How About A Shave...

Its Official. Sweeney Todd is one of my favorite musicals. I fell in love with it when I actually did a concert version of the show in Utah. I played M. Pirelli. I really loved that role for reasons I can't really disclose cause if you haven't seen it it will spoil the movie for you. I also enjoyed the character. He is bigger than life and who doesn't like acting stiff like that. I saw the movie tonight and I loved it! It was a fuse of 2 genres that I love the most. Horror and Musicals. It was brilliant. Tim Burton = Brilliant. I did have some issues with the movie. Some of the singing voices weren't my favorite. Johnny Depp was so good though. I really enjoyed his voice 'cause it was grounded and powerful. I have to warn you that there is alot of blood in this movie. I am still trying to figure out the reasoning behind the almost comedic blood spills in the movie. In a way I liked the contrast it was with the muted really dark cinematography. But it was really really gruesome. I guess thats what makes it a horror movie. Honestly I am not sure it is categorized as a horror. I think its more of a thriller/suspense/drama. Which genres I enjoy also. Well, I didn't want to make this a review but I really liked the movie.

So things are kinda drab. Nothing really exciting going on. I have been trying to stay indoors as much as I can. On my days off I have been running errands and taking class at Broadway Dance Center here in Tokyo. I have taken class from really great teachers. Some from NY. I have also met some cool Japanese dancers. I was invited to dinner dinner with a Hip-Hop teacher and some people from class next week. The teacher is actually Nick Gonzalez. He is Puerto Rican! Wha wha!!! We talked alittle and he is a very nice guy. He was telling me all the things he has done. So AMAZING! Apparently, he and Brian Friedman are TIGHT. He got noticed when he was on So You Think You Can Dance seasons 1 and 2. I don't rememer him but I believe him. Brian saw him and hooked him up with jobs sooon after he was kicked off. He has been teaching all across the world. I am excited to pick his brain and maybe he can hook me up with a job somehow/somewhere down the road. You never know. He is also hooking me up with alot of HOT music. He's gonna make me a CD of the music he uses in his class. So DOPE! I don't usually use that word but hip-hoping it today got me all ghettoized. It is in my blood. Lets be honest! Today we danced to Janet's new song "Feedback." It is such a HOT song. Download it if you haven't already. Alright I am tired. I am gonna be really sore tomorrow. PEACE Yo!

Culture Corner:
Japanese don't leave the movie theatre until the credits are all DONE. I think they consider it rude and dangerous. Rude cause it's considerate to wait until the movie is completely over. And dangerous cause everything is so dark. I dunno. I am just guessing. So I stayed as long as I could until I had to get up and leave. I guess I haven't turned all Japanese just yet.

Blowing Smoke

I visited ASAKUSA a more traditional Japanese town in Tokyo with temples, Shrines, and a tourist shopping paradise. I went with my Japanese Mormon friend called Tomo. She was nice enough to show me around. After being a good tourist we had a traditional noodle soup called Soba. They usually have Soba at the beginning of the New Year. I loved IT! It was soooo GOOD! Here are some pictures:

A little foot bridge bridge that is over 400 years old.


A cool street off to the side.


The Big Temple in Asakusa


I have to explain this one. In front of the temple there is this fire gazebo and people waft(sp) the smoke over for the part of the body they want healing. Tomo said when she was a child her dad would waft the smoke on her head so she would be smart at school. She said it worked. She was a straight A student :) I tried to have the smoke cover my whole BODY!


Real Japanese people making fire for the Smoke Ritual


Underneath that statue was a troff of water where the Japanese would wash their hands before entering the temple.


A little shrine near the temple


The big shopping street in front of the temple that sold many neat Japanese trinkets. It reminded me a little of a cleaner more organized china town in NYC.


Me as a fat Japanese philosopher. hahaha.


