Hallo-week 2015

In a crazy twist of fate, I had Halloween-themed events for every night leading up to Halloween this year.

Monday

Remember my gorgeous gown from 1776? I decided I wanted to do a photo shoot while wearing the gown. So, I called my favorite artistic photographer friend, Mandie at Illumine Photography, and begged her to take a break from school and soccer mom-ing. She kindly obliged. I had so much fun twirling around and watching Mandie get so excited about the pretty shots and thanking her little boy who's job was to carry my bad and keep my cape from getting dirty. I love watching Mandie work. She comes up with the coolest ideas and prettiest pictures* and has so much fun doing it. I recommend her to anyone for their next event!

*I cannot wait to see the finished photos. These are some shots I asked for on my phone so I could Instagram right away ('cause I'm addicted to Instagram, obis).

Tuesday

Liz and I attended the Utah Symphony's Wizarding Halloween concert. She was a darling Gryffindor witch and I was Glinda the Good Witch. I loved seeing all of the creative costumes the orchestra members wore (and managed to play in). The harpist was a loofa, and the percussionists were trophies! Too funny. I entered the audience member costume contest and was disappointed not to be a finalist, but had to agree that the ostrich who won totally deserved the honor. The music in the first act included "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", "In the Hall of the Mountain King", and "Montagues and Capulets." The second act was all music from the Harry Potter movies. It was all gorgeous and a lot of fun. I cried through some of the numbers -- sometimes I love music so much my emotions just pour out my eyeballs, ok?

We were on the very back row, so I didn't even have to remove my crown if I didn't want to

Wednesday

Larissa was gifted tickets to Odyssey Dance Theater's Thriller concert last minute and asked if I could join her. Miraculously, I was free, so I jumped at the chance. We had amazing seventh-row seats (though the kids behind us would NOT shut up) and I was thrilled (no pun intended) that they revisited all of my favorite dances, especially "Frankenstein and Frankenstein" and the "Jason Jam." Best yet, I spent the whole evening with Larissa, Nichole, and Drew. I hadn't spent one-on-one time with Larissa in ages and it was just what the doctor ordered.

Thursday

I invited a few of my Comic Con buddies to my house to watch my special signed copy of Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. We spent most of the time talking instead -- that's just what we do. We did watch the "Commentary the Musical" version, which was hilarious, and several of David Tennant's video diaries and Doctor Who outtakes. Theresa and I dressed up, and Ashleigh wore her Doctor Horrible groupie shirt and some goggles, and I forced Laura to put on a cape. We laughed a LOT that night. Those women get me. I am grateful for them.

Oh, and we all gave this butterscotch creme soda a thumbs up. I will be purchasing it again next year!

Friday

Last night, my Is He Dead? cast had a little party. It started out with the board rep wanting to give us a copy of the cast photo, and then the producer volunteered to make crepes, and then someone pointed out it was the day before Halloween and asked if we could dress up, and the director volunteered to bring games. Let's just say I continue to enjoy these delightful people. They approved of my Luke Skywalker costume (the cape is SO GREAT!) and we laughed and ate and ate and ate. A few people weren't able to come, so we'll have to get together again -- hooray for getting together again! It's difficult to feel sad among this group of people. I like them.

Sometimes, a girl just wants to be a knight for a night

Saturday - Halloween!

I said "No" to a lot of invitations because I have been going going going for weeks and I was looking forward to a whole day where I could clean my house, and read, and catch up on t.v., and do yoga, and either wear a costume or not (of course I did). Wonderfully, I randomly ran into Marilynn and her darling daughter Alishya while walking home from Starbucks (for a warm butter beer) Einstein's Bagels (they were out of pumpkin but the cinnamon raisin was delicious). Then Allison came over to my place and we chatted for a bit. Then I gave candy to my very first trick-or-treater when Monster and his dad dropped by -- a seriously adorable Yoda and Obi-Wan. I need more Jedi in my life!

The plan was to binge on Supernatural, but I accidentally slept in until 11am, so it threw off the whole day. I didn't sit down to watch t.v. until about 8:45, so I watched the latest Grimm and Danny Elfman's Music from the movies of Tim Burton special on PBS. Pretty perfect programming for All Hallows' Eve. I even broke out my new popcorn popper for the occasion. I love it. The popcorn was great, especially paired with the Hot Tamales I bought for all the trick-or-treaters who never came (you never know).

I don't have Arwen hair, but I love this cute and comfortable gown

Happy Halloween, everyone. I enjoyed seeing everyone's costumes and hearing about the adventures of the past few days. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for Thanksgiving!

