Texas Traveling!

Hi everyone!

Have you ever had one of those weeks where it starts, and then in a blink of an eye, it's over?? That was definitely my past week in Corpus Christi and Austin, Texas!

My week was off to a good start- warmer weather, here I come! We flew from Oklahoma to Corpus Christi last Monday, and I had arrived with enough time in the afternoon to explore. Our hotel was right along the water, and had some beautiful views of the marina. Unfortunately, there wasn't much else in the area. I checked out a local diner and saw some neat murals around the town, but most of my free time was spent enjoying the balcony views.

The walk to our venue was beautiful too, but very hot- I was back in the Texas heat! We had three shows in Corpus, and an additional put in rehearsal for our newest cast member who's joining us for a couple of weeks. My time in this city flew by, and after our last show there, we had overnight travel to Austin. The week was proving to be very busy so far!

Luckily, the overnight travel into Austin wasn't long, and I had the next day off to sleep and rest. Though it wasn't the most exciting day, my legs appreciated the day off. We would have seven shows this weekend in Austin. In total, that would be ten shows this week- the most shows in one week that I would complete on tour so far!

Much like the beginning of the week, the weekend was packed. In our seven shows in three days, we had awesome audiences and some pretty fun shows! A good portion of my company is from the San Antonio area (which is about 45 minutes from Austin), so there were many friends and family members in the audience. Their energy boosted our shows up for sure, and I know from experience that there's noting like knowing your loved ones are in the audience! It's safe to say we were all exhausted by the end, but we powered through. This was definitely one of the toughest weeks on tour so far- I survived! And I'm definitely going to take advantage of some naps in the near future!

So this wasn't my longest post, and I hate to report that nothing super eventful happened. I wish I had more time in Austin especially, because it looked like there were some neat things to check out. Oh well, I guess I'll have to come back! Next up, Wichita Falls, Texas, and then I head out west to Denver, Colorado!

Signing off from the Street,
Shelby

City #49- Corpus Christi, Texas
City #50- Austin, Texas

#shelbyseesthestates

A gorgeous sunset over the city of Corpus Christi.

The sunset from the opposite side overlooking the water!

Cotton candy sky!

This bridge was outside of our venue in Corpus Christi, and looked awesome all lit up at night!

What a view! On the walk to work in Corpus Christi.

Another beautiful view!

I've watched a lot of sunsets on tour- this one was in Austin!

A photographer came to one of our shows in Austin- check out my friend Rosita!

Singing up the scale!

Friends are the people in your neighborhood!

#squadgoals

You're Doing Fine, Oklahoma!

Hello friends!

Ooooooook-lahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain! (Too much?)

If you couldn't tell, I spent my last week exploring some more of the Midwest! And to be honest, my experience in Oklahoma was pretty accurate to the song- rolling hills, wide open spaces, plenty of corn fields and cattle...not exactly the life for me, but Oklahoma was okay!

As per usual, my week began with a long travel day- it was roughly a ten hour bus ride from our last city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to the next city of Muskogee, Oklahoma! Needless to say, when we finally arrived, I was very happy to stretch out in another hotel bed. I was also battling an annoying cold and cough, so resting as much as possible was my top priority. Tuesday was a day off for me, and it was perfectly timed- luckily, there wasn't much to do in Muskogee anyway, so I enjoyed a relaxing day of Netflix, cough drops, and my comfiest pajamas (a.k.a. all of the glamours of tour life). We also went down a show this city; we were initially scheduled to have two shows on Wednesday, but had a last- minute change to the schedule. I didn't mind the extra rest, and the audience we had for our one-and-only-limited-engagement-extravaganza show in Muskogee truly enjoyed it! As much as I like playing the large cities, I think some of the smaller cities are the ones who appreciate the show even more. A city like Muskogee is pretty small, and we were the highlighting event for the day- even when I visited the local Urgent Care after the show, it was all the staff could talk about! The audience was a little timid, but I could tell the kids had an awesome time. My friend Rosita gets to visit with the audience members a couple of times during the show, and seeing the kids truly excited makes every day worthwhile!

