AGYG Cast Party

Food, fun and a bug eyed boy with a ball cap. No Everett don't worry, you weren't caught doing anything you shouldn't be.
"I like to wear my letters next to my tinny tin badges reight below my tooney pins."

Too bad he's not a vet. No leg dog with egg... I mean Egge.

Like we've never seen this before.

What's her "net" worth. Ha! I kill me!

About right now that paper is sloppy wet.

Jessie, Nellie, Little Jake, Colton and Minnie with their slinkies also made of tinny.

Don't worry, he can pick that lock in no time flat.

Great! Now Betsey will be hanging around all the time!

Get no ideas Camila... no ideas!

The Curtain Has Closed

Tonight is the cast party for Annie Get Your Gun. Even though the show is done, the set is torn apart and the costumes are being washed and stored, the show isn't officially over until the cast party. It is our time to laugh, remember and pretty much make fun of one another's foibles and goof-ups (some of US have few, others of YOU have many- it is hard to maintain perfection). Over all it was a fun show, not one I wanted to be doing sometimes and not because of the rehearsals or people involved directly with the show. Rather it was all due to outside people with personal baggage trying to blame us all on why they were not loved enough as children and therefore must spend most of their days trying to dictate and thrive upon conflict. Sad people. Sad world they live in. Eat my dust.
Some may moan, but this year I have broken with tradition and decided not to pass out paper plate awards... what, you say?... Yes, no paper plate awards. Understanding those people that have tried to make this production difficult, I didn't want anymore negativity to come into the wrapping up of this event. Rather I have created some self-help "props" to assist those of YOU who are not as perfect as ME. IT should be fun... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahha!

Frankenstein, the Musical

As Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein opens on Broadway at the beginning of next month, not far down the street off-Broadway, Frankenstein, the musical opens. I've heard some of the music for this version and it seems quite nice. It is a very simple set and the "monster" has no make-up or padding or anything special-effective about him. The creative team say they are cutting back on the stereotypical expectations so that the story will come through rather than a bunch of prosthetics. As long as they keep the fog...

Frankenstein stars Hunter Foster as the Doctor- Bobbie Strong from Urinetown, and Steve Blanchard who recently completed his eight year run as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, plays the monster.

The Little Mermaid Photos

New photos of Sierra Boggas as Ariel in the Broadway bound The Little Mermaid, the musical.
Sherri Rene Scott as Ursual, the sea witch. She was the original Amneris in Aida- she get major points from me for that.

The boat sailing above the undersea world (and the stage). From what I've read and seen, the boat hovers over the stage from the loft as some of the action takes place below.

The Big Day Out

Dinner- great. Wedding Singer- ok, not my favorite. Speeding ticket through Clayton- bad. Oh, well.

Colors

Enchanted

Enchanted opens November 21st and looks to be great fun for Disney movie buffs or people who just love silly fairtale stories. The movie's plot revolves around a cartoon princess that is zapped into the 21st century and how she has to deal with the problems she encounters while trying to get back to her world. It stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon- not a movie of small potatoes, I say. I found a couple of trailers and a short featurette on villians and how the production team came up with ideas of modernizing the classic Disney villian. Check it all out here.

Free Night

Ah, to have a night off. Happy fall!

Legally Blond

I saw the MTV televised version of Legally Blond, the musical this weekend (thank you tivo). It was enjoyable, however, I'm glad I didn't have to pay for a ticket to see it. There were no stand out numbers that made me want to rush out and buy the cd or even watch the show again on tv. Good show, but not great.

One Weekend Down

So the show opened and we can be happy with the response. Tickets were sold and people still clapped no matter how many yolks were shot with out breaking the yolk and little dogs legs were shot off and buck shot and heaven know what else was had for supper. That's what makes it so fun, knowing that the whole experience is then and there only and will never be then and there in the exact way again. You may want to print this so you can wear it later.

