Costumes, Parties, and Friends... Oh my!

So this may be a bit confusing because I already made a post about opening night, but this past Wednesday was the "Official" Opening Night of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular's 2011 Season! Hooray. The night started out a bit rainy, but once inside the music hall all was well.

I was so excited to start out the night with a PR in the Roxy Suite where a group of us got the chance to meet and greet children and board members of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a wonderful non-profit group that helps kids in need. It was such a fun event to be a part of. 15 of the kids had the chance to perform on the Radio City Stage with Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC before the show and they were so thrilled.

The event ended right as the show was starting down stairs, so I jumped out of my costume, into a purple dress, gobbled down some pasta, and headed to my seat to watch the Gold Cast do their thing! What an awesome performance. It was really fun being a part of the audience and get to take in the show from a different perspective. I can't believe that I'm actually a Radio City Rockette. It still hits me everyday when I walk to work. The beautiful Kersten Todey was in town to celebrate the occasion and what a fun night we had!

Here's the two Blue Cast newbies with our amazing dance captain in the center. What an amazing experience it has been so far, and mostly because we have had such wonderful guidance. A true inspiration and leader.

Here are some of the costumes in the show. This is the New York at Christmas dress and jacket. Darling if I do say so myself. And brand new this year!

My very favorite number in the show is towards the end and is called "Shine." I still have to try and keep my composure every single time this song starts! It makes me so emotional, 1. because the meaning behind the message is amazing, 2. this number really makes me feel like a true rockette, and 3. a part of the dance was the combo used in the audition! This photo really doesn't do the costume justice, but at least you can get a sense of what it's like. The number opens with all 36 Rockettes on a huge, glittering staircase, which explains the true reason I have to keep from tearing up because about 3 eight-counts in I have to walk down some stairs. Really I only have to walk down three, but trust me tears do not help the situation.

Well I am off to bed. Tucking in early for another 10am show tomorrow and couldn't be more excited to wake up and put on a reindeer outfit! I will pinch myself, yet again :)

Goodmorning NYC

What a wonderful way to be welcomed to work! I decided to take the scenic route from my sublet on 45th and 9th to Radio City Music Hall and ended up walking through Times Square in the morning (which is the best time to see the place), strolled past the Today show as it was taping live, and walked underneath the HUGE Christmas tree being set up at Rockefeller Center.

I thought I had seen all there was to see on my morning commute, but as I turned the corner onto 51st street I stumbled upon another surprise! The stars of the "Living Nativity" were getting their morning exercise right there in the middle of Manhattan. Three camels, one of which is named Ted, were standing in the middle of the street right outside the stage entrance. What a funny sight!




Every single time I look at the camels they make me giggle! Just look at those teeth! Hah. Hopefully we will cross paths again this morning. Off to another wonderful day at the Music Hall, which I'm sure will be full of wonderful surprises and more fun stories to share. Have a beautiful and blessed day.

It's Opening Night!

I can't even believe it's here. Opening night at Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Spectacular. We had two invited dress rehearsal shows a couple nights ago and both were fantastic. It is such a dream to be standing on the great stage and look out to a full audience of people, and even better to know that friends are in the audience. Thanks Phoebe, Jenni, Nicole, Gwen, Chelsea, and Cassi for making it a special night for me.


Last night, November 11, 2011 was my official opening night as a Radio City Rockette. We had two sold out shows, an 11am and a 2pm and both went absolutely splendid! In between shows I walked outside into Rockefeller Center and saw the amazing Christmas Tree being hoisted up at the Rock Center ice skating rink! Unbelievable. I had the most darling experiences with some little kids who noticed the red lips and french twist and put two and two together. It was darling to meet little girls that had just seen the show! They ask the best questions in the world. My favorite of the bunch being, "Why do the soldiers fall over?"

