The One Week City

St. Louis, Missouri 

So after our stint of spending two weeks in one city, which is very rare on the road, it has come to an end in St. Louis.  This was the first city in what feels like forever that we were only in one spot for about seven days.  Of course, it is when we have really large rooms that are spacious with a refrigerator and a microwave so we all want to stay for more than a week too.  Go figure, it’s just how this works.

And even though this was the second time that I had been in the city; we were performing in a different venue that had me all turned around because I kept thinking back to the arena we performed at last year. 

Sometimes it amazes me that cities are able to support two large arenas for different teams like that where each are just as popular in different markets. 

While the arenas were puzzling me, the city itself was not.  For one of the few times, things actually came back and I remembered where things were, like the Arch and the City Museum and along with that, the memories came flowing back as well. 

Since we were visiting the “Gateway to the West” in the winter, I was quite grateful that I was adventurous last time when the sun was shining and it was warm.  This time was quite a different story. 

Not only did the snow follow us and the two days that were in the 40’s and 50’s with sun disappeared to snow before we left, but of course flu season came back around and this time I was down for the count.  It was only a matter of time and well this was my time.

However, that did not completely stop me, because one of the off days I was able to make it out and of course find a reason to go shopping. 

With more items in my possession it was time to cram them back into my luggage and pray that my bags were not too heavy for another flight and this time it was across the boarder.

We were heading to Canada for the first time abroad for this tour. 

O Canada…O Canada…

Snow, Snow, and More Snow = SNOW DAY!!

Boston, Massachusetts

We finally made it!!  We arrived in Boston and still had two days off to spare.  Little did we know, we were getting ourselves into a long two weeks of snow and long drives to the arena. 

Traffic was awful and it took two hours just to get to the arena on opening night and that was jus the beginning of it.  Most of the time, the bus didn’t even show up and we were taking taxicabs or the train to get into work.  It definitely made for an interesting time especially when more snow hit. 

Blizzard!!

As if Boston didn’t have enough snow already, we were in for more. 

Topping off at about three feet of snow, we even had a Snow Day!!

Who gets snow days at work?!  WE DO!! 

It was perfect timing to since we were snowed in after we got back from our shows on Valentine’s Day we were not only able to celebrate the holiday, but also spend some extra time with the lovely break workers from D15. 

Saying Goodbye to them was definitely hard, just like every other time, but we are really hoping to see them all again soon!  

Keeping our heads high and pushing through we were starting the second week in the city with 16 shows.  Luckily, we started getting lunches on three-show days since our tour schedule is so busy and it gives us something else to look forward to in order to get through the days. 

A few other treats came this week too along with my birthday :)   

Thinking happy thoughts and smiling through the birthday wishes from home, we went to the Beehive.  It just happened to be on the one day we had off that week and it was on Mardi Gras.  So, the Beehive was perfect for everyone since it was a restaurant, a jazz bar, a lounge, and a club all wrapped into one.  It made for a good night and fond memories.  

By the end of our two weeks though, we were all ready to move on to the next city and get out of all this snow. 

Show Buzz #4

D34!

It was starting to look and feel a lot like the Christmas season on tour even though we were down south.  The Christmas trees and lights were starting to make their appearances in the make-up rooms and hotel rooms and we even had the pleasure to go to a crewmember’s house for a homemade Christmas dinner!  We were definitely getting spoiled with homemade cookies and apple cider.  There were even Christmas trees in every room of the house!  Also, as a little treat from our PD, he starting pulling people out to watch the shows so we can get an idea of what we are part of being on Frozen. 

Adding to our Christmas treats and the holiday spirit we had Christmas class and documented it with pictures and videos.  Everyone showed up and skated in their very best red and green attire with bows, Santa hats, and jingle bells.

Topping off that week in Fayetteville we had our first company BBQ on the road! Yes, it was cold now, but the ugly Christmas sweaters and homemade hot chocolate kept us warm as we huddled around the grills for warmth. 

We thought it was cold then, well we were in store for even colder weather heading north for our last long bus ride of the calendar year to Philadelphia where we had our first three days off of the tour!  We hadn’t had more than a day or two off since before we started rehearsals and the crew and FCP were lucky to have just a day off once every few months.  Everyone was ready to relax for a few days before starting our crazy schedule. 