Moving Day

Nothing like waking up knowing that before the night is over you are going to be so tired you can't stand it. Quit complaining, I could have the life of a boring person who has to trudge through so much crap brought about by the world around them. Instead, I create my own crap to trudge through. Better your own, than someone elses.

AGYG

Show picture!

Happy Birthday (Late)

On October 1st EPCOT turned twenty-five years old. I can't believe I forgot to post that big announcement that day- I guess I was busy with a show or something that was keeping me side tracked. Anyhow, I remember the first time I walked onto the EPCOT property and the music that was playing- most people associate their memories with smells or sights, I do with music. It was not my favorite then, but as I've gotten older I love to go there for a relaxing day of strolling through World Showcase and eating at each country. Great stuff!

Let's Go On With the Show

One week till show time. Working hard. Tired, but not sick like some others. Tickets are selling well. One more morning and I can sleep late.

Too Much Rehearsal?

Show Business- The Movie

There is an interesting documentary called Show Business, the Movie being released on DVD October 16. It chronicles four musicals- Wicked, Avenue Q, Taboo and Caroline or Change- from the very beginnings of writing to workshoping to Broadway success or failure. I read quite a bit about it when its limited theatrical release happened in New York and Los Angeles back in the spring. It should be a great example of the creative process. Sounds like a movie night for nerds- I'll let you know when. Here is the web site with information about it.

Choices

I can't cure people of their incompetence, I can only make them take responsibilty for their inability to control it.

You're the CD I Want

Max and Laura make their big cast album debut on Oct. 2. I feel like we've all been through so much with them. Can't wait to hear it- even when Grease is bad, it's good.

Whistle Down the Wind

Great news! Whistle Down the Wind- a musical written by Andrew Llyod Webber in the mid 1990's- will finally have a North American tour. This show was produced in London with quite a bit of success and a Broadway-bound production was directed by Harold Prince at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., but never made it to the great white way. It is my favorite Andrew Llyod Webber score and the story is wonderful and different. Based on a 1960's movie starring Haley Mills (and written by her mother in book form), WDTW follows a group of Louisana children struggling with the recent loss of their mother as the discover a mysterious man (a murderer that just escaped from prison) hiding in their barn. Upon questioning the man, they come to believe he is Jesus and he has returned to earth to take care of them all. The man, manipulating the innocence of the children, convinces them to take care of his needs and in return he will raise their mother from the dead. This is a powerful show about trust, desire, conviction, innocence and redemption. I have waited so long to see it and would love to do it someday. If you haven't heard the score, it is available from the London production- a must have for your collection. The song "Try Not to be Afraid" is short, but it is by far one of Llyod Webber's best. The tour begins on the west coast but is to be east bound by the summer. Check it our here.

Frankly My Dear, It's a Musical

It was bound to happen sometime- the premier production of Gone With the Wind, the Musical will be in London in spring of 2008. Funny how such and American story will make its debut across the ocean. The accents should be entertaining.

That's My Girl

Honeymoon in the Ozarks, anyone?

How... Is the Show?

This Indian knows how to sit... and that's no bull.

Annie Get Your Gun Photos

I condition at least twice a week, never blow dry and only use organic sponge rollers- other than that, my lovely locks are pretty much matinence free. Which is good since I have my own wild west show.

Let's go on with the show! What do you mean I have a rooster on my head?
Are we going to trust that girl with a gun with that look on her face?

AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG!

Did you know that today is "National Talk Like A Pirate Day"? If not, now you do, so shove off this moarnin' with a yo ho ho and a shiver me timbers.

Loose Ends

Working on a show now- not much time to post. The usual hick-ups are occuring along the way, for this show, however, it is more of an all-out belch. We'll get it.

Legally Blond Live

The producers of Legally Blond, the Broadway musical have announced that a performance of the show will be aired on MTV on Saturday, September 29 at 1:00pm. So few Broadway musicals ever get taped, much less shown on public television while still running in New York and being a hit show. Maybe this will begin a trend-

Friday!

