The Best Christmas Pageant Ever X

A Perfect 'Ten'

Our final night...

What luck it was to spend our final night of the tour in another swanky hotel - The Drury Inn in Greensboro! There was complimentary food and beverages, a killer exercise room, even an indoor pool & jacuzzi...

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Bieber-mania was in high gear as Justin Bieber himself was performing that evening in the city. We spotted many a young girl at our hotel with a homemade "I LOVE JUSTIN" sign, not to mention that they were also wearing T-shirts with his face. Mr. Bieber wasn't staying at The Drury Inn, unfortunately... that would be slumming it for such a mega-star as he.

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Still, we made the most of our time. As we enjoyed our complimentary food & drink, Olivia was knitting away, Michelle and Denise were making silly faces, and we were all playing along with "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" on the big screen TV in the lobby!

Speaking of the lobby... what a cool lighting fixture!

The morning brought an amazing breakfast... with waffles that were shaped like flowers... or if you tore them apart just right... hearts!

Alas, our final shows in Greensboro ended up being cancelled due to snow and ice. A rather unfortunate end to the tour, but at least we were all in good spirits.

Deleted Scene: Herdmans in the House!

Another great scene that sadly didn't make the final cut, in which the Herdmans practice their terrorizing of "Bill" in the Bradley's living room... and Grace is there... somewhere!

Our designated driver!

Bobo often handles the driving duties... so we don't have to!

At Senor Frogs in Myrtle Beach, SC

Top Models & a Family of Frogs

A bear and his boy

As they wait to go onstage, Charlie and Bobo think about the thrill of performing for literally thousands of kids everyday. Our third and final week of the tour promises to be short but sweet.

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An extra special moment was had by the cast on Tuesday after the show in Charleston, SC - several classes had yet to leave the theatre as they were still waiting for their bus... so members of the cast went out and answered any questions they had. It was a thrill for cast and kids alike.

Deleted Scene: Alice Steals Bread!

Despite her goody-two-shoes persona... there is a mischievous side to Alice as evident in this rarely seen "missing scene" from the show in which she scales the outside of the Bradley house, breaks in through the dining room window, and helps herself to Mom's cooking!

A tradition lives on... Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding House in Savannah

Hey! Don't judge!

We went to Subway a couple of times after all!

But the food at Mrs. Wilkes' is just so good!!!

Have Starbucks - Will Travel

Nobody better lay a finger on my Starbucks! (A necessary stop every morning!)

We were particularly fond of this one in Savannah, Georgia!

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They had a chalkboard - which was just too irresistible to this group.

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BCPE X ROCKS!

Alice, Imobeth

& Mom were

here!

(so wuz Charlie)

This place is too good for the likes of us!

Our second week of touring comes to a conclusion, culminating with a stay in the swanky Governor Dinwiddie Hotel in Portsmouth, VA!

Theatre artists meet Sandwich artists

After a week of good but greasy dining, the sign of the Subway was a happy sight for some.

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This one was located next to the Great Wall of China II in Greenville, SC... the original is slightly more impressive!

Whodunnit?

Olivia.

In the Atlanta Bread Company.

With the Pepper Grinder.

Game Night at the Red Roof Inn

Life on the Christmas Pageant Tour is just never-ending excitement! After two very rockin' shows in Raleigh: The City of Oaks, it was off to the Red Roof Inn in Hickory for a night of card-playing madness!

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For some... the excitement was just too much!

Then on to Chattanooga!

Final two shows of the week in Chattanooga, Tennessee!

Lots and lots of kids! Over 3,700 to be precise!

Such great times... and there are still two more weeks to go.

Back to Raleigh for the weekend and a well-deserved rest!

Chattanooga Night: Poetry? All Right!

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In Chattanooga we sit

"The Office" is the place,

the popcorn is dwindling

there's barely a trace.

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A speakeasy is happening

and we sample our beers,

as the locals share stories

of their hopes and their fears.

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Then two of our own

take the stage and spotlight,

singing "Delta Dawn" so sweet

and that's it for this night.

