Nerd Alert

A nerd exploded on my desk today. You can tell by all the stamps from their stamp collection.

Smoke on the Mountain Photos

The Sanders Family
Burl is just so proud to be here!

Pastor Oglethorpe and friends.

Oh, Denise!

Like Father, like son... oh wait, brother to brother.

Granny on drums aka Carol Channing on crack.

June bug, june bug, don't fly in my face.

Sister Aberanthy, what a prude.

Oh, Burl!

Swing into that saddle, Christian Cowboy!

Halloween Yoga

Halloween Superfreak

Little Red Riding Hood

Smoke on the Mountain Opening Night!

October 10, 13, 17, 20 & 27 at 7:30pm

Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts

Late Night Ramblings and Rants

It's 12:57am and I can't sleep. Neither could Nikki earlier, but now she is out. Late night posts makes think of Camila. "Dorka, dorka dursha notty nuggit." That is Dutch for, Camila, I salute you with this post (or portions of it, you may not want to be associated with some of it.) I'm feeling a bit ripe and don't care who I offend- could be the late hour, could be fatigue, could be age, could be I don't have a Dr. Pepper beside my chair- I'll remedy that in a bit. I haven't written things that might upset people since last year's election. Oh well, why waste your breath on beating up Obama. Speaking of, when Nikki and I were in Disney World back in August, we made a special trip to see the new Obama robot in the hall of presidents. Extremely life-like... he says the same thing over and over... every thirty-five minutes.

Also speaking of Camila (and Kelly). You are doing mankind (and me) a huge disservice by not coreographing shows. If someday you go to do classical ballet move and all you can do is clog (or buck dance as many call it), it serves you right. I don't like either of you anymore. The Dutch and college is a pathetic excuse for moving. May you become allergic to the pollen of tulips and may you be forced to write a never ending term paper. Enough said.

I have been meaning to say something about America's Got Talent. Obviously America associates pity with ability. The winner had no talent, but a barrel full of sad tales and tears for his daddy. Then I began to feel guilty for thinking such, because in a way I am just as guilty. So often I cast people in shows becuase I feel for them. I know it is difficult to have an interest in something and there be very little oportunities to express those interests. I often have used actors (and I use that term loosely) solely based on pity. I am no better than those that voted for the chicken farmer. Which leads me to my first real rant...

People in these modern days seem to be stuck and fixated on being mediocre. Not only are the happy to be below average, they celebrate it. I am so sick of people interupting my happiness with their stupidity. Does no one want to accell anymore? "Give me all I can get by doing as little as possible." I think that is going to be printed on the dollar bill when they take off "In God we trust." No one has drive anymore. Prime example: I watch my mom and Catherine sew like maniacs everyday, for many hours. Not because they expect anything in return, but because the have a drive about them that makes them want to rise above the pool of loosers drowning in the sludge of mediocrity. Where has all the dirve gone? I am never satisfied with any show because I know it can always be better. I'm to the point in my life where that drives me crazy. Thank you to my parents for putting that in me (it's a blessing and a curse.) Perhaps that is why Iam typing at 1:21am rather than sleeping. It's not like I don't have rehearsal everynight this week or everynight last week or a show in four days. That feels strange- usually I get the feeling of excitement or dread or worry when we are this close to a show, but I haven't quite gotten the sensation that a show is taking place in 96 hours. Too busy, too many shows at once, or just getting the grove.

It has been five months since I started full time at the theatre. Mostly is has been ups. Five months? It feels like five years. We are about to do our fourth show- more than I used to do al year and I still have three left, including 40 kids under the age of 13 and a choir of over 300 people. The kids will probably behave better. I'm glad I like the people I work with. No one has cried yet with Annie- maybe we filled our yearly qotent with Aida.

I got my teeth cleaned today. I love that fresh polished feeling.

Smoke on the Mountain is going to be interesting. I'm anxious to see how the attendance will workout by being several days that jump around rather than a straight run. It might help by giving people several weeks to see it, but it might also give them an excuse to wiat till another week and then miss it completely without realizing. I think I like the straight run better because it becomes more of an event that builds as the days go along.

