Fayette, MO

Population: 2,710

Fayette, Missouri, was absolutely a highlight of tour for me. Fayette is the hometown of the effervescent Samantha Williams, Company Manager for Olney Theatre Center. Samantha coordinated with her mother to make sure that the Players had a feast waiting for us upon arrival! Sheri Williams is the most generous, kind, and welcoming human I have had the pleasure of meeting thus far on tour. She invited 10 strangers into her lovely home and made us feel like we were part of the family. The food and company were incredible. There was BBQ, fruit, veggies, salads of all kinds, desserts, and basically all the delicious foods you could imagine. There was a gorgeous magnolia tree blooming in the backyard. We made s’mores and chatted around the bonfire outside. This was our first whiff of spring, and damn did it smell good. After coming from a blizzard, the warmth (from both the weather and the Williams) was exactly what we needed. Huge thanks to Samantha, Sheri, and the Williams family for making us feel so loved. We really needed it.  (Sheri even gave us Easter goody bags on the way out! Can you believe this woman??)

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We performed The Crucible at Central Methodist University’s Little Theatre to a small, but appreciate, crowd.

Eldon, MO

Population: 4,623

Eldon is a small suburban town that reminded me a bit of where I grew up. We performed The Crucible for the students at Eldon High School. All the kids were dressed to the nines! (Apparently the school required this, but it was still quite adorable.) The theatre teacher and his students here were absolutely outstanding! About 20 students helped us load-in and strike. They had studied the play and were so pumped to see it. Josh and I led an Improv class for these students, and they were (often) hilarious. After the performance, we ate pizza and chatted with the students onstage.

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During strike, I got the chance to chat with some of the students and get a vibe for the school and town. One girl with a “Girls Support Girls” shirt opened up to me about the difficulties of being a woman at a school where 99% of the students support our current president. She said that feminist is a “bad word” in Eldon. Other girls started chiming in and agreeing that the atmosphere is not one of acceptance or tolerance at the school. I tried to share some of my own experiences in high school with them. I went to Collierville High School, in a small suburb of Memphis. Collierville is incredibly conservative and religious. Anyone who was different (including my Jewish/atheist/artist/nerd self) was ostracized and shamed. I told the girls to continue doing theatre and challenging those around them. I can’t imagine things are easy for them. Things were hard for me in high school; I cannot even imagine if I had attended during the rise of our current administration. I definitely would have gotten into even more heated debates with my classmates than I already did.

Memphis, TN

Population: 652,236

While the rest of the company enjoyed a few days off in St. Louis, Hugh, Deidre, and I made our way to Memphis! I wanted to surprise my dad for his opening night of 1984 at Circuit Playhouse. On the road about 40 minutes from home, my dad texted me to ask where I was. I told him I was spending the weekend in St. Louis and wished I could see his show. He was completely surprised when I showed up at the front door half an hour later! (Shoutout to my mom for keeping this a secret.) It was so worth the extra driving. It was rejuvenating to spend time with my family. Also, my dad completely kicked ass as the villain O’Brien in his show. It was a blast getting to see him and introducing some of my Memphis theatre pals to Deidre and Hugh. Leaving Memphis was tragic, and I am counting down the days until I’m back in town!

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St. Louis, MO

Population: 308,626

We didn’t have much time in St. Louis, but the time we had was incredibly well spent. Deidre set up a dinner date with her friend from high school who also turns out to be a pal of mine from middle school! We met up with Saakshi to eat ramen and play with her tiny, adorable puppy. Saakshi has been smart as hell since I knew her in middle school. She’s kicking some major adulting ass, working for Boeing. It was really nice getting to see her and catching up.

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After dinner, a few of us went to the City Museum for some strange adventuring. If you don’t know what the City Museum is, I highly recommend you take a trip. The museum is housed in the former International Shoe building and was designed by the architect Bob Cassilly. It’s like part-playground-part-interactive-art-exhibit-part-amusement-park. All of the areas of the museum have different themes, and you are invited to crawl all over anything you can. We climbed up to and then slid down the ten-story slide, which was so wild. I cracked up the entire way down. I definitely felt like a kid again. Also, I got so many pretty bruises from the experience! Thanks for the souvenirs, St. Louis!

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I’m a little behind on posting, but next up is…(drum roll, please)…Iowa and Indiana! Our last stint in the Midwest! (thank god)

Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie

Yankton, South Dakota

Population: 14,516

Yankton is Cow Capital of South Dakota. Do you hear me? Cow Capital of South Dakota. Not Cow Capital of the World, not the U.S., not even of the Midwest. But Cow Capital of the state of South Dakota. I hope that gives you an idea of how many cows are in the Midwest.

At this point, I have to be honest: I am sick of the Midwest. If I see another stretch of land so flat I can see cows in Wisconsin, I am going to scream. The vastness and isolation of it all really stresses me out. Also, the smell. Much of the Midwest smells like actual feces. The farm animals are eating well, because that shit is potent.

We received the warmest of welcomes when Yankton greeted us with a literal blizzard. Many of our workshops were cancelled, but we still managed to perform 4 shows in town. Thankfully, the snow masked a bit of the poo smell.

Our first performance was for an audience of about 250 men incarcerated at Yankton Federal Prison Camp. Yankton is a low-security prison; most of the men are serving the end of their sentences or have committed non-violent crimes. The educational/artistic programs at the prison give me hope. They offer a degree program, a creative writing class, and a program that trains and fosters dogs. We performed Twelfth Night in their gym. A bunch of the guys helped us load in and pack our truck. It was great getting to talk to them while all working to accomplish a common goal.