"Sugar" trombone arrangement

Happy Friday, my sweeties!

Trying something new: The Genesis Group

I attended The Genesis Group fireside on Sunday. I'd heard of it previously but hadn't had a chance to attend. I will be going again some time in the near future. It was neat!

The Genesis Group was founded 40+ years ago as a place for black members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to congregate and worship together in a "more spirited" way than in their regular LDS meetings (which they also attend). They meet each fast Sunday to sing together, listen to speakers, and meet new people. While the adults and teenagers participate in their meeting, there are Primary and Nursery classes going on at the same time. The group is overseen by a member of the Seventy, so it's a legit program within the LDS church.

It was described to me as "like church, but more fun." Pretty accurate!

We all know I'm white, introverted, and grew up in Utah, so I was a little nervous as to what to expect. I was relieved there were a bunch of other white people there so I didn't stand out too much, especially when my date ran late. After welcoming everybody, the group president invited everyone to meet three people they hadn't met before. I had a chance to meet several additional people after the meeting. There was a feeling of community and acceptance. I could tell the regulars cared about each other and were excited to include everyone there. All the newbies were asked to stand and then we were all declared members of the group (they did not ask me to introduce myself, thank goodness)!

I was surprised when each musical number, speaker, and missionary announcement was followed by applause, and it felt totally appropriate. The choir wore robes and sang A Capella. In addition to an opening and closing hymn, we sang "Oh Happy Day" with the choir. I love the song! It was a wonderful mess because -- even though most of the words were printed in the program -- many of the attendees didn't know the melody and none of us knew when to stop. One of the choir members paused us partway through to encourage us to let go and sing with joy. "We goin'a sing in the key of Jesus!" We tried!

Each member of the group presidency spoke, as did Elder Allen of the Seventy. They said they hadn't planned it ahead of time, but they all spoke about forgiveness and, as Elder Allen said, cutting "out the contention in your life." I admit, I needed to hear those talks, and I'm glad I did. After the talks, they invited the members to bear their testimony.

The meeting lasted for nearly two hours which was a bit much for me, but I'm glad I stayed until the end when the choir sang one last time. I had to look up the words because the song touched me so deeply.

"Time to Believe"

Time to believe in what God said.

Time to believe in what he promised.

We see small, He sees great.

When we speak doubt, He speaks faith.

It's time to believe in what God said.

Don't allow your past to dictate where you're going

Or let who you are make you believe you can't go on,

Because God's promise is true and what He said He will do.

It's time to believe on believe I will believe.

I will believe what God said.

I will believe what He promised.

When I see small, I'll see great.

I spoke in doubt now I'll speak faith.

I will believe in what God said.

I do believe what God said.

I do believe what He promised.

When I see small, I'll see great.

I spoke in doubt now I'll speak faith.

When I see small, I'll see great.

I spoke in doubt now I'll speak faith.

I do believe.

I do believe.

I do believe.

I encourage anyone who is interested to check out the fireside, and take your families with you. It was a fun and uplifting experience, and I met great people. Like I said, I want to go again soon!

It feels like Christmas!

In celebration of my last day of work for the rest of 2014, here is an adorable rendition of a song from my favorite version of A Christmas Carol: The Muppet Christmas Carol.


Only seven more sleeps until Christmas! Are you ready?

I am loved

I hadn't listened to my "I want to be in love" playlist in a while, so I decided to run it while I walked to McDonald's to indulge in National Hot Fudge Sundae Day. Josh Groban's "You are Loved (Don't Give Up)" came up early in the walk. I thought about how much I love the song. Then I thought, "Wouldn't it be funny if this song were playing while I met my future husband? What if I meet him at McDonald's tonight?!"


Then I thought, "If I play this song on repeat for the rest of my life, it's pretty likely I will be hearing it when I meet my husband... but at that point I'll probably hate the song and be in a mood to scare said hubby away ;)

In the meantime, it was fun to pretend that my life is like a movie and the appropriate song will magically start playing to clue me in on key points of my life (kind of like that time I was watching Once Upon a Time with my mom and they killed off a character neither of us like, and Mom said, "Judging by the music, I know I am supposed to be sad, but I can't bring myself to care." Fortunately, the other characters were crying, because that's what the music told them to do).

Going to keep listening to that playlist. You never know when it's going to work!

Also, it's nice to have a reminder that I AM loved. Golly, I am grateful for my family and friends.

Happy Thursday!

You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!

Post by Chip and Co.

The hymns make a difference

For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads. 

