julie reiber.com my blog

July 24, 2008
Hi guys. I've been getting some requests for another blog…so here I am! I've been really lucky. I've been going on a lot this last month which makes me so happy! I sure love getting green. And along with that has come some pretty fun and challenging snafu's!

As many of you fans know one night I did not get to fly. This happens randomly once in a blue moon and it just happened to happen to me. But it's live theatre…the show must go on! So it did! The story behind it goes like this: Kendra and I were out front singing and all of a sudden we hear a big crunching sound and the tech guys hollering (well whispering cause they're on stage…but panicked whispers) that something was wrong with the levitator. That is the machine that makes me fly at the end of Act 2. Kendra was looking at me and squeezing my hand so hard as if to, through telepathy, tell me that I wasn't gonna be flying! So I turned to go back to the levitator and yup…no levitator to be found. Now…I had seen this happen to Eden one time and she told me that if it does happen you just work it out on the floor and sing your face off. Riff to high heaven to make up for it. So…that's exactly what I did! I actually don't even know what I did. I think I spun around and I definitely sang it with some extra sass. It's much easier to wail on that thing when you are grounded and free of the confinements of the levitator.

When we are up there our feet are pretty much glued together and you can't move any of your lower body, so it's tough to wail that out when you aren't free to move around! I realized how much it restricts us once I was free to fly on the ground! So I just whipped around and gave it all I had. The ensemble was laying on the floor as if to “look” up at me…which makes me laugh a bit when I think about it. And the smoke was double what it usually is. I think they pumped that stuff full on to help with the illusion. And to be honest, I'm sure if you didn't know that I was supposed to fly, it was probably still quite impressive, so don't worry if you missed it….but come again and I'm almost positive I will fly that time for ya!

The second fun snafu I have experienced since joining this company is a snafu that not many Ephaba's get to experience. This was a challenging one and one that we didn't really have a back up plan for yet, so we were definitely flying by the seat of our pants. So…you know for the top of “No Good Deed” when I come up in the lift through the stage. Well….one night I was down there ready to go and yup you guessed it…. It wasn't moving. The music was playing and I was not rising up. Everyone started talking on their headsets trying to figure out how to get me up there. I remembered that in L.A. the back up plan was that the orchestra would vamp until I could get upstairs, then we would start the song. So we're running around and they decide to put me up through the Defying Gravity trap that is on the down left cog. They open it and everyone is talking at once and all I'm hearing is “It's open Julie. Trap is open.” I knew I had to get on stage so I headed up (which was not easy mind you because the second act dress IS NOT meant to go up that tiny staircase) But I went up and got on the stage and what do I see? SMOKE!! Smoke, smoke and more smoke. Seriously. I could not see a thing. And I know that some trap somewhere is open and I really don't want to fall down it so I head upstage as much as I can and I start in with “Elekenamen…” I start singing and a couple lines in I realize….the orchestra is half way through the song!! They did not vamp like I thought they would, they kept on going!! So I'm singing and I'm trying to switch notes around so that I'm not totally off with what they are playing and trying to figure out what I'm going to do all at the same time as continuing to sing and trying to find Dominick's head in the midst of the smoke fest! I can't see him and I'm guessing that the orchestra IS NOT going back to the top although I'm not with them, so then the theatre magic happens. You see…when you are an actor and you are on stage in front of people this amazing thing happens to you and that thing is: Adrenalin. Your brain and your body just take over and you seem to have an out of body experience which is exactly what I had. I wasn't quite sure what my mind and voice and body were doing…I was just letting it fly. SOMEHOW my brain, thank god, while singing the first verse figured out where they were musically. I'm not sure how or what I did, but supposedly I did a crazy riff that led me into the modulation which somehow got me back on track with the song! Whew!! That was a really long story I just realized, but in my mind that was everything I was going through. It was madness…but it was LIVE theatre baby!! And there is such a thrill to that…even when things go wrong!

