Home sweet home

Hey guys!

So sorry for not updating at ALL this past month, I've been ridiculously crazy with going on for Martha in DC, rehearsing Wendla in understudy rehearsals & playing her in the big put-in dress rehearsal for the new cast members, and being sick for the last half of Chicago! As most of you know, we're on a 7-week layoff right now, and it's AMAZING! At the same time, I'm missing my Springies, but we've all been chatting via countless internet sources - fbook, twitter, texting, you name it. It's really strange to send all my friends off to college and not be right along side of them, buying textbooks and dorm-y things. I'm no longer the college graduating class of '13, and it freaks me out just the slightest bit. That being said, I couldn't be happier to be a part of this amazing show, and I count my blessings every day that I get to be a kid for another year and just goof off and perform this beautiful piece of art with the craziest, most talented people I've ever met. My dad always says, "If your passion becomes your career, you never have to work another day in your life." I don't feel like I have a typical 'job' because I'm truly living my dream, and it's more than I could ever ask for.

Side note: Ten of my best friends got to see me go on as Thea in DC, how did that happen?! The universe was on my side that day. I told them I'd write about them in my blog, so I am. Happy now, snails?! I love you. :) PS - They were the greatest audience ever. It was a Sunday matinee. They cheered when I legitimately just walked forward in Mama Reprise, DURING the song. God, I love them.

Here's a list of things I'm planning to do during the next 6 weeks of my life:

1. New York City. At least once a week, maybe more.
2. Get my left cartilage, third holes, and right upper ear pierced on Monday. I can let them heal for 6 weeks and be ready to go when we go back to Milwaukee! Love my planning abilities :)
3. Broadway shows - In the Heights, Hair (again), Avenue Q (my acting teacher is playing Princeton in the closing cast! AH! go see him) Billy Elliot, Bye Bye Birdie (seeing friends! and my face plastered all over the theater...yikes.)
4. Visit Claudia, Nicole, Spencer, Kelsey & Charlo at school. Lots of train tickets for lots of weekends.
5. Seeing The Fray with Kels at her school! CRAZY, I know.
6. Organize my life. And my closet. Maybe shop a little. I don't know.
7. Finish writing the 3 songs I started writing at the beginning of the summer.
8. Play a lot of tennis with Mommy & Gi.
9. KEEP HEALTHY. DO NOT GET SICK.
10. Spend lots of time with family.

Until next time,

Krista :)

The Dark I Know Well.

Hey guys!

So I think I'm the luckiest swing on the face of the planet. I've only been here 8 short weeks and I've been on 9 times, for 2 different roles! Playing Martha yesterday was unbelievable. Don't get me wrong, Thea's my girl, but being able to put my own spin on Martha's dark storyline was so thrilling for me as an actress. Once the lights dimmed, the haunting music started, and Steffi came out with my microphone for Dark, I started to cry. I really felt Martha in every ounce of my body, and I think that definitely helped my performance. Singing with Steffi was ridiculous. Our voices both have some rasp, so I think they blended really well. By the way, my bruise didn't come off until this morning, no matter how hard I scrubbed! I don't have any Martha pics from yesterday since I was thoroughly freaking out, but here's some from my last time on as Thea! Enjoy! :)

First time on!

Swing Awakening! :)

Until next time,

Krista :)

What a crazy week!

Hey guys :)

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, things have been really crazy around here! This week has been SUPER crazy because I've been in Wendla rehearsals all week, which is SO much fun but also a lot of work. We also went to see Harry Potter 6 at midnight, which was so much fun! AND we're all preparing for our new cast mates to join us next week, so that adds a level of crazy to our schedules! I have a 4 hour Wendla run-through understudy rehearsal tomorrow, so I'm trying to take it easy today and just relax :) Also, a bunch of my theater friends are coming to see the show on Sunday - which is when I'm playing Thea!! I'm so excited :) Overall, things have been really great, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.

Until next time,

Krista :)

Thea, goodbye's, vacation.

Hey guys!

First let me start off with how lucky I am to be in this show. Going on for the first time in Philly was one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences I've ever had. I didn't really want to show it, but I was freaking out. I got the call Friday around 6 pm saying that I would be going on for Thea both shows the next day, and I immediately called my parents. My mom started to cry, of course. Since Philly is legitimately only an hour away from home, they were able to see me do the matinee. Mama Reprise was probably my favorite part of the show. Being a swing, I never get to sing it which is VERY unfortunate because it's my favorite song in the show, besides Those You've Known. Finally being able to unleash all of that energy was so cathartic, and unbelievably amazing. I also got to do Thea with two different Melchiors, Jake in the afternoon and Kyle at night, which was an experience in itself. I don't think I've ever had more fun on stage, and I still can't believe I got to go on after only 4 weeks of being here! I know I'll never forget my first time :)

Although it was a happy weekend personally, we had to say goodbye to two amazing members of the family, Kyle & Julie D. It was heart wrenching to see everyone so upset. They are both amazing and talented people, and so genuinely nice. It was hard to see them go. We were all ridiculous messes in Left Behind, and tried to harness that energy in to kicking ass for Fucked, and for the most part we did. But, as soon as we all thought the crying was over, Henry and Angie slowly and loudly said "Melchior Gabor, FOR THE LAST TIME....DID YOU WRITE THIS?!". And Kyle responded with the loudest yes I've ever heard. And then we all started crying and going crazy. I've never swung on those bars harder than I did Sunday night. It was one of the most memorable performances I've had so far on tour.

We've been on vacation for the week, and it's been great. When you're on tour, you see the same people every second of every day, and it's nice to come home and remind yourself of the people you left behind. I saw Hair with Anthony on Tuesday night and it was RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING. I reccommend it for everyone! I also got to visit my friends at the Paper Mill Playhouse Summer Musical Theater Conservatory, which I've attended for the past 6 years. I've recieved almost all of my training from the teachers at Paper Mill, and it broke my heart to go back there and see what I'm missing this summer. But, listening to my peers and directors ask me about tour and saying how lucky I am really reassured me of how truly blessed I am to be touring in this show.

See you all in D.C! Until next time,

Krista :)

First time!! :)

Ahhhhh hey guys! Just letting you know I'm going on for Thea tomorrow & tomorrow night (saturday)! Can't wait - hope some of you are there to experience my first time with me!!

Krista :)

Goodbye NJ, Hello PA.

Hey bloggers :)

So I went home yesterday for the first time in 3 weeks! It was so nice! I'm officially a graduate of Roxbury High School :) It was amazing to see all of my friends and family, although it's nice to be back with my Spring family here in Philly! The show went really well tonight; GREAT crowd. Hopefully there's more crowds like tonight! Me and Steffi just got back from this awesome 24 hour diner called Little Pete's, where we proceeded to stuff our faces with amazing french toast and eggs. Rehearsal tomorrow - I'm playing Martha! We're also having a big put-in rehearsal for me and Jake on Thursday. The two of us will be in full hair and costume with full band and tech as well, I'm so excited! Martha should be fun, I can't wait to sing Dark with Krystina tomorrow/Steffi on Thursday :) Until next time!

Krista :)

Swing Awakening.

Hey guys,

So I called out for the first time tonight :/ I've only been here two weeks and I'm already sick! UGH. But, it's not just me - Christy, Andy, Gabby & Perry all called out too, which puts Julie on for Wendla again, Lucas on for Hanchen, Krystina on for Anna, and only Chase in the chairs of rock. Crazy crazy crazy swing madness! I think it's going around to everyone. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow so hopefully I'll feel better by this weekend...

Oh, and I caved. I'm tweeting. Follow me! :) www.twitter.com/kristapioppi


Krista