Performing in front of an audience of adult men who have found themselves living in a federal prison camp is one of the most exhilarating and terrifying experiences of my life. I was suddenly way too aware of my hands and couldn’t understand why my lines suddenly sound so phony coming out of my mouth. It’s a self-consciousness that I haven’t felt onstage in a long time. I’m also always surprised at what excellent listeners prison audiences are. Maybe their ability to engage with Shakespeare has to do with the lack of technological distractions. That’s one theory I have, at least.

Every year, the prison’s Creative Writing class publishes a collection of art, poetry, and short stories titled 4PM Count. There was a review and photo from last year’s National Players’ production in the 2018 book. We all got a copy, and I devoured mine within the dingy brown walls of our Best Western “Plus” hotel room. The writings were profound and included the following subjects: grieving the lost opportunity to watch their children grow up; missing their wives who must continue on living without them; reflecting upon their past crimes and their futures outside of prison; and sharing childhood memories of family and baseball games. I look forward to reading next year’s copy, which will feature a review of our performance of Twelfth Night.

After performing at the prison camp and surviving the blizzard, we performed our full repertory of shows at Mount Marty College. The students were enthusiastic, and the nuns were overjoyed to have us on campus. We ate dinner one night with the Benedictine nuns at Mount Marty. It turns out that nuns eat a slice of ham and some oranges for dinner. Someone feed these women, please! They are wasting away! They were incredibly kind and welcoming and even sang a blessing over the company, with their arms outstretched above us.

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A Few Things That Depress Me While on Tour:

-When you just want to escape your gross hotel room and so you look up the only coffee shop in town, and you arrive to find it is closed for the winter, because no one likes to drink warm drinks in the cold.

-When the nicest restaurant in town is the one in your hotel.

-Your clothes will need at least two times in the dryer, and you will never have enough quarters. Mental breakdowns and hotel laundry go together like white people and the Midwest.

-When you memorize the menu at the restaurant in your hotel.

-When the hotel staff harasses you and won’t allow you to meet with your company in the breakfast room.

-When the only microwave is in the breakfast room, and the hotel staff harasses you for using it.

-Hotel Child Birthday Parties (there are so many of these, probably because of the pools)

-When you wake up 5 minutes after breakfast has been put away, so you just eat some handfuls of dry cereal and go back to sleep.

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-When you can’t get your prescription medications, because of red tape and human error.

-When you miss your family and cat so much it makes you want to leave everything and just go home.

Don’t get me wrong., I love this job, but sometimes it’s really hard. Living out of a suitcase can be disheartening. I really miss my family and having a home. (Which is part of the reason I took an impromptu trip home to Memphis—details in the next post!)

Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie

Keystone, SD (Home of Mount Rushmore)

Population: 339

Elevation: 4,331 feet above sea level

After much persuasion and deliberation, Deidre and I finally agreed to accompany Hugh to visit the National Monument, Mount Rushmore. I felt conflicted about visiting after spending time with students who were part of the First Nation community in Spearfish, SD. Mount Rushmore is carved into the face of the Black Hills, an incredibly sacred part of the earth for the First Nations. It was odd to finally see the monument in person, after seeing its photo on postcards and in textbooks for so many years. We looked at it, said, “Wow, they really went up there and did that,” and then loaded back into the van for the day’s second adventure.

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Devil’s Tower, WY

Population: 152

Elevation: 5,112 feet above sea level

After visiting Mount Rushmore, we headed to Wyoming to admire Devil’s Tower at sunset. This was absolutely breathtaking. My dad suggested we visit, partly because he loves Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which features the landmark. Devil’s Tower was astonishing. Visiting the site felt spiritual, because of how sacred the site is to so many people. It felt as if we were paying tribute to the natural land, partially in recompense for admiring the carvings of Mount Rushmore earlier in the day. On the way back to South Dakota, we pulled the van over to the side of the road and stood in awe of all the stars. Some of us made wishes on some shooting stars on the side of that highway.

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Steamboat Springs, CO

Population: 12,965

Elevation: 6,900-10,000 feet above sea level

Our first stop in Colorado was Steamboat Springs, nestled in the Rocky Mountains. This was my first time seeing the Rockies, and I felt like we were driving through a movie set on the way to town. I definitely experienced some altitude sickness upon arriving in Steamboat Springs. I basically felt like I had a hangover, without the fun night of drinking beforehand. Steamboat Springs is a small, wealthy ski resort town. The downtown is incredibly cute, and you get amazing views of the mountains from anywhere in town. Even their chain stores (like the Walgreens and McDonald’s) were designed to look like log cabins on the outside. Steamboat is what I imagine the towns in those miniature Christmas decorations (the ones in Hallmark stores, sometimes with a quiet little train chugging through) must be like. Everyone smiled all the time, and no one seemed to have any worries at all. It makes sense how they are able to live like this when you visit the nearby coal-mining town, whose students we were working with. The nearby town is populated with trailers. The coal-mining factories declared bankruptcy, so the families in this town are struggling. School has been reduced to 4-day weeks to allow children to help out at home. These students came to see us perform The Crucible at the Strings Pavilion in Steamboat.

On our last morning in Steamboat, Deidre and I dropped in on a fancy yoga class. I stood in mountain pose with an incredible view of the snow-kissed mountains, and I have never been more relaxed. 

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Denver, CO

Population: 704,621

Elevation: 1 mile above sea level

I could definitely see myself living in Denver. The city has a very cool energy, and the people were energized due to Opening Day for the Rockies MLB team when we were in town. We ate great food and explored, all with the gorgeous mountains in the distance. The town reminded me of a cross between Austin, TX, and Asheville, NC. Take me back!