After Muskogee, our next city was Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was literally just under an hour away. It was a relief to have such a short travel day unlike earlier in the week! I also had an exciting evening to look forward to- I was going to the Beauty and the Beast premiere at a local movie theatre! For those of you who don't know, I am a huge, HUGE Disney fan. I'm almost 25 years old and proudly wear Disney apparel, have multiple soundtracks on my iPod, and watch Disney movies on a regular basis. Beauty and the Beast was even my first Broadway musical, so naturally I was excited to see this! Now, my blog isn't a movie critique, so I'll be brief- obviously it was Disney and I'm going to love it and rewatch it no matter what, but there were some things I wish the movie did differently. Visually, it was gorgeous, and I really liked their casting, but I felt like they were trying too hard to reinvent the story. Like, just give me the story I know and love! That's what makes it so great in the first place! Also, new songs aren't necessary when you have an ENTIRE BROADWAY SCORE of other incredible, already-written songs to choose from. Alright, end rant. I needed to get that out. So no spoilers, but I would still see the movie if you haven't. Everyone needs to see a movie that begins and ends with Audra McDonald's breathtakingly perfect soprano vocals.

In addition to a movie night, I explored some of the downtown Tulsa scene, which included an amazing donuts shop, some beautiful and vibrant murals, and a relaxing stroll through the park. I had a busy weekend of five shows coming up, so I was glad I was feeling much better and got to enjoy some of the summery weather (seriously, it was like 80 degrees on St. Patrick's Day!).

Though our show weekend was a little crazy at first, I'd say it was a successful weekend. As in live theatre, some mishaps and illnesses happen along the way, but I'm thankful for the supportive and smart cast I get to work with. Even when things change last minute, everyone works together to still give the best show possible. Seriously, I work with an incredible team- if only the audience knew the behind the scenes! Five shows in two days flew by for sure!

All in all, I'd say this was a good week. It was a little difficult at first; well, first, because I wasn't feeling the greatest, and second, because I wasn't physically able to spend my six year anniversary with my boyfriend. Excuse me while I get real for a second- I have been in a relationship for the past six years, and yes, this is by far the hardest thing we've ever gone through. We've done long distance before, but never for this length of time. Tour life is a hard life in general, but adding a relationship to the mix, even with someone who you know and trust with all of your heart, is a whole different ball game. There's so many things I wish I could put into words about it- unfortunately, being on the road for so long puts a strain on things, and brings up many thoughts and feelings I've never had before. So many times I wish I was home to experience all of the daily moments of being with someone I love, and to physically be there to make everything better. But, just like anything else, love is work. And if you're lucky enough to find someone who is so understanding and supportive as I did, the work will come more easily. I'm not perfect, we're not perfect- I know we've got some things to work on, and it's hard to accomplish in the present moment because I'm physically gone. But if I learned anything about myself and my relationship this past week, it's that love will find a way. It's not a smooth ride, and it'll take some work- but if you find someone who truly cares about you, it'll all be worth it. And if you find someone who sends you a huge box of dark chocolate covered strawberries, then you've definitely found a keeper.

Last week flew by, and it's time to head back to the south- Texas, I'm coming for you once again!

Signing off from the Street,
Shelby

City #47- Muskogee, Oklahoma
City #48- Tulsa, Oklahoma

#shelbyseesthestates

An early sunrise in Muskogee!

A funky mural in Tulsa.

Attending the movie premiere- it was magical for sure!

Another mural in the Blue Dome District of Tulsa.

Yet another mural!

I waited 40 minutes for some Hurts Donuts and was not disappointed!

A beautiful path in the park!  

Sunrise on the way to a three show day in Tulsa!

Baton Rouge Roaming!

Hi everyone!

I was back in the bayou- my last week was spent in Baton Rouge, Louisiana!

After spending a great weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, it was time to move on. We would be traveling to Baton Rouge by flight- our first flight day since we all arrived back from the holiday break! I don't enjoy flying that much, but I've gotten used to it. Thank goodness we had good weather and clear skies, and were able to make it safely. It's been a little while since I've been in the South, and the heat and humidity hit as soon as we got off of the plane!

