Adam Shankman, please pick me!

Y'all, it's been a minute.  We have been shooting a little ROAdy production called "Waiting for Shankman," a musical plea for Adam Shankman to put us in the ROCK OF AGES movie.  I am happy to share with you that it is HERE!


The really exciting part is that we've been picked up by Playbill.com and Broadway.com and we hope to go viral with this video!  Adam, if you're reading this blog, we're serious!  Put us in the movie!!!


Click to read about us on Playbill and Broadwayworld!

Let's make this happen!  You can help.  Here is the link to YouTube:  http://youtu.be/LwE__byb38Q Tweet it, Facebook it, send it to people, do whatever you can!  We want this to be huge!  Thanks so much to the awesome ROA fans out there and to everyone who is helping us in our plea!!

Here is a pic of me and my co-writer/directors, the amazing Josh Sassanella and J. Michael Zygo, with our storyboard.

LOVE AND ROCK!
Erika

Faithfully Yours

Well my friends, thanks for hanging in there after my last cliffhanger post!  We made it through the L.A. experience (separate blog on that to come- it deserves its own post) and came out clean on the other side.  We are currently rocking in beautiful Costa Mesa, CA, and things are clearer.  Much much clearer.  

My last post spoke cryptically about change and decisions and faith, etc... well, I can now tell you what's going down.

For most of you who follow all things Rock of Ages, you know that two weeks ago, we lost Joey Calveri to the Wonderland machine.  Joey's departure was the first of several on the horizon, and while we celebrate his Broadway debut and the addition of the crazy talented (and super fun) Justin Sargent to our band of leather-clad thieves, it was the catalyst for much more change.  This week we lose our dear, dear Rebecca Faulkenberry and Mig Ayesa, who are jet-setting back to NYC to re-open ROCK OF AGES on Broadway (March 24 at the Helen Hayes, people!  Get your tix!) along with our own Dan Domenech.  As you can imagine, it is a huge loss, to lose two of your principal actors on the same day.  Tears are already welling up as we anticipate their departure next Monday, and as I reminisce on the past six months, I feel so grateful to have been part of the original clan, this family that found each other in the name of rock, on the dusty road, on a wobbly contract (sorry SETA but let's call a spade a spade).  Bound together by the HEART that drives this show and the support of the creative team and producers, we find ourselves teetering on the brink of change.

New on the scene this week are the wickedly talented Elicia MacKenzie and Peter Deiwick as Sherrie and Stacee Jaxx (respectively).  They come from us directly from the Toronto cast of ROA, and having seen them in rehearsal this week, they are going to be phenomenal.  I am really excited to work with them both, which leads me to my next big reveal.

After much reflection (and many conversations with both agent and husband), I have decided to sign on for another six months.  I am very excited to share that I will be taking over as Dance Captain as of April 11 (I can’t even talk about losing Lindsay yet so I won’t), and the three of us felt it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.  I am SO excited to wear this new hat.  I am also nervous, as it’s a huge responsibility.  But I am up for it, I am ready for it, and I am really looking forward to it!  Of course, for all of my peeps at home in NYC, this means I will NOT be returning to teach for a little while longer.  I know you understand why I made the choice I did, and I am ever grateful for your support in this journey.  I love you and miss you, and look forward to seeing you again after the summer.  I know you are well taken care of, as I love getting your updates and keeping up with you on Facebook.

So, things are still shifting into place, but they have a concrete destination at the moment.  New people, new cities, new adventures are on the horizon.  I am grateful.  I do struggle daily with the idea of being away from my husband for another few months.  But, as my post-ROA goal is to get pregnant, I am embracing this opportunity to tour the USA and absorb all it has to offer.  I am blessed with the best husband in the world, who supports my dream as if it were his own.  I recently expressed my feelings to a close friend about how I feel like people judge me for choosing to be apart from him during our first year of marriage, and she beautifully pointed out that it is a wonderful gift to spend our first year of marriage exploring so many cities across America together.  Thank you Erin for that gift of perspective.  Next stop on our extended honeymoon: San Fran!