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Boulder, CO

Population: 107,125

Elevation: 5,430 feet above sea level

Hugh and I took a day trip to Boulder to visit a friend of his from elementary school. His friend took us around the town and also took us on a mini-hike through the canyon. We ate a home-cooked meal with his friend and his mother. Boulder seems like a great (granted expensive) college town with lots of fun shops and bars. I wish I could have spent more time exploring here!

Pueblo, CO

Population: 111, 127

Elevation: 4,692 feet above sea level

Pueblo was our next stop on the National Players’ tour of Colorado. The town has a cute downtown area with a pretty river walk around the Arkansas River. (Someone please tell me how I got so close to Arkansas again while I was in Colorado. Help.) We performed The Crucible for students at the Sangre de Cristo Performing Arts Center.

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Colorado Springs, CO

Population: 464,474

Elevation: 6,035 feet above sea level

On the way out of Colorado, we stopped in Colorado Springs to explore the Garden of the Gods. This place was GORGEOUS. I am completely in awe of Colorado and all of its natural beauty. The views of Pike’s Peak were amazing. I swear if I lived near a place like this I would be there every weekend, basking in the beauty. This adventure was well worth the detour.

Needless to say, I was quite depressed to leave Colorado and am already thinking about my next adventure there.

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North Platte, NE

Population: 23,888

Elevation: 2,802 feet above sea level

We made it to North Platte, Nebraska, where we spent the night in a brand-new modern hotel, complete with a pool table in the lobby’s lounge. Upon arriving, a bunch of guys staying at the hotel offered us some of their leftover pizza and wings! This was the warmest welcome to Nebraska I could have imagined. However, like the rest of the Midwest so far, everything still smelled like manure.

Next up: back to South Dakota!

Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie

Rapid City, SD

Population: 74, 421

This week, I saw a profoundly breathtaking natural work of art, and I now believe the “moon landing” to have taken place just outside of Rapid City, South Dakota. Badlands National Park is extraordinary; you can climb all over the rock formations, just marveling at mother earth. I would consider exploring the Badlands with some of my fellow company members to be among the few spiritual experiences I have had in life. I felt in awe of nature and also thankful for conservation. My younger self would have completely lost her mind in that place (I used to collect rocks, minerals, fossils, crystals, etc., so this place was like the ultimate jackpot). After visiting, I have also learned that prairie dogs are like large, wild guinea pigs that scurry around and emit cute lil’ baby barks when they’re scared.

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After exploring the Badlands, we took a trip to the notorious Wall Drug, a kitschy roadside attraction in Wall, SD. Wall Drug is an old western-style collection of souvenir stores, gemstone shops, other places where you can buy things that may have belonged to a hoarder, and a restaurant where they sell the most delightful homemade donuts ever.

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That evening, a few of us went to see Jordan Peele’s new horror film, Us. Talk about a MASTERFUL work of art! Whatever you do, please go check this one out. In fact, stop what you’re doing right now, and walk backwards (you’ll get it once you see it) to your nearest cinema.

Spearfish, SD

Population: 11,609

Arrival in Spearfish, SD. Finally, some CIVILIZATION! It’s nice to see more chain restaurants and stores around. When you’ve been in rural Minnesota or hanging out at a monastery, you start to appreciate neon signs and gas stations a bit more. Spearfish is a really beautiful little town, nestled right in the Northern Black Hills. There is a lot of history here, particularly due to the region’s rich Native American culture.

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The National Players were in town to work with the Matthews Opera House, a hub for theatre and art in Spearfish. In three days, the ten of us taught a total of 26 workshops and a total of 583 students. (I myself taught 7 workshops to 158 students. Check out this math, from an actor!) We taught at a local elementary school, a middle school, Black Hills State University, a center for adults with disabilities, and a psychiatric residential treatment facility for young people. It was incredible getting to know this community. Though they came from many different walks of life, what all of our students had in common was an eagerness to learn.

Teaching at the treatment facility for young people was unlike any previous experience. I was completely ignorant of these institutions and the ways in which they impact lives forever. Emily and I taught an Improv workshop to about 15 girls from ages 11-19. We gave them a window into our world, and they gave us a window into theirs in return. This is an experience I will not soon forget. I am certain this will not be the last time I work with an institution like this, because I am now determined to do so in the future. These are strange, seemingly prison-like places where a lot of American kids grow up. There are some good people doing great work, but there are clearly some big problems too. I’m hoping to learn more, and I’m still reflecting on my very brief time spent there.

As part of a local project titled “The Big Read,” we were invited to perform some guerrilla Shakespeare scenes in an art gallery attached to the opera house. We performed on one of the neatest sets I have ever worked on. “The Big Read” included several art projects inspired by the novel Station Eleven, written by Emily St. John Mandel. The novel follows a troupe of travelling Shakespeare actors in a future where a massive plague has wiped out most of civilization. The actors travel in a horse drawn pickup truck. On the truck’s side reads, “The Traveling Symphony: Because Survival is Insufficient.” The local high school’s welding department created a replica of this truck and built it into a stage! It felt very special to be part of this event. I read the novel a few years ago at the recommendation of my sister and her boyfriend and was so stoked to be part of this project. I think that sums up why a lot of us join something like the National Players or make art at all, really—because survival is insufficient.

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Last night, we loaded in and performed Twelfth Night on the Matthews Opera House stage. The opera house was originally built in 1906. It has certainly had its ups and downs over the years, but current management is really bringing life to this beautiful old theatre. It’s clear that this community loves the opera house, loves Shakespeare, and loves the National Players. Mostly volunteers (and two full-time staff members) keep this theatre going. We had time to stop by and peek in at a community theatre company’s rehearsal of a production of The Curious Savage. Though sometimes verging on Waiting for Guffman-style acting, this was a great rehearsal and a perfect reminder of why community theatre is so important. My roots are in community theatre, and it was encouraging to see that art is happening everywhere, even in the middle of the middle of nowhere.

