Jesus Christ Superstar Tour

4 Months In - Musings on the road

2008-03-14T05:15:00.002-04:00

It's been a long time since I've last posted something on this blog about the show, and there are plenty of reasons as to why I stopped. The main reason is frankly because I got tired of writing the blog. It's interesting how redundant things get out on the road. The same people, the same show, the same bus, and the hours go by quickly and slowly at the same time, a monotony that never quite lifts itself from whatever new experience you encounter. Yet, at the same time, there is a wonderful freedom to it all, and a family atmosphere that rears its wonderful head at times when you least expect it. The friendships that are made are bound by the frustrations of the road at first, then by the subtleties of the individual personalities. Tempers flare and the smiles become a bit more wry and ironic, but for me it feels almost fulfilling to see those emotions. We all feel tired, lonely at times, pained by the lack of the familiarities of "home." It's a strange comfort to know that you aren't alone in those feelings, though. They come and go, good and bad, which I guess isn't that abnormal. Every night, though, the show is still there, and so are the audience, waiting to be entertained, to experience a story that will lift themselves up, make them cry, laugh, just emote right back at the action in front of them. And that, for me, is what keeps things moving. Whether it's a roar for the ensemble or for anyone else on that stage, it's the fuel that keeps the fire burning. I've met a few fans personally over the last few months, and the stories they have are always interesting, and the reaction that they have to us is often daunting to me. "Why," I ask myself? "I'm just a dude from NY who sings." And like Ted has always said, "I'm just a rock drummer from Texas." I guess it's just a so-be-it kind of thing. We traveling folk have our own little world, filled with drama just like the rest of the world. It'll be nice for us to have our little break coming up here.

Arcata, CA

2008-01-11T04:41:00.000-05:00

After a stop-over in San Jose coming from San Diego, we made our way to Arcata, CA on Tuesday and performed our first of two shows that night. The theater was comparitively tiny to all the other theaters we have been in so far, but I found it to be very quaint and personal with the audience to be perfectly honest. The shows took place at Humbolt University, but since it's winter break, there weren't very many students around. The shows were great, and this morning we took off at 6am to head down to Bakersfield. The drive took 12 hours through the mountains in the beginning and down a long stretch of highway afterwards. Tomorrow, we role out for Costa Mesa and spend the weekend there for 5 shows in three days. Looking forward to a little taste of Orange County!

San Diego - The Sequel

2008-01-07T18:24:00.000-05:00

A long weekend to finish out the San Diego leg of our tour. We had a show on Friday, two on Saturday, and two on Sunday followed by a 5am departure this morning to begin our trek up to Arcata, CA. We're all very tired, and all very thankful that we have a day of rest today after our long drive.
The shows were received extraordinarily well in San Diego. I had the pleasure of meeting a few fans and faithful readers as well, which I always enjoy. The city was wonderful, and despite the rough patch of weather this weekend, the city still allowed for an overall good time.
We are in San Jose for the rest of the day until a 6am departure tomorrow to get us the rest of the way to Arcata, another 350 miles if I remember correctly. We have 2 shows there and then we head back down south to the outskirts of Los Angeles in Orange County for a weekend. More to come once we experience Arcata!

San Diego, CA - Half Way

2008-01-05T01:49:00.000-05:00

We're pretty much half way through our stint here in San Diego, and so far it's been a ball. A great city with an awesome night life, we got to ring in the New Year in the Gas Lamp district at a pretty crazy bar. It was raucous and fun-filled like any party should be. In fact, only one fight broke out at the bar! We, of course, were all safe....The following day, most of the cast went on over to the San Diego Zoo. We spent most of the day there and took in all the animals, including the baby panda in the morning. I have to say that it was surprising to see no giraffes there. What's a zoo without a giraffe?!
Anyways, after three shows, the audiences have been great and everyone is healthy and happy. The weather has been 70 and sunny for the most part, although it's supposed to rain this weekend. Tomorrow and Sunday, we have two shows each day. The theater is throwing the cast a little barbecue between shows tomorrow. They do it for every tour that comes through. It's pretty neat to look backstage and see all the plaques they have hanging on the walls of all the shows that have been through the house since 1995.
Also, on a more personal note (and I know my brother will appreciate this), I got to stand backstage with Ted before the second act singing "Renegade" from Styx and talked about how Ted knows Dennis DeYoung and Tommy Shaw. I'm a nerd, I know, but that was a pretty fun moment for me. Alright, more to come of San Diego on Monday next week. Until then, come see the show if you're in the area! We'll be rolling out on Monday to Arcata, CA.