- Doctrine and Covenants, section 25, verse 12

Yesterday, near the end of Sacrament meeting, I started to consider skipping the rest of the church block and heading home. I was enticed by the thought of all that I could accomplish in the two hours between Sacrament and dinner: scrapbook, organize my photo book, take a nap, snack on something other than the M&Ms in my pocket. I had about made up my mind to do it...

...And then we sang the closing hymn.

We sang America the Beautiful, hymn #338 in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Hymn Book. I love the song, and I liked that we happened to be singing it more than a week after Independence Day. I love singing songs out of season. It makes me feel like we feel strongly about the songs and the sentiments rather than being obligated to choose them once or twice a year as appropriate.

During the fourth verse, the organ stopped playing. I kept waiting for it to pick up again and finish out the song, but it didn't. The entire congregation sang the last verse A cappella. I don't know if I've ever experienced that before during a regular hymn -- the choir does it all the time, one might say excessively. My ward has over 650 members, and an already powerful song was made even more powerful as we all listened to each other, to the words, and to the spirit. I thought about how grateful I am to live in a country where I can worship Heavenly Father in a way that feels right to me. I thought about how grateful I am that I have musical talent and have worked hard to learn all of the parts (I sang bass an octave higher during the A capella verse). Mostly, I felt grateful for the Holy Spirit that is always most potent for me when I sing the hymns.

When the hymn was over, I no longer wished to head home early.

The assigned topic in Sunday School was the entire book of Psalms from the Old Testament. There are 150 of them, so the teacher didn't try to cover them all. To start, he had someone read out loud some of the most popular. He pointed out that the Psalms were hymns for the people that lived during that time. Then, the teacher broke from tradition and asked that several of the class members volunteer to share their favorite hymn, tell us why it's their favorite, and lead the class in singing a verse. It was wonderful! We had no trouble filling the time; I enjoyed the variation and the reasons behind each choice:

• Be Still My Soul, hymn #124
• How Firm a Foundation, hymn #85, verse 7
• The Morning Breaks, hymn #1
• Jesus, Lover of My Soul, hymn #102, verse 2
• The Battle Hymn of the Republic, hymn #60, verse 2
• Lord, I Would Follow Thee, hymn #220, verse 3
• As Now We Take the Sacrament, hymn #169, verse 3

I was a little surprised when I found out that the Relief Society lesson was about marriage and family -- turns out I am about four lessons behind in my reading schedule. Our sweet teacher was nervous to teach because sometimes we older singles and divorcées become defensive at the topic...and also because she is engaged and was afraid we might tune her out. Fortunately, she decided to approach the topic as "What can we do to get ready?", "What are our hang-ups?", and "What blessings are we looking forward to?" She commented that she and her fiancé continue to work through their issues from their single lives and the constant rejection they experienced before they met each other. She also talked about working in a bookstore and pointing newly divorced women to The Infinite Atonement when they asked for a self-help book because the Savior gave us the best method for healing and finding joy in our circumstances. It was a positive, hope-filled lesson. I'm glad I didn't miss it. (As a bonus: for once we sang every verse in the opening and closing hymns.)

I left church yesterday feeling very grateful that through the music in Sacrament meeting and Sunday School I was encouraged to stay for -- and I was receptive to -- the lesson on marriage. I needed the validation from the spirit and my peers that my loneliness and heartbreak doesn't make me weird, and that Jesus Christ is the best person to help me through it. I need and want to make more room for him.

My Sunday School teacher ended his lesson with Psalm 116, verse 12:

What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?

Heavenly Father definitely communicates to me through music. I know He loves me and is mindful of me. I may begin starting my scripture study with a hymn. I may only read the words, or I might sing, but I believe the hymns will invite the spirit and put me in the right mindset as I pursue a stronger relationship with my Heavenly Father and with Jesus Christ.

Video: The Origin of Love

My friend Dennis created this video. He invited a bunch of his friends, including me, to submit photos of ourselves*, and asked that we hold up an 8x12 inch piece of paper so he could add words to it.

I admit, I had no idea what the finished product would be.

This is so beautiful. I hope that you watch, and I hope that you tell someone today that you love them.


I love YOU! Happy November!

*True to form, I sent in my photo on the very last day of the deadline, because I could never remember to get a photo when I was around anyone. I meant to while I was in Disneyland... whoops! Thanks, Larissa, for coming over especially to snap my photo for me!

Stand by Me

I might have posted this video before, but I think it's time to share it again. All these people from all over the world combining their unique styles to produce this gorgeous sound and inspire others. I love it.


Happy Friday!

