Fun Times

Jake and Kaycee share a dance as they count down the hours to midnight on New Years Eve. Those are noise makers, not cigarettes- they both have decided to quit smoking as their resolution.
Can't leave without a bunch of fun headgear...
One day we were walking down Mainstreet USA in the Magic Kingdom and Nikki stoped suddenly- yes, she found her long lost sister sitting in a store window. It was a beautiful reunion, but not a bit of dust was moved- they just sat around and looked pretty.
Whose the leader of the club... you know the rest.
Kaycee and Kaylee being abducted by large rodents.
Kaylee was even brainwashed into becoming one herself.
One day we went to the Grand Floridian resort and looked at the life size gingerbread house. Everything about could be eaten! All three kids became suddenly bad and irreverent. We later found out it was only a ploy because they were trying to get grounded and sent to the corner where they could hopefully eat their way to freedom.

Disney MGM Studios

We had a great time at the studios one day. There is nothing new there to experience, but this new display from the Narnia movie. We got to see costumes, sets and props like the sleigh of the White Witch and some of the frozen statues from her court yard. The armour and weapons were also on display- the detail was amazing and beautiful.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Although not my favorite park, I always enjoy going to the Animal Kingdom just for a bit. The Festival of the Lion King show is one of the best on the property and It's Tough to be a Bug is the best in 3D entertainment- I know what is going to happen and it still creeps me out at times.
We went on the safari early that morning and saw a lot more animals than we usually do. We saw lions, hipos, giraffes, everything you could think of including several of theses huge silver back gorillas. They were the most interesting to watch and at the same time a little scary. I think they could break all of us in half just from looking at us.
This is Expedition Everest, a new roller coaster. I was all pumped and ready to ride it until I saw it up close and then chickened out because I knew most of it was in the dark and backwards- so Nikki and Kaylee rode it. Yes, I am ashamed, a nine year old girl rode but I didn't. That is all we will say about that.

New Years at Disney

What's New Years Eve without party hats?!?!?!?

Happy New Year Disney style... lot's of pyro!

Happy 40th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Happy New Year!

Wow, 2007 already! I had a great Christmas and a great New Year! My family took our trip to Disney World and had a blast. I rung in the New Year right in front of Cinderella's castle. I had great plans to keep each day documented, but when I got to the resort it cost extra to hook up my lap top. I decided better to just wait, so tomorrow after I have time to go through some pictures tonight, I will give a brief history of our fun week. The weather was beautiful! Everyday was in the high 70s, low 80s with a slight breeze. It was painful to get up this morning with frost on my car. After such a great begining, how will I make it the next 362 days exciting? I think I will find a way...

Yeah!

Three days and counting!

Fox Theatre Tour

I took the some of the drama kids to tour the Fox Theatre on Monday. It was a great trip. Our tour guide was very interesting and funny. He knew so much history about the theatre as well as many small details that are often overlooked when you are visiting for a show. The most amazing thing we found out is there is a little man named Joe that lives in the top of the Fox in an apartment. We didn't get to go on stage because they were setting up for a show. But we got to go right to the edge and could see the entire wing space on each side. There was maybe twenty-five feet of wing space on each side. Much smaller than I imagined. When thinking back about the shows I've seen there like Beauty and the Beast and Phantom and so on, I wonder where do they put the scenery because those shows have massive set pieces. The stage itself is only as deep as the Fine Arts stage. It is maybe about twenty feet wider, but so shallow. When you sit in the audience, the stage looks so big. Standing on the edge, it is so tiny. We also got to see all the ballrooms and beautiful stairwells- each so detailed it will blow your mind. As an added bonus, we got to go into all the rest rooms and lounges- I'd never seen the girls side. Our one and a half hour tour ended up lasting three hours, but it went by very fast. There was so much more to see... and they gave us popcorn! The Egyptian ballroom, was great- I think we need to take a playgroup field trip for Aida research.

