Christmas in Florida

Merry Christmas from sunny Florida! 

I'm sad to be spending my first Christmas away from home this year, but glad to be in the warm weather rehearsing for a show with my fun cast mates.  On Christmas Eve, we had a little boot photo shoot during rehearsal and then Marilynn, the Wick Theatre producer, had us all over to her house for a meal and small gift exchange.  She has a beautiful home right on the Inter-coastal Waterway and welcomed us into her home like family.

The Cagelles: Sam, Cam, Ashley, Tony, Jacob, Jessica and Stephen

For Christmas day, I made Monkey Bread at the cast house and it turned out great!  I didn't have a bundt pan, so I made it in a cupcake tin, 18 minutes at 350 degrees. And they were perfect portions for one person...although I had two!  It's only Christmas once a year! Our cast was invited to a matinee of "Mame" which is playing ay the Wick Theatre now, starring Leslie Uggams. 

It's true, I know people everywhere and this was no exception.  My friend, Jennie, was a dancer on the Celebrity Solstice with me.  I stayed with her in NYC when I was there a couple weeks ago and her mom lives in Boca Raton.  Wouldn't you know it she flew down to Florida the day before I did to be with her mom for the holidays.  She asked her mom and then invited me over for Christmas dinner.  So I wasn't a homeless holiday orphan anymore! We had a delicious dinner of salad, homemade lasagna, a Christmas cookies.  Thank you so much for welcoming your home to me.  It was a Merry Christmas after all, although it was a little too warm to feel like Christmas.

Christmas Cards and things...

If you wondered where I can receive Christmas cards and things while I am in Florida for the holidays, here is the address:

Jessica Ernest
1405 NE 5th Avenue
Boca Raton, FL 33432

 

I have been reassured that they told Santa that I will not be in Maine or Cape Cod for the first time this Christmas, so he will know where to find me :)

Last 2 Months: In Review

Well...I am terrible at keeping up with blog posts. It's been far too long since I posted and I know how upset everyone is that they don't know what's going on in my life!! So here goes: my last 2 months "In Review"

"Big Fish" at Musical Theater West

I am so glad that I got to stay in southern California for another 6 weeks for perform in the regional premiere of "Big Fish" the musical. Since it was the first time being done since the show closed on Broadway, I was only the second person to wear the costumes. And boy did I have some beautiful costumes...and a lot of them! I joked that I did more offstage than onstage because of all the fast costumes changes I had to do. But it was a beautiful show and I am so grateful to have been a part of it.

 

 Home for the Holidays

I flew back home to Maine the week before Thanksgiving, just in time to enjoy a few days of crisp fall weather (and raking) before a snowstorm hit the day before thanksgiving. Our family had plans to go up to Harpswell to have dinner with cousin Dan, Jennifer, Aunt Jane and the twins, Morgan and Savannah. I got a text message from them in the wee hours of Turkey Day saying that they had lost power and weren't sure if/when they would get it back. We got a call around 10:30, while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, saying they finally had their power back! Hooray! So we piled into the car and headed up. It was a delicious meal.

 

A little throwback to Thanksgivings past

Morgan, Jessica and Savannah

Marshmallow Man jackets at L.L.Bean

The next day we went to visit Aunt Debbie at The Breakers for some pecan pie and a brisk walk in the salty air. It might be my California blood, but I have no idea how there were so many people surfing in the icy water! Brrrrrrrr And the mom and I went cross country skiing.

 

 Quick New York City Trip

Since I don't start rehearsals for my next show until December 22nd, I decided it was a good idea to venture down to the Big Apple for some auditions, gigs and visits with friends.  I even got to make a weekend trip down to DC to visit Auntie and Uncle Niels and do another audition.

We rode an antique 1930s NYC subway car!

My costumes from the gigs I worked while in the city

The shows I saw on this NYC trip

 It's a crazy life I lead. I never know where life will take me from one week to the next, but I guess that's exciting right now! And this weekend I am off to Boca Raton, FL to be in "La Cage aux Folles" at The Wick Theater and Costume Museum. We have 2 and a half weeks of rehearsals and then open January 8 and close February 15. I'm escaping the cold Northeast for another January/February! Hooray!

Exploring California

Torrey Pines State Park:
My friend Eric (from The Producers and Drowsy Chaperone), told Jake and I about this great hike in La Jolla that we had to do.  So we drove down to Torrey Pines State Park.  The scenery was stunning, the weather was beautiful and the company was perfect.  It was a great day in Southern California.

 

Idyllwild, CA:

The weekend before rehearsals started I went with my friend Luke, and some of his friends, to his family's cabin in Idyllwild.  We went on a 9 mile hike and the vista at the top was gorgeous!  It was a wonderful weekend filled with friends, BBQing, fresh mountain air and exploring the small town.  It was great!

 

 

Isabelle (the dog), Jessica, Luke, Mae and Stephen