Part Time Announcement

I think the most difficult thing about working part-time for Disney (as opposed to having a full-time contract) is the inability to have a routine or to even plan anything definitively in advance.

Because I never know how many hours I’ll be scheduled to work in any given week, I have to be available any time Disney calls which has resulted in me missing out on a lot of previously scheduled events (like two different birthday parties!).

I feel horrible about canceling on people, but I have to work. Thankfully, all of my friends have been understanding of the situation, but still. I feel terrible. Now whenever I make plans, I make sure to give the standard “Yes ... unless I have to work” response.


Granted, in the past, I was often late or had to cancel things even when I was full-time due to a show time change. But now the occurrences are much more frequent, and it’s aggravating.

However, in today’s economy, I'm thankful to have a job that provides me with a paycheck, even when it’s inconvenient.

Of course, the big news in my life is ... I’m going out on another cruise ship!!!!

It's official. I’ll be going into rehearsals for Royal Caribbean at the end of September to join the Jewel of the Seas in November, and I’m very excited!

For more information about the shows and itinerary see my website under News.

Overnights and Toothbrushes

Well, I made it! Approved to do Dream Along With Mickey at the Magic Kingdom, my first performance will be Monday, June 2nd.

I can't believe I lived through those overnights, either. Killer. The body is not made to kick and turn at 4:30 in the morning.

Now I just have figure out how to dance under the red-hot Florida sun without getting skin cancer or burning the soles of my feet on the boiling outdoor stage, all the while doing eight shows a day. Yikes! What have I gotten myself into? I'll keep you posted.

In other news ...

I received a Phillips Sonicare electric toothbrush as a gift from my parents for Christmas and finally got around to using it. One word: Heavenly. If you don't have this toothbrush, get one! Now! I LOVE it!

You break your mouth down into four quadrants, and the toothbrush beeps every thirty seconds so you know when to switch to the next row of teeth. It's amazing. My teeth are cleaner than ever before.

If you're serious about your tooth care, then I highly recommend the Sonicare toothbrush for your dental needs.

Didn't that sound like a commercial? I should get some advertising revenue.

what I've been up to as of late

Whew! This has been a busy, busy couple of weeks.

I started off volunteering for the Orlando Fringe Festival where I put in an excess of thirty hours in three days. Then I began rehearsals for Dream Along With Mickey, the show in front of Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom. And those 8:30 am rehearsals are early for someone used to working late and then sleeping in on a cruise ship.


After a few days of throwing my leg up over my head, I had a three-day break to go and see some Fringe shows. I saw as many as I possibly could although I regret to say, I still wasn’t able to see everything.

To all my friends whose show I wasn’t able to make it to: please know that I really tried to fit everything in, but due to my limited availability and the reality of the Fringe schedule, I could only do so much.

In no particular order, I was able to see:

TJ Dawe’s Totem Figures
Gemma Wilcox’s Shadows in Bloom
Almost Walking a Straight Line
New Rochelle
The UnNaturals
Bathhouse: The Musical
When Pigs Fly
Skip Peril and the Players of the Lost Trunk
The Screw You Revue: Deja Vu
Here Be Dragons
Queer Book Yearbook
Dysfunctional Fables

Everything was excellent! I was particularly happy to finally be able to see Gemma Wilcox after her triumphant Orlando arrival last year. She was everything I had heard she would be.

I could go into greater detail about each show, but at this point, who really cares? The Fringe is over.

Then it was right back to Disney rehearsals.

I flew up to Chicago last Friday night for my sister’s wedding, and then came right back on Sunday for what? More rehearsal. On Tuesday night we began the dreaded overnights: 11:00 pm to 8:00 am. And let me just point out to you dear blog reader ... dancing your heart out at 4:30 in the morning is not an easy endeavor!

Tonight is our final night: Approvals! We’ve done the choreography, we’ve done the blocking, we’ve done the costumes. Now we just need the a-ok from casting and the directors, and we’re all into shows. Sweet!

Saturday night will be our final overnight (beginning at 1:30 am!!!) for contingency rehearsals and then I’ll hopefully be able to revert back to a semi-normal sleeping pattern.

Last night I whacked my hand on one of the columns on the set, and my thumb is still throbbing today. I must have bruised it pretty badly. But whenever something like that happens, I always think about the stories (myths?) I’ve heard regarding performing legends like Chita Rivera who supposedly continued to dance as her ballet shoes filled with blood from all the cuts and blisters on her feet. Ewww gross! I guess a bruised thumb isn’t so bad after all.

Wish me luck tonight!

My Muscles Are Tired

I had my first rehearsal for Dream Along With Mickey today. Woke up at 6:15 am this morning to get to the Magic Kingdom by 8:30. And now ... I’m tired. My muscles are sore, my mind is fried, and I am just exhausted.

The show is really cute. I like the choreography, and the Dance Captains, Sonja and Erek are great. But I’m tuckered out. Whew.

I had thought about going to the Fringe Festival tonight to see a show or two, but no thank you. I’m in for the night because I have to be back at rehearsal tomorrow again at 8:30. And I want to wake up refreshed and revived!

Goodnight.