Beautiful Video

Thought of You from Ryan Woodward on Vimeo.

Watch this beautiful video- choreographed by my friend Kori Wakamatsu and danced by two of my former MDT students at Riverton High, Shellie Telford and Michael Milkanin- both now MDT majors at BYU.

I Swear...

I don't swear very often. Sometimes in school when I'm at my wits end (usually with someone in stage crew) or sometimes a well placed swear in rehearsal will get the attention of the cast (along with the throwing of a chair). But, I know for a fact, that, at least at my school, I do not swear as much as the athletic dept. coaches (and certainly not as much as our choral program. Our choir teacher is like a sailor*).

The point is, swearing doesn't really offend me, and though I don't do it often (Jackie wins that award in our house), when I do it, I like to make it count. Here are my preferred variations of swearing (usually when I'm alone in the car).

The following work with any profanity you can think of (although they are not always grammatically correct):

****apalooza

****nation jingle himer schmit

****me up and call me Shirley

****zacrackin

****zapoppin

****me and everyone I've met

What in the**** is going on

Crock ****ing Good

It's kind of like mad-libs, but if you're going to swear, be creative!

*she is not like a sailor. She's in the Morman Tabernacle Choir and I've yet to hear her swear. But it's funny imagining it. It's even more funny imagining our previous choir teacher Leanna Wilmore doing it as well.

Black Friday

So last Thursday night, Jackie and I decided to brave the crowds at Walmart at midnight in Brigham City. We arrived around 11:45pm. I was on assignment to get some $1.97 DVD's for my brother Tim (he wanted the Bourne trilogy) and we were going to look for some presents for the girls.

After wandering around a bit (no cart for us), I hung around electronics (with 1000's of others) while Jackie staked out toys. Around midnight, there was honest to goodness shrieking (the same sound I would imagine that starts human sacrifice) as Walmart employees began opening their palates of stuff. Jackie scored a Zhu-Zhu pet- but it was at the risk of life and limb. Try as I might, I could not get into the aisles with the DVD's (Walmart intentionally put the DVD palates in narrow aisles so you had to maneuver for them). When I finally got there, I could only get the Bourne Ultimatum for Tim (but I could have gotten him every season of Sex and the City). I tried to get to the Wii games, but by the time I got there, there wasn't anything I wanted (because people were carrying them away by the 20's- I don't even think they stopped to look at titles). I did score a $10 Toy Story 3 DVD (which I was very proud of) and Jackie got a Snuggie for Millie and some games for Ellis.

After the madness, the real Christmas joy began. We stood in line for about an hour to get $47 worth of stuff. Thinking back on it, I should have gone up and gotten some magazines to read in line, but I didn't.

After Walmart I had contemplated going to Kohls for their 3:00am opening- but decided it wasn't worth it. Give me my Amazon and Costco and my shopping will be done without super long lines.

Christmas Gifts

I rarely write Christmas lists- and for the most part, I ignore other people's lists as well. I want to surprise people with stuff they didn't even know they wanted.
Yesterday, Jackie made up her Christmas wish list
* A suitcase
* The book, A Guide to Humanistic Studies in Aging: What does it mean to grow old?

* The book, The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the 2nd Half of Life

This is it.

No gloves, chocolates, massage oil, gift certificates or music.

2 hardcover books on aging and the arts and a suitcase.

The gauntlet has been thrown down.

To delve into the tricky mind that is Jackie and find out what she wants- when she doesn't even know that she wants it.

Dear Audience Members

Dear Audience Members of High School Theatre:

First, thank you for attending our productions. We love that you come to see your friends and family members. Here is just a few words of advice to make the experience more pleasant for all involved:

1- We believe that $7 and $8 tickets are not unreasonable prices for a school musical. To sigh loudly and turn to your companion and debate the worthiness of the production (when your own family member is in it) holds up the line for everyone. When you ask me if the production is worth it, I WILL ALWAYS SAY YES- even if the show is a steaming pile of poo- which our shows are not. A freaking movie with people you don't even know costs more than it does to see your own flesh and blood in a show.

2- If you have a huge family and ask nicely for a discount of some sort, I am inclined to give one. When you come up and demand a family rate NOW, I will not discount anything for you.

3- If the show starts at 7:00pm and you come in at 8:00pm, I will still sell you a ticket for full price and not feel the least bit bad about it. I will also be watching to make sure you do not slip in at intermission.

SPECIAL NOTES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL MATINEE ATTENDEES

1- Teachers and students- you are fantastic. We fully realize that when one of our male actors removes his shirt during the production that you will hoot and holler for 5 minutes. That is ok. We also realize that when two characters kiss it will blow your pubescent minds for a bit- so much that you have to vocalize. We have no problem with this at all. It is the parent chaperones I would like to address:

(All of these are based on letters sent to me and my principal over the past week--all from parents who attended our middle school matinee- this was the show South Pacific. Note: only one letter was received on our production of Les Miserables- and it was on how sad that we could not do the student version of the show. We did do the student version).

* When a character is drinking (brandy, beer, etc.) on stage, we are not actually having them drink alcohol. Most likely it is watered down Diet Pepsi. Caffeine Free. When characters are drinking out of bottle, they are always IBC Root Beer bottles.

* No one showed their underwear on stage. The Polynesian costumes were school appropriate and based on real island wear from the 40's.

* When two characters kiss, the lights go out, come back on and they are seated on the front of the stage, it shows a passage of time. It is your own dirty mind that infers that they had sex. Plus, you were surrounded by 900 8th and 9th graders that were hooting and hollering.

* It is not immoral to have a male character remove his shirt. He's on a freakin island in the south pacific. He is still a good person that can make good choices.

* The message of the show South Pacific is about tolerance and prejudice, not advocating pre-martial sex. If it makes you feel better, the character that commits premarital sex dies shortly thereafter.