I don't like people whose "performance" does not reflect their lifestyle.

The new version of Fame has no plot. But the soundtrack is good. The movie 500 Days of Summer is very good and so is the soundtrack. Flashforward and Glee are my two favorite tv shows right now. Complete opposites, but both very entertaining.

Nikki and I had dinner at home before rehearsal tonight. This was the third time in the last four months. She made me tater tots and macaroni. I needed some good comfort food. I was comforted. Sunday afternoon was a family reunion that we go to every fall. Casseroles beyond belief- comfort food heaven.

Too many people make fun of me becasue I like pizza so much. Does it ihurt you- no. Do I aks you to buy it for me- no. More often than not, I'm the one buying, so the next time someone says something to me about my joy in the Italian pie, I'm going to tell you the truth about what I think of your haircut.

I wish people would update their blogs. I miss reading them so much. I know everone has converted to Facebook and I hate it. Facebook, that is. The only time I go on there is to try to get in touch with someone distant, like from college. In doing so, you have to go through everybody's stupid, trival status updates. Some I appreciate. Exciting events like, "My sister has just had a baby." or "We just landed in Las Vegas." Dear FB users, this may be a shock, but no one cares that you are having pot roast for dinner. It may be exciting to you, but we've all been to a grocery store before. I'm glad I've discoverd that I can pick and choose whose updates will be posted to me. It also cracks me up how some people put these "deep" quotes from mostly deceased, famous people. If you don't know who someone is, don't quote them.

1:48am... still awake. That would be a stupid FB status update. Glad I'm on a blog. It is much classier. I feel so "suave."

Most people are grossed out by Pepto-Bismal. I think it tastes ok. Rubatussin, on the other hand, I would rather the the floor of a dog kennel.

Nikki and I have little lights on a tree outside our house that look like candy corns. I don't really like candy corn, but if I see the min a dish, I will eat them. They just scream fall, as does the smell of apples and dry leaves. My allergies have been terrible this year.

I wish I had some great words to end with tonight... this morning... whenever it is. Instead, I just eat a piece of cake. I tired to get Nikki to go to super Wal-Mart in Clayton a bit earlier. We have no business there, I was just feeling restless. If chic-fil-a were open 24 hours, I know she would have beat me to the car. I love you chic-fil-a. Do you think a kid would get beat up on the playground if you named them chic-fil-a. Naming our first born child Orlando would be too obvious.

In the words of June. "I'm done."

Happy WDW Day!

38 years ago today, Walt Disney World opened. Even though I wasn't born yet, I'm sure it was one of the happiest days of my life.

Jungle Book Photos

The Jungle Book at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts- Sept 22 at 10:30am & 7:30pm, Sept 23 & 24 at 10:30am

Check out our production photos- more to come later.

Mowgli's mother and father... danger is on the horizon.
Father Wolf, Mother Wolf, Mowgli, Baloo & Bagheera.

A certain village girl catches Mowgli's attention.

Shere Khan & Kaa.

The battle atop the waterfall.

Kaa & Mowgli.Mother & Father Wolf.

Baloo, Mowgli & Bagheera.

Jungle Monkeys!

Hello Blogger, It's Been a Long Time

It has been almost four months since I've posted anything. I've been busy. It's not that I'm not interested in posting anymore or that I've not ahd anything to write about, rather I just chose sleep or food instead. But then I realized I was becoming one of those people whose blog no one checks anymore because they never post an update. I will try to do better, because there are so many exciting and interesting things happening in the lives of Nikki and me. To start, the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts opened. We who work there moved in at the beginning of June and the official opening was July 3rd. Since then, it has been locomotive. Multiple events every week and we are about to create our third in-house production this week with The Jungle Book. We spend many hours in that building- I'm glad I like the people that I work with. We laugh a lot through the fatigue.

But going back a bit, I wanted to make sure all the excitement was not going to be lost by me not keeping up them up on the blog. Plus, with Camila gone, I thought how will she keep up with the progress of productions. Sure, here family and friends will tell her, but they don't know the real truth... and I'll be honest about it. More on that later.