So that's the latest! Be back soon and thanks, as always, for all the support and fan mail and gifts! You all are the best!! THANKS!! ….

May 17, 2008
So….my first day on performance contract in the Broadway company of WICKED and guess what?... I got to perform!! Woohoo! Lets hope this is a trend! And as of today I've been on twice now. I got to perform this afternoon as well.

So usually before you go on for the first time you get what's called a “put in.” That's a rehearsal where you get costumes, lights, sound and tech. As most of you know I was thrown on in L.A. before I got a rehearsal. It was very exciting and luckily I didn't fall on my face! But I will say this tends to be a running theme for me. I was thrown on in RENT with no rehearsal and Tuesday night I had dejavu once again! I had my debut as Elphaba on the Bdway stage… and my “put in” at the same time. It's actually fine with me, especially in this circumstance of having played the role before. There are some changes in the Broadway company, but not too many, so I actually felt quite at ease and ready to go… and very excited of course because you all know I love to work!

I just have to say what a wonderful company this is here in NY. This is just an amazing group of people. They are so welcoming and supportive! Everyone has been behind me and helping me out every time I've been on stage. They've all been telling me how scary I am on stage… which is a good thing in this role at times I think. It's just felt amazing to have such a supportive team around you when you are taking your first swing at it. I've had a blast! And I've gotten to play with two Glinda's that were both fresh on the gig too which makes it so fun! Kendra, the woman playing Glinda on Tuesday, was having her first night back to the company. She is just brilliant and we had so much fun together! We just played off each other and I will say I had a hard time keeping it together at times… she is hysterical! Then today it was Lindsay, who was going on for her 3rd time ever. She is such a sweetheart and so talented! It was such fun being on with her.

I've gotten some emails asking me about any snaffos or drama I had going on and really the only major goof I had was on Tuesday night. In L.A. after you melt you get escorted off stage in the dark by a crew member. Well… the other night I melted just like usual, but no one came to get me. So I stood up and was checking out my two wing options for exit… wing one or wing two?? Which to choose? Well… in L.A. we exited wing two, so I headed on out thinking I was good to go when BAM! A drape was coming in and the bar at the bottom of it came crashing down on my shoulder! Arrgghh!! I was totally fine and the first thing out of my mouth was “Well… I guess it's wing one then.” So I learned my lesson and like I said, some things are different here than in L.A. And the crew here is so great that today throughout the show I had three different crew members remind me that the exit out of that scene is wing one. Good peeps!

So thank you, as always, for all the amazing support and emails you send me. It means a lot! I'm so happy to be getting green again. Till next time….

May 5, 2008
Hey everybody. So…as many of you know I've joined the Broadway company of WICKED. I swear… you fans are so on top of it! I was getting emails and posts before I even signed my contract!   But yes… it is true and I'm very happy to be green again. I am there for 5 months as of now to cover Lisa's departure to the Chicago company and no…. I do not know what will happen after that.   So many of you are asking me if I'm taking over for Kerry and I know nothing… but can't hurt to keep your fingers crossed.

So… what have I been doing since I left WICKED LA?   Well… I was chillin in Hawaii for a bit with my family, I've been enjoying being home in my apartment, doing a lot of yoga, playing a lot of guitar, playing a lot of frisbee in the park, singing in some benefits and concerts… just keeping busy and enjoying myself.   I am so very happy to be home. I did enjoy L.A. , but there's no place like New York City , so I'm just very grateful to be home and with my friends and my apartment again.

I'll write more when I get into the show and I have some fun stories and such. Thanks again for all the support you have all given me!   Enjoy the spring and catch ya next time!

Nov. 10, 2007
Hey everybody. So…I guess I didn't really do that great of a job at keeping a blog going during my time in L.A. huh? Sorry about that.

