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!