June!

Sunday evenings continue to be my favorite time of the week

I bought my tickets to Newsies nearly a year ago. I am so excited I finally got to see it for the second time. Loved seeing how much my friends enjoyed it, even if none of us had seats next to each other.

From left: Theresa, Nichole, me, Jamie, and Larissa

 I live on the third floor, so I asked mom my if she'd help me wash my windows. She proceeded to just come over while I was at work and wash them for me. So, basically, my mom's a saint. 

I am so grateful!

I had one chip in my windshield for 9 months with no problem. A second one meant the windshield was toast. Thank goodness Safelight is willing to come to my workplace.

My brother Adam turned the big 4-0. How weird is that? But he will always be young at heart.

And effortlessly cool.

Dave, Mom and Dad at Adam's party

My last chance to say good-bye to Laura before she married a doctor and moved to Virginia.

I'll miss our birthday lunches with Janette. 

My friends keep getting married and moving out of my ward, as they should.

Larissa and Rob threw a party for the 2016 Tony Awards. They had a costume contest, so I wore my 1776 costume (and won), though Jamie's Alexander Hamilton costume was brilliant. I love Larissa's parties. She invites the best people, and her food is beyond tasty.

Jamie is not giving away her shot!

I cannot see enough of Amy!

 Liz and I drove down to Manti one Friday to do a session at the temple, and see the 50th Anniversary of the Mormon Miracle Pageant. That temple is splendid. So much history and the architecture is gorgeous. The pageant was more entertaining and insightful than I remembered (and just as cheesy).

The G-unit was ordained a deacon on the same day his brother was blessed.

Big day. Great kids. Lots of family.

Brothers! 

Jordyn, PJ, and Peter

 Father's Day is always hilarious. The men in my family are the best.

Papa and Angel baby

I adore this little face!

 Finding Dory was darling

I always seize upon every chance for a mini Little Women reunion. Jillian and Summer were wonderful in West Side Story at CenterPoint Legacy Theater. I'd never seen the play or movie all the way through, and I was surprised at how funny and affecting it was. And the dancing was incredible. Could become a new favorite, even if there isn't a role for me in it anywhere ;)

This is me trying to avoid road rage (I was stopped at a light at the time):

 I won this computer monitor in another contest at work. Woo-hoo!

Peter also had a birthday. I love seeing him and PJ together.

I always knew Pete would be a terrific dad, and he absolutely is.

It WAS amazing! (A Little Women post)

I've been putting off blogging about the end of Little Women, because I feel like any words I put down will be inadequate. This show was one of the all-around best I've ever had the privilege to be part of. It might be my favorite show, ever.

The cast was incredibly talented and dedicated, the production team had a clear vision and were a pleasure to work with, the crew was professional and kind, the costumes and set were stellar. I loved everyone involved and feel so lucky I got to be a part of this experience. It didn't matter how bad the rest of my day might have been, when I arrived at the theater to prepare for a performance, I immediately felt energized and happy. Even being sick for three of the four weeks didn't bring me down (I was lucky my role wasn't as music-intensive as some of the others'). I had the most supportive people around me -- all willing to do whatever they could to help me perform my best, and never stingy with praise and gratitude. Oh, gosh. It was a pleasure to be there.

Plus, I know it was a terrific show. The positive response to it was overwhelming! May people, including me, complain about the script, but I feel like our performances made up for a lack of written character depth and gaps in the story. I didn't feel at all embarrassed recommending my friends to pay $20 to see it, though I understood if the price was a deterrent. There was a different cast for every day of the week (especially with the usually double-cast roles of Beth and Amy being shared by three actresses) and everyone played differently with each other in spite of our director's request we try to perform like our doubles. I had my opinions on which doubles were "best" in their roles... but those mostly depended on collective chemistry onstage (no, I'm not going to call out on this blog which was the "better" of any of the characters). More than one patron told me it was the best show they'd ever seen at CenterPoint Legacy AND Rodgers Memorial. I wish they had allowed us to take a video. I was so proud of this production and would love to show it off to any who would let me!

My character was insanely fun to play. I might have to write another blog post just about her, especially since I never got around to working on a character sketch.  Miss Amy March was written as the villain AND the comic relief in the show, and I did my best to do her justice and somehow make her a little endearing, too. It would have been so easy to make her silly and one-dimensional; I couldn't resist throwing in my own experiences and understanding of why she was so frustrated as the youngest, left-behind sister, and later coming in to her own and hoping her family would continue to love her even though she had grown up. I wanted to make her a strong and real person. Many of my physical and emotional choices were deliberate and I think they enhanced my performance. It's such a great role!