Well, lights out for me, as we have a put-in tomorrow for Peter and Elicia and I want work out and grab a green juice at 118 Degrees beforehand!  Speaking of which, I am reading The Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr at the moment, and I am INSPIRED to change my eating habits!  Do yourself a favor and pick up this book.  Carr (a cancer survivor who also penned Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips) is witty, sassy, and well-versed in doing a body good.  AND she mentions intenSati in her book... love it!

Much love to you today and always!  We gotta have faith!

Erika

"I don't know where I'm goin'..."

It's sunny and 60 degrees in Orlando, on the Friday of our one-week stay in this Disney-fied Florida town.  I spent Monday at Epcot, Wednesday at Islands of Adventure, and today, when most of my fun-lovin' friends hopped the shuttle to the Magic Kingdom, I stayed put.


Don't get me wrong: I love the parks.  The Harry Potter ride was AWESOME.  And today, upon checking Facebook, when I saw my fellow castmates' insta.gram photos with Mary Poppins and other characters, I had a teensy flash of FOMO.  But all in all, I'm glad I stayed home.


It's no secret that we have the best job in the world.  We get to travel to the most interesting, metropolitan, fabulous cities and rock out for money.  We stay in great hotels and people throw us parties.  We sign autographs and wear fake eyelashes and bevel for pictures at the stage door.  But sometimes, it's necessary to take some space.  Hence, it's 4:54pm, I am still in my pajamas, and I haven't seen another human being or uttered a word today.


When you haven't taken alone time for a while, it can be a bit scary.  I don't do idle time well. My learned belief, most likely picked up somewhere along my childhood or adolescence, is that busy equals important and idle equals lazy.  But as I've grown older and started meditating, I've learned that idle can be healing, nurturing, and insightful.  Here is the insight I've gained today:


Since the turn of the new year, I have felt a new urgency to plan my year, to trim the fat in body, mind, and relationships, to organize everything from my Kindle books to my suitcase.  However, with all the excitement of warm weather and water rides, I haven't taken action, and to me, it feels like I've been sitting in a dirty diaper.  Enter today's Operation Solitude.  Now mind you, I haven't taken great strides today.  On the contrary, I realized that my desire to compartmentalize everything is simply a diversion from what I really need to do this year:  have faith, and wait.  There are a LOT of "I don't knows" happening in my mind: 
* I want a Broadway gig so I can have my dream AND my husband in the same city, but I don't know what will happen when my time with ROA is over and I have to start at square one. 
*I want to make a difference and help people live in their greatness but I don't know if I want to teach fitness anymore (I am super scared to publish this fact, but I hope you understand that I am growing and changing). 
*I want to have a baby but I don't know how long it will take to get pregnant, or if I will make a good mom. 
*I want to experience spiritual growth but I don't know how I will feel after attending my next big Oneness Intensive conference. 


Note and full disclosure:  Any of the aforementioned "I don't knows" can be replaced with "I'm afraid that".  Yes, I'm on to myself.  Fear is a bitch.


What became clear today is that, much to my chagrin, no amount of de-cluttering, label-making, or re-folding will help me know any faster (even though it did feel good to de-clutter my follow list on Twitter.  Just sayin').  Bottom line:  I just have to (freaking) wait.  Take it day by day.  Stay honest and positive, do my best, put my intentions on loudspeaker, and have faith.  So, without the "I don't knows," (and "I"m afraid thats"), here's what I'm left to blast to the blogosphere and beyond:


*I want a Broadway gig so I can have my dream and my husband at the same time.  ROA at the Helen Hayes sure would be sweet! ;)
*I want to make a difference and help people live in their greatness.
*I want to have a baby.
*I want to experience spiritual growth. 


Now that feels a little better.  At least I know what I want.  And no, I don't know in what form they will appear.  But that, my friends, is not up to me.

Swingtown in the Motor City

Dudes.  We have a situation.  Call in the backup.
Oh wait, I am the backup.  I'm a swing.

