Pre Opening Night

Well, we had a dress rehearsal last night, with show conditions, for "...Forum". We had about 30 folks in the audience. It went quite well. I have a feeling that this will really take off and we will be all sold out by the last half of the run.

It is really an amazing feeling to walk off the stage feeling like you nailed it. It really is the feeling of stepping off the roller coaster. And how many times have I told that analogy over the years???!!!!

You are A: glad you are still alive B: relieved you didn't puke on anyone and C: Damn! It sure was fun!

I've been getting a little flack about all the time I have invested in this effort. This is the first "free" community theatre show I have ever done. That being said, I would almost pay them for the privilege of working with some of these actors. Certainly there is no "weak link" in this show from the lead to the people with no lines at all. Everyone is very committed, dedicated and very talented. This has really fed my soul and taught me something about me as a performer.

Now, let's break a leg guys!

Contrast!

This is to show that, yes, I have had short hair before. This one was taken on Mallie's first birthday. She just had "Happy Birthday" sung to her and she was a bit shell shocked! This other is a shot, previously posted, of my friend Karen and I just a month or so short of my wedding.

Here I am with my baby all grow' d up!

And me, happy as a clam!

What we were doing ONE YEAR AGO today!

Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and, with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him (this is so bad, it's good) a super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.

The Dalai Lama is in town this weekend. I have been rehearsing, singing at a funeral for a 97 year old woman and teaching. So much is going on!

This weekend we also celebrated our one year wedding anniversary. We managed to go out for the evening and expanded to include some friends of ours. First, we headed over to Lisa and Stuart's for a glass (or three) of wine. What a lovely evening to sit on the porch and shoot the breeze, sorta speak. Then off for a nice dinner and that was also punctuated by friends. Karen and Richard literally walked by the restaurant and saw us in the window. We had a chance to sit with them for a while too. Nice to be with friends who are in love with their spouses/sig. others. Makes one think that this old work horse of an institution may yet be viable!

Add in a full moon and ........

"...Forum" opening night looms on the horizon and I really want to be good in the show. I'm working against myself - my inner tapes really - because I know I am riding myself too hard. Now I need to take all I can do and go back to the idea that I am doing this because IT'S FUN!!!

Yeah, that's it!

Happy Anniversary to us, my darling Stephen. Here's to many more!!!!

Indian Princess

Yup, that's my daughter - the Indian Princess. She turns 9 in June and she is almost to my shoulder. Geez! She has her first piano recital next month. I can't be there but a whole slew of Warners and a Randall will be there.

Opened and closed

This is a great action shot from "Blast from our Past!" We did 6 performances of it this past weekend. Even the staff got to do some "bits". This one has to do with fighting over who would be a better "Annie"!

The kids did really well and Mallie had a blast. Here she is with her gal pal, Summer.

Now I am in serious rehearsals for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". We open on April 25th and things are shaping up. I think it's really going to be a show to be proud of.

The weather is shaping up and it's lovely here. My one year wedding anniversary is on Sunday and I was remembering the perfect weather we had that weekend, last year. Sigh. What a lovely time that was.

And - the best part is - I still adore my husband!

OPENING NIGHT!

These are some of the kids in "BLAST FOR OUR PAST" that opens tonight. The Farmington Youth Theatre is celebrating 5 years with this variety show of numbers from the past 11 productions and summer theatre camp shows. Mallie is there in the front with the brown shirt. There are approx. 50+ kids in each of the two casts and they are having a ball, as you can see!

I am the Vocal Director and I stage manage as well which gives me a great view of the show! I am also IN the show this time around as we all have bits we are doing. I'm singing the verse of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in memory of Alex and Sam Weinstein. I only hope I can keep singing!!!

Alex and Sam, I know you will be on stage with us tonight. We all miss you.

If you have kids and want to give them a wonderful experience I would suggest finding a theatre group. Ours is great but, chances are, most groups will have just as much to offer. It is a great training ground for so many things. My daughter has really blossomed because of all she has learned.

Off to the show! Here's hoping we "break a leg!"

Sent to me today...

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

''No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

''Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven." So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," ' stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning ...... Today you voted".