Tonight was our first night to be in the Courtyard Theatre in Plano (where we’ll be performing starting on Thursday). It’s an awesome venue, and I’m really excited to be performing there. We have a spacious back stage area, good dressing rooms, and a separate green room. It’s great to have so much space for the cast and crew.

The tech crew joined us for this evening’s rehearsal, so we got to practice with the lighting, sound, and multimedia. It’s great to see it all finally come together. We still have lots of work to do before Thursday’s performance, but I know it will be great!

If you enjoy theatre, please come out to support us. I really like the play. It’s a great story that is both funny and touching. And, I think almost everyone can relate to the family road trip scenes. If you’ve ever traveled with your family in a car, this will bring back memories…and make you laugh. And if that’s not enough, you get to see me act as a “mom” which is a stretch for me…haha!

For more information and to get tickets, visit: http://bit.ly/cGs2qL

For a few blurry iPhone pictures from our rehearsals, see below.

Practicing the Civil War re-enactment scene — just one destination on the family road trip

Shaw and Pam at the diner

Our director and Gary working very hard…or not.

!

String games!!

First night in the Courtyard Theatre

The actor’s viewpoint

Since it was our last day on the Island, we got up early today for another scenic, 20-mile bike ride along the ocean.

Taking a quick break

Lanai just across the way

After the ride, we packed up our belongings and checked out of the hotel. We returned our rentals and then went back into Lahaina for our last Maui lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise, a local burger joint.

The view at lunch

On the drive back to the airport, we stopped for a few final pictures before saying goodbye.

View from the highway on our way back to the airport

Clouds and light rain on Mt. Haleakala

I’m sad to go. Dear Maui, thank you for such an amazing trip. I love you, and I will miss you dearly!

***

PS: If you want to see all of our pictures from Maui, click the “Photo” link to view the full album.

Rocky Coastline of Northern Maui

Cool lava rock formations…this one was shaped like a bench

Blowholes!!!

Scary hazardous cliffs! Beware! Meh…we’re exploring!

Giant killer plants! Ok, maybe I’m overstating the killer part.

Long narrow winding roads

Awe-inspiring views

Quaint villages

Cool churches

We found lots of great things along the way in our trip up North. Eventually, we ended up on a treacherous single lane road and decided to turn back, but not after sampling a few treats sold by the locals in a small village. If you’re ever up this way, stop at the pink hut and get some shaved ice. It’s the best…you betcha, you betcha!

On our trip back, we stopped in at the “rehearsal beach” to do some….yes, you guessed it…some rehearsing. Once again, we were all alone enjoying the lovely splendor that God has created. I’ll never get over it. I just love the ocean. It’s amazing.

Our “rehearsal beach”

Back at the hotel, we got a lovely full rainbow. It’s sooo beautiful!

We watched the sun set over Black Rock

Stayed for the torch lighting ceremony

And cliff diving ceremony…it never gets old

Then back to Front Street in Lahaina for dinner on our last evening in Maui.

Another fantastic day in paradise!

It’s fun reminiscing about those first days of our marriage and retracing our steps. Wow, it brings back so many great memories. I love Maui! We are so blessed to be able to travel there for a third time — and, I hope it’s not the last. I hope we get to go back again and again and again.

Ok, enough with the memories and back to the recap of our trip…after the ride, we walked to the back side of Black Rock to reach a more secluded area of the beach. Gary and I enjoyed the water, worked on our tans, and rehearsed a few lines before grabbing lunch by the pool at our hotel.

After lunch, we decided to get away from Kaanapali and go far up North away from the resorts and tourist areas. We wanted to explore. Here’s some of what we found.

Honolua Bay, a great snorkeling spot with water as clear as glass

A completely secluded beach which Gary and I affectionately named “Rehearsal Beach.”

We spent hours on this beach relaxing and rehearsing our lines for Leaving Iowa (which opens next week…wow!)

We also took time to have a little fun

And then back to rehearsing!!

On the way home, we had some amazing views of the sunset

We ended the night back in Kaanapali and had dinner at a seafood restaurant on the beach in Lahaina — a great ending to a perfect day.