Tomo as a French/Japanese limo driver???
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Culture Corner:
So Buddhism is the major religion here in Japan. There are really into rituals and symbolism. Nowadays about 90 million people consider themselves Buddhists in Japan. However, the religion does not directly affect the everyday life of the average Japanese very strongly. Funerals are usually carried out in a Buddhist way, and many households keep a small house altar in order to pay respect to their ancestors.

Year of the RAT!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! It feel like its been a while since I've blogged. Its 2008! I should do better at blogging we'll see how that goes. I do have some resolutions that I made but I'll spare you the details. Maybe I'll share a few. I decided I want to learn the Piano. I want to get a teacher and get lessons. I think i am going to start here in Japan. I need to find a teacher...hmmm. I have others but they are boring and some personal. But I hope every one has started their New Year healthy and with a positive mind set of what this year could bring. I celebrated my New Year at a Latin club in Roppongi(party district in Tokyo). Before the club I went to the big Tokyo Tower to take some pictures. I am not a clubber so it was weird to go to this club alone. But I had a good time met some ladies and danced the night away. When it was ready to count down I didn't know if I should count down in English, Spanish cause I was at a Latin Club, Japanese cause I was in Japan or French just because I can. So I think I started in English then went to Spanish then I ended up in Japanese. Crazy...I know but what an experience to be in a Latin bar in Japan, not knowing a soul, and bringing in the new year. I left around 1am and met up with some people from Disney at a local bar by our apartment. It was mostly those who had to work the countdown shows. It was fun to see them. Around 3:30am I decided to call it a night and head home, SOBER by the way. I am happy to report I am 28 years SOBER :) Anyway, the next day. I watched CNN and saw the ball drop in NYC. I was missing NYC. After I rushed out my apartment because I was late meeting someone to go see National Treasure. There is a funny story while leaving. While in the Elevator I met this girl that was visiting a friend. I wished her a Happy New Year. She then states that I was the first person she has talked to all year. I told her she was lucky :) I wished her a good day as I rushed to go get my bike at the lot in the back of the building. I decided that I should invite her to the movies. So as I leave and go out the front doors to see if I can catch this girl I see her on the floor holding her ankles and balling her eyes out. I freak out and drop my bike to see what was wrong. In her hiccupy, cute accent(I think Australian) she says she fell off the concrete steps outside the doors while fidgeting with her Ipod. She also says she thinks she sprained her ankle. I ask her if she wants me to call an ambulance. She said no that she just needs to put ice on it. I then pick her up and take her to the elevator. By this time she wants to walk. So I let her go. I felt bad she went upstairs alone. I called her friend she was visiting to make sure he knows she was hurt. While all this is happening my friend is calling me and texting me to hurry up. I was in such panic. Ahhh! I should have just taking her to the room and made sure she was OK and had ice. I just felt so bad for this girl. Her first steps in 2008 and she falls and sprains her ankle. That can't be a good sign. Or maybe she is getting all the bad stuff out of the way first. hmm? Well, I hope she is OK. When I picked her up and took her to the elevator I kinda felt like the Knight in Shining Armor rescuing the damsel in distress. I am going to check up on her tonight and see how she is doing. Story of sprained ankle girl to be continued...

So in Asia they use the Chinese astrology calendar. I am not too familiar with it all but in Japan it is the year of the RAT in the 12 year cycle in the Chinese animal zodiac. In Chinese astrology the zodiac of twelve animal signs represents twelve different types of personality. The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat. So what this all means ..I dunno but I do know that Disney is using this to their advantage. Because some times the Year of the Rat can be interchangeable with the Year of the Mouse. Rat...Mouse....MICKEY MOUSE! So get this. I just figured this out today. This might take some math skill. Hope you can handle it :) The year of the Rat is every 12 years. 12 animals naturally Rat being the first in the cycle. So if we count down in multiples of 12 from now we get, 1996(year of the rat) and 1984(year of the rat). Guess what opened in 1984....you got it. Disney Land Tokyo. So this year being the year of the Rat/Mouse again marking the.....drum roll please....25th anniversary of the park. How cool is that! So this year they are using that to their advantage as a marketing point. There are going to be many special events through out the year. This is a big year for TDL. I hope they do well. So I am counting this as my Culture Corner which I haven't done in a while. hehehe! In all this research I found out what my Chinese zodiac animal was when I was born. I was born on the year of the SHEEP. Every animals has personalities that go with them and I freaked out how spot on my animal was.

