Last night might have been the best night of my life thus far.
It was our invited dress rehearsal. If you read my last entry, you know all about what that is.
So we go on stage, and from the second the music started the crowd went INSANE. Lighters in the air, beer in the aisles, screams emerging from throats left right and centre. It was awesome. In the first number "Just Like Paradise", I write in a little notepad. Well last night all it was was shaky scribbles; it's all I could muster up with the adrenaline and excitement I was feeling.
Getting those laughs from the audience was the best thing we could have all asked for. They really tell you when you're doing a great job! The audience last night was super kick-ass, and I can't wait for it to get even better.
I've got to give a huge shout-out to the NYC SUPER FANS! 40 of these folks drove up on the Rock of Ages bus from NY to Toronto to see the final dress and they filled the first few rows...leading the entire theatre in claps, dancing, lighters in the air, and every other possible thing they could have. We couldn't have asked for better leaders, and they've paved a great path for our own Toronto Superfans who will start to come as of tonight!
Oh right....today's also MY BIRTHDAY!!! So basically what I'm saying is I get to perform Rock of Ages for the first paying audience on MY BIRTHDAY. I could not ask for anything better. I came into my dressing room to a huge candy basket (an homage to Franz) from my dear friend and cast-mate Tony LePage and his wife Natalie. Tony and I have worked in this exact theatre before together, and getting that gift was the perfect start to my day.
And one more shout out... Big ups to Derek St. Pierre. He just began playing Franz on Broadway a month ago and has been getting some great reviews! We hear the NYC company is all very excited for us, as are we for all of them!
Anyways, I've got to get back to the best birthday ever!
Keep living, Keep breathing. Breath in the negative, live out the positive. And everything will be.
Happy Birthday Cody! Thanks for the shout out. BTW, it was supposed to be 40, but was a more intimate 14 superfans from NYC! And we love ROA Toronto!! You know what would be cool? You guys perform at the BAT in NYC & the NYC cast performs at the RAT. Swap theatres.
ReplyDeleteLove ya! xoxox