DC

me and the Lincoln Memorial

me and Judy's slippers

at the cast party with Joe and Ted

Ok, so it's been an awfully long time since I've written, so I'm just going to start with DC. DC was a fabulous week, even though I didn't get to see as much of it as I would have liked because I was trying to catch up on things that one has to catch up on during sitdowns on tour. Case in point, my hair was brown at the roots and blond on the bottom, so I needed to get it dyed one way or another. The first day in I traveled into Maryland and got it done at the Saks Salon, and now it is super, super blond!

The rest of the time I did the following things:

1. Saw the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Great War Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial in an hour and half, would have liked to have spent more time, but glad I saw them regardless.

2. went to the American history museum and got to see Judy Garland's ruby slippers (well, one pair of them-apparently there were like 10) from The Wizard of Oz, as well as Abe Lincoln's tophat, many of the old first lady's dresses, and the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the anthem.

3. had a cast mixer with the cast of JCS, Chorus Line, and Civil War, thanks to our marvelous casting director Dave, who happened to be in town to mount his production of Civil War at the Ford's Theatre

4.Troika threw us an awesome cast party opening night. We had such a blast, and everyone from the Troika office was there as well as cast and crew for food, drinks, and fun!

5. pretty much spent the rest of the time either sleeping, eating, or at the Warner Theatre. I ate sushi like four times that week, I have not the foggiest idea why.All and all, it was a good time, and my friend Caroline came the last night which was fun!

A Carolina Girl Again (well, for three days)

I just spent the last four days in Durham, NC, about 15 minutes away from where I spent the last four years of my life. It was a really weird mix of emotions being back- a simulatenous finality (I didn't go to my graduation so it was my first time there as a "graduate," and an intense pride I had in my school.

I flew in a day early to Chapel Hill because I wanted to go to my dear friend Eve Carson's one year memorial. It was a beautiful day, a day she really would have loved. Hundreds of people came to the campus meeting place, the pit, for a celebration of her amazing life. I felt in that moment how lucky I was to have known her and to call her my friend. She made the kind of difference in this world in her short 22 years that most of us cannot achieve in a whole, full life.

The rest of the company joined me in Durham the following day. I was excited to do the show for my friends, family, and teachers.
First off, they wrote an article about me coming back
http://www.dailytarheel.com/news/university/former_lorelei_part_of_jesus_rock_opera_tour-1.1598537
in which two of my drama teachers said really sweet things about me. I didn't expect many people to come see me, but SO MANY people were so supportive and came out. The first night, around 30 of my drama friends showed up at a bar in Chapel Hill to celebrate my return on tour to the Triangle! I had such a blast with these people, and it was such a blessing to get to see them again. I also spent some quality time with my brother and my Mama!

All in all, coming back to college was a wonderful experience. For my first time back as a single woman in four years (I dated a guy all through college,) it felt freeing, and I realized how independent I have become. I realized I needed the time off to really learn to try to respect myself. It was great to visit old haunts, spend time with old friends, see the fam, and re-connect to the real, non-tour world, if only for a few days.

Now we trudge forever onward unto a week of one nighters. Knoxville, TN was sold out and one of the best audiences we've had!

XO FOR NOW!
Haley
“I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.” Mae West

my mom and I

My Mom came to visit me in Durham and we have had a blast!!!!!!!!!

Playing Mary

MY ROOMIE AND I (WHO WENT ON FOR ME AS MAID BY THE FIRE WHEN I WAS ON FOR MARY AND DID FABULOUS!)
On February 28th, 2009, an extremely sleepy girl awoke around 12:30 from a long busride from Cleveland to Flint, Michigan, to find out that she would be going on for Mary Magdalene at 3PM that day. Thrilled and frightened to death, said sleepy girl quickly woke up from adrenaline, left her hair and makeup to her dear fellow cast member David Baghat, and got ready to play the role of a lifetime opposite Ted Neeley.

And what a day it was! The first show I did decently well, but there we were technical aspects I had to work out. For example, how not to trip over my skirt when I stood up and exactly how long it would take me to get to x space by y line. Adrenaline, nerves, and Ted guided me through it. I was so thankful for the one opportunity, I cried at curtain call.

And how lucky was I to find out that the music directors and stage manager wanted to me to have another go at it at the evening performance? It was this show that I felt I was able to truly allow myself to trust the work I had done and really just live in the moment. I immersed myself in the piece and every moment. It was truly one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. When it was over, I couldn't sleep for two nights straight. I was just so thrilled and thankful to have had the chance to play Mary opposite Ted, and it took a few days for the excitement of what I had done to really settle with me.

I am so lucky and so thankful.