* The phrase Stingy Bastard- while not a polite phrase- is the phrase in the script and in the book. We made sure the actress was comfortable saying the phrase- and it's the American soldiers that teach it to her. I don't suggest running around saying it all the time, but it is a great phrase to use when you are stuck in traffic.

* If our play was rated like a film (which is still subjective), our production would have been PG. Not PG-13 (based on current rating standards), certainly not even close to an R and going to a X rating is a bit extreme for one guy without a shirt, kissing and 3 uses of the phrase Stingy Bastard. Thank you. Next time, let your student come and you stay home.

High School Musical

If you live in the state of Utah, over the first 3 weeks of November, you could see over 50 different high school musicals. We all do them around the same time of year. Our district alone is doing Brigadoon (played the Daddy in this show my junior year. Loved pulling out the huge medical dictionary as the "family bible", finding the most hideous pictures possible (a tie between a distended gonad and a goiter on someones neck the size of a football) to have Daniel Babcock sign his name on because he was marrying my daughter), West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls and our production of South Pacific. These 5 high schools are also all within 15 miles of each other.

Also going around the state is the Utah premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, Cinderella, 42nd Street, Titanic, and about 44 others.

Why go and spend your hard earned $8.00 ($7.00 if you're a elementary, middle or high school student) to see a falling chandelier, tap numbers, princesses in gigantic pumpkins or sinking ships when you can come and see South Pacific at Riverton High School this upcoming Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday nights at 7:00pm?

You'll hear Some Enchanted Evening (a lot- when Rodgers found a good tune, you'll hear it enough times in the show that you will need a lobotomy to remove it), Bali Hai, Honey Bun and all those other great songs. Also, we hired ScentEvents (a company in Los Angeles that works with hotels and the movie business) to custom make us some fragrances that the audience will smell at certain points in the show. It's kinda cool.

So join me at Riverton High to see this great show- and if you're not sold on the Rodger's and Hammerstein classic, we are selling there amazing cookies:

They make these in Pleasant Grove and sell them all over the world (for a lot of money- Larry H. Miller movies sell them for $4.00! We're selling them for $2.00). Each cookie is huge AND the bottom is dipped in chocolate. So come have some cookies and Wash that Man Right Outta Your Hair this next weekend.

The October that Was

October has flown by-looking back, here is what I recall:

1st week: Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City. My King Lear ensemble does great (even though one of the judges proclaimed it melodramatic- it was the blinding of Glouchester). We take 3rd in a really competitive division. I have a tech theatre student take 1st in costuming and an acting student take 1st in monologues (winning her a $1000 acting scholarship to SUU). Our dancers also did great taking 2nd in ensemble and 3rd in duos.

Highlights of the trip: The Pastry Pub for dinner-one of my actors vomiting after eating a gas station hot dog- one of the dancers vomiting (multiple times- but she did not eat a gas station hot dog)- seeing Pericles- seeing Greater Tuna (and having my male students proclaim it as the best play of all time)- watching The Office on the way down.

2nd week: Buying 5 10 foot long sheets of Styrofoam to make our sand bar for South Pacific. Picking them up at this amazing warehouse (it was like the Willy Wonka of Styrofoam. They had a 9 foot high champagne bottle and table and chairs made out of the stuff). It was hilarious because we had no rope to tie everything down (it was windy and we didn't want 50 feet of Styrofoam blowing down the road) so we found some rope (homeless person rope is what my students called it) on the Trax rails and tied it up. Fall Break- celebrate by taking the girls to Witch-A-Pa-Looza and Thanksgiving Point. Jackie and I celebrate by seeing The Social Network and eat at The Copper Onion. The food was great (but I vomited later that night. Not sure if related...)

3rd week: Went to The Drowsy Chaperone at Hale (really good)- visited my dad in ICU (huge heart attack but he managed to avoid bypass surgery)- tripped over one my my dad's many tubes sticking out of his body (almost causing brand new bypass surgery)- made dad laugh (not good when hooked up to many tubes)- 3 days later, watched them move my dad to another room (he's out of the hospital resting comfortably- well, as comfortably as you can with my mom cooking meals without salt, fat, dairy or anything good)- set up a doctor's appointment (at Jackie's insistence) to get heart and cholesterol checked- eat at In-&-Out for dinner after appointment is made- played for Primary Program (big hit with Jackie on microphone duty).

4th week: Take students to see Dracula at Pioneer Theatre Company (students were thrilled when blood got on their shoes and program...)- got a big chunk of the set painted- took girls to ward Halloween Party (Ellis got sick and we left early)- trick-or-treated Sat. night in the rain with the girls- watched The Shield Season 7.

We're excited to see The Color Purple Broadway musical coming to Salt Lake City Nov. 17th. If anyone is interested in going, I have 4 tickets left ($50 each- 8th, 9th, 10th row orchestra on the right). Happy November.

Sports Related Injury

It's not often that you hear the following sentence associated with me. I have a sports related injury.

Sure, there was the minor concussion I got the one time I got roped into playing church softball so our ward wouldn't have to forfeit. I went to catch the ball, missed, and it bounced off the top of my head.

Or there was the time I was on a jetski at a scout camp (the kind of jetski you had to start on your stomach, move to your knees and then stand up), lost all upper body strength in the middle of the lake, wasn't wearing glasses or contacts, rode all around the lake on my belly while squinting and trying to find our camp- thinking I've found it, riding up onto the beach swearing that I'll never do that again, realizing that it's not my camp and they are random strangers, flopping back down on my belly (a very majestic exit) and riding along shore until I find our camp. I think my sore arms the entire trip were sports related injuries.

And let's not forget the time my sister Emily and I were in the back yard on the monkey bars having a chicken fight when she kicked my gonads so hard that I thought I was going to puke them up. I think a chicken fight is a sport.

