Show #9: Hastings, MN

Hastings Middle School Auditorium
February 5, 2006

Piano du jour: 5’ Yamaha, out of tune, sticky low Gb

Yikes! Its been way too long since I’ve last posted. We’re finding that the days and the venues are all starting to blend together in our memories. So in order to capture these days before my mind gets mushy (or mushier, if truth be told), I resolved to be more prompt in my posting.

We had a long, 5½ hour drive from Sioux City to Hastings. Under normal road trip conditions, that wouldn’t be a long drive. But considering that we also have to perform that day, it’s long enough. There was a wonderful moment of musical theatre geekdom during the drive – three iPods in use (Patty, JenDeen, and Jody) – all listening to the original cast album of Wicked (based on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire). Wonderful novel and the musical has some great tunes.

We got to our venue… and wow, was it cold backstage! Apparently they don’t bother with luxuries like heat on the weekends. The women were wearing their winter coats over their gowns back stage.

When Tim and Josh had arrived earlier for load-in, Tim asked, “And where’s the piano?” “Piano? We didn’t know you needed a piano,” was the reply. Sigh… So they wheeled one in from the choir room, knocking it pretty badly out of tune (assuming that it had been in tune to begin with.) Having to be at the mercy of every venue is becoming quite frustrating. Travis is able to tune his bass to the piano, but Patrick can’t, on the fly, change the tuning on his accordion, so if the piano is out of tune, the two of us playing together can be quite uncomfortable.

Most shows begin with a speech by the local president of the concert association. As the gentleman in Hastings was introducing us, bless his heart, he talked about Broadway “thee-ay-ter,” Ethel “Mermian,” and Carol “Canning.”

This was the night of the Super Bowl, and amazingly, most of the 700-seat theatre was full. Susan honored the evening by wearing her Pittsburgh Steeler earrings.

She was frequently on the phone with her father backstage, and then gave score updates to the audience throughout the show. Susan was thrilled with the Steeler’s win.

Miles traveled: 375
Hotel: AmericInn