Sweet harmony

The other day as I was driving, a song popped up in a playlist I hadn't listened to in awhile. I had to listen to it at least five -- possibly six -- times before I could move on:


I'm in love with listening to and learning the harmonies in songs like this. In this particular song, I can flip from the melody to the high part to the low and back to harmony pretty easily (at least, I could until Saturday when I realized the low part is a bit different than I thought, resulting in the three last repeats and a blown mind). I'm always a little amazed when people tell me they have a hard time picking out the harmony in songs. I have a hard time focusing on the melody because I WANT to sing harmony! It's one of the reasons I don't choose to sing soprano in plays whenever possible.

Karaoke on the 2010 Western Caribbean Cruise

Though I love to sing and do it a lot, I'm very aware that I'm not much of a musician. I read music ok, but if I'm learning something new, I rely quite a bit on the person next to me (hoping they CAN sight read).

As an exercise in practicing sight reading and figuring out intervals between notes, I make it a point to sing all of the parts -- Soprano, Alto, Tenor (an octave higher), and Bass (also an octave higher) -- of the hymns during church each week. I've grown up singing many of those songs, and my mom always sang Alto and my dad Tenor, so I have a good jumping off point. It's the best when there are four verses; if there are fewer I skip the Soprano. I always at least try to pick out the Tenor. I'm not saying I always do a good job, but I try! It's a little frustrating when the song doesn't have any written parts. I may not remember the names of the notes, but I can tell if I'm singing out of tune (and am often surprised at some of the choices the composers/arrangers made). I also try not to sing the same part as whoever is sitting next to me (or behind me, if they are loud). It's fun to hear the rich harmony in the song, as it was written to have.

There are quite a few songs I have a tough time just listening to once. Here are a few of my favorites:

• I've toyed with teaching this to my brothers and making them sing it for our Christmas Eve family talent show, but I'm not sure if I'm up to teaching:

• Start at 1:25 for this one. I love this one because both parts weave seamlessly from melody into harmony and back. It's so, so cool!

• Lest you think I only listen to musicals, I'm a little obsessed with this song right now, too; I'm disappointed when there isn't one more repeat of the chorus. Such a happy, uplifting song, and some of the things they do with harmony are so unexpected!

• And I can sing any part in this classic:

What do you like most to sing? And where? I'm pretty partial to blasting music in my car and singing along... that way I can pretend I sound just like the person in the recording ;)

Happy Tuesday!

Tony talk

The Tony Awards were on Sunday, and I must say that Broadway's big event was smashing this year! Far more entertaining than the most recent Oscars or Emmys (arguably better than the Golden Globes, though I love me some Amy Poehler and Tina Fey).

Neil Patrick Harris hosted for the fourth time, and his opening number topped them all. This guy's got skills, and his writers are brilliant.

Note: How long do you think it took him to nail that "jump through the hoop" move? There is no doubt in my mind that NPH takes this gig seriously and rehearses 'til everything is perfect.

Also, this made me laugh really hard, and made me even more sad that Go On and Smash were cancelled.


Thanks so much, Larissa and Rob, for inviting me to your Tony party. It was fun to watch with theater-loving friends, start to finish, especially friends who have actually seen the shows on Broadway -- lucky! I'm really hoping to get out to NYC sometime this year to see Cinderella, Pippin, Matilda, Newsies, and Once (as a Doctor Who fan, I hope I don't miss seeing Arthur Darville!). It would also be fun to see Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, if the original cast is still playing. So many good things going on right now.

Just for fun, because I am still lobbying for NPH and Hugh Jackman to co-host sometime:

Oh, What a Night!

For several years, this friend, this friend, her sister and sister's daughter have been telling me how good the musical Jersey Boys is. I grew up singing the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and even if I hadn't, I generally trust these four ladies. If I had stayed in New York City one more day during the last trip, I would have seen it then. I even thought about going to Las Vegas specifically to see it. Sadly, it didn't work out on those occasions.

So, I was pretty thrilled when Broadway Across America announced that Jersey Boys was part of this season. I asked my parents to buy me a ticket for Christmas (and I bought a second ticket to sell to a friend, because I was tired of going to these fancy plays by myself).

I've been waiting since CHRISTMAS to use that ticket, you guys! That's patience!

Saturday was the day, and my friend Carrie was able to come with me. I love her. She's a theater nut like me, and has a great, joyful, inoffensive laugh (this is an important quality for my theater-going friends to have).

