Guys-

Woof....SO much has been going on, I have not really had any extra time than to rest after shows, or rehearsals. Let me start with after the Cape...

The day us boys got back from the Cape, we were all SO, so sick, and Blake had to call out (only missing 4 shows in nearly 2 years due to illness!), and I was called to go on for both Tuesday, AND Wed. night’s shows. It was AMAZING. I had not felt that good about a performance to that point in my career, only to be topped the next night. Both nights were absolutely incredible, and it was beautiful to get a nice little message from Blake encouraging me to stay grounded and focused before the show.

We finished our week up in Boston, crazily, with rehearsals, and packing to go, and headed to Pitt, where Blake, Gabby, Ben, Christy, and Myself stayed at Andy’s house. It was such a great time. We all hung out all week, and played with his cat who sucks on ears when he is close to them, and chatted up a storm with his mother, who made entirely too much food for us for the week. Opening night seemed a little strange, with the audience not really reacting.

The entire cast has been sick. And by sick, I mean, INFECTIOUSLY sick. I started it in the first week of Boston, having to call out for the first time in the entire tour. Then one after another...each person got sick with it in the cast, eventually having to call out or stick out the show ill in one form or another throughout Boston. I went on, as I said in a previous post, for several characters in a row, jumping around from part to part. Kyle came down ill the last weekend of Boston, and carried over into Pittsburgh, unfortunately, and had to miss the first two shows, came back Thursday, then had to miss again on Friday. Perry went on Mon and Tues...but on Friday... I was already in the middle of rehearsals as Melchior with Julie Benko, and then Blake came in with Christy to work with me as well, when I found out the news that I would be going on that night as Melchior for my very first time. To MY surprise, I was not even shocked, or nervous. Just very anxious. I couldn’t wait to begin, and the only nerves I had was because I would be playing opposite one of my best friends in the world: Blake.

Before the show, I had excessive rehearsal, because there are technical things Melchior has to do that we cannot learn in rehearsals normally until you go on, and took care of that. By the time everything was said and done... I was standing behind the curtain, behind Steffi D, and in front of Blake when I felt a touch at my back, and Blake said some kind words of encouragement to keep me grounded and know that I was going to do great out there.

It went AMAZING. Blake and my chemistry was incredible. Christy and mine was also. I felt amazing vocally, and even better in the scene work. As I was doing the choreography on the platform under the florescent blue nights in MBN, for half a second I caught myself in awe of what I was actually doing. It was something I had only dreamt of doing in my life. Literally. I knew from the moment I saw the show that I would at some point play the role of Melchior, and it finally came true. After that brief moment, I pulled it back in, and reeled into the moment with Christy.

After everything was over... I walked off stage and softly began to cry a bit. I couldn’t believe I had just done what I did. I had now done something no one in Spring Awakening History has ever done before : play both the roles of Melchior and Moritz. Blake and Christy were there to greet me on the other side of the other side of the stage.

It was a surreal moment in my life.

It was amazing to have Kyle back the next day. The energy, and charisma he brings to the cast if irreplaceable.