We also wanted to take those days and enjoy what we could of the holidays! After all, it was Christmas Eve! Then, we opened the show on Christmas Day and hit the ground running after that.  We were all in high spirits though after exchanging Secret Santa gifts and White Elephant Parties along with the surprise little gifts in the make-up rooms.  This kept us going through the 28 shows in 11 days and of those shows was a 15-pack to start it all off. 

Knowing that New Year’s was approaching gave us something to strive to because then we knew the rest would be easy and soon the engagement would conclude and we had four days off in our future!

It was definitely well deserved for everyone and most of us too advantage of the time and went home for the first time since the middle of July.

It was hard to believe though that when we opened in Cleveland, that was our 200^th show!  We weren’t even half way through the year and did that many shows!

It was just a crazy concept.  Coming off of two crazy weeks, we had two lighter weeks ahead before moving on to Illinois. 

From there, it was luxury-style living with apartment-like rooms for the week and all the room we had at the hotel made up for the lack of room that we had at the arena.  We were literally in closets for the make-rooms and costume rooms, but that did not stop the never-ending lines of audience members coming into the building every day. 

We did manage to make it through and being able to watch U.S. Nationals along with the X-Games, and Miss Universe helped pass the time and provided us with some pretty good laughing sessions as well. 

Before we knew it, we were off to the Windy City.  Unfortunately, we did not get to stay at the Embassy Suites that everyone raves about though. However, we were still able to enjoy the usual highlights that the city has to offer. 

Aside from the fancy lights, shopping, and deep-dish pizza Chicago-style, we were plagued by snow.  It not only affected the show schedule cancelling a show and adding it to a day off, but it also kept us in the city for additional days before we could move on to the next city on the schedule, but that also meant that we were able to attend the Black Hawks vs. Coyotes hockey game!

So, it has been a crazy year already and even though we have a lot more cities to go before we can say we completed Year #1 on the New Show, we are here for the rollercoaster ride that lies ahead.  

Places to see:

Raleigh – 150 shows, 4 shows added, Christmas at Brian Moore’s house 

Fayetteville – Christmas class, Christmas BBQ, ugly Christmas sweaters 

Philadelphia – 28 shows in 11 days, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year’s Eve and Day, Secret Santa, White Elephant Party

Cleveland – Opening Night was 200^th show, 4^th street is a line of bars, restaurants, and little shops closed down to traffic, Chocolate Bar

Rosemont – 9-pack, Steak ‘N Shake, Longhorns, outlet shopping

Chicago – The Bean, The Sky Deck at Willis Tower, The Skating Ribbon Trail, 12-pack, The Magnificent Mile, Black Hawks vs. Coyotes hockey game  

Special Thanks:

Thank you to all the D-15 and D-32 skaters and crewmembers that have come to D-34 to help us out!  Your time an effort has been greatly appreciate and we hope to see you all back in the near future!  Until then, Good Luck on your shows and your Frozen family will miss you!

The Windy City – Round #Two

Chicago, IL

It’s crazy how much a city can change from season to season.  Being here last year when the sun was shining and it was about 90 degrees outside is so different from snow and freezing temperatures. 

However, all the feelings from being here before came back the moment I stepped out onto the ice at the United Center.  The lighting, the make-up and costume rooms, and the local workers, and even the very hallway I spoke to my Dad in before I took the ice to make my professional debut were all still the same.  Everything came rushing back even the anxiousness and rapid heart beating; it was time to start the show!

Of course this time I knew a little bit more of what to expect, but like any larger city there were important eyes in the audience and lots of families and friends visiting, making it that much more exciting!

Also, knowing that we had a little bit of time off to explore the big city again was quite rewarding and with the amount of snow we received this week we had our first show cancellation giving us a little more time to venture out.

Of course we revisited the Bean and the Magnificent Mile for some shopping, but we also found the Maggie Daley Ribbon Trail to skate on.  It was an outdoor ice trail in the downtown area.  So, go figure on our one-day off in between all the added shows and rescheduling from the cancellation, we decided to do more skating.

You could say we really weren’t skating; it was more like racing around to see who could get around the trail the quickest before we got too cold and our toes felt like they were going to fall off.