Now, one thing you need to know about Jersey Boys, is that they use special effects. Every one of my friends who has seen or heard of Jersey Boys mentioned the effects. The producers even put up a sign. I had to laugh when I finally saw it:

"Jersey vocabulary" is a special effect? Alrighty then! I was warned (obnoxiously often) about the swearing in the show, and it turned out not to be nearly as bad as I expected. Yes, it was there, but since that's the way these blue-collar kids from New Jersey talked (in the '60s and now), and I was prepared beforehand, it didn't let it bother me.

I tell you what, language or no, it was a GREAT SHOW!! I can see why it's Larissa's favorite. Jersey Boys is the story of the musical group The Four Seasons -- later Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It is told from the point-of-view of each of the four guys in the group, and takes place over a span of at least 35 years. It is hilarious, and sad, and beautiful, and wonderful. It's a good story in the first place, filled with distinct characters (played by only a handful of actors -- only three women in the cast to play ALL of the women in the Four Seasons' --well, mostly Frankie's -- lives), and when you add in the music...

Ooooh! The music!! Jersey Boys is what you'd call a "jukebox" musical, meaning that it's a compilation of existing songs put to a story. Obviously, in this case, the songs are the ones sung by The Four Seasons. It was amazing to see so many of the songs in the context of the events going on in the group's lives. Like I said, I know a LOT of their songs, and it was always a treat when they'd introduce one. I smiled when they started "Sherry", cried through most of "Big Girls Don't Cry", and cheered through "Walk Like a Man." Combined with the choreography... I LOVED the choreography! Speaking from experience, it's hard to dance in place in unison and not get seasick, and they faked playing their instruments crazy-well. Those actors looked like they were having the best time onstage. I know I did from the audience!

At intermission, Carrie said, "It's only intermission, but I already want to come again!" I had to agree. After the show, we stalked the stage door a little bit. We were slow and missed almost everyone, but were lucky to get a photo with Hayden Milanes, the actor who played Frankie Valli.

"My eyes adored you" indeed!

I called my mom almost immediately, and told her she would love the show, and strongly encouraged her to take Dad. I even said I'd buy Dad's ticket as a Father's Day/birthday present (Dad's kind of hard to shop for, so I hoped she'd take me up on it). She turned me down, but said she'd keep it in mind. I told her to hurry and decide because it's only in town until this Sunday.

I really did want to see the play again, so when Carrie mentioned she'd found a killer deal on nosebleed seats (2P in the balcony) for Tuesday, I asked if she could get two more. Then I called Aaron, because I suspected he'd love the show as much as I did.

He did! I was so happy to share the experience with someone who is as big a fan of the music as I am. There are parts of the show that feel like a concert, and we clapped (and tried not to sing) along with the performers. It's such a happy musical! Of course I had to listen to the soundtrack all the way home!

Aaron is going to talk with Mom about seeing the show, too. If all goes well, he'll buy one ticket and I'll buy the other. So nice to have a cohort in gift-giving. I really, really think they'd love it!

I even wrote down a few of my favorite quotes 'cause golly is the show quotable. Here are a few favorites **some of them may be a little spoilery**:

Man: What has he got that I don't?
Woman: Me. 

Frankie (looking at a sign for the "Four Seasons" bowling alley): It's a sign! 

Mary Delgado: Is that your real name? "Valli?"
Frankie: No, Castaluccio. Frances Castaluccio.
Mary: Kinda long for a marquis.
Frankie: That's why I changed it. "Vally." V-A-L-L-Y.
Mary: No, V-A-L-L-I.
Frankie: How come?
Mary: Because "Y" is a BS letter. It doesn't know what it is; is it a vowell? Is it a consonant?
(Yes, I'm going to continue to spell my last name with a "Y" ;-) ) 

Bob Gaudio: It was the sixties. We thought Liberace was just "theatrical." 

Nick: (repeated line) It's time to start my own group. 

Bob: He swore on his mother's grave!
Bob Crewe: He's in the music business. They don't have mothers. 

Producer: Frankie's ok, but he's no Neil Sedaka.

One of my favorite exchanges from the first act sets up a great bit in the second act:

Frankie: We pull this off, can we talk about a saxophone?
Bob: We pull this off, you can have an entire horn section.

Anyway, if you get a chance to go, and swearing doesn't bother you, GO SEE THIS PLAY! If this blog post hasn't given you good enough reasons (hey, it's just my opinion), watch this clip from the Tony Awards the year that Jersey Boys was nominated for -- and won -- Best Musical:

How did he survive?!!

If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week.

- Charles Darwin

My question is: How in the world did Darwin ever survive without listening to music every day, let alone every week?! I guess it was harder to come by then, and he had other priorities. I couldn't do it. If I don't sing every day, my cheerfulness wanes. I may not notice it, but it does. Music is a necessity in my life.

