One of the interesting things about performing at Hale Centre Theatre is meeting the audience after the show.  I have done 18 shows at HCT over the past 16 years.  The theatre has had a long standing tradition that the cast greets the audience after the evening shows (usually not after a matinee because of quick turnover time to the next show, if you’re wondering) and during the past 16 years I have heard all sorts of comments.

During Fiddler, I have been asked several times if I am a local.  Like maybe HCT brought me in special or something.  I don’t know if that is what they mean but I choose to take it as a compliment.  When I played Tevye in high school, the school received several phone calls with people complaining that the school should not have brought in college student to play the part.  It should have gone to a high school student.  I was a junior.  Those calls actually got the principal to pay attention to the theater program rather than football, if only for 5 minutes.

One night, a frail old woman came up to me to tell me how much she enjoyed the show.  She was 90 years old.  She said while it was hard for her to get out and go places anymore, I was worth her trip to the theatre that night.  I felt honored.

Several have commented how this is the best show they have seen at HTC.  Some have told me that I am best Tevye they have ever seen, that this venue is too small for me and I should be on Broadway.  Again, honored.  Some have simply taken my hand, unable to speak and eyes filled with tears.  It is humbling to be part of something that effects people in that way.  I don’t know what to say to these wonderful comments other than thank you.

I say thanks a lot after each performance.  Thanks to the audience, thanks to my fellow actors, thanks to the crew, thanks to God for blessing me with this opportunity.

Even thanks to the people who pat my belly or touch my beard.  Being Tevye has been like being a pregnant woman.  People always feel like they can touch a pregnant woman’s stomach.  Folks after the show are the same.  Some touch my stomach, asking it it is real.  Unfortunately, it is.  Others touch my beard.  Unfortunately, that is real also.  It is getting rather bushy and I can’t wait to shave it off.

But the beard and all the rest is worth it.  Receiving all the great comments is fun.  Who doesn’t like their ego stroked?  But this experience is more than that.  Tevye is an incredible character to play.  Fiddler on the Roof is a great musical with a wonderful story and message.  To be connected to it is amazing.  As much as the audience has enjoyed it, I have enjoyed it more.  Before I walk on stage each night I smile to myself and remember the words of my director.

Love every minute of it.

I am.

There is a lot of course, when I stop to think about it.  I am thankful for my wonderful wife.  I am thankful for four beautiful, funny kids.  I am thankful for my parents, for my siblings and the love and joy that always fills my heart when I get to spend time with them.  I am thankful for a job I enjoy and for the friend that led me to it.  I am thankful for my recently completed degree.  I am thankful for the many opportunities that I have had to spend time on stage.  I was able to be in four productions this year (one of which opens on Saturday), and I was also able to perform with an improv troupe that I highly respect throughout the year.

I hope Thanksgiving was as good to you this year as it was to me.  I hope you all can find something to be thankful for.  Now if next year I can add being grateful that the Cubs won the World Series, then that would be the best.  Just sending that out to the universe.  Let’s see what happens.

First.  Ah, the NBA is back, baby.  I love the NBA and I love the Utah Jazz.  So what will this season bring?  More disappointing road losses from the Jazz, as exhibited on their road opener in Denver.  Granted, Denver should be tough this year, but the 4th quarter collapse by the Jazz just brought back all the memories of Utah’s poor road performances from last year.

The return of the NBA also means the return the dillhole in Cleveland and his stupid powder throwing antics.  I hate that the first highlight of the NBA season on Sports Center was King LeDouche throwing that crap in the air.  Is this professional wrestling?  No.  Of course, it is heartwarming to watch the Cavs start their season with 2 losses.  Let’s see more of that, Bron Bron.

Second.  Was driving down the street a couple of days ago and there is a woman pushing her kid down the street, not in a stroller, but in a stolen shopping cart.  I guess you’re a redneck if…

Third.  Being in two shows at once is hard.  Fun?  Sure.  Extra money?  Needed.  But I miss my family.

While reporting a story, the anchor says, “Let’s see what the folks on Twitter are saying about this story.”