Baton Rouge was the only city we would have shows in last week, so it was nice to have a couple of days off to explore and relax. The weather was beautiful and our hotel was in the convenient downtown area- the days off were looking good! Even better, our whole company had a home-cooked meal to look forward to. Our head of wardrobe is also from the Baton Rouge area, and was able to host a huge company gathering at her home! On Tuesday, I attended my first authentic, Louisiana bayou crawfish boil- I can't say I'm a fan of them (I don't really like it when my food can stare at me) but the experience was unlike any barbecue I've ever attended. Literally buckets of crawfish were boiled in gigantic pots, and when they were finished, they were dumped onto tables for everyone to have their share. There was enough food to feed a small army! It was so nice to feel at home for a little while; the whole company got to enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal, a warm and welcome home, and even a dog! And to top it all off, the evening ended with Girl Scout Cookies- it was great to get out of the hotel routine for a day and enjoy the comfort of a real charming Southern home!

The downtown area of Baton Rouge had a lot to check out as well. A group of us treated ourselves to manicures at a local nail salon, and I spent a great deal of time by the riverwalk. Right along the Mississippi River, there was a running trail and plenty of seating to enjoy the view. There's something so peaceful about being able to sit beside the water and bask in the sunshine. I lost track of time just sitting outside, reading, and playing some music on my ukulele! I've also never been able to enjoy 80 degree weather in March- I surely didn't want to waste it!

Our weekend of shows was very busy- we had eight shows from Thursday until Sunday! We got off to an easier start with only one show on Thursday. My work-day ended at noon, so Kelsey and I were excited to spend the rest of our day checking out more of the city. Baton Rouge has the tallest capital building in the U.S. with an observatory for tourists to check out. One long elevator ride later, and we got a complete 360 degree view of the city! It was another beautiful sunny day, and taking in the scenery was especially breathtaking when you could see for miles on end. Afterward, we were able to check out the Old Capital building on the opposite side of town. The Old Capital building was in use until the 1950's when the current, taller capital was built. With a grand Medieval design, majestic staircase, and gorgeous stained glass, the Old Capital building was a true architectural masterpiece. I was in awe of the entire building, which is currently used as a museum, and occasionally hosts special banquets and weddings. It was a treat to explore such a beautiful place, and better yet, it was free!

The Old Capital building was right next to a small park and a couple of fountains; I'm not one for really embracing the outdoors, but I enjoyed relaxing in the grass for awhile! I am also not a huge fan of the South, but Baton Rouge was a surprisingly sweet town with more to appreciate than I expected.

The rest of my weekend was spent at seven more shows- the audiences were wonderful, which is always a treat. The weekend flew by for sure, and then it was on to the next!

I'm heading back to the Midwest- Muskogee, Oklahoma and Tulsa, Oklahoma, here I come!

Signing off from the Street,
Shelby

City #46- Baton Rouge, Louisiana

#shelbyseesthestates

A picnic table full of crawfish, potatoes and corn!

Rusty, my new bff. 

If I drop an album, this would be the cover. A snapshot by the Mississippi.

The pelican represents the city- there were little reminders everywhere!

A sunny day selfie.

A view from the riverwalk!

The current Louisiana State Capital Building.

A view from the observatory!

On top of the world!

The stained glass rotunda of the Old Capital Building. 

Truly breathtaking- I sat on the floor for awhile just to take it all in!

Live in living color.

I loved the way the colors melted together on the floor.

Even the door hinges had beautiful detail!

Admiring the view.

Smell the grass, the dirt- just like I dreamed they'd be!

On the steps of the palace (or the Old Capital Building). 

Exploring with the best roommate ever. :)

Another city in the books! See ya, Baton Rouge!

Bloomington, IL and Bourbon City!

Hello friends!

My past week was what we call a split week, meaning I spent my week performing in two cities- Bloomington, Illinois, and Louisville, Kentucky!