Finally it is Friday! Amanda and I have been working on AGYG costumes and we have cleaned out the storage, put up new hanging racks and pulled a lot of things we can hopefully use. Effie has started working at the restaurant as well, soon we will have the entire cast! Lots of work, but lots of fun. Just one short month till showtime!

When Pigs Fly

Hairspray... Again

I just saw Hairspray (the movie version of the musical based on the movie.. whew, another one of those!) for the third time. It has been so long since I've seen a movie that I completely forget and tune out everything else that is going on around me and just have a good time- and I've seen a lot of movies. This movie has a great score, a great message about being the oddball- but it's not preachy, and wonderful singing and dancing. I leave there so happy and ready to see it again! If you haven't seen it, go see it. Don't wait for it on DVD, you need to see it big (pardon the pun). If you have seen it, go see it again- I'm up for number four if anybody needs a friend.

EEEEKKKKKKKK!

This is a picture from Camila's sight of a rehearsal the other night. I'm really not sure what to think of it other than, oh my! You can really see what happens when we don't have a summer show, but we still EAT like we had a summer show. For anyone that might be interested, you have to be in the "clique" in order to eat too. Long story- ya'll will get a kick out of it.

Mamma Mia

A first look at a production still from the movie version of the Musical Mamma Mia starring Meryll Streep and Pierce Brosnan. Great show (I've seen it three times)- hope it's a great movie musical as well.

One Week Down

One week down of school. Very tired. Worked at the restaurant too. Very tired. Doing a show too. Very tired.

Disney MGM Studios... I Mean Hollywood

Disney has announced that beginning in January 2008, the Disney MGM Studios will be renamed Disney Hollywood. This used to be my favorite park out of the frou on the Walt Disney World property, but it seems like in the past few years it has been ignored and not had any improvements or additions that dazzle. It was also a disapointment when they took the actual working studios out of the park. It used to be you could walk through the soundstages and see actual tv shows in production. I remember seeing the Mickey Mouse Club (the one with Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake) being filmed as well as Wheel of Fortune and an adventure show starring Hulk Hogan- oh well, that may be the answer there- but anyway, part of the thrill of going there is gone, although it is still great fun. Fantasmic is one of the most amazing shows on the property and the Indiana Jones Stunt Show is a blast. Hopefully the park will get a new boost of excitement with the name change.

Fumble Out of Bed and Stumble to the Kitchen

Dolly Parton has announced that 9 to 5, the muscial version (for which she wrote the music and lyrics) of the movie will play Broadway in 2009.

Children of Eden

I just read that Children of Eden, the Stephen Schwartz musical based on the stories of Adam, Eve and Noah will be heading for Broadway in the 2008-09 season. Originally written in the early 1990's, Children of Eden had a production in London, at the Paper Mill Playhouse in NJ in the late 1990's (it is this production from which the cast album comes from) and many regional productions, but it has never hit Broadway. This musical has the most beautiful Stephen Schwartz music ever! After his mega-hit, Wicked, I'm sure he will have no trouble getting anything produced.

179 Left To Go

Let me tell you about my morning. My classes are good, I believe I am going to have lots of fun this year, however, getting to school is going to be the challenge. I live maybe four miles from school, could be closer to five. Usually it takes fvie to seven minutes to get there. This morning I left home at 7:33am. I finally got to park my car at 7:52am- yes, it took me 19 minutes. Why you ask? Because I sat behind two other cars which were behind a stopped school bus with the sign out and lights flashing and all while the mom stood on the street near the bus putting her daughter's hair in a ponytail. By the time the child actually got on the bus the line of traffic behind me had grown out of sight in my rearview mirror. If that wasn't enough, another child from the house ran to the bus to deliever a lunch box that had been left behind. It was very entertaining and at the same time very sad to see that the mentality of the world had come to the point of it's about me and it doesn't matter how many people it affects. I guess I can go another way to school if that happens again or I can leave a package on the doorstep of that house with a gift of an alarm clock inside or I can laugh about it and hope tomorrow we don't opt for two pigtails rather than the one ponytail.