]]> http://www.laurainsideout.com/2010/08/25/off-the-beaten-path/feed/ http://www.laurainsideout.com/2010/08/24/tuesday-on-the-island/ http://www.laurainsideout.com/2010/08/24/tuesday-on-the-island/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:47:00 +0000 Laura P http://www.laurainsideout.com/2010/08/27/tuesday-on-the-island/ Tuesday started with an early morning cycling ride. We rented road bikes from West Maui Cycles so we were fully equipped for a great ride — similar to what we have at home, but with even better bikes. Our ride treated us to some amazing views as we rode along the ocean. I think I’m really spoiled now by the Maui scenery. Riding in Plano while looking at concrete and houses just can’t compare.

Mountains of Maui

Our view for most of the ride…ah-mazing

Stopping for some shaved ice along the way

Large trees that covered the road and provided nice shade for our ride

After our 20-mile ride, we ate lunch at Kimo’s on Front Street in Lahaina and then went to our next adventure, Makawao. It’s a small town on Mt. Haleakala with an old Hawaiian Cowboy flair. There are some quaint shops, galleries, and a sampling of restaurants along the main road. We spent a few hours browsing through them and then went on to our next stop.

Shops in Makawao

Twin Falls, along the famous “Road to Hana,” was next. We hiked through the forest and came across our first waterfall.

We don’t have these in Texas!

Posing with the water

Since the spot is called Twin Falls, we hiked away from our first waterfall and went on the search for waterfall #2. It wasn’t long before we found it, and since it was empty (i.e. no people except me and Gary), I went for a nice little swim.

We continued our hike and found a third waterfall, but it wasn’t as dramatic as the first two so I’m not posting it here. By the time we finished our hike, it was near sunset. We headed back to Makawao to eat dinner at a little Mexican food joint we found when we toured through the area. We had a picturesque drive back.

After loading up, we headed to our first snorkeling destination, which can only be reached by boat. On the way, the drivers did their best to make sure we had some fun. They cranked the boat up to full blast and jumped across the waves. They also took time to do a few donuts on the water. The experience was almost like a mini-roller coaster in the ocean — fun! We also spotted a few bottlenose dolphins on the way there. A neat treat for many on the trip.

We snorkeled in the first location for a while, had breakfast, and then departed for our next adventure, sea caves and a lava tour. The captain drove us to a part of the Island that only few people get to see (~35K per year), even many locals never venture to that area. Here, we found large waves (which were a blast to jump over in the boat) and some interesting lava formations. They drove us around and provided some interesting information about the formations, but to be honest, the best part was when they drove the boat inside the lava caves. The waves would crash in around us and blow out foam. It was really cool.

After the lava adventure, we went to Molokini (a small crater off the coast of Maui that is a popular snorkeling and diving destination). They allowed us to snorkel on both sides of the crater (which most tours won’t let you do). The outside of the crater is a sheer drop, and it’s about 300 feet deep. We got some great views there and saw lots of fish. Then we pulled around to snorkel the inside of the crater, which also offers some great views of marine life and coral. Finally, we drove to an area where many of the sea turtles hang out and dropped anchor to snorkel and to have lunch.

It was an awesome trip, but I can’t share pictures yet since they are all on my waterproof camera (which isn’t digital). I’ll try to share some when I get them developed later.

This year, we traveled to the Island first-class, which made the 8-hour plane ride much more comfortable. I knew all of those upgrade points I had been accumulating would come in handy one day! We arrived in the late afternoon, checked into our hotel, and admired the fantastic view from our balcony. We’re only steps from the famous “black rock” on Kaanapali Beach in Maui, a spot that is well-known for excellent snorkeling. Just step outside, and we’re there.

View from our room

Looking out at Lanai

Black Rock

After checking in, we wandered around Kaanapali Beach and had dinner at the nearby Whaler’s Village.

Hula show at Whaler’s Village

We did some shopping, and then strolled along the beach before returning to our room to admire the beauty that God was painting in the night sky. I just love how the moon and stars are so bright in Hawaii. I never get over it. I just wish I had a better camera so I could really capture how awesome it truly is.

On day two, we got up early to do some snorkeling around black rock. We saw lots of fish, a couple of eels hiding in the reef, and…the best treat of the day…a sea turtle. It was huge! We followed it around for a while and took lots of pictures, but it’s on the waterproof camera so I can’t share those pictures until I get them developed.

