Nearing the end. Here's to the memories.

WOW. We're in our last week here in Dallas, and it's finally hitting me.

I have 5 weeks left of Spring Awakening.

I'm not quite sure how to feel yet, it's a bitter-sweet emotion for sure. Of course it's going to be amazing going home, sleeping in my bed, being in the city, seeing my friends. I miss New York. So so much. I really miss my sister. I miss being there for her when she needs someone other than her best friend or my mom to talk to, because I've been through everything she's going through right now. High school, boy problems, you name it. I can't wait to unpack my suitcase for good. I can't wait to go to school and learn. I'm so excited to be a kid and experience school. So yes, I am ready for May 23rd to come. Bitter-sweet.

And then we have the bitter part of that hyphenated word. I'm not ready to say goodbye to this family. I'm not ready to say goodbye to the beauty of this show and the way we make people cry with just one note or a simple vowel. I can't even imagine performing Spring Awakening for the very last time. Sitting in that chair, standing up in Touch Me for the last time. Singing Purple Summer with this cast for the last time. We will never all be together again. We will never perform again as the first national touring company of Spring Awakening. So no, I am not ready for May 23rd to come. Bitter-sweet. I should let you all know that I'm listening to Bitch of Living over the monitor writing this. And now I'm crying. Oof. Although I haven't been part of this cast from the beginning, I've made some memories that will last me a lifetime, and I'd like to share some of them with you now. Specifically, my favorite memories from my year on tour - so far. I'm sure I'll make some more in these last few weeks. Here they are, in no particular order:

1) My first show. Wednesday June 3rd, 2009. Louisville, KY. 7:25 pm. I looked in the mirror at myself in this cute little blue dress and grey tights, and I started crying (when don't I cry??). I was officially a part of my dream show. At approximately 8:05 pm, I started shaking. And then I stood up for Touch Me. And I think I started crying again because I saw my mom crying in the third row. It was one of the best nights of my life.

2) The first time I went on for a role - Thea! Saturday, June 27th, 2009. Philadelphia, PA. My parents and my sister were able to make it because I got the news Friday night. At the time, I'd never been more nervous to go on stage in my 17 years of performing. But once I stood up for Mama Reprise, I felt a wave of excitement pouring through me, and I gave it my all. Thea was such a great first character to go on for, and she'll always have a special place in my heart!

3) POLE DANCING CLASS!! Hahaha. Honestly, it was one my favorite memories on tour. Almost all of us girls went, and we had such a fun time. Our instructor was this muscle-y man who worked the pole better than anyone I'd ever seen!! We actually bonded so much over this silly class, and our bodies were so sore the next day! Caution: pole dancing is a WORK OUT.

4) Granting Jesse's wish. Rochester, NY. I've never been prouder to be part of a company. Make-a-Wish is such an amazing foundation, and I'm so happy that we got to make Jesse's wish come true. She is such an inspiration to all of us, and I know I speak for the entire cast when I say that it was a truly pleasure to have her as a member of our cast, even if only for a few short days. She's a fighter, and she made us understand just how lucky we all are. Watching her stand up for Touch Me made me nostalgic, she had the same look on her face as I did when I stood up in the chair for the first time. It actually took my breath away.

5) Turning 18! Wednesday, November 20th, 2009 12:00 AM. We just left

the opening night party in Costa Mesa, California. It's 11:59 PM on November 19th. We're all in the lobby of our GORGEOUS hotel, when the clock strikes 12, and the entire cast breaks out in a beautiful "happy birthday!" to me, with Andy on the piano. It was the best start to any birthday I've ever had! :) My birthday consisted of talking to my friends and family on the phone ALL DAY, shopping with Steffi, Kayla & Taylor, big light up balloons, a kick-ass dinner at Friday's with the cast, flowers from my parents, a cookie cake shipped to the theater (love you Adena) and Kayla's debut as Thea at intermission! It was, to say the least, eventful. And one of my most memorable birthdays. I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way.

6) Probably my most memorable moment on tour to date: My Wendla debut. Mid-way through act 1. Denver, CO. December 12th, 2009. 2:15-ish PM. On the phone with my mom. I'm being called over the monitor. "Krista Pioppi, please get into costume, you will be on for Wendla for the remainder of the show". I drop the phone. I throw off my clothes and now I'm standing naked in the middle of the dressing room waiting for something to happen, someone to bring me my costume or put some pins in my hair. My breathing is un-natural, at best, and the air is thin to begin with. I finally get dressed and semi-ready, and I run to the stage crying and sweating and hyperventilating. I'm through the curtains. I'm saying lines and playing Wendla and singing in this beautiful blue flowy dress. This is it. This is the day I've been waiting for since I was 14. I slowly start to breath a little more normally, and I realize that this is my job, this is what I'm paid to do. So I do it. And it was amazing. And everyone was so supportive. It was one of the craziest/most incredible/most nerve-wracking moments of my life, and it certainly makes its mark in my top moments on tour list. Hehe.

So there you have it! Some of my favorite memories from the past year, traveling the country with this crazy show and these crazy people. But I know this is only the beginning. And we still have 5 weeks left. Who knows what will happen?

Until next time :)

Krista