french travels so far

So, we have been given some full no show days as well as many days off with nothing to do before half nine...while most of my friends have been going to the beach, etc., I have taken much of this time to explore the beautiful country I am lucky enough to be working in for a month. Most of my travels have been alone, which has allowed me the independence and freedom to explore and make many friends along the way. I have been more of a free spirit than usual, in that I have been impulsive and last minute...decided the days if to go to Paris...which was incredible, and a friend I mer visiting Provence showed me around via bike and then I did a full day of more sightseeing, museums, etc..... I really loved paris, my only complaint is there are too many tourists there in august...I suppose I've become a bit more european as I like to try to use the little french I know to get around....and I think they appreciate that I am making the effort to learn it!!!!!! Some highlights were ----the mona lisa and the louvre-----luxembourg gardens----moulin rouge and montmare----bikeriding to all the areas----seeing toulouse, renoir, degas,van gough, rodin, and monet at the orsay museum----the notre dame cathedral----the famous world fair ferris wheel where u can see all of paris----the eiffel tower----the statue of liberty's mini twin----my adorableeeee tiny hotel room at hotel louvre bons enfant----visiting my friends house in bastille---and singing to the cab driver on the way home---the crypt with roman and medieval ruins underneath notre dame---ze can can! Must go my flight is leaving---more to come!!!!! Au revoir xoxox H

the show im doing in montecarlo

Well, I sure was right---it's been a hell of an adventure this past month... I've fought for myself and proven myself to people who at first didn't know what I was capable of...but now they do!!! I am doing a 1950s show in monaco france with las vegas dancers and singers from the west end and ny. The sporting club hosts a summer sporting festival where they bring in such singers as duffy, liza, gloria estefan, and about 10 other big artists over about a 6 to 8 week period in the summer....on the days that the stars don't perform, we do our show, which is a 70 minute highpaced show all 50s music complete with an elvis impersonator (who rocks btw) at the end....three female singers and five male singers round out the cast and together pay tribute to buddy holly, jerry lee lewis, the chirelles etc...the firdt couple of weeks were workshop hell, figuring out what is going on and what numbers were cut...even through opening.... Now I feel the show is on its feet solid and we can relax into it...the show is great and a ball to do every night..curtain is at 1045 pm,perfect for my nocturnalness!!!! So the rough part is over and now we have the days off to explore!!!! Next post on montecarlo itself...but for now I am happy w the company and the show and am well!!! Xoxo

Fourth and Time at Home

Fourth of July was a blast at home in TPA! All of the family got together to celebrate my grandfather's birthday. and the Fourth of July and we went out on the water in a tug boat..we had a blast, watched the fireworks, and (I anyway) ate far too much food! here are some fun pics of my friends and family.

me and my cousin (although she looks like my child!) Margaret

Jenny's/ my friend Lacy, me, cousin Margaret, cousin Jenny

Fireworks 1

Fireworks 2

It was a blast. Now I am just packing and getting ready for another trip on the road and spending some good time with family before I leave for Las Vegas Wednesday. Oh, and I'm getting tan for the first time in like five years. Bye Bye Casper jokes.

See you in Vegas!

H

Monaco, here I come!

So I've taken a couple months to ease my way back in NYC and figure out what I am doing next. I am getting the site back up becauseeeeeeeeee I am going on another adventure this summer. This summer, starting in August, I will be singing in a 50's review at the Sporting Club in Monaco this summer. The country Monaco, right near France. I am thrilled and excited, and have NO idea what to expect other than hopefully an amazing time abroad singing some great tunes!

I of course will be updating my blog with pictures and cool sites of Europe. Don't know how much traveling outside of Monaco I will get to do until I know my performing schedule, but regardless, I am greatly looking forward to what I'm sure will shape out to be an adventure.

We are rehearsing in Los Vegas in two weeks starting around the 10th of July, so I shall be updating my blog around then.

Au revoir (my one French phrase I know how to write) until then!
XO
H

Ten Things I Have Learned on Tour

1. Touring is definitely not for everyone, but touring is for me.
2. Accepting who I am as a performer and having the confidence to go out there and trust my work, my talent, and what I can do, and not worry about what people have done before me or what others think.
3. Learning to pick and choose my battles and to approach them tactfully, and learning that many people have not learned this.
4. Learning that other people are entitled to their mood swings, and when you live together on the the road, these mood waves are bound to clash sometimes, but it is ok. It does NOT mean you don’t care for the other person and they don’t care for you, and, at the end of the day, you don't love that person.
5. No matter how many hours I have been on that bus, no matter how little I’ve slept the night before, and no matter what is going on in my life, the minute I run onstage for that overture, I’m there. All my heart and all my soul goes into the work. That someone out there is seeing this show for the first time.
6. Living and breathing the work with your fellow castmates, which only gets better as time goes on.
7. Being a sponge and absorbing everything from everyone around you, especially from those who have been in the business a long time, and taking the lessons to heart.
8. Not everyone in life is going to like you, no matter how hard you try. Just continue being yourself, being kind to others, and reaching out to those who need it, and those who are meant to be your friends will come along. The ones that don’t accept you for who you are don’t matter, but these will ultimately be few and far between.
9. It’s ok to be crazy. And hiding your eccentricities for too long will only make you want to explode. Be who you are.
10. From Ted: You can be a famous celebrity and the most humble, caring, kind person in the entire world.
more to come

me and JD

me and James Delisco as Mary Magdalene and Judas at the 4/22 show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

me as Mary and Matthew as Judas at the 4/20 show