jack had no clue that I intended to blog here in support of his project; But I feel that it is an important and worthwhile one... one which helps to inspire people who may feel disempowered, overwhelmed, and without hope, especially during the holiday season. Remember, time is of the essence, so please let me hear from you soon if you have any ideas. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity.

Which 200 People Do *YOU* Most Want to Meet

Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of the 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' series of books, advocates making a list of the 200 people on the planet that you most want to meet -- and then go to work arranging to meet them. This is a necessary step in establishing your personal and professional networks. After all, no one makes it to the top of their profession without a solid network of advisors that they can call upon for advice, wouldn't you agree? Egads!! You say you don't have such a network? Well, it's never too late to start listing names and letting everyone you know who's on the list. You're probably separated from them by only a few people (some experts surmise no more than 3-4) you already know. Six degrees of separation? I think not. One of the top 10 people on *my* list is a man named Dr. Wayne Dyer (www.drwaynedyer.com), who many of you may know from his books and television appearances over the past thirty years. Dr. Dyer's life philosophy is that we are basically spiritual beings in a physical universe, and not the other way around, as seems apparent to most of us. To that end, he writes alot about spirituality and philosophy. Another reason Dr. Dyer is on my mind today is his new relatively new book, "The Power of Intention" which is given as a premium gift for supporting Public Television during their periodic fund drives. A videotaped live appearance by Dyer, speaking on this newest work, is currently on air in several markets nationwide. It just keeps popping up in every city we visit on this tour. Perhaps it's a hint that I should have bought the book by now! And, if you've never read any of his books or listened to his audio programs, I urge you to seek them out --- you'll probably find yourself inspired, touched, and spiritually uplifted by his stories and lessons. At least, that has been my experience with his work. So, how many names have you listed so far?

Fun & Games

One of the annual events that happens on various tours, is a game called 'Secret Santa.' [alternately called 'Hannukha Harry'] For those of you who may not be familiar with this game, the object is to be anonymous gift-giver to someone else in the game, which you have chosen at random by drawing names from a hat. Most of the gifts are small, incidental items which may be part of a joke, a clue as to the giver's identity, or some other trinket that is useful or enjoyable. This goes on for several weeks, after which a holiday banquet is held and each person is given the chance to guess their 'Secret Santa,' as well as receive their final (and larger or more expensive) gift. Well... ...*my* Secret Santa ROCKS! Besides being imaginative and witty, my Secret Santa has left something for me just about every day since the game began (Thanks!) I still don't know exactly who this person is (but I *do* have my suspects ) --- but hopefully they are getting treated as well by their own gifter. So... thanks to my S.S. I can't wait to see what else is coming...but it ought to be fun.

A Day of Giving Thanks

Well, folks... I had a lovely and meaningful Thanksgiving Day post already written and ready to go. But, as Murphy would have his way once again, it was all deleted when I attempted to actually post it! Ah well, in all liklihood, no one wanted to read another overly-sentimental Thanksgiving Day blog. Besides, it was probably nothing that hadn't been written over and over again sometime during the past hundred years, or so. So, thank you for all you've given of yourselves to help me evolve as a person. I am truly fortunate, not only to have so many wonderful people in my life, but also to have been given the chance to recognize my blessings for just that. Perspective can be difficult to maintain, especially when you spend as much time away from home as I do. And remember, these *are* 'The Good 'Ole Days." Happy Thanksgiving!

Making Friends...

It is one of the sad facts of living 'on the road' that there are many places along the way you might like to linger a little while longer. This is especially true when it comes to meeting people whom you wish you could get to know more closely. Developing personal relationships with these new friends can be difficult when you're bouncing from city to city, week after week, year after year. Even in our modern 'information age', what with all the opportunity for fast, easily accessible and cheap modes of communication (read: internet, e-mail, cell phones, text messaging, etc.), developing these new relationships becomes nearly impossible from afar. I am convinced that despite all our communications, the most basic face-to-face interaction -- the simple act of spending time with another person, is more readily lost. Perhaps that is, in part, why I've taken to starting this blog. Budding friendships require alot of 'face time' to really move from the level of 'acquaintance' to a deeper, more meaningful personal relationship. Maybe a renaissance of handwritten correspondence is at hand to help bridge this gap (?). In the meantime, we have our blogs, our cell phones, our text messaging, our e-mail and video-conferencing, and whatever else technology brings our way to help feed our need for human interaction. At any rate, this is all brought to mind because of a chance encounter of mine during our tour's Nashville stay. It is always refreshing to meet people who aren't on tour with you, and who aren't necessarily a regular part of the insular microcosmos that is the tour itself. For me, that breath of fresh air came in the form of a friend of a friend, of whom I became particularly fond very quickly. Ashley is a great person, and one with whom I would have liked to spend more time with. But regardless of that, our encounters this past week help me focus on the positive attributes of those people already around me, and on the priceless value of good friends. All of these observations probably hold true, whether on tour or not. So, go out and meet some new friends,and let the ones you have now know how much you value their friendship. Here is Melanie (on the left) clowning around with Ashley (who is being a bit shy):

Leaving Nashville

The tour left Nasvhille, TN this morning after a week-long engagement. We caught up with former tour member and close friend Melanie Caldwell, who will be getting married in about 3 weeks. It was a good opportunity for her friends on the road to re-connect and to wish Melanie the best of luck in this new chapter of her life --- she deserves the best, and I wish her luck. Melanie's friend Ashley was often at her friend's side throughout the week's festivities, and was a favorite among all who met her as a result of her complete sweetness of character. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more warm-hearted, genuine,and kind person than Ashley. I'm totally enchanted.... but that's another blog. Also in attendance at Melanie's bachelorette party were the Harry Fontana Band. They play great rockabilly, and are also really sweet guys. Here they are in action at Robert's Western World in Nashville: I can't wait to visit Nashville (and Ashley) again.

Welcome to my Blog!

After having spent the past 2 years or so on the road with the North American touring production of "Miss Saigon", it occurred to me that a blog would be the perfect vehicle for family/friends to keep in touch, hear some funny stories from the road, and serve as a form of therapy -- something for me to do which is independent from the tour as we embark on a third year on the road. I must admit that this is all pretty new to me, in spite of the fact that I have been known to spend countless hours of my free time online (admittedly, often playing chess). It also seems like a natural place to post the some of the more interesting photos I create in my spare time in cities all across North America, and perhaps even put my $.02 in regarding current events in our increasingly shrinking world (which seems to make current events all the more current.) So, feel free to chime in -- good, bad, or otherwise and perhaps we can all have some fun and learn something we didn't previously know along the way. And away we go...