As Time Goes By

Here it is now, a week since we began the show. I think I missed it. Even when we were doing the show, it was like we weren't doing the show. It all came and went so fast. I'm glad I have pictures. One week from tomorrow is Christmas Eve! That has come fast too. I only have three of the four trees up, I guess that is all for this year. One week from Monday, I leave for Disney World! I'll take my computer and keep this site updated with fun and photos of the week. This coming Monday, I am taking my advanced drama class to the Fox theatre in Atlanta, not to see a show, but to take a backstage tour. We have been there many times to see everything from Momma Mia to Hairspray to Titanic to Seussical to The Music Man, but we have never been able to have the place to ourselves. Monday we do. The lady I talked to who scheduled the entire thing said we had the best guide that there ever had been there. He is always a favorite of every group that comes through. I hope so. It will be a great experience for the kids and me as well. We are leaving just in time- Monday also marsk the day that the old carpet gets ripped up and the new starts to go down in the Fine Arts. I'm glad I'm not going to be there in the middle of that mess. But when we get back imagine the glorious new floor. I love the smell of fresh carpet!

Christmas in My Hometown

A beautiful show, a beautiful cast, a beautiful time. Jesus, You are Him.
Sweet, Little Jesus Boy.
Let's all try to smile for the picture.
No, you can't return us. We don't come with a receipt.

Showtime

What? We have a show tomorrow? I guess we had better get busy.. oh, wait, I guess I'll just have another poptart.

Holiday Ha Ha

Holly Jolly!

Let's spend Christmas in My Hometown... yea, that's cheesy, but what is not in this show.

Five Days and Counting

Reheasals are going very well- considering we are singing in a retired gymnasium. While you sing the next verse, you hear the echo of the first verse. It's a good lesson in concentration. The FAB floor is done and looks great. We have been moving scenery and supplies back into their position behind the curtains. The audience area is a mess, mostly from the lack of concern by the painters. New carpet will take care of that for the most part, however, it is going to have to have a major cleaning before the band concert tomorrow- not my problem though. If it is not done by Friday (and goodness how embarassing if it is not) I will do it- but not until. Effie and I worked on scenery last night after rehearsal. She worked on the cabin while I did styrofoam rock work on the fireplace and chimney. When I got home I cut and started attatching the white fur to the sequin Santa suit- yes, Santa is hip. It was a mess- white fur flying everywhere like a sheep exploded, but with out the guts. I started gluing it on the neck and cuffs (yes, I am gluing, don't tell anyone, especially my old costume professor). It needs to be done fast because Santa has to make a guest appearance at the chamber banquet tommorrow evening. On another great and wonderful note, our new snow machines are on their way. They were stuck in customs in Miami waiting to be inspected. If we got them, they were not going to be here until Friday after noon, just in time for our only dress rehearsal. But I just got a call from the company I order from and the guy said they were on their way and will be here on Wednesday- two days before amyone thought they were going to be. God heard my prayers this morning. So much to do, so little time to do it in, but hey, I had a GREAT weekend and it gave me the energy to take me on through the rest of this week. There are many hurdles to cross before we get to the first show on Saturday, but I am going to enjoy them all because it is part of the process (some one I know likes that word process, so I am going to use it- hee hee) and half of getting to enjoy the accomplishment is how you got there. Five days till show time- right now I remember why I do this!!!

The Nativity Story

The Nativity Story opens this weekend and I am anxious to see it. It is interesting to me how often we take for granted what an unbelievable story this is- and not just because it is about the birth of Jesus. From a human being stand point, we get caught up thinking of Mary and Joseph as being almost mythilogical due to the fact we see their faces on Christmas cards and carved out of plaster for a nativity set. We see them most often as an image, but they are much more than just an image. Jesus was the devine Son of God, but Mary and Joseph, they were average, normal people. Granted, they had to be special in order to be chosen by God to carry the load of raising His Son, but still they were people, normal people chosen for a task. Imagine the doubt, the fear, the confusion. When you look at them from a charater point of view, they become so much more flesh and blood. They still have a (for lack of a better word) magical quality, but you realize the pains they had to go through, as best as our small minds can imagine. In this Christmas show we are working on now, it is so important to me to make sure we present Mary and Joseph as human in the song choices and dramatic moments of pantomime. So often you will see a drama presentation of the nativity and the characters be-bop along as if they know what they are doing. I don't think it was like that at all. I believe that Mary and Joseph had faith in God to direct them where to go and what and how to do it, but they still felt the fleshly emotions that come with being flesh. They worried, they cried, they doubted... just like us... and we just like them have been chosen for a specific task. They listened and followed... do we?

Watch Out

Ya'll better watch out for the next week- Amanda brought me a special Christmas Show mega phone last night. HAAAAAAAAAAAA! I can't wait to use it!!!!!!!!!

Wowsers!

The new stage floor is BEAUTIFUL!

