tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24962413349599828112024-02-20T02:25:39.281-08:00Mark Evans Official BlogTo find out more about Mark and his career visit his official website at <a href="http://www.markevansonline.co.uk/">http://www.markevansonline.co.uk/</a>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-64107633244371559892013-10-30T08:01:00.003-07:002013-10-30T08:01:47.633-07:00Blog 119!!! ORLAAAAANDO!!!<br />
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<span style="color: white;">Hey Everyone,</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Happy Thursday </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">(It's probably not a Thursday when I end up posting this but that's how I used to start my blog when I wrote it weekly so it feels natural……it's actually Tuesday when I am writing this…..3.16pm if you want specifics!!!) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I am sitting in my hotel apartment in Orlando, Florida waiting for my rental car to be delivered so that I can go exploring so I thought that in the meantime I would write a little blog since it's been months since my last post. Holy swear word, I just checked and my last post was in February!!! Jeez! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">There is so much to catch up on that I don't really know where to start. I suppose I already did start…… so I'm gonna carry on by saying how excited I am to be opening The Book Of Mormon in Orlando TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">For those of you who haven't seen the show and know nothing about it. The story follows two young mormon missionaries who are complete polar opposites to each other. I play Elder Price who is the perfect mormon in every sense according to himself and everyone around him, he can do no wrong and deserves nothing but the best. Elder Price had dreamed his whole life (or since the age of 9 at least) of spending his two year mormon mission in Orlando, Florida because it's just as perfect as he is. He wanted to arrive there with the perfect mission companion, and spend an amazing two years doing what he can to change the human race for the better through Mormonism. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Well… he is paired with Elder Cunningham, who I would describe as a socially inept, Star Wars / Lord Of The Rings fanatic who has no clue about the Mormon religion and just wants a new best friend - in our production Elder Cunningham is played by the comedy genius that is Chris O'Neill (Christopher John O'Neill if you want to be formal) who has become a very good friend of mine and who I adore working with! (Most of the time - I only write that incase he randomly reads this and tries to inflate his ego!) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Price and Cunningham are sent to Uganda in Africa on their mission, which is, of course about as much of a contrast to Orlando as you can get - The audience follows the tale of everything that happens to them during their trip and without revealing too much to those who are yet to see the show, it is has a very surprising and satisfying ending full of warmth, heart and joy with a very uplifting positive message! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">So as you can imagine, it's gonna be crazy here in Orlando to be making so many references about the city we are actually playing in.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I think you can tell…..I'm EXCITEEEEEEED!!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">So….. life in general - My life IS the show most of the time which is a great thing (but believe me we have a lot of fun too!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I have been in America now not far off 12 months and I love it here. I of course miss the UK and all my friends and family but being over here this year has enabled me to visit some amazing places - some of which i would never think of visiting were it not for this job taking me there and I have really made an effort to experience these places properly. Just to give you an idea of where I've been in America thus far, take a look at this list</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">San Francisco (5 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Portland (1 week)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Seattle (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Des Moines (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Minneapolis (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">St. Louis (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Rochester (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Detroit (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Pittsburgh (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Boston (3 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Cheeky few days in New York City here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Toronto, Canada (6 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Buffalo (1 week)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Cleveland (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Flew home to the UK for a week!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Washington DC (6 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Another cheeky few days in New York City here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Dallas (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Houston (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">San Antonio (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Austin (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Flew to LA for a week of vacation from the show!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">New Orleans (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Orlando (2 weeks)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">We then move on to do a couple of weeks in Tampa and then the show plays in Fort Lauderdale for 4 weeks, of which I'm only doing three as I head back to the UK for a week on December 16th to see my family just before Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I have to say, writing that list was a little indulgent on my behalf but it was actually more for me to have a think back over the tour schedule, than for your enjoyment haha. This tour moves so quickly that we very rarely take the time to think back over everywhere we have been. I have agreed to stay with the show through to next summer too so there's a whole lot more to come.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">People always ask me what my favourite city has been. I have enjoyed so many places. I loved Boston, what a great place - we were there during the time of the tragic marathon bombings, but what was great was seeing an incredible community come together to stand 'strong and proud' against violence! We head back to Boston again in the spring of 2014 which I'm looking forward to.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I also liked Toronto as we got to settle for 6 weeks. There's lots of cool stuff to do there , my family visited for a week and we did Niagara Falls and all the touristy stuff which was awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I loved Washington DC just because it's such an incredible place. It's like being in a film because everything is so familiar. The First Lady, Michelle Obama watched the show too which was cool. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Dallas had some of the best audiences we've had throughout the whole year and I really liked it as a city. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">New Orleans was probably the coolest place we've been to and I'm sure all of you who have been there will agree. The live music and food and drink and atmosphere in general is in a purely unique league of it's own. However two weeks was more than enough there for now. I am on a strict detox since being there, ha.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Having pointed out a few favourites I have to say that I did enjoy ALL of the places we vis……well, almost all of the places we visited - Yup, I'm not that nice - without naming names there was one place I would not choose to go back to in this lifetime but we made the most of our time there regardless and I'll let you decide for yourselves where it might have been. :-)</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">So I feel like I have just summed up my travels of 2013 as much as possible in a nutshell. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Many people ask when I am coming home and when I'll next be performing in the UK…… I'll be home for a week in December but I have decided not to do any concerts i've been invited to perform at because I want a week with my family and friends away from working. So I'm not sure when I'm going to be performing in the UK. However, Louise Dearman and I are writing a theatre advice book together at the moment which will be published in early 2014 and released in the spring, so at some point I will be back doing some promotion for the book with Louise and I'm sure we can work out that I do a little singing somewhere while I'm there. :-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I want to thank all of you who submitted questions for our book 'The Secrets Of Stage Success' - we've had some really great stuff sent in and a large variety of questions which is exactly what we wanted so we can cover as many aspects of the entertainment industry as we can with any advice we feel may be useful and interesting.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I have to say, so much has happened in my life in the past 12 months that I find myself quite often having to take a second to put everything in perspective. I'm not just talking about doing this awesome job in America, which is of course great but more the fact that this year more than any other has proved to me that we really don't know what life is gonna throw at us. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Just over 12 months ago I had just finished in Ghost The Musical having had an amazing time playing a great role in an incredible show. I was performing 'Ultimate Broadway' in Shanghai, China and while I was there we were negotiating an offer I'd had to go to America with The Book Of Mormon. I agreed to do it for only 6 months and no longer incase I didn't enjoy being so far away and was convinced I'd be heading back to the UK on July 1st of this year grateful for the job and ready for what was next. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I never thought that 12 months from that point I will have agreed to stay for a THIRD 6 month contract and be loving life in America, having made some amazing friends through my job and on my travels and having learnt so much more about myself than ever before. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I have always been an independent guy but when you're on the other side of the world from your usual support system it means you really are left to your own devices a lot of the time so I'm even more independent now than ever.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Also when I was in London I always found myself taking on too many things (which you can clearly see I'm sure if you read through some of my older blog posts when I used to post them weekly) and now I have my one job and other than the book, I'm doing nothing else and life is a lot more enjoyable and manageable - not that I didn't enjoy life before of course, I loved it, but I find myself able to unwind a lot more than ever and that is definitely a good thing and very much a necessity when playing a role as demanding as Elder Kevin Price!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I am excited to write a blog in late 2014 to see what has happened in life by that point!!! No one knows what's going to happen in the future and that excites me!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I'm so grateful to all of you reading this for your support and loyalty especially my UK followers for sticking with me and still being interested in everything I'm doing even though I'm on the other side of the planet and I promise you that although I don't have any set plans yet, I will be back to perform in the UK before you know it! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">My main reason for wanting to post this blog was to spread a little positivity the way I feel my blogs used to. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I get many young guys at the stage door of the theatres I've played this year saying that Elder Price is a dream role of theirs,</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">My message to any aspiring performers is that it's great to admire people's performances, or their careers or their voices or acting talents or dance ability or whatever you may admire, but I want you to know that whoever you feel inspired by, you should not consider them better than yourselves just because they are doing something you would like to do. I happen to be in the right time in my life to be able to play this character right now but I used to look at people the same way when I was younger and wish that I could one day play roles like this! Well now I'm doing it, and one day I'll be far too old and will be auditioning to play the father of those boys who I met at the stage door! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Basically, what I'm saying is, if you want to get something done in life and I'm not just talking about performing, I mean anything - fully commit to it, have faith in yourself and your abilities and don't stop until it happens, and I'm telling you that if you want it enough, you will get it!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">It's always an honour (or honor if you're American, ha) to be considered an inspiration and I love receiving messages and tweets from people telling me of their accomplishments! Hard work and discipline will take you where you want to go.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Thanks for reading! I won't leave it another 8 months before the next one i promise!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Sending love to wherever you are from a glorious sunny day in Orlando.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">I used to finish my blogs with the word 'Believe' when I was in Ghost so now that I'm in The Book Of Mormon……..</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">'I Believe'</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Sh-Boom</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Mark </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">PS - Many people are asking about dates and cities I'll be performing at next year. Here's the list:</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Charlotte, NC, Dec 26th - Jan 5th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Cincinnati, OH, Jan 6th - Jan 26th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Atlanta, GA, Jan 27th - Feb 9th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Durham, NC, Feb 10th - Feb 23rd</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Baltimore, MD, Feb 24th - Mar 9th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Schenectady, NY, Mar 10th - Mar 16th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Hartford, CT, Mar 17th - Mar 30th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Boston, MA, Mar 31st - Apr 27th </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Providence, RI, Apr 28th - May 11th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Columbus, OH, May 12th - May 25th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Louisville, KY, May 26th - Jun 8th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">East Lansing, MI, Jun 9th - Jun 15th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Indianapolis, IN, Jun 16th - Jun 22nd</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Memphis, TN, Jun 23rd - June 29th</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">PPS It's now wednesday and i'm about to post this on the site - FYI, the first crowd in Orlando last night we're INSANELY GOOD! :-)</span></div>
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Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-26792797224963093602013-02-15T13:06:00.003-08:002013-02-15T13:06:44.465-08:00BLOG 118!!! Question...Tell ME what you think about...<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Hi Everyone,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So a few of you suggested I do a new BLOG but just literally answer questions that have been tweeted to me recently.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So here goes:</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Would you consider doing your album tour in schools and if so would you come to mine?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I would consider it! ….and yes, should I get on official invitation I would come to your school. Can't see a schools tour happening anytime soon though to be honest.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: How do you travel from one venue to another around America?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The crew will leave almost immediately after they have done the load out of whatever city we've just finished in and then they'll get to the new city as soon as possible to do the load in! They work a lot harder than us actors! Ha. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We, the cast, will be picked up from a central hotel location on our travel day (usual a Monday) and either be driven to the next city if it's within reasonable driving distance or we'll be driven to the airport where we'll fly. Yes, all of us, on the same flight! I too feel sorry for the other passengers! It gets quite loud and obnoxious! But we love it! We're very well looked after by our management company!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: What made you decide to go to America? (Come back to the UK soon, our theatres miss you)</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">That's sweet, thanks. I miss the UK too. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">My decision to head to America was because I have wanted to work over here for a long time. I wanted to experience any differences between the work ethic and how shows are run here, I wanted to work with more American people and wanted to travel the US. This is the perfect show to travel with because I'm getting to experience amazing US audiences, the cast and company are fantastic and this show is an absolute pleasure to perform 8 times a week! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Fear not though, the UK, and Wales in particular will always be my home and I shall be there again performing before you know it.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Are you planning on doing another CD after being in BOM? :) x</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I'm going to release a 'Songs of America' album and duet with, Dolly Parton, Kelly Clarkson and Lorna Luft. ok?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I jest of course! - There are plans for more recording work to be done in the future but not for a little while yet.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Who's your favourite friend's friend? Sophie/Laura/Nick?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This was sent in by Nick who is a friend of my mate Callum. The answer is - anyone but Nick!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Have you ever felt like giving up? How did you recover? I'd love to be on the west end some day, but sometimes it seems impossible.</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">WOW, Ok well I could write a novel as a response to this. There have been MANY times I have felt up against it in life and my career. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The only song on my album that I wrote the lyrics to explains all of that perfectly - 'Keep On Believing' (you can listen to it for free on my website www.markevansonline.co.uk).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">All you have to do is find a way of switching your brain into a more positive mode. You have to focus on everything that makes you feel good about yourself and not dwell on the things that get you down. You have to have faith in yourself and if you have the talent and ambition you WILL succeed, even if it doesn't happen as rapidly or quickly as you like. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">All people see in a professional actor's biography, CV or resume is all the amazing jobs they have done - you never get to see the list of amazing jobs they wanted to do but didn't get after auditioning for them! We all suffer rejection, it's part of life, part of this industry and it's what makes us strong and grateful when the good stuff happens! KEEP ON BELIEVING!!! Good luck!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: What are you missing most about the UK?!! x ps Hope your well xx</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Thanks for your well wishes. I am very well thanks. I of course miss my family and friends immensely, but this morning I had a real craving for pasta from one of my favourite restaurants Vapianos just off Oxford Street and it made me homesick! AND REALLY FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT PASTA!!!!!!!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Any funny bloopers on stage since you've been in the USA? </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Oh yes of course. We're talking about ME here!!! I have made up some script - cos apparently in those moments I didn't think the award winning writers of this show Trey, Matt & Bobby had done a good enough job! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I also sang one of the funniest lyrics in my biggest song 'I Believe' TWICE!…..and that, my friends is how to ruin a punchline!!! Cut to audience member in seat H17 "….ha ha ha oh no wait, he already said that, right? It's not funny enough to be sang twice!' ……I KNOW - I HAD A MENTAL BLANK ALRIGHT??????? JEEZ!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Out of every role you've played who do you think is most like you? </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Good question. I suppose they've all been quite similar because they've all been tall!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I'm hard working and disciplined like Elder Price! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">On a five show weekend I sometimes feel as dead as Sam Wheat! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">In the cold weather I wear what sometimes look like Fiyero's jodhpurs under my jeans.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">And I can sometimes be caught spontaneously riding an invisible horse like Curly Mclain in the Oklahoma dream ballet around the cities of America.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I have a deep affection for every charter i've played and am grateful to have had a real variety in my career thus far!!! </span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Keep up the awesome smiles! They truly reach the crowd! </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">That's not a question, but thanks! (said with a smile)</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Since joining BoM, what's happened that u didn't expect? Like aud reaction, weird Qs from press, changes in ur performance, etc?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Well one unexpected thing was that the audiences seem to like what I'm doing! I had the classic actor anxiety before joining this show thinking "this show is hugely successful but I'm going to go into it, there won't be any laughs, the audience will throw things and I'll close the show two weeks after my opening night!" </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I had a chat with Gavin Creel who I took over from - one of the most gracious, kind and generous leading men I have the pleasure of knowing! - and he said he felt the same way (well slightly anxious, not quite as specific as my description.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The amazing thing about this show is how well it's written. I could go on that stage and deliver the lines in any way I felt appropriate - hanging upside-down whilst trying to can-can on a pogo stick? - and as long as whatever I say is sincere and meant with complete truth then the audience will get it and appreciate it. I don't have to be funny, what I'm saying is funny which makes my job a lot easier!!! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I do find that the audiences react differently as a collective in every new city we go to which is really interesting and really fun. Some places might find a certain line really hilarious but somewhere else might find the same line really offensive and you just hear "oooooooooh" before they laugh and that's really exciting and enjoyable!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: What made you decide to do theatre as a career? Did you go to college for it?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>I</b> never knew I could do it professionally, it was always a hobby from when I was 10 but then I found myself auditioning for a college in Preston, Lancashire when I was leaving high school, where I studied dance for a year before training for three years at the musical theatre college Laine Theatre Arts near London. There's a lot more of my background info on my new wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Evans_(actor) if you want to check it out.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: How long are you going to be a Mormon, will you come to London once you've finished ;)</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Despite rumours and people's assumptions I am currently playing Elder Price here until the summer and that is all I'm doing at this stage. Ask the internet, and I'm dong it all over the world for the next 27 years of my life. Who do YOU believe? Me or the internet? </span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: What's it been like touring the US? What's been your favourite city so far? and where are you looking forward to going? </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I love touring the US. This company really look after us all as well so it's an absolute pleasure to do this job. I think my favourite place we've been so far was Seattle. I loved it there. San Fran was great but it was a busy time with rehearsals etc. I'm excited for Boston and we're in Toronto for 6 weeks too and I have lots of people coming to visit me there from home which'll be great! Everywhere we're going is exciting for me though as I've never been to any of these cities before!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: I just finished drama school in Holland + 2 years at LAMDA in London. Any advice how to proceed now in acting?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Yes. Get a job! Ha.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I'm just kidding. You just need to go down the usual avenues, get an agent who will submit you for auditions. You'll need headshot photographs, possibly an acting showreel, a voiceover demo. Agents will advise you best.