Legends on Tour: Show #12: Rhinelander, WI

Rhinelander High School Auditorium
February 9, 2006

● February 8

Taking Michelle’s place in the show is our very good friend, Ann Michels. Ann was involved in the first production of our show (this being the third) two years ago. But this time around she’s learning a new role, or a “track,” as it’s called in the biz. She arrived yesterday evening with Perrin. The hope had been that they would arrive in time for Ann to watch Michelle’s final performance. Unfortunately they had some navigational problems along the way, and ended up arriving ten minutes into Act Two. Ah, well…

Today was officially a day off. However, there is no rest for the wicked. What with a new cast member, we had rehearsin’ to do! But not all of the focus was on Ann. In an effort to help the length and flow of the show, we were also instigating a new show order, reinstating “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” (Evita) and cutting “Hostess With the Mostes’” (Call Me Madam), “Alleluia” (The Sound of Music) and “I’m Still Here” (Follies). The Julie Andrews section now closes Act One, “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” opens Act Two, and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” ends the show. So we all had new things to focus on. Hopefully, these changes will help with the length and flow of the show.

So we slept in a bit, and gathered at 11AM. Our glamorous rehearsal space was a meeting room in the hotel. Ann is such a pro. She had worked her butt off at home learning the music and choreography, and impressed us all at how well-prepared she was.

The official Passing of the Fedora

We didn’t have a piano at the hotel, so I got on the phone the day before. I called the local UCC church, explained that I was music director at a UCC church in Minneapolis, was in town on a concert tour, and had a huge favor to ask. They were happy to let us use one of their pianos. So after rehearsal with the full cast, Ann and I hopped in the van and headed over to the church for a music rehearsal.

We all wanted to take full advantage of one of the few nights off that we have on this tour. Some decided to crash in the their rooms, but JenDeen, Josh, Patty, Stacey, Susan, Tim, Travis and I decided to see a movie. I wanted to be entertained for a change, and not be responsible for doing the entertaining. We went to the State Theater, an old second-run movie house downtown. We were barely in the door before Michael, the heavily Greek-accented proprietor in the ticket booth asked, “Okay, which one of you is in charge here? I want to know who to talk to in case you get out of control.” And on his banter went. Once we realized he was kidding, he was hysterical. This is a man who loves his work. He said, “Okay, now we’re going to do this like the army! Line up single file, women first!” There were four movies to choose from, and all the women opted for Memoirs of a Geisha. I was then the first man to approach the booth. When I said that I wanted a ticket to see Memoirs too, he said, “You do know that this is a chick flick, yes? Because when you realize this half an hour into the movie and you come out asking for a refund, you’re not going to get it!” I assured him that I would take my chances. The reviews of this film had been pretty so-so, but we were all pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed it, and especially thought that visually, it was stunningly beautiful.

Rhinelander’s mascot is the Hodag, a mythical serpent creature, believed by 19th century lumberjacks to embody the restless spirits of dead lumber oxen.

Patrick, hearing that WalMart (the evil empire) was selling Hodag slippers, simply had to have a pair of his own.