Death by musical

For all those that think musicals are too cheery and predictable, this one's for you:

Oh, John Larroquette, how I love him!

Happy Friday!

A gift for my mom

Seven years ago, my youngest brother, David, did a high school production of The Fantastiks. My friend Kristen directed, and Kristen's mom and dad recorded a video of the production. After the play closed, David announced his retirement from acting. He's good and enjoys so many other things, he didn't mind giving up this one pursuit. It's a bit of a shame, since he was wonderful. Not many have that elastic of a face and such good comic timing!

Couldn't find a photo from his play, but here's
one of David and I from about that time.
Isn't he handsome?!

My mom asked Kristen's mom, Pat, for a copy of the video... but what with graduation and life happening, Pat never managed to give my mom that tape. I am fairly good friends with Pat and Kristen, and every time I'd mention to my mom that I had seen them (which wasn't very often), Mom would mention her regret that she never got a copy of the performance.

Last year, I did Into the Woods, and it just so happens that the young man who played Cinderella's Prince is Pat's nephew. Pat came to the show one night, and afterwards I asked her about that recording of The Fantastiks. I mentioned that I knew my mom would still like a copy, and right away Pat said, "I'll see if I can find the tape. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could give it to your mom for Christmas?!!"

(Please note that I did Into the Woods nearly 18 months ago.)

Pat and I have been in touch quite a bit since then -- mostly me pestering her about whether she'd been able to find the tape. I felt like such a pill, and am glad that I've run into her a few times during that time and she was as concerned as I. It was blisteringly difficult not to tell my mom each time I saw her. I didn't realize before how much I'm used to telling my mom pretty much everything that happens to me.

Well, November 12, I found a Facebook message from Pat saying that she had finally found the tape! She messaged me at midnight right after she found it -- she was too excited to wait to tell me, but was afraid it was too late in the evening to call. You can imagine how thrilled we both were!! She burned the DVD right away, and a few days later I met her at work to pick it up. She asked me to watch it and make sure there weren't any problems. Oh, I had so much fun watching!! I forgot just how funny and talented David was in that play. I'm so proud of the guy. Wish he'd do a show with me. The DVD looked great.... now I just had somehow manage not to mention it to my mom, or anyone who might accidently tell her. The last six weeks have felt so long!!

When Mom unwrapped the DVD yesterday, I knew she could see how excited I was to give it to her. It was so fun to see her face as she politely thanked me for the homemade DVDs (not the first time I've given her such a gift), and slowly read aloud the title. The look on her face when she realized exactly what it was was priceless. Her eyes widened, and she immediately started to cry because she was so overwhelmed. She jumped up to give me a hug and I laughed when she said, "I was really starting to hate those people!" Her reaction couldn't have been better!

I'm just happy that seven years after the fact, she finally has her DVDs and I don't have to keep this particular secret anymore. I don't like keeping secrets! It's so much easier just to tell the truth!

I should say that David probably won the "most thoughtful gift for Mom" award. Mom has been collecting vintage copies of the books in The Wizard of Oz series, and David found her a mint condition copy. Wish he could have been there to see how thrilled she was. Silly hospital needing him to work that day (thank goodness for health professionals working the holidays -- they are sorely needed and appreciated, though their families miss them). I'm glad Mom had such a good year. We do what we can to tell her how much we love her!

Haven't had a chance to tell Dave yet that I found a copy of his play. He might not be as excited as the rest of us -- I'm sure he's in no hurry to watch himself on camera. Still, since he is retired, it's nice to have a record of his onstage genius. I'm guessing that Mom told him about it last night after he finished work. Hope he doesn't mind too much!

Happy day-after-Christmas, everyone. I hope your day was as happy and fun and exhausting as mine. There was plenty of good food and even better company, smiles, tears, imperfection, and gratitude. I'm already looking forward to next Christmas and all that comes with it :) I'd better start thinking now about what to get my mom. It'll be hard to top this one.

I survived the end of the world!

There has been a lot of hullabaloo the last couple of years about the Mayan calendar. Many people speculated that the last day on the calendar -- December 21, 2012 -- would be the last day of the world.

I admit, when the day came and went and nothing special happened, I was a little disappointed.

This doesn't mean I expected the world the END. That seemed a little excessive, and during all the fervor my Christian brain often recalled these verses:

28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
- Mark Chapter 13, King James Bible

Even so, I wanted something exciting to happen! Something meaningful! Something out of the norm!

Well, maybe it did. After all, it was the first day of an almost 2 week vacation from work! I had so much fun that day.

