JEFF PIKE - MANIA - FALL 2022 TOUR BLOG - DAY 22

MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
November 11, 2022
The Rococo Theatre
www.rococotheatre.com
Lincoln, Nebraska

The Rococo Theatre, restored to its 1929 condition, is Lincoln's high-end concert venue that provides the intimate setting for the region's best entertainment and the hottest national touring acts to perform live on stage. 

There was a lot of excitement about performing at the Rococo Theatre. Mainly because it is Kirbi's hometown, and almost all of her local family and friends were coming to the show, including her husband, Laz, and her adorable son, Corbin. She was nervous, which was interesting because she is a fearless professional, but we all get that way from time to time. 

I was excited because I had two very old and dear friends coming to the show whom I had not seen in at least ten years. Todd Rule and his lovely wife Maureen have been good friends for about 28 years. We met through A1A and the Colorado Parrot Head Club. We also did several cruises together and had way more fun than we should have been allowed. They are very good people, and I was excited to see them. 
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​I was surprised to find out how seriously cool and intimate The Rococo Theatre was. The stage was a wee bit small, so we could not use my piano shell. That is always a bummer, but then, on the other hand, I get to sit down for the entire performance. When I have my white piano shell, I must get up and down a lot so the audience can see me. (I prefer having the piano shell) When you come off stage right, there is a curtain directly to your right that empties directly into a cool backstage bar called Barrymore's. Opened in 1974, Barrymore's is one of Lincoln's downtown nightlife staples. It was originally the theatre's backstage area where the Rococo is now located. The light board and curtain pulleys are still attractions to this day.

Soundcheck was lovely because Laz and Corbin showed up. Corbin had not seen his Mommy sing in quite some time, and he was very excited. He also found me and my piano, and we played around a bit together, which warmed my heart.  

​The show was completely sold out, and all of Kirbi's family and friends were out in full force. The audience was loud, excitable, and completely into our performance. It was one of the tour's better crowds, and the room's energy was high and contagious. 

After the show, we all went next door to Barrymore's to meet friends and family and hang out for a while until the crowd died down, and it was time to leave. I sat at the end of the bar, and two lovely young, well-dressed ladies who had been in the front row started a conversation with me. I spent the next couple of hours hanging out with them before we had to empty our dressing rooms and get to the bus. I had a blast. Hell, everyone had a blast. A night like this made some stressful and dull days and nights on the road worthwhile. I hope we get to go back there again. Lincoln rocked. :-) Turn the page...