Greetings from South Carolina! Myrtle Beach, to be exact. The sun is shining and the temperature is fifty-four degrees. It is only the 6th of March, so I suppose I can wait for the temp to rise to a more comfortable degree. To all of you in places still covered with snow, I do apologize for my apparent lack of gratitude in fair weather.
I am currently under contract with a theater and performing in two shows. We have up to ten shows each week. Let me clarify our "week" for you. The theater is only open five days a week, so we do a minimum of ten shows in five days. It is fun, but it is quite a test in fighting off exhaustion and injury. I have failed in the injury department and found myself with a damaged knee. It is not continuing to feel worse, so I believe that is a good sign. I am being very attentive and careful with what I do, so as to not create a larger issue. However, I am a perfectionist and am growing increasingly frustrated that I am not in the full show. At the end of the day, I need to remember that this is not the end of the world and that I only have 18 more show days. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!" Thanks, Kelly.
I have some very exciting news. I have accepted another contract with Stiletto Entertainment (Holland America Cruise Line) and will be performing on the ms Nieuw Amsterdam. (http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-onboard/NieuwAmsterdam) It is the newest ship to the Holland America fleet and it is absolutely gorgeous. The theme of the entire ship is New York City since Nieuw Amsterdam was the original name for The Big Apple. Check out the link above for pictures and video tours of this incredible ship.
The cast for this particular ship is quite different from any other ship I have worked on. There are four male singers, (one legit/operatic, one lead, two dancer/singer) two female singers, (one lead and one singer/dancer) four female dancers, and two male dancer. I have been cast as one of the dancer/singers.
The shows on this ship look incredible and I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my music, so that I can dive in and start learning. The rehearsal process goes quite quickly, so I find it best to be as close to "off-book" as I can by the time I begin rehearsing.
The ship will be sailing in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean while I am on board and will visit places including, but not limited to: Venice (Italy), Athens (Greece), Mykonos (Greece), Istanbul (Turkey), Naples (Italy), Rome (Italy), Croatia, Barcelona (Spain), Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Honduras, and Puerto Rico. I will begin rehearsal on May 22nd and will board the ship on July 6th in Barcelona, Spain. Dream!
This is a highly coveted contract on a stellar ship and I feel incredibly honored for the opportunity. So, I do not know if the South will rise again, but it sure does look like I am about to.
What is new and good for all of you?
Have a blessed week! Love, love, and more love, beauties.
-Photographs courtesy of Holland America Line and Adam Roberts (via Facebook).
