Hello to all of Laura's fans!  This is Laura's Mom, Jane, and I am both thrilled and sad to report that Laura and Nate left this morning from our Minnesota home to head out to their new home in New York!  They have all their belongings in a U-Haul truck and have a 2-3 day journey ahead of themselves.  We joked how fun it would be to write on their truck:  "Broadway or bust!" or "New York here we come" but we're hopelessly law abiding citizens and of course wouldn't damage the truck! It was a fun thought!

We have had a fabulous few days with them since they got back from their honeymoon and both our families have helped them pack, have played together, and last night had a "last supper" together.  We sang a few songs around the piano, shed a few tears, and shared memories.  We're all so thrilled for Laura and Nate that it helps to balance out how sad we feel for ourselves that they are leaving our every day lives.  We have been close families to our children and have loved being very involved in their lives and raising them. But great parents also let go and give their kids wings when it is time and we have the unbelievable blessing of releasing our kids and seeing them soar to such magnificent heights so early in life.  What could be more exciting than all the things that we have seen happen in our lives the last 7 months?  Nate and Laura's engagement, the "Grease" show week by week, WINNING the "Grease" show, planning and having a wedding, and an adventerous move to New York City!  As talented as Laura is, I never could have imagined such an opportunity coming to her in this way and at such a young age.  She hoped to get to Broadway someday, but most people have to get there through such a laborious process of weeks or months of auditions and then many still don't make it.  And as expensive as living in New York City is, I don't know how so many people are able to even attempt that.

That brings up an interesting topic:  Many people say things to young talented actors like--"You should go to New York City and be on Broadway!  Don't get stuck in THIS town."  People who say that either have no practical knowledge of the extremely difficult process that entails, or they do not understand or fully grasp how much money it would take to be able to do that.  We are a family of above average means, but I am stunned at the cost of moving Nathan and Laura to New York and I wonder how other of the contestants on the Grease show could have managed it if they had won.  Costs of moving were not part of the winning package and these are young people barely getting started in life.  Once the show starts they will be fine on a monthly basis, but it takes a great deal just to get moved there and to establish a small apartment.  They have learned a lot! And the other side to that "move to New York" coin is that there are many other fabulous cities where theatre is alive and well and many great actors make a living in them who thrill audiences all across America.  I must say that Minneapolis is such a city.  You may not know it, but Minneapolis rates right behind New York City for the most theatre seats per capita and the most alive theatre environment in the nation.  We have two Tony award winning regional theatres (the Guthrie and the Children's Theatre Company) as well as several other large theatres and countless smaller ones.  Laura has performed at many of them. We also have what I believe is the largest dinner theatre in the nation, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, where Laura was performing as Sandy in "Grease" when she began auditioning for the TV Grease competition.  So don't limit your dreams, necessarily, but also don't consider it a second-rate career to perform in another city other than New York.  The rest of us in America that don't live in New York love theatre too and love to see great shows!  And in Minneapolis actors actually can own a home, have a yard, have a family....what a concept!  The other side of that fence isn't always greener!

With that said, there is also an unmatched thrill of a Broadway dream come true.  I am thrilled Laura and Nate are young and can experience this now.  They have much to look forward to in their lives and this may only be the beginning of a fantastic career.  I have a secret dream that Andrew Lloyd Webber will call Laura to be in his new, "Phantom of the Opera" sequel!  Don't start that as a rumor because NO, Andrew Lloyd Webber has not seen or talked to Laura since the Grease show and we have no reason to think he's even thinking of it...but hey, I'm a Mom and I can dream if I want to!  The fact that he was "staggered" by Laura will forever ring in my ears as one of the sweetest memories I'll ever have!  Whew!  That was big!

Well, these are the kind of Mom notes I often write.  Friends who have known me for a long time seem to like them.  It surprises me!  If you like them too, I'll write more once in a while!  Pray for a safe journey for Laura and Nathan. Thank you for your great love and support of them!

Jane, Laura's Mom