Well, it’s Thursday of closing week of “The Mousetrap”. I got a show tomorrow, 2 Saturday and then Sunday, I am heading back to beautiful Cincinnati, hopefully to enjoy my “postage stamp” of an apartment, La Rosa’s pizza, Skyline chili, running down & up Mt. Adams & the river & Kentucky ( yes, I’m that close to all of that.). So what have I learned over this past 3 1/2 months, 2 shows, one shared condo and all of the charms of Lancaster, Pa.? And, just so you know, Lancaster is pretty charming. A couple of great farmers markets, a cool, walkable downtown, a nice Hyatt ( where I spent my 3 day New Year’s break between shows), nice restaurants and 2 excellent casts, both on & offstage…

…but I digress…

What have I learned? Because I think learning is a big part of all this work I’m doing. I’m doing shows with and for some very talented, very driven people. A lot of these folks are hella talented, and have ambitions which reach as far as you can reach in this business. And some of them will be names you will get used to hearing, especially if you’re into stage work. We’re 2 + hours from NYC, so many of these people have actually made the move to the Big Apple, or can get there from here regularly for auditions, classes, etc. They aren’t just sitting at home talking about it. They are being about it. All of this is to say that for me to belong on stage with them, as Ru Paul so elegantly put it, “I betta work”.

This isn’t always a source of great joy & pride.

Sometimes I wonder why I am putting myself through this. It’s not for the money. As I say to myself at those times, I could make more working part time at an easy gig back in Cincinnati. Wake up, put my 20 hours a week in doing whatever, sleep in my own bed, have goetta & eggs whenever I want, ya know, the good life. By the way, ( 2nd digression alert) I made goetta over the holidays, actually made enough to give a few friends as “gifts”. “Here, have a loaf of goetta”. “Well, it’s beef & pork and pinhead oats, onion & spices” “Really. slice it up, fry it & have it with eggs for breakfast. We love it in Cincinnati. Let me know what you think”.

They did take it.

No response.

Yeah, it’s a Cincinnati thing…

…2nd digression complete…

So why travel all over the eastern U.S. To Florida, N. Carolina, Lancaster Pa. and who knows where else?

In the words of Edmund Hillary, “because it’s there”. If you don’t know that reference, look it up. That’s an easy one.

Because I’m still learning. At 63. Trying to “up my game”. Trying to be a better actor, singer, scene partner. Learning how to keep my voice through lead roles and 7,8 or 9 show weeks. Learning about shows that I didn’t know before, roles I didn’t know before, theaters and actors and directors that I didn’t know. I know that I’m good at being on the road. I can amuse myself, with the help of books, running paths, the internet, movie theaters ( tho don’t get me started on the behavior of most people in movie theaters, or theaters in general. That’s a whole separate rant) And the work is fascinating. I know it’s not Broadway. But like I said in the 1-man show I did back on the west coast before I left town, failing some miraculous occurrence, this is my Broadway. Every time I’m lucky enough to get cast and have the opportunity to work in this kooky business, I might as well give it my all. What in the bejeezus am I saving it for?

Have I learned this time? Yeah, I learned a lot about getting out of my own way, not letting my ego and testosterone get in the way of doing good, sustainable work. I’d go deeper into that, and that was actually what I thought I was going to blog about today, but I think I’ll save the “how’s & why’s” of that for another day.

My, these things just have mind of their own sometimes.

So, the point today? I guess it’s that I’m lucky. I’ve been put into a position where I get to do work I love with people who amaze, amuse & challenge me on a daily basis. And the fact that I’m aware of it, and I do appreciate it.

Except for the dancing. Stop trying to make me dance.

Talk later,

Bob