Next, we’ll be headed to Colorado! I’ve never been, and I cannot wait to put on my cat fanny pack so I can be the best tourist I can be.

Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie

Springfield, IL

Population: 114,868

After leaving St. Meinrad, we drove to the capital city of Springfield, Illinois. We performed The Crucible for a student audience at Sangamon Auditorium. It is certainly a strange time to be touring the country, particularly with a play that was written as a protest piece during the McCarthy era. During our talkback after this performance, we asked the students to consider what can happen to a society when living under corrupt leadership, as in the play. A young white male student began a “Trump: 2020” chant, and several other young men joined in the cheer. I felt like what I imagine citizens must have felt as Hitler was rising to power and youths were performing the Nazi salute, not knowing exactly what they were doing. I don’t know if I’m more afraid that these children don’t know what they are supporting or if they actually do.

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Rhinelander, WI

Population: 7,563

Next stop was Rhinelander, Wisconsin, home of the Hodag! The Hodag is a really ugly, smiling, squat lizard-dragon-like creature, and it is the mascot of this strange little town. The mythical creature was first “sighted” in 1893. There is a whole kitschy store dedicated to all of the Hodag swag you could ever want. (I am ashamed to say I bought several things.) We performed Around the World in 80 Days twice at Nicolet College, a technical college with a campus that looks like a ski resort. Students of Frank Lloyd Wright designed the buildings!

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Hugh’s grandmother Judy and her two girlfriends (both named Carol) took us to a local pub to eat a real Wisconsin fish fry! One of the Carol’s noticed my $1.50 grocery store gloves and gave me some of her own warmer gloves to take with me after our evening performance. I felt like Blanche DuBois in that moment—I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.

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Faribault, MN

Population: 23,750

In Faribault (pronounced Fair-ball), we arrived at our venue, Shattuck—St. Mary’s School. This is an incredibly gorgeous boarding school for middle-high schoolers. And, get this—Marlon Brando attended the school when he was younger! He was expelled, because it was a military school at the time, and, as you can imagine, Brando was too much of a free spirit to thrive in such an environment. We found his signature preserved backstage. It was wild to be performing Shakespeare in the place where Brando started performing. Also, this space was completely stunning—stained glass windows with sunlight streaming in and gorgeous old wooden detailing. 

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Dawson, MN     +         Canby, MN

Population: 1,526            Population: 1,700

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Dawson, MN, is one of the smallest towns I have ever seen in my life. So small, in fact, that we had to stay in a hotel in a town half an hour away! We stayed in Canby, MN. Both towns are incredibly rural, with a few factories where I assume most of the locals work. There is so much open space in Minnesota that I felt like I was choking. I have never been so anxious to be an hour away from a Wal-Mart.

There are six places to purchase food in Canby, MN:

-Casey’s General Store (a gas station with lots of late-night snacking options)

-DQ (need I say more?)

-Subway

-PK’s Family Restaurant (it supposedly closed at 9:30pm, but we arrived at 9:00pm and they were packing up for the night so I’ll never know the delights of PK’s Family Restaurant)

-A café I cannot remember the name of that was never, to my knowledge, open

-Heroes Bar & Grille (actually the bar from Lynn Nottage’s Sweat except not in PA where we spent 3/3 nights)

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The schedule in Dawson was exhausting, to say the least. Our first night in town, we had a load in that didn’t end until after midnight, and we didn’t get home until 1 in the morning. Then, we had to be at the cars at 7:30am to perform Twelfth Night for students at 9:00am and then change the set over to prepare for Around the World in 80 Days. We were all cranky zombies.

Our last night in town, Hugh bought me a classy gas station dinner (complete with ramen and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream). We forgot utensils and had to head back in for them, at which point the woman working there smiled at us sadly and said, “I used to live in a hotel too.” I have never felt such a close connection with someone who lives such a different life from my own before, and I am grateful for that.

Next, we head onwards to South Dakota!

Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie

St. Meinrad, IN

Population: 537

Last week, we arrived in St. Meinrad, Indiana—a greatly anticipated stop on the tour. The National Players have been performing in St. Meinrad for 69 years. Father Hartke, the founder of NP, created a partnership with this Catholic monastery very early on in the company’s history, and we have been going back ever since. The annual visit of the National Players is a tradition for both the town and the monks of St. Meinrad.

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We stayed in a charming old farmhouse, complete with a ping-pong table, crucifixions, and twin beds galore. Our gracious host’s name was Father Jeremy. Father Jeremy has lived in St. Meinrad almost all his life and has been serving as a monk and priest at St. Meinrad’s for almost 50 years. However, he’s not what you’d imagine as your typical Catholic priest. The first night we spent in the house (Fat Tuesday, I might add), Father Jeremy came over to watch a spooky movie with us. I guess I can check “Watch Rosemary’s Baby With a Catholic Priest” off my bucket list!

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On Ash Wednesday, Father Jeremy took a group of us to see President Lincoln’s boyhood home. Lincoln lived in Indiana from 1816 to 1830. We saw where his home was originally built, as well as a replica of the home. We visited his mother’s grave as well. Father Jeremy also brought us to the Lincoln State Park Amphitheatre. This is a gorgeous outdoor theatre where the National Players have previously performed. If we hadn’t been freezing our faces off, we would have loved to perform there too! That night, the company went to St. Benedict’s Brew Works, which is the restaurant/bar on the grounds of The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, IN. It is believed to be the only U.S. craft brewery on the grounds of a women’s religious community. We enjoyed their Lenten Fish Fry, as well as delicious craft beers (my favorite was the Dark Souls). Later that night, I went back to the house and enjoyed all of the stars from the front porch.