San Jose, CA

2007-12-31T19:12:00.000-05:00

This past weekend in San Jose was quite eventful. Right by the theater we were playing at, there was a Christmas fair going on. Lots of rides and games and whatnot. Plus a lot of places to eat, which is always a good thing for travelers. It was a long weekend with double show days on both Saturday and Sunday. Sunday was our first day of call outs. Corey called in sick for Sunday, so our fantastic Matthew Myers took on the role of Judas. Matt did an outstanding job, receiving some of the biggest applause our cast has heard so far. Since Matt usually plays Simon, Phillip Armstrong (one of the magnificient apostles) stepped up to play Simon and sang his face off for his big solo number. It was an interesting experience having new blood in some of the major roles for the day, but definitely broke the routine down a little bit and gave some new life to the cast. After a 7 hour drive down the coast, we are now in San Diego and will be here until the 6th of January. Time for a long sit-down in a place where it's almost always 70 and sunny. Things could be worse :-) I'll try and do a few postings during our stay here just to stay current with you, my constant reader!

Redding, CA - Xmas Posting

2007-12-27T04:08:00.000-05:00

After our drive on Christmas Eve from Seattle to Redding, CA (599 miles), everyone was pretty zonked. After a visit to Applebee's and Chevy's, we were pretty much ready to turn in for the night. Christmas Day was pretty uneventful for the most part since everything was closed for the day. That evening though, our Company Manager, Ray, was kind enough to organize a little party for our cast. A few of our illustrious cast members spent the day putting together a feast with the use of a microwave and pure ingenuity. I have to say it was quite well-accomplished. The cast rang in Xmas in proper style.
This evening, we hopped over to the convention center for a little performance time and the show was as well-received as one could hope for. The few days of rest did everyone a bit of good, and San Jose lies ahead of us, followed by San Diego. This will be a nice sit-down for the cast, and a good time to experience a little bit of the west coast without running around very much. Looking forward to warmer weather!!!

Seattle!

2007-12-23T14:18:00.000-05:00

First off, this town is awesome. I think I would move here if I ever moved west permanently. Great city, and so far the crowds have been ridiculous (in a good way, of course). Teddy was feeling a bit under the weather yesterday, and almost had to call out for the matinee, but being the consumate performer, Ted made his best efforts and at the last minute, came to the theater in rockstar fashion and blew the show out of the water. Corey has received a lot of love from the audiences here as well, and well-deserved might I add. The theater here has the best sound we've experienced so far, adding to my personal enjoyment of our current stint.
The cast also closed out our Secret Santa extravaganza last night at our hotel, giving out the last of our gifts and revealing who we all were. The gifts ranged from liqour to magazine subscriptions and all were in good fun. One of our priests in the show (Thomas), et al., put together a journal of everyone's musings about Ted, for Ted, and it really came out quite well. It was a blast last night, so spirits are high, and the tour goes on!