Our awesome swings for the show scurried up to each of the 5 dressings rooms in Radio CIty during our curtain call and left us a little surprise to share before we headed to McCormick and Schmicks for a fun happy hour, made complete with drinks and appetizers. The champagne was delightful and the after-show party was such a blast. It was so fun to hang out with the blue cast and get to know even more about that awesome people that I get the chance to share the stage with every night!


I was on such a high walking home from Radio City. First show down, a great evening spent with friends, and headed to a cozy bed. I had no idea that my night would get so much better. I walked into my Hell's Kitchen apartment to find a FedEx post on the main door that said Natalie Reid (box in lobby). I searched that lobby... no box. Weird. Walked up six flights of stairs and opened my door to find a big box in my kitchen with my name on it. How exciting! I ripped open the package like a 6 year old on Christmas morning to find a box full of chocolate covered strawberries and a "good luck on opening night" note from my three best friends back home in Seattle. Jenny, Lauren, and Sarah you guys absolutely made my opening night! It was the most thoughtful thing to come home to such a sweet gift and I cried in my kitchen, alone, eating chocolate covered strawberries, a little tipsy, at 7:30pm! What a fantastic night.

A new year, a new life...

I can't believe it has been an entire year since my last post! How time flies...

I have had some amazing experiences throughout this past year, and my life has, once again, taken me on an unexpected journey. I am now living in New York City! And not just anywhere in the big apple, I am living two blocks west of Times Square in a hip and happening neighborhood called Hell's Kitchen. The night life in this place is insane and the streets are filled with cool bars, quaint restaurants, and hidden boutiques.

This is my new office! I can't even believe it, but I actually walk to Radio City Music Hall everyday to be a Radio City Rockette. We actually have our very first dress rehearsal later today, and we open tomorrow!!!


Life in New York has been full of adventure so far and I am sure there is so much more to come. My days have been filled with meeting up with old friends and making new ones, Oktoberfest, Halloween festivities, and finding my favorite local spots.

Ocktoberfest with Serena and Gwen, two friends from college. We had a blast catching up and trying all the pumpkin ales, pickles, pretzels, and cookies in sight!

I hosted a Halloween get together at my tiny apartment with friends from high school, college, and the Rockettes! It was quite a fun mix of people complete with pumpkin carving, scary movies, and Halloween treats! The holiday decorations were provided by my darling mother in her annual Halloween box! I can not describe how excited I was to receive her darling gift in the mail. Lugging the box up my 6-Floor walk-up was another story, but it all paid off, and I had one very festive apartment to show for it! Thanks mom.

Amy's Bread is officially my favorite place to grab fresh, home made baked goods and lucky me, it's right across the street from my house. So far, my favorite has been Rosemary Black Olive Bread! They have the most delicious looking treats as well, and every time the door opens a little bell rings and you are invited into the most lovely smelling spot! Honestly, walking into this place is a treat in itself. Come visit me and we can share a cupcake!


So far, New York has been filled with adventure. I definitely miss my Seattle girls, my Utah ODT family, and my actual family, and being on the East Coast is definitely a lot further away than I thought it would feel. But I am living my dreams and having fun along the way. Until next time, which will be soon :)

October Comes to a Close...

And what an October it has been. This whirlwind of a month has flown by with shows, trips, dinner parties, and family reunions! "Thriller" was such a success and the wonderful journey attached to the month of running around like a zombie always has new twists and turns. I have been on the tour cast of "Thriller" for the past two years, but we started of our season at a new venue this year. The Egyptian Theatre on Main Street in Park City was the first to see our Halloween show. The historic town was such a fun place to perform and the tiny 200-seat theatre gave us new challenges.



During breaks we had the opportunity to explore the cute café lined streets and quaint shops, and after shows we found haven at the local Irish Pub.


Park City is where I had my first chance to perform the role of Mrs. Frankenstein with my wonderful partner Matt. What a great time!

We were put up in beautiful condos that were a skiers dream. I just pictured tree-lined slopes, covered in snow, and walking a few blocks to the lifts. (We were just a couple months early.) The free perks kept on coming with a free dinner for the cast at the local Blue Iguana restaurant. Delicious Mexican Food for all! It was quite the experience, and felt less like work and more like a vacation!