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On Friday, Father Jeremy took a few of us to tour the St. Benedict Cathedral, home of the Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, IN. This is one of the most gorgeous churches I have ever seen in my life. Additionally, he took us to visit the Monte Cassino Shrine, another beautiful place of worship and meditation. I have never felt so religious in my life! While we were on this tour, Father Jeremy happened to mention that he had performed before and that, in the past, the monks have occasionally starred in National Players productions. BRAIN BLAST! I asked Father Jeremy if he would like to appear in our production of Twelfth Night that evening as the Holy Man who briefly appears to marry Olivia and Sebastian. He eagerly agreed! He asked if we had a costume big enough for him. We all laughed and said, “You’re wearing it, Father!” Let me tell you—Father Jeremy had an incredible cameo. He was hilarious and absolutely stole the show!

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After the performance, we headed to the Unstable, which is the bar on St. Meinrad’s campus. We drank beer, ate pizza, and played pool with the monks and locals. There were people there who have been coming to see the National Players perform for years! We felt like true St. Meinrad celebs. Chatting with some of the younger men studying to be monks was fascinating. I am so intrigued by the monk lifestyle—a life of profound solitude within an intimate community.

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On Saturday, Father Jeremy took us on a tour of the St. Meinrad Archabbey. As we filed into the church and took our seats in the pews, we could see flashes of lightning in the stained glass windows. Thunder echoed through the building, underscoring Father Jeremy’s lecture on the space. He took us to the Chapter Room, where the ceilings were painted in stunning colors. I learned a lot about the seminary and the life of a Benedictine monk. That night, we performed Around the World in 80 Days and ended our night partying at the Unstable. Also, I saw two shooting stars that night, which was pretty magical. (And yes, I definitely made two wishes.)

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On our last day, some of us attended an afternoon prayer at the church. I had never been to a Catholic service before, so this was quite the experience for me. The monks’ singing was gorgeous. Before we left, Father Jeremy gave us each a medal of St. Benedict to remember our time in St. Meinrad. This is particularly special to me, because he is apparently the patron saint of inflammatory diseases. I will hold him close next time I feel a flare coming on! That night, we made another pilgrimage to Brew Works for some beer, hot wings, and pizza with Father Jeremy. We got to talk to him about why he became a monk, as well as his thoughts on gay marriage, our current political administration, and the Catholic Church as a whole.

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My time in St. Meinrad was meditative and rejuvenating. I loved the quiet stillness of the campus. I did yoga each morning and watched the stars at night. Father Jeremy is not someone I will soon forget. One particular bit of wisdom he shared with us will definitely stay with me. While talking about the virtues and teachings of the monks at St. Meinrad, he told us that St. Meinrad is the saint of hospitality. The monks aim to be as hospitable and welcoming as possible, which I absolutely felt during my time there. Father Jeremy quoted the prologue of the Rule of St. Benedict—“Incline the ear of your heart.” In other words, they listen to others with their hearts. I think the world could use a little more inclining and listening with our hearts, and I’m certainly going to try to adopt this mantra myself.

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Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie

I can’t believe it’s been a year (as of March 3, that is) since I got the offer to leave my home, job, cat, and family to drive across the country with 9 strangers. When I got the call from Jenna, I didn’t think twice about taking the offer, even though it meant leaving so many people and things I love behind. You want me to play Olivia in Twelfth Night and work for my dream company? Say less! One thing I was incredibly worried about was my health. I even called Jenna early on after accepting the offer to confess my fears about travelling with an autoimmune disease. I am immensely grateful to my bosses for believing in me, despite my own fears and self-doubt. However, the past few weeks have been a true testament to the wonders of self-care, i.e. naps, Gatorade, more naps, hot baths, even more naps, yoga, and (you guessed it) NAPS. Working with a chronic illness is always a challenge, but I’m lucky to be surrounded by great humans who help me get through it.

Louisville, KY

Population: 616,261

            The last time I was in Louisville was two years ago for an audition and to see a show at the Actors Theatre. We were in town for a bit for a few days off, so I stopped by one of my favorite bookstores, Carmichael’s, to hunt down a new read. A few of us ate dinner at the Under the Bridge Pub and took a walk by the extremely flooded and sewage-smelling Ohio River.

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Frankfort, KY

Population: 27,621

            On the way to Kentucky’s capital, I drove our 16’ box truck for the first time—I never thought I would be able to add “DOT-certified truck driver” to my list of special skills one day! It was empowering in a way I didn’t expect. We arrived in Frankfort’s quaint, historic downtown to perform at the Grand Theatre. The Grand was originally a vaudeville house, built in 1911. It later became a movie theatre in 1941, and, now, it still features films and small touring performances and concerts. There are original stencils on the worn walls, and exposed bricks peek out among the faded paint. There is currently an ongoing campaign to save the Grand from financial ruin; the people who care for this aging house seemed somber during our visit. Sadly, there was an air of finality about this year’s National Players’ performance. Lots of “we hope we see you all next year.”

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            We performed The Crucible and Around the World in 80 Days at this venue. Our performance for The Crucible was for an audience of 10. It was a challenge to summon the energy to perform for such a small group after our load-in took a painstaking 8 hours the previous day. However, our talkback after the performance made the performance feel particularly meaningful. There were 7 middle-school students at the performance. They had studied the play in class and were there with their teacher. The students sat in the front row of the talkback, diligently taking notes. They were articulate and thoughtful.