But then it was time to get back to business and just like the snow changed the show schedule for the week, it also affect our travel day as well.  It turns out, that we were in Chicago for two more days after the show ended and one of those days we were lucky enough to get to go to the Chicago Black Hawks game versus the Arizona Coyotes!

Now, hoping for better weather and a clear path to get on our way heading even further north into more snow.

See you in New England soon!

Sometimes it’s Not All About the Fancy Lights

Rosemont, IL

Even though we were close to the Windy City, we were just far enough away and with the weather as cold as it was, it was nice to just stay in our luxurious rooms.  We were basically living in our own apartments for the week with one room designated to the bedroom and the other for a living area.  Having the two separate rooms always makes the stay that much nicer and we were actually able to spread out.  We were not living on top of each other!

This made for lots and lots of movie nights and even bubble baths!!

All this space in the hotel made up for the lack of space at the building, however this did not stop the audience.  The lines outside the arena were extending as far as we could see even as we were just arriving for the shows.

With this many people, you would have thought the arena was huge, but behind the scenes though, it was a very cramped week that tested everyone’s patience.  Literally it was like choreography in the make-up and costume rooms just to tie your skates. 

Being this close to one another, we all looked forward to getting out of there, but that did not stop some of the fun. 

Thank goodness for a TV and US Nationals, the X-Games, and the Miss Universe pageant and those things alone helped pass yet another 9-pack. 

Topping it all off, we had ice cream at company meal!!

And before we knew it, we were off to the Windy City!

I'm Coming Home!

Cleveland, Ohio

There is no better feeling than coming home after a long time away.  Seeing familiar scenery and not having a worry in the world.  Yes, it was a only a short time, but it was just enough.  Home really is where the heart is and nothing will ever change that.  

Don't get me wrong having friends and family visit on the road is definitely nice and much appreciated, but there is something about walking in the door to the place I grew up and seeing the house still decorated for the holidays and sleeping in the my own room in my own bed.  It never gets old.  

It was the first time we have had four days off since before we left for rehearsals back in July, so needless to say, this was my first time home since then as well.  

Ah the country side…

The time always flies and I wished it could have been longer, but it was time to get back and bring all the skating supply presents from the skate shop.  

It was like Christmas all over again!   

And because I was relatively close to home, this time with my family was extended as well as some friends came to visit!

I know I say this every time, but saying goodbye never gets easy.  I know I will see everyone again at some point, its just the waiting process and knowing that they will not physically be there every step of the way.  

However, pushing those thoughts out of my head, it was time to enjoy the time that they were there and soak it all in.  And what a better way of doing so, than at the Chocolate Bar!

I couldn't even believe my eyes! I was lost in chocolate…

It was a great place to warm up after those negative temperatures outside and falling snow flakes.   

Just like all other good things, they must come to end and become a memory in the past.  

Moving forward, we were into a different time zone...

Tis’ the Season to be Jolly!

Philadelphia, PA

We had been gearing up for these two weeks since the day we found out how many shows there were going to be in Philadelphia.  Later of course, more shows were added and in the end we did 28 shows in 11 days including a 15-pack.  It was literally a marathon and on top of that, the bigger holidays for many people were thrown right into the middle of the mix. 

Luckily, everyone was in the holiday spirit and jolly, ready to take on the crazy days that were ahead of us.

Since we opened the show on Christmas Day, most of the holiday celebrations happened on the three days off we had.  It was almost our little holiday treat since that was the first time we had three days off since before the start of rehearsals.  

Enjoying the time off, we all took full advantage of it, from finally finishing the Christmas shopping, to exchanging gifts, Secret Santa exchanges, White Elephant parties, dinner celebrations, and sleep!

Some people were even able to see some friends and family from home while others were able to venture home for the beginning of the holidays.

For the others that were not able to do so, Santa did visit and oh boy did he ever!  The mail load was increasingly larger than what it normally is.  So, even though it may not have actually felt like Christmas with two shows on what normally is a day to spend with your family, we still made it as much like a holiday as we possibly could.

Keeping our spirits high and counting down the shows, it was time to bring in the New Year and no better way than to be surrounded by friends and the ones we care about.  

Happy 2015!  May it bring lots of luck and joy to everyone. 

We all survived Philadelphia! 

On the road again to Cleveland, OH, but not before some much needed time at home!