So…Wicked has been amazing. I have performed the role of Elphaba over 30 times. Not sure the exact count, but it's been a decent number. I definitely found my groove and I have fallen in love with her! It's just simply one of the best roles a woman can have the opportunity of playing for musical theatre. It's full of so many wonderful layers and moments….and then the songs! Well…it has been one of the greatest joys of my career getting to play her and I am going to miss it dearly!! I hope, I hope, I hope that I will get the opportunity again!

As most of you know, I am moving back to NY in a week. I'm going to miss L.A…and I NEVER thought I'd be saying that! It took me a while to warm up to this place, but I have. It has it's major perks…the weather, the hiking, driving your groceries home instead of lugging them down the city streets. The beach. I will miss it. But at the same time I am so very excited to get back to chilly NYC! And during the holidays!? No better time! I miss my apartment and the energy of the city. I can't wait to see my friends and to see what is coming up next for me!

Some of the highlights of my time in L.A. ? Well....the benefit I just did at the Alex Theatre was one of them. I was surrounded by amazing, talented people! My friends Emily Rozek and Chad Kimball were there. Also Alice Ripley and her husband Shannon who I hadn't seen in forever! It was just a fun night of singing amazing music. AND the best part for me was being able to sing for Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menken. It meant so much to me to sing “The Wizard and I” for Stephen. He hadn't seen me in the show and since I'm leaving, it was just a really special opportunity for me. I had a blast and by the sounds of the crowd afterward, I think I impressed them! Also meeting Bruce Kimmel. He was the organizer of the event. He is a record producer and writer and I am just so excited to have connected with him. He is so gracious and complimentary and I can't wait to work with him again. He says he wants me to sing on his albums and I will be there in a heartbeat! What an honor!

Hmmm….what else will I cherish from my time in L.A? Singing at Dodgers Stadium! That was a major highlight. What fun! Finally learning to play guitar! That was a major highlight and a goal I had been working on FOREVA!! The Broadway Unplugged concert was terrific. Singing “By My Side” with Emily was a major highlight! Wicked Wednesdays at Universal were good fun. The crowds were crazy and it was especially fun to ride the Mummy! Ummm….How about all the Upright Cabarets? Those were a blast. Imagine a very relaxed atmosphere, an extremely supportive crowd and a bunch of random, talented singers from all over the place coming together to sing. It's such a great time. Shane and Christopher have been so wonderful to me through my time here. I have sung at numerous Upright Shows and I think I may even be coming back to L.A. to do my solo show at some point too. Stay posted on that.

Oh…the fans!! You fans are no joke!! I can't thank you enough! They have been the most amazing, supportive group of people ever. I have never felt such love during a show…so thank you! They made me the most incredible scrapbook! I never would have made myself something like this, so THANK YOU!! It documents my entire time in L.A. There are pictures in there that I hadn't even seen! It's just beautiful. There are fan letters and programs. It's so special! I got a little stuffed witch bear that sings “Defying Gravity” with my voice, a Dorothy watch, flowers….etc, etc. The love has been never ending….so THANK YOU FANS!!!

And of course my new found friends. I'm gonna miss this cast so much. I will of course miss playing on stage with them. I will miss the many things that I did to bide the time while the show was going on….reading at Borders with Emily, Sushi with my friend Pat, Coffee Bean, Magnolia….the list goes on and on.

It's been grand L.A. Really it has! And I sure hope to revisit Wicked again soon! But I will be back in L.A. soon too. I won't be able to resist it now, with all my friends here!

So, on to new adventures and experiences! But thank you L.A. for the amazing time and I will cherish it always!!

May 7, 2007
Whew! I made it! I was green 5 times in a row people! Woohoo!
Thank you to all of you that supported me with emails and came to see the show! You fans are terrific!!!