Really?  Are you freaking kidding me?  How, by any stretch of the imagination, is this news?  If CNN is just going to spout off crap they find written by some anonymous yahoo on Twitter, then why the heck am I watching CNN.  I can just read Twitter commercial free.

Coming home from school, making a chocolate milk and then settling down to watch Voltron and He-Man.  I would quickly flick the spoon back and forth just under the surface creating bubbles.  Then I would just eat the bubbles and prolong my chocolate milk experience.

Saturday morning cartoons.  You can get cartoons anytime now which cheapens the whole Saturday morning cartoon experience.  When you can roll out of the rack and see cartoons any time of the day, then there is no fun in getting up early on a Saturday to catch Scooby’s All Star Laff-A-Lympics over a bowl of plain Cheerios.  Yeah, we couldn’t have sugar cereal unless, you know, we were on vacation at Grandpa’s house and he was the one buying the cereal.  It was at Grandpa’s house in Tennessee that my love affair with Froot Loops began.

Staying up-to-date with all the new movies by actually seeing them in the theater and not on DVD a year after everyone else is done talking about them.

Our Atari 2600.  Pitfall, Adventure, Combat, Breakout, Missle Command, Defender… and I could never ever beat Raiders of the Lost Ark.

This young woman didn’t spend her day at the aquatic center flirting with life guards, laying out or laughing with friends.  Instead she spent the day helping a young, handicapped girl who I assumed was her sister.  The young girl was obviously nervous with certain aspects of the different pools, but the beautiful young woman showed infinite love and patience has she helped her with hugs and smiles.  It was obvious the young sister had a great time.

Everything the beauty did that day was for her sister and that far and away made her more beautiful than all of her obvious physical assets combined.

A guy at works thinks it’s very cool that I can use the line, “I got hurt in a sword fight.”  He thinks the ladies would dig it, if I were in the market for the ladies.

This past rehearsal period has made me feel anything but cool and suave.  Even without the ankle injury, I would come home sore and aching.  A two hour round trip and a small yet demanding role meant I was spending more time in my car than on stage and the time on stage was beating me up.  It got to the point that hated going to rehearsal.  It wasn’t fun.  The returns just weren’t equaling my input.  And rehearsals are usually one of my favorite things about being in a show.

Now the show is open and here I sit, nursing a bum ankle and the returns still aren’t here.

One positive to come from the ankle injury is I was able to attend the first rehearsal of the next show I am in.  Utahoma at the Off Broadway Theatre in Salt Lake City.  And I have to say, I had more fun in that one rehearsal than all of the Treasure Island rehearsals.  Now, to be fair, Utahoma is a completely different type of show and the venue is also completely different.  It’s like comparing apples and oranges.  Also, Treasure Island is a great show.  The actors and set are incredible and if you have a chance to go see it, you will not be disappointed.  It’s just…

Well, it’s just that when I was feeling like theatre was getting to a point where the sacrifice might not be worth it anymore, I spent a couple of hours with very funny friends and I am excited again.

I hate LeBron James.

Earlier this week, we saw some of the greatest men to ever play the game voted into the Hall of Fame.  Jerry Sloan, David Robinson, John Stockton and Michael Jordan.  You know what, King James?  I have never seen any of these greats throw powder up into the air in a stupid pre-game ritual.  I have never seen any of them do stupid picture poses before every game or perform ridiculous, choreographed handshakes.

As long as James keeps doing this stupid, punk-a crap, he will never be on the same level as these NBA greats, no matter what his skill.

Well, before I could decide, the caller flushed the toilet.  It was a loud flush.  Then he fake-washed his hand, and yanked the paper towel loudly form the dispenser.  So, I aimed for the water, all the while trying to figure out what kind of business can’t wait 30 seconds for a guy to take a leak.

Then I just stared at the word.  Country.  Country.  Country is really ‘count’ then ‘ry’?  Count-ry.  It looked so foreign.

Even now, if I look at it too long, it starts to get funky.

Weird.