Washington, DC... Here I Come!

HELLO ALL!

Here is my last update about my new job at the Kennedy Center's Educational Department's Theatre for Young Audiences Tour. I am the Technical Director for a show called "Phantom Tollbooth" based on the book by Norton Juster. That means I'm responsible for all the scenery, contacting the venue before we arrive, the load-in and load-out of each venue, working backstage during the performances, and finally driving one of the trucks. There are 4 other technicians working on the show: A stage manager, lighting director, props/wardrobe supervisor, and a sound supervisor. There are also 7 performers in the show. We travel with two 26' box trucks(like UHauls) and a 13 passenger van.

I'm moving out of my house in Mountain View at the end of August and staying with my girlfriend Michelle for a bit. I'm flying from San Jose to Washington, DC on September 7th. I start work at the Kennedy Center on September 9th, which is the same day rehearsals start. The first few weeks in DC are devoted to going to rehearsal, seeing the set(which has already been built), picking up supplies and trucks, and generally meeting everyone. Load-in at our trial venue in DC starts around September 23rd and Technical Rehearsals start on the 25th. We have two days of shows for local DC schools on September 30th and October 1st. Finally we hit the road on October 5th and start the tour! We are out on the road from the beginning of October until the weekend before Thanksgiving and then go back out from just after New Years until the end of April.

Attached is a summary of show along with a preliminary tour schedule. I have also started a blog, http://BFrank29.blogspot.com which I will update as often as possible. On the blog web page, you can see the next ten cities where we'll be performing and a google map of where we've been. Once I have some pictures there might also be a slide show to watch. Unfortunately, this is a kids show and unless you're an elementary school teacher you won't be able to come see the show.

Since we're on the road, the best way to keep in touch is by email and cell phone. I'll be spending long hours driving so people will definitely be getting phone calls to keep me company. Snail mail isn't really an option because everything has to be sent to the Kennedy Center and then to wherever we are staying the next week. If you really have to send me something, drop me an email and I'll let you know where to send it. On the other hand, if you'd like ME to send YOU postcards then drop me a line with your address! If I'm coming to a city near you, let me know and I will try to make plans to see you the night before or the morning before we perform.

I hope everyone is doing well. Please pass this on to anyone else who I've forgotten!

Take Care!
Brian
513-470-5991
BFrank29@gmail.com
http://BFrank29.blogspot.com

Show Summary

PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
Based on the Book by Norton Juster
Music by Arnold Black, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Adapted for the Stage by Norton Juster and Sheldon Harnick
Directed by Tim McDonald

Even Surrounded by dozens of toys, Milo is bored. Nothing interests him at all. The Demons of Ignorance are certain he will be their next victim, telling him, "If you get the urge to do anything - don't. It could be dangerous." To the rescue comes the Phantom Tollbooth! Norton Juster's beloved children's book is given full musical treatment in this acclaimed stage version of the modern tale of a boy who must save the princesses Rhyme and Reason and reunite the brother Kings who rule over the cities Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. Aided by a trusty time-keeping dog, Tock, Milo successfully brings harmony to the Land of Wisdom and learns many things about words and numbers along his journey. Perhaps the most important lesson he takes with him, however, is that everything we learn has a purpose and whatever we do affects everything and everyone. When he returns home, he realizes there is never a reason to be bored in a world full of so many things to discover.

Adapted from Norton Juster's beloved children's book, this inventive musical features a melodious score by Arnold Black and witty lyrics full of wordplay by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony winner Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roo, She Loves Me). The Phantom Tollbooth is an endearing show that audiences of all ages will find appealing.

Recommended for ages 9 and up, and grades 4 and up.
Curriculum connections: Language Arts and Sciences

Preliminary Tour Schedule

Check out when I'll be near YOU!
The next 10 days of the tour will also be on the right under the "Tour Schedule" so you can see were I am right now and where I'll be going in the next couple of weeks!