After Park City we had a little break before our shows started in Provo. I took advantage of the time by testing out my cooking skills and holding “a Witchy Rendezvous” at my apartment. The tour black witches cast came over to my place with apple-baked Brie, caramel apples, and a delicious salad in hand to toast to our fabulous friendships. I experimented with vegetarian chili, topped with ghoul faces made out of crescent rolls (which were a big hit!) I also added a layered bean dip graveyard, mozzarella “eyeballs”, and homemade salsa “brains” to the equation. We ended up with a festive feast! It was a wonderful way to spend an October evening.


Our shows started up in Provo the second week of October, and our cast of misfits decided we should change things up a bit. We surprised/horrified our director with a gender/bender dress rehearsal! Our mixed up zombies started off the show, which then lead into Maidens with Frank heads and Bride Wigs. Probably one of the funniest sights I have seen!





The run in Provo was fabulous with another slew of sold out performances, including the 2pm matinee on Saturday. What a crazy group of characters.


After a Thursday night show we headed over to the Pendleton’s for some Halloween fun. The darling couple invited our entire cast to a spooky ghost-telling gathering at their Provo Townhouse. The delicacies included ghost pumpkin pudding, homemade dry-ice root beer, mummy weenies (which I provided) and an array of other Halloween treats. We sat outside under the beautiful stars and lights and told ghost stories, flashlight to the face and all.



Our shows in Provo closed on Saturday night, and rather than heading home Matt and I raced to the Salt Lake Airport and hopped on a red-eye to the BIG APPLE! Our quick trip to New York City centered on a 3-hour Cedar Lake intensive on Sunday, which was unreal. What a phenomenal experience. We made the most of our 24-hour trip by walking EVERYWHERE, going to see In the Heights, and eating a great dinner in Times Square.





After a delirious flight home from New York we had one day before we were on the road again. How did I spend my day? I WENT ON A DATE! Hooray. I met a cute boy and we hit the town. I had such a good time and we are still dating as we head into November, but the timing of our first date was probably not the best. I totally slept in the next morning when we were supposed to be driving down to Tuachan in St. George, Utah. Of course my cute carpool waited for me, but I got a speeding ticket trying to make up for the lost time so we were still late. Oh well, what can you do?

St. George was filled with fun and mischief. We added in a “Twilight” number that I helped choreograph, as well as the ever-popular “Marie Antoinette” where a guillotine is the center of attention. We decided Shauna looks like Professor Trelawney from Harry Potter! These three friends shown below are all a part of my sweet carpool.


We always get a bit antsy down in Tuachan and usually our energy is expelled in a fun prank. Last year it was truth or dare with some very funny outcomes and this year we had “The Great Gummy Napping of 2010!” John Boy, or wonderful clown, carried on a bag of these swirly gummy bears in the show and they actually got stolen in Park City out of his dressing room. Before one of the shows, two culprits snatched the bag and hid it in plain sight in the girl’s dressing room. After an interrogation and a hostage situation the clown finally spotted his prize.





On one of our last days in St. George a group of friends and I decided to take a hike… literally. We ended up hiking through “The Saddle” which is nestled up behind Tuachan, the theatre we perform at, and opens up into Snow Canyon. What a beautiful day and an awesome adventure!





The closing night show was one of the best days and nights of my life. A group of my family came to the show, my dad’s brother Bob and his wife Nancy (who I spent a lot of time with down at college) and my dad’s sister Barbara and her husband Rod (who I hadn’t seen for 8 YEARS!), and then of course my mom and dad. I cried when I saw the mini family reunion. We all went out to lunch and spent time together during the day before they came to my show. I could not have been more THRILLED!

What a way to spend a month. Quite an exciting time filled with friends, family, and adventure. Below are two of my favorite pictures taken by my favorite clown... John Boy. Thanks a bunch.