The most wonderful month of the year!

December is at an end and a New Year is baring down on us. I had a fun month, full of family and friends, parties, dinners, and plays, and two full weeks off from work. I'd say I cannot ask for more, but I'm still asking for a boyfriend someday soon (just putting that into the universe).

I scaled back the Christmas decorations in my condo this year, but I couldn't do without my tree or my Swedish star.
It finally feels like Christmas!

My mother made me this gorgeous angel. She reigns over my tree in goodness and peace.
My friends say she looks like me, but I think she looks like my mom (and a little like Glinda the Good Witch).

Larissa went all-out for her A Christmas Story viewing party this year. The details were perfect, from the movie-themed food to the leg lamp she borrowed from Kristen. I didn't do much movie watching, but I did manage to catch up with a lot of people I like!

Hostess Larissa, and Chris

The "soap" was molded chocolate. This face was me trying not to think about how many other people had put it in their mouths ;)

The G-unit performed in a special after-school choir over the holidays. He's a performer through-and-through, and the true child of his parents. He hammed his way through the actions and had a huge smile on his face the entire time. He even had a solo in one of the numbers. I'm proud of him!

This smile was right after he messed up the words. Luckily, the entire choir was singing, so nobody noticed except us... and only 'cause he started laughing!

When Brandon offered Nichole, Larissa, and me tickets to see him in A Christmas Carol at Hale Centre Theatre, we jumped at the chance! Nichole and I have fond memories performing in the play, and Larissa had never seen it before. It's a lovely production, and the story of Scrooge and Bob Cratchit has a message worth learning over and over. Maybe I'll audition for it next year...

My ward organized a special event where we attended an afternoon session at the Salt Lake Temple, and then ate a catered dinner at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. My date cancelled on me, but I made myself go anyway. I knew I'd have plenty of friends there.

This was the view from our ballroom!

My table, minus Trinnette (the photographer)

I wasn't going to let Trinnette get away without a photo!

Blueberry chicken. It was different, but I liked it.

We had chocolate mousse for dessert. It tasted like frosting and was fabulous.

Terrible, terrible selfie with some of the lights at Temple Square

Peter's company rented out a theatre and had the employees invite friends, family, and clients to view The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies the night before it opened. I was the only one to dress in costume, but I couldn't not do it. It was my last chance!

The office Christmas party was at Tucanos this year. It's the one time of year that absolutely everyone comes into the office, and I'm always surprised at how many of us work from the Salt Lake office. I ate lunch with the User Experience and Marketing teams. We were surprised to see so many women together at once, since some of them work from home and others work in a part of the office the rest of us don't get to very often. I nearly blew their minds when I told them there are three other women on my development team, and one more in customer service!
We were also gifted a box of Cummings chocolates and a coupon to see a movie at the Megaplex for free. Hooray for the holidays!

I cannot say no to this chocolate cake. Not when it's free and lasts for four days (if I can restrain myself)

My two-week vacation started the next day :D

My nieces convinced me to do the unthinkable: I downloaded some games onto my phone. Now Breezy asks to play on my phone every time she sees me.

Hair Salon is Breezy's favorite, especially the "blowdryer" function.
The top left one is mine. I've accidentally shaved heads more often than I care to admit.

This Frozen Princess dress up game is also pretty fun.
These are all my designs.

Zonks's favorite is Dumb Ways to Die. I couldn't not download it when she moaned "I looooove it!" We both laugh our heads off while I read the directions and she tries to save the poor characters from grisly deaths (wow, that sounds horrible, but the game is hilarious).

I bought this cookie 'cause I was worried I wouldn't get any gingerbread this year. It tasted ok, but it prompted this amusing story:
"Dropped this cookie while walking up the stairs to my apartment (it was in a tiny bag). I exclaimed, "Oh no!" and one of my neighbors came running out to see if everything was ok. I was a little embarrassed to explain my reason, but she joked she would have been sad, too. I asked if she was the one doing laundry and she said she was, so I thanked her for the lovely detergent smell in the stairwell. Then we introduced ourselves. Nice to know another neighbor."

"For today's #creepshow, I parked for church, and these pigeons (plus a bunch more) immediately flocked to land on the street right next to my car. They then began circling and landing ON my car, so I backed up a bit so they'd get off, but they settled back in after I parked the second time. So, I drove away to park up the road. Happily, they didn't follow. But, wow, it was weird!"