Well, after playing Super Mario Bros on Wii with Jackie all weekend, I have Nintendo thumb on my left hand from pushing so hard. It hurts to put anything on that thumb- but it was totally worth it because we made it to World #3 because of my injured thumb. There were times I wanted to give up- throw in the towel- weep about not being able to have Mario stand still on the ice worlds- but I persevered and the injury is totally worth it. I may have to play with a band aid tonight- but we're making it to World 4 if I have to cut it off completely. Go sports!

City on Fire...

Sunday, September 19th.
2:10pm: While loading up the girls into the can after church, I look up and see a plume of smoke on the other side of the mountain. Dang hippies.

4:20pm: Leave for my first day as assistant ward choir director. Notice smoke appears bigger and blacker (but not as black as my optimism for ward choir participation and attendance).

5:00pm: Leave from the 1st practice of the new Mill Canyon Women's sextet (that's all that showed. But we're going to give Lawrence Welk a run for his money). Notice smoke appears bigger and wider.

5:15pm: Friends from Los Angeles arrive for dinner.

6:00pm: Eat dinner. We don't notice smoke because we are telling stories about Jackie from high school. No pesky fire on the other side of the mountain will detract from that fun.

6:30pm: Go outside and notice that the fire appears to be getting much, MUCH wider. Still not on our side though. Even though it's windy, we don't smell smoke.

7:00pm: We go back outside just in time to see a wall of fire (with flames REALLY high) jump the top of the mountain and start spilling down. Jackie says, what should we pack just in case? Friends from LA tell us thank you for making them feel like they're at home.

8:00pm: Put girls to bed- notice that now we start smelling smoke. Jackie starts putting together boxes to be on the safe side. Our friend from LA suggests taking pictures of all the rooms for insurance purposes.

8:20pm: No that it's dark, the mountain looks like a volcano with lava pouring down the sides. Our street is jammed because 1000 homes are being evacuated and our street is a thoroughfare. It reminds me a little of the war scene from Duck Soup because everyone has horses, jet skis, boats, etc.

9:00pm: We hear cops evacuating the neighborhood to the west and, smelling smoke in our basement, we (and by we I mean Jackie) start putting valuables in boxes and get suitcases ready. I watch the news and see watch fire coming down the mountain spurred on by heavy wind. Everyone is out in their backyards hearing police say "mandatory evacuations", but not on our street yet.

9:30pm: The news says evacuations could continue through 2:00am. In watching the news, I realize that I will not be watching the finale of Food Truck Race on Food Network and Mad Men. Luckily they are both DVR's. Unluckily, if it's burnt to a crisp, there are several things on it I haven't watched yet. We hear that while people can leave the neighborhood, they cannot get back in.

10:00pm: Jordan School District (my district) announces school closings. They don't say what schools. There is no way that I am setting my alarm for 6:00am if I don't have to.

11:00pm: Watch out of our bedroom window and see great walls of orange flames cresting down the mountain. In some ways, it's like a really twisted room at the Anniversary Inn. Only the theme makes you want to run away instead of gettin it on.

Midnight-5:00am: Awake watching the fire out the window ready for a pound on the door to tell you to leave. Check the news every hour on the hour.

5:00am: I am awakened by the dulcet tones of Mary Richards (a friend from BYU and Jackie's former roommate) that tells us (finally) that Millie's elementary school is closed (but mine is open).

Monday, September 20th: I walk around school like a zombie, but everything is good. I have students that were evacuated and that didn't know anything about their home yet. I have teacher friends that also don't know anything yet. We are glad that amazing firefighters came from all over the state to help (and are still helping today) save all of the homes that were saved.

All pictures from KSL. Go to their website to see other pictures from the fire. 3 homes were incinerated in the fire.

Observations

So tonight while having dinner at the Golden Corral (they have good rolls...) Jackie looks around and says, "I never thought of myself as a Golden Corral kind of person". This was in reference to the many ladies at the restaurant sporting several tattoos- and probably more specifically, the woman at the table next to us that was sporting a shirt that was so low-cut that we could see her cleavage piercing (Christmas gift idea for Jackie- although it looked horribly painful. Like a jewel nestled between two Christmas hams).

Also said by Jackie when we got home after I set up our brand new headboard for our new king-sized bed: I never thought I was the sort of person that would own a headboard.

Well, now you are that person Jackie. Now you are.

This Summer I...

• Had to go to a urologist 4 times. The first time was three days before leaving for New York (without going into too much detail, imagine trying to pass a watermelon through a straw- and it was not kidney stones). Let's just say, to save me a possible trip to an emergency room while in NYC, they quickly performed an emergency procedure (without out pain meds)... with the entire office staff gathered round. The other fun story was a trip to the radiologist and getting to hold my own catheter (and accidentally letting go halfway through the procedure causing a Bellagio-style fountain effect all over the place). Everything appears back to normal now.


• Drove the family out to Oregon and coast. We played at a windy beach, took the girls to eat at the same pizza place Jackie and I ate at on our honeymoon, played Ticket to Ride with cousins at the beach house, watched Jackie clog up the 1 toilet at the beach house numerous times (until Judy found the "hidden toilet" in a scary basement), ate at the Otis Cafe (delicious), drove along the coast while everyone in our van watched The Princess and the Frog, went to the world's largest sea cave and saw lots of sea lions, went to OMNSI in Portland, ate at the street carts in Portland and read lots of books.


• Taught 6 weeks at Hale Center Theatre summer camps. That's enough about that.


• Bought a new king-size bed with frame, pillows, sheets and a actual headboard. I guess we're truly grownup now that we have a headboard.


• Hung pictures up on the wall that had been on the floor since we moved in June of 2009.


• Went to Pioneer Village with my parents and the girls.