So many of you have asked what happened so here's the story. I know I was originally only doing both shows Saturday, but Eden wasn't feeling well on Thursday. I was downstairs eating my dinner and all of a sudden our SM came and told me I "needed to get green right now! Eden wasn't finishing the show." As a standby, you are at the theatre each night incase something like this happens, but you do not sit around in the make up....some people thought I might be green each night. backstage ;) ....not so. But I did get green REALLY fast and I was on stage after "Popular. It was half way through Act 1, so
I was a bit thrown, but adrenalin kicks in and you just go! It was a bit of an out of body experience I'd say. It was my third time being on, so I wasn't quite settled yet anyway and I've never been thrown on mid show, so it was really strange! But luckily I had sung "The Wiz and I" downstairs and was a bit warmed up, and everyone on stage is so great and supportive....I just slid right in! I learned after the show that the most everyone in the audience had no idea a change had occurred. Half the people outside didn't even notice that a different person had walked on after 'Popular.' That's crazy to me that they wouldn't notice, but I guess that's a good thing? ;) Anyway....it was great fun. I ended up continuing on and doing Friday night, both shows Saturday as planned, and then Sunday matinee. Eden is all better and was back for the Sunday night show.

It was wonderful to get a run at this role! As an actor, it means a lot to get a groove and have some time to sit in a role and live it. It felt amazing! The audience is was so supportive and I'm so grateful for that. As a standby, I know people are sometimes coming specifically to see the original cast, so I appreciate everyone hanging in there and taking the ride with ME. Thanks for all the emails and coming to support me! It really felt amazing and I'm just so grateful to be here!! Thanks everybody!
Can't wait for next time!!

Also...check out my "YourLA" show that I did. I was a guest host on a news program here in L.A. It was such fun!! I got to explore Swedish L.A. And no, I'm not Swedish, I'm Norweigan....but I've been to Stockholm. :) I got to eat food, wear clogs and meet a celebrity designer. I felt very L.A...... :) Check it out, click clips..... enjoy........

March 13, 2007
Elphaba debut!! Woohoo! I HAD SO MUCH FUN! What a blast! What an incredible role and I just feel so blessed to have this opportunity. I can't wait to get up there again!

I found out at about 5:15 for a 6:30 show on Sunday night, March 11th. I was in the shower at my place, so I had to rush over, but I made it in time to get green! I hadn't had my official first rehearsal, so I was gonna be winging it a bit, but I had watched a ton and had music rehearsal. I also, luckily, rehearsed all the technical stuff and got to live in my costumes for a bit with quick change rehearsal. So I felt as ready as I needed to be. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a bit of an over achiever and perfectionist when it comes to work. I don't go on stage unless I can nail whatever I'm doing, so I've been downstairs in the little room going through the show with the monitor and making sure I was ready to go whenever she needed me. So when the call came I was nothing but excited and thrilled!

I rushed to the theatre and started getting green. I wasn't as nervous as I was expecting. With this kind of role, when such amazing people have played it and people compare you to all the other great girls, I guess I was expecting to be more intimidated. But when the moment finally came I felt at ease, very comfortable and I just breathed! I was especially comfortable when I made my first entrance. For those of you that know the show, the crowd usually gives the green girl entrance applause, but I was preparing myself for silence, thinking the crowd would be disappointed that the standby was on….but they weren't! I ran out and they cheered like crazy! And it felt so amazing! I knew I was going to have an incredible show then and that they were behind me and supportive. Not to mention the amazing cast and crew of this show.. I felt only love and support from everyone of them which helps you along too that first time.

So…some highlights? Riding that lift up was amazing! I will say it is much easier in the show. When I first rode up in the light of rehearsal it was scary. You are so high!! But in the actual show with the smoke and lights, you can't see anything! So it's just an exciting moment that isn't scary at all…you just feel the power of that moment in the character and the show. It was awesome! The Wizard and I too. I just love that song. What a great song to open your show with. Then there is No Good Deed. Well… those that have seen the show know that you come up from underneath the stage for this. Well….you also have to run from onstage to the pit to get into that lift. It happens really fast and you are booking it in this 35 lb. dress you're wearing. I was just praying I was gonna make it…I ran as fast as I could. I made it!! And that song is definitely a favorite. It's such a turning point for Elphaba and I could feel myself transforming in that song. It was really fun!

