Home is a feeling!

I can't believe it's already been a little over a month since I started this crazy adventure! Where has the time gone??

As a company, we've passed the ten show mark and have visited some pretty cool cities already- Atlanta, Georgia has to be my favorite so far, and this weekend we play White Plains, New York. I love that White Plains is so close to Manhattan, because I'm able to stay home!

That's right, this post is coming at you from the greatest city in the world, Even though it hasn't been too long since I've been here, I can definitely say that I've missed the city. As we were passing the NYC skyline yesterday, I know my heart was smiling an extra bit. There's nothing like seeing the New York skyline, especially when you know you're a short distance away from sleeping in your own bed!

This tour is by far the most traveling I've ever done in my life. As much as I've loved traveling so far, I kind of consider myself a homebody, and this has been way out of my norm. I know I get a little homesick at times, and traveling so much makes it a little tricky to feel comfortable in one place for too long.

The whole idea of "home" hit me the other night when I was watching a movie with my wonderful roommate- Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's Sisters was on, and hello, how could I not watch it? I've seen the movie before, but that quote that really hit me was "A house is just a building, home is a feeling." Even though I haven't been living in a physical house for the past month, it really made me think about how I've been able to find home so far.

For example, when we visited Wilkes- Barre, PA, my cashier at Michaels recognized my area code- turns out she was originally from Buffalo, NY! How crazy was that? It was in that same city that I got to visit a Wegmans (#soblessed, I will never praise that grocery store enough).

In Atlanta, we went to a gym in the downtown area, and what number happened to be our parking spot? 716! My Buffalo area code! Random, yes, but it did make me smile. I also went to my first Major League Baseball game- I'm not a super sports fan, but going to a game was always a fun summer pastime, and it was a beautiful night! I was wandering around the concourse, and one of the statues on display was a a Statue of Liberty decked out in Atlanta Braves colors! Again, another reminder of home!

The other night in Trenton, New Jersey, my entire cast went out to dinner. We went to a fabulous Mexican restaurant, sat at a huge Thanksgiving-style table, and I have to say, I had a way more enjoyable time that I thought I was going to. I was initially debating on going, and I'm so glad that I did. It's no offense to anyone, but I'm not usually one for going out, and larger group activities sometimes make me feel awkward. I'm social when I want to be, but I thoroughly enjoy having time alone to read a book, play music, and not talk to anyone for days. But at dinner, I felt so comfortable and not awkward- in general, my cast has been so open and welcoming, but feeling included is always a good feeling. Many laughs were shared and air horns were blasted, and it sounds corny, I know, but I felt so at home.

It's been refreshing to have some time in my actual home and spend time with Mitchell- heck, I even made a home cooked meal (there is hope for me in the cooking department!). But I guess it's true- home is a feeling, not a physical place. And it pops up when you least expect it.

Peace & love,
Shelby

#shelbyseesthestates

City #4- Atlanta, Georgia
City #5- Trenton, New Jersey
City #6- White Plains, New York

The view was amazing but I wish I enjoyed flying!

The parking spot!

The fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA!

Margaret Mitchell's house, the woman who wrote Gone With The Wind

The Federal Bank in Atlanta

Hangin' around Midtown Atlanta

Land of the free, and home of the Braves!

NY Meets GA

The Georgia Aquarium- probably the nicest aquarium I'll ever go to!

I found Dory!

And then I found Nemo!

Some of my castmates and I went to The Prom, a new musical that premiered in Atlanta with hopes of transferring to Broadway!

Inside of the Fox Theatre. All of the pictures in the world couldn't do justice for how beautiful it was in person!

My wonderful cast :)

Another Opening, Another Show!

It's already Sunday night?! Where did the time in this past week go??

These past couple of days may very well be some of the most magical and rewarding days of my life thus far- I opened my first national tour! Seeing it in writing is so surreal and amazing and something I only dreamed of!

Ah!!!! Emotions have been at an all time high and many exclamation points have been used. But seriously, I guess these past couple of days have deserved a lot of them (!!!!!!!!!!!).

Friday morning we opened our show at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to a very enthusiastic crowd of toddlers and their parents. Nothing melted my heart more than listening the youngest audience members whole-heartedly squeal for their favorite characters, and yell out a number like their life depended on it. And talk about an energy boost! There's nothing like live theatre and finally adding an audience, and it's even more rewarding when the audience is so wide-eyed and eager to participate. I was actually pretty nervous to open this weekends' shows- like, more nervous than I've been for a show in a long time. But considering the audience is made up of the least judgmental and friendliest faces out there, it seemed like a silly thing to be nervous about!

After a successful first few shows, today was like a second opening for me. I was able to go on with another friend in the show for the first time- I am friends with one of the Sesame Street Muppets and the live, human character in the show! I have never understudied a role before, and I was nervous to open my usual track the other day- today was like, those initial nerves times a million. Needless to say, many deep breaths and prayers were completed backstage (in addition to drinking about two full bottles of water. After the show ended I sprinted to the bathroom). Once again, there was an incredible audience to work with, and it was so neat to see the show from a different side.

As nervous as I was, I got through it (insert praising hands emoji here). Even as I write this, I can't stop smiling from the rush of a new challenge and how rewarding the whole experience was.

When I was little, I remember my parents taking me to Sesame Street Live. I was a huge fan (and let's be real, still am), and nothing was more magical than hearing my favorite characters sing beloved songs and appearing right before my very eyes. I was decked out in the latest 1990's Elmo fashion, I got the giant coloring book program and an Elmo flag; three-year-old Shelby was having the time of her life!

Sesame Street Live was my very first theatrical experience. As I watched the tiny faces in the audience today, I realized that for so many of them, this is their first theatrical experience too. Doing live theatre is rewarding enough, but knowing that you're having an impact on the next generation is truly gratifying. I'm so excited and thankful to be able to share the songs and characters I've loved with a fresh-faced group of little theatre-goers. Hey, I've come full-circle!

If I could go back in time and tell my young self that someday, your favorite TV show characters would be your coworkers, she probably would be in so much shock and amazement to believe me. Hey, I still feel bursts of that amazement. I once was one of those bright-eyed kids belting my ABC's in the audience, and now I'm on the opposite side. Today was one of those days that reaffirms why I do theatre. This career is so much more than singing and dancing- I get to brighten faces, share smiles, and make new memories, just like performers years ago did for me. I couldn't ask for a more humbling experience, and "what more could a music teacher want?!"

Peace & love,
Shelby

#shelbyseesthestates

City #3- Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania

 Another beautiful sunset!

 There was a Wegmans in Wilke-Barre! Grocery gods be praised!

 A neighborhood full of friends :)

Another amazing sky for our last night in Wilkes-Barre!