::OZ

This may be the longest stretch of time in which I haven't blogged anything on here...what's kept me so long, you ask? Let me inform you:

Oz.

This is by far the busiest, craziest, most crammed, packed in show I've ever been part of! Can't imagine? Well..two weeks to rehearse the show, two weeks to perform. That's how fast this sucker is.

Needless to say, my time has been pretty occupied with it. I'm not complaining - it's one of the most eye-opening, bazaar shows I've done(which is a good thing, I think). This is not a Fine Linen show, and much more out of my comfort and normal zone, but it's been very beneficial.

With several "Fine Lineners" being a part, of course then, they bring "Fine Linen fun" right along with them. Plus, I'm getting to meet many new friends(mostly munchkins...you don't know how fun those kids are!) and I'm enjoying working with this new cast and crew. Everyone is very talented, and I think it's safe to say that we may be having just too much fun becoming "Ozians."
What am I? I play the yellow brick road, a winkie, Ozian, Polisher, the Twister. Now that's a list of characters, or should I better say, "things," I never thought I would portray. :-) But in theater, it's sometimes the odd, little parts that are the most fun and goofy. I'm also playing Nikko.
Yeah I know, you have no idea who Nikko is. No one does. I didn't either. Well, you learn something new everyday.
Nikko is commander of the flying monkeys. AKA, the Wicked Witch's sidekick. He's the dumby who thinks he's some big stuff as first mate to the witch, when really, at the end of the day, he's the one who gets yelled at. I think the reason no one notices him is because he really doesn't do much in the movie. It's in the play that he actually gets his shining moments.

Yup, that me, up there, in the red hat. I'm the ape general who gets orders from the Witch, and carries them out with the other flying monkeys. That's right, I have my own minions too. Don't get me mixed up, now, I'm the head guy. I take my monkey status very seriously.
It may also interest you to know that I am a Hispanic monkey. But that's kind of my own twist on the character...

 Above is pictured left to right, Kaylee(our Toto in Oz), Greg(Tin Man), Blane(Lion), Michael(Scarecrow), and Tessie(Dorothy). These five do the cutest job as the principles in the story. You would think you're watching the movie, except that, in my opinion anyway, they're better.

 Gessell, our amazing choreographer, and some of the munchkins. Kelly, in the red shorts, is one of the finniest kids you'll ever meet. He plays Mayor of Munchkin City, and oh boy, does he ham it up! He steals the show, that's for sure.

Above, our Kansas Toto, played by Boromir. He's wonderfully trained, and just the sweetest thing. I'm delighted to have this cute little guy as my dance partner in one scene. :-)

Last night we ran all of ACT 1, put together in 5 days. *phew* We get Mondays off, but then it's back to work Tuesday for the rest of the week, and opening next Thursday, I believe.
 I plan on taking my camera to practices this week, but I may not have time to put them up till after the show. Now I've given you my excuses and I hope you can cut me some slack until after the show. Only 3 weeks, you know, so you shan't have to wait that long. I hope you're having a wonderful month of June - get out there and enjoy some extra nice weather for me, while I'm inside the theater! :-) See you all next month!