Palm Desert, CA

IS BEAUTIFUL. it is palm trees and mountains all in one. it is beautiful heat and zero humidity. it is shopping mall next to pool. It reminds me of where my family used to vacation growing up, Ocean Reef in Key Largo, FL. It's the closest place I've found to FL yet on tour so far. It was my roomie Erica's birthday last night, so a bunch of us went out for sushi after the show, which was amazing.

Shows? Well, we did 5 in like 48 hours. It felt great to jump right back into the show again, I really, truly missed it. This show is so much more than just a musical-it's an emotional journey that requires intense committment and faith. It's like spilling your soul out onstage. The show opens with my husband dying in front of my eyes, Jesus resurrecting him, riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday worshipping Jesus, to cheering for Jesus to be beaten and killed, straight to playing his mother at the crucifixition. It's an emotional whirlwind, and unlike anything I've ever done before. Unlike a lot of musical theatre, there's no tricks to fall back on, no funny characters to hide behind, only truth and absolute grounded reality and PASSION. When I'm not onstage (maybe about 15 minutes of the show) I am watching, drawn in to Ted's incredible acting in great moments like Gethesemene (ahh spelling sorry).

Tomorrow we have a 5 AM bus load for a very, very long drive on our way to Portland, Oregon or our next three shows and quality time with Audrey, Tim, and the Teasdales!!!!!!!!! My busmate David and I plan on watching Judy Garland movies all day long...love me some Judy, as most of you know.

Ok love you alll!!!!


XOXOXOXO
Haley

Maestro and I at his house after singing showtunes!!

Hello all! I am now out of beautiful Colorado and am in Palm Desert, CA, which is also very beautiful, might I add. It is so warm we all took a jacuzzi after the show tonight, which was really awesome.

But, before California, I had an amazing time on our Thanksgiving stopover in Las Vegas. Lonely for home and family at first, that all went away and I had a fabulous time when I re-united with a member of my CLOC family- Maestro Weiller and his brother- for a fabulous Thanksgiving evening. We ended up having an amazing dinner and then went and sang show tunes at his house! It was SUCH a blast! It's not letting me download any more pictures right now but will put some up tomorrow as soon as it starts working.

After that, I was headed up to my hotel room, and put a little money in slots, and ended up winning 1100 dollars which was a huge shock. I never win anything. So I cashed out, ended buying a round of drinks for some of my cast friends in New York New York (not actually New York but a place in Vegas built to look like New York) and then went to bed.

Today was the bus ride to Palm Springs, in which I slept through the whole bus, then performed. It's a 5 show weekend (well 4 to go) so it should be fun. Ted is so amazing, getting to work with him is the most amazing artistic opportunity of my life!

More to come when pictures work!!

XO

H

Birthday and Opening in Colorado Springs!

b-day jammin'- 11/24

The JCS ladies out on my birthday/opening night 11/24 (yes, there are only seven of us including Mary! )

a church on the way to Greeley today with mountains in the background- 11/25

Garden of the Gods- Colorado Springs- incredibly spiritual, breath-taking nature-11/23

next up: Thanksgiving in Vegas, then to CA

XOXOOX

Haley

my roomie and I at the pre-opening night party

In the dressing room in Alto, New Mexico

LOVE LOVE LOVE this show and this cast.

Opening night party was crazy fun-

Today Marissa and her Mom came to see the show and I was so excited to have someone there!!

Colorado Springs tomorrow!!!

XO TO ALL

Haley

Hey there, hi there, ho there, as ClOCers would say! It has been a few days since I've written, although not altogether on purpose as the internet has been funky and cutting out. I spent like half an hour writing a post two nights ago, only to promptly be signed off without my draft being saved. I needed a 48 hour frustration period before re-embarking. So I'll try to remember everything I said plus the last two days too.

I am here in Alto, New Mexico. Well, actually, right now I'm not. We are performing and teching in Alto, but the only things in Alto are the most gorgeous mountains you've ever seen in the US and a huge modern theatrical structure that seems to appear out of the sky as you are driving the mile upwards. It is a breath-taking drive up to the theatre (my friend David and I made our poor friend Billy pull over for several pictures,) and Spencer theatre itself is gorgeous.

There is really just too much to talk about about the last few days, so I'll just list my top moments here so far:
1. In the town where we are staying, Rudioso or something like that, there are at least four stores with signs outside that say "we buy antlers."

2. There is also a small hut in the middle of said town that is boldly labeled Times Square on it.
Not putting the town down though, it is gorgeous and has so many quaint shops, good eatin', and a fun karaoke bar, all one really needs!

3. oxygen masks at the theatre-yes, I'm being serious. The altitude is so high up in Alto that they provide oxygen masks offstage so that after big dance numbers we can go get some air.

4. Laughing at the oxygen masks, then running for them an hour later after dancing our big number, Simon's Dance, waiting in a line for it, and thoroughly utilizing it. Thank goodness for our lungs that we are doing Jesus Christ Superstar up here, not Hot Feet or Movin' Out!

5. On another more serious note, being onstage for the Crucifixtion scene even during tech., undoubtedly the most intense theatre I've ever done. I come on as Jesus's mother at the end, with Mary Magdeline across from me, and Jesus in the middle. I literally have to watch him die on the cross. I literally stood there and bawled for ten minutes, then promptly went up to Jesus after rehearsals and said "I really need to hug you right now so that I know you are in fact ok." He is an incredible actor, and I feel so lucky and blessed to be a part of this production!!!!!!

More to come,
xo
Haley

Three Days

Three days from now I will be previewing in Alto, New Mexico! So exciting! Still have a lot further to go, but have come a long way and am looking forward to the journey. Our creative team has been so encouraging and, for me, this has really brought out the best in me as a performer.

Packing has not really been happening. I bought and ipod and a dvd player, practically went broke on them, so that I have stuff to keep me entertained on the bus rides.
tty soon
xo
Haley

Rehearsals in NYC

Wow, what an amazing week it has been! We started rehearsals on the 30th, and head out to New Mexico to tech. a week from today. The people are so incredibly talented and committed, and I learn something from each one of them every day. There is a wonderful positive energy about the cast, I seriously love each and every person. There are only seven girls total and like twenty guys, so good odds for us girls :)

I am now pretty much feeling comfortable with my music, choreography, and actions. It's an exciting score to get to sing every other night, and a huge emotional committment and journey. Literally, I start the show with my husband getting killed right in front of me, and Jesus resurrecting him, fast forward to worshipping and following Jesus into Jerusalem, and then screaming to crucify him at the end of the second act. Every single actor on that stage is so committed moment-to-moment, its really amazing to get to work with them.

We hit the road a week from today to head to New Mexico for previews. I am excited, nervous, all of the above, but overall honored to be a part of such a wonderful cast for my first ever tour. I seriously cannot think of a better group of people to spend the next seven months of my life with!

OK, got to go do laundry and pack. more later this week.
XO
H