So that's my night friends! I just can't wait to go on again!! Thank you to all who supported and have sent me emails and love. I look forward to many more green girl nights!! Come see me soon! ;)

December 22, 2006
I did it!! “Will Sing for Food” was a hit! Woohoo! For those of you that came and supported me and the charities….THANK YOU!!! Those of you that said you were coming and didn't…I hate you! Nah…just kidding of course! ;) I love you….but your loss because it was soooo much fun! It blew up into more of a rock concert than anything and it couldn't have gone better. It was so exciting to watch this idea I had actually develop into a real show. It's amazing how the universe just opens up and helps out when you actually commit to doing something…especially when it's a gesture of good will and positive energy. We raised over $1650.00 for the soup kitchens!! And donated over 100lbs of food to City Harvest! So THANK YOU!! It was a success and so much fun I think I'm gonna have to do it again so get ready! ;) I might have to be doing more of those shows because it was such a blast!

So now onto the next! I'm home for the holidays now, but studying away. Learning Elphaba and also catching up on my symphony stuff for my Nashville Symphony gig. I'll be busy when I get back, but can't wait to start work up again. I am so excited to get my hands on Elphaba and start working that character. Can't wait! So stay tuned for more as I get into rehearsals for WICKED. Till then happy holidays to all and Happy New Year! I'll be in Hawaii doing yoga for the new year! Woohoo!! I know…I'm the luckiest girl on earth! So I'll catch some rays for you all and I'll be back when I'm painted green! J

October 23, 2006
Haven't written in a while because I have been having so much fun in GODSPELL out at Papermill Playhouse! What a blast! From the first day of rehearsals I knew this was going to be a special gig. The director, Danny Goldstein, was so open and fun. He was encouraging us to play and fall on our faces and that made for a great environment for creativity and support of each other. We all had to bring in videos of us as kids in a show of some kind, Godspell if we had done it....and of course I had done Godspell. When I was 13 I was in it and I sang "Bless the Lord." Good times and so funny to watch....I thought that F at the end was soooo high!! ;) We all wore little jump suits and my Lazarus was a valley girl......funny stuff! Once we got it up and running it was smooth sailing with a few glitches. One night, when Stephen Schwartz was coming to the show, we got stuck in traffic for 3 hours and 45 minutes....and no, I'm NOT exaggerating. It was crazy!! When you work at Papermill you have to commute each day out to the show and of course there is traffic sometimes, but nothing like this had ever happened. The curtain was at 7:30 and there we were, stuck right outside the Lincoln Tunnel in a stand still. It was crazy. We sat there for 2 hours before we moved, then we hit another batch of traffic on 78. Stephen gave a talkback to stall time and then some of our understudies were out there from rehearsal earlier in the day and they were going to possibly sing some songs from the show. All the while we are driving there....or sitting there rather on the highway....and in communication with the theatre trying to figure out if we can really make the show happen. Finally it was 9pm and they announced they were going to cancel the show....mind you, we were sooo close! Maybe 1/2 mile from the Millburn exit. Right after they announced us cancelling we got off the exit and called the SM and said "We're off...we're here...give us 10 minutes and we're there!" So they ran back out on stage and said the cast had just gotten off the highway and that the show would start in 15minutes. Luckily the audience was filled with
friends and amazing supporters that had held out in the hopes we'd make it...and we did! We pulled in and left the van running. We sprinted in, I threw on some lipstick, got into mic and costume and off we went! I think I was still shaking when I started the show - it was such a rush. I had been driving the van for 3 hrs and 45 min in intense rain and traffic so my energy was a little scattered, but it was quickly honed in. The audience was AMAZING!!!! The best audience we had ever had...probably because of the anticipation and the wine they had been drinking to kill time I'm sure. But it became one of the funnest nights on stage ever for me. It was such a rush after all that and we put on the best show ever. Such fun!!!