For those of you who aren't theatre peeps, a swing is a person who understudies several ensemble tracks and sometimes one or more principal roles.  We are supposed to be ready to go on at a moment's notice when a member of the onstage cast gets sick/injured/vacation time, etc.   ROA has four kick-ass offstage swings (2 guys, 2 girls) and one equally kick-ass offstage male standby to cover the 14 people who rock on the front lines every night.  When one is offered a swing track in a show, there are always mixed feelings.  First you feel iffy because you don't know if you will ever REALLY go on (an internal battle for any performer ego, let's be honest).  Then you get stoked because you get to learn and potentially perform different roles, hence upping the challenge and excitement in a long contract.  Next you tech the show and get overwhelmed with notes, numbers, and traffic that you can only document in your swing book and not feel physically until who-knows-how-long later, when the lights hit you for the first time and it's full tilt boogie.  Finally, you come to contentment with being the one who is trusted with this difficult yet important job, and you are sometimes just as grateful to hang in the dressing room and knit during the show as you are to take your turn on stage.

This week in Detroit, a 24-ish hour flu bug has reared its ugly head, and is running rampant through our cast.  In the past 5 shows, three of the swings (present company included) have been onstage.  Last night three girls called out with the flu, and one had to muscle through (as there are only 2 chick swings to cover).  Tonight we started the show with a full cast, but by "Dead Or Alive" I was hastily getting into hair and makeup to take over for one of the girls, who quite suddenly fell prey to the pesky virus mid-show.  I took over after intermission, and finished it out with what I hope was nothing more than minor inconvenience to my colleagues onstage and off, as it was my first time on for that track.  All in all, I felt pretty good!

As a swing, we always hear about these circumstances, an old story being rehashed in post-show dramatic fashion at a bar.  But tonight was the first time it happened to me.  I consider it a rite of passage to have experienced and survived that last-minute emergency scenario, as if I earned a hardcore swing badge I can now wear with pride.  It feels like going from brown belt to black belt.  Writing that makes me sound borderline crazy, but the point is, even though it was far from perfect, it's always nice to be reminded of a few things:
1.  We know more than we think we know.  We just have to remember to trust ourselves.
2.  People will always be there to help you when you need it.
3.  Being perfect isn't the point.  Your best is good enough, and you CAN thrive under pressure.
4.  Sometimes it's better to just jump in, instead of letting anticipation get the best of you.

Ironically, I was already set for my debut in that particular track tomorrow night.  I am excited to do Act One, which is more challenging than Act Two.  But I won't be stressing it now as much as I would have, had I not been thrown on tonight.  So again, as a swing, I am grateful.....

...and quarantined in my hotel room, armed with antibacterial spray, my neti pot, a strong mouthwash, and comfy candles.  Soon I will go to bed, surrounding myself with healing, flu-preventing love.  I'd rather save the day than call in sick.  And so it is!

Pack it up, pack it in, let me begin... Again...

Today is Sunday, which, when on tour with ROCK OF AGES, means one of two things: 1. SHOT NIGHT, or 2. Time to pack up and move to the next city. Today is a packing day. Tomorrow we move to Detroit, which is only the fifth city on the tour, but we are already growing weary of the mobile lifestyle. I miss my dresser, and my bed, my closet and my towels and shower curtain. Silly things. My kitchen table. The way the light hits my kitchen in the morning.
For those readers who have never been on tour, here’s how it works. We live out of 2 suitcases and one small trunk, the latter of which travels with the show trucks and stays at the theatre. Our total belongings cannot exceed 200 pounds (100 in the suitcases, and 100 in the trunk). One must be strategic about where to store our items so as not to exceed the baggage weight limit when flying. Sundays force us to mentally take stock of everything we own, categorize it into trunk vs. suitcase vs. trash can (sad but true), and then use remedial physics to fit it where we need it to go. We do-si-do between the theatre and hotel, swapping out black boots for brown, fall jackets for puffy coats, until it all fits, and we can go for that end-of-city drink to take the edge off (shout out to Nicholson’s Gastropub in Cincinnati, who created a custom ROA drink menu during our stay here!).