I was pretty bummed that I had to miss a couple of days of shows in Kansas City, so I was eager to get back to shows as soon as possible. Monday was our travel day to Bloomington, IL- besides being on a bus for long hours, the trip was easy, and it was good to be off of my sprained ankle. Our hotel appeared to be some sort of fancy, French-decor-inspired Chateau; the biggest perk was the gorgeous fireplace in the lobby. It looked like something straight out of Beauty and the Beast! I didn't explore Bloomington much (besides the shopping plaza across the street, I don't think there was much to do there anyway), but I was able to get back into shows! We only had two shows on Wednesday, and then it was off to the next.

I heard some good buzz about Louisville, Kentucky, so I was curious to check out the city. We arrived on Thursday and stayed at a gorgeous hotel that overlooked the river. It was also in the downtown area, so there were plenty of things to check out within walking distance.

Along the road, I love being able to check out different performance opportunities. You never know where inspiration might come from, and I love being able to see what other artists create! On Thursday night, I was able to see a new work through the Actors Theatre of Louisville called I Now Pronounce. It was a play featured in the local theatre festival, called the Humana Festival, which is in its 41st season. The show had just began its run, and it was neat to know that I was part of the opening audiences! The play was a dark comedy about one couple's wedding mishaps, and the mischief that they and their wedding party got into as the night progressed. The venue was beautiful, some of the conversations were hilarious, and the actors were upbeat and relatable. Many of them were from New York or other big cities with incredible resumes- as an actor myself, I strive to have careers like theirs! Being able to see a new work is exciting too- a great amount of time, effort, and passion went into the project, and I feel that the actors' performance reflected that excitement and freshness. At this point in the tour, I've done roughly 150 shows- I've never done one single show that many times! It sounds monotonous, and sometimes I feel like I'm going through the motions- it was refreshing to see other actors in their element, and gives me a renewed excitement in my own work.

The night life in Louisville was so much more fun that what I was expecting- along Fourth Street (the main downtown hub), part of the street was permanently blocked off. It featured a with a platform for live music performances, and made it easy to meander between restaurants and bars, many of which had live music as well. After our shows on Saturday, I went to a Howl at the Moon, a dueling piano bar. I've never been to one, and was excited to check it out! Not only did I have an amazing time, but I was thoroughly impressed with every one of the musicians there. Different musicians rotated instruments and each had their turn in the spotlight- I couldn't believe how easily they floated into the next set! Each song flowed right into the next, and everyone was so in tune with the music and their fellow band members. I spent most of the time dancing, but I was so intrigued by watching them play as well. Truly, they were an insanely talented and connected group- how could I not feel passionate and inspired after a night like that?!

My weekend ended with two more shows, and I had my first true understudy experience- our main live performer wasn't feeling well, so I was able to jump into the role last minute. It was a bit of an adrenaline rush at first, but in true showbiz fashion, the show must go on! Of course, it's not the same when the full company isn't involved in the show, but change definitely keeps us on our toes. I love being a part of the show from a different perspective; it gives me the chance to keep the show fresh like I mentioned earlier! Though the day was off to a bit of a stressful start, but I had so many things to appreciate- our venue, the Brown Theatre, was beautiful, the audiences were amazing, and I would be able to spend the day doing what I love most!

The rest of my time in Louisville wasn't very eventful. A couple of my friends and I tried getting tickets to the Twenty-One Pilots concert (there were playing the arena right next door to our hotel), but unfortunately, we weren't successful. After purchasing merchandise anyway, we hung out at the hotel bar and procrastinated packing (when you travel in and out of hotels as much as we do, packing becomes the most awful and mundane task). Though it wasn't what we hoped for, spending the evening with friends was just as nice!

I eventually packed, and it was time to go to the next city- Baton Rouge, Louisiana! I'm ready for some warmer weather!

Signing off from the Street,
Shelby

City #44- Bloomington, Illinois
City #45- Louisville, Kentucky

#shelbyseesthestates

With a fan in front of the fireplace (Ramiro from Rammie On The Road- check out his vlog on YouTube!)

With my same #1 fan at Red Robin (which was YUM as usual)!

Fourth Street in the daylight.

Kelsey and I after the show at the Actors Theatre of Louisville.

A dark picture of the house from the wings of our venue, the Brown Theatre!

Checking out the downtown night life.

Outside Howl at the Moon- what an amazing night!

Another view from the stage.

And another weekend comes to a close :)