Happy Friday, my friends! Here's something totally random to brighten this rainy day!

That John Williams sure is prolific, isn't he?

By the way, is any one seeing Jurassic Park this weekend? May I come?

An out-of-the-ordinarily musical weekend

Last Saturday was the result of weeks of preparation. I had two singing events, and honestly I've been more than a little stressed about them. I wish they hadn't been scheduled for the same day, but I worked hard, I got through it, and I even had fun. Woo-hoo!

Ragtime audition at Hale Centre Theatre
I hadn't auditioned at the Hale in over two years, but I love this play so much that I knew I would regret it if I didn't try. I chose to sing "The Most Amazing Thing" from Little Women because I'm comfortable with it and could infuse the song with personality; it was tough to choose which 16 bars to sing (it really needs 32). Since I was hoping for a shot at Evelyn Nesbit, I picked an outfit ahead of time that I thought was reminiscent of a 1900s chorus girl. Between the short dress and boots that encourage a little swagger, I felt confident and attractive, which is always a good step (after preparation, of course). Wish I'd remembered to take a photo of the outfit. I received a ton of compliments on that polka-dotted dress.

The night before the audition, I prayed that I wouldn't humiliate myself, I would sound good, have fun, feel glad that I tried (regardless of the outcome), and that at least one of my really good friends would be there to chat with beforehand, and to come into the audition with me. I am so grateful that my prayers were answered! The first person I recognized was my Elisha, and many others came in and out to help me feel loved and talented and awesome. It was tough for me not to be intimidated by some of the talented folks there. I kept reminding myself of the roles I've played lately. I've had some awesome opportunities and fun parts, and that's got to count for something, right? Plus, those people are so nice I was glad to see them in spite of my competitive spirit!

The actual audition went by fast. I decided to sing some high notes I hadn't been planning on, and was glad that the accompanist/music director is familiar with my song. I smiled inwardly about 10 seconds in when both the producer and director put their heads down in sync and started writing! It could only be good or bad.

Turns out it was "not this time" and I wasn't called back. It's okay. I accomplished all of my goals and I am satisfied. I'm a little surprised by how peaceful I am about not being called back. I guess I'm just glad for a little more free time... and that I get to audition for some other shows that are coming up (there are at least 4 others I'd like to audition for this summer).

Meanwhile, a bunch of my friends and favorites were called back and my fingers are crossed! I love Ragtime; the music and story are beautiful and I hope to be a part of it someday. Can't wait to see this production, whoever is cast (although I'll be more excited about some choices than others)!

St. Patrick's Day Party
When Eve first approached me about singing at our ward's St. Patrick's Day party, my initial response was, "Probably not, but I'll think about it." The idea was to have several people in the ward sing a few songs as background entertainment. More "cabaret" style, less "karaoke." A few days later, I wrote an e-mail intending to say "No," and on a whim said "Yes" instead!

Eve asked that I prepare three songs, and encouraged me to sing at least one with another person. I knew my darling friend Kristen would be there, too, so I asked if she wanted to try a duet and and I am so glad she said yes! I love singing with her. She's another one I try not to be intimidated by -- that girl can sing! Her solos were beautiful. We sang "In His Eyes" from Jekyll and Hyde and I think it went well.

I thought it might be fun to ask Nichole and Larissa if they wanted to sing "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" -- sort of reprise it from when we sang it together in the 1940's Radio Hour. The main snag was that we didn't have an alto... so I decided to learn it. I'm sure no one would have complained if I had sung the top line with Larissa -- our harmony would have been louder for sure! I'm pretty proud of how well I did, except that by the time we sang the song my voice had rebelled from all of the practice and wouldn't hit many of the lower notes anymore, especially not as loud as they needed to be. Ah well, it gave me an excuse to hang out with two of my favorite people while we practiced and performed! I could tell that the audience really enjoyed it -- if a slight lowering of the chatting was an indication ;-) As a bonus, I now know all three parts to the song. So, if anyone needs me to fill in sometime, let me know!

My third song was "In Love with a Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific. I chose that one because 1) it was upbeat, and 2) I already knew it... and then I had to get used to a new minus track. *Eyeroll* It a fun song to sing though. After I was done, DJ Rob (also Larissa's boyfriend, which might be the more important title) asked me who "the wonderful guy" is, to which I responded something like "no guy, just a wonderful song!"

I wish the party had been on a different day because sit would have been nice to focus on the audition. Learning three songs on top of it was less enjoyable than it might have been otherwise. On the other hand, it's good to grow my skills and work hard, and I'm glad to have these songs in my repertoire.