There is something charming about living with less (I recently picked up the book Radical Simplicity, written by Dan Price, who lived his entire adult life in a tipi with a sleeping bag, hotplate and an outhouse—a little extreme but refreshing and oddly inspiring), but every once in a while I have a mild freak out. Last night I had a dream that I returned to my hotel room to find that the sink and toilet had been removed (which I interpret to mean that my creature comforts and needs are at a bare minimum and I’m not happy about it). I woke up, checked to make sure the toilet was still there, and stumbled to my single serve hotel room coffee maker. I unwrapped a disposable coffee cup from the ever-present plastic wrap that seems to cover every dish and utensil have used since September, and longed for my favorite coffee mug (a white ceramic mug with a picture of a red-lipped, mean faced bee that says “Bee-otch”). And I got a little cranky.

Because I am a Taurus and into Things and home and hearth and all of that earthy stuff, I have to create a home in my hotel room. If you ever come to visit me on tour, here’s what you’ll find in my room:

*Lavender vanilla room spray, purchased on my honeymoon
*A very handy and extremely functional CVS brand mini-humidifier. It is compact, good for the ol’ voce, requires only an upside down water bottle, AND combats that dry hotel feeling. Love this and cannot live without it.
*my 6-inch tall Buddha statue
*at least 2 books (right now I am reading The Girl Who Played With Fire and Awakening into Oneness: The Power of Blessing in the Evolution of Consciousness. A little intrigue, a little spirituality. I like this combo.)
*CANDLES for ambience and a nice scent- an absolute must to transform any space!
*My portable iPod dock (nothing like old Craig David in the fall to stir up cozy memories of my crock pot and couch)
*A photo of me, Brian, and our dolphin friend Ladwani, taken on our honeymoon
*My netbook, which I use to skype with Brian and connect with the outside world, as well as watch The Event on Hulu.
*My favorite soaps, shampoo, and lotions (no hotel samples for me… I need my stuff)
*Assorted scarves to drape over uninspired furniture

It’s not luxury, but it feels that way, considering the weight of the statue, candles, books, and ipod dock! But I need these things to stay sane.

So today, in between shows, I’m heading back to the hotel to pack. I do, by the way, always unpack when I get to a new city. I like to hang my clothes up and see what I have. I take comfort in having a sock drawer. On tour, it’s the little things that bring joy. But the re-packing. Not fun. Especially when you’ve been in a city that doesn’t offer much in the way of things to do (ahem, Cincinnati…) besides go shopping. In the last two weeks, I’ve acquired 2 pair of shoes, a new pair of pants, and a new bottle of perfume. But I NEEDED them. ;) I mean, a girl can’t get through fall without a pair of brown flats. What else would I wear with that new Michael Kors sweater I picked up in Minneapolis? Sheesh!

By tomorrow evening, I will be setting up my little home in Dearborn, MI. I am so excited to venture to Ann Arbor for a few days, and even guest teach a few classes at my alma mater, The University of Michigan, for the Musical Theatre and Performing Arts Management students! And even with all of the packing, un-packing, and re-packing, it’s most valuable to remember that, as I mentioned in my last blog, home is not necessarily a specific place. It’s in my husband’s touch, the electricity of a Steelers game day in Pittsburgh, the taste of chipati at Pizza House in Ann Arbor, the reunions with old friends along my travels. I am so, so lucky. Wishing you a cozy Sunday in your home sweet home, until next time!

It's Just The Truth- Confessions of a Girl Who Wants to ROCK

This morning I did the Ah Meditation with a recording by Wayne Dyer's guru Siva Baba (it's a powerful and amazing meditation for manifesting your desires- try it!), and at the end of the recording Siva Baba says "Embrace Your Manifestation."    So I decided to go all out today and embrace one of my greatest desires:  I WANNA ROCK.


