New Blog for FHS

I always put school related stuff on my blog as well as Overlook and personal things. I've now created a blog dedicated for only FHS Theatre, so as to not push my personal ideas onto students. That's what I have the classroom for- ha! (Just joking.) Check it out here. I especially love the title block at the top with the performing panther. Yes, you can tell me now how clever I am...

My New Hero

Sarah Palin is articulate, extremely likable and normal. I'm a fan of this lady. The heck with McCain, Palin for Pres! And to make it even better, she looks like Tina Fey!

Everett?

Saw this picture on the side of a truck in Ohio. When did Everett start truck modeling?

Happy Birthday Effie!

To Sail Away & One Song

Big news! Adam Pascal- the original Roger in Rent and the origianl Radames in Aida will be at the Fine Arts Center on the campus of WCU on Novemebr 13th at 7:30pm for a concert. He will be performing classsic broadway songs as well as a few of his favorite rock songs. Tickets go on sale October 13th.

179 to Go

Today was the first day of school. It was very hard to get up this morning with that wonderful rain sound outside the window, but I did, and cheerfully. I have good kids this year, some newbies and some for their 800th drama class. I am looking forward to the creative aspect. By the end of this week, I will be looking forward to a vaction. It is always so hard to start a fresh school year on a Monday- by the end of the week everyone is worn out and cranky. But hey, we get a holiday next week!

Re-Web

Just got finished updating my FHS Drama website. Check it out here! Overlook is next...

A Little Magic

Some final fun before the end of summer!

Last Day of Summer Vacation

Today is the last day of "freedom" before going back to the room with no windows or doors for the next ten months. Yea, I know, poor baby has to go back to getting paid to play pretend. Anyway, this summer, as all summers do, flew by quicker than I could fit everything into I wanted to accomplish and the fall will do the same and so will winter, ther goes Christmas, hello Valentine's Day and then summer again. As I look back on the last two and one half months, I think about the fun I've had. Making Shirley Temples while watching the Tony awards. Painting the FAB floor green at 2am while thinking of words I shouldn't say. Eating non-stop with Nikki. We've decided it is part of the marriage vow "For better or worse, till you explode from cake and home made whipped cream." Seeing Paul and sticking gummi bears to the ceiling fan, watching them fly at the speed of sound (don't be in their way!) and the laughing hysterically at the sight. (Did you know that if you wash a gummi bear before sticking it to the ceiling fan, it becomes much sticker?) Today is also the first day of class for Abigail, Rachel and Troy. This cannot be held against me, but I will miss them terribly. Lots of laughs, Rachel eating everything in sight including illegal Taco Bell crouched in the corner of the dressing room. Theatre majors are freaks, but boy, they haven't met Rachel yet. I wonder what color her eyelids are today and how many people will choke on their chic-fil-a at the sight? If Rachel had to get up at 5:30am just to get ready to come to FHS every morning, she'll never get to sleep having to comute 30 minutes everyday! Making Abigail cry during Cinderella- a true high point. Abigail, I imagine, would have a poster of a bride kitten and a groom kitten getting married hanging in her dorm room. Troy and his fits of rage- they have anger management in college and his desire to be the best boy band imitator ever (I say pick a goal and aim high). And Taylor leaves Friday as well. What will Sesame Street be without Elmo? That leaves only little Jennifer to fill the post of Ass. Director and Ass. Dictator. She'll just punch everyone into submission. Yes, it is important to grow up and move on, but I would rather the kids I don't like to do so. So, here we go again- my 11th year teaching (I use that term loosely, you see how Abigail, Rachel, Troy and Taylor turned out.) Who'd thought that?!?!? Life is good, even though your heart aches sometimes. Blessings on you all!

Here I am

This post is for you, Amanda. Just so I will be at the top.

Hi From Charleston

Left Florida and said goodbye to Disney and Paul. Now we are at Nikki's brother's house since yesterday. We shopped and ate- as usual.

Animal Kingdom Safari

Nikki sayas this is the first time she has ever seen a giraffe live and in person. Yea, I don't beleive it either.

Sci Fi Dine- In

Nikki and I had dinner at the Sci Fi Dine-In. Too much fun, but we eat way too fast!