My Week

Do you see what we are dealing with? By this time next week (at least here's the plan) we will have everything finished- stage floor done, curtains clean, all this put back together and the auditorium cleaned ready for the music department shows on Tuesday and Thursday as well as Christmas in My Hometown on Saturday through Monday. Some may scoff, but hey as I've been told many times, where would be the fun in it all if it were easy? Once I'd like to see if it is as fun...

Going and Going and Going...

The painting of the snow backdrop began today. The costumes are, for the most part, roughly made- no hems or decorations. The set is in pieces waiting to be created, painted and assembled. I am tired and hungry. It's the time of a show where we should be scrambling to do things, but with the refurbishment of the FAB, we can't. All we can do is sit and wait and prepare. If we make appropriate preperations, we should be fine for the load in Friday after next. We get about ten hours to do what we would normally do in two weeks. Alas, we can accomplish! We also only get one tech rehearsal and one dress rehearsal. On top of all of that, I still need to memorize my songs. The show is still getting trimmed- last night we did a great deal of trimming and I think the audience will appreciate us for it. Not that the numbers we lost were bad, something had to go in order to create a tighter show with a good pace. We also did quite a bit of dancing- new dancing, which I hope we will remember tonight. Act two is fine length wise, we just need to clean it up a bit. We have reached that point in rehearsal where we get no time off. We do get this coming Saturday but that is it. I'm glad I like these people.

Worker Bees

Heigh ho, heigh ho, it's time to build a show!
(Notice the newly sanded floor in the background.)

Aida

I saw Aida this weekend- not the Broadway version, but a professional touring production. It was terrible. Maybe had I not seen the Broadway production, twice, I would have enjoyed this version if for nothing else but the music. The singers were good, but that is all they were- singers. A show such as Aida has to have an emotional arch- without out it, you really don't care about the ending (I won't be specific in case you haven't seen it, I don't want to spoil it for you). I think what disturbed me most was the actual physical production. The set was this large metal looking box with a balcony across the top and a door below the balcony. The costumes were even worse. Servants wore strange looking green feed sacks and Aida wore the same thing from the moment we first saw her until the end. They really screwed up the style of the show, I don't think they had a clear concept of where they were going. The Pharoah wore a traditional and historically correct Egyptian robe while his soldiers wore green army coats and carried machine guns. It is ok to set a show in a different period- just be consistant. I imagine they were trying to be "artsy". Some charters wore blue jeans and modern looking hats while standing beside someone dressed in an Egyptian Chiton. Really irritating. They also took some scenes out of context. One scene that is supposed to be performed as women waching laundry on the river bank became a group of servants polishing the floors of the palace complete with yellow mop buckets with "caution wet floor" written on the side- like you see being used in the cafeteria. That is just one example of many- don't even get me started with the "Another Pyramid" number. I'm still trying to figure that one out. The relationship between Aida and Radames was so horribly done that you didn't even believe they came close to loving one another. It was if they were saying each other was scum and the very next moment how much they loved one another. You may argue that often people who are in love fight with one another in order to resist those feelings. Not in this play. The audience has to see the gradual connection or it doesn't support the songs. All in all, I am happy to have experienced the real Aida. If I hadn't I might not like this show very much right now. I often go to things in order to get ideas, to see what we can steal adn do with some cradboard and duct tape. This time I got nothing, but I did enjoy getting away from being bombarded with people. Every now and then you need to get away from the toils of knowing and seeing everyone on the street around you and be surrounded by strangers.

We Need a Little Christmas

I am so ready for holiday time. The decorations are up at the mall, stores along the street are beginning to put out their displays and Christmas commercials have started running on tv. A lot of people say where is Thanksgiving? I've begun to link the two together. You start Christmas preperations and such long before Thanksgiving and then you officially begin to celebrate when Santa comes down the street at the Macy's parade. So for me, Christmas begins a 11:50 am each Thanksgiving day. If you don't already know (and how would you, the "Frustrations" post disappeared- it was there one day and gone the next and I didn't delete it, but who cares- spilt milk) we have completely re-tooled the Christmas show. It now runs almost two hours with and intermission and lots of different and fun songs. We turned complete songs into medleys and deleted or exchanged other songs. I think we will have a very fun, entertaining, exciting show that will touch and move people. That also changed the who clothing aspect of the show. We all have different costumes. My mom and Camila's mom have been sewing their fingers off, making each of the girls a Christmas skirt, panatloons and a cape- the guys only get vests... well, you know what I mean. Act One is set in a traditional country cabin- fireplace, stockings, snowball fights, family and celebrations. In Act Two we honor the Christmas story and present the birth of Jesus through scripture and song. Great fun, great people, great times and lots of fabric.