I invited Larissa to join me for a day at the movies. We saw The Imitation Game, ate lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries, then her husband, Rob joined us for Interstellar. It's been a long time since my last double-feature, and I loved having Larissa with me!

I love this time of year when gas prices are as low as they've been all year. I remember a time when I thought $1.99 per gallon was a rip off! Filling up my gas tank for less than $20? Yes, please!

Some other notable events were watching the entire series of Ugly Betty -- which I LOVED -- and joining Aaron, Heidi, and Dave in seeing Into the Woods, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I've been saying since day one that I was cautiously optimistic about ITW. It's a tough show, but the movie got the tone just right and that is the most important thing to me. 

Christmas was everything I hoped it would be, and New Year's Eve was delightfully spent playing board games with my besty, Kate, her husband, and his family. Such a nice way to end the year!

In defense of Cinderella

Quite by accident, I discovered a special showing of Disney's Cinderella at a local theater on Presidents' Day. Since I had the day off, wanted to see a movie anyway, and might never have the chance to see this particular movie on the big screen again, I jumped at the chance!

The theater wasn't full, and as you might guess, most of the audience members were female (and most -- if not all -- of the males were with their female friends), but I was a little surprised to see groups of teenagers, mothers and daughters and granddaughters, pre-teens, and so many other varying-aged and situation people there. There might have even been other single women there, like me -- I didn't notice. I was also surprised that everyone was so quiet during the movie. Usually when there are that many little kids in a theater you hear them ask questions "Where did she go? Why is the cat so mean?" but there was nary a peep. The only sounds were intermittent laughter. Otherwise, we all just drank in the story on the screen. Maybe I cried a couple of times (something about the music reduces me to a puddle), but we all applauded at the end. It had been a long time since I'd watched the movie without distraction, and it was so fun to see all of the details I might otherwise miss (you know, on a regular-sized t.v.) and remember why I love the story so much.

(Forgive me for not recapping the story. If you aren't familiar with Cinderella, please click here.)

There are those who would dismiss Cinderella as naive and passive. Now, I know that the original (ish, since nearly every society has a Cinderella-type tale) French fairy tale was written as a morality tale about courtliness and preparing yourself to be a perfect wife, but I think we do a disservice in stating that kindness somehow makes Cinderella weak. In 1949, Walt Disney said:

She believed in dreams, all right, but she also believed in doing something about them. When Prince Charming didn't come along, she went over to the palace and got him.

Even so, I think even Mr. Disney himself sold his heroine a little short in his movie. Watching on Monday, I laughed at the mice, and they were cute and all, but I really just wanted to get back to Cinderella. Judging from this movie and little time they spend with Cinderella, maybe it IS easy to dismiss her as lame.

Except... Cinderella isn't passive. She doesn't sit around waiting for things to happen. She keeps busy. She makes the choice to be positive and hope for better things in the future, even if she doesn't know how to make that happen. She does her chores and appreciates having her friends near her all day (granted, they are all animals). When the opportunity to go to the ball comes, she gets excited about the chance to go somewhere new; she plans to make her own dress, and again does all of her chores so that she is prepared. When the slipper the Grand Duke has been carrying around breaks, Cinderella immediately produces the other one. I can only assume that if there had been enough fabric in her bedroom she would have made a rope ladder to get out when the stepmother locks her in (though it's more likely the storytellers just wanted the mice to save the day). But she does think to have Bruno the dog chase off Lucifer when the cat threatens to keep the mice from getting the key to her. It's only after she has done everything she can -- and tragically fails because of her horrible family and other circumstances beyond her control -- that she starts to lose hope.

The people who help her? They help because they love her. Because they see how hard she works and that she hopes for happiness, and they want to help her get there. Have you noticed that they only show up when all other hope is lost?

Last year, I had the privilege of playing Cinderella in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods. I LOVE the way Sondheim treats Cinderella, right down to having her father still be alive. She says, "Good night, Father," and he ignores her. This poor girl is even rejected by her own father because of his own cowardice or laziness, and she suffers from an even more intense lack of appreciation or belonging. I decided to make Cinderella's need to be loved her primary motivation. Everything she does is out of a hope to be accepted. She wants to go to the ball because everyone else is going, and maybe if they let her go, too, she'll be treated like part of the family. Unfortunately, that doesn't work out, so she runs to her mother's grave, where the one person (well, spirit) who still cares helps her out. Cinderella goes to the ball... and then is faced with a potentially life-changing experience when she meets a man who is willing to take her life into a completely different direction than she ever expected. "Wanting a ball is not wanting a prince!" She spends a (terribly difficult to sing) song trying to decide if she wants to continue battling it out with her family, or take a chance with the unknown. The choice is made...

