Actor Em Grosland takes us through a day at Utah’s Tuacahn outdoor amphitheatre, rehearsing Hunchback during the day and performing Peter Pan or Tarzan every other night.
Tuacahn is a true repertory theatre, so this was me around 11pm last night. I’m an antisocial flying gorilla in Disney’s Tarzan. No Fairy dust required.
7 AM: Good morning! It’s a Peter Pan day!
Being so far away from NYC is rough. So my girlfriend gave me a book with a little love note for every day I am away! I start my day with it every morning. (And YES! SEND PAD THAI PLEASE!)
Tarzan last night. Hunchback costume fitting and Peter Pan brush-up rehearsal today. Peter Pan tonight. 3 big musicals means I need my energy.
Gym time. I must stay in shape to keep up with all the incredible dancers and acrobats in our crazy talented cast.
Flying is rough on the body. This is Tyler (my massage therapist). He’s amazing! Seriously, if you are ever in St. George Utah call up Tyler Hunt!
Multitasking; Electo Stim PT and working on my day job. My harness is giving me a literal pain in the neck, so my PT suggested OTC electro stim (It’s awesome). And I have a graphic design business that I run as my day job. I design logos and branding and do postcards and graphics for performing artists and businesses.
Coffee with my new trans brothers! As a transgender man in this business, one of the things that is super important to me when I do regional work is increasing positive trans visibility through my out and proud presence in the communities I visit. I was fortunate enough to meet these two trans teens after they saw Peter Pan and one of their mothers requested to chat with me and her son. They are both incredible guys. One of them recently helped organize the very first LGBT Pride event in St. George, Utah’s history! It was a huge success and a REALLY big deal for this community. AND HE’S ONLY 15!
Lunch and review. We’ve been teching our 3rd show of the season for the last week, so we haven’t been to Neverland in 11 days! So time for a quick review of lines over lunch.
Painting in the amazing state park surrounding our theatre. This is my meditation/therapy. PS. The painting isn’t finished yet.
My drive to work. Not bad huh?!?!
Tuacahn owns a camel! And a zebra (he was hiding)! And goats and chickens!
And horses! The white one is in Hunchback. His name is Philly Cheesesteak. There are also two Clydesdales in Hunchback named Cat and Dog. And a baby goat named Danny.
Costume fitting for the Hunchback of Notre Dame!
Karl Wesson (Wig Master) is giving me a goetee for the Hunchback of Notre Dame! I’m very excited!
The complete look: Meet Jacque Montoya my Parisian character in the Hunchback. #BestHatEver
Time for Peter Pan rehearsal. This is our seriously awesome stage manager Holley Housewright.
Tuacahn Ampitheatre! AKA: Neverland!
When you do summer theatre outdoors in the desert, you have to come prepared. This is Hannah Record, my Electrolyte Powder dealer.
The cast waits for rehearsal in the air-conditioned green room. Last week it was 115 degrees on stage! LITERALLY 115 DEGREES! (David Sattler, Matthew Ranaudo, Aubrey Yates, Belen Moyano, Devin Neilson, Veronica Yeager, Karissa Harris, Brock Dalgleish, Sarah Powell, Daniela Veliz, Lawrence Asher, Jeff Sullivan, Mara Lucas, and Maria Pedro)
Captain Hook (Aloysius Gigl) and I brushing up on our sword fighting.
Flying is the BEST!
Some more of the cast finding the shady spot on stage right. (Top to bottom: Brock Dalgleish, Devin Neilson, Kari Yancy, Sarah Powell, Mara Lucas, Me, Maria Pedro, Rod Roberts, Troy Mcgee, Daniel Gold, Ernie Pruneda, Nicole Pavone, Korie Lee Blossey, Aloysius Gigl, Hannah Record, Jamie Pfaff, and Aubrey Yates)
Flying is very serious business! This is Taylor Schroath, he helps me fly.
Heading home for dinner break. My sweet ride.
Break time! Remotely watching the Bachelorette with my girlfriend (She’s in NYC) and eating a healthy dinner. I maybe should have considered photoshopping the screen to something less embarrassing. #NoSpoilersPlease #ThankGodChadIsGone
Heading back to the theatre for the show!
My make-up station. My favorite thing is the framed embroidery you see at the top center. A guy and his wife came to see the show and were very excited to meet another trans man (he is trans), so they embroidered the characters from Peter Pan for me and gave it to me at St. George Pride! I love it so much.
The hats in these shows are out of this world! Jana Stott is a genius.
Pre-show steam. Welcome to the desert.
Sound check with Kyle Jameson! I tell him a joke every day. What do you call an alligator in a vest?
An InvestiGATOR! He pretends I’m funny.
An InvestiGATOR! He pretends I’m funny.
The best crew in all the land!
Fairy dust supplier/props master, Alexa Hamblin! I use SOOOOO much of this stuff. It’s everywhere.
John (Logan Watts) and Michael (Christopher Apy) heading to places.
This is Rod Roberts. He’s been doing Peter Pan for like 15 years with Cathy Rigby, Glenn Casale (our director) and Patti Columbo (our Choreographer). He’s our fearless Dance captain/swing/understudy/assistant choreographer. I’m so honored to get to work with him every day.
Scotty Zaborski! My dresser for Tarzan, my twin, and my friend for life! And the brilliant Jeff Sullivan (Nana) heading to places.
SHOW TIME! Maria Pedro is my understudy and my double. She’s spectacular. But I’m jealous cause she gets to fly in from the back of the canyon.
I spend my intermission laying on the cold tile with ice packs on my chest. Cause…you know…it’s usually around 100 degrees when we start the show. Tonight our John had to call it quits for the second half because of the heat and the understudy jumped in! GO GABE!
Second half starts with the Ugg A Wug! Led by this talented dancer, Nicole Pavone.
ALL DONE! My dressing room family. Aloysius Gigl, David Sattler, and Korie Lee Blossey
Golf cart trip up to the lobby for meet and greet with Gabe Layton (understudy John/rockstar), Hannah Record (Jane/Tootles), and Ernie Pruneda (Pirate)
11 PM: Post-show meet and greet. One of my favorite parts of the day. With Brian Cali (Smee), adorable audience members, and Aloysius Gigl (Hook)
12 AM: Goodnight Neverland.
BONUS: The next morning I woke up like this! #FairyDustEverywhere