Les Miserables Opens Tomorrow

One of my top favorite shows is opneing tomorrow for a limited run of six months on Broadway. I've seen Les Mis three times, but would happily see it three times more. It is a great and powerful piece of theatre. The picture above is one of my favorite scenes and a tragically ironic moment in the show. There are more photos in the broadway.com show blog. You may have to scroll down a bit to see them- but there are other interesting things as well and a very disturbing poster for the forth coming production of Equis staring Harry Potter.

Beast and More...

So last night I got to meet Terrence Mann at Western. It was a very fun experience- my plan was to slip in, say "hi, I enjoy your work" and move on. I waited patiently as others circled him and then told them their life story and everything they had perfromed since first grade. Luckily, I know the head of the theatre department pretty well and she gave me a formal introduction to him rather than me just going up and saying I'm this and that. I had no plans to mention Beauty and the Beast from this summer, mainly because you know everyone that does that show tells him about it, however, he found out. He was very gracious about it and even asked a few questions about our production including if I had played the Beast. Very timidly I told him "yes" and then went on to discuss my students (see I don't have the ego that all of you claim). He might even get to come over sometime and talk with them and us, the players. He spoke briefly at the beginning of the evening and he said two things that stuck with me. The most important was about teaching and how when you are out in the world of performance, you are always going to find people just as talented or even more so, but the difference is they me be a jerk and you don't have to be. Why be the jerk? Good point, I think I'm going to like this Mann. The other was this philosophy about performance, which I won't bore you with, but all in all it was a very simple evening and a very small conversation, but a great time. Next time, we'll compare "Beast" notes- ha!

Holly Jolly Around the Corner

The Grinch has arrived on Broadway! That must mean that Christmas is around the corner. Halloween is over, the decorations are starting to go up at the mall and we have begun rehearsals for Christmas in My Hometown. Last year, I let Christmas go by without really celebrating and I promise to not let that happen again. I am in a very Christmas mood- already! Maybe it is from listening to so much music get ready for the Christmas show, maybe it is I love from Halloween to January 25 (if you people don't know what day that is, you are cut), maybe it is because I get to hang out with Mickey and the gang during Christmas and New Years, maybe I am just having a good time at life in general right now. Don't know, don't care- I'm just going to enjoy it.

Happy Halloween!

Ohhhh, Scary

As Halloween approaches, the weather cools, the nights get earlier and the goblins and ghouls come out. Here is one of the scariest Halloween cards I have ever seen! Go away, bad monster! See it here.

Fall Fun

If you don't have time to carve a jack-o-lantern this year, this is a really fun- try it!

Jack-O-Lantern website.

Here I am

I was told today that I haven't put a post lately. Here it is... I always do what I'm told.

Gotta See This!

I was at Lowe's this morning getting paint mixed. As I waited, I wandered back to the Christmas section where they are beginning to put out decorations. I love the first time you start to see Christmas decorations appearing on the store shelves! Anyway, I see this thing perched among all the tacky and awful robots that are being created these days, but this one is different. The Santa sounds like a jazz singer and the reindeer are his back ups that dance and spin and shake. I stood there and laughed like a maniac. I kept waving my hand in front of it to activate the motion sensor until I had heard his entire production number. You have to go see this thing! Granted, maybe it wasn't that great and maybe I am just tired from late night scenery painting, or maybe I am just ready for a little Christmas cheer. Either way, it made my morning.

Bop Till You Drop in Atlanta

It has just been announced that the first professional stage performance of High School Musical will be produced at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. You may or may not admit it, but the Disney Channel movie is pretty entertaining. If nothing else, it has gotten a whole new group of young people interested in performing and the theatre. To that we can say "bravo"! Read about it here.

Till the Barricades Arrive

I found an interesting video of rehearsals for the upcoming limited engagement of Les Miserables on Broadway this fall. It is very exciting to hear the music and see the revolving floor. Check it out here. As another note, the London production just became the longest running current musical in the world.