My Opinion (Not That it Matters)

I am sometimes amazed that some people's idea of worship is creating an emotional frenzy. In my opinion, an emotional frenzy under the label of worship is as worthless as a hole in a cup. You may think you are filling it up, but eventually it will all leak out and you are left with nothing but an empty vessel.

High School Musical 2

So I finally finished watching the second installment of HSM. The dancing was great, the music was ok. In terms of comparing to the first HSM, it wasn't half as good- maybe because the performers this time knew they were in a "musical" where before they just put on a good show and had fun. The one thing I appreciate about this new franchise is the attention it is getting fomr young people who have never seen, much less heard of a movie musical and hopefully that will translate into the theatre. With the addition of a few feature movie musicals lately doing big box office, many people give credit to Chicago for giving new life to this dying art. No, if that were the case it would have started earlier with Moulan Rouge- in my opinion High School Muscial (the first one) has created the growing trend of making movie musicals ok. Hairspray the movie musical, which I neglected to write about even after I had seen it for the second time and waiting to see it a third, is gggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttttttttt! It is a great translation of a theatre musical that was once a movie now back to a movie. If it wasn't for HSM, I don't thinks that movie would have ever been made. Just waiting for HSM3, 4, 5 & 6- Troy and Gabriella go to college while Sharpay (I have no idea how to spell that) and her sorority sisters sabotage their show and relationship ... Troy and Gabriella get married while Sharpay and the disgrunted bridesmaids sabotage their wedding... Troy and Gabriella have kids while Sharpay and the other moms in the play group sabotage their PTO meetings... Troy and Gabriella move into the old folks home and Sharpay sabotages the jello they get on Tuesdays... as long as it is all sung and danced, that's ok.

Sweeny Todd Poster

I just found this really cool poster of the new movie musical version of Sweeny Todd starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton.

Two Big Openings Tonight

Tonight the new musical of Disney's The Little Mermaid officially opens in Denver. A little more west and...
Young Frankenstein, the new Mel Brooks musical, opens in Seattle. Both shows are doing an out of town try out for the next month and then will move to Broadway this fall. I can't wait to see them both!

Cool Man

For 50 cents a day, you can make a child happy... no more than the price of a cup of coffee.

Happenings

Had great fun in Washington DC. Saw lost of amazing things and rode on a double decker bus- boy did we look like tourists. School began today- had to get up at 6:45am... ugh! Have gotten absolutely NOTHING done today except set up microphones for meetings in the FAB. FAB has airconditioning- yea! Can't control it- boo! This morning I froze, this afternoon I am frying. Annie Get Your Gun Rehearsal at 7pm. Eating healthy- too many fries. Grease finally opened on Broadway- critics are split. To read about it go to www.broadway.com or www.theatermania.com or www.playbill.com. There are a few pictures to see- I like Sandy in red for the ending, you don't see Sandy in red ever. Maybe I should flip it up a bit, like Annie Oakley in gogo boots.

Day 2 In DC

Day 2 In DC- the weather cooled down a lot, about 80 this afternoon. Went everywhere- White House, memorials, cemeteries & museums.

The Lincoln Memorial

Hey Mr. Lincoln!

Hi from D.C.

DC hour one. Our hotel is one block from the Capitol. Very cool, but the weather is hot- about 103.

Greetings From the Homestead

Where Nikki used to work.

Yeah!

Happy birthday Kaycee and Kaylee! Big number ten!

Showtime Again

We've started rehearsals for Annie Get Your Gun. I will try to keep photos and info as we go along. To see a cast list, go to www.overlooktheatre.org. One week from today is my last day of summer vacation- ugh! Guess what, the FAB still doesn't have air conditioning- surprised? Yea, me too...

Bye-Bye Beauty

Tonight is the final performance of the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. On a happier note, the new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid began its out of town preview earlier this week in Denver. From what I've read, the new score (based on the 1989 movie) is amazing!