Lindsay and Emily -- awesome fans/friends

Karaoke really isn't my thing and I was very nervous about this event. It's another one I'm glad I did, in spite of my initial feelings. I loved singing with my friends. In the end, we're not sure how much the audience actually listened to -- we ended up feeling more like background noise -- heaven knows I shouted myself hoarse talking with people between and after my songs! A bunch of my friends came to support me and meet new people. It was cool to see each other outside of our normal spheres and introduce them to some of my other friends. I don't go to a lot of parties, but if more were like that I might try harder :-)

If you want a little info on the venue and the other performers, check out Eve's blog.

In addition
I also managed to finished The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and appendage videos. I found out too late that if I pay attention to the "featured videos" at end of each of Lizzie's vlogs I'd get Lizzie's, Lydia's, Maria's, and Gigi's videos all in the right story order. I missed out on quite a bit. Nevertheless, I watched them all and might need to start over! I even introduced them to my mom and to Lindsey. It's killing me that the story isn't finished yet. I'm not nearly as excited about finishing Arrested Development as I am in seeing how the vlogs handle the last two chapters of Pride and Prejudice.
(I discovered they are produced by the Vlog brothers. Awesome -- or should it be DFTBA: don't forget to be awesome? -- and totally makes sense.)

What were you up to last weekend?

*updated* That's What Makes You Beautiful x 4

I save this video for rainy days. Five friends having a good time fooling around on a piano together... and a gorgeous song with a great message. Always cheers me up.

Here is the same song again. The teenage boys in it make me laugh and then miss my brothers (sorry, guys, but I'll always think of you as you were in junior high and high school)! I hope these young men never lose this sense of whimsy, sweetness, and bravery, and that they find young ladies who will appreciate them!

And if you care to listen to the song one more time, I suggest you go back and watch this version from the cast of Anything Goes. Why not?

Lastly, here is a version cobbled together from episodes of Downton Abbey, which prompted me (after a stunned silence) to respond, "Whaaaaaaaaa-?"

Isn't it great how one song can inspire and entertain so many people in so many ways?

YOU are beautiful, my friends. Happy Friday!

Nostalgic for Junior High choir

I'm not sure why, but I have had this song in my head all week:


We sang this song both years I took choir in Junior High. As a fan of the Robin Hood legend, it was one of my favorites, along with this one:


Now that I'm a little older, and am actually paying attention to the words, I realize how inappropriate it may be for young teens to sing them. But, oh man were they fun to belt out!

Anyone up for a little choir singin' this morning?

Happy Friday, my friends!

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?

The Ride of the Rohirrim

I saw this tag on two friends' blogs this morning. It's been awhile since I've done a "tag" post, and we all know I like seeing what happens when I put my iPod on shuffle, so I thought, "What the hey?"

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. Write down the song name and (if applicable) the movie it came from, no matter how silly it sounds.
4. If you read this blog, then consider yourself tagged. Have fun, and I’d love to read your answers if you do it, so please leave a comment so I can go to your blog!

Here goes...
(Note: I had to skip at least 40 tracks from the Harry Potter book series. Maybe I need to move them to a different part of my iPod.
Note 2: This took forever, because I listened to every song all the way through. I forgot about some of these gems!)

If someone says "Are you okay?" you say... Isengard Unleashed (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)
This will get those nosey folks off my back!

What would best describe your personality? Work This Out (High School Musical 2)
Heaven knows I tend to be positive!

How would you describe yourself? Walkin' Back to Georgia by Jim Croce
I have this album on my iPod 'cause I updated my mom's iPod and she wanted this one. I hadn't listened to this song before. It was sweet.

What do you like in a guy/girl? Joseph's Dreams (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
This made me smile. Strong leader, dreamer, faithful, confident (not arrogant), hard worker, family man? Sure, why not?

How do you feel today? Don't Write Me Off Just Yet (Music and Lyrics)
Conflicted and hopeful and inspired and vulnerable. Appropriate shuffle!

What is your life's purpose? I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Oh gosh, I hope not.

What's Your Motto? I'm an Indian Too (Annie Get Your Gun)
Now you know ;-)

What do your friends think of you? Mercy's Arms by Marla Bulleigh
I love this beautiful song. Seems a little arrogant to imagine my friends think this about me, but I hope at least that I don't make things more difficult for them.

What do your parents think of you? Once Upon a December (Anastasia)
Guess we are always children in the eyes of our parents. In my case, a child who still thinks she's a princess.