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I find the book 'The Golden Rules Of Acting' by Andy Nyman is perfect for an actor starting out. it doesn't teach you how to act, it teaches you how to be an actor in this industry. It's helpful and fun! I always highly recommend it to aspiring performers.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Are you enjoying seeing the states and living out of a suitcase?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Yes I am enjoying the states, no I'm not enjoying the suitcase. They just keep breaking! I'm on my fourth suitcase already! Boo! </span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Is it different working with a mostly American cast compared to what you're used to in London? </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Yes - they all talk with weird accents! ;)</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: If you weren't on the US tour of Book Of Mormon, would you have considered joining the Wicked UK as Fiyero?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Been There, done that, got the Jodhpurs!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Is it more exciting to go on tour or be in a show in a resident theatre? </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">There are good and bad points to both. What I love about this tour is that we can never really settle or feel frustrated or bored in anyway. Each city offers a new theatre, new audience and new touristy things to do which keeps us busy and means time is flying past us. I'm not far off 2 months into my run now which has gone so quickly!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: What's your 'essential things to take on tour'?!?! Hope you are still having loads of fun.</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Thanks, I am having loads of fun. My essential things? Erm….tea bags from the UK, a humidifier for my hotel room and my ipad, laptop and iphone with Skype and FaceTime to keep me in touch with my family and friends at home! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>@MarkHEvans: When you come to STL, you should go to CJ Muggs. Not a question, just a suggestion. The fries are gooooood</b>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">OK. Thanks</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Who is your favourite actor?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I'd probably say Ryan Gosling at the moment.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: I pulled my ass funky monkeying … what did I do wrong?!</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This is from a huge fan of mine called JR Bruno. He spends most hours of each day watching clips of me on YouTube. He is also in the ensemble of The Book Of Mormon 8 times a week on the First National Tour of America.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Dearest JR, it takes talent to funky monkey, and unfortunately you posses very little, so give your ass a break and just quit trying!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: How many reps of the Glinda Glide must I do to look like you? #wickedworkoutchallenge</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This happens to be from another fan of mine who is also in the cast of The Book Of Mormon named Marisha Wallace.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Well Marisha, I do 4 reps before my morning 10K run. Then after my third visit to the gym each day I do another 4. So you need to do 8 reps in total. Hope that helps.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: can you show me how to do some Chistery Chin-ups or Melichinamen mixed martial arts? #wickedworkoutchallenge</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">OK! OK! OK! - So for those of you who are NOT in the cast of The Book Of Mormon, you may have cottoned on to the fact that my colleagues recently found the YouTube clip of me teaching the Wicked Summer Workout online and have posted it on our company Facebook page and will occasionally start doing moves of the workout for me in the theatre! However, Kevin Michael Murphy, the question above, as you know is not part of the strict fitness regime that is the Mark Evans Wicked Summer Workout, now stop using that clever imagination of yours and give me a Gravity Defyer 4 times on each side! GO!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: how about……When are you free for dinner? Lol</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Now? </span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: How awesome is being Elder Price?! Better than being Ceridwen Price?! </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Are you his mother? </span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: What's it like to put on an American accent & do you have any slip-up stories? #bookofmormon</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I like to think my American Accent is pretty accurate. There have been a couple of times when i say "spreading the word?" and I sound like I'm from an episode of Eastenders with the broadest cockney accent ever. But what you might find entertaining is listening the cast of our show attempting their British Accents, ….and believe me that happens a lot! - especially under the influence of alcohol! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">"DO ARE SEND LOYK ARRY POTTA?"</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: America must b brill for u but when r u comin home??? (",)</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Summer time!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: When did you first know that being a performer is what you wanted to do with your life? And what convinced you to go for it?</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I knew from an early age that I loved it. I learned aged 15 that it was a possibility and then nothing was gonna stand in my way and I've never lost that focus or determination since!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: favourite disney movie? :)</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Old school, I'd say The Lion King, but recently I'd say 'Tangled' cos my nieces love it and I have a video on my phone of one of my nieces in a long blonde wig singing the healing song that Rapunzel sings from it and she's full on in character with her eyes closed and everything! I watch it most minutes of most hours of most days of most…..you get the picture!!! PROUD!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: Had you practiced and American accent prior to BOM? Did you know much about Mormonism b4 or how did you research for Elder Price.</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Yes!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I'm sorry I just thought that was a good question and thought it would be funny to give a really crap answer!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I have had to do an american accent on many jobs in the past so it's no big deal to do it for this show. I'm a little more aware of it here as I'm performing to Americans obviously but no-one ever seems to be able to tell that I'm British which is good.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">As with every role I have ever auditioned for, I did A LOT of research for this show. Thank goodness for wikipedia and the internet. I read copious amount of literature, really researched the show and it's background as much as possible, listed all the notes I was given at each audition, downloaded Mormon movies and watched YouTube clips. Basically the only thing I didn't do was read actual The Book Of Mormon itself because……well just because…….!!!</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">@MarkHEvans: What do you miss most about Ghost? ;/</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I miss telling that amazing, touching story the most I think. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I miss Siobhan (my bunny) and the rest of the cast. I miss my guitar. I miss the script. I miss the songs and I miss my Sam Wheat shoes (I don't really cos I stole them on the last night mwahahaha).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Thanks for all your questions everyone, even the ones that weren't questions.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Sending you all super smiley Mormon love (predictive text corrected that to MORON but I had too much self-respect not to change it back) from the US. Thanks as always for your continued support.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Keep On Believing!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Mark</span></div>
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Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-17574820735306562952013-01-08T13:03:00.000-08:002013-01-08T13:03:17.006-08:00BLOG 117!!! Mevans The Mormon!!! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hi Everyone,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Yup, it's been a while!!! Happy New Year to all of you. Let's make 2013 a good one eh?!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I've a feeling this blog is gonna be a long one as I've a LOT to fill you in on!!!!!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A lot has changed since I last post, which was upon my return from China two months ago. The reason for my lack of blogging was because lots of what I have been working on since then was not able to be announced publicly so I would have been blogging about random pointless stuff instead of what I was actually up to.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So as I'm sure most of you who are followers of my Twitter and Facebook pages are aware, I am no longer living in London.....far from it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I am gonna take you back to April 2012, when I'm sure I mentioned that I was having meetings for future projects...well having gone through many auditions and being flown to New York and back I was officially offered the lead role of Elder Price in the MASSIVELY SUCCESSFUL musical comedy The Book Of Mormon, which has broken numerous box office records and received countless awards including 9 Tony Awards.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I knew that I was going to be working on this show while I was still in Ghost The Musical and many people were questioning me about rumours they had heard but as far as I am concerned, until it is announced publicly, the job is not yours.....or actually, until you open on your first night, it can still be taken away from you so I wasn't telling anyone but close family and friends!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was thrilled when I was asked if I wanted to join the First National Tour of the show in the America. I have said for years that I wanted to see more of the States, as the only place I'd been was New York City, but I knew that the only way I'd ever be able to tour the states was to do it whilst working, because it would be impossible for me to take a long break from my career to go backpacking around the states. Having said that, I never really thought the opportunity would arise to actually do it, so I'm thrilled and this is the perfect show to tour with.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The company are amazing and the cast are phenomenally talented and this is no disrespect to any show or anyone I've worked with in the past but as a complete production, I have never worked with a group of people on and off stage including creatives who are this talented.....and as a lot of you know, I have worked with some INCREDIBLE people so I'm just trying to point out how great they are here!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My preparation for the show all started in November in New York....</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was in the city observing the rehearsals of the company of The Book Of Mormon who are now playing in Chicago. It was a great way to be immersed into the Mormon world and do my research.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I then returned back to London for a couple of weeks to sort my life out as I'd only had a couple of days after Shanghai before having to fly to NYC. So I needed to attend my visa appointment, sort my flat out, sort my car out and many other boring, responsible adult type things, but most importantly, spend some quality time with my family and friends, a lot of whom I'd not seen for months!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I headed home to Wales for 10 days and it was amazing. We had a few family nights which included an early Christmas as I obviously wasn't able to be there for December 25th! It was quite emotional saying goodbye to them as this is the longest time I will have gone without seeing them. Thank goodness for Skype eh?!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I had a great leaving party in London with my friends before jumping on my flight, kissing goodbye to London on December 4th and heading to San Francisco (via Chicago for one night to have a costume fitting....as you do!)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I arrived San Fran and settled into my really cosy, apartment which had so much character and was nicely spacious and I thought, "yup, Christmas here will be just fine!".</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After that, I headed on down to the Curran theatre to meet the people I would be sharing the next 7 months with. What a great group of people....clearly that was just first impressions cos I've since learnt that they're a bunch of assholes!.....I'm joking, obviously!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I am so fortunate to be working with an AMAZING group of lovely, kind, welcoming and TALENTED people! Did I mention they're talented? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I watched the show that evening and was absolutely blown away by it. I had seen it a couple of times in New York, but the touring cast are incredible and I just thought to myself "Mevans, you've got your work cut out if you wanna keep up with these incredible people!". I was not intimidated in the slightest though, it was an inspiring evening and I felt so hyped to be given this opportunity and was excited to get cracking with rehearsals.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Chris (who I play opposite) and I started rehearsing the next day - we learnt the whole of act one that afternoon and the whole of act two the next afternoon. It had of course helped that we had watched some stuff in New York but my goodness we worked at a speedy pace!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Our rehearsal schedule was amazing, we worked a few afternoons a week (because the rest of the time the stage wasn't available because of the show's performance schedule) and the rest of the time we were just able to enjoy all the splendour that San Fran had to offer, and it certainly has lots for visitors to do and see. I loved the city, particularly the Golden Gate Bridge and actually during my stay, I crossed it three times, once on foot, once cycling (in the pouring rain) and the other time on the top of a bus tour! I loved it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So to avoid this being the longest blog in the history of blogging I'm gonna by-pass Christmas and the other couple of weeks - which were all amazing) and head straight to my opening night.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We had an incredible work session with Trey Parker (one of the genius writers and co-directors of The Book Of Mormon and co-creator of South Park) It was one of the most inspiring, amazing and fulfilling afternoons I've ever experienced in my professional career so far. The man is a genius! Seriously! If you wanna see him at work, watch the documentary 6 Days To Air which is about how they put an episode of South Park together in 6 days. Amazing!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I felt so prepared for opening night and was thrilled that one of my best friends from London, Callum was able to be there, just as proof really that I am actually working over here and not just on my holidays for a few months!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There is no show that I have ever performed which has the audience in the palm of its musical theatre hand from the very opening and doesn't let up as far as making them laugh is concerned until they walk out the door at the end! It is without a doubt the funniest script of a musical I've ever seen or read or watched, and to perform it is an honour!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The first show went really well and I was really happy - but there was no time to celebrate as it was time for Chris and I to adjust to a weekend schedule American style which means one show Friday night, two shows Saturday and two shows Sunday. It was a bit of a challenge for us to go from working on things a couple of afternoons a week to then performing the entire show 5 times in one weekend, but we got through it and instead of going out and getting drunk to celebrate, I went back to my apartment to celebrate by attempting to eat as much of the left over food in my kitchen as I physically could fit in my stomach because the next day was our travel day to Portland and I sure as hell wasn't putting cheese and crackers in my luggage!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The flight to Portland was smooth and pain free, although I was feeling pretty tired, and our one day off before starting our first full week of 8 shows happened to be our travel day and New Years Eve. No rest for me then! :-)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">New year was hilarious....I had food at a restaurant with a few of the company members which was nice and then got in a taxi to the club that was hosting a private party area for The Book Of Mormon cast....but our taxi got stuck in the New Year celebrations which caused road traffic chaos so my midnight moment was spent with our head of the wigs and hair department who makes me look like a mormon every night and a lesbian named Janet in a bowler hat who was on speaker phone with her wife saying (*cue American accent*) "happy new year doll, I'm stuck in this f***in intersection with some Mormons, don't ask, I love ya honey, Happy Noo Year"...... She was lovely and she broke the law a few times trying to get us to our party....needless to say I gave her a big tip cos that was one New Years I will not forget in a hurry. Haha.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The next day we opened at the Keller Auditorium in Portland and the first show took a bit of getting used to as it was close to double the audience capacity than San Francisco. They were great audiences all week though and I really enjoyed my stay there.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I've just arrived at my apartment in Seattle and can't really believe I'm about to start my third theatre venue on the tour already. This time is gonna fly. I love Seattle already! Although feeling as tired as I am right now, I can't imagine I'll be sleepless here.....it just has to be referenced doesn't it?! *Lame Joke*</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I miss London and Wales and all my friends, family and all you loyal readers/followers, and want you all to know that the messages I've been receiving recently have been overwhelming and I really appreciate them and your constant support. Please know that I am having an amazing time here in America and I am doing my upmost to represent UK actors in the best way possible on that stage every night.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I thank whatever is out there in the universe for giving me this opportunity and am so happy to be experiencing this amazing country in the best way possible.....with an incredible show!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sending so much love home to you all from a very proud and patriotic Mormon named Mevans! Thanks for reading! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Believe!!! </b>(I can still type that even though I'm no longer in Ghost, cos I sing a whole song about Believing in this show!)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-boom</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-65026543449529290312012-11-01T02:52:00.003-07:002012-11-01T03:03:24.864-07:00Blog 116!!! Ni Hao - A Welsh dude in China! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hey Everyone,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Thursday, (and for the past three weeks too). I am in fact writing this blog on the plane back from Shanghai as it is a loooooong flight and there is a lot to write since I last blogged which was my final week of Ghost.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ghost feels like it ended at least 4 months ago, it's not even been 4 weeks.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I don't even know where to start with this blog about my time working on Ultimate Broadway..... I suppose I should start at the beginning....</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I woke early (very early) on the Monday morning, October 8th to get in a car to Heathrow Airport. I wasn't feeling too great, I had to cancel a concert in Cardiff the night before on doctors orders. I had fought like a demon to manage to get through the last week of Ghost and so he insisted I just had vocal rest.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So it wasn't ideal to be heading to do a job for three weeks where I'd be belting my man tits off the whole time, but I was on my way and was thinking positively that it'd all be fine.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The set up of the show was as follows: a huge orchestra, twenty Chinese ensemble singer dancers from Shanghai, 10 professional ensemble singer dancers mostly from London and four principals headlining, which included myself, Ria Jones (another Welshy, woop woop!) Josh Young from America who was recently nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway and the fourth was Kerry Ellis who I'm sure most of you know from Wicked etc.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I met up with Kerry at the airport and we flew over together, not really knowing what to expect, apart from the fact that we each had 9 songs to learn, which was a whole lot of lyrics.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We arrived Shanghai after 20 hours of travelling and it was 11am local time so our first challenge was to try our best to not sleep until that night, which is the best way to avoid jet lag! My goodness it was difficult.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We were driven to our hotel to settle in and then headed to the theatre for some costume fittings and to have a look around, basically trying to keep us busy to avoid sleeping!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Culture Square Theatre in Shanghai is the most ridiculously impressive theatre I think I have and will ever see.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's huge! Everywhere is just huge. The auditorium, the rehearsal spaces even the corridors are unnecessarily big. You could fit a whole herd of Elephants down some of the corridors, what's the point?!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The auditorium was designed perfectly so that no where was a bad view of the stage, it held about 1700 and the decor was incredible. Marble floors throughout - yes, in the auditorium, under the seats it was real marble, again I ask, whats's the point? (Really impressive though).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The foyer was amazing. A huge stained glass window dominated the main wall as you walk in, and by huge I mean like 50ft squared, it was beautiful and at night it was lit perfectly.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The most impressive part of the theatre though was the stage. It was enormous, and the whole thing could move backwards to let another stage raise up to replace it, exactly the same size but this one had three hydraulic circular platforms that would each revolve in different ways. Also, BOTH of those stages were removed to reveal a THIRD enormous performance space - a fountain which covered the size of the entire width and depth of the stage and shot up numerous jets of water with camp multi coloured lighting and while all that was happening in our show at the top of act two, we had a small Chinese fella doing arial acrobatics on a couple of ropes, (while I sang a song from Spiderman The Musical!)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There was also a FOURTH performance space which could be hydraulically installed (which wasn't used in our show) which is a giant ice rink!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So the theatre is camp to say the least!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The song list basically consisted of the biggest show-stoppers from the most popular musicals through the ages. Everything between Memory from Cats to Defying Gravity from Wicked. It was all about the amazing sets, incredible choreography, dazzling costumes, a phenomenal orchestra and ensemble, fronted by us four belting as many money notes as we could possibly squeeze out from within!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I am now continuing this blog from my flat on Wednesday evening as the plane landed, which was pretty bloody typical, travelling for 26 hours and then I decide to write my blog and the bloody thing goes and arrives Heathrow!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So that first day, whilst trying to stay awake, Kerry and I were introduced to the performing company, most of whom had already been there rehearsing for a week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The amount they'd learned was insane! They were a really talented group.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I also had massive respect for the local Shanghai ensemble who learned about 10 numbers, most involved singing, and they didn't even speak English. There were literally translators there to pass on everything the creative team would ask them to do, so to learn all those English lyrics was seriously impressive! I mean, it's not as if English and Chinese are the most similar of languages!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Learning all the songs and staging had to be done within two and a half days for us principals as we were then starting to rehearse on stage with all the technical elements.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It all came together ridiculously quickly but it was hard work!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Opening night was great and then we had a four show weekend before a well deserved day off.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The days off that we had during our three weeks there were personally spent just making the most of having the opportunity to see the city. I visited most of the things that are suggested online - I experienced both the built up, impressive financial district with its huge buildings and expensive atmosphere and then enjoyed visiting little markets and tiny little side streets with stalls and little shops run by the nicest, kindest most welcoming people- which was very different to a lot of what you'll see in Shanghai.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The roads are dangerous, drivers are fearless and stupid, people will happily spit on you if you happen to walk where they have decided to hawk up a greenie and spit out in the loudest most disgusting way - and that happens indoors and out!