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We next play Huntsville...

Here we go again! Only one show in Huntsville, but very excited kids.

Let's here it for Curtis - our hero!!!

We're in Huntsville, Alabama...

Let's go Krogering!

The road to Huntsville

Our GPS displaying the journey to Huntsville, Alabama.

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Just one solid line.

Where's the beef? I mean... Chicken!

Celebration after our first shows in Memphis - and a trip to Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken!

We open in Memphis

The spirit of Memphis was with us as we took the stage for our opening / final dress. Thousands of kids cheered us on as we went about our onstage antics. Ollie (Lucas) channelled the "King" as he took on the persona of a "Hound Dog". Ralph (Jon) and Alice (Gabrieal) really got into their guitar riffs. Our beloved mother (Olivia) seemed "All Shook Up" by the insanity of it all. Charlie (Stephen) and the bear (Bobo) worked their pelvis... and as for Imogene (Michelle)? Well, she would have named the baby - ELVIS!!!

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An awesome beginning to the tour!

Walking in Memphis...

...in the middle of the pouring rain!

Brief stop in Nashville... now on to Memphis!

So happy we decided to stop off in Nashville... Tennessee is such a LONG state!!!

We arrived at the hotel at close to 10:00pm CST. The hotel is nice. They even have a lava lamp in the lobby, so you know you are staying in class.

Then a few of the gang, er, I mean group, decided to see what downtown Nashville had to offer on the Sunday night after Thanksgiving.



Well, it wasn't exactly packed with people, but even so, there was still life to be found. Sadly, the ever-popular Wildhorse Saloon was closed, but we did manage to get lured into a Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Fruity drinks, mega nachos, and a cover band singing a mix of hits from "Imagine" to "Poker Face"... we had arrived! The girls even got balloon hats! How cool is that?

Before leaving Nashville, we learned a very important lesson. For every really cool coffee shop, there are literally dozens of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, souvenir stores and Elvis statues.

Off to Memphis later today! Then perhaps we'll perform in an actual show or two tomorrow!

A brief supper stop in Asheville, NC

No one should go too far west without taking time to eat. Although our first choice of the Tupelo Honey Cafe was closed, Mayfel's in Asheville, NC was a superb substitute. Feast your eyes on the crabmeat eggs benedict and be jealous!

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As for Michelle's French Toast concoction: the toast was so huge we declared that it must be made with Alaskan Toast! (because it was so much larger than Texas Toast!)

BCPE: The X Factor

Note the clever way in which we create the Roman Numeral for Ten with our arms! We sure are a smart bunch!

Off to Nashville...

It's time to hit the road once again!

Our first shows will be in Memphis on Tuesday morning, but we have wisely decided to make the long journey in two legs... so our 8 1/2 hour trip to Nashville begins at Noon tomorrow.

Wish us well!

A Christmas Pageant Odyssey 2010: The Year We Make Contact

Just a few days ago, six brave souls (aka actors) entered the world of Bobo. Their lives may never be the same again.

Some came with precious memories of their previous adventures with the Bradleys and the Herdmans. Others came with nothing more than their wits and a dream. While still others, came just because they were told that there would be cake.

Now they are all joined together in an epic quest to uncover the magical wonder of Christmas. Yet deep questions remain:

• Will Mrs. McCarthy's applesauce cake survive this year's pageant, or will it meet another gruesome fate... and just what is the secret ingredient? Applesauce, perhaps?


• Could "Shepherd's Crook Hero" be the latest technological breakthrough and is there an "app" for that?


• What exactly is the significance of the slightly battered, kinky-eyed baby doll and will the Child Welfare ever investigate the working conditions it is subjected to?


• When will "Bobo: The Bear Who Lived" get out of development hell and hit the silver screen in glorious 3-D?


• Who are those mysterious ladies who find themselves compelled to watch the pageant over and over again during the course of the rehearsal week?


• And, of course, the most crucial question of all: Where's the beef?!

We may never know the answers to these questions - but we will certainly have a blast trying! Stay tuned for further details... as they become available!