• Saw 14 plays/musicals. 9 in NYC (see previous posts), 1 The Wedding Singer at Hale (with my former student Matt Baxter stealing the show as George), 1 Pirates of Penzance at Hale (with my former student Bailee Paxman as a fantastic daughter- took Millie to this one and she loved it. Well, I know she loved the free cookie and root beer that she got at intermission thanks to Clint), 1 110 in the Shade at Hale Center Orem with the fantastic Audra McDonald. Seeing her in that show that close was worth every penny. It was fantastic. 1 Hairspray at Riverton City with 10-12 RHS Theatre alumni as leads and ensemble. They were great.
• Millie went to her 1st Broadway show. We (and a few Riverton Drama students and alumni) went to see the Broadway touring show of The Lion King in Salt Lake City. She did great. It helped that she already knew the songs (she's sat a few times in her room and wept to Shadowlands) and story. Having a bag of Skittles ready for Act 2 also helped. The cast was great and Millie loved it. It was good preparation for Mary Poppins next year.

• Saw (in the movie theatre) Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, Inception and The Other Guys. Also became addicted to The Shield and we are currently on Season 4.

So now school's back in session- I already cast our Shakespeare ensemble (a bloody good King Lear) and we're holding auditions for South Pacific after Labor Day. Happy 3 day (birthday) weekend.

NYC Adventure (2010 Days 6 & 7)

Sunday morning- 1st goal: matinee tickets. We helped kids get tix to West Side Story and other shows (Our Town!!) after getting a delicious pastry at a famous French bakery Petrossan. While Jackie walked the street with everybody and their Puerto Ricean flag for the huge parade going down 5th. While she hit H&M and other stores, I (while grabbing a quick Magnolia Bakery lemon cupcake for sustenance) raced over to get matinee tickets for Sherie Rene Scott's show, Everyday Rapture. After scoring our rush tickets ($21 a piece=awesome) and racing back to get Jackie at Rockefeller (while watching CBS set everything up for the Tony Awards broadcast at Radio City, we shopped on the street for a bit to get stuff for Millie and Ellis.

We both really liked Everyday Rapture- a autobiographical show about how Sherie was raised Mennonite and how they don't believe in really performing (unless it's church hymns) and how she was always torn between her faith and her love of singing. The songs were great (esp. her two backup singers) and the show clipped along.

After that, we walked out into pouring rain and realized we were far south enough to try a famous cupcake place- The Cupcake Cafe- by the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The cupcakes all were like mini works of art and I got to eat a huge sweet potato doughnut.

We went back and dropped off our stuff and went to go eat dinner at a great Greek restaurant on 9th. We got the tasting platter for two so it had a big mix of everything Greek and we were the only people in the restaurant. We people watched everyone trying to get out of the rain (and I saw famous Broadway director Jerry Zaks) while some actors were running to the Tony Awards at Radio City.

After that, our group got to see our final show, Billy Elliot. Our seats were better than when Jackie and I had seen it earlier and I still loved it. Some of my students were confused by the fact that it was a drama but also funny (they couldn't figure out if it was a musical comedy or not)- but most people loved it (I think it was my mom's favorite).

After that, it was a stop at a pizza joint for a late night snack and we got to see Memphis get awarded the Tony for Best Musical.

Monday, we had to get up early to pack AND go to the NBC Studios Tour. Some of group opted out of the tour (it was early), but most of us staggered down to the NBC Studio store in Rockefeller to begin our tour. It was fun seeing the Saturday Night Live set (and Dr. Oz's set), but the best was afterwards eating with the Cox's at our famous French chocolate place in Rockefeller Center. We got gourmet hot chocolate with some cake and chocolate truffles.

After that, we packed up and headed back to JFK (where, JetBlue has the nicest terminal with the nicest food)- decompressed from the week, talked to our group about favorite shows (Memphis, Fela!, Our Town were all mentioned) and had an event free flight home to SLC!

Thanks for a great 2010 trip NYC- we'll see you in 2012 (where I am considering doing two trips- a student trip and an adult trip- let me know if you're interested!)

Brilliant

This is genius- (but it does have a naughty word):

NYC Adventure (2010 Day 5)

I woke up early on Saturday morning to take a group of students down to Union Square to get student rush tickets for Fuerzabruta a crazy show that takes place on the ceiling above your head (while you stand). I thought their box office would be open at 9:00am- but I was wrong. The box office didn't open until 1:00pm- which was cutting it really close to our 2:00pm matinee performance of Lend Me a Tenor- but I told them to play around Union Square and get their tickets fast at 1:00pm and meet us at the theatre for Tenor. Well I was wrong again because they didn't sell student tickets until an hour before the show- and they waited in Union Square all morning for nothing (but I did show them where crazy Max Brenner's chocolate shop was).

At the same time, Jackie was with people helping them get Sunday matinee tix at the TKTS at the Seaport. They sell matinee the day before- but a lot of what people wanted to see were not available- so after hanging out there a bit, us and and Coxes headed over to S'Mac- a tradition that cannot be missed whenever we're in NYC. I ate what I always eat- the Moroccan mac & cheese and I never regret it.

After that, we were off to the matinee of Lend me a Tenor- which had it's fun moments (but Boeing-Boeing in 2008 and Noises Off in 2002 were funnier). After that, I ran to the Drama Bookstore to grab a bunch of scripts for my drama room.

We met my family at In the Heights to help them get lottery tix. Nate was the first one called so he got 2 front row tickets- which he used with my mom, leaving my dad to sit up in the balcony with strangers. Then they helped us get tix for Rock of Ages- which we saw that night. What I liked about Rock of Ages:

1- Our usher. Best usher ever in a Broadway house- he was hilarious and had NO FEAR when it came to putting drunken middle-aged women who were sitting in the wrong seats (and were adamant that they weren't) in their place.