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Parents carry children around in crotchless pants so they can go to the toilet anytime, anywhere they wish.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You'll think nothing of a Scooter racing by on the road with a family of 5 hanging on, or a mass of cages containing bunnies and budgies on the back of a tricycle, or the largest amount of chopped wood you could ever imagine one old man to handle on one little push bike.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The extremes between the wealthy residents and others who are less fortunate are hard to believe and the cultural and social differences within one city is so hard to comprehend. But everyone just gets along with their own lives no matter how big or important they may be in other people's eyes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Everyone seems to always be busy and hard working.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The pollution there is pretty shocking. I actually felt like I was inhaling pure oxygen when I arrived back in London, which is really saying something eh?! The atmosphere was dry often muggy and hot but the whole pace had a natural smokey haze to it and breathing felt a little uncomfortable at times!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We went to some incredible gardens and walking by the Bund river was amazing. One side feels like London and the opposite side of the water feels like you're staring at down town Manhattan, New York with all the new and modern high rise buildings!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's an incredible city to visit and I know that personally I would never have really chosen to go there on a holiday and so I'm delighted to have had the opportunity to work over there and experience such an interesting place!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's been crazy busy since I've been back getting a few bits and pieces sorted and catching up with friends before I head to New York tomorrow for three weeks which should be good fun!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If I don't manage to blog whilst in NYC I'll certainly pick up again when I'm back!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Keep loving your lives folks!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-boom</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-46731663984541239082012-10-04T03:02:00.002-07:002012-10-04T03:02:30.795-07:00Blog 115! Farewell Sam Wheat! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hey Everyone,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Thursday,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Well the time is here, dum dum duuuum......my last blog whilst being a part of Ghost The Musical.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I'm not too sure how I feel about it. I think I'm a little numb to the whole situation. It's a harder show to say goodbye to than anything else I've ever done because of the subject matter - the script symbolises finding strength in saying goodbye, but i reckon saying goodbye to it on Saturday will be emotional. It's also going to be a huge relief for me as a person ('person' meaning someone normal and not just an actor) because I will be able to resemble some sort of normality in my life for a while.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here's the thing...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have immersed myself into the life of Sam Wheat for over 10 months since rehearsals, which has been incredible but also requires a huge amount of sacrifice. The demand of this role, physically, mentally and most extremely, vocally, is like nothing I've ever committed to before. I have, for much of the past 10 months been on voice rest outside of the theatre to ensure I can perform this role, which means that you can't talk (obviously) which results in ones social life being very minimal and when you actually meet friends it's rarely in public places that could be too loud, it is not for any substantial amount of time and most of that time is spent catching up on the time you've not been able to see them because of your job. Ha!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The opportunity to drink alcohol is very rare (not that I'm a big drinker) as is attending a party or night out.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There is also the responsibility to keep fit. Luckily I enjoy the gym but it does get tough having to ensure you work out at least 3 times a week to remain "show fit" and also maintain the physicality required to play such an iconic role!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So indeed I'm ready for a break!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I write my blog as an insight into the life of a leading actor and that is why I write honestly about the tough sides of taking on leading roles in this industry. So many young people (and I don't mean this to sound patronising) have the ambition of playing lead roles and picture it being amazing all the time and all about the showbiz lifestyle, the standing ovation every night and the recognition for being a lead in the west end, and yes, all that stuff is great, but the reality is- it's really very tough and you seriously have to be an extremely committed and disciplined person to sustain it, remembering that when you watch a show, the actors on stage perform that same show 8 times that week, and every week for how ever long a contract may be- usually a year.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As I said, I write this to inspire people and what I have just written is my way of really trying to let people understand that you have to be SO dedicated to your art if you want to do this professionally so think long and hard about it - I personally know that I would not want to do anything else outside of working in this industry professionally but it's not for everyone!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I know of too many people who have recently graduated from drama school after a £40,000 college fee and have now decided to do something else! Be wise, be realistic and be sensible!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So that's the honest, realistic part out of the way, I am now going back to my</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">positive self which feels a lot more natural. Although it's been hard work, I have loved playing Sam in Ghost. It's such a rewarding role as far as being able to really go on an extreme, dramatic journey every show is concerned.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">From the moment I step on the stage in the first scene with my flash light I don't stop until I kiss Siobhan at the end of the bows as we walk off stage hand in hand to the play out music and it's an incredible roller coaster ride between those two points!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ghost has been written so incredibly well by Bruce Joel Rubin, who happens to be one of the nicest, kindest, most humble and modest gentlemen I have EVER had the privilege of meeting and working with. Having a well written piece makes performing it so much easier. One of the difficult things usually is maintaining the freshness of a role for every new audience that watches it, and thanks to Bruce that has not been a chore at all.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Another key element in making a long contract endurable is to listen properly to your fellow actors. There's a difference between just listening for your turn to speak and actually hearing what others are saying and that may sound silly but when you know what someone is going to say before they've even said it, it's hard to hear it as if it's the first time and respond to it naturally unless you really listen properly. It's an art in itself and I thank my lucky stars that I was paired with my wonderful leading lady Siobhan Dillon for this job. It has been an absolute pleasure acting opposite her and singing these amazing songs with her. We have the most trust in each other that I have ever experienced on stage and our chemistry and comfortable familiarity has meant that portraying the deep love that Sam and Molly feel for one another has just been second nature. She is a truly unique performer and I shall sincerely miss working with her!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have many favourite memories with this show as I think back on the contract. My agent telling me I got the job, working on the roles in rehearsals, opening night with the remaining original cast, opening night with the current cast and our press night, having many friends and family watching the show and hearing their reaction and response - and generally just loving turning up to work thinking I am so proud to be a part of a show I really, genuinely think is absolutely incredible!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When I saw the show last summer, long before I had even auditioned for it I predicted it would run and run- "for at least five years" is what I said, however now that it is closing, I am just so immensely grateful to have gotten in quickly and that everything worked out timing wise for me to have played this role in London whilst there is still such a hype about it and before it will be here no more! I can't quite believe they have only been able to have two companies! It deserved to run in my opinion!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It has been a wonderful company to be a part of, an amazing group of talented and lovely people who have made this experience so special. There are so many people I will be thanking this week but I must remember this is my blog not an awards acceptance speech......</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">However.....</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I want to say a sincere thank you to all of you reading this now and to everyone who has sent in any messages, cards, presents, tweets, pictures or even just come to stage door during my time in the show. The support of my fans and the fans of Ghost is very important to me and I hope you will treasure the memories of this show as much as I will! It's been a very important job in my career path and a very special part of my life! I feel blessed to have given my portrayal of Sam Wheat to so many thousands of people and as I lay him to rest (quite literally) on Saturday night I know I will be shedding tears of sorrow and joy, but most of all pride! This show has ensured that I will indeed BELIEVE for the rest of my days!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thanks for reading!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In the final words of Sam Wheat "See Ya!"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Forever Believing</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-Boom</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">PS- On Monday I fly to Shanghai for three weeks where Twitter and Facebook are banned so I shall be off the radar for the rest of October! So I'll probably blog in early November but my priority when I get back is being able to experience and enjoy a 'normal' life for a while! I'll blog when I feel there's something you might wanna know about ;-)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-35595725532037337962012-09-27T02:36:00.002-07:002012-09-27T02:36:31.869-07:00BLOG 114!!! Penultimate Ghostly Week! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hey Everyone,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Thursday.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I hope you're all doing well! Thanks to all of you who tweeted me your favourite Blog posts last week, it was a great trip down memory lane and also a shocking reminder of just extremely random I can be!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So we have just 13 shows of Ghost left (including 2 today). It's very much bitter sweet as I see it at the moment. It's always a relief to finish any long contract, just so your body and mind can recover, but this show is so special and unique that it's also extremely upsetting that we won't be telling this story anymore. It's difficult to find a musical which has as much truth and heart as Ghost with a script which, as an actor, makes you feel you could be doing a film it's so natural in its style - I know what you're all thinking 'well it was a film originally duh!' - but, screen to stage musicals do not always work but this one really does.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">That's all I'm really gonna write about Ghost this week as next week's blog will be all about Ghost including some stories that you may not have been told and it will certainly be dedicated to Siobhan for being a wonderful leading lady to work opposite for 10 months!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have started a new thing on twitter for these two weeks where I will be posting lots of pictures of various ghost related things which are in my photo library from throughout the contract and it's called #MyGhostJourney so keep an eye on those pictures! LOTS of photos I will not have posted on Twitter before!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's been a good week since last Thursday. Lots of fun in the show and a pretty busy life outside of it too. My brother in law and his Dad arrived after the show on Thursday night to unload their tools into my flat and prepare for the big ass bathroom renovation I'm having done! The skip arrived in the morning and within 2 hours, what used to be my bathroom was in the skip on the roadside and I was left with a shell of mashed up bricks and nothing else!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">They've worked really hard on it all week though and it's looking amazing and I can't wait to shower in there for the first time. It will be finished on Saturday! ......don't worry, I have been showering at the gym and at the theatre and in my neighbour's flat downstairs, so no, you judgmental people, I have not been smelly for a week!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This week has kind of been all about sleeping on my lounge floor and doing what I can to help the guys in the bathroom.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Other than that, I went to watch Taboo the musical on Sunday night which was great. Some wonderful performances and the songs (as ever) are brilliant! I've loved that show since it was first in London 10 years ago!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was feeling a little tired that night though as the night before it was boys poker night with the Ghosties and my bedtime ended up being 4.30am! Worth it though as it was a really fun night!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Siobhan and I spent the day together yesterday, buying a few farewell gifts for the company and then lunch before watching a few of our friends in We Will Rock You. The singing in that show is always phenomenal. I can't wait to watch one of my good mates Oliver Tompsett sing the wotsits off of those songs! He opens on October 8th! They are so lucky to have him going into it! He's one of my favourite vocalists ever!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Other than that folks there's nothing really to report. I am trying to work out exactly when I will have time to sort my flat, my dressing room, my packing and song learning and life out before Shanghai all whilst doing the next 13 shows but I have decided to just ignore it all and it will all happen when needed! Needless to say, this next week is gonna be MANIC!!!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Right then, I'm off to see my physio! Have a great week peeps!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Keep believing!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-Boom!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-68485123288017782512012-09-20T06:06:00.002-07:002012-09-20T06:06:42.686-07:00Blog 113! TWO YEARS OF BLOGGING!!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Hey Everyone,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Happy Thursday. Hope you're all doing well. I've been up for hours already preparing my flat for utter mayhem which begins tomorrow morning. My brother in law and his dad arrive tonight to start work on ripping out my bathroom and completely replacing it and revamping it which is gonna be a nightmare (for them not me) but it also means that I am homeless for a week.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I can't wait for it to be finished and I'm thrilled I have two perfectionists working on it for me because it's gonna look a treat. So long bath, hello MASSIVE shower!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Anyway, I'm gonna head in to do two shows in a little while. There's not much to say about what I've been up to this week as I was signed off from Thursday through to Saturday and so all I did was rest and that is dull for me let alone for you if I were to write about it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So…… I have decided to write about some suggestions that people tweeted me last night.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">First topic:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">TELL US ABOUT YOUR SHANGHAI TRIP AFTER GHOST!?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Okay, so it's called Ultimate Broadway. I'm one of the four principals, the others being Ria Jones, Kerry Ellis and Josh Young. There is a British ensemble of 10 singer/dancers, a Chinese ensemble of 25 and a 45 piece orchestra.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">It's at the amazing Shanghai Culture Square Theatre which is one of the most stunning theatres on the planet. The principals are there for a week and a half of rehearsals before doing 13 performances.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I've been given my song list and I can't wait to perform such a variety of songs. One of which might just be a duet from Ghost!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So I finish Ghost on October 6th, I head to Cardiff on october 7th for a big concert titled 'A Night At The Musicals' and then fly to Shanghai first thing on Monday the 8th of October for three weeks.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">While I'm on the subject, Facebook & Twitter are not permitted in Shanghai therefore I probably won't be writing my blog weekly while I'm there but will certainly write one when I'm back on October 30th</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Right next topic:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">SHARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORIES OF MATT BEADLE WHO PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Matt was an incredible guy who I trained with at college about 8 years ago. He sadly died just over a week ago aged 32, whilst on a stag holiday with his friends in Las Vegas. It's such a tragic loss to the world, he was one of the most genuinely down to earth, kind and fun guys I had the pleasure of knowing. A wise, mature soul with the biggest smile I've ever seen.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I have many fond memories of him from our college days, the most prominent was that we were in the same singing lessons in our first ever term in college. Three of us, every Thursday morning - I remember him having such a loud voice that the windows would almost shake. He was singing the song 'Alive' in our very first lesson and I thought 'shit, this college has good singers, I need to up my game'. He inspired me, encouraged me and we just enjoyed each other's company. I don't profess to have been one of his closest friends but I am so very sad to hear the news of his death and my deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends. I hope they find the strength to deal with the shock and their grief. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">It certainly proved to me and other people who knew Matt just how precious life is. Take each day and cherish it folks as we only have one chance at this life!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Last topic:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">TWO YEARS OF BLOGGING!!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Ok so this topic wasn't tweeted to me, I just remembered that it has been two years this week since my first ever blog, which I posted from my digs in Cheltenham whilst touring with Oklahoma. So much has changed since that job and that part of my life - So…</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I thought I would suggest that if any of you, my wonderful loyal readers, remember a specific blog post that you enjoyed reading about then please tweet/Facebook me the link to it once you've found it amongst my previous posts and tell me why you enjoyed it - it'll be a different way of me having a trip down memory lane! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The reason I started my blog was to give people an insight into the every day life of a leading actor in theatre and TV. The response I get from all of you who read it is amazing and I'm glad so many of you enjoy reading them, (I'm not far off 100,000 blog views!) feel inspired by them and can a lot of the time relate to them and hopefully feel uplifted by my positivity. I don't profess to be the happiest person on earth, and there have been plenty of times were I too have been in a dark place and found certain things in life to be very difficult but to dwell on those moments and not celebrate life is just a waste and I have the memory of Matt Beadle, a wonderful man to remind me to do what I want in life and enjoy every minute.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This Blog is dedicated to the memory of Matt Beadle!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Keep Believing, Thanks for reading (that rhymes) and above all……</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">SH-BOOM!!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Mark</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">PS Two weeks Saturday is the last ever show of Ghost in the West End (October 6th), if you've not seen it, I urge you to buy tickets asap and come over the next fortnight! </span></div>
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Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-38385177430506586862012-09-13T02:48:00.003-07:002012-09-13T02:48:52.957-07:00Blog 112! A Royal Visit!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Yo yo yo,</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Wassup my readers?! Just thought I'd start this weeks blog a little differently.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">How you all doing?......... I'm waiting for an answer- How are you? Come on now, I want you to say how you are feeling out loud- Ok so if you're moaning or complaining just start thinking genuinely about any and all the good things in your life! Do it now! 3 good things in your life! Right, now you're feeling good, let's continue!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's been a good week more or less including a visitation from none other than my amazing mum! Good times!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last Friday I spent the morning researching properties (dull for you) whilst having a nice breakfast in the sun then I headed to meet my pal Haley for a good catch up over an iced lemonade drink that Cafe Nero have started doing recently! It is so sugary but really nice to drink in the sun! I'm in such a random waffling mood today.... I mean, why the hell do you wanna know what I drank from Cafe Nero?!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Anyhoooo- I left Haley to have a meeting with my agent and I then went to work to do the show.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When I got home, my mate who has been staying with me a few times recently (cos he is homeless until he moves into his new flat on Sunday) had made me food. He asked during the day what I fancied to eat that night and I said "Spanish Tapas" as a joke cos that would be a lot of effort!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Low and behold, I get home that night and there's a big paella, prawns with chilli dip, cheesy bites, olives, chicken skewers, stewed red peppers, nice breads and dips and the list goes on! He was so proud of himself for taking on my challenge and I was thrilled he did too cos it was delicious!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">HOWEVER.......that night I didn't get ANY sleep because I must have eaten something dodgy! I blame Sainsburys! But I was literally ill all night which resulted in me calling my company manager on Saturday explaining the situation and how there was no way possible I could do the show that day having been so violently I'll and had no sleep at all.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So Saturday consisted of laying down, resting and replenishing my body with water & nutrients!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I felt much better by the evening, just tired (not much new there then).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After a really good nights sleep I woke feeling great and decided to randomly drive down to Dover with a mate to have a chill all day and to have a BBQ on the beach, swim in the sea, drive up the white cliffs and just enjoy the sunshine! It definitely proved to me that you don't always need to leave the UK to feel like you're on holiday! It was a great day which ended in a chilled night watching the Paralympic closing ceremony in my lounge and feeling really rested!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Monday I got up early to go to the gym to fit in a work out before Mother Evans arrived London Euston. Once she got in on the train, we walked down to Trafalgar Square to watch the parade of all the 2012 athletes. The atmosphere was amazing and it was a great way to finish what has been an incredible summer for British sport and for London and the UK in general. Mum loved it too which was the most important thing!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After that I took her for dinner to one of my favourite restaurants and then for some frozen yoghurt before she watched the show that night.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">She met lots of my friends on the train home which she enjoyed and after a good sleep we woke Tuesday morning to go and view some properties together. The first place sent us into a delirious state for the rest of the day because the owner was an old lady who liked to collect things! LOTS of things and it was so funny hearing her tell us all the reasons why she wanted to collect each different item, I kept catching my mum's eye and we were trying desperately not to laugh! Sweet lady though. After a busy morning driving around viewing different paces we had a nice chilled afternoon (we both had a nap) before I headed to work and she watched the show again! She loves it so much! She will have seen it 6 times by the time she and my sister come again for our last show on October 6th!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We headed home for nice nibbles and a good laugh before bed!