I am proud to say that I never failed to get a laugh from my favorite line: "Sashes aren't silly!"
I love making people laugh! It's one of the best things in the world!

My greatest stress -- and the cast's favorite joke -- was that I was at least 12 years older than the six women who played my sisters. Being so much older and yet playing the youngest was terrifying! Fortunately, like I said, everyone was supportive. My double was sixteen and I learned a lot from her own portrayal and her encouragement of mine. I was reassured over and over again that though it was obvious I was not 12, no one would guess I am 34. Every time a friend saw the show and said they were amazed by my transfiguration into a 12 year old I mentally cheered and breathed a sigh of relief.

Five for all -- FOREVER!!

Actually, many of the cast members didn't know my real age until the end of the run -- some still don't :-D

I had thought my days of playing teenagers were past, and maybe they are now, but I am inordinately grateful I had another chance to play this character. I loved doing it four years ago, and I loved it again now. I wish I could have one more shot -- I love her that much. I honestly believe this is one of those roles that I am uniquely suited to play and really identified with. I got to do just about everything I wanted to, and it paid off!

I never tired of this production. With the exception of having to change costume between EVERY SINGLE SCENE I think I could have continued for another month or year. Sixteen performances were not enough to play with my character and the other people in the cast and crew. It went by far too quickly.

A lot of people are looking forward to the next show at CenterPoint, The Scarlet Pimpernel (I have tickets for tonight!), and calling it the event of the year. I got to hear some of their rehearsals from the dressing room and under the stage during my show and it's going to be terrific. When it came to  Little Women, I don't think people expected much going in and then were nicely surprised. Even men who don't enjoy chick flicks or theater enjoyed it. The show had so much heart and talent you couldn't help but be moved. My friend Kate wrote one of my favorite tributes (click her name to read it). I am thrilled that she and others were so inspired by our production!

Thank you so much to all who came and supported me this time! It means so much to me!


Oddly, I'm not depressed about it being over. I loved it, and I miss it and the people involved, but I think my Marmee said it best on closing night when she said, "I'm not sad because I know I'm going to see and work with you all again." We truly created a family onstage and off and it won't end just because the play did and we may not hear from each other regularly if at all before whatever our next project together is. I'm so happy we got to create something wonderful together and learned to love each other, too.

There was a moment during one of the Saturday performances where -- as I listened to the sold-out audience laugh and applaud -- I felt like I had finally arrived. I felt like all of my other theater opportunities had built up to this role in this show and this theater. It was one of the best moments of my life. I am so grateful that I have been blessed to play so many roles in so many plays that I have loved. Who else is as lucky as I am? I have the best hobby in the world!

I am the troll in the bottom center of this photo

I hope that the next production I do is as fun, well-done, creatively fulfilling, and successful as Little Women was. For now, I'm taking a well-deserved break; not in a hurry to do anything else in the near future -- not before Christmas, anyway. I'm just basking in the joy of my two perfect summer plays, and feeling grateful and happy. 

Backstage photos that I love:

Director Leslie Giles-Smith and choreographer Joan Bowles

The padding under my troll costume

My wigs matched my real hair

Troll in the hole!
(Literally a box under the stage)

Made by Tom's fan club, fitting for our characters!

Half-dressed for microphone checks

Landon and I in 42nd Street (left) eight years ago,
and Little Women this summer.
To be fair, he has old age make-up on
in the photo on the right

I felt it was important to draw something in Amy's sketchbook.
Isn't it hideous?

Ready to perform an Operatic Tragedy!

Cute Conner faux-proposes to me --
man, that kid can ad-lib!

Most of the sister combinations during the run!

.

Days of Plenty

Shortly after being cast in our show, one of our Marmees, Wanda, was diagnosed with a form of cancer called  Hodgkins Lymphoma. She talked it over with her husband, doctors, production team, and double, and everyone was very supportive of her continuing with the play. Wanda missed many rehearsals while recovering from chemotherapy and sat in the audience to watch her double when she was well enough to come but didn't have the strength to practice. 

Marmee and her girls

We showered Wanda with prayers and support during rehearsals and performances. It was a huge miracle that she didn't have to rely on her double and was able to perform during all of her scheduled shows! Wanda was such a sweet, sympathetic, and strong Marmee.

I am grateful that I chose to watch her cast on their closing night. I was able to bask in how wonderful the show was, and finally understand why everyone told me the play had made them cry the "ugly cry." (I sure am glad it was dark and no one could see my own ugly crying!)