Last week I had yet another round of auditions for ROCK OF AGES on Broadway.  I had so much fun (how can you NOT have fun dancing to "Pour Some Sugar on me"?!  I have wanted to be a video vamp in a Whitesnake video since I was old enough to crimp my own hair).  And I felt so empowered as a woman- I was in my body, my voice sounded great, and I felt totally solid about what I did.  


I think in musical theatre, we are very cautious about admitting when we really want something, because - let's face it- more often than not we end up not booking the job.  And it's the ultimate adrenaline spike, which makes it harder.  We get all gussied up, we prepare, warm up, dance our faces off, sweat, get out of breath, get a callback, sing, get another callback, read, dance again, and then... nothing.  And this process happens over and over again.  So we develop this protective armor, and we suit up under our fishnets and half tops and La Ducas, and put our stoic, yet best foot forward.


But every once in a while, a show comes along that is just the perfect show.  It melts the armor.  You see it and think "oh man, that is my show."  Well, ROCK OF AGES is my show.  I know it, my agent knows it, and I'm fairly sure the creative team knows it, as they keep calling me in.  I have been through four rounds of auditions so far.  ROCK OF AGES is my show because I grew up in the '80s. The summer between 6th and 7th grade, Michelle Bruno and I would go to Whitehall pool every day, and listen to our tape recorded mixes from B94 FM while we worked on our tans... "Be With You," "I Wanna Know What Love Is," "Welcome to the Jungle"... On the way home, we would sit in the back seat of her mom's burgundy Cadillac, sun-drenched and sucking on candy cigarettes.  We would pretend we were on our way to a big sold out arena show, where we were the stars.  We'd get home and cut up our t-shirts (sometimes even fringe-ing them ourselves) while we waited for "Pour Some Sugar On Me" to come onto the MTV rotation.  We'd walk to the drugstore and buy frosty shades of Wet 'n' Wild lipstick for $.99 as "Dead or Alive" piped through the store's speakers.  


You see, I'm from Pittsburgh, the place where 80's hair band music never dies.  I am flying home today, and I can guarantee I will hear one of the aforementioned songs on WDVE on my way home from the airport.  My peeps are hard workin', beer drinkin', sports lovin', mullet headed balls of love.  I want to represent, for my hometown.  For my childhood, for my passion for thrashing around while scantily clad.


Yes, ROCK OF AGES is my show.  And I want it.  In my class I encourage my students to leave it on the floor, to play full out and take risks, and if they fall, not to worry, it's just the gym.  Well, I'm going to leave it all on the floor right now.  It's just the truth.  I want this.  I want it bad.  Siva Baba does not say "guard the manifestation" or "protect the manifestation" or "doubt the manifestation."  I embrace it.  I like the image of hugging it.  Nurturing it.  and rocking it.  With horns and fist-pumping.  


So this one goes out to all of my musical theatre girls and guys who go home and silently pray that they get the job they just told their friends they are ambivalent about.  I'm turning up the volume on my prayer.  And just like at the gym, if I fall, if I don't get it, I am willing to publicly admit that I fell.  But I want this, and here goes.  I REALLY REALLY WANT TO DO ROCK OF AGES ON BROADWAY.  NOW.  I WANT THIS JOB WITH MY WHOLE HEART.  I EMBRACE MY MANIFESTATION.  THIS OR SOMETHING BETTER.  AND SO IT IS.  


Whew!  That feels good.  I hope you will embrace your manifestations.  We are not meant to hold our greatest dreams inside.  We are human.  We are emotion.  Even in musical theatre :)


Today I am heading back to Pittsburgh for some family, fun, friends, and Primanti's.  I won't be teaching until Tuesday of next week, UNLESS you are in the burgh and come to Dance Workshop by Shari tomorrow, Sat 5/29 at 11:30am for intenSati!  $10 gets you in the door and I have DVDs!


Please, for your own sake, ROCK OUT.  Thanks for reading, be well, and see you soon.