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Yesterday (Wednesday) we just spent the day wandering round London and eating in some of my favourite places etc before I bid her a miserable farewell in Euston - hate saying goodbye to Mum every time! She's a legend!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last night the show was tough vocally which is why I'm heading to see my physio now to see if he gives me the ok to do two shows today, but a great distraction from being concerned about my voice was the fact that the second understudy for Molly was on - Amy Webb and she was wonderful. It was lovely to act opposite a different portrayal of the role and she has a killer voice! What a talented gal!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Anyway I need to post this so I can head to hopefully get healed!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thanks for reading as ever! Next week marks two whole years of blogging! That is dedication!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Have a great week and remember if you feel a bit rubbish, think of three things to be grateful for and which make you happy and it'll really help!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Keep Believing</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-boom!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-64913353774819274782012-09-06T02:48:00.005-07:002012-09-06T02:48:54.547-07:00BLOG 111! Tits and Ass!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hi Everyone,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">How you all doing? Hope you've had a good week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Isn't it nice to have this sunshine. It's gonna be a good September I can tell!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So last Thursday was a struggle to get through two shows but seeing my physio helped- he actually signed me off both shows saying I should rest my voice but I decided to not do what I was told and pushed through. I had 70 people in that I knew from Wales so I felt the need to be there!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">By Thursday night I really needed my bed!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Friday I had a quiet day by myself and decided to have a relaxing massage at my favourite place, Thai Square Spa in Covent Garden! I opted for a different treatment to my usual which ended up being the most painful massage I have ever had without a doubt. When a physio treats you they might cause pain for a couple of minutes then move onto a different area for a while, but no, Demon Bitch (which is what I decided her name should be) got her elbow in every single muscle on my back and shoulders and neck and wouldn't let up until it was practically rolled out like pastry! I had silent tears it was so bad. She was literally crawling over me, using her feet, stretching me, cracking me and basically making me ridiculously close to demanding a refund. When she was finished she let me have 10 minutes to recover and stretch out which I requested and I suddenly realised that it was the most effective treatment I have ever had.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I got to work that night and my whole body felt so easy and relaxed and my voice could sing easily because all the tension had been forced out of my upper body! I decided Demon Bitch was nasty but she needed a medal for what she had done for me! I am now terrified to go back to her, but I know that I will on many occasions because it is certainly worth it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So Saturday I woke feeling really motivated and revitalised and ready for the last couple of shows of the week. I headed in early for my guitar lesson which was hard work. I'm learning a really tricky piece at the moment and my fingers nearly dropped off by the end! I enjoy it though.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was absolutely delirious by the last show of the week on Saturday night and just found everything hilarious! We have a lot of banter back stage at Ghost which is surprising considering I'm rarely off the stage! It was a good show and a good way to end the week- and what was better was heading home to have a few glasses of well earned red wine!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sunday I woke and had a chilled day at home before heading to the gym for a good work out (I know, on a day off- nutter!) then went to meet Louise Dearman for our West End Bares sound check. We ran through the song a couple of times and then headed for some food and a cheeky glass of wine!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We went back to get ready for the two shows and we walked back stage into a haze of glitter, naked bodies and more make up than the cast of Priscilla x 100!!!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There was no where to turn without getting practically poked in the eye by a painted nipple or accidentally getting a face full of rear end- it was an experience like not many others! "Hi, I'm Mark, nice to meet you, nice ass by the way" (that ass being covered in bronze body paint of course!)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The show itself was pretty darn amazing- what everyone did on a stage the size of a couple of place mats was incredible! There are some fiercely talented dancers in the West End and get them dancing with no clothes on and they're suddenly even more talented! It was a great night, fun, sexy, classy and all in aid of a fantastic charity,Theatre MAD! It's not yet been confirmed what has been raised in total but if you were in the audience, thanks so much for coming and being such a great crowd. I hope you had as much fun as we did!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was shattered by the end of the night! There was A LOT of waiting around without really being able to relax because you'd get an "excuse me, I think your sitting on my bra" or a "do you mind going in my handbag and passing me that bottle of Vodka"- also, Louise and I were there literally to sing the finale song (no stripping involved) but when you have people running around getting sprayed and oiled and seeing them limbering up you kind of feel you should be doing something other than just sitting and chatting! So we stood and chatted instead- which is simply exhausting of course!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I woke on Monday and headed to have a second viewing of a property I was interested in which I have decided not to buy, then I headed to work!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The rest of this week has been pretty uneventful really I've spent most of this blog writing about nude hotties but hey, why not! I'm off to do two shows now! I read a book yesterday- literally the whole thing, I urge you to read it if you're an actor or in training- its called:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Golden Rules Of Acting That Nobody Ever Tells You - by Andy Nyman</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's a witty, easy read book which is very informative and it's actually good to read if you are a friend of an actor so you know how to handle them during the 'out of work' times etc. It's all so true and very motivating and reassuring!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If you read it, let me know what you think!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Have a great week folks! Keep believing!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-Boom!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-48142683570500454962012-08-30T15:19:00.002-07:002012-08-30T15:19:57.226-07:00Blog 110! I'm Becoming A Battered Old Man! :-)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hey Everyone</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Thursday.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hope you all had a good week since my last blog. Mine has been pretty varied really.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last Friday I woke up and could barely move my head. I hurt my neck during the evening show the night before so having rested it over night it had clearly seized up. I headed to see my physio and he did all he could and actually spent half of his lunch break continuing to work on me after my session as he said I was not in a good state and reckons its because I've been really busy with everything since before the summer school so my body was just having a bit of a hissy fit!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">He made it feel a little more comfortable but I knew getting through 3 shows over the weekend was gonna be a challenge.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I then went to watch the matinee of National Youth Music Theatre's production of 13 which is written by composer Jason Robert Brown.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It was incredible. The talent in those teenage performers was outstanding and I was seriously impressed with them. I love seeing talented teens who have decided to pursue a really healthy and satisfying hobbie that could potentially become a career (hence working on my summer school for so many years). My good friend Drew McOnie was the choreographer of the show and his work is always amazing and I was really impressed by his intelligent imaginative movement which he'd created within the show. It's a shame it was only on in London for 6 performances as I'd have harped on about it for ages urging people to see it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My friend Hollie came to watch Ghost on Friday night so I had a quick catch up with her before the show and then afterwards I headed home to well and truly rest as my neck was so painful that I couldn't feel my right hand in certain parts of the show- never a good sign really.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I had a dreadful sleep on Friday night because I could not get comfortable and it was worse in the morning instead of better so I called our company manager and explained that I would not be in to perform either of Saturdays shows.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I had originally made plans to head to my friends house after the show on Saturday night so that we could enjoy a day together chilling on Sunday. She called me and said she and her husband were going to a wedding party and wouldn't be back until late so offered me their house to just chill out in. I jumped at the chance because I can never lay and do nothing in my own place.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So I picked up some nice food to cook myself and headed over to her place in Hampshire and just watched TV and lots of Brothers & Sisters and was then entertained by the two of them who arrive home late after the wedding and they were hilariously drunk! I was on water patrol!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sunday morning I spent online, googling properties as I've decided to buy a new place and then in the afternoon we went for a walk and for some lunch. My neck was feeling a little looser but was still painful.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sunday evening we went to meet another friend of ours for her birthday and had some amazing Thai food in Windsor. I love Windsor, it's a stunning place with so much class and character! It was a lovely evening and then we headed home to chill.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Monday morning I wondered down to check out an area in Epsom where there was a property for sale that looked interesting then I headed into town for a work out in the gym. I worked everything that doesn't immediately involve the neck. It was hard work. I then had physio and he mended me a little more and told me that the tension around my neck and shoulders would probably cause a few minor problems for my voice which it certainly has this week. I've been trying to sing and although it sounds more or less the same as usual it feels as though someone has a hold of my throat and is squeezing! Just what I need when I'm belting I Had A Life! Not!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I'm actually writing this blog on my way to the physio as my voice is still effected and not right. I don't want to miss any shows this week, particularly today's matinee as there are about 70 people in watching from North Wales. They're travelling on a coach 5 hours each way and doing it all in a day,it's been planned for over 4 months and they're all from my village up there and specifically coming down to see me! If I wasn't on, they would be, quite frankly, pretty pissed!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Another thing I did on Monday was watch the film TED at the cinema! My god I thought it was really bad! Didn't find it funny and I was really disappointed as I love Family Guy which is written by the same man! I wouldn't recommend it unless you are really drunk, and if you plan on getting drunk especially for the film, don't bother cos the hang over won't be worth it!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The rest of this week has just been about house hunting really which is boring for you but exciting for me! Oh we also had a cast photo shoot for the West End Bares Calendar which was in minimal clothing! It was funny, a load of ensemble boys walking around the stage wearing socks somewhere other than their feet! Some were little trainer socks and a couple were football socks! I knew you were wondering! I'm joking of course!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The calendar is apparently to be released at the beginning of October and each month features a different West End Show baring too much!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So anyway, I'm at physio now. Hope you all have a great week. See you at West End Bares on Sunday if you are coming! Keep loving life folks!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Believe!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-Boom!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-21287693400564100302012-08-23T11:02:00.004-07:002012-08-23T11:03:16.398-07:00Blog 109!!! Summer Schooling for the last time!!! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hey Everyone</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Thursday!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Blog day. Apologies for not writing a blog last week it was chaotic with the summer school and so I thought it'd be better to write about it when I had more time!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So I'm gonna crack on cos there's a lot to fit in!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The journey back to Wales after the show on the Saturday night was really smooth (even if we departed 20 minutes later than scheduled because we had a power cut in the Theatre which resulted in a 20 minute show stop!)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Myself and one of the summer school staff Evan were singing all the way back to Wales! Crazy Welsh boys with hoarse throats when we woke the next morning!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Sunday was just a day of final preparations and sorting through props and costumes before heading to my friend Aimee's house where we were all staying that week and we watched the closing ceremony of the Olympics. I'm pretty sure we all agree that there were some great parts and some not so great parts to the closing concert but I still enjoyed it and was very sad when they extinguished the Olympic flame! It's never gonna happen again in our life time - and the fact that it was so successful for London and TeamGB makes me feel so happy and proud and lucky to have been living in this amazing city during the whole thing! The whole world got to see just how incredible London is!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So Monday morning was the first day of West End In Wales - the musical theatre summer school I've been running since 2006 and the beginning of the final ever course!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It always starts the same way, me acting like an idiot to try and make the students feel comfortable and relaxed and to allow them selves the freedom to join in with all the new challenges they are faced with during the week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">By the time we finished the first morning session which includes a singing audition where each student has to sing in twos, we soon realised that it was possibly the best group of students we'd ever had! 74 hard working and committed 8-18 year olds who were an absolute pleasure to teach the entire week!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The week consists of rehearsals in singing, acting and many styles of dancing in preparation for the showcase which is performed twice on the last day of the course which always blows the audience away because the students learn an hours worth of material in just 5 days. That's 22 numbers in the showcase!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's a tough week for them but that's the whole idea, it gives them an insight into professional training and the quick pace of a performers professional life!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We also do many improvisation workshops and confidence building sessions to ensure that no matter whether they leave the school at the end of the week desperate to be a west end star or just realising that they don't want to do it as anything more than a hobby - I give myself the responsibility of making them feel that life is theirs to do with it as they please and to work hard and be confident in everything they decide to do and to not let anyone persuade them they shouldn't do it- whilst all the while being realistic of course, there's no point hoping to be the next Elaine Paige if you cannot sing in tune!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's basically a fun week and a celebration of a large group of youngsters who share the same healthy passion and interest towards an art form which is one of the most challenging and rewarding performing art forms that exists in my opinion. I would have cut off my arm to have the opportunity to do West End In Wales when I was in my teens and that is the exact reason I have been running the course for 6 years!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The end of week showcase was the perfect ending to the summer school. I felt so proud to stand in front of all the students as they we're dripping with sweat at the end of each performance and simply say to their parents 'do you see how much your children can achieve when they are pushed and given the right guidance and support' - By that point in the week it is always one of the most exhausted moments of my working year but also one of the most rewarding! It's a humbling reminder to any successful performer where they've come from, what they've achieved, why we do it and how lucky we are to get paid to do what we love!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wish every single person who has ever been involved in my summer school the very best of luck in all you do and remember to keep working hard and focus on determination and your goals and remember to let me know when you've achieved them!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ambition never stops, no matter how successful one may become and that is the joy of being a self employed actor- the challenges just keep coming to hopefully fulfil your ever growing passion for what you do!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So once the summer school was done and I'd packed all the stuff away - which took twice as long as two of nieces were 'helping' me, otherwise known as trying on every costume and playing with every prop they could get their hands on! I didn't mind though, I just enjoyed some fun times with them and then had a big banquet of Chinese food with my family and chilled in my sister's garden until late!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I drove back to London on Sunday afternoon. I was so keen to just get back to a normal schedule where I only have one full time job to focus on and to try and allow chill out time. By the time I was driving through London the sun was blazing, my car windows were down, music was pumping and as I drove past Hyde Park it felt really good to be back in good old London town!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sunday evening I met my friend who lives near by and we went for a walk and ended up randomly finding a Spanish tapas restaurant so we went in there and had some good food and a laugh before watching a film and then I went to bed and for the first time in a long time, I didn't set my alarm.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I naturally woke early on Monday but then fell asleep on my sofa for a couple of hours whilst This Morning was on the TV - I'm not afraid to say that I seriously cannot stand to watch Eamonn Holmes. Just my opinion!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I had a long swim in the afternoon and then saw my physio for a session on my voice to make sure it was ready to return to the show after a week of shouting and singing with all the kids! I then slept again in my dressing room for an hour.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It was good to be back at work on Monday and after the show I headed home and slept like a baby all night! I spent most of Tuesday in the gym (or at least that's how it felt). I could tell I hadn't been for a week because I nearly passed out and vomited at the same time from pushing myself so hard! I'm feeling determined to get back on form as I was before all the excess summer school work started!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Wednesday (yesterday) I spent the afternoon at the National Theatre watching the Shakespeare play Timon Of Athens, which my friend Craige's in! I really enjoyed it! Some incredible acting, particularly from Simon Russell Beale who plays Timon!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This morning I came into town early for a swim and then a rehearsal for West End Bares with Louise Dearman. We're singing a brand new song written especially for us for this event and we'll be surrounded by practically naked west end performers! Worth buying a ticket???...... I think so! And it's all for the charity TheatreMAD! It's a week on Sunday, September 2nd at Cafe De Paris in Leicester Square, central London. Two performances 9pm & 12pm don't miss it!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And that brings me to the present! Sitting in my dressing room having just had our 15 minute call for the matinee and I think my body is a little bit in denial about what it's got to go through today....twice!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thanks for reading folks! Have a great week!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Keep Believing!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-Boom!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-87422588613441577382012-08-09T02:09:00.002-07:002012-08-09T02:09:54.067-07:00BLOG 108!!! I Want To Enter The Olympics As Spiderman!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hey Everyone,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Thursday. I hope you're all keeping well. All I'm gonna say is GOLD GOLD GOLD! Great Britain are doing phenomenally well in the Olympics and I'm SO proud! But hey, I rabbited on about the games a lot in last week's blog so I'm gonna leave it there for today!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last Friday I spent the day with my friend Caroline in Hyde Park (watching the Olympics live on the big screens). The atmosphere was amazing and the sun was blazing (that rhymes!) and we had a great few hours! Although when I got to the theatre that evening after catching up with a friend of mine who was visiting from New York I realised that by being patriotic in the park and wearing my TeamGB t-shirt I had pretty nasty tan lines and had very prominent lines from my T-Shirt sleeves on my arms. Needless to say I had to use quite a bit of make up to cover up Sam's dodgy tan in the first scene where I wear a white sleeveless vest. I proper burned my nose too! Silly!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After the show on Friday I headed home watched some Brothers & Sisters and then got to sleep. The end of last week seemed to go on forever! It was really tough.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I decided to combat the fatigue and generate some energy on Saturday morning by Swimming 50 lengths before my guitar lesson and my matinee! It worked until half way through the second half of act two then I crashed like a demon!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After some food and a sleep in my dressing room (with the Olympics in the back ground on the telly) I was geared up for the last show of the week. It ended up being full of laughter and good times (off stage of course) - mainly because in one section of the show my trousers split in the behind - from the top all the way down the centre seam which resulted in me having to do the whole of the subway station where the subway Ghost is teaching me how to move things with at least one hand holding my trousers up else they would have literally dropped down to my ankles. The whole of the cast were either in the wings or watching on the monitor and were very amused by my challenge that had arisen. I exited the stage, got into my dressing room and was rolling about on the floor with laughter, my dresser had to tell me off because I literally have about 90 seconds to get changed and she needed to give me new trousers! It made me delirious!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We also kept getting updates of all the gold medals we were getting in the Olympics which got the whole cast so excited, my second act on Saturday was inspired by Jessica Ennis! She is an absolute machine!!! She's a legend!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">By the end of the show I had exhausted every ounce of energy in my reserve tank and gladly headed to my mate Sally's house to stay the night and within 45 minutes of my arrival I'd devoured a whole bottle of wine to myself and then I hit the hay!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sunday was a day of lounging in jogging trousers with Sal and her mate and we just ate nice food and guess what we watched on the TV all day?! Yup you guessed it, the Olympics! Andy Murray played some amazing Tennis on Sunday and I was so pleased he got the gold in the men's singles!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sunday evening I headed home and could feel a cold trying to get hold of me so I dosed up and went to bed (after doing lots of work on my summer school)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I woke Monday morning and felt really weak and quite unwell, but I never let an illness get the better of me if I can help it, so I dosed up and had lots of vitamin C and worked on my summer school all day and then headed for a swim and a steam before work.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I got to the theatre and it was great to do the show with Siobhan again as Molly. She had a two week holiday from the show and I really missed her. So it was a good show on Monday and it helped me get through by focussing my attention on Siobhan as oppose to feeling ill!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Tuesday I woke and forced myself to have a relaxing morning and get some rest before heading into town in the afternoon for a swim and to run a few errands!