Richie and his tiny bottles

• I slept in -- woooooot!
• I saw The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 3D Imax, and was very disappointed I missed the deadline for the 9 minute Star Trek Into Darkness preview (it was only for the first 3 days after the movie opened). Thoroughly enjoyed The Hobbit, though I think I'll skip the 3D and fast-speed frames for the next film!
• During the movie, I asked a guy in front of me to put away his phone. The stranger next to me thanked me... and after the movie gave me his card and told me to call (I didn't).
• I shopped at the mall for some clothes to wear in a family photo. Since I was hungry, I stopped by Hot Dog on a Stick. They had the calories listed for each item, and since it was fewer calories for two corn dogs then for a corn dog and an order of fries, I bought two corn dogs.
• I ate the corn dogs while walking around the mall, and NONE of the kiosk workers bothered me. I almost ran into a few and they still didn't talk with me. Guess the corn dogs were intimidating ;)
• Went to Barnes & Noble and bought a caramel apple cider at the adjoining Starbucks. Soooo gooood!
• Got stuck in traffic a lot.
• Ran the entire show for the first time at Arsenic and Old Lace rehearsal. This was also the day that Lt. O'Hara started bringing in the essential oils he has started selling. He even gave me a few to try to help me recover from the cold that lingered for three weeks. Every one who walked in the room asked why it smelled so good... was nice the rehearsal room didn't smell like stinky actors for once!

Nothing earth-shattering, but a darn fun day. Thanks, Mayans for encouraging me to look for the unexpected wonderfulness in what was otherwise a regular day.

Just for fun, one last opportunity to post this topic-appropriate song:


How did you celebrate the "End of the World?" Hope you had a good day, too!

"Merry Christmas" movies

There are several movies and Christmas specials I like to watch this time of year. Some of them aren't necessarily "Christmas" movies, but there's something about them that put me in the mood. I've managed to watched many of them already (which is good because Christmas is in 4 days), actually I watched a bunch of them before December -- yep, I'm that girl! There's still hope I'll manage to watch the others within the next week. Yay!

If you'll indulge me, here are the Christmas-mood-inducing movies I've already watched this year:

Miracle on 34th Street (the 1940s version)
A movie about faith and believing. Edmund Gwenn is the best Santa ever. Totally deserved his Oscar! And little Natalie Wood is the perfect little cynic. The two of them together just make me smile (though I must say that Santa's explanation of how to emulate a monkey is terrible).

White Christmas
A movie about romance... and cheesy musical numbers. This is one of my all-time favorites. I want so badly to be a part of this musical some day. I may need to watch the movie again before New Years. (Done! ... maybe I need to watch it a third time...)


The Santa Claus
Another movie about believing and childlike wonder. Scott goes to the North Pole, meets elves, and still can't believe he is Santa Claus. It's cool to me that in this movie the child convinces the adults that Santa Claus is real, instead of the other way around. The ending is just too adorable!

While You Were Sleeping
This is one of those "not-a-Christmas movie" movies, because it's a movie about family!! The scene where they're all sitting around opening presents, and Mary gets excited about her Dad giving her earrings for pierced ears? Yep, that's Christmas. Also, the random conversation around the dinner table: "These mashed potatoes are so creamy." The lines are brilliant because they are honest and comfortable and full of love and acceptance. No wonder Lucy falls in love with the Callaghans! I do, too!

Elf
A movie about finding joy in everything, and loving people for who they are. I've actually only seen the second half of this movie so far this year (thanks, Riss!) Buddy doesn't have to chance to make a difference -- he is himself, and somehow it is exactly what the people around him need. Love, love, love.

Love Actually
Let's say this one is about unexpected, wonderful surprises. This movie has everything: death, disappointment, innocence, hope, an aging pop star, a couple of paper mache lobsters, terrible speaking of the portuguese language, a song by The Pointer Sisters, and love in many forms. I even love that a few of the stories don't end happily.  I can never decide which storyline is my favorite. Right now, I think the two favs are Sarah's crush on Carl, and the way Sam and his stepdad. Such sweet, simple stories, but so meaningful.


Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
A movie about accepting who you are and letting your light shine... figuratively, of course, though Rudolph's light is literal :)

Charlie Brown Christmas special
A movie about the true meaning of Christmas in spite of a commercial world. Every time Linus starts quoting Luke 2, I get teary-eyed. This is the first time I noticed that Linus knows that section because Lucy forced him to memorize it. That makes sense! I love those kinds of details in storyboarding!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the 1960s cartoon)
Another movie about the true meaning of Christmas and the joy that comes from doing the right thing. Oh, the grinch. Let's be honest, don't some of us sometimes just want to chuck the whole holiday? So many obnoxious people being jerks, and horrible traffic, and stressing about gifts. It always feels so nice when I finally hit that groove and realize that Christmas is about being with people I love.

The Muppet Christmas Carol
My favorite version of this story of redemption, charity, and forgiveness. Who would have thought that Michael Cain and Kermit the frog would be such perfect foils? The music is wonderful, the characters spot on, the addition of Gonzo as narrator/author Charles Dickens -- the whole thing is just magic!