October 8 ~ Van Wezel PAC - Sarasota, FL
October 10 ~ Thrasher Horne Center for the Arts - Orange Park, FL
October 14 ~ King Center - Melbourne, FL
October 15 ~ Raymond F. Karvis Center for the Performing Arts - West Palm Beach, FL
October 16 ~ Coral Springs City Center - Coral Springs, FL
October 17 ~ TBD - Stuart, FL
October 21-22 ~ Alden Theatre - McLean, VA
October 23 ~ Grand Opera House - Wilmington, DE
October 24 ~ TBD - Staten Island, NY
October 27 ~ SOPAC - S. Orange, NJ
October 28 ~ The Lyric - Baltimore, MD
October 30 ~ Sandler Center - Virginia Beach, VA
November 3 ~ U of Massachusetts - Lowell, MA
November 5 ~ Flynn Theatre - Burlington, VT
November 7 ~ Capitol Center for the Arts - Concord, NH
November 9-10 ~ Zeiterion Theatre - New Bedford, MA
November 12 ~ Lebanon Opera House - Lebanon, NH
November 13 ~ The Colonial Theatre - Pittsfield, MA
November 15 ~ TBD - Worcester, MA
November 16-17 ~ The Performing Arts Center - Purchase, NY
November 18 ~Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts - Brooklyn, NY
November 20 ~ Kupferberg PAC, Queens College - Flushing, NY
November 24 - January 2 ~ WINTER BREAK
January 7 ~ The Grand - Wausaw, WI
January 9-10 ~ Overture Center - Madison, WI
January 12 ~ Fox Cities PAC - Appleton, WI
January 15 ~ Eau Claire Regional Arts Center - Eau Claire, WI
January 16 ~ St. John's University - Collegeville, MN
January 20 ~ Sangamon Auditorium - Springfield, IL
January 23 ~ MSU Riley - Meridian, MS
January 28 ~ Orpheum Theatre - Memphis, TN
January 30 ~ Four Rivers Center - Paducah, KY
February 3 ~ Aronoff Center for the Arts - Cincinnati, OH
February 6 ~ Rialto Square Theatre - Joliet, IL
February 9 ~ Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts - Springfield, MO
February 11-12 ~ Raue Center for the Arts - Crystal Lake, IL
February 13-14 ~ McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage - Glen Ellyn, IL
February 17 ~ Gallagher Bluedorn PAC, U of Northern Iowa - Cedar Falls, IA
February 19 ~ Civic Center of Greater Des Moines - Des Moines, IA
February 21 ~ Lied Center for the Performing Arts - Lincoln, NE
February 24 ~ PACA - Norman, OK
February 27 ~ CAM-PLEX Heritage Center - Gillette, WY
March 3 ~ Admiral Theatre - Bremerton, WA
March 5 ~ Craterian Ginger Rogers - Medford, OR
March 8-9 ~ Villiage Theatre Pied Piper Presents - Everett, WA
March 10 ~ Theatre at Meydenbauer Center - Bellavue, WA
March 12 ~ Broadway Center - Tacoma, WA
March 13 ~ The Historic Elsinore Theatre - Salem, OR
March 20 ~ Vilar Center for the Arts - Avon, CO
March 24 ~ Higley Center for the Performing Arts - Gilbert, AZ
March 26-27 ~ Cal State Northridge - Northridge, CA
March 28 ~ Poway Center for the Performing Arts - Poway, CA
March 31 ~ Cerritos Center - Cerritos, CA
April 2-3 ~ Irvine Barclay Theatre - Irvine, CA
April 4 ~ Haugh PAC, Citrus Comm College - Glendora, CA
April 5 ~ La Mirada Theatre - La Mirada, CA
April 7-10 ~ Faye Spanos Concert Hall, U of the Pacific - Stockton, CA
April 14 ~ Popejoy Hall, U of New Mexico - Albuquerque, NM
April 16 ~ Brooks/Isham PAC - Kirtland, NM
April 20 ~ Putnam City North High School, PACA - Oklahoma City, OK

Saying Goodbye to California... at least for a bit!

HELLO ALL!

As some of you may know, I've been applying to go back to school and also looking for a new job. Well, after 5 months, lots of applications, resumes and paperwork I finally got a job that I wanted! Starting in September, I'll be working for the Kennedy Center's Educational Department's Theatre for Young Audiences. They take a show on tour to performing arts centers across the country. It's a small tour, only 4 technicians(I'm the Technical Director), a stage/company manager and cast of 5-7. The show is called "Phantom Tollbooth." We've got two 26' box trucks(like a UHaul) and a 13 passenger van. I'll be going to Washington, DC for a few weeks in September to learn the show and then we'll be driving around the country from September '08 to April '09! I'm really exicted to finally get a chance to tour and find out if this is something I'd like to pursue on a larger scale. I'll probably start a blog so everyone can see where I've been and what's going on.

On a side note, I've also been accepted into the BS Entertainment Engineering and Design program at Univ of Nevada, Las Vegas. I'll be defering that for at least a year to see how the touring works out.

Hope all is well with everyone! Drop me a line and let me know what you're up to!
Take Care!
Brian