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            One young boy said, “When I was reading the play, I really hated Abigail. How do you play such a hateful person?” I asked the group if they felt any more sympathy for the character watching the play than they did while reading it. The boy said, “Nope! I hated her still!” One shy little girl vigorously shook her head in disagreement. She said, “I felt bad for her.” Another young girl said, “Abby is my favorite character! I love stories with strong female leads, and I think Abby is that.” Students tend to focus on John Proctor, so it was fun to get to chat with them about their thoughts on the girls. These students discussed the symbolism of the dresses and clothes hung on our set, as well as shared their thoughts on our added prologue at the top of the show. It was clear that we had impacted this community by engaging these students in a thoughtful discussion about Miller’s text vs. our production.

Cincinnati, OH

Population: 301,301

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            After Frankfort, we spent a few days off in Cincinnati, where I mostly rested and recuperated in preparation for our upcoming work in St. Meinrad, IN.  I got the chance to go downtown a few times and thought this city had an incredibly cool vibe. I wish I had been feeling more up to exploring, but the rest was much needed.

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We now head to St. Meinrad, IN, which I hear is one of the coolest spots on tour. The monks there brew their own beer!! I’m excited for a relaxing retreat in a place where the players have performed for almost 70 years.

Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie

How can it have only been two weeks? It feels like it’s been years since we arrived in Tennessee. Time seems to expand when you don’t have a set routine. That being said, being home in Memphis was exactly the recharge I needed to continue on this adventure!

Memphis, TN

Population: 652,236

We arrived back in Memphis on Valentine’s Day (perfect because I’m in love with my city), pulling up to my parents’ house in our 16’ box truck. My Aunt Tracy and Uncle Steve were in town (all the way from Boca Raton, FL) to see my show and also to see my Dad in Sweat! It was a full family reunion. That night, Hugh and I stayed in a townhouse downtown, right on South Main St. We had an amazing view of the street and got to fall asleep to drunks and trolleys rattling by. #Memphisaf. I took him to one of my favorite spots, South of Beale, for fancy cocktails and duck fried rice. I showed him the roof of the Peabody Hotel where the ducks sleep and where you get an awesome view of the city. It was a magical night of vomit-inducing sweetness, and I am so happy I got to share such a lovely night with a person I care about in the city I love.

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On Friday, the company taught workshops in several schools across the city (Kipp Academy, Sherwood Elementary, and Kingsbury High School). It felt good to be able to give back to some of the students in Memphis, and I hope that the Players can return to Memphis next year for even more workshops. This was the first time this tour that the Players taught classes of almost entirely African American students. Since our mission is to bring theatre and education to places and people in need, I am surprised that we don’t see more racial diversity on our tour. Memphis is a city steeped in racial strife. I am glad some of our company members had the opportunity to meet students with widely different life experience from their own. Some of our company even made a journey to the National Civil Rights Museum, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

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Friday night, the company met up with former National Player and current General Director of Opera Memphis, Ned Canty! Ned and his wife Karen are incredibly generous people. They took the company out for some good old-fashioned Memphis BBQ at Central BBQ downtown. While stuffing our faces, Ned regaled us with tales from his time with the National Players: Tour 45. You’re telling me that the National Players used to use WALKIE TALKIES to communicate between vehicles?? They used to have to navigate themselves using MAPS?! (Ned said that this often led to getting terrible lost on the way to venues.) The Players used to room FOUR TO A ROOM?! Man, we think we have a hard job… This job is nothing compared to what it used to be. Ned was also Company Manager, so it was great to talk to him about his own challenges on the road. One time, he led his company through the night over snow-covered mountains, where a vehicle almost went over a cliff, in order to get to a performance on time. Now that’s what I call DEADication! Thank you for the tasty food and great stories, Ned!

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We loaded in to the Halloran Centre Saturday morning, performed The Crucible twice, and then did strike and packed the truck—all in one day! It was pretty surreal getting to perform in the space that I worked in for 2+ years. It was like being back in my second home. I loved getting to show everyone the Orpheum stage. Seeing people see that gorgeous theatre for the first time is one of my favorite things. Deidre and I shared the Orpheum stage again since we performed there together in the High School Musical Theatre Awards back in 2012! Seven years later, and here we are again. Walking through the Orpheum was bittersweet. It was hard to leave, not knowing when I’d be back again.

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We had two SOLD OUT performances of The Crucible!

Some of our audience members included:

-My Mom, Dad, Rae, Gabe, Aunt Tracy, & Uncle Steve—YES Boller/Wasserman Clan!

-Deidre’s parents, Ron & Doretha (some of the greatest humans in Memphis)

-The entire Deidre Staples Fan Club! (I got a button with her face on it that I now wear proudly on my jean jacket)

-Jen McGrath, VP of Edu at the Orpheum and all-around amazing human being

-Analyse Capodiferro!! ❤ my amazing friend whom I miss dearly

-Kevin Cochran! A talented friend I have known since I was 17.

-Noelle Chaddock and her daughter Morgan Celeste Paley! I had no idea they were coming, and seeing these two amazing women made me want to cry.

-Louise Levin, a wonderful actress and friend

-Several friends of CJ Riggs’ from Belhaven University

-Rebecca Dzida (she does so much work for the Players back at Olney) came to hang out with us in Memphis! I love her.

-Ned and Karen Canty!

-Adanna Paul’s cousin!

-Emily Dalton’s pal!

-A whole busload of students from Halls, TN, who had studied The Crucible and were SO excited to take their picture with us.

