The City That Never Sleeps. The End?

Once again, I am back on a plane. It’s no different than any other I’ve been on in the past 2 years, except for the size. It’s a small commuter jet with a row of blue leather seats on one the left side, and twin seats on the other. But for me, the airplane has come to represent one thing: change. Either I’m traveling home to get some rest and relaxation, or I’m traveling to another city to perform. There is change coming out of the air vent above my seat. I think this change smells like body odor. But I don’t mind it this time. Well, maybe I do. But all I know is that this small vessel is carrying me to something I’ve dreamed of for years: performing on Broadway.

Broadway is something of a modern-age performing Mecca of sorts. We all eventually make a pilgrimage to see what Broadway really is about. I’ve made the pilgrimage many times before. However, this time, my stay will be longer than a week, and I will be standing in the place where many of the greatest actors of the American Stage have performed. Incredible.

Who let this happen? Who let this former-computer-nerd-programmer who hated C++ arrive at the epicenter of American theater? Who knows? Well, there are a lot of people I know, but too many to thank. Just to be fair though, I want to thank my parents for sticking with me when I said I wanted to be an actor (they supported me no matter what I did), for understanding that I skipped out on fun activities to go perform (I think I have performed on my Birthday many times), and helping me in any way, shape, or form (thanks for sending me my mail and enduring a ‘internet-video-chat class’). I would never be here without you. Your constant reality checks and logical ways of handling problems have always pushed me to assess my strengths and weaknesses logically, and pushed me to always be the best I can be.

Meanwhile, today, I have my first rehearsal with the Broadway Company, and I will be reunited with tour veterans Miles and Eric G in the show, as well as all my New York pals. And yet, I leave Toronto with a heavy heart, as all my tour buddies will be going on to Denver and parts unknown without me. I send all my love and warmth to you, and all the best through these cold, winter months through very cold states. I know you, the audience, will take care of them for me.

So... the title of this blog is “Tour That”. And I think that for now, Tour That will be shutting down. I’ve blogged a lot this past year, and I hope I have filled your minds with what it’s like to live on the road. I have so many projects to start up, and you can follow my adventures there. For now, “Tour That” will go into retirement as I start my Broadway Career. But here’s a few links that you can watch if you want to stalk me, post “Tour That”:

You can catch me on Facebook and on Myspace.

Sometimes I blog about my thoughts at http://taylorishere.com/. It’s a bit tech and consumer heavy, but if you’re a nerd like me, maybe you’ll get something out of it.

I usually post art (sometimes personal) photos on my flickr feed at http://flickr.com/photos/taylorishere. I’m a photographer on the side, and I’ll probably set up a photography business in NYC in the meantime.

I am a twitterer. You can follow my professional announcements at twitter.com/taylorsternberg , or get a bit more personal at twitter.com/taylorishere

I’m starting up a few side internet projects which will launch in the next few months. I’m an avid videogamer (catch me on xbox live: taylorishere), and will do some videogame writing with some friends at buytryfail.com.

I also am fascinated by what people carry in their daily bags, so I’m starting a “What’s In Your Bag” blog at bagshare.com

Before I went on tour, I used to teach voice, so I’ll probably set up my vocal instruction business again after the first of the year. I don’t have a link yet, but watch out for that.

I aggregate all my content on friendfeed.com/taylorishere, so if you don’t want to look at all those different pages, you can see all my posts in the same place there.

Thank you ever so much for following me, reading what I have to say, and replying to me. I love hearing from you, and will always try to reply the best I can. I wouldn’t be here without you.

Anyway, I’ve got a life to live, so watch out New York: here I come. See you there.

Maple Syrup and The Letter 'Eh'

Yes, it's been a long time coming for a new blog post, but that's because I've found someone. Someone who I can love, and who will love me back. She can be cold at times, but usually is full of life and fun.

Her name is, Toronto.

This place is fantastic. The streets are filled with people walking from place to place, the streets are clean, there is vibrance, commerce, and good food everywhere. Plus, the public transportation will take you anywhere (when it doesn't occasionally shut down). I think, if I wasn't in this business, I would consider trying to live in Toronto. It really is an incredible place.

But day to day, it's been such a treat. I feel like I have a bit of a life, and I'm not stuck in my hotel room because of lack of transportation. I'm even getting out and taking a few classes here and there.

I even got a Frankie performance!

Audiences in Toronto are very nice and polite.  Almost too polite at times: the first few rows sit down during the "bonus", and I just think "You're already standing up, don't worry, have fun!"

But, as usually, I will have to leave and move on to the next place. But, since there's a lot of things here in Toronto to discuss, I'll leave my points in a bulleted list:

• Hockey.  I love it.  But the Toronto Maple Leafs are about as good as the LA Kings (both teams, not so good)
• Tim Hortons.  It can be considered a nicer Dunkin Donuts, with sandwiches, cookies, biscuits, tea, coffee, and everything else.  It is a usual stop after dinner before a show.
• Queen West.  For those who know Melrose Blvd in Los Angeles, it's a bit like that: a kitschy fashion / style shopping street.
• Kensington Marketplace.  Once again, comparisons to LA: it's a bit like Venice Beach, without the beach.  Total hippie central.
• Coffee Crisp.  A fantastic chocolate bar that we don't get in the states, but has the taste of coffee wafers.
• A distinct Euro vibe.  It can be considered "America Lite" here, but there is a distinct European overtone.  Perhaps it's the vibrance in the streets.
• Hanging out with other casts, like Spamalot, Dirty Dancing, and A Chorus Line.
• "Triumph".  Steve Gouveia is a big fan of this Canadian band (and in turn, has made me a fan as well).  And they even came to the show!  Here's a video:
  
• Kara (female swing) and Junior (crew) got married up here, and I got to photograph their wedding.  It was my first professional wedding gig!
• Lots of escalators here seem to be broken.

Meanwhile, we've had some shakeups in the cast: Jamie Karen left, and to replace her, we have Jeremy's fantastically talented wife Jenny Lee Stern.  Zach Prince left, and to replace him, we have the energetic and solid Graham Fenton (who was a swing in Vegas).  And there's this new guy hanging around here named Ryan Strand... I wonder who he's here to replace...?

I hear there's an opening on Broadway for a swing.