Pandemic means these performers are taking long intermission back in their hometowns

Eric Huffman is learning to cook. Laura Kaufman has reeled in some mighty big fish. And Eric Geil is spending quality time, playing video games with his brothers.

All three are performers who spread out across the country, pursuing their professional careers in theater. And all are on hiatus while COVID-19 has a grip on America. Now they’re hunkered down, waiting out the coronavirus in their hometowns, all hoping to return to performing soon.

But they’re also enjoying time with family and friends in the Kansas City area. Here’s a look at what the three have been doing to occupy their time during this long break.

Off the road

Eric Huffman, who was born and raised in Lenexa, was in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, appearing as Damian in the national touring production of the musical “Mean Girls” before the coronavirus struck.

The graduate of Shawnee Mission West and the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music said the cast was first told performances would be canceled for the weekend. When the Broadway production of “Mean Girls” shut down after its March 12 performance, Huffman knew what was to come.

“We got to do a rehearsal of the show without an audience and we all felt pretty weird. We did it one last time for just us and it was really meaningful,” Huffman said.

What followed was a three-week hiatus, then a final conference call with producers telling the cast the tour was shutting down for now.

“We are confident we will go back, but we don’t know when because of the travel to different states and differing restrictions,” Huffman said. “They are extending our contracts, which is hopeful.”

Since being on the road, Huffman gave up his New York apartment and came home to Lenexa to wait things out. He arrived home on March 14.

“My mom was thrilled,” Huffman said. “My birthday was the next week so that was great. It’s the longest I’ve been home since graduating high school.”

Daily life at home in Lenexa is different than touring in a Broadway show, but Huffman is finding new ways to spend time.

“I’ve done lots of reading and lots of puzzles,” he said. “I’ve gotten back into a daily running routine. And I’ve been cooking everything. I’ve always wanted to learn how to cook,” Huffman said.

Huffman plans to keep his tap-dancing skills sharp by practicing in the garage. He also takes the car out every three days to get out of the house. Even that simple task has a musical connection for Huffman.

“I just sing in the car,” Huffman said. “I sing an entire show....I did a Zoom call singing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ with my college class, too.”

Huffman also keeps in touch with his “Mean Girls” family via a private Facebook group and texts.

While COVID-19 restrictions are slowly being lifted, Huffman’s plans are to “sit tighter here.”

“Even if things are opening, I don’t trust it yet and I am enjoying this family time that I won’t have opportunity to do again,” he said.

Socially safe dancing

Laura Kaufman doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t dancing, and that hasn’t changed during the COVID-19 crisis. What has changed for the professional dancer is the location and logistics of practicing her craft.

Kaufman, a Shawnee Mission East graduate from Prairie Village, is based out of New York City. She spent all of last year on the road performing in the hit-musical “Cats” including a stop at Kansas City’s Starlight Theatre last summer. When she finished the tour in January, Kaufman returned to her home in the Big Apple.

It was the middle of March and her parents, Susie and Brian Kaufman, had just been in New York for a visit when COVID-19 began its rage through the city. Her parents suggested she book a flight and return to Kansas.

The day before she left, Kaufman walked some 40 blocks home instead of taking the subway hoping to minimize exposure to the virus.

“It was really kind of eerie,” Kaufman said. “The crazy part was how fast it happened.”

The night Kaufman arrived in Prairie Village, Broadway shut down all productions and Actor’s Equity Association canceled all auditions.

“It is so different,” said Kaufman of her time in her hometown. “It’s the energy of the city and that isn’t happening now.

“I take class daily with the same people and I miss being together and the energy and sweating together. It’s been sad watching from afar.”

What Kaufman isn’t doing is sitting around. The family has been spending time at their Lake Lotawana home, and Kaufman uses the kitchen area to take ballet class daily. She alternates that with musical theater and jazz classes, many taught online by friends and professional colleagues.

“It is a lot different taking class in your kitchen with a counter serving as the barre,” she said. “At first I was super motivated, then I hit a slump and now this is the reality at the moment.”

Kaufman said she’s heartened by professional artists who offering free classes.

“It’s so inspiring…. It comes from such a deep place of passion,” she said.

The time at home has also allowed Kaufman to spend time with her parents and reconnect with Anne McCroskey, one of her childhood dance teachers from the Miller-Marley School of Dance.

“I have been filming her routines for her online use and we can dance together in my backyard and get to talk,” Kaufman said. “Connecting with people who I love so much who are running around in different cities and now we can do this; it’s a silver lining.”

And there has been time for play, too. Kaufman has been fishing several times at Lake Lotawana and she’s had pretty good luck. Recently, she landed a big one.

“I was the cat who caught a catfish,” said Kaufman with a laugh, referring to her role in the famed musical..

As for a return to New York, Kaufman said, “It is really scary. There is not much of a reason to go back until studios open and there is a little normalcy, hopefully sometime this summer.”

Brotherly love

It’s been awhile since all four Geil brothers from Grandview have all been home at the same time, but the COVID pandemic has forced the reunion of the singing siblings.

For the past few years Eric Geil, the oldest of the quartet, has been traveling the country in the musical “The Book of Mormon.” Geil met with professional success shortly after graduating from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.

Geil spent part of last summer in Kansas City performing the role of Link in Starlight Theatre’s production of “Hairspray.” But home base for Geil is New York City, where he has an apartment.

Geil started hearing about people in his building who had COVID-19 and didn’t think it was a good place to be during a pandemic.

“My apartment doesn’t get a lot of sunlight, and I live in a building with 300 people so even if I go outside, I am going out through the lobby,” Geil said. “I knew I would come home at some point. As everything was shutting, I decided I wanted to be home sooner than later.”

From a professional standpoint, Geil said the timing was lousy.

“I had auditioned for five shows that week .... on Friday I had auditions for two different Broadway shows and they were canceled. By Monday, all the auditions on the (Actor’s) Equity website were canceled.”

Geil came home to Grandview along with his brother, Wesley. Within 24 hours, brother Christian arrived home from studies in Scotland.

For Geil, life at home in Missouri is a different pace from the hustle and bustle of New York City.

“I’m just hanging out around the house,” he said. “We have a dog, so I take the dog walking and go out to the park. I’m playing video games with my brothers, which I haven’t done since high school. We are getting some quality time together.”

The Geil crew recently celebrated Wesley’s virtual graduation from college, and Eric has been helping at the family’s Songbird Café, an organic restaurant.

The oldest brother is keeping connected with show business, taking a screen acting class via Zoom, as well.

“There are some film auditions happening and I have done a couple of those, which has been fun (but) I am not even looking at theater because everything is canceled.”

As the country begins to slowly re-open for business, Geil is uncertain about the future.

“I honestly don’t know when I am going to back to New York,” he said. “Being around my family right now and being home in KC just feels right.”