Another Opening, Another Show...

This time, Noel Coward's "Present Laughter"!

If you are in the area ~ please come see this hilarious play. Opens tonight at The Magenta Theater.

Monday Memories...'Murder By Natural Causes'

The fun times had at the ADA's at Magenta Theater on Saturday have me reminiscing about my time with the theater company. This show was the first full-length production I did with them. It was fall '05. I got to shoot a gun :)

awards night at the theater

afterward: celebrating weeks of starving myself to fit into my dress...
ok, maybe not ;) but it sure was an amazing night and such fun to see so many friends all gussied-up! also got to listen to a concert from the Magenta Small Band~ and wow! they are terrific! --if you get a chance to see one of their concerts--do! you can get dates and ticket info at Magenta Theater website.

thank you, Jaynie, for Magenta Theater! (and thank you, again, for the award)
OH!!!!
and before I forget: we actually did get a chance to give a speech while accepting our awards--but since I had no idea I was even up for an award--of course was unprepared and muttered something about 'thanks'...so here it is...

Best Supporting Female Actor for Steel Magnolias 2009

*~My Acceptance Speech~*

(peering humbly around at everyone) thank you, oh, thank you, so much! I was so honored to even be cast in such an amazing show, that I have to first thank Dorinda for allowing me to play a role that is SO out of the ordinary for me. For seeing beyond this gorgeous exterior and sensing that deep down, I can be ugly with a touch of white trash. To Amanda, for allowing me to do unspeakable atrocities to your hair onstage, and douse you with water. To Dave, for creating the very cool contraption that allowed me to douse Amanda onstage...oh, wait...you already got an award for creating that--nevermind. sheesh! the trophy not enough for you?! now you're trying to sneak into my acceptance speech too?! (ahem) ...and to all of my other castmates for putting up with the visual assaults of my face in those glasses night after night...
and to my long-suffering husband, Jeff. He who tirelessly slaves in the kitchen to get dinner on the table after working all day just to dash home so I can run off to rehearsal. For taking on entire weekends with the children, sans me because of performances back to back (including matinees!) and doing it all without one complaint. not one. I've never heard him utter a word of negativity towards the theater or any of my time spent there.
and, of course--to Jaynie (who I actually DID remember to thank for real) for coming up with this brilliant ploy to adopt this adorable British accent in an attempt to lure people into the theater. Brilliant, I tell you--BRILLIANT!!! one wonders why we don't all do the same. she is so dang irresistible ;)

and to all the rest of you--for seeing through this ridiculous, completely (except for the parts that aren't!) sarcastic speech and knowing just how much I love you all and how much I appreciate your support--especially those of you that have ventured out and supported me in my theater adventures--it really is a magical place--hope to see you there!

giving the award some lovin'
(because, really, next to the money and the fame,
the awards really are what community theater is all about, right?
...................... right?!)
(yes...this is sarcastic, as well, it's just that kind of night)

for a non-sarcastic version of the evening ~ I suggest you link to my friend Steph's blog :)

Monday Memories

An ad campaign I was in that ran in Montana in 1988-89.

The commercial and photos were shot the month before my family and I moved to Arizona. We were gone before they were posted. That did raise some eyebrows and questions :)

I was 13 at the time.

My 'boyfriend' in the ad was also a student at the theater school I attended. He was quite a bit older than me and I remember being so embarrassed during the shoot. My father was the commercial director, for goodness sake!

I recently re-connected with said 'boyfriend' via the magic that is Facebook. AND...(it gets better)...2 weekends ago, some girlfriends and I took a roadtrip to Seattle to see a show that he was in! and, yes, I did wait around and say hello to him after. and, no, he had absolutely no idea who I was. lol! (don't worry, i explained it to him and we had a jolly reunion after that--it consisted of him saying 'no way!!!' a few times)

you know what's really weird? the baby that was in the ad with us is 20 years old now.

Too Much Snow=No Show

(photo taken in '03--but it looks similar out there right now...I'm just a whimp and don't want to go out!)

Last weekend was amazing at the theater. For a show that seemed so short and more 'kid oriented' during rehearsals--it has turned out to be really amazing...touching all that come to see it and gently revealing the true meaning of Christmas.

Add to that, the fact that it is a very talented, large cast--some of which have driven over half and hour or more each night for rehearsals and performances...and you have a tense scenario with many of us holding our breath--waiting to see what is going to happen.

Oh, I know that the website says "The show must go on!" and I do, truly, believe that in most every situation that is the case.

But we are talking snow, heavy snow, and freezing rain...in an area that does not always encounter these weather factors. We are talking almost all schools in the area being closed today...all TV stations playing nothing but weather updates...people being urged to stay home from work.

I do not want to give myself over to worry. There is no point--it doesn't help. But I know something that does! Please pray. Pray first for the safety of all out in this snow...for the drivers...for those without shelter...for those losing power or dealing with frozen pipes...

...and may I also ask for prayer for our show...that the snow/ice situation would back off enough this weekend to allow the performances to go on SAFELY...so more patrons will have the opportunity to be entertained and (possibly) enlightened.

thank you so much.

opening night!

So, I should probably change the title of this from "Opening Night" to "Opening Weekend" because I just couldn't get myself to post anything yesterday :) ..so exhausted...so relieved...soooo stayed out too late celebrating!



and that's a sign of a good opening night;)

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Yes, I am in it...and yes, I would love to have you come see it!

My daughter, Gabby, is also in the cast (her first!) and is absolutely adorable as a baby angel :)

You can get more info at www.magentatheater.com and you can see some rehearsal photos at www.magentatheater.blogspot.com

"I'm Elaine Harper...I live next door."

Yes, it's a line from a show. No, you probably wouldn't know it unless you are super familiar with the play, Arsenic and Old Lace.

I do play Elaine Harper, and yes, I am the 'girl next door'. Which is what I used to play all the time. Happily stereotyped as the 'good' girl, the princess, the lovely heroine, I never dreamed that someday I'd be fighting to break an image of evil!

Not that I don't enjoy all the 'bad' girl roles I am now often cast as. To the contrary, I LOVE playing bad :) It is just fun, this time, to be back on the nice side of the fence.

So, if you are in the area, and want to see a really great show...with me playing a super sweet gal, alongside a whole cast of amazingly talented actors...please come see Arsenic. We open Thursday! (you can link to the Magenta Theater website for more info from my 'favorites' sidebar)