The Phineas and Ferb Christmas Special
This is a new favorite I'll need to watch every year! This one is about serving others and making the people around you happy (and figgy pudding). Who can resist a villain who, as it turns out, doesn't hate Christmas enough to actually put his plan into effect? Fortunately (unfortunately?) fate intervenes and Phineas and Ferb -- and Perry, of course -- must save the day... Another show with terrific dialogue and a great moral. Check it out. You won't be sorry.

Meet Me in St. Louis
I watched this entire movie for the first time this year, and didn't love it, so I probably won't put it in the rotation. It's another not-Christmas movie, though it features the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" sung by Judy Garland. It's another movie about family and doing what's right for them in spite of your personal goals.


Sleepless in Seattle
A movie about hope and shooting for your dreams, even when other people think they're ridiculous. The friendships in this movie make it for me. Rosie O'Donnell and Meg Ryan? Victor Garber and Tom Hanks? The chemistry is brilliant!

Yet to watch this year:
The Holiday
This is my favorite chick-flick, and I tend to watch it anytime I'm feeling sorry for myself over my dating life. It's about love coming from unexpected places, having the confidence to stand up for yourself, and taking chances when the opportunity comes. As an added bonus, Kate Winslet and Jack Black make a surprisingly convincing couple. Wish there were more of them scatting, or playing silly games in the video store!

A Christmas Story
Yet another story about family, childhood and traditions. I love the dichotomy between the parents and the kids. Christmas is so very different depending on your age and place in the family. Poor Ralphie has so much angst and his parents have no idea... and then they come through totally unexpectedly. Wonderful!

Wil Vinton's Claymation Christmas
A family classic! This one is purely about the music. In 20+ years, I think my family has only not watched this one together on Christmas Eve twice, and once was because we were on that cruise.

The Nativity Story
A story of the events around Jesus Christ's birth. It's not perfect, but the portrayal of Joseph the carpenter is so sincere and sweet, and the wise men are delightful.

A Garfield Christmas television special
Silly, wonderful, family fun. Love their goofy traditions. They make my family's traditions seem a little more normal :)

What are some of your favorite Christmas movies and shows? Do any of these qualify for your list?

12/12/12

Today is December 12, 2012, or 12/12/12. It's the last time this century we'll have triple-digits on the calendar. I stayed up until 12:12 a.m. so I could experience the moment -- surprisingly like so many others in a day that I feel should be special but was really just ordinary -- and at 12:12 p.m. I was eating lunch at Trio with favorite former co-workers Beth and Michele. Not a bad way to spend two good minutes, and many others before and after!

The rest of my day will of course be spent working and then at rehearsal. Do any of you have anything special planned?

Happy 12/12/12 everybody! Guess it's time to start thinking about the next major holiday ;)

Check out the expiration date on this fancy car
 -- pretty sweet!

Sing it loud for all to hear!

As Buddy the elf says,

The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear!

Well, since I'm not doing a Christmas show this season, I'm simply enjoying the carols cycling through the radio stations, and blaring at every store I step into! Sure, the very first Christmas-themed song I heard was the obnoxiously-manipulative "The Christmas Shoes" (listen at your own risk), but on the positive side, it was nice to get it over with, and so many of the other songs are so wonderful! I love the hope and joy and excitement in the music set aside for this time of year, whether playful or inspirational.

One of my favorite things about Christmas carols, though, is how casually and naturally the spiritual and fun songs are played together. Maybe the season has become increasingly commercial, but how can anyone misunderstand the true reason of the season when so many artists have their own version of "O Holy Night?" I heard two different versions back-to-back on the radio this morning!

This video of The Piano Guys' "Carol of the Bells" has become a new favorite -- how wonderful all-instrumental music can be, and I appreciate their using a melancholy-sounding instrument for such an exciting song. It works!

This performance of "Ding-dong Merrily on High" made me cry the first time I saw 5 Carols/Jingle Jacks at CenterPoint Legacy Theater earlier this month. So darn cool! I had to go back and see the show again... especially because the reprise is seriously, insanely funny (everything goes wrong -- I can't even describe it!) The first time, I laughed so hard I cried, and the second time, I laughed so hard my face went numb. Oh, man. I wish I had a free night to go again. If you have a chance to see it, DO! It's terrific! (We all know I don't often plug shows that I'm not in, so please take my word for it!):
(The song starts at 5:20)

Love! Love! Love!!

And then there are horrible versions, like a calypso version of "Feliz Navidad" I heard once... possibly the second-worst track ever recorded, next to "The Christmas Shoes" (I really do hate that song), and just so darn fascinating.

Oh, and it's fun to find variations of "Rudolph", like "Randolph the Bowl-Legged Cowboy", which I can't find on YouTube... maybe I'll create my own video ;)

Meanwhile, I definitely have my favorites, and it's fun to hear new renditions that pop up each year. Jimmy Fallon and The Roots' cover of "All I Want for Christmas is You" has become my go-to video whenever I need an infusion of Christmas spirit:


Happy Christmastime, everyone! What are your favorite versions of your favorite carols?