2- The mom of one of our students LOVING every song that came up that reminded her of her high school years (this show uses every hit hair band song from the 80's that you could think of- in other words, my mom's version of hell).

3- The cast of the show. They were having a ton of fun (and I don't know how they sing that way 8 shows a week) and Constantine (from American Idol) was really good.

4- The way that a beer vendor would come out and show his wares whenever a hit song was about to begin. I'm going to start this at my high school during our shows. Great fundraising opportunity.

My only issue is that I couldn't understand some of the dialogue- I don't know if it was me or the speakers. But I was partially deaf when the show was over. A successful Saturday night in NYC (except for the students that didn't make it to Fuerzabruta- but they went to Serendipity instead).

NYC Adventure (2010 Day 4)

By the time I finish this trip report, it's going to be 2012 and time for the next trip- so...

Friday morning is always the early morning. It has to be early because if you've ever gone down catch the Statue of Liberty ferry and you've seen the lines that form in the afternoon, you know it's worth it to get on an early boat.

We got every down and on the boat to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. This year we let people get off at the Statue, and in retrospect we should have gotten off there too- we always figure because we don't have enough monument access passes that it's not worth getting off at the Statue and waiting for the next boat for Ellis Island- but this year (similar to the Museum of Natural History in 2008), we were at Ellis Island with every single elementary student in the greater New York and New Jersey area. We did see a cool video that we had never seen before- but basically, it was too crowded to enjoy it like we had in the past (but it was great to see the kids wandering all over instead of just camping out at the gift store).

After the boat ride back, we walked the group up Broadway (and let students rub the Wall Street bull statue's testicles), showed them Wall Street and then it was off to China Town- but before being accosted by a crazy man in the subway that was raving on and on about Jennifer Lopez. Most of the group found him amusing (and some even recorded him with their ipods), but after a bit, he was getting in people's faces and swearing (a lot), I called security- but they couldn't understand me. As the subway arrived, our chaperones did a great job not allowing him on the car with us as we went up to Chinatown.

We let the group go in Chinatown- and the Coxes and us found (with the help of the Coxes awesome I-phone) the best hole-in-the-wall dumpling/noodle place. You got 12 dumplings for $3.00 so we got two orders for us- and then we all got a noodle soup- with various meat products. I think in the end it didn't matter what you ordered because even though I got the seafood one, everyone got at least one baby octopus in their soup. It was awesome watching the man in the back whack noodle dough on the table- just like in The Amazing Race! It was also funny watching our waitress/chef yell at an older man slurping soup on a table so she could give the table to us.

After that, we met up with Arianne and Ben for the free afternoon at the Museum of Modern Art. We then met up with Nate and my parents to go meet my cousin Allison for dinner at The Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridian hotel. It was hilarious walking through the lobby with Nate (and Nate saying, it's really fancy) and then going behind this little curtain and being in The Burger Joint (which looks nothing like the rest of the hotel).

That night the show was Kristen Chenoweth and Sean Hayes in Promises Promises. I thought the show was a lot of fun- even though Jackie sat next to me scowling through it (she's just not a swingin 60's Burt Baccarat kind of gal)- until Katie Finneran came on at the beginning of Act 2- and was brilliant. I thought the dancing and design was great- Sean Hayes was really likable- and he and Kristen signed all my students programs and posed for pictures. For some of the mom's in my group, they were more excited meeting Tony Goldwyn- most notable for being the bad guy in the movie Ghost. He was the bad guy in this musical as well. While I waited for students to get autographs, Jackie went back to the hotel- and was sound asleep before I even got in.

NYC Adventure (2010 Day 3)

Thursday morning we were up early to take the subway over to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because our group was so huge, we had arranged a 1 and a half hour guided tour of the museum and then time by ourselves. Even though our groups were still over 30 people big, we got the best docent in the entire museum- James Spann. He was a former actor and literally kept our attention the entire tour (and we would have stayed with him longer).

After the tour we went up to look at the huge bamboo exhibit on the roof of the museum. It was pretty crazy that the entire structure (which could be walked on) was only held together by lashings.

We met up with everyone that wanted to go through Central Park (a lot of people opted to stay back at the museum or head over to Serendipity on the Upper East Side). We only lost one group of 4 boys who were walking over to Bethesda Fountain- but went on the wrong road (luckily Brent and Amanda went to get them) and we stopped by Strawberry Fields before heading for a eating tour of the Upper West Side. 1st stop was Gray's Papaya for hot dogs, Jacques Torres for chocolates and finally Levain Bakery for cookies.

While we were eating, my brother Nate was arriving in NYC from Virginia- along with my sister Arianne and her husband Ben. Ari and Ben were coming on a bus from Boston, but Nate decided to only spend $4 on transportation from JFK to his mid-town hotel- which also took about 3 hours (with luggage). He did say that New Yorkers are friendly and helpful (especially when lugging 2 suitcases around on the subway).

After our cookies at Levain, it was off for more NYC eating with Brent and Amanda Cox. We hit the Village for the Coxes first experience with Pomme Frites- a place that every other time we had tried to go to with them, it had been closed. Jackie and I first ate here in 2004- and though they only serve fries, they are the best fries in the land. Between all of us, we had about 8 sauces to dip our frites in- and they were amazing.

After frites, we hit the dessert restaurant Chickalicious where I had a special version of cheesecake- basically it was a cheesecake foam that dissolved on your tounge and left the most delicious taste- I don't know how to describe it- only to say it was the "essence of cheesecake". We also had a lemon basil sorbet that was so refreshing, I secretly licked my plate when no one was watching.

