Remember when we did our first show away from Tucson. We perfomed with a children's symphony in Muskigan, Michigan.
...we arrived in Tucson, AZ for staging.
...we learned how to stretch our minds...and our bodies.
...we learned how to sleep standing up and with a smile.
This one is sent in by Donna Hobbs Towery. Remember when Kathy Krall had to have her appendix out in Belgium.
...we performed Ontario Place, Ontario, Canada. We set up our equipment for the 1st show, took it down packed it into the truck, set up for the afternoon show, took it down, packed it away for the next day. (12 days, 2 shows per day)
...we learned how to dance on a revolving stage outside.
This one sent in by Frank Allen...Remember when we bowled at the Bowling Alley in Globe, Arizona and the next day it burned down!
...we performed with the Indianapolis Symphony.
...52 Americans were taken hostage in the Middle East while we were in Belgium.
...because of the situation in the Middle East, Mons Airforce Base informed us that if we needed to get out of Belgium quickly they would help us out.
...we perfomed to an outside crowd in Pittsburgh to promote our show as police were in pursuit of a sniper.(Scary show...Nerve racking).
These next few were sent in by Adriana Snader REMEMBER ON STAGE: WHEN LARRY JOHNSON'S TRUMPET MOUTHPIECE WAS PAINTED WITH LIPSTICK AND HE CAME OFF STAGE WITH A "LITTLE RED MOUTH".... WHEN "SOMEBODY" PUT BRET'S PANTS IN THE FREEZER AND THEY WERE DISCOVERED RIGHT BEFORE FOING ON STAGE TO BE THE BASKETBALL REFEREE.... WHEN BOB OTTO FELL OFF THE 36 DURING ROCK AND ROLL, NEVER TO SHOW UP AGAIN.... WHEN ADRIANA SNADER'S SLIP FELL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR DURING THE MEXICAN HAT DANCE... "DROOPY PANTS"
...one of our buses caught on fire while we were traveling to a city in Pennsylvania.
...we performed in the hometown of Jimmy Lopez, one of the hostages taken in the Middle East. We dedicated our show to the American Hostages. Mr. Lopez's parents were guests of honor at this show.
...the Prime Minister of China wanted to come to our show because he heard we sang a song about China. Mary Pat Welch was the soloist.
...we performed outside, in the rain in Belgium.
...Bernadette Wilson came out on stage to say "Let's Conga" and fell flat on her back because the cord to the mike she was using was too short.
...Allison Fink hit an iron wall exiting the stage. Allison...are you okay. ..Allison...
This one is sent in by Greg Castanza. Remember when we were doing the show in the courtyard in the prison in Mexico. The guards were up on the walls with their machine guns and we were all a bit tense. The "audience" was not exactly warming up to us and then ..... Loise Malkovich fell flat on her back while doing Up With People. A number of the inmates helped her up. Of course she continued to have that big endearing smile on her face the whole time and it broke the ice. You could feel the energy change, it was magical. Thanks Loise for what will always be a fond memory for me.
More from Adriana Snader REMEMBER HELPING TO BUILD A PARK, DANCING WITH DISABLED PEOPLE IN TORONTO, TAKING OVER IN THE PLANE... TERRY SIMMONS' FEET STICKING STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR DURING A LONG BUS RIDE? ... DREW SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR OF THE BUS OR ON THE LUGGAGE PLACE UP ON TOP... HANS KNITING SWEATERS FOR EVERYBODY ....WHILE IN EUROPE EVERYBODY DRESSED IN PURPLE
...one of the cast members put a plunger head down Cindy Watson's (Show Manager) show costume...on stage!
...Greg Castanza was practicing a verse from "Earth Ship." We kept hearing "...Now will you take your honey..." over and over.
...we visited Fort Brenden in Belgium. One of the concentration camps used during WWII.
...we arrived back from Europe and the first thing we ordered was a hot dog from the vending lady.
...we kidnapped the staff from their host families houses...still in their pjs and roasted them at breakfast.
...the host families that couldn't speak English and we were sometimes with "AL" (Alone meaning no roommate from the cast in that city)
...Cast E was in the middle of their staging and we performed for them while on our way to another city.
...we recieved a camera from Kodak and film in every Kodak city.
...we practiced for the Super Bowl for months and the actual performance only took 12 minutes.
...we had to switch trains in Belgium with minimal connection time. The girls were throwing the luggage to the guys outside the train then we ran over to the other train and loaded them up the same way. (Record timing.)
...we went to Niagra falls and everyone took couple pictures. (well pretend couples...no couples in our cast)
...we went to a Planetarium and were placed in seats that reclined back. When the lights came on and the main speaker walked up to the podium...we were all asleep.
...we had singing practice, dancing practice, vamp practice, exiting practice, protocol practice, set up practice, interview practice.
...we were taught to "take the option" in Europe while at an Up With People funtion. (Lots of Orange Juice)
The next three were sent in By Kim Hall Daniels July 25, 2003...Kim spranged her ankle on stage while dancing the dance from Spain (What was the name?),crawled off stage and the audience laughed because they thought it was part of the show? (The name of the dance...La Jota sent in by Rory, Canada.)
...we visited the Nuclear Power Plant in Russelville, Arkansas.
...we put Baby Powder on the drum heads and when Bob Otto our drummer played the first note of Up With People powder went flying everywhere.