Portland, OR

2007-12-22T03:26:00.000-05:00

Just finished a stint in Portland, Oregon, a long week still ahead of us after 3 shows here. Two shows tomorrow in Seattle, then another matinee on Sunday before Christmas hits. Portland is an awesome city, a whole bunch of things to do here, not to mention getting my computer fixed at an Apple store. The theater here is quite fantastic, and it looks even better when our two evening shows were filled up to capacity. The cast is starting to feel the toll of the road, up at 5 or 6 in the morning the past few days and driving to the new city to perform that night. The road has it's ups and downs like most things in life. The group is still tight nit though, in it for the long haul. It's off to Seattle tomorrow. Hoping for no rain.....perhaps wishful thinking :-)

Kennewick and Bellingham

2007-12-18T19:34:00.000-05:00

After a 12 hour bus ride across the border, we arrived in Spokane for the night and boy we needed it. I personally slept about 7 of those 12 hours, so the trip could have been worse :-) The next day, we drove to Kennewick and opened to 1500 people at another ice arena, the Toyota Center. A couple of famous hockey players have played there, so I was excited. The show was well-received, and most of the cast was finally able to get back on their cell phones and communicate with the world again. The next day, another 8 hour drive across the state to Bellingham, where last night we played in a vintage-style opera house. The audience was great and really responded to Corey, who has raised his game with every show. On a fun note, right outside the back of the theater, there was a mural on the brick wall of an adjacent building of Da Vinci's Last Supper. If you haven't seen the show yet, you'll understand how apropos that was when you do! The apostles, of course, took a picture in front of it.

Calgary, 2nd Day Update

2007-12-15T00:30:00.000-05:00

I'll tell you what, there was some kind of crowd tonight for our last Canadian show until Toronto. The lights went to half and the audience was already cheering, and their energy never stopped. Ted delivered tonight on an unprecedented level, a Gethsemane that sounded like it was 1975. Next up, a 10 hour bus ride across the border....well, it can't all be glitz and glamour.

Calgary, AB

2007-12-14T12:44:00.000-05:00

So, thank you to Alberta for being awesome for selling out the majority of our shows. Our first show in Calgary last night was great. The theater here is an exact replica of the one in Edmonton down to the last fire exit, and I have to say that being backstage was a little creepy. A very powerful sense of deja vu existed for all of us. We've got 2 shows today, one at 3pm and one at 7:30pm. Everyone's healthy and happy, and the hotel is beautiful. I have to say that Canada doesn't have much love for Macintosh. There isn't one Apple store outside of Ontario. What's up with that!!! Oh, and I'm down with Moxie's Steak House. Couple of fans spotted us at the resturaunt after the show last night and bought us a bottle of wine! First moment of rock-stardom for us tour-goers I'd say.

Red Deer, AB last night

2007-12-13T16:51:00.000-05:00

Red Deer was last night. A one stop show. The venue was a hockey arena, my first experience with performing a show in such a venue. The arena is usually used for WHL games (Western Hockey League), for those of you Americans who know not of such things. The sound was pretty solid for an arena, and being a former hockey player myself, the place had a comforting feel to it. Denny's was also a place visited yesterday....I have to say it is sub-par compared to IHOP. That's just me, talk amongst yourselves.....but I digress. We're in Calgary now, home of the Flames, and have a show tonight and our first matinee tomorrow, three shows in total for the week in this city. Then onto the US!!!

Opening Night!

2007-12-11T15:05:00.000-05:00

Last night was opening night....2,500 people, sold out. The show was fantastic and intense as always. The crowd seemed to approve of what we did, giving a standing O from the moment the ensemble walked on stage for bows. Tonight, our 2nd of two shows in Edmonton, is also sold out. We have a Walmart run today for odds and ends, so maybe I'll go purchase a firearm...or a pillow, whatever moves me at the time. We head out to Red Deer tomorrow for one show and then to Calgary for a 3-show stint, including our first matinee/double-show day of the tour. We return to the states after that.
On a seperate note, Van Halen played 2 nights ago in Edmonton as we rolled into town. David Lee Roth is staying at the same hotel we're staying at, which, as a major Halen fan, I must say is quite awesome. Wonder if Ted is friendly with the guys from Halen? I best go ask him such a question!

Preview Night!!!