A Disney Day

Nikki and I went to Animal Kingdom and the Hollywood Studios today. It was very hot, but lots of fun. Here we are at the Sci Fi Dine-In Theatre for dinner. I've got some great videos to post, but will do that later because they were taking a while to upload and I am ready to go to bed. One video is especially for you Effie- I got a waitress at a certain Animal Kingdom restaurant to say the magical phrase, "What's your favorite animal?" When I aksed if she would say that to my video camera, she thought I was a freak. Only for you to get a luagh Ef, only for a laugh. Long day (but lots of fun!!!), tired feet beddy-by calling my name. Thursday we are going to Epcot for the most of the day then over to the Magic Kingdom where we have dinner reservations. Will post some more on our adventures. By the way, Paul says "hi" to all of you!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Many of you will have no surprise that things have changed on our schedule of performances. It used to not be that way, I would pick a show and we would go for it. But lives change, people change, performers change, lots of busy schedules change so sometimes we need to accomodate. Here is the official line up for Overlook Theatre for the next year or so... but it all might change... just kidding.

December 5, 6 & 7- 2008 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (A play, not a musical.) We are doing this instead of the Disney revue show. Problems with royalties and all around fatigue brought about this change. Similar simple rehearsal schedule.

March 12, 13, 14 & 15- 2009 Seussical the Musical. No change, just a specific date available now.

July 9, 10, 11 & 12- 2009 Aida. Yeah!!! A change, but a good... no, a great one!

Fall 2009- a play, yes another non musical. Title TBA, but I have a few ideas. Something really funny or a mystery.

Looking toward the future: Spring 2010 Annie, the musical. Little Girls, everywhere I turn I can see them... Children and a Dog? What was W.C. Fields said?

Lots of fun, but we still get time to live life as well.

Wedding Pictures... Finally!

Here is the link to a website that displays our wedding photos. Some are formal shots, some silly fun shots and there are also a few wedding rehearsal/ dinner shots. Be sure to look at all 276 we posted... out of over 2000! Hope you enjoy! Here is the link:
Scotty & Nikki's Wedding Photos

Technology is Our Friend

Got a new gadget to bring a bit more publicity to the play group. Visit this new site and see what I mean.

How Can I Resist You? Easily.

With a group of friends and performance experts, I saw Mamma Mia the movie musical this weekend. Terrible. Out of a close to one hour and forty-five minutes, ther were two moments that were enjoyable (which total would last about seven minutes.) I love the stage show so much that I've seen it four times. I'm really disappointed because I was looking forward to this since last fall. Everything that Hairspray was- this wasn't.

On the upper side of things- Dolly Parton's new musical version of Nine to Five hits B-Way next year. Can't wait!

Things I learned From Charlie Brown

*Just because it worked ten years ago does not mean it works today. This is the hardest realization most people have coming to them. As I've said in the past, just because there are roles I would love to play, it does not mean I should play them. I would have fought Everett tooth and nail to be Gaston, but I would loose- not my character type when it comes to acting. I would love to do Big River some time and be Huck Finn, but now I am too old. I would love to dance like Fred and Ginger, but I'm not that graceful. Just because I've done things a certain way for some time does not make me skilled.
*Critical opinion does not bother me anymore. People have always shared their opinions about shows we have done and sometimes I take them to heart and try to fix the suggestions, other times I would get really mad and tell them what I thought. Now I just say, thank you for your ideas and I move on. You can't please everyone, so don't try. Only please the people that surround you and the others will come or stay home or raise your own money and creat your own theatre group from scratch with only $400- $200 of which was used to rent the bulding. That easy. As the song goes, I look back and say I did it my way.
*I'm old. My body does not bend as it once did. I am still in recover from being beaten and falling on the ground. Suck it up, buddy... or stay home.
*Just because it is simple, that does not make it easy. CB was the smallest set and costume plot we have ever had, but it seemed to take the most time of any. This could be due to several reasons: I am am obsessive complusive when it comes to things. When I stop being that way, don't do shows with me anymore or they will get sloppy. Laborors were few. Usually I have more people in the summer to help with tech than I do projects. This time I had more projects that people. They style of the show dictated that most of the props be made. That goes back to the OCD thing, we could have used normal pencils and notebooks but that would have been a sloppy show that had no concept.
*Kids bring an audience. The more kids you have in a show, the more audience you get. I've always know this, but thought maybe I was wrong. Looks like it is a "Hard Knock Life".
*I can maintain a home and a show at the same time. Luckily, the girl I married likes to do shows- that makes it easier. If she didn't I probably wouldn't be able to do them. Support is everything, especially when it means eating dinner at odd times of food passed by a complete stranger out a little window.
*I'm addicted to french fries.
*Happiness is good friends and a wonderful family that will do anything for me.

Charlie Brown Photos