Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Haul out the Holly...

HOLY MOLY has it been a busy couple of weeks since my last post! Thanksgiving came and went, and I just seemed to completely lose track of the blog. I haven't forgotten you, though! Lots to talk about...

First of all, some of you may have read my last post in which I (unoficially) reviewed Level Ground Arts' production of Crushing Grain. It seems that the Higher Powers that Be needed me to see that show and find a catharsis I didn't know I so desperately needed. If you'll recall, the show dealt on one level with the JFK assassination, but was mostly about cancer. A little over a week after I saw this play and just wept from the pure emotion it brought out in me, my brave and wonderful aunt passed away from lung cancer. I feel certain that, had I not seen this play and gotten out a lot of the emotion I had been storing up inside, that weekend would have been much harder for me to handle. So...my family is strong in their faith and has banded together during this holiday time (now missing so many loved ones), but that has been one reason for my lack of blogging.

I've written a couple of reviews for The Column lately as well, which can be found online at PegasusNews.com here and here.

Also -- I have been a busy little Christmas bee working backstage on the HILARIOUSLY funny production of A Tuna Christmas at Denton Community Theatre. The two brilliantly talented men in this show, Justin Harmon and Buster Maloney, are both actors with whom I have had the pleasure to share the stage this year (in Crazy For You and Company, respectively). The show has been selling out, and there is one more weekend of holiday hijinks in Tuna, Texas before it closes. I suggest you try to get your tickets ASAP before you miss it!

Also Also -- Did I mention that I've been cast in Show Boat at Lyric Stage in Irving, Texas?? Yep, remember when I blogged about auditioning for that way back here? Well a few weeks ago, I finally got a call that I've been invited to be part of the cast. It's looking like a stellar cast of people, and I cannot wait to perform this beautiful music next month on that gorgeous stage with a 40-piece orchestra under the baton of Jay Dias!

Finally -- You guys? The FIRST EVER PERFORMANCE of One for Mahler is TOMORROW NIGHT! I am really ridiculously excited about this. We've gotten a lot of unexpected publicity, including an interview on a recent This Week in the Arts podcast! (The interview begins around the 30-minute mark.) The singers are myself, Tyler Donahue, Aaron White, Shane Strawbridge, and Stephanie Felton, and we are accompanied by Aaron Albin on piano. There are 19 SONGS on the program, including favorites such as "For Good" from Wicked, "Always a Bridesmaid" from I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, "Adolpho" from The Drowsy Chaperone, and MANY MORE.

Please plan to come out to Art Six Coffee House (located at 424 Bryan Street in Denton, TX) tomorrow night (Wednesday, December 16th, 2009) from 9pm—11pm and hear some great tunes & drink some great coffee!

That's it (I think!) for now! Happy Holidays to you all!