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">By Tuesday evening I think my sickness was bored of me not allowing it to take hold so it gave up- I felt much better and the show was great with a superb audience!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I went to the cinema yesterday (after even more work on my summer school!) to see Spiderman. It was amazing! I want to be spiderman. I have decided to cancel the jobs I have lined up for after Ghost and go into a science lab and stay there until I work out how to become spiderman. I got a C in my GCSE science so I'll be fine!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After watching the film I met my brother from another mother Ben Stott who I worked with in Wicked. We had a good catch up over a smoothie and then I headed to work.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I got home last night and watched more Brothers & Sisters. Those actors are so inspiring!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And that brings me to Here Right Now (the moment not the song!) I'm about to head to buy some tile samples before going for a swim and then i might do cheeky matinee.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I am not at Ghost all next week as I will be in Wales running my summer school WEST END IN WALES. We have 74 students and the best showcase planned so I am warning you now, next weeks blog might be considerably shorter than usual as the summer school week is always my busiest time of the year.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Have a great week folks! Enjoy the closing ceremony of the Olympics on Sunday. Have heard some of the great things that will be happening from some people involved and it's going to be amazing! I LOVE THE OLYMPICS (had to get it out there one last time!)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Keep Believing!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-Boom</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-2770603662394914212012-08-02T06:14:00.000-07:002012-08-02T06:14:50.362-07:00Blog 107! An Olympic inspired week!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hey Everyone,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">How are you all doing. What a great week it's been eh?!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Loving the atmosphere around town because of the Olympics. Although I have to say that although we were majorly warned that London was going to be extremely busy during the Olympics, it is actually quieter than usual. That's just in central London of course, I'm sure it's much busier on certain forms of transport and in the event venues. So many people were doubting London's ability to host an event as large as this and I think the organisers are proudly proving those pessimists wrong - I have to admit that I had worries about how the transport system would cope but it's been organised brilliantly, and actually it's so refreshing to be surrounded by happy patriotic people from all over the world instead of miserable London commuters who hate their jobs, hate their lives and hate everything else that exists!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last Friday I spent 6 hours on summer school admin work and then went tile shopping for my new bathroom - (I know, thrilling eh?!!) it is actually REALLY difficult. It's such a massive decision. Bathrooms can look sexy or naff and I don't want mine to be the latter! Its all about the sexy!!!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Then Friday evening I headed to a mates house near by and there were 5 of us drinking and eating and enjoying the Olympic opening ceremony, but even more enjoyable was the novelty of having a Friday night off. We felt like we had 'normal' jobs and worked 'normal' hours like 'normal' people.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I personally thought the ceremony was incredible. Danny Boyle who directed it is a genius. Every element of it was so well thought out and beautifully executed. The only slight disappointment for me was the vocals of most of the singing. I'm not naming names but lets just say there wasn't really anyone that stuck out as being good in my opinion, which I think is a shame and a poor representation of our countries great artists and musicians.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I thought I might be extremely hung over on Saturday morning after consuming a LARGE amount of alcohol the night before, but I woke up fresh as a daisy and went for a swim before my guitar lesson and then did the final two show day of the week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Saturday night I watched a film with a mate. It was a horror film called Grave Encounters which I loved. It was pretty jumpy and scary but was done very well and not silly and unrealistic like most horrors are.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sunday I spent nearly 10 hours working on summer school things to get on top of it all and after that I went for a walk to my mates house to get some air and we sat writing silly songs with my guitar and having a laugh.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Monday I did more office work before meeting the musical director of my summer school to work through all the music and then headed for a work out at the gym and a swim.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After the show on Monday night I headed home to start a new series of Brothers & Sisters. The actors on that show are amazing. Sally Field leads an incredibly talented cast and she herself is just phenomenal and heartbreaking! I always feel inspired when I watch that show, which is a good way to feel before going to sleep! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Tuesday I woke early and left the house immediately after breakfast to make sure I gave myself a day away from summer school work because it was beginning to define the very meaning of my life!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I headed to the gym and worked hard for two hours including a nice swim in an empty pool. After that I met a good friend of mine for a coffee and a catch up before chilling watching the Olympics on the TV in my dressing room.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After Tuesdays show I of course headed home to watch Brothers & Sisters again.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Yesterday (Wednesday) I decided to do an early gym session again. Pushed myself hard for 2 hours and then after a steam I met my friend who'd just retuned from a holiday.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I spent the afternoon chilling with a mate and after the show last night I headed home for a couple of hours work on West End In Wales. You'll be pleased to know there is not much more preparation work left to do at all for the summer school now so we're all systems go to start a week on Monday.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's gonna be a great week's course and we're fully booked with 71 students attending.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Right, that was my week, I hope yours was good. I'm off for a swim and then a physio session before heading to work for the matinee.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Have a great week folks and keep supporting which ever country your from in the Olympics- those athletes are incredible and the amount of hard work they put in to their training to represent their country in the best possible way is mind-blowing, they certainly deserve our support!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Keep believing and love your lives.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-Boom.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-55188417206800041212012-07-26T01:34:00.002-07:002012-07-26T01:34:57.267-07:00Blog 106! Proud to be British!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hi Everyone,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Thursday.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It is ROASTING in London this week. Hope you've had nice weather wherever you are as you're reading this.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's been a good week, busy for me but again nothing exciting really other than being stuck behind a desk sorting LOTS of things for my summer school, and it's just typical that one of the busiest weeks I have as far as office work is concerned, the rubbish weather takes a major turn for the better! Anyway, I'm being so stereotypically British talking about the weather aren't I?!!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Talking of being British though, how excited are you about the Olympics? The opening ceremony is tomorrow night!!! I mean yeah, the whole thing is gonna send London into mayhem for nearly two months but I have decided to be patriotic and be proud that we are hosting the 2012 games. (until you read one of my tweets where I'm complaining about TFL).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I had a thought today, well it was more a flashback to when I was a teenage fatty in Wales and doing not much other than a lot of dance classes, singing lessons and eating chocolate bars, I would never have dreamed then that 12 years down the line I'd actually consider London to be my home and to be living here this year is amazing! I just thought I'd write that in here as a reminder to you all that none of us know what the future holds and we should be excited by it and not just plod through life! I wonder where we'll all be and what we'll be up to in 10 years time! Whatever you WANT to do, set a goal now to get there by 2022! Have faith and belief and you'll get there - if you need a little guidance read a book called The Secret!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Anyway, this week as I said has been mostly working on office work so the only things I need to write about really are that I allowed myself a real chilled out Sunday with a couple of friends and enjoyed a good few drinks - which resulted in a few comedy photographs being taken which many of you will have seen on Twitter! It was a great weekend.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Other than the gym and swimming a lot that's all that's really happened this week- oh we also had an extra matinee on Tuesday because we don't have a show on Friday night because it's the opening ceremony of the Olympics. It's a much harder schedule to perform the show this way because although it's still the same amount of shows within one week, doing an extra double show day is tough. Singing and shouting the show twice in one day really takes its toll on a person vocally and so 3 double show days in one week is extreme! However I'm also glad because I would not like to be working tomorrow night because I wanna be able to enjoy the footage of what I'm sure is going to be an immense opening to our games!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Anyway folks I'm off to have a session with my physio (or physic as my autocorrect on my iPad likes to call him) before heading in for two hot shows! I'll be dead sweaty! Get it! Ok enough with the jokes I'm off!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Have a great weekend and lets celebrate how amazing Britain is and support TeamGB and hopefully we'll get lots of medals!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Positive thoughts! Keep believing!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-boom!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-63279489241968643072012-07-19T02:21:00.001-07:002012-07-19T02:21:30.903-07:00BLOG 105! A whole lotta summer school prep!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hey Everyone,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Happy Thursday and happy blog day.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hope you're all grand.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Is been a good week since my last blog. Nothing majorly huge to report but it's been a good week non the less.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last Thursday night after the show I met with my agent and had a good catch up to chat about lots of things and then headed home to chill with a couple of episodes of Brothers and Sisters and then slept like a baby! I've now finished the 3rd season and still love it as a tv show. I'm gonna start on the 4th season next week I reckon.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Friday I think the jet lag had caught up with me. Going back to do two shows was a bit of a killer after a few days in NYC. Luckily all I needed to do was sit in front of my computer and watch video entries of kids performing to pick a winner for a competition which has been held recently on a welsh TV show called TAG where the winner gets to come along to my WEST END IN WALES summer school for free. There were lots of talented kids who applied and it took a while to get through all the videos. There were 5 who I thought stood out over all and one winner, so it was quite an inspiring afternoon. By late afternoon I was on my phone on standby ready to speak to them in the TV studio live on air to announce who the competition winner was. Once I had done that I went for a nice long swim at the gym and then did the show.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Saturday I needed to head into work early for a guitar lesson and then performed the matinee. I don't know what happened to me but I had somehow shaken off the tiredness and jet lag and managed to have loads of energy for both the matinee and evening show which resulted in me heading out for a good few drinks with some of the cast and then headed home for some nice food and a long sleep.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Waking up midday on Sunday was a rare treat. I felt rested and refreshed. Headed to do a big old food shop before working on more summer school stuff and then heading to my friend Callum's house for a Sunday roast, lots of ice cream and a good film! Perfect Sunday!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Monday morning I woke and after 4 hours work on West End In Wales I headed to the gym for a couple of hours and then went to work. The audience on Monday night were incredible! Really great crowd! We have Lisa Davina Philip paying Oda Mae Brown this week (she's the understudy) and she is bloomin marvellous! It's worth a trip to see Ghost this week just to see her! So funny!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">On Tuesday I did more work on the summer school and then again I went to do a couple of hours in the gym. After the show I saw my agent as he was in watching again and then headed home.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Guess what I did yesterday? (Wednesday)...... Yup you got it I did a lot more work on the summer school - due to the fact that it's the last one this year I am doing everything I can to make sure it's the best ever, hence all the hard work!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I then headed in to meet my manager Rebecca for a coffee and a catch up before heading to work to chill out in my dressing room before doing the show.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last night I wanted to watch a movie when I got in but I ended up being too tired and just fell to sleep like a little old man! Ha.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I feel nicely awake now though to go in and crank out two shows and love every minute of it. I can't tell you how much I love doing this show. Of course it is hard work and I shall be more than ready to move on in October when we finish but having just gone past our 6 month mark (Siobhan and I opened in the show officially 6 months ago to last Friday 13th July, which is weird as we opened on Friday the 13th too), I can honestly say that I'm really happy to have been a part of this amazing piece of theatre and urge you to try and see it before October 6th if you haven't already, it's a really special show that is very different to anything you'll see in the west end right now, and anytime soon I imagine.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Anyway, that brings me to a close yet again. Thanks for reading as usual. Hope you all have a great week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I'm off for a swim before the show.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Love your lives cos life is great and above all...Keep Believing!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sh-Boom</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mark</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-14094702073110224382012-07-12T01:36:00.001-07:002012-07-12T01:36:21.557-07:00BLOG 104! Empire State Of Mind!!!<br />
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Hi Everyone,</div>
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How you all doing? Happy Thursday.</div>
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I am pretty darn jet lagged today. I'm not sure why cos I had quite a restful day yesterday after I landed back from my trip to New York. Perhaps it's the thought of trying to energise my body enough to do two shows today that's proving a little overwhelming for my little (yet very intelligent) brain! :-) </div>
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So it's been a busy ole week including a trip to the other side of the world for a few days which was fun.</div>
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Last Thursday evening I packed everything I needed to take with me to NYC on the weekend so that I was all set and could use Friday as a chill out day before I left, which I certainly did. I had a lazy morning before heading to meet my good friend Haley on her lunch break from rehearsals which was nice to catch up and then after that I headed to Leicester Square to check out what film I might fancy watching in the movie theeaytre (I've become very American since my trip!) I decided to book a ticket to see 'Friends With Kids' but had a good hour and a half to wait before the film start time so I crashed on the comfy sofa in the bar of the movie theeaytre and watched a video on YouTube which was a bit of a research video for a project I'm working on at the moment. </div>
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'Friends With Kids' is a great film, very funny, very well written and very well acted. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it. I left the cinema feeling like I wanted to find a friend to fertilise casually and raise a child with! I could just keep the kid in my dressing room while I'm on stage right?! ha. One day there'll be a bit more stability in my life to consider things other than being mainly busy with theeaytre stuff! (You're never gonna call it a theatre again now are ya?!)</div>
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So after the film I headed home to have some nice food and tried to get an early night after watching some Brothers & Sisters. </div>
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My wake up call was 6.15am on Saturday as I was being driven to Heathrow Airport at 6.50. I arrived the airport and headed straight to the lounge to shove my face full of as much of the breakfast buffet as possible before getting on the plane.</div>
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I arrived in New york and the weather just hit me like a tidal wave of hairdryers blowing as hot as they could on my face!….IT WAS HOT!!!</div>
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I checked in to my hotel which was just off Times Square and was on the same street as the theeaytre where Ghost is playing - I was like "of course I'm gonna feel like I'm at work on my week off!" haha. It looks great. I didn't see the show while I was over there. I might see it when I head back November time I reckon. </div>
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I went straight to meet one of my best friends Becca who is in Spiderman out there after she finished her matinee - I walked three blocks from my hotel to her theeaytre and was drenched with sweat! HOT HOT HOT!!! </div>
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We had some great sushi and spent the rest of the night chilling with Drinks which was great. It was 4am on my body clock by the time I got to bed but it was 11pm local time so that was a good time to retire to the land of nod.</div>
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Sunday I woke and wandered around with a friend of mine Jake and we had brunch, then just walked near the Hudson river and around Central Park which was great but I got some dodgy tan lines by the afternoon cos the sun was blazing and I was wearing a vest which goes really narrow at the back near my shoulder blades so I have a pretty curvy tan going on right now. Ha</div>
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In the evening I went for dinner and a couple of cocktails with my friend Stephen which was good. It was a really great mexican place with gorgeous food. I was stuffed by the time we finished. That night me and my mate Jim headed up the Top Of The Rock (the open air top level of the Rockefeller Centre) which I've done a couple of times before, but when you get a view of the New York City skyline from so high up it's a great moment to put the world to rights and clear your head so I am always keen to get up there! </div>
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We then met Becca for a smoothie before getting an early night.</div>
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I woke on Monday morning and had to go to a meeting until lunch time and then spent the afternoon eating a MASSIVE pizza from the famous John's Pizzeria - they're famous because of their 'no slices' rule - I had a small pizza and I was defeated by it, I had to take two slices back to my hotel room which is SO not like me. If you are ever in New York and want good pizza, go to one of those restaurants.</div>
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After that I headed back to the hotel to chill before meeting Becca to go for a walk in the park. We walked miles without realising it. We walked uptown through the park and it was only when we exited onto the street that we saw we were on 95th street (which is a long way from Times square) - and as Becca lives on 96th we walked to her apartment where I serenaded her with her guitar for about 20 minutes before we set off on the long walk back to the hotel. The hotel was on 46th street so between going to and from Becca's apartment, we walked over 100 blocks! That's insane. We had a quick drink in the hotel bar before I sent Becca home cos I needed my sleep. I woke early on Tuesday as it was my last day there and I had a meeting from 9-11am. After that, myself, Jake and Jim went for some gorgeous cocktails in an Oyster bar downtown. They were called Cucumber Rickeys and were really tasty and refreshing. Gonna try and make them here soon!</div>
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So all that was left to do after that was head back to my hotel to shower & pack and then get in a car to JFK airport and fly the red eye (over night) flight home to London.</div>
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I had a good couple of (ridiculously strong) drinks in the club lounge and then a fair few more on the plane with the food which was amazing before transforming my seat into a bed and getting a couple of hours sleep.</div>
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It wasn't enough though because by the time the cabin crew woke me for breakfast, we'd only been in the air 4 hours and two hours sleep was not good as you lose 5 hours of your life on the return flight because of the time difference. So I felt like someone had stolen my nighttime from me but it was good to touch down in London yesterday (Wednesday) morning, get in the car home (whilst sleeping the whole way) and then climbing into bed for an hour or two more! Nothing beats your own bed eh?!</div>
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So the rest of yesterday was just chilled really. I popped to see a mate then drove to get some food before having a chilled night on the sofa and then hitting the hay nice and early to get ready for today's double show day! </div>
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It's been an eventful week but a good one and I look forward to returning to New York again in November all being well for the 5th time.</div>
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Hope you've all had a great week folks. Keep smiling, keep loving life and as the song on my album goes - Keep On Believing! </div>
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Sh-boom!!!</div>
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Mark</div>