Sheep (hitsuji) --- Born 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907
People born in the year of the Sheep are elegant, highly accomplished in the arts, passionate about nature. At first glance, they seem to be better off than the people born in other years. They are deeply religious and passionate in whatever they do and believe in.

I love IT! All of that is so TRUE to me. Made me smile and chuckle to myself. So when I am acting Sheepish. You'll understand.


Anyway, I am really excited about this year. I feel like its going to be a year of change for me. I am not sure what kind of change but I know its going to be good change. I wish everyone the best in this year to come. God bless you all with health and a strong will to accomplish all your goals you have set for yourselves in this new year, 2008!

Here are some pics of Christmas and stuff:


Pumpkin Spice Cake w/ Honey Cream Cheese frosting I made for dinner at the Welch's. YUMMY!


Creepy Reindeer Dancers on parade at Disneyland


Cinderella Castle at Christmas


Family I spent Christmas Eve and morning with. They gave me American cereal for Christmas. SO AWESOME!


Cy and I at Disney Sea on Christmas day!


Mariachi Band at the place we had dinner over at the Mexican part of Disney Sea


Tokyo Tower on New Year's Eve

Away in a Manger...

So it the Saturday night before Christmas. I just finished watching The Family Stone one of the many Christmas movies I have been watching this past week. I don't know if watching all these sentimental movies is good for me. More then ever I have been missing my family and friends this holiday season. But 'tis the season to watch these movies and order pizza right ;) It is going to be weird not going home this Christmas. I am going to miss my mom's cooking, watching my niece and nephew open their presents, and just hanging out with my crazy family. I hope they know just because I am not there that I will miss them and love them very much. This Christmas is going to be busy which is nice. I am off both Eve and Day. So Eve I am going to breakfast at a family's house that goes to my church. Then all day I am gonna bake alot of Snickerdoodles for my cast and friends out here. Later in the evening I am going to another family's house for dinner. The next day I am going to have Christmas breakfast at yet another family's house then going to Disney Sea for the day. I love free meals :) I hear it is going to be crazy stupid busy at Disney on Christmas day but it beats just hanging out at E-Village. And I have to use my last free ticket before the end of the year and that is the only day I can go. I think even though it will busy I am going to have FUN! I figure if I am going to be away from my loved ones for Christmas cause of the Mouse I might as well be treated to a fun filled day courtesy paid for by the Mouse. HA!

So I want to take this time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and remember the reason for the day. I know I forget at times. Remembering that Jesus Christ our beloved brother was born in a lowly manger. Because of his birth, ministry and death we can be saved and have Eternal Life. I find that through this time it is easy to loose sight of the real truth of this season. The truth, that for me has given me direction, hope and lots of happiness. God Bless everyone. I love you all! Feliz Navidad!

Tony

"FUNderful Disney"

...is the title of the Tokyo Disney Resort Park Fan Club's magazine. This recent issue featured "Minnie Oh! Minne." The pictures they used of the show had me in it. These are the only pcitures I have of me in my show. But don't worry I am going to have a fan come take pictures/video recording of me now that I am settled in the show and ready for it :) Here are some pictures I took of the magazine. There were alot more pictures but they were thumbnail sized and hard to get a clear picture of them. THe article is obviously in Japanese. I am sure it says how awesome I am blah blah blah...hehehe! I am sure it doesn't. I think it is so funny that there is even a fan magazine. But I am glad I have it for posterity.