That night, the show we saw (along with a talkback afterwards) was Memphis- which later won for Best Musical at the Tony Awards. I went into the show knowing the music, but not being blown away by it- but I was blown away by the show that night. The actors were having so much fun up on stage that it was infectious. The 2 leading performers were great and the dancing was fantastic! (Especially when we learned at the talk-back that they had been dancing all morning in rehearsals for the Tony Awards). What was even better was at the talkback, almost every lead came out to talk to our group and they were really down-to-earth and fun with the students. We loved the show! Even my brother Nate (who doesn't know much about theatre) really liked the show- which is high praise indeed.

NYC Adventures (2010 Day 2)

We opened our eyes at the lovely Hampton Inn (on our 10th Wedding Anniversary) and made our way down to the complimentary breakfast. For the first time that I can recall, Jackie actually made it out of the room for breakfast (normally I'd bring her something back to eat on her own in the room). We then marched ourselves down to Rockefeller Center to do The Top of the Roc.
Having been to the Empire State Building 3 times, I can tell you that I'm no longer taking groups there- being in one of the first groups on top of 30 Roc is SO MUCH BETTER! You get great shots of Central Park, Empire State, Chrysler Building, New Jersey... and you get the world's coolest elevator ride up to the top. Our group loved it and it was worth it.

From the top of Rockefeller Center we directed students where to go for their Wednesday matinee tix. Jackie took a group to Lincoln Center to get student rush for South Pacific (success), I took students to get rush tix for Fences with Denzel Washington (no-go, but we did get valuable information about how to get them on Sat.), a fellow RHS faculty member and her husband to Million Dollar Quartet lottery (success- and the two kids that wanted Fences also made the lottery) and I settled in for the long TKTS line. My parents and the Coxes were on the other side of the line- and they ended up being ahead of us. So Brent got 4 tix to A Little Night Music with Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta Jones (Row B!) and my parents got great seats for South Pacific. Jackie was waiting for me (in the rain) at one of our favorite lunch spots, Nougatine at the Trump Building, but since I was taking forever, she came down and met me at TKTS. We quickly grabbed lunch at another great place, Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center. We ate our goodies in shelter from the rain next to the A Little Night Music theatre in the hotel breezeway of the hotel we stayed at with our 2002 group. Altogether, our group saw the following shows for their matinees: Wicked, Million Dollar Quartet, In the Heights, South Pacific, and A Little Night Music.

A Little NM was great- we were all the way to the left, but I could rest my arms on the stage if I cared to. There was a man sitting next to Jackie that looked like he wanted to join in on our conversations (I wasn't noticing it but it was cracking Brent and Amanda Cox up- they were sitting right behind us) and we got a special sneak peak of Catherine Z Jones when she flashes open her robe to her suitor- and since we were on the extreme edge of the audience, we could see her plastic/body stocking upper body.



We were really impressed with the simplicity of the set and the amazing singers in the cast. It was great (even if Catherine did strange choices in Send in the Clowns- we figured she was being so specific that she was directed that way).

After that, we ran in a downpour to the subway and went to one of the oldest steakhouses in NYC, Keens Chop House. They had all of these crazy smoking pipes on the ceiling and an actress got arrested in the early 1900's for refusing to leave (they didn't serve women then). She won her case. Jackie had crab cakes and lobster bisque and I had steak hash (which was so much I couldn't finish).

We then ran to the hotel to meet everyone for The Addams Family- which I led everyone to in a downpour. When I got to the theatre, I was literally wringing the water out of my clothes.

Now I'm conflicted with The Addams Family- I think the cast did the best they could with some weak material. Nathan Lane was fantastic (as was most of the cast- esp. Kevin Chamberlain as Fester and Jackie Hoffman as Grandma), the set was amazing (including all of the puppetry) and I think most everyone had a lot of fun with it- but I wanted more. I love Andrew Lippa (the composer) and except for the opening number and a fun duet between Wednesday and her fiance, I thought the music was pretty weak (but the orchestra sounded great). However, my group loved it and we got to have a great talkback after the show with some of the leads which was a lot of fun.


After the show, we went up to another of our favorite places Eatery for dessert- Jackie got a killer ice cream sandwich and I had red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. Happy 10th Anniversary! Nothing like spending it with 71 other people (and a hotel room with your parents!)

NYC Adventures (2010 Day 1)

Aah, the pleasures of a red-eye flight. Arriving at 9:30pm- checking everyone in (well, I socialized, Jackie did the checking), having 3 students get detained at security because they were over 18 and didn't have a government issued ID- just a student id- having a guard call homeland security on them- taking forever- then finally letting them through- calling parents to send a birth certificate so we don't have the problem coming back- ahh, fun times.

Even with Jet Blue's lovely leg room and TV, it's still a red-eye. I tried to be prepared and took a melatonin before boarding- and I even bought Jackie and myself inflatable neck pillows with fleece covers. I over inflated "the bladder" (as it says on the package) of the pillow which wouldn't let my head go one way or the other- it looked like I was in a neck brace. I released some of the air- only to find it uncomfortable. Jackie was on the other side of the aisle nestled against a window seat by the Coxes- I was next to my parents- my mom sleeping somewhat soundly after taking a combination of 42 pills while my dad stayed awake watching a shark movie on the USA network. Oh- Jet Blue also passed out free Hanes T-shirts as we boarded. I tried to use it as a pillow but it was still uncomfortable. But, no matter- our group of 70 (2 people already had flown in from Arizona and were doing laundry because a can of hairspray had exploded inside their suitcase) was ready to go.

We were stirred around 1:00am by an announcement from the pilot asking if there was a doctor on board. I prodded my dad but I don't think they were looking for a doctor of mechanical engineering. The person turned out to be ok, but the pilot put his foot on the gas because we arrived at JFK 20 minutes early (around 5:40am).

Looking and smelling like zombies, we collected our luggage (nothing lost) and loaded our three buses to the city. I don't remember our drivers name, but he was great- he pointed out lots of stuff to our group and got us to our hotel pretty quick (even taking some detours to show my students some other stuff). The other half of our group had a first time driver that got lost and wasn't sure where he was going.