But the moment that put me over the edge was watching and hearing Wanda sing her power ballad "Days of Plenty." It's a beautiful and meaningful song in any circumstance, but when I thought of Wanda's particular experience, my emotions filled my heart and spilled out my eyes. 

MARMEE:
Don’t make so much of me Jo… (spoken)

I never dreamed of this sorrow,
I never thought I’d have reason to lament,
I hoped I’d never know heartbreak,
How I wish I could change the way things went!
I wanted nothing but goodness,
I wanted reason to prevail,
Not this bare emptyness.
I wanted Days of Plenty.

But I refused to feel tragic,
I am aching for more than pain and grief.
There has got to be meaning,
Most of all when a life has been so brief.
I have got to learn something,
How can I give her any less?
I want life to go on.
I want Days of Plenty

You have to Believe,
There is reason for Hope.
You have to Believe
That the answers will come.
You can’t let this defeat you.
I won’t less this defeat you.
You must fight to keep her there,
Within you!

So Believe that she matters!
And Believe that she always will!
She will always be with you!
She’ll be part of the days you’ve yet to fill!
She will live in your bounty!
She will live as you carry on your life!

So carry on,
Full of Hope,
She’ll be there,

For all your Days of Plenty

I hope that one day I can be as inspiring as she is to me, and that I could follow her example when faced with a similar crisis. I have no doubt that she will beat this illness and become stronger than ever. I cannot wait to see and work with her again someday.

Director Leslie, sandwiched between our two brilliant Marmees!

September tybbling

• So far, I've already completed twelve performances of Little Women. It's hard to wrap my brain around the fact I've done so many. That's the equivalent of a full run for most CenterPoint shows, but I'm so lucky I still get to do another four :) (To put it in perspective, the total is twice the number of performances I had for The Marvelous Wonderettes!) This really is one of the best-quality plays I've ever been a part of, and I have loved hearing how much my friends have liked it. Even a lot of men who don't like chick flicks have enjoyed it. Only one week left. Don't miss it. You won't regret coming!

Yes, I am the troll! Yes, it
is the coolest (and most
stifling) costume ever!

• Starting to worry about what I'm going to do after the show closes. Then again, I've never had much trouble filling my time before. I am going to take a theater break. Larissa said it'll be tempting not to jump into something else right away and she's already right. But I will resist because I have so many neglected friends to see and activities to pursue. Life won't be dull. It'll be nice to recharge and live the life of a regular person for awhile, instead of playing at someone else's, much as I love it and hate to miss performing opportunities.

• The nice thing about the timing of my show closing is that most of the network television shows start up again next week. Woo-hoo! I'll finally learn the fate of the plane crash survivors on Grey's Anatomy, get reacquainted with the quirky Community bunch, and see how Leslie manages her new job on Parks and Recreation. Also been watching Doctor Who and Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Netflix. Took me awhile to get into them, but Holy Cow, I'm hooked now!

• The doctor told me today that I've been dealing with bronchitis for the last few weeks. Boo. If I hadn't put off going to the doc, I might have known this and been treated before the horrific on-stage coughing fit last Tuesday. Then again, how was I supposed to know it would be this bad? Lucky that my part in the play isn't more singing-intensive. I've managed to muddle through without too many problems or false notes. Thank goodness for antibiotics. They'll get me well again in no time. Wish it could have waited three weeks to show up, though. Oh, well :P 
• Meanwhile, I miss my previous doctor. I loved her. She was never too busy to listen to what I had to say and answer all of my questions. She left her practice in order to spend more time with her family. The guy I saw today mumbled the diagnosis while practically running out of the room and barely answered the one question I managed to ask before he closed the door behind him. Won't be going to him again...

My birthday tiara :D
My nieces were sooo jealous!

• My birthday week was perfect. I didn't even mind (much) being sick for it. Everything I did was brilliant. I didn't feel sad or lonely, and got to do and eat almost everything I wanted. Hoping to write up a post about all of the fun, though it won't include "Besty Birthday" 'cause that date is yet to be determined. That's what happens when you and your best friend are both crazy-busy during your close-together birthdays. Just prolongs the celebration a bit longer. You should give it a try :D

• Was surprised to hear that the BYU/University of Utah game happened on Saturday. If not for a few (billion) posts on Friday and Saturday I might have missed it entirely... which would have been fine. I really don't care about the rivalry except that it seems to bring out the ugliness of my partisan friends in the same way the election does. I'm glad the whole thing only lasted three days on Facebook (including the day after when the U fans gloated about their victory), and sad that my Cougars apparently deserved their loss. *Shrug* Thank goodness that's over for another year!

C'est tout. Happy Monday!