We had our official opening in Ashland Kentucky at a really beautiful old theatre called the Paramount Arts Center, where we were very excited to see our show up on the center marquee billed alongside Frankie Valli! There was also a festival going on in Ashland while we were in town so it was fun to walk around and see everything. There was even a beauty pageant being held on a stage for all age groups from toddlers on up to teens. It is amazing how obvious it is to the people in these parts of the country that our cast and crew are not from around there. Most of the people were quite nice though and we struck up conversations with several of them.
This is the last city that we have Tim and Steven (our director and choreographer) with us. They bought us all dinner and drinks on their last night in town. We will miss them!!! But they will be seeing the show periodically and checking in on us, and they will also be putting in a replacement for Nellie in the middle of October in Cinncinnatti. We will have a new cast member joining us at that time.
The ladies of the red hat society were staying in our same hotel and we took the opportunity to chat with them and take some photos. Also, a Colonel Sanders (of Kentucky Fried Chicken Fame) look a like was walking around the festival, so of course I had to get my photo taken with him as well.
The shows went well, although the cast has agreed that we prefer school performances over these public performances. There were many more crying children here in Ashland than there were in South Carolina, although we had several little girls come dressed in Disney princess outfits which we thought was very cute. Also, a little girl recognized us later when we were walking around the festival and she wanted to give each of us a hug. It was very cute.
Several of us in the cast bought “I Got Lucky In Kentucky” shirts!
A shot of the cast on our tour bus.
One of the game tables at the back of the bus (there are two of them).
Some random tractors that were parked on the street for the festival in Kentucky!
Our show up on the marquee at the Paramount Arts Center!
Marc and I before the second show in Kentucky.
Chatting with a red hat society lady!
Sitting on a plastic pig in Kentucky…
Our favorite backstage crew member in Ashland, KY!