One other glitch was the day I got a concusion during the show. Yeah....good times. I hit my head very hard on this wheel bearing of a ladder and became an instant space cadet. I finished the show, sobbing through and not really being able to sing, then I headed to the doc afterward to have them tell me that I had gotten a concusion and that I couldn't do the second show that day. Well...I was really out of it and I'm sure it was for the best...but it threw my poor u/s Sara Bolt for a loop. She was on it though! She and Holly went on and rocked the house I hear. I wish I could have seen it because Sara is histerical. One of the funniest people I have ever met! And I know she was amazing! So thanks girls for saving me and from then on when I went to lay down I looked behind me so I wouldn't hit my head again! :)

July 15, 2006
Back on tour and it is HOTTTT!!! Atlanta , Georgia folks. The south in the summer…nothing hotter than this. And I am a bit scared because next week we are playing an outdoor theatre in Houston and it can only be hotter down there. Running around in that heat with my stocking cap on can't be fun….but atleast all my long hair is gone so that should make it a bit cooler. (Oh yeah…those of you that didn't know, I chopped my hair off! Good times! ;) )

Credit: Diana DeGarmo's DreamTeam

But really….we are having a good time here. The show seems to have found its groove. Audiences are loving it, especially here in Atlanta since Diana and Melba are from here. The Fox is a beautiful theatre and we are getting some real nice southern hospitality everywhere we go. I ate at a southern soul food restaurant yesterday and this little woman came around to the table and rubbed our backs and chatted with us. That was her job! Rubbing peoples backs and chatting. Hard to imagine that happening in NYC. ;) So it is fun to be down south and doing BKLYN again.

April 10, 2006
MONGOLIAN SANDSTORM!! So…there's this haze over the sun and everyone is wearing masks. I wasn't thrown off because a lot of Koreans wear masks regularly because the pollution is very thick here, but this was something different. There is a sand that comes over from China and you can taste it in the air. It usually stays for a few days when it comes over. So now I'm wearing a mask regularly . So, it's a tough one but hey…how many people can say they have lived through a Mongolian Sandstorm AND performed 4 shows through it too! ;)

As for the food....I'm losing weight fast! We are not eating much except the free breakfast buffet. The food is a HUGE adjustment. The regular things they eat here are just so different from what we are used to. I'm trying to be adventurous, but it's tough….that kim chee is HOTTT stuff and it is in everything! Also beef is huge here and I don't eat beef. So I'm doing my best but I might have to resort to American fast food soon….but I will continue to try to be brave and try new things.

Ok….onto more adventures. We are visiting the demilitarized zone today. It is the border between North and South Korea that divides the two. I'm sure we will learn a lot. I already feel VERY grateful for my life and my blessings and freedom just thinking of visiting there. Life is good….

April 9, 2006
OH.....MY.....GOD!!!! Opening night. I will start with the end because it was the craziest experience ever! First of all I will just say....we are ROCK STARS!!! The audience would not leave...they just kept clapping and screaming, so we had to do an encore. Rob went out to sing "This is the Moment" AGAIN because we had nothing planned. Mandy and I couldn't take just watching because the audience was clapping along and loving it! So we headed out and stood on the side of the stage. So just picture....The entire audience was up on their feet, swaying back and forth, hands overhead clapping in time to "This is the Moment!!" Talk about surreal. ;) Mandy and I, swaying back and forth in our evening gowns, clapping our hands over our heads to "This is the Moment!" with a crazy crowd eating it up!! It was soooo wild! I thought I was in the Twilight Zone!

