Newport Performing Arts Center presents: Seven Brides for Seven Bros.!

Here is a teaser photo of my drumset from the orchestra pit.

Today I played two consecutive shows at the Newport Performing Arts Center, in Nye Beach, located on the coast in Newport, Oregon, for busloads of kids from local schools. Our opening weekend went very well, we are hoping for sellout crowds for Friday night 7:00pm Mar. 1, and Saturday Mar. 2 Matinee at 1:00, and another evening show at 7:00pm.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a Broadway style show with a live orchestra in the pit, elaborate sets and lots of singing and dancing. It is based upon a movie made in the sixties of the same name, and has a western theme about a woman who marries a mountain man and lives in the Oregon back woods. It has a fun story, the cast is mostly young adults from the local high school, but the production is about as pro as it gets for a community theater. It is a great opportunity for entire families to experience a live "Broadway" show together on the big stage. The theater holds over 400 people and is truly a thrill to perform there.

Our musical director conducting the orchestra is 17 year old Jacob Hanna of Newport High School. It is perhaps the first time a teenager is allowed to conduct an orchestra for a community theater production of this size which is not a high school play. He is doing a fantastic job, it is an honor to play under his expert baton.

Today I turned off my cellphone for the performance, but had to go out to the lobby to take care of a couple of voicemails during intermission. It is great to be able to mix playing drums into my real estate day. I went back to play the second show knowing that addendum was being dropped off at my office, an appraisal was taking place, and an appointment for a CMA will be done tomorrow. I love my job(s)!