Thursday, August 31, 2006

Another Saigon

I should not have done it, but I audition for the role of Engineer in yet another community theater version of Miss Saigon that has bubbled up in Wilmette, Ill. With the last three terms of my online master's degree (I'll finish on Christmas Day), it was not a wise choice to potentially get involved in another musical. But I couldn't help myself, and expressed to the theater producers that I would only do it if given the role of the Engineer.

Well, after a mediocre singing audition and a fab dance audition, they called me back last night. I waited for what seemed like forever as they went through all the actors one at a time. After an hour of waiting, they called me in. They had me sing, "American Dream," and after a few directorial notes, I sunk my teeth into it. I felt totally into the zone and into being the Engineer. Just enough pizazz, just enough bitterness, just enough optimism and "I'd kill for the American Dream" quality. After I was done, I was so jazzed that I had to walk the halls for a half-hour reliving the glory in my head (I'm a mental case, aren't I). Anyway, I walked away thinking I did my best and if they cast someone else, so be it. But I was getting good vibes from the director. If I get it it'll be hard, but exciting.

Again, I'll have to really plan my days so I'm not screwing with my degree (and my real job) if they offer me the role. Keep your fingers crossed!

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Hot August

My summer is just flying by. Two weekends ago was camping and Bob's daughters' visit to Chicago. The girls (and the younger daughter's husband) stayed with us from Thursday through Monday. I had a scheduled camping trip to the gay campground in Saugatuck, Mich., so could only be with Bob and the girls Thursday and Sunday night.

In any case, camping was a blast. Although I had a tent, I got in Friday after dark and so I just sat around the campfire and drank. I opted to sleep in the car the first night. But the next day, I got the tent up and it was fun. We went into town (the group I was camping with) and saw the beautiful vista of the lake and town from the top of a dune. Then we went back into the town and I got streamers to make a costume for the "Mardi Gras" celebration that was set for that night. Needless to say I got into the spirit of it all with the beads etc. Around the campfire that night we got a little crazy and I threw my costume into the fire. It was fun.

When I got back, the girls told me of their exciting day at Arlington Race Track (Bob had gotten them luxury box seating from his work). They love horses. Then we went out for dinner and a bit of Karaoke.

Anyway, now back to the everyday. I spent last weekend moving old furniture to Salvation Army and to a storage room that Bob and I rent. Just trying to chill before my online classes start again (I had a week off). Oh well, fun, fun, fun.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Dancing at Market Days



Some of the Gay Games dancers got together to perform at Market Days this weekend. This is a photo from yesterday. The performance went really well and as our host said, we stopped the block. As we danced, we created enough of a spectacle that the entire block of people stood and watched as we performed. It was great. And Joel Hall, our choreographer, was there and he loved it! We all had a blast, and about 10 other Gay Games dancers came out to support. I'm sure today's performance will also be a blast.

The second picture is of our host, Marc Rubin and his people doing the Hokey Pokey in honor of the festival's anniversary (I'm not sure how old the festival is, but here they are).

Then there's camping next weekend at the gay camp ground, whee!

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Hot August Agenda

Today is the first day of what we in Chicago call Market Days. It's the annual street festival on Halsted in an area called Boy's Town. It's the district with all the gay bars, and the festival ends up being a big gay gathering. Our Gay Games team of dancers decided to perform Joel Hall's piece on a stage that'll be set up there. So I'll be doing a quick dance both today and tomorrow at around 2:45 just one door south of a bar called Gentry. Then next weekend, I'll be driving to Saugatuck, Mich., to camp with a bunch of guys from Long Yang Club and the Western Suburban Gay Association. There's a gay camp ground there. I did it last year and it was a blast. Fun, fun, fun!