Max & Ruby Red Spring Break 2008!!!

We arrived in Miami on Sunday, the heart of spring break fever. Thus, we dubbed this leg (as in, the two days here) "Max & Ruby Red Spring Break 2008." And we had every intention of making the experience memorable. And memorable it was.

Our show day, and our only full day in Miami, started with a bang. Or, perhaps, a scratch. Or, maybe more accurately, a SCREECH, CLUNK, CLUNK. As we pulled out of the hotel at 7:15, I tangoed with a short concrete signpost. And this was the result:



Theatreworks has, I understand, been notified, but I have heard nothing from them. As you can imagine, I was not exactly in the best of moods as we pulled into our venue that day. It was also not the way I wanted Leah's first show to start. However, we had a show to do, so we pulled together, set up the set and got ready for our incoming kids, the Pre-K through Second graders of Beth Am Day School.

And they were great. Really, one of the most active, responsive, engaged audiences we've had so far. Lots of kid quotes (many of which follow). We gave them a great show and Leah rocked her first day. For our first day after 4 days of driving, it was a good reminder of why we do this. We packed up, headed back to the hotel, ate lunch, got haircuts and began prepping for our evening of spring break debauchery.

Dolled up, we reconvened at 7pm, prepared to head down to Miami's strip. Driving and driving, we found A1A, crossed some serious bridges, spied on rich people's yachts (the ladies discussed ways to marry rich) and found our way to Taverna Opa, a Greek taberna. With loud, Arabic pop. And sangria by the pitcher. And dancing on the tables. Spring break was officially on. OPA!!

We ended the evening in typical Miami fashion, with a walk down to the beach. As we stared at the horizon, however, something very strange caught my eye. Leigh was throwing off her clothes and racing towards the water. Not a group to second guess (and full of sangria ourselves), we joined in, leaving only a pile of pants, shirts and skirts on the beach. Clad only in our underwear, we dove into the ocean, crashing against the waves and cheering "Max & Ruby Red!"

Spring Break is definitely on!

Kid quote(s) of the day: About halfway through the show, a little girl informed us: "I like this show." Then, prior to the reading of the Blue Tarantula, a little boy let us know, the he "like[d] this part." When Ruby pondered what kind of a show she would write for Grandma, shouts of "Cinderella" and "Snow White" rang out. It was all we could do to keep it together.

Call tomorrow: None. Our first day off on the road!!