**Spoiler alert**
... And things don't go as planned. She finds, once again, that her Prince -- the person who should love her more than anyone -- really doesn't understand her or care about her. Once she figures that out, she makes the brave choice not to go home, again facing the unknown.

It should also be said that in Into the Woods, Cinderella is the person who ultimately figures out how to get rid of the giant. They initially assume that the Baker will be the leader, but Cinderella uses her own experience (and friendship with the birds) to come up with a plan. She's a smarty, that Cinderella! She also goes out of her way to protect and care for Jack, Little Red, and the baby.
**End spoiler alert**

In the end, Cinderella finally finds a group of people who love her for who she is, see her value, and DO want her around.

Maybe it's a little unrealistic to hope for an actual prince. However, it is realistic and necessary for each girl to recognize her own worth, and that she surround herself with friends and family who love and support her, and will help her achieve her dreams. That's the "happily ever after" I hope for. Actually, it's the one I'm living! Finding a prince of a man to share it with would simply be icing on the cake :)

With all of that said, I am proud that when I took the "Which Disney Princess Are You" quiz, I had the following result:

To end, I'd like to post this video I found today. There is nothing wrong with being or wanting to be a princess. I hope every princessy girl (like me) will put her individuality and strengths to good use. We need more strong women in the world.
(Looks like you have to open up my blog to see the video. Sorry Google Reader readers!)

Make a Joyful Noise!

 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

- Psalms 98:4, King James Bible

While I was sick, and then when my throat was healing from the horrible cough damage, I didn't sing. I think I've mentioned before that I love to sing more than doing anything else in the world, so this was difficult for me. Sometimes just mouthing the words and dancing was enough to abate the need to actually make musical noise with my voice, but sometimes it wasn't.

But because I didn't want to damage my vocal chords any more than the illness already had, not using my voice was a necessary sacrifice. I hoped that it would only be short-term. My fear was that I'd never get my range or breath control back to what it was (I'm still pretty short of breath) and I still have coughing spells once in awhile. I could hear how scratchy and pathetic my voice was. I stubbornly tried to audition for a musical, and I was disappointed in my performance -- I could normally perform so much better than that! It's probably better that I wasn't cast in that show. But the first couple of weeks of Beauty rehearsals were endlessly frustrating, because I couldn't use my voice the way I am used to, and, again, I was afraid I'd lose it altogether at just the wrong moment.

It wasn't until the follow-up doctor's appointment this month that I realized how much NOT singing had affected my morale. It was bad enough that I felt crummy and didn't get to hang out with my friends, I couldn't sing, either? Talk about kicking a girl when she's down!

When I suddenly had permission to sing again it felt AMAZING!! Even though it was a Tuesday, I found the Friday song on my iPod and sang it about six times -- I figured it was an okay choice since the vocal range is limited (please don't judge me too harshly), plus the Glee cover is so wonderfully peppy. Then I put on a musical and continued to sing. I was so happy!

A dear friend asked me to sing last Sunday at a retirement home where she plays the piano. It was the first time since September that I'd sung in front of anyone. I sang "For the Beauty of the Earth" and I was nervous and shaky, but I did it! Ginny said I sounded beautiful and that everyone was grateful that I shared (I had to leave right after). I'm glad that she asked me to do it; I put my fears aside and shared my talent. Though weak, it's still there, thank goodness.

Here's a video of Andrea (Little Red), Greg (Baker), and Jonathon (Jack), and me singing my favorite song from Into the Woods. Hopefully I'll be back to audition/performance form and get to sing something like this again soon! I've seen several musicals lately and I sure do miss it!