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Needless to say, these audiences were FILLED with love and support. They were our best Crucible audiences yet. They laughed and cried with us. I can’t imagine feeling more loved in my hometown. It meant so much to me to share this with my family and my company.

https://m.memphisflyer.com/memphis/the-crucible-at-the-halloran-centre/Content?oid=19355631&fbclid=IwAR2qiQB6e-5-Je6ctoisql2cGJMEYPL8rw1ALCeDdLKIoURJBvt4dC9gDrk

Our last day in Memphis, my sister Rae and her boyfriend Gabe hosted the most delicious brunch I’ve ever had. It was so nice to talk about the show, eat amazing food, and hold my baby boy Woolf.  Leaving was hard, but I’m not done with you yet, Memphis.

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Now on to the lame Tennessee city…

Nashville, TN

Population: 691,243

Nashville is like Memphis’s richer, whiter, cowboy boot-wearin’ step-sibling. We arrived at our Airbnb on Monday—it was part of a complex filled with white townhouses, all with rooftop decks. Ours was beautiful and, like the rest of Nashville it seems, couldn’t have been more than two years old. Most of the restaurants and bars I visited in town gave me that Stepford wife/Yuppie vibe.

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That being said, I had an incredible time at our venue in Nashville. We performed The Crucible for a week at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), aka—The Orpheum’s arch-nemesis. Unfortunately, I am a traitor to where I used to work, because I loved the people at TPAC. The crew and education contact were some of the kindest people we have met on the road. We had such an excellent time with them in this gorgeous space. Additionally, the student audiences were brilliant. They were so engaged, and we heard more vocalizations in this space than we ever have for The Crucible. We had some really intimate, thoughtful Q&A sessions with several student groups.

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Some Smart Student Remarks/Questions I Remember:

-Do any of you relate to your characters? How do you play them if you can’t relate? (This is a great one for this show, especially playing a role like Abigail who is often considered “the villain.”)

-What have you learned about mass hysteria and groupthink by working on this production? (Oh man, I can’t judge what a person will do when they’re afraid anymore)

-I noticed you all played the women much stronger and more defiant than other prouctions I have seen. Are you playing them more modern? (An amazing thing to observe—how can you play against the oppression your character is facing, rather than give in to the self-pity and emotion?)

-How do you prepare to go onstage in such emotionally draining roles? (After we finish our technical duties, you mean? It’s hard not to drown in emotion in this show. I try to walk onstage as a blank page, knowing what I want and ready to let others affect me. If emotions show up, cool.)

We had so much free time to explore Nashville. I managed to make it to some amazing restaurants—I had ramen at Otaku Ramen twice, and I am not ashamed. I also made it to Parnassus Books, a neat bookstore I had been recommended. Unfortunately, I was suffering a flare up of my ulcerative colitis symptoms this week, so I was laid up in bed most of the time. It’s hard to choose to rest when you’re in a new place and just want to get out and experience new things. I’m lucky to have friends who take care of me, both emotionally and physically, when I am in pain. Special thanks to Hugh for showing me some magic tricks to make me smile and for never letting me fall into my pain-induced despair alone.

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I finally feel like I may be on the upswing of this flare (knockonwood) as we drive to Louisville, Kentucky. We have a day off there, and then we head to Frankfort to perform.

So long for now, Tennessee! You (and, quite literally, my company) are The Only Ten I See…

Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie

Tifton, GA

Population: 16,733

Tifton, Georgia is a lazy little town in South Georgia. We pulled up to our luxurious EconoLodge bright-eyed and bushy tailed. (Deidre found a stranger’s turd in her toilet upon arrival, and the staff reluctantly brought her a plunger for it.) There were Mexican restaurants, churches, and pick-up trucks as far as the eye can see. We ate at Metate, an authentic Mexican restaurant with mole that was pretty excellent.

Here, we performed The Crucible twice at Tifton County High School. We had a matinee for students during the day—many of the students were Title I and had never seen a play before. At night, we had a kickass performance for about 50 locals (plus CJ’s mom) who were very appreciative.

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The next morning, we picked up some flowers from Bella’s Flower Truck and began our journey to the Promised Land of Memphis, TN!

Memphis, TN

Population: 652,236

Home again! It was so nice to be back in town, this time with some lovely friends. Emily, Deidre, Hugh and I stayed in an Airbnb in Midtown, right off of Young Ave. We ate dinner with Deidre’s family out in Eads and with my parents in Midtown. We played a board game with my sister, Rae, and Gabe. While there, we snuggled with Woolf as he yelled in all of our faces. He has been pretty moody since his mom abandoned him for the year (go figure, huh?)

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Deidre took us all to a Grizzlies game, and WE ACTUALLY WON!!! I guess Emily and Hugh are our lucky charms! It was a great game, and the Grizzlies had a ten-point lead over the Pelicans in the fourth quarter. Talk about an exciting SPORTS!

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After the game, we headed to the Sheraton downtown for drinks with two incredibly lovely human beings—Jenna Duncan and Rachel Grandizio. They were in town, casting for the National Players at UPTA’s (the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions). It was pretty amazing to be in the same exact hotel I was a year ago. Back then, I was preparing for my National Players callback. I went into the room with JKJ and Jenna and said, “Not to be weird, but I’m only here for the National Players. So let’s do this.” A year later, surrounded by all the preening musical theatre kids, I cannot believe that I actually booked this gig. It feels good to be doing the thing I love.

We got to go see my dad perform in a production of Lynn Nottage’s Sweat at Circuit Playhouse while in town. Let me tell you. That show is INCREDIBLE. The script alone is a masterpiece. Nottage takes a look at displaced factory workers in 2008 in Redding, PA. The show is an eerie look at the evolution of the Americans who would eventually become Trump supporters. The performance was incredible, particularly the performances of Kim Sanders, Jai Johnson, and (of course) Greg Boller!! My dad is incredibly talented. His performance brought me to tears, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of him. He completely transformed. My pals and I talked and debated about the content of the show for the rest of the night. Emily said, “I can’t believe I saw a show that made me empathize with a Trump voter.” Memphis, you’ve got some amazing theatre happening.

