Opening Night

After rehearsing since November 12th and playing 10 preview shows we were all too ready for opening night.  We got some nice gifts from the company.  A laundry bag, a coffee thermos, a bottle of wine, pen, keychain, and everyone's favorite a personal note from Cameron Mackintosh.  Here we are ready to play.

Ken, our trumpeter, warming up.

Adam's excited about opening night!

Marisa wonders why I'm still taking pictures in the pit.

The Tour Schedule

We are in Millburn, New Jersey at Paper Mill until Dec 30th, 2010.  Then the fun begins.

Jan 3rd - 16th Philadelphia, PA
Jan 17th- 30th Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Jan 31st- Feb 27th- Chicago, IL (due to a musicians union rule, we will not be playing this city.  They will be using local musicians.  We will be traveling to California, Nebraska, Minnesota, and of course, New York during that time)
Feb 28th- March 6th Baltimore, MD
March 7th- 13th Louisville, KY
March 14th- 20th Columbus, OH
March 21st- April 3rd Detroit, MI (another city where locals play)
April 4th- 17th Cleveland, OH
April 18th- 24th Milwaukee, WI
April 25th- May 1st Omaha, NE

and then we get married. . . . . .May 7th, 2011 in Lincoln, Nebraska.  We'll rejoin the tour in Salt Lake City after our honeymoon to London and Rome.  This will be Steven's first time out of the country and we're both so excited.

We just finished our 5th preview tonight.  Cameron Mackintosh arrived today.  He's the big producer from London so everyone's bringing their "A' game.  We'll see what the notes are tomorrow.

The orchestra moves into the pit at Paper Mill Playhouse

Our first sighting of the stage.  They have a wonderful set up.  This 25th anniversary production has so many changes from the original.  

 Steven and Will checking out the orchestra's home for the next 6 weeks.

Ryu's mic check.  

Me on the stage.  This is totally illegal in so many ways.  No. 1, I am absolutely not supposed to be up on the stage.  Especially before the crew is there.  No. 2, I should not be holding that Starbucks.  But of course I had to run up and grab this shot.

This is our spot in the pit.  We get little monitors so that we can see our conductor.  FYI, we have the happiest, most fun conductor ever, Peter White.  

The orchestra got an extra 5 min break to rest our chops and we got to see the ladies of the cast get ready for a scene.

This has been a super long week.  We've had about 40 hours of rehearsal.  Which for a normal person may not seem unusual, but for a musician it's crazy.  We're finally into previews, so this should slow down a little bit.  Today feels like a day off because we only have 1 show tonight at 7.  I have been struggling with some arm issues.  I'm going to get a massage today and get them to work on it.  I think it's just over worked right now.  I'm hoping that this morning break today will bring my lips back to a normal size.  They're looking a little Angelina Jolie right now.  They tend to swell up a bit when you have the horn on your face for that many hours in the day.

......and the Les Miserables tour begins.

We arrived in Millburn, New Jersey on Friday, November 12th to begin rehearsals for the national tour of Les Miserables.  Here's Adam, the best keyboard player on the block, eyeing our poster at the local Starbucks.  Leaving the city at about 8 am every morning makes the musicians cry for coffee before 7 hours of rehearsal.  

Living in the city you forget what Suburbia is like.  The fall colors are gorgeous!

We are currently rehearing at the town park in Millburn.  Our rehearsal space is a community center until we move to the theater on Wednesday.  This little lagoon is right outside our space and provides a gorgeous backdrop during our breaks.