HOOAH

Week 45: West Point, NY

We could not have picked a better time to visit the Hudson Valley. The mountains and rolling hills ablaze with autumn foliage are breathtaking, especially viewed from the spectacular location of the military academy at West Point. So why the heck are we at West Point? Well, I shall explain. As you may know, the "Spamalot" tour has been out for about two and a half years continually on the road. It has played most of the major cities in North America, some of them twice. When the Vegas company closed over the summer, it opened up the west coast to the tour and next summer we will play big engagements in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where the show has never been seen. However, in order to get there the show must continue to tour between now and then, and that means opening up new markets across the country for "Spamalot." There are smaller theatres in smaller cities that want the show but either can't afford the show at its present size or have facilities that won't accommodate the sets as they are now designed. So our physical production is being adapted to make these next several months of touring more feasible and cost effective. The Eisenhower Theatre at West Point is a hospitable place, close to New York, where the technical adjustments can be made and rehearsed.

The scenery is being redesigned so that three-dimensional pieces become flat painted pieces, some of the automation that moves the scenery around is being removed, and the number of trucks that transport the show will be reduced from eight to six. This means significant savings for both the production and presenters. With fuel costs what they are, fewer trucks mean less gas; with less heavy and complicated set pieces to unload, set up and break down, this means significant savings on labor. Our orchestra is being reduced slightly as well, and new arrangements have been created for this purpose. The best part is that the audiences will still get the same great, attractive show that we have always done. The original designers have come together to create this revised design plan, the original arranger is creating the new sound for our smaller band. So we are here to do technical rehearsals and staging adjustments with our new scenery and to rehearse with the new orchestration. It's rather nice, actually, as it feels like we are getting ready to open a new show, infusing us with renewed energy as a company. Also, we are only doing one performance this weekend so we can rest somewhat from the rigors of our usual eight show week. Once we have done our performance here, we will be laid off for two weeks while the new production is organized for our next engagement in Ottawa next month. Which means a two week vacation for me back home in New York City!




West Point is one of the largest school campuses in the world, occupying 16,000 acres on a gorgeous scenic overlook of the Hudson River.
A military outpost was established here by George Washington in 1778 during the Revolutionary War, and in 1802 Thomas Jefferson established the military academy here, where for generations "The Long Gray Line" of cadets have been trained to become army officers, and where many of our nation's finest generals have received their education. The academy itself is an imposing fortress perched high above the river, and arriving there it rather reminded me of the fantasy school of Hogwarts from Harry Potter. The Eisenhower Theatre is absolutely huge and presents a full season of performance, including touring shows like ours, celebrity concerts, and performances by the United States Military Academy Band. It's interesting to be in this part of the world and at this historic site this week, as I have been reading the works of David McCullough--"1776," and his Pulitzer Prize winning monumental biography "John Adams." Important episodes in the American Revolution took place in the Hudson Valley, even in the little town of Fishkill, where the company has housed us this week.

Derived from the Dutch words vis, for "fish" and "kill" for river, the town of Fishkill was originally a Dutch settlement established on land bought from the Wappinger Indians.
Fishkill played an important role in the Revolutionary War when a vast military encampment was established one mile below the village to guard the mountain pass to the south. Signal fires lay in readiness on tops of the surrounding mountains. The Fishkill encampment became the main supply depot for the northern division of the Continental Army. The first 1,000 copies of the New York State Constitution were turned out on Samuel Loudon's press at Fishkill in 1777. None of this history is readily apparent in modern day Fishkill, especially in the strip of hotels and chain restaurants where we are staying this week and commuting from to West Point. Many of the company chose to carpool and commute to and from NYC this week but since I will be home for two weeks shortly, I opted to stay out here this week, which has made for a very quiet and uneventful time. I am getting a lot of reading done, and studying for my learner's permit test, determined as I am to finally learn to drive. It should be very amusing to be taking the test amongst a bunch of adolescents in a week or so!

Meet Chris, my West Point dresser.
Chris and I got to work together for a hot second, but she is a pistol! Such a great sense of humor and such a fun lady. We compared tattoos and enjoyed discussing all the things we have in common, including having been born in Pittsburgh. We will be performing there in several weeks and Chris has promised to come and see the show there from out front.

So, friends, "Spamalot" is giving us a two week break and I will be taking two weeks off from the blog as well. During the layoff I will be celebrating my birthday on October 26, catching up with some dear friends and loved ones, and enjoying autumn in New York, my favorite time of the year in the city.
Before I sign off this week, I want to send some love to the great folks who have been making magic in the Broadway company of "Spamalot." We were informed yesterday that come mid-January, the Broadway production will close after a successful four year run. This will mean that in 2009, with the London company closing as well, our tour will be the last remaining production of the show. While I am saddened that this great show must leave its home on the Great White Way, I am proud that our production will continue to roll, bringing the joy of "Spamalot" to thousands and thousands more people.

One last plea, to you and yours: PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE. This may be the most important election we ever vote in, and we have the opportunity to make history and bring new hope to our country. Do your part, and celebrate the fact that we as Americans have a choice!! Have a great couple weeks, and I will return with a blog post the first week in November when we will continue our adventures in Ottawa, Ontario.