So our first in-house show was Aida. We had all waited to work on that show so many years. Still one of my favorites- not at all tired of the music and I don't think I will ever be. It was a beautiful show- I would have done so many things differently. We built that show blindly not in the building or know what the finished building would be like. Things changed once the rehearsals began on the actual stage as well as sets and lighting- some for the better, some not. I had originally planed to fly more scenery in, but we had a limited amount of battons due to the curtains and lighting above the stage. There was a large amount of scenery that was built, but never used. Now we are in the actual space, we can make a more specific plan knowing our limitations. It was a great time, but a tiring time. Pictures below-

The day after Aida closed, we began rehearsals for The Foreigner. We had two weeks to rehearse, build sets and make costumes. The actors were troupers and the crew worked very hard. It was great fun and the audience had a great time- lots of laughs.

Earlier, I wrote about Camila leaving. Many think that she went to international law school, but as you can see in the picture she is really attending terrorist training camp.

To get from one traing camp to another. she has talked about buying a bike because riding the metro is so dangerous (you know, bombs.) I promise not to tell where the photo came from, but I was able to obtain this picture of her on the way to a "make a projectile from tupperware" class.

Bye Camila, we miss you.

After two major shows and a line up of concerts, I found four days at the end of August where Nikki and I snuck away to one of our favorite play places. School was starting back that week, so hotel rates were great and parks were empty. Jolly good fun! We had a wonderful time sleeping and eating and playing and eating and riding rides and eating and seeing movies and eating. We've been to Disney World so many times that we take our time an do what we enjoy most... yes, eating.

We started our time at the studios. Rode the new Toy Story Mania (which is a bomb). The last two times we were at WDW, the lines were over two hours long and all the fast passes were gone. This time. we went there first. Everyone said it was a great ride, but not so. Completely uninteresting and not worth the time. The new American Idol experience was phenominal- a fun, energetic show. Must see it!

Took some time to allow the public see celebrities oout their feet in the cement footprints of people that are has beens. Nikki measures up to Audrey Hepburn.

From one genius to another- my hands are the same size of Jim Hensons.

Nikki testing her heels in the imprint left from Judy Garland's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

Magic Kingdom as beautiful as ever. We had our usual rides on Splash Mountain and dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern.

Epcot was where we spent the least amount of time this go around. We need something new Epcot! Let me know if you need a creative consultant.

Not long after we returned, Disney announced they we buying Marvel. Too bad Wonder Woman belongs to DC- what a perfect marriage that would have been.

Is it time for another vacation? Right now we are rehearsing (and everything else that comes with a show) three shows at once. Am I crazy? Don't answer that.

A Poem

Some people are born freaks. Others grow into it. Each of us leave a mark on this world. Some a great blot. Others a smudge. Some people are born freaks. Others grow in to it. You be the judge.

Where Have I Been?

Here... pretty cool, eh? Lobby and downstairs concessions area.
A view from the entrance.

Look kids- real dressing rooms!

A view from the stage. So breath taking to stand there and look out over the seats!

Looking onto the stage from the rear of the audience.

Up high in the balcony looking onto the stage.

Beautiful bathrooms- I love the stall doors.

Yes, this is where I've been and will be morning, noon and night. When in doubt, forward my mail to the theatre. Lots of thrills on the way!

AIDA Auditions

AIDA Auditions- Open Call

Monday, April 27 at 7:00pm

Macon County Community Building- Hwy 441

Things I've Learned

I was having a discussion with some friends today and shared this bit of information about what I have seemed to understand over the years when it comes to working with people of an egotistical nature.

Professionals tell you how good they are. Amateurs show you. Professionals built the Titanic. An amateur built the ark.

1st Anniversary

One year ago today, Nikki and I were married. Can you believe it? A year? It has been a fun time, lots of adventures and new beginnings, but most of all some very sweet moments. To celebrate, we decided to post our slide show from our rehearsal dinner. Hope all of you enjoy our memories and will make new ones with us for many years to come. Cheers!