The Hampton Inn was a little overwhelmed by our groups arrival (they had 1 poor porter taking in all of our luggage- students and Mr. Cox helped) but they welcomed our group and told them to come in and eat breakfast. My mom was so delirious that she tripped and fell in front of the hotel- and asked if she could check-in then (at 8:00am no rooms were ready).

After our group ate, we were off on the subway to Brooklyn. I was a little nervous about it because I have never been to Brooklyn- let alone leading a group of 72. The subway was right across from our hotel and it was hilarious waiting for the entire group to get through the turnstiles before we all entered the train.

We got to Brooklyn and, on a clear, sunny and warm June day walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. The group had a great time and when we reached the other side- even though we were going on no sleep, we were off to St. Paul's by Ground Zero. St. Paul's wasn't open until 10:00am so I took a few students to Ground Zero- but our group got separated and divided (Jackie was at the back and I was at the front) and it took MUCH longer to get to the viewing windows of Ground Zero (and when we got there, my entire group had to pee- led of course by my mother...) but we made it back to St. Paul's and then it was off to Grand Central.

We were going to attempt a little tour of Grand Central but, because of sleep deprivation, everyone was a little loopy so we all ended up eating and relaxing at the Food Court underneath Grand Central- while Jackie took me, my parents and the Coxes on a little guided tour.

We then (after almost leaving my parents behind because of dawdling) were off to the NYC Public Library- which, while being open, is having it's front facade redone so the awesomeness of the building was dampened a bit- but students loved going inside and looking at everything Jackie recommended- everyone that is except my parents who were going to go try to see if our room was ready (it wasn't).

After that, it was off to Times Square- but we were sidetracked by the arrival of The Naked Cowboy which caused our group to be split up all over the place. We met up at the Times Square Visitors Center where I briefly became the tour guide to people not in our group because they were overhearing my advice to my students about how to get cheap tickets the next day. My favorite was the cute Indian couple asking me if i recommended La Cage or Fela! like I worked there. We then took students to show them how TKTS works- and again, I became a tour guide to other people listening to my explanation.

After that it was check-in- for some people (almost everyone except Jackie, me and my parents). After getting everyone situated (and Jackie only becoming delirious briefly), it was into our room for a nap.

After the nap, we met everyone for Next to Normal- which most of our group loved (we had one student weeping so loudly at the end of the show the mom next to him was worried about him). I still think the show is amazing and I was happy to see Alice Ripley before she left.

After the show, kids got autographs and then it was time for John's Pizzeria (famous from our 2008 trip where Jackie and I took half our pizza into Spring Awakening and where my tech boys saw the Jonas Brothers eating lunch) right across the street from the theatre. Our group had unlimited calzones, salad, soda and wood-fired pizza. I collected the $$ as students came in- and after everyone left, me, Jackie and my parents looked like mafia counting out all of the money for the restaurant. After that, we walked up to the hotel and quickly went straight to bed for fun the next day.

2010 Trip Show Previews

Our first show will be Next To Normal which just won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Jackie and I saw it in 2009 and LOVED it. Here's a preview:



After that, on Wednesday night we are seeing the great Nathan Lane in The Addams Family:



On Thursday we see the musical Memphis which is nominated for Best Musical:


and on Friday we see Kristen Chenoweth and Sean Hayes in Promises Promises:


Saturday we see Lend me a Tenor (which I've loved ever since I directed it at my high school):



and finally, Billy Elliot which won Best Musical last year.



Come with us in 2012! We'll have a great time (or we may be going to London...)

2004 New York Trip

Since we had so much fun in 2002 (and we didn't lose anyone), we decided to go again in 2004. Our group doubled in size since everyone heard how much fun we had in 2002- so we had about 40 people. We also had entire families come (including one family of 4- the father not only had never been to NYC, but he also couldn't remember if he had ever seen a PLAY before in his life- he thought that he had...) we also had the fun additions of Bradley and Shawnda Moss + my cousin Austin Cope (who had the pleasure of going to Pomme Frites with us and Jared Stromberg and eating amazing french fries).
Our first show was the high energy Hairspray which was hilarious. Michael McKean (from Laverne and Shirley + Christopher Guest films) was Edna. The group loved it.

The next show was Assassins at Studio 54- this is the first and last show I ever paid full price for. It was nominated for Best Revival (and won) and it had Neil Patrick Harris, Denis O'Hare, Michael Cerveris and lots of fantastic actors. It was amazing (but I still don't know if it was worth $210 for both Jackie and myself...)

Our group split up that night and Jackie went to see Thoroughly Modern Millie and I went to The Lion King. The Lion King was in Disney's amazing theatre that used to be Ziegfeld's back in the 20's. It was visually impressive.
After that was our play Sly Fox with Richard Dreyfus, but the most memorable part was going to take students to the Empire State Building--- only to have the Olympic Torch arrive in Times Square from Greece. The crowds were a big as New Years Eve and we were literally holding students shoulders to keep them from getting separated. Bradley and Shawnda reached the Empire State Building only to be turned away because it had reached capacity.
After that it was Billy Joel's Movin' Out- most memorable was afterwards waiting for dancers to get their autographs only to have Hugh Jackman come out from the theatre next door and sign some students programs (he was starring in The Boy From Oz).

We then went to Forbidden Broadway- which I was worried about because it was in a small Off-Broadway theatre- and everyone had a great time (I still remember Austin Cope's face when the cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show came out...)
Last, but not least, we got to see Wicked with the original Broadway cast 2 days after Idina won Best Actress for the show. Unfortunately, she was out filming a movie- BUT we still had everyone else (and Eden Espinoza was fantastic). The best part was Norbert Leo Butz (playing Fyero) slipped and fell on his butt causing Kristen Chenoweth to break character, laugh and leave the stage. Very funny. She was really nice to students afterwards and took pictures with everyone. It was a fantastic trip!