You're the One that I Want

Tonight is the first official preview of the new Broadway production of Grease starring Laura and Max- you remember, the show we watched with such dedication in the winter? The opening night is scheduled for August 19 so we will have to wait till then to get critical response. Go Laura! Max, just try not to fall off the stage.

Pictures of the Big Engagement

Who Wouldn't want to dive into a piece of that cake? Too funny, eh?
Effie, accomplice number one, code name "Sea Base Alpha One" to operation "You Light Up My Life". Here making "the call" to see when we are approaching.

The showing of the ring. That is the first thing everybody asks- warning to every guy in the world- the first thing any other girl asks is to see her ring. Dang, that's a lot of pressure!

As my family waits for us (with unlit sparklers in hand), my Mom is obviously telling a story about me. Note the interest of those around her.

Out of the black of night. It is now know as the "oh my gosh" heard 'round the world... or at least the Wayah Valley.

Do we know how to make an entrance or WHAT?

Nikki's parents- are they happy she is getting married or just glad to have the house to themselves again?

Time to cut that BEAUTIFUL cake.

Shock? Surprise? Happy? A wonderful beginning to a wonderful adventure. Note the hot pink and lime green- when asked what color Nikki wanted her wedding to be one day, she joked by saying, "Hot pink and lime green!" Well, maybe not the wedding, but at least the opening party. Thanks all you guys... especially Effie and Melissa B.

Beast Video

A year ago yesterday we closed our production of Beauty and the Beast. Now, with just a little more than a week left of the Broadway production, there is a great video on broadway.com showing the procedure used to create the Beast's make-up. There is also a bit of interesting time spent on the costumes- did you know the Beast's boots are made of Nike tennis shoes? To see the video, click here. Steve Blanchard, (I saw him in this part) has been playing the Beast for the past eleven of the show's thirteen years. Wow! that's a lot of hairballs!

Big Surprise!!!!!!!!!

Just when you think life is ordinary, it suddenly becomes a fairytale... As of 10:17pm last night, Nikki & I are ENGAGED!!!!!!

(No, we weren't at Disney World, this is a picture from New Years- I just think it is fun! Photos of the actual event to follow.)

Tale as Old as Time

Did you know that one year ago today we opened Beauty and the Beast? How does life move so fast?

Cut Footloose Again!

I saw on tv today that Zac Efron (the kid from High School Musical and Link in the about to be released movie musical of Hairspray) will be playing Ren in the remake of Footloose. This time, however, Footloose will be the movie musical based on the Broadway musical based on the original movie. Wow, they must have seen what we did and decided to revive it- Ha!

Tarzan Swings Out

The Disney produced and adapted version of the Phil Collins musical Tarzan will close tonight on Broadway. I'm very envious of all you people that got to see it on Broadway- not only that, but you got to see the original leads as well. With Beauty and the Beast leaving at the end of this month what am I ever going to do?!?!?! Thank the heavens above for cast albums... and amatuer production rights. You can better believe that as soon as the rights are available, we will be all wearing loin cloths. Does anyone know the name of a good personal trainer?

Hi Friends!

So, it has been sometime since I've posted, but now that I am among the living I shall try to do better. In the last month- we will not be producing a summer show (building is a mess with new air conditioning going in... at least we hope, who knows?). I have read several interesting scripts and listened to a million cds that I've had for years, but haven't taken the time to hear again. I now have about 700 shows in my brain that I want to create and produce. It was a wonderfully fun 4th of July yesterday, however, it didn't really feel like the 4th because I am so used to working that morning then going to fireworks that night- the 4th is also the official day I start to get the nervous excitement about the show in my guts. No show show this year, no guts gurgling. I miss seeing everyone everyday, although it has been nice for me to actually spend sometime with my family- that is when I go to see them slinging BBQ. With out a show I realize I have very little to write about, but with Annie Get Your Gun on the horizon and a few other major things in the works I will have lots to write about in the coming weeks. Stay tuned- there is going to be some excitement!

One Day More

Thank goodness school is almost out. I don't think he could make it another day!