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<br /></div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-34499341516137531552012-07-05T12:13:00.001-07:002012-07-05T12:13:27.253-07:00Blog 103! Driving me mad!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Happy Thursday!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">How you all doing? I am sitting in a lovely Italian restaurant in central London writing this as the matinee of Ghost is about to start! Yes that's right I have a week off on holiday which means I can spend today and tomorrow chilling out all day! I might even change location half way through writing this just because I have time to relax! Happy Mevans indeed!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">It's been a very busy week since my last blog and a tiring one too so these two days are very much needed as I am flying to New York City on Saturday for a few days and want to be rested before being affected by Jet Lag.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">So last Friday I was doing lots of work on my summer school and preparation for a busy weekend in Wales which I'll write more about in a little while. Then in the afternoon I had a swim then a physio session before heading to the theatre to pre record a press interview over the phone and then did the show.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Saturday morning I drove in to town so that my car was there for my journey home to North Wales after the show on Saturday night, then after some food I headed in to do the matinee. I had my good friend Aimee watching the show with her Mum and Mum's friend and then we went for food afterwards. The evening show was great, it was really nice to randomly feel like my voice wasn't really exhausted at the end of the week! I seemed to have extra vocal supply in some newly discovered reserve account which I managed to access so I went to town with the ole belting my tits off!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">After the show Aimee and I exited the theatre as soon as we could to get to the car and get out of London as quickly as possible! We certainly managed it, we were on the M1 motorway by the time I'm usually just exiting the car park which was great......but then.....the gods of the motorways clearly decided it was not our night to get to Wales in a hurry! They had closed the motorway for a whole 4 junctions which resulted in them diverting ALL four lanes of busy traffic off a single carriage slip road, then for miles through a couple of small towns which had the MOST amount of traffic lights and junctions I have ever known. We were at a stand still for most of the time we were away from the motorway. It took two hours twenty minutes to get back onto the motorway and we were still 20 miles south of Milton bloody Keynes. When we set off our estimated time of arrival was 2am - I got to bed at 4.15am. The birds were tweeting in the trees as the sun was rising and there I was trying to get some sleep, 6 hours after finishing the show! I could have performed Ghost another two times in the time it took me to drive back!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Oh, and I forgot to mention that for the last 25 miles the petrol light was on in the car with nowhere to buy fuel so that was an added stress at the end of a long journey!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">ANYWAY....enough moaning! I woke on Sunday and chilled during the day then put some petrol into the car from the stash my dad has on the farm for his quad bike and then drove to The Rhyl Pavilion Theatre for the night.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">My first dance school The Adele Meads School Of Dancing were doing their show and the principal had asked me to present the awards and to sing a song which is why I headed home for the weekend. I was also signing copies of my new album as it was the first time in a long while that I've been able to get back to North Wales!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">It was a great night and it was a real trip down memory lane for me seeing all the kids wear some of the costumes I would have worn over 10 years ago - when I was much shorter and fatter and spottier! It reminded me why I do so much work to promote youth theatre because I thank my lucky start that everything worked out for me as far as making the right decisions and getting the breaks I needed are concerned but for some young talented people they don't have a clue where to even begin when it comes to following their ambition to work professionally as a performer.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">I decided that night that as this year will be the final year of my West End In Wales summer school, I have lowered the age limit down to 9. So the new age restrictions are 9-18 so spread the word folks and lets give those 9 year olds the opportunity to work with myself and west end stars for a week in August.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">After the show I drove to my folks' place and was entertained by two of my little nieces who were thrilled that they were still not in bed at midnight. They were singing and dancing and acting like crazy animals and I loved it!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">After a good sleep I woke up feeling a little reluctant to drive back to London but alas, after a breakfast with my wonderful sister I jumped in the car and drove back for 5 hours in the hideous rain and dangerous driving conditions listening to music blaring to keep me awake and finally reaching my place in London at 3pm. Instead of allowing myself to crash and burn on the sofa I quickly grabbed my swimming gear and went to swim away my stress before heading to work to do the show.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">I went home on Monday night and boy did I need my sleep. I slept like a baby.....in my pants though, I don't wear a baby grow to bed! Neither do I have a dummy or a soft toy! Ok I'm gonna say I slept like a log instead! I slept like a wooden log!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Tuesday I woke up and had lots of work to do in my office at home before heading to the BBC Radio building in central London as I was performing a set of three songs at a media showcase along side Louise Dearman and a guy named Mike.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">It was basically promoting my new album to radio, tv, press and media people in a chilled out environment with a very laid back acoustic feel to it. I had to do my set first as Ghost had allowed me to be late for work that day so that I was able to do the gig, so as soon as I sang my third song I grabbed my bag and legged it to the theatre in time to do the show.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">After the show on Tuesday night I chilled watching a movie before bed and then woke Wednesday (yesterday) knowing I only had one more show to get through before having some time to chill. I did some shopping to update my wardrobe and then had some work to do at the theatre before doing the show then heading home to officially crash and burn!!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">I woke this morning and headed to get my hair cut and then had a physio session before heading to Vapiano where I am now, having devoured amazing food and I've just made plans to meet my friend Nathan at a cool place called The Riding House Cafe on Great Portland Street for a coffee! Nathan is a great friend of mine and is a technical genius! He bought me my cool new iPad case and this is in fact the first blog I have written on my iPad instead of on my computer! Good times!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">That's me done typing! This time next week I will be performing in Ghost again having had a couple of chill out days and a few days in New York too! Plenty to write about next week I'm sure!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Have a great week folks! Thanks for reading as usual.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Keep believing</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Sh-boom!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Mark</span></div>
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<br /></div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-8990058667950822512012-06-28T02:36:00.001-07:002012-06-28T02:36:02.812-07:00Blog 102! A whole lotta West End Live!!!<br />
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Hi Everyone</div>
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How you all doing on this fine Thursday?</div>
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Hope you've had a good week since my last blog. Mine has been busy to say the least - but then most weeks are, eh?!</div>
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Last Friday I woke and had to head to do a live radio interview for the Curtain Up Show which is on Resonance FM, which is a new theatre radio programme hosted by Tim McArthur and Nathan Matthews. I was one of two guests for the hour long programme, the other guest being Raza Jaffrey who is currently playing Billy Flynn in Chicago but is probably most recognisable from his new TV show Smash which is a US series that aired here for the first time a few weeks back.</div>
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It was a fun show to do and we actually had a lot in common as the two guests - Raza was in Bombay Dreams the musical at the Apollo Victoria Theatre (where Wicked is now) and he sang the song The Journey Home, and the first time I heard it was when I was a dancer for the Royal Variety Performance in 2006 and Raza performed as part of the Bombay Dreams section and from that moment I loved the song The Journey Home and that's how it ended up being on my album as the title track.</div>
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After the radio programme was done I had to shoot straight over to Trafalgar Square to do a sound check for my set of three songs for West End Live on Sunday and then had to stick around to sound check for the number we were doing from Ghost on the Saturday.</div>
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Sound checking was fine and then I headed to physio before grabbing food and then doing the show! Needless to say I slept well on Friday night!</div>
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Saturday was an early call as we needed to be at the theatre by 11.15am to get into costume and head down to West End Live.</div>
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For those of you who don't know what West End Live is, it's an event hosted on a temporary stage in Trafalgar Square where each west end musical performs a song or a section from the show as well as other acts and groups and entertainment and it is all for free. It's an incredible opportunity to see what is happening in the west end without having to pay to see a show. </div>
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On Saturday by the the time we had arrived the event they had sealed off the entrances to the public as they had exceeded the maximum capacity of Trafalgar Square for that particular event which was 100,000 people. SOoneedless to say it was a great crowd and we had a wonderful reaction from everyone and the atmosphere was amazing.</div>
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After that, we went straight to the theatre to do warm up for the matinee. Between the two shows I went with one of the guys from the cast to a restaurant called Vapianos which is an incredible italian near Oxford Street. We ate amazing food and then went back to the theatre for the evening show, for which I had somehow found a reserve of energy somewhere because I was hyper for the entire evening.</div>
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After work I gave my mate a lift round to his friends house - so that I had an excuse to pass Dominos pizza on my way back and treated myself to a large Mighty Meaty all to myself! Yum!</div>
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Sunday I woke up and gradually warmed up my voice before heading into town to meet my manager ready for West End Live day 2. This time I was performing songs from my album. It was nice to be doing it as me instead of in character because that way you can actually interact with the amazing audience instead of just acting the role your playing.</div>
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Louise Dearman was on stage directly before me which was great because she is wonderful with an audience so the crowd were in very good spirits by the time I was on. For everyone of you who were there over the weekend I want to thank you immensely for being so incredibly supportive. It was really great to be able to do a gig of my album music in Trafalgar Square and have a proper festival type audience because it's been a while since I've had time to do those sorts of gigs and I miss it.</div>
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I started with The Journey Home which was great as everyone joined in, then I did the acoustic version of my album track Brand New You which was fun to sing in the sun. I then invited my great friend and duet partner from the album, Ashleigh Gray onto the stage as a surprise special guest to sing the popular song Alive from my album. </div>
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It's a tough song to sing and granted we made a couple of lyric errors between us but we had fun and it was great to be singing on stage together again.</div>
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After the performance, myself, Louise Dearman and Alex Gaumond (who was performing after me) sat in a designated signing area for two hours signing peoples CD's and flyers etc and meeting lots of lovely people for photographs.</div>
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By the time I got home it was nearly 7pm and I was shattered. I got into some comfy clothes, met my mate and went for a long walk with him and his dog in the local park so that I felt like I was doing something that felt like a day off! </div>
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I bought a bottle of wine on the way home to enjoy with a movie but after 7 minuets of the film and two and a bit gulps of wine I was flat out asleep on my sofa and then peeled myself off to go to bed and get a good sleep.</div>
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I woke on Monday and headed into town to do a couple of hours in the gym before going to work. I was still a little tired after the weekend but was geared up for the show and I enjoyed it.</div>
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After the show on Monday I drove to do a big food shop (it's always better at night, cos it's quiet) then slept like a baby before getting up on Tuesday to do lots of work on my summer school and then a good 50 lengths of the pool and a steam before meeting my mate Hollie for a coffee and something to eat! </div>
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Tuesday night's show was great, the audience were amazing. Really enjoyed it.</div>
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Yesterday (Wednesday) I decided I was bored of carrying my laptop, iphone and work diary with me everywhere so after a swim in the gym I went to the Apple Store to buy myself an iPad 2 and I already don't know how I lived without one before. It's going to be a lot easier to keep on top of my manic schedule and busy life routine with my iPad with me everywhere! Woohoo!</div>
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After buying it I met some mates from Rock Of Ages before heading to do the show - which was a VERY sweaty one! It has been super humid recently and it makes the show a lot harder and wetter. So once I got home, a much needed shower freshened me up before a good sleep, which brings me to the here and now!</div>
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Good times!</div>
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I'm off to probably have a swim before the matinee. Have a great week everyone, and thanks once again to all of you who came to support at West End Live - you're all amazing.</div>
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If you live in North Wales head on down to the Pavilion Theatre this Sunday to see the show 'Born To Entertain'. I'll be doing a song or two from my album and then doing the only signing of my album in North Wales ever.</div>
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Keep believing! </div>
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Sh-Boom!</div>
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Mark</div>
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<br /></div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-4269517762035372832012-06-21T03:03:00.004-07:002012-06-21T03:03:56.265-07:00BLOG 101! Meetings and onion walks!<br />
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Hi Everyone,</div>
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Happy Thursday, Happy blog day, Happy rain day!</div>
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Dunno what it's like where you are but the weather is trying to be as dull as possible here today!!! Not gonna effect me though, I've woken up this morning feeling energised and ready for a good two show day!</div>
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This week has been an interesting one, probably more for me than for you as readers (sorry about that) - it basically involved a lot of me walking and having time to think.</div>
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I'll start, as always with the end of last week. Thursday evening I went to the gig at Alley Cat Club where I was suppose to be singing a couple of album songs and a duet with the wonderful Louise Dearman, but I had decided during the interval of the second show of Ghost that my voice was too tired (cos I had a hideous cold at the end of last week!) so I would just go there for a chat on stage and possibly sing the duet with Louise, which is what we did. It was a nice night, the atmosphere at those 'After Show' gigs is great, they are on the second Thursday of every month, so if you can make it one week it's definitely worth a visit! </div>
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After I sung I more or less headed to get the last train home.</div>
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Friday morning I woke up and my voice hated me so I tried to chill out as much as possible and steamed like a demon then headed for a vocal massage with my AMAZING physio Fabi! He is so good at his job and he is a massive help when playing a role this vocally demanding!</div>
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After seeing him I met my friend Nathan who was helping me work on some material for a few meetings I had over the weekend which were very important. I then had to go with a couple of Ghost peeps to do a sound check for a gig that night.</div>
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I was not performing in the show on Friday night because there was a massive awards ceremony called the world travel awards on the south bank of London which Ghost had sponsored, so Rebecca, who understudies Molly, and I were asked to perform a couple of numbers from the show during their ceremony. </div>
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So we headed to sound check in the beautiful hotel and then went back to the theatre and actually ended up going out to watch the first act of the show as we didn't need to leave until 8.45pm - it was the first time I had watched any of Ghost since October when I went to see it 4 days after getting the job offer. It was an overwhelming reminder of what an incredible show it is! When you're in a show you don't see all the stuff that happens around you and the technical elements of Ghost are even better than I remembered them from all those months ago! It reminded me why I called my agent last year and told him that "I HAVE TO DO GHOST!" and I felt proud to be a part of such a great show!</div>
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The gig that night went really well, they were a lovely crowd of people to perform to - they even got up and danced on the dance floor while we sung Unchained Melody - and we were very well looked after.</div>
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I got a car home and attached myself to my steamer immediately and then got a good night's sleep.</div>
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I woke up ready and raring to go for my album signing on Saturday but my voice was unfortunately not quite as happy to be used and abused by Sam Wheat that day, I called my physio and he told me not to perform and to head home and rest straight after my album signing. Which is what I did. </div>
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Thank you so much to all of you who came along to Dress Circle in Covent Garden for the signing. It was great to meet you all and I really hope you all enjoy listening to the album and the single of Unchained Melody. I was sat there for an hour and kept busy chatting and signing the whole time so thanks for making it a good turn out folks!</div>
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Saturday I spent the day chilling and working on the material for my meetings (mentally working on them and not vocally cos I wasn't able to speak which was frustrating!) and by the evening I cooked myself a bolognese, then after a short walk to clear my head before bed, I got to sleep.</div>
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I randomly woke at 5.15am on Sunday and felt fresh as a daisy and naturally wide awake, so I just thought I'd get up and go for a walk instead of trying to force myself back to sleep. It was a beautiful day and I left the house at 6am and walked around and sat in different parks and gardens until I returned home at 8.30am (public gardens of course, I didn't just sit on someone's front lawn while they watched me out of the kitchen window!) ha - It was the perfect thing to do before an important meeting to give me time to clear my head and focus. I always carry and pen and paper when I go for a walk to write things down which helps get it out of my head. This all sounds really dramatic but you all know by now that I am a positive thinker and so I have certain things I do to keep me thinking positive and calm when it comes to dealing with really important moments which would usually involve a lot of pressure and nerves! </div>
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My friend Callum says that I am like an onion because I'm so 'deep' and 'have a lot of layers' and so I decided to call those types of long pensive walks 'an onion walk' - so once I'd returned from my onion walk I casually got ready to leave the house to go to my meeting and then got on the train.</div>
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It went really well and once I'd come out I just headed home to chill and then later on got in the car with my mate Callum and I drove him to the park that I went to in Crystal Palace (which is near by but I'd never been there, even though I've lived in the area for 6 years) because it had a 'dinosaur park' and I was intrigued and wanted to show him the benefits of an onion walk after all his constant mocking! haha.</div>
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We then had a Sunday roast then I dropped him home before I got and early night ready for another big meeting the next day.</div>
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I woke early again on Monday and after working on some material for the meeting I headed on the train into town, but when I got to London Bridge I realised I had more than two hours before I needed to be at my physio appointment for my vocal massage so I decided to do another onion walk along the Thames from LondonBridge to Embankment then up to the theatre to grab my swimming stuff and do a few lengths and have a steam! I have realised that although I am always manically busy, I think I function better by having an hour less sleep in the morning and just being able to slowly get ready for the day ahead! Are any of you like that?! </div>
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Anyway, after my physio appointment I went to my meeting which went very well and then had a coffee with a friend before heading to work to rehearse our number that we're performing at West End Live this Saturday. After the rehearsal I had a big dinner and then did the show! It was nice to be back at work after having Saturday off! </div>
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Monday was also the release day of my new album THE JOURNEY HOME - DELUXE ENGLISH EDITION. I cannot thank you enough for all the amazing messages and letters and cards and tweets and emails I've received. I'm delighted you enjoy listening to it and the best thing about it is that the song choices I made have seemed to inspire you and make you all very positive which was exactly why they were chosen to go on there! Thank you very much!</div>
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I woke on Tuesday morning and had to go for yet ANOTHER meeting so I popped for a swim and a steam before hand and then went along to my appointment. I will be telling you what the meetings were for very soon but for now I'm unable to be specific. It's all very exciting though.</div>
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After that I basically went to my dressing room to sleep and chill the bloody hell out after so much prep work for meetings! (and a hell of a lot of walking onion style!)</div>
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After Tuesday night's show I went home and slept until I couldn't sleep no more!</div>
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Yesterday was a good day, the sun was shining I chilled at home and did a lot of work on my summer school and then headed for food with a mate before going to work and doing the show which was great last night, lovely crowd of people in the audience!</div>
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And that beings me up to date. I have many things to announce soon but nothing is confirmed yet. As you all know we finish in Ghost on October 6th, and although I will be having the BIGGEST holiday possible at that point (which is yet to be arranged) I will also be doing lots of gigs and concerts especially on the run up to Christmas so I'll keep you all updated and announce everything I can once it's all confirmed!</div>
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WEST END LIVE is this weekend. We are performing one of the numbers from Ghost on Saturday at about 12.30 and I am doing a few songs from my new album on Sunday afternoon at about 2.40 so if you're gonna be in the crowd then give us a cheer! My first song on the Sunday is The Journey Home and I want you all to sing along with me - I even made a video with the lyrics on it for you to learn - here it is:</div>
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7wWuXV4yRA</div>
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Have a great week folks! Hope to see as many as possible on the weekend and I hope the weather stays bright for you!</div>
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Keep Smiling & Keep On Believing!</div>
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Sh-boom</div>
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Mark</div>
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<br /></div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-80052672739783488062012-06-14T01:05:00.005-07:002012-06-14T01:05:59.013-07:00BLOG 100!!! (Good times) A bloody amazing weekend!<br />
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Hi Everyone,</div>
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Happy Thursday</div>
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HAPPY 100th BLOG DAY!!! </div>
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How you all doing? I have had the most incredible week and I don't even know where to start. </div>
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Last Thursday was the first day of my full week off from Ghost. I woke and after posting my blog I headed over to meet my good friend Ashleigh for a catch up and to run through some music for a gig we are doing together soon. It was great to see her and really good to have a laugh and catch up properly.</div>
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After that I drove over to my mate's in East London to go for food, and then work on some script work for a project I am involved with at the moment. It was really great and we did some very productive work and then I jumped in my car and headed on down to my best friend's house in Epsom as she was getting married on the weekend so I wanted to see her to check she was ok and to see if there was any thing I needed to do as last minute preparations because i was her man of honour. I arrived nearly three hours later than planned because the day got snatched away time wise and I was sat in very heavy London traffic for a long while - but I didn't mind as I was singing along to my CD's in my car and happy to be free to do what I wished for a week.</div>
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We had a great night in Epsom and after a good sleep I drove back home and then headed for a singing lesson which was pretty horrendous because I think my voice had cottoned on to the fact that it was allowed to rest for a few days so it certainly was in rest mode. It was nice to touch base on lots of technical exercises though and I got excited about doing more vocal work on other projects in the near future.</div>
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After that I decided to have a chill out afternoon so went to my favourite place of late - Thai Square Spa in Covent Garden for a couple of hours and well and truly chilled out and it was great to have some peace to think about lots of different things without rushing from one place to another.</div>