We took a break for lunch, enjoying food and live music at an outdoor grill on the beach, and then we headed to Front Street in Lahaina to do some shopping and pick up a couple of road bikes that we are renting for the week.

Finally, we ended up at the spa for a beachside couples massage that was pure heaven! If I wasn’t relaxed before, I certainly am now. Oh, how I love vacation — it’s bliss.

Since my father’s stroke, I’ve had numerous friends whose loved ones have also experienced strokes. Sadly, some were worse, but many weren’t as severe — for which I am thankful. A massive stroke is a special kind of hell that traps sufferers in their own bodies until the brain heals itself…if the brain heals itself.

My Dad is making progress, but it continues to be painfully slow. I think the worst part is that he still cannot communicate. That has to be the single most frustrating experience for all of us, especially him. The therapists equate it to being in a foreign country where no one speaks your language. At times, he can’t understand us, and we can’t understand him. Just imagine how difficult and lonely it would be if no one understood what you were saying for five months.

Yes, we’re learning how to overcome it, and he understands more of what we’re saying every day. Unfortunately, we don’t understand much of what he says. However, words (and some phrases) are beginning to come. They pop out randomly. He doesn’t have control over it, but it’s better than nothing. It’s fantastic when he opens his mouth and utters a word or a phrase that’s intelligible. I pray that his speech will continue to improve until one day he no longer has to struggle to communicate.

Since my father’s stroke, I’ve met a few people who have conquered their strokes. In fact, I recently met a man who experienced a massive stroke (including paralysis and the loss of communication skills) like my father. I had no idea. His speech was perfect, and he was participating in a 32-mile cycling event. I love hearing stories from those who have regained their lives after a 1-2 year battle. It’s encouraging.

I pray for the same experience with my father. If anyone can do it, he can. But, it doesn’t mean that I don’t battle with my doubts. I have those internal struggles just like everyone else. I guess that’s normal. No one can say with any certainty what the future will hold. God promises that He will never forsake us, but He doesn’t guarantee that our lives will always be rosy. Sometimes He heals, and sometimes He doesn’t. It reminds me of an old song we used to sing:

I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from it’s sunshine,
For it’s skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

I may not understand it, but I’m not alone. God knows exactly where I am and what I’m going through. He gives me strength. He gives me comfort. And, He holds my hand.

I’m excited and a little nervous. We only have only four weeks until opening night, so the next few weeks are going to be very hectic. They want all actors to be off book (have all lines memorized) as soon as possible. I’m hoping I can keep up with everything — work, Saturday Night Life, church, family, travel, and Leaving Iowa rehearsals — without completely stressing out.

We met the other cast members tonight and had our first read through of the script. There are a total of six actors (3 men and 3 women) in the play, including me and Gary. The script is great. It’s a comical and sometimes touching story about the classic family road trip. Here’s a brief synopsis:

Leaving Iowa is the story of Don Browning, a middle-aged writer, who returns home and decides to finally take his father’s ashes to his childhood home, as requested. But when Don discovers Grandma’s house is now a grocery store, he begins traveling across Iowa searching for a proper resting place. This road trip shifts smoothly from the present to Don’s memories of the annual, torturous vacations of his childhood. Leaving Iowa is a postcard to anyone who has ever found himself or herself driving alone on a road, revisiting fond memories of youth.

Performances will be held on September 1-4 and 8-10 at the Courtyard Theatre in downtown Plano. Tickets will be available soon. The website should go live tomorrow.

The hard work begins when all of the actors have departed and the casting directors are left to decide which actors will be assigned to each role. It’s so difficult to choose, especially when you have such great options. Eventually, we narrowed it down to a cast of 15 actors. It’s a larger number than I had originally wanted, but we can make it work. This cast gives us a nice mix of existing talent, core “ALC Drama Players,” and newcomers.

The show will be held on Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9 at 7:30 pm in the main auditorium at Abundant Life Church (ALC). The guest host this year will be ALC’s Greg Bailey, and Jacob Lowery will be returning from Nashville as our special musical guest. It’s going to be a fantastic show!

Mark your calendar now, and don’t miss out on a fun night of laughs, surprises, and entertaining performances.