But our encore got even better as time went on. The Koreans just aren't satisfied with our one encore of "This is the Moment." This culture loves encores and expects it of all shows I guess…so we were forwarned that we would need more. We decided last night to try to add another song. We decided on "Hey Jude" thinking that was a universal thing that maybe they would like. Well.....we hit the bullseye on that one! Once again a surreal experience. We asked them if they liked The Beatles over the mic and they went wild. Once again picture.....an arena, the crowd on their feet, hands over head, swaying back and forth, singing in unison "Na na na nanana na, nanana Hey Jude...." along with us. Just craziness!!

Oh...and after the show! Our "bodyguards"....yes, we really do have our own security....led us out front and as we came around the corner people started screaming and flashing pictures. We signed autographs for atleast 20 minutes and took pictures with people for another 15. They were sooo excited....we truly were rock stars!! ;)

Ok...must sleep...I'm crashing HARD after that madness. 2 more times tomorrow. Wow...I'm in Korea and I was just clapping and singing along with "This is the Moment" in an arena of 2000 Koreans...…wow! ;)

April 4, 2006... Seoul , Korea
Ok.... so I have made it to Korea .... AGAIN! I feel like I just got my timeclock back to normal from press week and now I've screwed it up once again! The jetlag is brutal on a 14 hour flight!

So press week went well. We went on to have a press conference with Rob, Frank Wildorn and I up on the stage as if we were NBA stars after a game. It is so crazy the publicity in Korea . They don't mess around. A room full of reporters and photographers…. all for us. Very fun! We also checked out our ARENA that we are going to be playing. What?! We are really going to be rock stars for real! There are gigantic banners hanging from floor to ceiling with our headshots blown up on them to unreal proportion. Quite a surreal experience I'm having here......life is good!

March 12, 2006 - Press Week
Welcome everyone. ;) So...I thought I'd try out this journal thing on my site. I've been inspired because of all the adventures that seem to be coming my way....starting with KOREA !! What a crazy adventure this is going to be! I am one lucky girl! I get a call on Thursday from Dave Clemmons asking me if I'm free for April. I say yes, he says he'll call me back, he does and before I know it I'm heading to Korea on Sunday!!! It's all happened so fast, but I'm very excited. How many people get the opportunity to travel around the world to experience a completely different culture...and while singing and making money!?? What a life I lead! ;)

So we arrive after a 14 hour flight. Uggh! What a ride though! Business class is where it's at! Space age seats that lay fully back, personal tv with your choice of 20+movies, 2 full 4 course meals, wine service....the works! It was luxury! Guess that's what it's like to be a rock star! ;)

Our first venture is to sing live on a Korean tv show. Seems simple enough.... well, Rob and I get into the car and Justine, our korean ringleader, turns around and says, "You listen, you learn." I said, "what's she talking about Rob." Well....supposedly they want us to learn this popular Korean song and sing it that day......IN KOREAN....on live tv. Ummm...what?? They start to play this song in the car and continue to play this song on repeat throughout our ride, throughout the restaurant where we eat lunch over the loudspeakers....they are not kidding...they really expect us to do this. And I'm not talking about a little tune....I'm talking about a full on Mariah Carey, Michael Bolton duet in KOREAN! So we listen...and listen, and listen. We are starting to get it, but it's not easy. Korean is a very difficult language and a 2 syllable word in English is about a 6 syllable word in Korean so you can imagine how many syllables we were figuring out. We got these two young korean girls to hold cue cards that we wrote out in our own phonetic language. They of course didn't understand a word of english and had no idea what our "phonetics" meant....so they had NO IDEA when to change the cue card....adding to the fun. ;) We ran it down and ran it down and somehow we actually pulled it off! My motto was....when I wasn't sure of a word I just riffed and tried to impress with the singing and it seemed to work because they loved us and they said that we sang it better than the original people. Whew! Ultimately they really appreciated us trying. They are such a gracious people. Very willing to help and very happy that we tried to speak their language. It was great fun and completely hysterical! I can't wait to see that tape!!

See the tape - click here

Ok..... off to a press conference.... This is wild! ;)