Photos from Chinese News Websites

New Countries for Sound of Music Tour?

As it always goes with theatre, things change and nothing is for sure until it actually happens! We learned in a company meeting yesterday that their are some possible changes in our tour. The first is that our producers are negotiating with some other countries! It appears as though there is a possibility that our show might go to India, Russia, and/or Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, among other countries! Nothing is for sure at this point. We'll just have to wait and see! We learned that Taiwan and Thailand are now confirmed. We also learned that we may not be performing in Beijing. Apparently, we were supposed to be in a newly renovated fancy grand theatre. The Sound of Music was going to be the first show to debut in the newly renovated theatre. Well, our producers were just told that they (we suppose the Chinese government) have decided that they did not want an American show to be the debut production in the new theatre. We think it may be because of recent political events in that controversial Himalayan "province" and America's stand on the situation. Our producers said they may book the show in another Chinese city, or give us the week off to play in China, or the Chinese government people may change their minds! Keep checking back. This is getting very interesting!

The Sound of Music Opens on Tuesday!

It's hard to believe that the time is upon us, but opening night of The Sound of Music is this Tuesday, April 1! The show will open at the Jin Cheng Arts Center in Chengdu, China for an eight-performance run before moving on to the People's Mansion (Palace) in Chongqing, China the following week. Members of the orchestra have been arriving. Many of them are coming from Russia, while others are from Europe and the United States.

This has truly been an amazing experience... to put together a full-fledged professional theatre production in two weeks! Seems impossible, but we hear the show is great and with the tremendous attention it has gotten in the Chinese press, it looks like it will be a huge hit! Thanks to everyone who has been keeping up with this blog and scouring the photos site. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and family members who have been so supportive of this unbelievable experience for Zachary. Zachary will always be able to sing, "somewhere in my youth and childhood, I must have done something good!" -- Carter
(thanks to Vivian for the photo)

SOMA Cast on Chinese TV with Pandas!

CAUTION!
The sound on this video is really loud! Turn down your volume first!

This video is from a TV station in Chengdu, China. The first half is a story about a news crew from Changsha coming to film the Pandas. The part featuring our cast starts about 3-1/2 minutes into the video. The sound seems to not be in sync. If you want a better version go here (this is a slower loading video, but the sound is correct).

Check Out My New Photo Link!

We're now posting our photos to the ImageEvent Web site so you can see all of them! Click here to go to my photo page. Check back regularly. We will post all of our photos there (like this one of of a giant panda!)

Official Show Website

The official marketing Web site for The Sound of Music Asian Tour is up! Click here to see it. You won't be able to open the photos because they are for media outlets and require a password (that we don't have), but you can at least see the cast. By the way, the photos of the show are from a previous production since we haven't done publicity shots yet (the set is not all here yet).

Some Photos From China!

Thanks to Vivian (Louisa) for these photos (some were taken by others, but Vivian gave permission!) - Posted by Zachary's Dad, Carter


The SOMA Cast is greeted like stars by the Chinese press!


The billboard at the Theatre in Chengdu - (l to r) Rolf, Ursula (maid), Liesl, Louisa


Swank "Sound of Music" Tour Buses!



And one of the results of the Chinese press photos!

Picture Time!

These are some pictures from my New York week. The Glove filled with water is Slappy Babie. My freind Emily made it so she could take pictures of it in Asia. I have had a really fun time this week. Tonight we fly to China!

We are in New York!!!

Hello, We are finally in New York! Watch the video to meet Gretl.

I'm on TV!

Yesterday, I was on Good Day, Alabama on our local Fox station. Click Here to see the video!

Here's a fun fact... The guy talking on the commercial at the beginning of the video is "Dollar" Bill Lawson, a really popular radio personality here in Birmingham, Alabama. Bill played "The Old Man" in A Christmas Story when I played "Ralphie" this past December. Here's the promotional poster with Bill (with the leg lamp) and me (with the BB gun)! Click the photo to make it bigger.

Tickets are on Sale!

In case you happen to be in Chengdu, People's Republic of China the first week of April, you can purchase tickets to The Sound of Music! Tickets are on sale at this site! Pretty cool!

So Long, Farewells...

This is Zachary's Dad. Here are some folks who are going to miss you!