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Friday evening I met my gorgeous friend Caroline for an impromptu night of tapas and cocktails and wine. It was superb.</div>
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I woke on Saturday and had a real blitz around my flat to make sure it was clean and tidy for when I returned from my best friend's wedding weekend because I knew I wasn't going to be in ANY fit state to do any house work upon my return - because I fully intended on getting well and truly plastered on champagne! - which believe me I did! </div>
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So I arrived the hotel and met the bride to be and the other bridesmaids and bridesmen - there were six of us, three men, three women! We had lots of champagne and chatted and then went to the restaurant for laughs, food and more alcoholic beverages. We tried not to have too late a night so that we could enjoy the wedding day but I'll be honest I really didn't sleep too much as I had so much on my mind. I kept thinking of things I should check and created a little to-do list in my head and believe me, when I have a to-do list I can't switch off until it's done so I might as well have just got out of bed and done it! - ANYWAY….</div>
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Sunday morning involved breakfast, a couple of rehearsals and then decorating tables for the wedding reception and basically casually getting ready whilst drinking champagne from 9am! The morning was amazing, we all got so excited and then the time came for us to go down to 'The Library' which was the stunning room in which the wedding ceremony was held. We walked down the aisle in our couples and once we settled in our places the stunning bride (my best friend…oh did I already mention that she is my best friend?) slowly walked toward her husband to be with the biggest smile I've ever seen. I don't think I have ever seen the two of them look so happy. The service was amazing and then there were lots of photographs on a beautiful terrace over looking hundreds of acres of well maintained grounds while we drank much more champagne and laughed and I got chatting to all the different guests. </div>
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By the time we sat down for the wedding breakfast I was more than ready for food because the champagne had taken a firm hold of my personality with a tight grip and wasn't gonna let go until I gave my body some form of substantially filling nutrition.</div>
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The food was incredible, followed by a few games and great speeches and then we had a little down time to chat and rest a little before the 'evening do' started and more guests arrived.</div>
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Well I can safely say that I have not partied like that in a very long time. I sang the song for their first dance which was at 8 o'clock and then the band took over who were amazing which meant that other than a trip to the buffet and one trip to change my sweaty shirt, I didn't leave the dance floor for 4 solid hours! It was one of the best nights I've ever had in my life and it was amazing to be able to really chill out and let go and and have fun and not worry about having to sing the next day or be fit for the show because I knew I had 3 whole days to recover. </div>
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The drinking and good times continued into the early hours of the morning until I gave in and went to bed - it was a busy 20 hour day but every minute was just perfection!</div>
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We all woke on the Monday morning and had a breakfast together in a private function room which was great, everyone looked and felt a little worse for wear and then we all went to the spa which had amazing outdoor heated jacuzzis that we relaxed in whilst the rain poured down on our heads - quite surreal but so nice that we could all still be together and still have fun, because it's very often after a big event like a wedding that you feel a little deflated the next day and on a bit of a come down, but I didn't feel that way at all. After a few hours in the spa, there was a group of about 15 of us who were in the close wedding party who went back to the brides parents house for gorgeous food and we all sat and chatted about the highlights of the day whilst they opened their gifts and cards.</div>
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Then the time came for us to let them have a couple of hours to themselves to pack before they jetted off on the honey moon for a 12 day cruise. I could not be more proud of Sal (she's my best mate you know) and her new husband Ollie and was overwhelmed by what an incredibly perfect weekend it was and I'm thrilled for them both that they have each other and that they now have a long happy married life ahead of them! Amazing!</div>
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Monday evening I drove home and had to use an emergency can of Redbull which I'd been keeping in my glove compartment for whenever i felt tired whilst driving - well after that weekend, the energy was certainly required to get me home safely - once home, I just passed out on my sofa and then pealed myself off it to flop down into bed and try and sleep off the exhaustion. </div>
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Tuesday I worked on some summer school organisation and preparation and then headed into town to meet a couple of mates for coffee at 3.30pm which ended up in me staying out until nearly midnight catching up and having lots of laughs! They were all drinking wine and beer whilst I stuck to peppermint tea as I was still a little fragile after the weekend! </div>
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Yesterday (Wednesday) I woke and carried on working on summer school stuff before heading to the London aquarium with a mate which was fun and then I was going to watch my good friend Haley playing Miss Honey in Matilda the musical which was incredible. It's a great show and I highly recommend it - Haley was perfection as Miss Honey - I'd spread her on my toast she was so Hunniful (yeah I made that word up but I don't give a damn!)</div>
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Last night I headed home and got a good night's sleep before waking this morning and accepting that today is the day that the busy work ball starts well and truly rolling again. I have a T.V interview to film before the matinee and then I'm heading to sound check for a gig I'm doing tonight with Louise Dearman, David Bedella and a few other people at The Alley Cat bar, if you want to come along please do it'll be great fun, and then i'll be returning to the theatre for the evening show before then heading to perform at the gig which I'm looking forward to! Hope to see you there tonight from 10am! </div>
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Tomorrow is again a very busy day with rehearsals for a few gigs and then Saturday you need to get your bottoms down to the showbiz shop AKA Dress Cicle in Covent Garden because I'll be doing an exclusive signing of my new album THE JOURNEY HOME 'Deluxe Edition' which is officially out on Monday but if you come along on Saturday you get a singed copy two days before the release! I look forward to seeing lots of you there for a good chat and a few pictures and for me to squiggle on your albums! Let's see who can request the most random thing to be signed! </div>
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Right I'm off to work!</div>
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Thanks for reading and for all your support as always and because this is my 100th BLOG, to mark this occasion, if you re-tweet it on twitter I will pick one of you (if you've re-tweeted) as a winner and will send you a Ghost programme signed by me, a signed picture of me in Ghost and a signed poster from the Album launch too! All you have to do is re-tweet it! And I will also tweet the winning person and give them a follow myself! (If it's you I pick then yo better be interesting!) ;-) </div>
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Love and luck to all of you and enjoy your lives as much as you can!</div>
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Believe</div>
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Sh-boom</div>
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Mark</div>
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<br /></div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-14655134390221378132012-06-07T02:51:00.003-07:002012-06-07T02:51:38.699-07:00Blog 99! (One away from from Blog 100 - wow!)<br />
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Hey Everyone,</div>
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Happy Thursday, happy blog day and for me it's HAPPY WEEK OFF WORK DAY!</div>
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I am not performing in Ghost now until the matinee of next Thursday and my voice/body/brain could not be happier. It's gonna be a really good week including my best friends wedding - no, my actual best friend is getting married I'm not just watching the film that has Julia Roberts in it!</div>
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Aaaaaanyway, It's been an interesting week since my last blog. Lots has happened and I've been busy. Last Thursday in between shows I went to film a message for a video advert campaign for the website Stage Status which is a new social media site for the theatre industry and anyone interested in theatre - I think it's a great idea and so I was very happy to be a part of the campaign. I then chilled in my room before the evening show.</div>
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After I went home the whole of the internet erupted with the news from the Daily Mail that Ghost is closing and that we're all losing our jobs in the autumn and all the fans of the show were in an uproar saying it sounded ludicrous. Well I can tell you that nothing has been confirmed officially. It is true that there is another commercial show that wants to come into our theatre and this is the only theatre that it could come into logistically and practically for various reasons which are too dull to write about - however it is also true that the producers of Ghost don't want the show to close until it really must. It is very uncertain when we will be finishing it could be in a couple of weeks (highly unlikely) or we could reach the end of our contracts in February but all I can say is - come and see the show and spread the word because if Ghost was selling out there would be absolutely no problem but unfortunately as with almost every show in the West End, the sales have taken a little dip recently because of various reasons - none of which is the fault of anyone involved with Ghost or the Piccadilly Theatre. </div>
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People have asked how I am feeling about possibly finishing the show before we were originally scheduled to finish and my response is always that I'm genuinely thrilled to have had the opportunity to play this role, it was one I definitely wanted to do and have loved playing it for the past six months and for that reason I am just going to treasure whatever time we have left and celebrate a great job as oppose to wallow in self pity and despair that the show is closing - and as far as getting other work is concerned, that never worries me because one simply has to have faith and trust that everything that is meant for you will come your way and make you happy!</div>
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The only slight disappointing element for me is that I genuinely think that Ghost is one of the most incredible shows I have ever seen and the fact that it is having to come off, resulting in people not being able to experience this incredible show is a travesty and that's the only thing that upsets me! If you ain't seen it then book to see it soon!</div>
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Friday I had a busy day which involved working on some things from home in the morning and then heading for a physio appointment before having a meeting and then work. The show was good on Friday night but I needed to get to bed cos I was shattered afterwards.</div>
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Saturday morning I woke and headed into work early to have a guitar lesson and then after the matinee I went to the gym to keep the blood pumping ready for the evening show which was great and then I went out and I GOT REALLY DRUNK!!! We had an amazing impromptu night out from Ghost which involved a few ports, a good few wines and many a cocktail which made Sunday VERY tragically hung over - so I spent the day in bed or on the sofa or attempting to eat. I then in the evening had a hideous journey through the jubilee chaos of London to Watford Junction which seemed like I'd travelled to Spain it took so bloomin long - but once I got there it was definitely worth it. My friends Matt and Tom had gotten married on the Saturday and they had invited many of their friends and families to a celebratory black tie sit down dinner on Sunday followed by live music and dancing - it was stunning and to see how in love two people can be was inspiring! It was a wonderful night. </div>
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The journey home was much better and after sleeping for just a few hours I woke and worked on lots of summer school stuff ready for August and then headed into town to meet a friend for scones and tea (in honour of our Queen of course) and then went for a swim and a steam before work. The show was great on Monday night. </div>
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London was absolutely incredible over the weekend (as was the UK and beyond) to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. It was the most positive and amazing atmosphere I've ever felt in London - it was like an electric current constantly humming through the air. It made me energised just by walking around town! </div>
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After the show on Monday I headed home to do more work on the West End In Wales summer school which I then continued with in the morning too before heading in to London to meet a friend for late lunch! The show was great again on Tuesday night. The audiences have been fantastic this week which makes the show that much more rewarding when you hear an incredible response from the crowd.</div>
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I woke yesterday morning (Wednesday) and did lots of research work for a couple of projects I am working on at the moment as well as doing a load of phone interviews with different journalists as promotion for my new album release and then I headed into work to rehearse with Rebecca who is the understudy to Molly as we are doing a few songs from Ghost at an awards ceremony at the end of next week so we needed to run through what we are going to be doing. It will be the first time I've ever performed with my guitar live on stage away from Ghost and the Piccadilly Theatre. How exciting!</div>
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After the rehearsal a small group of us went to a little restaurant near by and basically laughed out loud for a long while as I read out all recent tweets from 'GUS THE FOX' who you all must follow on Twitter if you don't already. If you want to know my exact sense of humour then follow Gus. It makes me howl with laughter until my stomach hurts when I read some of what he writes - however be warned that he uses fowl language and some (or most) of what he says is obscene! </div>
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So that was fun and then I headed in to perform my last show for a whole week and I loved every second of it. Last night I got in and drove straight to the local supermarket to stock up so my house is full of nice food for my week off and then I ate lots whilst watching 'Miranda' the first series as I want to watch more comedy stuff and recently bought the first two seasons on DVD - Love her, she's a genius! </div>
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So this morning I am chilling whilst writing this and then in a short while I shall be heading to see my good friend Ashleigh who is currently touring with the Susan Boyle musical 'I Dreamed A Dream' so it'll be great to catch up with her. She also sung the duet on my album tiled Alive so we need to have a run through of that because we might just be singing it together at a gig that is coming up soon! ;-)</div>
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Thanks for reading folks. I hope you enjoy this coming week as much as I know I will!</div>
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Much love and positive energy to you all</div>
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Believe</div>
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Sh-boom</div>
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Mark </div>
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<br /></div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-6142311957922009752012-05-31T02:05:00.002-07:002012-05-31T02:05:38.803-07:00BLOG 98! A week of SUNSHINE!!!<br />
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Hey Everyone,</div>
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Happy Thursday.</div>
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Hope you've all had a great week.</div>
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I've been trying to enjoy the sunshine as much as possible whilst we've got it here in the U.K and it's been really nice to drop a few things so that i can chill out.</div>
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Last Thursday I had a wonderful friend of mine watching the matinee show so afterwards we had a really nice catch up over some food before i went back into the very hot theatre for a second show.</div>
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Friday I was suppose to have a meeting but my voice was feeling a little sorry for itself after blasting out two shows the day before so I decided to cancel it so I could keep quiet and relax in the park with my book. I love London at the moment - I mean, I love it most of the time but it has such an incredible positivity about it at the moment (which is quite rare for Londoners) but between the amazing hot weather, the Jubilee Weekend on it's way and the run up to the Olympics there is a real air of happiness and patriotism everywhere and it's great. It was a pleasure to sit on a deck chair in Green Park and watch the world pass by while I just sit and enjoy the sun and my book! </div>
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I then headed to work for the show which was good and then went to stay with a mate who was moving out of his flat on Saturday morning so I made sure I was there to help him before driving into central town for a guitar lesson and two shows! I knew I was going to need the car after the evening performance which is why I drove in for the third Saturday on the trot! Can't make a habit of it though as London ain't cheep for all-day weekend parking!</div>
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After the matinee my voice felt ready to give up so instead of letting it, by just laying down and giving my body time to shut down while I lay on my couch in my dressing room I decided I needed to keep the blood pumping to keep my voice warm and active so I popped to my gym next door and did an hour on the exercise bike and then had a steam, some good food and geared myself up for the last show of the week which was great. I was very happy to walk out of stage door on Saturday night and get in my car and drive down to Brighton as I was staying there with a friend so that we could hang out by the beach and enjoy the sunshine on the Sunday. It was an amazing place, a penthouse apartment on the sea front with a massive terrace balcony to just lounge on and catch some rays. I lay there relaxing as long as I could until I got bored (I'm not very good at sunbathing) then we went for a walk along the edge of the water on the beach before grabbing lunch in The Lanes and doing a bit of shopping and then getting in the car to leave. I love Brighton and was considering maybe buying a place to live down there but decided on Sunday that actually I would end up not appreciating it's splendour as a town if i lived there as i'd be so used to it that it would be my normality which would then result in me not being able to consider a weekend at the beach as a treat! It'd also be pretty darn expensive to buy a place on the sea front so I'll just wait until I'm a millionaire! Ha.</div>
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Sunday evening I drove with my mate to visit my best friend Sal and we went for Sunday roast and a couple of drinks to a great pub that we used to go to when we were in college together 7 years ago so it was nice to catch up over good food and good company.</div>
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That evening we sat and watched The Lovely Bones which is a film that was based on the novel of the same name. We were going to watch something else I'd bought on DVD but thought as Lovely Bones was on the telly box we might as well watch that. It certainly wasn't the best film I've ever seen but I didn't dislike it! I just thought it could have been edited a lot better and they could've shaved a considerable amount off the running time of it! But worth a watch I suppose!</div>
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The next morning I drove my mate home and then went to buy lots of healthy food before doing lots of boring office work and then heading to the gym to do a lot of cardio. I've been a little too indulgent with my food over the past few weeks and have been restricted with the amount of gym work I can do because it effects my voice so at the beginning of this week I decided 'right that's it Mevans, fatty time is over, let's get cracking' and it felt blooming great to sweat out a load of toxins and feel really energised. </div>
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After the show on Monday night I headed home to watch a bit of a DVD but fell asleep half way through! Lame! </div>
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Tuesday I wanted to feel motivated by the gym again so I headed there after a small breakfast and busted my ass for 2 hours including a swim which was amazing! I had the whole pool to myself for the entire time I was in there. It's like therapy of the mind for me, swimming and having time to think! Can't recommend it enough as it's one of the best forms of exercise for the whole body at the same time! </div>
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After that I met my mate Callum and we walked to Hyde Park and chilled by the water and laughed a lot. Hyde Park looked stunning in the sunshine! After that we headed to work and Tuesday night's show was awesome. The audience were incredible and I was buzzing and had one of my many 'I bloody love my job' moments! After that I went home and chilled out with a bowl of Just Right! (a healthy cereal that I'm kind of addicted to at the mo!) </div>
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I woke yesterday morning (Wednesday) and sorted a few things out at home before heading to the gym for a run and a swim and then for my weekly physio appointment before having a meeting which I got really excited about! </div>
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After that I walked from London Waterloo across the bridge to the theatre and had another 'I LOVE THIS CITY' moment! …….Right now, I just had an 'I LOVE THAT I HAVE THOSE MOMENTS' moment! :-)</div>
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The show last night was great and I headed home, chilled out and then woke this morning fresh as a daisy ready to head in for a swim and then to meet our director for some rehearsing and then two good shows! </div>
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I hope you're all well and happy! Oh by the way, I now (finally) have my photo cards from Ghost so if you've sent me fantail in the past 5 months I am about to star whittling my way through it all, it's gonna take me a while but I promise to get back to each and everyone of you who contacted me and included a stamped addressed envelope! If anybody does want a picture signed, just drop my a letter to stage door and I'll get back to you when I can.</div>
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Thanks for reading and as always for your continued support! I have confirmed that I'll be doing a nice little gig in June which I imagine a lot of you will be attending so I hope to see you there…..all will be revealed!!! All I'm gonna say is - who's going to West End Live this year???? ;-)</div>
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Stay happy, love yourselves, your family and friends and life! </div>
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Believe! </div>
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Sh-boom!</div>
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Mark</div>
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<br /></div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-19923205174479811422012-05-24T15:20:00.002-07:002012-05-24T15:20:22.143-07:00Blog 97!!! An Amazing Week!<br />
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Morning Everyone,</div>
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Happy Thursday! Happy SUNNY day!</div>
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Isn't this weather amazing?! I have a tan from being in Wales - now there's a first. I'm sitting here in my shorts and vest with a lovely breakfast and looking forward to two shows (even if the weather being 28 degrees outside will result in me getting VERY sweaty!) </div>
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It's been an amazing week since my last blog. </div>
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Last Thursday after the matinee I met up with my friend Laura Hamilton who I haven't seen for quite a while. We worked together on Cinderella the pantomime in Bromley over three years ago. She was also the runner up on last year's Dancing On Ice with another friend of mine Colin Ratushniak who was her professional skating partner. It was really good to see her and catch up. She's getting married towards the end of this year which is exciting.</div>
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After the second show on Thursday I headed home to read and get a good night's sleep. Friday morning I was helping a friend move out of his house before heading into town to chill in my dressing room with my friend Haley who came over for a cuppa and a catch up and then I had my guitar lesson.</div>