Big Mann in Little Cullowhee

It was just announced that beginning this fall Terrence Mann will become a musical theatre professor at Western Carolina. Mann has originated roles in Cats, Les Miserables, The Scarlett Pimpernel as well as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. Wow! Maybe he and I can compare notes... ha!

I See Strange People...

The Wiz Revival

The Wiz is being revived at the La Jolla Playhouse in California and many hope to see it transfur to Broadway. I thought some of you would like to see the pictures since you got to experience the show last spring.Dorothy lands in Munchkinland. The Munchkins scare me.
Addapearle, the feel good girl!
The Scarecrow hangs around while waiting for Dorothy.
The Tin Man gets a little excited after having some oil slid to him.
The Lion, Dorothy and the Scarecrow "Ease on Down the Road".
The Wiz or Doc from Back to the Furture?

Ichabod Crane

Here is the first look a Ichabod from our upcoming production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to be performed October 17 at 7:30pm at the Fine Arts Center. Nothing says scary like Jarrod in a purple waist coat.

Creative Costuming

The new batch of contestants for Who Wants to be a Super Hero!

Everybody Cut!

I was doing some research earlier and found another one of our favorite personality tests. In honor of our approaching production of Footloose for the spring, I decided to post it for casting purposes- ha! By answering a few questions, you can see what character from the musical you are most like. Take the test here and be sure to let us know your results. I was best described as being Ren, however, I am far too old to play that part (although I do like to take control of most situations) and realize this test must have some flaws.

The Communication of Theatre

I read some interesting comments today on broadway.com written by one of the actors (and the guy who wrote the book) from The Drowsey Chaperone on Broadway right now. It is about how the audience and actors communicate with one another as well as how the actors communicate with one another while on stage. Pay attention to the litmus test in the first paragraph. We do this all the time- "Boy, this crowd is going to be dead." or "Gee, the are a lively bunch!" We've all been through it, no matter how big or small- too funny. Read the article here.

Great Picture

I haven't had much time to write lately, what with getting Christmas show stuff ready and Sleepy Hollow going full force while getting the rest of the semester planned- I just haven't had the time. I have however, had time to read Camila's Blog and about the adventures that her parents are on while in China. Today I opened her blog and found this picture. Do you ever see one of those photos that makes you smile for no reason other than it has a perfect innocence about it. What a relief to be reassured that kids all over the world are basically happy to be kids. It's when the grown ups get in the way of telling them how to be a grown up do they loose the sparkle. I love this picture! If you want to see more or read about it, go to Camila's Blog. There are other photos as well.

A Splashing Good Time

Disney recently announce that its newest Broadway adventure would be the musical addaption of The Little Mermaid. Wow, does that sound amazing! How the heck are they gonna accomplish such- can't wait to see it. The Little Mermaid is the first Disney movie ever to have songs and score written by Alan Menken, who also did Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame to name a few. No one can write a melody that can rip out your heart like he can. Besides Beauty and the Beast, if not as much as, I've always felt that The Little Mermaid had the best emotional pull of any story that Disney has animated. After all, who hasn't had dreams just out of their reach but yet close enough to touch?

Remember

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

We had our first official read through of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow today. It is going to be a fun evening of entertainment with lots of laughs and a great bit of creepiness. The performances will be mid October (specific dates TBA). Be sure to come check it out- Jarrod was born to play Ichabod Crane, don't you think? I love a show with lots of fog...

The Pirate Queen

The creators of the mega-hit (and one of my personal favorites) Les Miserables has a new show set to hit Broadway this season. It is called The Pirate Queen and looks to be very interesting. The pre-Broadway tryout begins early next month in San Fransisco. Check out the official web site. There is an interesting section called cast com where the cast and crew talk about the development of the show.

Random Thoughts of a Three Day Weekend

Here it is Sunday afternoon. The middle of a three day weekend, thanks to Labor Day, which is to me the official beginning of everything Fall. School has gotten into its swing and classes are going very well. I have two classes of fairly new people and one class of kids that I have had it seems like forever. For some, this is their fifth year in a row having class with me. I have no major plans- only to rest up so come next week I can dive head first into Sleepy Hollow and the Christmas show. I saw a very good movie yesterday called The Illusionist- go see it! Top of my list for this year.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were without something for a brief period of time and during that time you suddenly realize how important that specific thing is to you? You thought you knew, but you had no idea. I cannot express it in words.

Our New Superhero

Way to go Feedback- we were all cheering for you!