2007-12-08T15:26:00.000-05:00

Last night the show opened in preview form to a packed house in Banff. The reception by the crowd was phenomenal. Ted was outstanding and had moments where he sounded 20 years younger. It was thoroughly impressive. The show has really come together and the intensity has shot through the roof.
The cast has become extremely close already. There is truly no one person who isn't positive or simply cool. After the performance last night, we had an after party and it was pretty wild. Drinking occurred late into the night, and even at 3 in the morning coming back from the pub, Ted was spotted in the lobby talking to people about the show. We have the day off today (Saturday) and then roll out to Edmonton for the official opening night on Monday evening. It should be fun to hit the road finally, after all the time we've spent in the mountains. We've got Edmonton, Calgary, and Red Deer in Alberta before we head into Washington and back to the states. Time to get comfy on the bus!

Costume Day!...Day -5

2007-12-06T03:43:00.000-05:00

Whirlwind of a day! Afternoon rehearsal added the "orchestra," which I must say sounds pretty great, as professional as can be. After an afternoon of mic checks, we settled in for our first run with both costumes and full band. It was a lot to handle, but the cast came through better than anyone could have expected. Ted was incognito pre-performance, and seeing him for the first time in costume on stage during the overture was definitely an awe-inspiring sight. Corey has been turning it up a notch each time he steps on the stage. Plus, it was cool to sit backstage with him and the rest of the cast quoting "Coming to America" and talking about Stephen King books.
The show is gearing up, and all the tech is coming together. Each day it gets more exciting and intense to perform. Tomorrow night is an invited preview of sorts, and it should be interesting to have an audience after so little time. We'll see how it goes, and I'll let you know what happens!

Tech Day #2....Day -6

2007-12-04T19:33:00.000-05:00

The show is on its feet! Corey and Ted both showed up last night while we were teching and everyone has been feeling pretty good so far. Last night, the Movin' Out National Tour showed up at our hotel because they got caught in bad weather in Calgary, so everyone pretty much went out last night to a bar at some point to socialize or simply blow off some steam. Banff is quite awesome, like a ski town in Colorado but with a bit of a resort feel to it. Good times were definitely had by all last night.
Today, the JC understudies and Ted got to "fly," or get rigged up for the crucifiction scene. It was awesome. Plus, I got to meet Ted and have lunch with him. He lives up to his reputation as perhaps the nicest and most down-to-earth person you could meet. He sat with myself and Nate (the other JC understudy) and just was so honest and genuine. I look forward to the tour more and more each day as the teching continues. Tonight, Corey and Ted start on stage, so we'll have full cast for our work-thru. Should be great!

Travel Day #1....Day -8

2007-12-02T23:47:00.000-05:00

So off to the races today.....only slightly delayed. Sitting on the tarmac at JFK for 2 hours waiting to take off wasn't necessarily what one would prefer to start off their journey, but we made it to Calgary nontheless in pretty good spirits. Everyone was pretty tired, some not sleeping at all the night before, most running on 2-4 hours of sleep. Now we're in Banff, AB after taking the bus 2 hours through the mountains. The temperature: -4 deg. F.
The resort we're staying at is pretty swanky though; pool, hot tub, steam room, pretty much anything one could ask for. It's gonna be a long week, but it should be fun. Tomorrow teching begins, mostly dealing with sound and mics. We'll see how it goes, more to come. Now off to sleep!

Pre-Flight Post....Day -9

2007-12-01T12:18:00.000-05:00

Hey interested folks!
This will hopefully be the first of many rantings to come in this odyssey I and many others are about to undertake. Obviously, we are not the first group of people to go out on the road, but it is the first time this specific group of people are doing so. We fly out tomorrow from JFK at 8am and land in Calgary, AB, Canada, home of the Flames for you hockey fans. We then have a 2 hour drive to Banff, a mountain town resort-ish area where we tech for the week. Ted Neeley and Corey Glover will be joining us as well for the first time for rehearsals. Should be pretty awesome. Tiring, but awesome nontheless. I'll try and post things that are somewhat interesting over the course of the tour. I make no guarentees though, for I am not a wordsmith nor a poet. Email me directly if you want more details to what I say. Take care, and I look forward to perpetuating your wasting of time!
Rock on,
Evan