Call-Back Day

"The Jets"

                 This afternoon is call-back auditions for next year's show, "Crazy For You." I love "Crazy For You." It features music by the Gershwin's, has a good and funny libretto, and terrific dancing. As I am getting ready for this, I cannot help but think back on last year's BHS musicals.  "West Side Story" and "All Shook Up." Someone mentioned that 2009-2010 could be considered the "Shakespeare Year" as both shows were based off of Shakespeare plays. WSS - Romeo and Juliet, and "All Shook Up" - 12th Night. I was very pleased with both shows.  The choreography was terrific, the costumes were perfect, and the singing and acting was excellent. Some pictures from both shows are included

"America" with my niece, Jenna Cole, as Anita

"The Sharks"

Jake Cardinal in "All Shook Up"

My nephew, Hayden Call, in "All Shook Up"

Steel Magnolias Review

Here is a review by Dave Mortensen that is posted on the UTBA website. He actually came to my Saturday performance. Yea!

CENTERVILLE – As a single 20-something male, the idea of going to see “Steel Magnolias” did not thrill me. But part of being a part of the UTBA means going to shows you probably wouldn’t attend otherwise. This latest production by Rodgers Memorial Theatre certainly changed my mind about the show. This is by far the strongest production I’ve seen at Rodgers and I’m very excited to see more.

The story is probably familiar to most. The 90-minute show is comprised of just four scenes spanning three and a half years. All take place in the local beauty salon run by Truvy (Missy Riffle/Angela C. Brown) and her new employee Annelle (Melissa Robinson Hurst/Adren Swenson). The rest of the cast includes Shelby (Ashley Gardner Carlson/Jillian Tirado) with her mother M’Lynn (Robin M. Edwards/Jane Merrell Huefner) and two more neighbors: Clairee (Chris Brown/Linda Jean Stephenson) and ouiser (Meredith Gibson/Rebecca Hess).

I attended the Saturday evening performance and was incredibly pleased by the performance. This marvelous group of women has formed one of the strongest ensembles I have seen in Davis County. Each was wonderfully convincing in her own right and bring together a simple and powerful story of the beauty, pain and laughter experienced in Chinquapin, Louisiana. The story is immediately approachable and applicable to any household. Director Leslie Giles-Smith has done beautiful work bringing this story to the Centerville stage.
Special compliments go to the costume designer Sandy Hunsaker. The costuming for the production was subtle, strong and perfectly captured the spirit of these women and their community. Set designer Scott VanDyke and scenic artist Tammy Coleman created a clear design that transported me to 1980s Louisiana.
This is really great work by Rodgers. It’s so refreshing to not only see a non-musical performance in the space, to not be deafened by overzealous sound reinforcement, but also to see quality acting and direction on the community stage.
Steel Magnolias plays through June 5 at Rodgers Memorial Theater on Pages Lane in Centerville. Tickets are $11-17 and can be purchased at the box office or by calling 801-298-1302. More information can be found at RodgersMemorial.com.

Steel Magnolias Mid-Point and Looking to Summer

We are now half way through the run of "Steel Magnolias."  I have enjoyed doing a show again. I love the audience. I love being funny.  I love being sad.  I love my costumes - especially the wig and eyelashes. I love my cast members.  I love seeing my friends and family after the show and hearing them praise me!!!
I don't like being away from home so much, but I appreciate Guy and Preston for being patient. 

The last day of the school year and the last day of the show coincide.  So, come June 7th, I will be free for Summer fun.  This will include: Tennis lessons for Preston, tap-dancing classes for me, swimming at the Morley and Butter's pools (hopefully),  a lot of exercising to keep me in my smaller-sized clothes, Boating, 4-wheeling, the Cole Family Bear Lake condo trip, and the Brown Family Bear Lake RV trip.  I love my Summers!!!

Mother's Day

I love Mother's Day! Guy and Preston are always so sweet about it.  They went to make me breakfast yesterday, then realized it was Fast Sunday, so breakfast was out. So, they got me out of bed and gave me my Mother's Day gifts.  Preston and Guy picked out a lovely ring for me. It is white gold with two little diamonds and a saphire stone in the middle. Saphire is Preston's birthstone and he is really excited about giving me this ring - so I will always remember him.  Preston LOVES to give me jewelry (and he has good taste.) I also got some coupons from Preston for helping with dinner and cleaning up his room. Besides the ring, Guy also detailed my car. Yea! 

Yesterday was also my mother's birthday. She is such a wonderful mother! Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he gave me my parents! They are both terrific. I love my mother for many reasons. She is kind, positive, generous, supportive, tender, strong, funny, spiritual, outgoing, resourceful, determined, loving, open, smart, insightful, sweet, thoughtful, and a million other wonderful things. She does double-duty as both my mother and my psychiatrist/counselor.  She is my biggest fan and I love her for it. Happy Birthday and Mother's Day!! I love you!

Digger the Hamster

Preston has a pet!! This is an amazing thing because he is allergic to almost everything. Preston had been dying to have a pet. A hermit crab, or a hamster, or a fish. He already had a fish that died, but it was better than nothing. At the pet store we found out that it was super expensive to get started with a pet. We were also worried about Preston's allergies. So we did some research and figured out that a dwarf hamster might be a good pet. Then I went to KSL Classifieds and found a hamster with a cage for less than half price of the pet store. Bonus!! We have had Digger for over 2 months now. Preston loves him. Digger really is very cute. He is tiny, with a white belly, grayish-brown fur and a black stripe down his back. Last Saturday, we took Preston and Digger to Petco for the semi-annual hamster races and Digger won!!! Preston was soooooo happy. I was, too. Preston has to wash his hands after he plays with Digger and cannot touch his face or eyes until he does. Preston is really good at this and tells everyone who touches Digger that they have to wash their hands also. I am proud of Preston for taking care of his pet so well.