After the Last Midnight

Signs I'm no longer involved with a play:

1. I don't feel guilty about listening to something other than Into the Woods on my iPod. I missed you, Taylor Swift and Glee cast!!
2. I can paint my toenails again!
3. I don't feel like doing anything for a week, but I have plans every night (I don't do a show because I'm looking for something to do. I make time because I love it).
4. I miss my cast desperately.
5. My Facebook page is clogged with notes from friends telling me how good I was. I like those kinds of posts :-D
6. I find glitter and bobby pins in crazy places around the house.
7. My theatre supplies remain lying about the house for at least a week 'cause I don't want to put all the make-up away and wash my tights yet (see #3).
8. I comb my former castmates' photos on Facebook at least 3 times a day to see if anyone has posted anything new...but don't feel up to uploading my own yet...
9. I think about memories I want to write in my journal and/or blog about (coming soon!)
10. I start marking upcoming auditions in my calendar. No rest for the wicked, or weary, or gluttons for punishment, or shining happy people... or whatever the phrase is...

What are signs that you've finished a show, or completed a dance concert, or finished a big race or another milestone event? How do you unwind and cope with the letdown and homesickness? Any tips are welcome!

Cow Death*, or Into the Woods tybbling

• I'm at the point where I no longer feel uncomfortable and grungy in my perpetual state of sweatiness. Doing a show outdoors, in voluminous costumes (including a full-on wedding gown) for over a week will do that for you.
• The rain last week postponed our tech rehearsal, but we didn't have to cancel. And the rain on Thursday was gone by the time the show rolled around (apparently the wind blew over some set pieces, but I was oblivious). I kept telling myself I'd rather opening night be rained out than closing, but truthfully I don't want ANY cancelled. I am so grateful that so far my prayers are being answered!
• My falling down looks real!! Hooraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

• The prospect of brushing out my ratted hair every night makes me want to cry every night. I cannot entertain the thought of sleeping in it. I shudder to think how snarled it would be if I slept in it. *Shudder* If it didn't look so good I really WOULD cry. Thank goodness I'm due for a haircut anyway -- it'll be desperately needed after this run is over!

• I am too tired to think straight anymore. I am so tired today that the idea of not getting to sleep all day tomorrow makes me want to cry. I wish I weren't because I hate the fear that the show will go by too fast and I was too tired to notice. I'm sure I'll be just fine once I get off this couch, shower, and get some food! Thank goodness for the adrenaline and love of performing that will magically get me through the play tonight -- I have so many loved ones coming!
• Only two nights left, and we get better with each performance. I am so proud of this play!

See you there!


*"Cow Death" is the name of the music cue for when Milky White dies. This name cracks me up EVERY TIME I hear the cue.

Go to the wood!

Well, I'd say it's "finally" here, but we've barely had 5 weeks to put together Taylorsville Arts Council's production of Into the Woods. We've nearly driven ourselves and each other crazy, but we've done it! My latest play opens tomorrow, and believe me, you don't want to miss

her: 

Little Red Riding Hood, with the Baker and Narrator

 or him:

Cinderella's Prince and the Wolf

or her: 

The Witch

or him:

Jack (of Beanstalk fame)

 or her:

Rapunzel

or them:

Cinderella's stepmother, Father, and stepsisters

 Also, I'm in it:

Cinderella

The actors in this show -- guided by our brilliant director -- have created wonderful and hilarious characters. I couldn't even begin to pick a favorite, but I'm dying to know which you like best!

If you're in town and looking for a play to entertain, enlighten, and delight you, come to Into the Woods this weekend! I hope to see many of you there!

Now, go to the woods!!

Hair as yellow as corn

You might recall that a few months back I decided I needed a change in hair color. When I asked my current director if she'd prefer me as a redhead or blonde, she asked what I wanted to do. I didn't know, so she said, "How about strawberry-blonde?"

It wasn't until after she said it I knew I really wanted to be blonde again. So, I made an appointment, and finally, FINALLY, yesterday I had the red stripped out of my hair.

We did the treatment twice, and it wouldn't come completely out, but my hair was definitely blonder again! It did turn out strawberry-blonde, and we put blonde and red highlights in the 3 inches of regrowth.

Rapunzel/Jeanne and I joke about my t-shirt

I admit, I'm a little disappointed in the way it turned out. I've always been proud of the fact I'm a natural blonde, and I thought it was cool I looked like a natural redhead. But I feel like the color now doesn't look natural -- it looks like I dyed it and I LOATHE that! I want to love it, but I don't right now.

However, the director likes it, as do my other castmembers. That's comforting.