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After Friday night's show I went home to pack for my trip to Wales. I woke Saturday morning, loaded my car up and drove into central London so that my car was there ready to whizz back to North Wales after the evening show (which is exactly what I did the weekend before too). The matinee was good on Saturday but by the end of it I could really feel my voice, body and brain shutting down - it's that classic thing when you know you have a chance to relax ahead of you, your body and mind start to unwind a little too early. So Saturday night's show was really quite tough and I was so happy to get through it and I raced out of the theatre to jump in my car and just escape London and to not have to sing and shout and just drive to the peaceful haven that is, my family home in Wales. I managed to get home an hour earlier than the week before too because I didn't hang around in London, I just ran from my dressing room and I knew a few shortcuts to get out of london quicker - is it against the law to drive the wrong way down a quiet one way street in Soho?! It is? Oh well - never mind! ;-) </div>
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I arrived at 2am and climbed into bed and stayed there until the cows mooing woke me up the next morning and I thought 'well, I'm certainly home on the farm!'</div>
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I had a very relaxed day on Sunday just with my nieces and reading my book and then in the evening, My parents and I went to visit my cousin and her family who live on a hill in the middle of a very rural area and I realised I hadn't actually been to their house in about 15 years! That's ridiculous. We had a lovely night and it was the first time in many weeks that I actually had a glass of wine and didn't have to be concerned about the consequences it may have on my voice! </div>
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After I got home that evening I felt really exhausted. Probably the combination of being in different surroundings together with finally having some time to unwind from the show and then a couple of glasses of wine to make me feel a little groggy - so I lay in bed thinking 'tomorrow morning I'm gonna book a couple of treatments in a spa I know' and that's exactly what I did. I woke early and called Bodysgallen Hall which is a hotel and Spa on the outskirts of Llandudno on the coast of North Wales. I took my mum to stay there for a couple of nights a few years ago and so I knew it was the perfect place to go. </div>
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I arrived a half hour early and sat on their outdoor terrace in the blazing sunshine and read a chapter of my book - The Hunger Games book 3 which I'm over half way through now and am enjoying, but neither the 2nd or the 3rd are as good as the first in my opinion. I then went in for my treatments. I had booked a 1 hour full body massage which then went straight into a 1hr 15min facial. Laying on a bed for 2 hours and a 1/4 with a lovely young lady relaxing every inch of your body (well not quite every inch - cheeky) is always going to be a pleasure isn't it! The therapist was great as were the treatments and afterwards I went and sat in their relaxation room and read another chapter of my book before driving home along the North Wales coast with my windows right down feeling the sea air blowing my hair around which was very greasy from the massage oil and I had my music blaring and I felt like I could just keep driving like that for an eternity. The massages were both described in the brochure as 'energising' and I certainly felt in good spirits that evening. I was pulling up the drive of our farm and my mum and sister were going for a walk around the block - does everyone have a block that they walk around at home? Be it a collection of housing estates, or some fields or a road that leads around in some sort of circle? Anyway I said to them "wait 10 minutes for me to have some food and then we'll head for a walk up Moel Famau instead" - and that's what we did. Moel Famau is a mountain in the Vale of Clwyd which is a mountain range which surrounds the county where I was brought up and as your driving along the road to my folks place Moel Famau looks like a big boob with a nipple on the top of it! The nipple is actually a small castle like turret at the peak of the mountain which looks so exciting until you get there and realise it's just a rather dull stoney pile of dark stone - however the view is breathtaking. It was about 8pm by the time we reached the top and we sat there feeling like we were sat on the top of the world. I know I tend to harp on about it quite a lot but I feel so privileged, honoured and lucky to have been brought up in such a picturesque beautiful area - an area that is such an amazing escape from the hustle and bustle of London city life!</div>
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We headed down from the mountain and after a long chat with my brother in law about which bathroom I want in my flat (he is a plumber and is coming down to transform my bathroom while I go on holiday in September), I went home to read in bed and feel happy to have had an amazing day at home!</div>
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I woke on Tuesday and headed to my sister's house which is only half a mile away from the ranch (which is what we call my parents farm!) and she was painting their garden fence so I picked up a brush and helped! Five hours later, we're still painting and my back is sun burnt and bright red, my David Guetta CD has played on loop a good 7 times from my car and the fence is still only about 1/8th painted! It was the only good thing about coming back to London that I didn't feel guilty about not being able to help any more than that! </div>
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I did however have a little break during that five hours to put on some of my brother-in-law's swim shorts and get in the paddling pool with my 3 year old niece - baring in mind the paddling pool was only 3 feet in diameter and about 12 inches tall (yup kinda small) so the only way I could fit in it was by sitting upright with my legs crossed thus resulting in my poor niece being squashed to one side of it, but she insisted I stayed there so she could fill her plastic teapot with water (and grass) and then poor it over uncle Mark's head! It didn't take us long to dry off on the trampoline though! It was a great afternoon where I returned to my childhood for a couple of hours! </div>
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That evening the whole family came to the ranch to wish my brother a happy 30th birthday (he'd just got back from Vegas so there were no big celebrations as he was a shattered, so we all had fish and chips and sat around looking at old photographs and newspaper cuttings of him that my mum had put together in a special album for him for his birthday! It was really funny because my brother it quite often in the local newspapers in the sports pages because he plays football for the local town and some of his facial expressions in the action shots were just perfect material for a good old belly laugh! He was mortified seeing so many ugly pictures of himself in the same album! I found it highly amusing!</div>
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That evening I felt truly gutted that I had to drive back to London. I felt I'd just had the chance to unwind properly and then it was all taken away from me as I typed London into my sat nav and bid my family farewell. Really wasn't ready to leave, I could have gladly stayed there the rest of the week and bathed in the sunshine and laughed and enjoyed my family but alas London was calling.</div>
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The drive back was great, granted I broke a few speed limits but I made it back in good time and got myself a great night's sleep before waking and having a chill out day in the sun before heading for a meeting in the early evening and then on to Sadler's Wells to watch Matthew Bourne's Early Adventures which was absolutely wonderful! It was a breath of fresh air to watch a dance piece that was so narrative and entertaining with a great cast who were very inspiring and extremely talented! </div>
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After that I headed home for a very warm sleep with windows open and listening to the local foxes mating - which sounds excruciatingly painful doesn't it?!! Ouch those poor Vixen! Ha</div>
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Right I think I've written enough for today! I'm off to sweat off my entire mass of bodily fluid on a west end stage! Sexy eh?! </div>
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Have a great week people! Enjoy the sunshine and enjoy your lives! </div>
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Keep Believing! </div>
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Sh-Boom!!! </div>
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Mark</div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-69854622582823813112012-05-17T02:34:00.003-07:002012-05-17T02:34:43.941-07:00Blog 96!!! A Trip To The Homeland!<br />
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Hi Everyone,</div>
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How you doing? Happy Thursday.</div>
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Hope you've all had a great week since my last blog! I certainly have cos it involved a visit to the homeland which is always good.</div>
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So last Thursday was a busy two show day and both shows were great. After a good sleep I woke on Friday morning and went to meet my friend Callum who also works at Ghost but lives around the corner from me. He recently had an operation and is off the show for a few weeks resting so I drove him to the supermarket so he could get a bit of exercise walking around the store and then we had a lovely brunch. We had a massive smoothie with the most fruit in it you've ever seen. So I then got on the train in to London and as I was reading my book I suffered a massive crash from all the natural sugars that I'd consumed in the fruit! - Yeah that's right, my life is so Rock & Roll that I get a comedown from too much fruit! Should be considered a class A substance! I was so sleepy. I could have literally fallen asleep whilst walking around London.</div>
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Luckily I had quite a relaxing afternoon planned! I had an appointment with my body repair man aka the physio Fabi who is a genius (he let me sleep for half an hour while he fixed my broken parts) and then I had an hour's complimentary massage in the Bowen Technique - it's all part of the set up when I initially joined my gym. I got the massage as part of my membership! It was kinda weird. He poked a couple of areas on my back and then left the room. Re-entered after 2 minutes and poked another couple of places on my neck and then left the room again. The next thing I know, he's waking me up from a deep sleep saying the session had finished and that I had been lay there for a full hour! Whatever he poked completely knocked me out and sent my body into complete relaxation mode! Good times! </div>
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I then had a guitar lesson before work which was fun as was the show that night. After a good sleep on Friday night I woke nice and early to top my car up with fuel before driving into central London so that my car was there ready for when I finished the evening show so I could jet home to Wales as soon as I could. I had a nice hour to kill in the sunshine once i'd parked the car so I headed to the park and sat on a bench while I choreographed a routine in my head for all my workshop kids on the Sunday.</div>
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After the first show on Saturday I sat in m dressing room watching a DVD with a mate and then ate lots of sweets to energise myself for the second show. </div>
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Saturday night's show was great. It was a fab crowd and a great way to end the week! I then rushed to meet my friend Gareth who was coming to Wales with me to teach and boy was I grateful for his company in the car. It took a good 4 hours to get back. I arrived my parents farm at 3.15am and headed straight to bed.</div>
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I woke on Sunday morning feeling like I had done two shows of Ghost and then a long ass drive home the day before (oh wait I had) - I forced myself to wake up and then headed to the theatre where I was running the West End In Wales Sunday Funday 4 hour workshop. We had 45 kids and it was a really great afternoon. I love working with passionate kids and teenagers because it reminds me of how I was in my youth and keeps me inspired to work hard and makes me very grateful for how my life has turned out and that I'm getting to do what I love for a living! There was some serious talent at the workshop and I'm hoping to see lots of them again at this year's summer school in August!</div>
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If anyone of you are interested in coming along to my last ever course in North Wales - the dates are August 13th-18th and you can download an application form from www.WestEndInWales.com - Everyone is welcome providing you're between 10-18 years old! Spread the word! The LAST EVER summer school!!!</div>
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Sunday evening I chilled at home with my family. My Mam cooked us all my favourite dish which is her home made Chicken And Mushroom Lasagne and I ate loads of it. I then had a fun night with everyone being silly and having a laugh as we bid my brother farewell because he headed to Las Vegas early in the week for his 30th birthday celebrations! Him and 15 other lads. I have to admit I'm glad I didn't take him up on the offer of joining them as that holiday is going to get messy!!!</div>
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I had an early night on Sunday before waking up on Monday nice and early and jumping in my car with my Mam and we headed back to London. The drive was great. It was so nice to have a good few hours just Mam and I to chat and laugh and enjoy seeing each other. She is one of my best mates and I love it when we get to hang out!</div>
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We arrived london in the early afternoon and I took her for some nice food before she joined me in the recording studio as I recorded some backing vocals for a track on my new album. It was officially the last thing I had to record and it felt great! My mum loved seeing how it all worked - I tried to get her to sing a record a line os I could say she's on my album but she refused!</div>
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For those of you who didn't hear I am releasing a deluxe edition of my album which will be available on June 18th to buy. It's what I've been working on so much in the recording studio for the past couple of months but not been able to let on about it until now. It's the same concept as my debut album but with English versions of the songs that were recorded in Welsh the last time plus a few bonus tracks including another duet as well as the one originally on there which is 'Alive' featuring Ashleigh Gray! There will be 15 tracks in total! </div>
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Thanks to all of you who have been in touch on Facebook or Twitter or mailed my manager to say you're excited about the album. It has been a lot of hard work fitting it in around Ghost because the show is so vocally demanding but I'm thrilled that it's out soon and i'll be doing an official album signing at Dress Circle shop in Covent Garden on June the 16th so if you want the album a whole 2 days before then make sure you're there. Will be great to see you all in person and thank you for your continued support! More details will follow nearer the time.</div>
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Also the week before that, June 11th is the official release date of the single I have recorded with Siobhan Dillon who I play opposite in Ghost which is a beautifully arranged duet version of Unchained Melody which has never been heard anywhere before. It's not the version that's in the show, although it still has a ghostly eerie feel to it! We love it and are very proud of it and can't wait for you all to hear it! Also what we decided to do was add two extra tracks to the single (making 3 tracks in total) which are karaoke versions of the song - so one will have just my voice on it and the other will just be Siobhan's so you can sing a duet with whichever one of us you decide! I've had lots of people say to me that they'd like to sing a duet with me - well….now's your chance! Ha.</div>
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So back to this week. Monday evening my mum watched the show with a friend of mine (it was her 3rd time - lord knows how many times she'll come before the end of my contract). Afterwards I drove us both home and we sat with a cuppa to have a good chat before getting to bed. </div>
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We woke on Tuesday and I took her to a lovely local cafe for brunch before taking her to get on the train back to Wales. I am heading home to Wales this weekend again as I have 3 days holiday from the show starting Monday next week so I am heading home to enjoy my family and embrace as much silence as possible where I won't be required to sing or shout or even talk unless I choose to! Absolute bliss and most definitely overdue and needed!</div>
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After bidding farewell to Mother Evans I couldn't be bothered heading home again so I went to chill and watch TV in my dressing room and play a bit of guitar before heading for a swim and a steam before work.</div>
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After the show I headed home and was more than ready for my bed. The weekend and having Mum down here had certainly caught up with me.</div>
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Yesterday (Wednesday) I woke and had a chill out morning before heading for physio and then I had a meeting in the afternoon which went really well and then I headed to work a little early as Siobhan and I needed to sign a batch of the single CD's for the record label before the release next month. I'm so glad to finally be able to talk about everything. I feel like I've been working on so much which has been kept shtum for some time! It's all good stuff and I reckon it's gonna be a great summer!</div>
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So last night's show was amazing. The audience were fab and after having a really good day I thoroughly enjoyed performing the show. I love singing the music of the show (especially when my voice decides it wants to be well behaved!). </div>
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So this morning just leaves me here chilling with some meditation music on whilst I write this and then I'm gonna head into work for a good old two shows! Bring it on!</div>
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Thanks for reading folks and for you amazing support as always! </div>
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Keep believing and love your lives!</div>
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Sh-Boom!</div>
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Mark</div>
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<br /></div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496241334959982811.post-9955795988270169532012-05-10T02:20:00.000-07:002012-05-10T02:20:21.618-07:00BLOG 95! A wedding, A Bank Holiday & Some Dutch People<br />
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Hey Everyone</div>
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Happy Thursday.</div>
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Hope you're all feeling good today and ready for a great weekend! I have a a good week since the last blog.</div>
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Thursday was all about the two shows really. I had lots of friends watching the matinee and then I saw them afterwards for a quick hello before the second show.</div>
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Friday was just a full day of silence basically for my voice. Really got in to the second Hunger Games (finally- it took a while to get going) and so I enjoyed reading that. I had a vocal massage and that's about it.</div>
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Saturday I woke and headed in to town to have a nice brunch and read more of my book before the matinee and then in between the shows I had a catch up with a couple of friends and a play through of some songs I needed to learn for a couple of things which was good. After the show on Saturday I headed home and then drove over to a mates house to watch a film and chill out. I stayed over there and just had a lazy day all day Sunday. Watched Brothers & Sisters, ate nice food, watched 'Despicible Me' the animated film but the DVD kept jumping so we saw an hour of it and had to use our imaginations to fill in the gaps. Still funny though. My mate then cooked an amazing roast dinner before I headed to a wedding reception in the evening which was a couple of hours away in the car. It was a friend of mine who I did Rocky Horror Show with who was getting married and she looked amazing. The whole venue and reception was incredible. I had a really nice night and was great to catch up and enjoy time with good friends and see two people so happy on their wedding day!</div>
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I then drove home and really enjoyed some alone time in the car with music blaring and very little traffic on the road. There's something almost therapeutic about driving I feel sometimes, especially at night. I am heading home to North Wales this weekend and am looking forward to finishing the show on Saturday night and then jumping straight in the car and driving for 4 hours to North Wales for my Sunday Funday workshop which I'll mention shortly.</div>
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I got in after the drive home Sunday night and actually stayed up until about 4am watching some YouTube videos and doing some online research for a project that I'm working on at the moment. I then got to sleep and woke at 9am. I decided that I too would treat myself to a 'normal' style bank holiday Monday - and by normal I mean like the people who don't have to work, I did go to work to do the show in the evening obviously but I allowed myself to lay in bed and read in the morning and then have some breakfast then go back to sleep for a couple of hours before then heading to the gym for a run and a swim and a steam, which I really enjoyed. It set me up good and proper for a good show on Monday night and it was nice to feel like I had a bit of a lazy bank holiday!</div>
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Tuesday I woke early as I had to head into town for a meeting at midday before then going to the gym for a swim and hitting the studio to record something. I have been working a lot in the studio over the past few weeks and I think Tuesday was potentially my last day! I certainly hope so because all this extra vocal work is tough when doing a job like Ghost.</div>
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After that I went to my dressing room, lay on my sofa for a couple of hours reading and watching some property programmes on TV. There are so many on the box at the moment aren't there?! At every hour of the day there is a property programme on some channel or another. Not that I'm complaining. I'm looking to buy another flat at the moment and it makes me inspired and gives me ideas when I watch those programmes.</div>
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After the show on Tuesday I headed home silently for a good sleep.</div>
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I woke on Wednesday morning (yesterday) and went to meet my manager for a meeting and then I had physio before going to work to be a part of the press launch for the new production of Ghost The Musical which is opening in Holland in September. We met the 4 principals who are taking on the roles who are all lovely and we did lots of pictures and interviews to celebrate a new production opening this year! It was fun!</div>
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After that I sat in my dressing room for a couple of hours working on things for my workshop this weekend. The company I run, West End In Wales which is primarily a theatre website with lots of information for aspiring performers - but was initially set up six years ago as a musical theatre summer school in North Wales which has been held annually since 2006 (this August is the final summer school). However one of the new things we introduced this year were our Sunday Fundays.</div>
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This Sunday will be the last of the Fundays for this year and will be the best one so far. It's basically 4 hours between 12-4pm for people aged 10-18 to spend time with me, my assistant director Aimee Davies and experienced actor Gareth Aled to have a very relaxed fun afternoon of acting, singing and dancing but most importantly the chance to hang out with us, ask any questions about our lives, the industry, where to train, what it's like as a professional performer, we'll be working on vocal technique, script work, direction, movement, accents! All this just for £10.00.</div>
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So head on down to the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl this Sunday from 12-4pm for a great afternoon. You don't need to book, you don't need to be Welsh, you don't need to be experienced, just turn up and bring your friends. The more the merrier to join in the fun! It's not very often you get the opportunity to be in a room full of people who you don't really know very well but you do know that they all share the same interest and inspired passion for performing or for theatre in general which is why I set it up in the first place!</div>
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After I worked on all that stuff I did the show. The audience were great and it was nice to know that the Dutch cast and press were in watching the show. They really enjoyed it and are very much looking forward to getting started on their own production which has it's premiere night on September 9th. </div>
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After the show last night I came straight home and headed to bed as I was well and truly shattered. </div>
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Today is going to be a good day I can feel it.</div>
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Hope you've enjoyed reading folks. Thanks for your support as always. By the way I've had a few people tweet and message me about fan mail. I am still (4 months later) waiting for printed pictures from Ghost to come through and when they do I will reply to you. If you sent me a letter to the stage door, please be safe in the knowledge that providing it was addressed to me it will definitely have arrived and I will have it in my room and will reply as soon as possible.</div>
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Have a great week everyone.</div>
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Keep believing!</div>
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Sh-Boom!</div>
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Mark</div>
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<br /></div>Mark Evanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07629532780689510356noreply@blogger.com