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One Man's Stalking

Have you ever had a stalker? Not a good feeling. I don't think I necessarily have a stalker just fans that like to follow. I went to Disneyland yesterday with some people in my cast. One singer and one of the girls who plays Minnie Mouse. While we got out of watching out show. There was a couple of out fans. One of the them had his camera out and taking pictures as if he were the paparazzi and I Britney Spears. I waved hi and then moved on. Eri, one of the my girl singers was telling me to walk fast to get away from those crazy fans. When we thought we lost them. There were a couple who came up to Eri and started to talk to her. She kindly waved and kept going. During lunch. Someone in our group spotted some more of our fans watching us eat. I was laughing so hard. After lunch we walked out and there they were just staring and waving. I didn't want to be rude but I also didn't want them to keep following us. So I waved back and smiled. Then I heard one of the girls scream "I LOVE YOU!" as she giggled and covered her mouth. It was like I was Micheal Jackson after a concert. I might be exaggerating a little but they were real and they were following me. After that I think we lost them but all day we encountered people who recognized us. They would stare, smile and giggle to get my attention.

I thought I didn't have any fans and I thought these "crazy fans" I heard about didn't really exist. But they do. It was fun and harmless but just a little creepy. I've heard some stories that are pretty hilarious. Like one fan pulling a performer into a subway car and telling him to go with her. Another fan driving a performer home every night. Some even like to give expensive gifts and take out to elaborate dinners. Now, those are the fans I want! lol!

The Goose is Getting Fat

It's DECEMBER! Christmas is just around the corner. LOCO! I am so excited. It is so pretty here in Tokyo. They love thier decorations. I can't wait to get to Disneyland lext week. Yahoo!

There is alot to post. Alot of Pics! Last time I posted it was right before thanksgiving. So I better report on how the eating holiday went. Overall, it was really great. The night before I made two Pumpkin pies. It was so hard to find everything I needed but at the last minute I found everything and put it in my little friendly Micro/Oven. I also found out the night before that the dinner was going to be cut in size. It was too much to have so many people. So it was just four of us. Josh, Maria, Zach and I. Josh, Maria and Zack are all in Big Band Beat. We made dinner in Josh's apartment. Turkey wasn't possible so we had Chicken Cordin Bleu with some of our favorite sides such as: green bean caserole, candied squash(I made), mash potatoes, deviled eggs, cranberry sauce, and I think that was it. Everything was delicioso! Then there was dessert. My pumpkin pie came out incredible. Even I was impressed. Watch out Martha Stewart. I was scared but it tasted AMAZING! We ate about one pie and I had an extra to take to work. They love it when I bring baked goods. So a Turkey day with out turkey even though seemingly dissapointing became a great night had by al. I did end up eating some Turkey on that Saturday cause a family at church made me a plate from the dinner they had. It was good but I have to say our chicken was alot better :)

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The week after Thanksgiving my friend Josh who seems to be the only person I hang out wiht. I promise I have other friends. They are just all Japanese and they don't have my days off. Little frustrating. That is the tricky part. Anyway, He and I decided to go on a radnom trip. I decided to go cause when will I be able to visit another part of Japan ever again. Our decision was to go to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka(USJ) on Monday and Kyoto, a beautiful area near Osaka, on Tuesday. We took the Shikasen which is a bullet train from Tokyo Sunday after work which took us about 3 hours to get there to Osaka. We stayed at a Universal sponsered hotel. It was water themed. It was cool! We got in late Sunday night went to bed, woke up had free breakfast(which was really good) then headed to Universal for the day. It was really fun. A highlight was the WICKED show which is a 30 minute cut of the Broadway show Wicked. Which is amazing and I am a big fan. The show is about the Witches from the Land of OZ. I was surprised put the production quality was really good and the singers were not too bad. It was mostly in Japanese. Good thing I know the show really well. The Elphba(the green witch) was American and the Glinda(the good witch) was Japanese. She was amazing. She was funny, dramatic, and overall a great singer. Aparently the writer of the show Steven Shwartz came and mounted the prodcution a couple of years ago. He wanted it to be a mini braodway show. I think he succeeded. They also had this awesome roller coaster called Hollywood Dreams that was so fun. You are strapped in and have person speakers by your ears and have a choice to choose from 5 songs. The first time I chose Eminen "Lose Yourself". Ghetto I know! But added to the ride! We rode it twice. Other then that we did the usual. Rode Spider Man, ET, Jurrasic Park, ate alot of food, and took alot of pictures. You have to understand that my buddy Josh just bought a brand new camera that cost him, let say ALOT of money. So he was trigger happy and wanted to get to know his camer. I have to say I got to use it too and it was fun to take pictures with. So be warned of the "artistic" shots