In this episode of Off Stage, we talked with Jamie Boller and Deidre Staples, Memphians who wear many hats in the @NationalPlayers production of The Crucible – coming to the Halloran Centre on Sat., Feb. 16: https://t.co/adigpKRcSJ pic.twitter.com/dsARUKFrpq

— Orpheum Theatre (@TheOrpheumTN) February 12, 2019

Paducah, KY

Population: 24, 941

Paducah, Kentucky reminds me a lot of where I grew up—the little suburb of Collierville, TN. (Except downtown Paducah is a lot cuter). We performed at The Carson Center, one of the most beautiful touring houses I have ever seen. It looks a lot like the Orpheum in Memphis, where we are headed next! Working and performing here was an absolute dream. The audience was appreciative, and the crew at the theatre was top-notch. We drank locally brewed beer, soaked up some sun by the river, and reveled in the kindness of strangers here in this quaint, quirky town.

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As I write this, I am sitting in between Hugh and Deidre, my two Valentines, jamming to The Rolling Stones in the truck. We are on our way to Memphis, and I’m both stoked and sad. I am so excited to show my friends my city and to perform at the theatre I worked for for the past few years. I’m sad that this will be the last time I’m home for a few months. I’m definitely going to make it count.

Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie

Asheville, NC

Population: 90,902

Cut to: one of my favorite places in the world—Asheville, North Carolina. Beards, flannels, and witty bumper stickers, oh my! We arrived in Asheville on January 30, some phlegm still clinging to our lungs. Our performance of Twelfth Night was at The Asheville School, a very well to do college-prep boarding school for intimidatingly well-groomed youths. I can’t imagine getting to perform in a theatre like this now, let alone in HIGH SCHOOL. The meals provided by their cafeteria were probably the best meals we’ve had in weeks. The students rotate groups with which to eat lunch every few weeks, and they eat “family style.” There are no phones, and there is lots of polite small talk, and the teachers pass food around the table. It’s sweet, and also a little cult-like. It made me a little sad that these kids were missing out on the stresses (and freedoms) of public high school lunchrooms. Where will you sit? Will the pizza have a surprise toenail topping? What if a food fight breaks out? It is survival of the fittest out there, and you guys are missing out on this!! The whole school was required to attend our performance. (“Nothing like a captive audience to make for a high-energy show!” she said, a crazed smile plastered on her face.)

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After a full day of being spoiled at The Asheville School, we had some free time to explore Asheville. We bopped around downtown, admiring all of the weird specialty shops Asheville has to offer (one was a store completely dedicated to hot sauces). I took some pals to one of my favorite bookstores ever, Malaprop’s. I could live in this bookstore. There is a café, so I could probably live here forever, existing solely on tea, bagels, and knowledge. I had to resist the urge to buy every lonely book that might need a home. I just finished Nagin Farsad’s How to Make White People Laugh, which is hilariously witty by the way, and so I picked up a copy of Naomi Alderman’s The Power for some fierce feminist fantasy fun. (I started it, and I am so obsessed already. Review to come.)

We drank locally brewed beer, which is a favorite pastime of Ashevillians. I tried to go stargazing in a dark spot, as I have in Asheville previously, but forgot to check the weather. It was 100% cloudy. So, I basically set us up for a horror-movie-style situation. Two young artists on the side of the road on a pitch-dark mountain, staring at the starless sky, hoping not to get murdered by bears. Living the dream.

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The next day, a few of the company went for a hike at DuPont State Forest. It was a beautiful day for watching waterfalls and trash talking unsuspecting Clemson fans. I had a grand time.

I didn’t want to leave the mountains.

Daytona Beach, FL

Population: 68,055

After a brief 8-and-a-half hour jaunt in the vehicles, we arrived at an oceanfront hotel in Daytona Beach with the weirdest weather whiplash I have ever experienced. I woke up early the next morning to catch the sunrise and did some yoga on the balcony, to the sound of the waves.

All but one of our company members made a journey to Blue Spring State Park to see the 178 manatees, basking in the spring. This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. These big, peaceful creatures float in the warm, shallow water, catching some rays in the clear green water. A few of us went on a kayak excursion through the water. We saw manatees, herons, and a few gators. I almost got eaten by one (a nightmare from my childhood), but luckily I lived to tell the tale.

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Let it be known: I, Jamie Boller, am a terrible swimmer. I would really like to remedy this, so I’m taking opportunities at hotels with pools to bully someone who likes me into giving me some lessons. I am proud to say, I had my first lesson and I didn’t drown in the 5ft pool! (Maybe next time I will take off my metaphorical life vest, floaties, and inner tube and swim like a beautiful manatee.)

Cut to—my favorite performance of Twelfth Night yet, performed in a LECTURE HALL at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. My Uncle Bruce and Aunt Wendy drove up from West Palm to see the performance, and I am so thankful I got to see them! The audience was a strange amalgamation of local senior citizens, random Daytona dwellers, and a few curious students/faculty from Embry. This audience knew their Shakespeare. They laughed; they “oo’d” and “aww’d.” We even got a few standing ovations at the end. The cast had a blast with this performance, seeing who could crack each other up first onstage. (I lost. I cracked up.)

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In a few short days, I will be in my homeland of MEMPHIS, TN! I am so excited to hug my family, cuddle my cat, and share my hometown with some excellent friends. If you are a Memphis friend reading this, come get a drink with some Players this weekend!

Your Dear Lady Disdain,

Jamie