I guess I need to give myself some time to get used to it. Maybe after I wash it and style it the way I normally do... it's likely it'll take as much time to get used to being blonde again as it did after I dyed it red. So, about two months, at which point it'll be time to get a touch-up. I do want to get the red out next time if I can.

I think I need this today:

It tickles me that this little girl has hair like mine.

"I like my hair! I like my haircuts!"

Yes, the blonde is a little boring, but it was so much a part of my identity for so long. It's nice to have it back.

My eyebrows look so much darker now!

Signs I'm getting ready to open a show, or "the cow as white as milk..."

"...the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, the slipper as pure as gold!"

Foxy, Sassy, and Rissy all created their lists, so I thought I'd follow suit:

Signs I'm getting ready to open a show

Red, Jack, and Cinderella making plans
for "Happy Ever After"

1. I live on fast food (I'm not ordering fries during this cycle!).
2. I reject almost all invitations by using some variation on the phrase, "I can't. I have rehearsal."
3. I start wishing I was a professional performer because rather than going to my full-time job, I just want to go to rehearsal all day. Doing both is exhausting.
4. My skin starts breaking out -- noticeably -- due to stress.
5. I start telling everyone I know that I'm in a play and they should see it.
   Note 1: YOU SHOULD COME SEE MY PLAY!!
6. I walk around town in curlers and full stage make-up sans false eyelashes like it's a perfectly normal thing to do.
7. I shop for groceries at 11pm or later.
8. I start hand-washing my stage-undergarments every night so I don't have to wear sweaty stuff the next day (sometimes I ask a stay-at-home-mom cast member to throw mine in the washing machine with hers).
   Note 2: Stage undergarments consist of tights, bike shorts and tank top.
   Note 3: I really, really need to get that washer and dryer installed...
9. I make lists with names like: To buy - show, To buy- groceries, To pack, To borrow ("To go to the festival!!")
10. I start praying that none of the tech/dress rehearsals or performances will be rained out.
    Note 4: PLEASE also pray for the above things.
11. The songs from the show run through my head over and over and over. Right now it's the "A Very Nice Prince" reprise, which is annoying, because I don't have the timing down yet. So, really, the song's just mocking me.
12. My voice grows stronger and I develop a wider singing range.
13. I plan my wardrobe for work around what might be comfortable at rehearsal, 'cause I don't want to have to wear and wash additional clothing (see Note 3).
14. Lyrics and lines from the show start cropping up in my daily conversations (see quote in parenthesis in #9). As previously stated, Into the Woods (and any Sondheim show, really) is particularly quotable.
15. I think about my as-yet-unwritten-down character sketch all the time! I really, really need to write it down, along with memories and things I want to remember.
    
    AND
    
16. I start wishing the experience would never end!

I am so happy with this play so far. I can't wait to start adding tech and props and costumes and running the whole show over and over (aside from the stressed and yelling people, I am one of the crazies who actually likes tech week). I am excited to perform for an audience and show off my fellow castmembers. I am hopeful for big, responsive audiences and cooperative weather.

Cat's out of the bag, or "You can talk to birds?"*

I've delayed telling anyone at work that I do theatre, for the simple reason that I have really, really enjoyed being in control of what they know about me, if not what they think about me. Sometimes people don't think well of theatre-folk (Richard jokingly called me a "carnie" when I told him), and everyone definitely makes assumptions. It's not always a compliment when people say, "I believe that you're an actress; you're so dramatic!"

But the silence is broken! I want as many people as possible to see Into the Woods as can, so I asked our darling receptionist, Richard, to put up a flyer for me in a likely spot. He asked if he could put something on it so people knew it was from me and would be more inclined to go and after some hemming and hawing I said Okay. I let him do his own thing. I knew he'd come up with something adorable -- something I'd like. This is what he came up with:

Haha! I love that guy.

Since yesterday morning, I've fielded several people's questions. I'm trying not to be embarrassed to admit that I'm playing Cinderella (I don't know why I'm embarrassed), though people who don't know the show still assume it's a lead role. It turns out, I'm not the only Thespian in our workplace. That's nice to hear :)  Makes me feel a little less silly!

I hope some work folks can come! Being vulnerable is scary. Wouldn't want to reveal such a huge part of myself without some small sort of payoff, you know? I guess just allowing them to be my friends and me to be their friend should be payoff enough. I still want them to come.

We open a week from tomorrow. Eeeeeeek!