What do you think about very often? This is the Night by the cast of Glee (Lady and the Tramp cover)
Um, I'll pretend this isn't true. But it is. (This tag and my shuffle luck is starting to freak me out. Thank goodness the next question is silly.)

What is 2 + 2? We'll Meet Tomorrow (Titanic the Musical)
I like it. Implies that the answer is a given. Or maybe I just need more time to think about it...

What do you think of your best friend? Company (Stephen Sondheim's Company)
Yes! "Deep talks, long walks. Telephone calls. Thoughts shared. Souls bared. Private names. Photos up on the walls. With love... That's what it's really about!" Perfect!

What do you think of the person you like? Patterns by Simon and Garfunkel
Another song on my mom's list that I had never listened to. "The pattern never alters until the rat dies... In darkness I must dwell." That's bleak. I should think better of the guy I like.

What is your life story? Somebody to Love by Anne Hathaway (Ella Enchanted)
No comment :P Except for: Anne rocks this song.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrews Sisters
Yay! This is my favorite so far. I just want to play, play, play forever!! 

What do you think when you see the person you like? Dead Puppies by Ogden Edsl
Whaaaaa--? I will now! Just kidding. THIS is my favorite! 

What will you do at your wedding? Hello, I Love You by the Glee Cast
I hope my husband will already know my name by the wedding. He WILL be the guy to make me sigh!

What will they play at your funeral? O My Father guitar solo by Michael Dowdle
Oddly appropriate, but a little depressing. 

What is your hobby/interest? Don't You Remember? by Adele
Yeah, guys. It's not like I've made my favorite hobby a secret (click the link for one of my favorite YouTube videos)!

What is your biggest fear? Now or Never (High School Musical 3)
Gah! Stop being accurate, shuffle button!

What is your biggest secret? It Takes Diff'rent Strokes (Theme from Diff'rent Strokes)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Guess the secret's out now!

What do you want right now? Any Dream Will Do (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
Yeah, up for pretty much anything at the moment.

What do you think of your friends? Gaston (Disney's Beauty and the Beast)
I certainly do think very highly of you all!

What's the worst thing that could happen? Mix Tape (Avenue Q)
This makes me think of this. I shan't editorialize further.

What is the one thing you regret? Brimstone and Treacle (Mary Poppins the Musical)
*Shrug*

What makes you laugh? Wait (Grey's Anatomy musical episode)
No, this song makes me cry.

What makes you cry? The Medallion Calls (The Pirates of the Carribean)
No, this makes me laugh. It's the music that's playing when we meet Captain Jack for the first time (when he's sailing into harbor on the sinking ship).

Will you ever get married? I've Just Seen a Face (Across the Universe)
Prognoses looks good!

What scares you the most? What Makes You Different by the Backstreet Boys
Interesting. 

Does anyone like you? Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler (Footloose)
Inconclusive. Or maybe this means that someone does, but I either don't notice or am not interested. Poor hypothetical guy...

If you could go back in time, what would you change? The Love of My Life (Brigadoon)  
Haha! It sure wasn't the guy I wasted the most time on!

What will you name this post? The Ride of the Rohirrim (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King)
Ah! Full circle. That's nice :-D

Wonderettes' songs in the movies

In my latest show, The Marvelous Wonderettes (playing July 13-21 at Midvale Park -- be there!) we sing a lot of great songs from the 1950s and '60s. I've been listening to and a fan of most of these songs my entire life, since this is the music my parents played on road trips and weeks in Lake Powell.

And some of the songs are so popular and awesome they've been used in movie soundtracks for more contemporary movies. I admit, that when we sing through the following songs, I think of these classic movie scenes, and not the original recording (click the link to hear the original):

"You Don't Own Me" in First Wives Club

For the record, my character is Bette Midler in this video... and Kristen, yours is Diane Keaton.

"Teacher's Pet" (at 18 seconds) in Waiting for Guffman


"Stupid Cupid" in The Princess Diaries

Cellists win!

Is it just me, or are the cellists the true victors in this dueling number?


I confess, in spite of my big rant about being "over" Glee, my resolve not to watch only lasted a few weeks. I watched the "Prom", "Nationals", and "Goodbye" episodes. They were better than some before had been, though I'm annoyed that they continued to center on Rachel. Whatever.

It didn't keep me from downloading about 15 songs the other night, though only 3 were from the Graduation album. Most of the songs featured Naya Rivera or Amber Riley, of course. Man, I wish I could sell a song like they do! It's been fun rocking out to them while I worked yesterday and today.

Happy Friday, all!