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So the next day we were off to Kyoto of course after our yummy free breakfast! Kyoto was about 20 minutes away on the local subway system.

Kyoto: is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Kyoto was spared from the firebombing of World War II. With its 2000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, as well as palaces, gardens and architecture intact, it is one of the best preserved cities in Japan.

So when you think of what Japan should look like it's this place. It was especially beautiful at this time with the leaves changing. Just think Memoirs of a Geisha. We had a full afternoon then had to take the bullet train back to Tokyo cause I had to be back at work in the morning. Not much to say just the fact that I was really tired from the day before at USJ and had a good time being a tourist. I think the pictures will speak for itself and again there were some down times waiting for trains so we decided to have a photo shoot. That carmera which is named "Frank" btw was so COOL! We was our fun third person on the trip with us.

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I hope you liked the pictures. I need a break after all that. Also it was pretty expensive. I don't know if that was the smartest thing to do right before the Holidays. Oh well, it was worth it! Now back to Tokyo and work. Things are good. But I have some good drama for you. So at work my counter part Adrian who shares the role with me and I decided to decorate our courner of the dressing room. We figured since we are at work more then we are at home it would be nice to have some Christmas spirit at work. He found some good stuff and we got alot of stuff at the $1 store. So we took a day when we were both at work and decorated between shows. It was fun and everyone seemed to like it. They next day I was off, actually I was on my trip to Osaka. Adrian sends me a picture message and said with not so kind words that they those "%$#@%&@!" took down our decorations. He was livid and so was I. But I was at Universal Studios and I didn't want to be bothered. But he had a meeting with our boss and they said it was a fire hazard and had to be taken down after we left that night. Couldn't they had waited till we got to work to tell us and let us taken it down. I thought it was kinda of harsh. I guess the rule is that nothing can be on the walls. It's the fire marshall's call. Out argument was that there are some other things on the wall in that dressing room that hasn't been taken down so whats up with that! Aparently the other things were aproved by the fire marshal. There is this huge poster/collage that is "really important" to the dancers. And the other things on the walls are posts that have important information. WHATVEVER! After making our stage managers cry and getting our bosses invovled we decided to drop it and not let this ruin our Christmas. Lets just say Scooge has come to Japan as the form of a Fire Marshal and Stage Managers that don't care enough to let us have the spirit of the Navididad in our lives. I decorated my room with lights and stuff so I guess that will have to do. I have no tree though. I should get one. They are just expesive. Anyway, I better go. I have to go buy some Christmas cards. I have been home for the last 2 days cause I have a really bad sore throat. It was my day off so it is all good. I went to the doctors yesterday. Seems I am there alot. Can we say problem child!? He said my throat is swollen and red. I could have told him THAT! AN INFECTION! YAH! SO he gave me some antibiotics and pain killers. I feel better already. Its not affecting my voice. Which is great. I just feel like CRAP! On a happy note. I hope everyone is having a good Holiday season so far and is not getting stessed or bogged down with having to buy presents and stuff. Its not worth it. Christmas should be a time of focusing on other things. Like bettering self and helping others. Not being bothered by the stresses of the world. There's my input :)

Culture Corner:
So for Christmas instead of putting up stocking and stuffing them. They have Boots. They use boots to stuff and give away. Kinda funny. Cause its very similiar but just a little different to make you laugh a little.

Take care all. Don't forget...the goose is getting fat PLEASE put a penny in the old man's hat :)

Love,
Tony