*I feel like I should be taking advantage out of the fact that Into the Woods is so darn quotable! As such, I'm using lines from the play for alternative titles to all of the show-related blog posts. It just feels good!

A Facebook event, or "a servant is not just a dog to a prince"

I finally had the chance to create a Facebook event for Into the Woods (which opens in two weeks -- eep!), and I must say that I am already very, very grateful for those friends and acquaintances who plan to come, and those who even "maybe" might come. One person had accepted before I'd even invited her, and another posted on my wall within minutes stating she wants to get a big group to come together -- soooooo cool! It feels great to have so much support!

Poor little cinder girl. I think the jeggings
really complete the outfit, don't you?

On the flip side, it frustrates me when people click "No." It's the reason I don't like creating events. I am aware this is a totally irrational and probably universal frustration, as I say no to stuff all the time, we only have a few performances, and I've invited a few people I know perfectly well will not be able to make it but I wanted them to know I am thinking of them.

However, many of my friends are performers, and I go out of my way to see their plays, and see their cast if the show is double-cast. I've been to a LOT of plays this summer alone -- not quite all, but a lot. And when I see that these SAME people click "No" to MY play when I'm finally in one... it bothers me. The day after I created the event and invited pretty much everyone I know lives in town because I am very proud of this show already, I saw a friend had posted the following:

i hate getting on just to recieve a million invitations to events i dont care about....jeez

Um, this is the first event I've created in a year. We've done 2 plays together somewhat recently, and I've paid money and gone out of my way to see you in several others since then. Thanks a lot, man.

I get it -- a lot of people send events every two months to everyone on their list and, yeah, it can be annoying. It's one thing to think this (I know I do sometimes); it's another to put it as a Facebook status when the people who can see it are supposed to be your friends!! Jerk. Now I know to automatically reject anything he sends me in the near future.


It makes me feel like they're saying "My event was way more important and awesome than your little production." And then my self-doubt kicks in and I think maybe theirs did have more consequence than mine, and I feel slightly less excited about my own play. And I wonder how much they like me, and then I wonder if I shouldn't try so hard or if I should try harder to maintain whatever level of friendship we have.

Sometimes I'd rather people just don't respond than say no. It's just deflating when I see that more people have said no than yes and maybe combined. Fortunately, we aren't there yet.

I'll stop whining now. I'm really not that upset about it.

My mom once told me that if I go through life keeping score I'm going to end up unhappy. She is absolutely right and I have to remind myself of this fact often. Like I said, I say no to stuff all the time, and I can't hold other people to my practice of supporting as many friends and lesser friends as I can in whatever they're doing (but if I didn't go to their events once in awhile, I'd never see some of those people). When I do say no, I feel terribly guilty. Often, I at least post a note apologizing and telling them to break a leg.

To remedy this frustration, I am willing myself not to look at the "No" list. What I don't know won't kill me, and I'd much rather be grateful for those who DO come, than be annoyed at those who don't. I think that's what bugs me about that kid's post. It wouldn't have bothered me he wasn't coming if he hadn't made such a big, bratty deal about it. Now I want to look at the "No" list to see if he's on it... but I won't. It won't make me feel any better.

Because, let's face it, I've had an overwhelmingly positive response to my Into the Woods event. My cast members are even using it to invite their friends, and the resulting numbers are really exciting! A lot of really, really terrific people are planning to come to my play. People who I adore and who flatter me tremendously by putting my event on their schedules. People I think are ridiculously talented, and I know are very busy, and whose opinions mean a lot to me. People who have to find babysitters or set aside money or who are willing to come even though they don't like the play and/or composer. People I haven't seen in awhile who just want to support me. People who don't know me at all but know others in the play so are making the effort to support them. People who don't know anyone involved with the play but like theatre and/or the play and/or just want something to do for less than the price of a movie ticket. So many people that I'm starting to feel glad that I created the event, rather than frustrated that the results briefly punctured my self-esteem.

The last thing I want is to feel bitter and deflated. I love my play! I'm excited about it! It's going to be really good! My cast is freakishly talented, and I'm proud that I'm figuring out the music and remembering the lyrics (Sondheim is not an easy composer to follow). I truly believe this will be a terrific play, and I cannot wait to share it with everyone. I wish there were more than four performances!

Thank you to all of you who have already clicked, "Yes!" I hope you all can come!