2002 New York

We leave for NYC with our group of 72 (don't you wish you were going with?) in 4 days. I also should be currently cleaning my drama room for end of year check-out, but I don't want to. However, I was dusting some posters up in our room from past NYC trips and it provoked memories.
1st Broadway show EVER in New York City:
Oklahoma! Some people may poo-poo this show, but our entire group (we had 20 including me and Jackie) fell in love with this version that came in from London. It was beautiful- and it was great that the dream ballet was danced by the actual leads. We had front and center seats in Gershwin theatre (which is where Wicked is currently playing) and we all loved it. This same version was released on DVD with Hugh Jackman playing the lead. It's not as good as it was live, but it's pretty much the same show we saw. It also makes me laugh whenever parents come up and say, "why don't you do something high school appropriate like Oklahoma!?- because Oklahoma has an attempted rape, murder, and drug induced dancing.

On our trip we also saw The Producers- which, while being very funny, was most memorable for the steep stairs in the balcony causing a gentleman to fall into my lap before the show began and for our opera student tour guide- while being very nice (and trying to figure out what Mormons from Utah were doing in NYC), had the LOUDEST laugh I ever heard in my life. He was getting more laughs than the actors were on stage.

We then saw what turned out to be everyone's favorite show of the trip Metamorphoses. This play has a huge pool of water as the set, and I had heard there was some brief, partial nudity. Well that brief partial nudity turned into full frontal male nudity (although, since he a Cupid, he was wearing wings...) and he walked very slowly right to our section of the theatre. As I had visions of my teaching career going down the toilet, one of the parental chaperones on the trip turned to me and said, "that's one naked gentleman"- and I knew I was safe. The show was FANTASTIC and everyone's favorite (right Arianne?)
We then saw Chicago for 1/2 price (I liked it, but my favorite was a junior male student of mine was in the front row- right in front of all of the ladies doing their Fosse splits right in front of his face...), and we saw Urinetown with the original Broadway cast- and it was hilarious!

Our last show was Noises Off with Patti LuPone- which had our entire group laughing until we were weeping- except for Jackie. It's becoming a running joke that every NYC trip I take everyone to a comedy that everyone loves... except Jackie.
We also got to see Vanessa Williams as the Witch in Into the Woods- however, the guy that stole the show was the actor that played Milky White the cow- he was out there dancing away on his little cow legs- and that same actor is nominated for a Tony this year as the lead in Memphis.
Since this was our first trip there, it was memorable for:
The viewing platform of the World Trade Towers- which were still smoking and you had to stand in line to pay tribute.
The backstage Times Square tour- we got to go into a few theatres and get some history on them. This tour is no longer offered so it was pretty cool.
Eating way to much food at Carmine's Italian restaurant (and Jerry Hunt getting sick).
Our group tour of the Met Museum- with focus on the phallic fertility canoes on special display.
Did I forget anything Jackie?

10 Years of Teaching

So at the end of the 2009-2010 school year (1 and half weeks to go!) I will have taught high school Theatre, Film Studies and Stage Crew for 10 years. Here are some things I've learned:

1- For every awesome bus driver (and they are out there) there are many crazy ones:

a. The bus driver that ran into a lamp post at Olympus High causing it to crash down on the roof of the bus. I remember students grabbing stuff covered with broken glass on it.

b. Our naked bus driver Clay at Shakespeare Competition. Enough said.

c. Our bus driver that tried to take the bus through the Carl's Jr. drive through. It didn't work.

d. Our bus driver that stood up and covered a students mouth while he was talking "too loudly".

2- Student teachers (for the most part) are fun:

a. Celeste Ballio having a mouse run up her pant leg in the drama office.

b. Celeste telling students about forms and shapes found in film- and talking about breasts.

c. Glen and his Shakespeare birthday party

d. Celeste and Glen going up to Pioneer Theatre Company- and a student barfing all over the bus (at least it wasn't Jackie- she's vomited on many bus rides).

3- Trips

a. driving the Uhaul to Dixie State in January with The Crucible set in the back.

b. Sending a student home from UTA on the Greyhound bus for breaking curfew.

c. a food fight at Golden Corral

d. Students getting ticketed for turn style jumping in a NYC subway

e. Student getting almost arrested for shoplifting in NYC- only to be saved by a cashier that recognized him by his orange shirt.

f. Students almost getting into a Hummer limo in Times Square- and then thinking probably not.

g. Having a travel agency go bankrupt 2 days before your trip to NYC- leaving you 48 hours to put a trip together.

4- School stuff

a. Accidentally erasing the district substitute line with the message: This is Clin Eaton from Riverton High and I don't think I'm doing this right...

b. Using the bathroom in the Men's Dressing room (and locking the door) only to have the door opened on you by a Vice Principal bringing a local pastor around to show him the facilities.

c. Having a student take off their pants in the middle of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window in film Studies.

and many many more...

Shows I've Directed

ST- Shakespeare Team

MD- Music Director/Accompanist

1999-2000

All's Well That Ends Well (ST)

Guys and Dolls (MD)

2000-2001

Fiddler on the Roof (MD)

The Curious Savage

Quilters

2001-2002

Once Upon a Mattress

The Diviners

2002-2003

Titus Andronicus (ST)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (MD)

Lend Me A Tenor

2003-2004

How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

Working

2004-2005

King Lear (ST)

Me and My Girl (MD)

10 Little Indians

Once on This Island

2005-2006

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Soap Opera

Secrets Every Smart Traveller Should Know

2006-2007

12th Night (ST)

Seussical (MD)

Cash on Delivery
The Secret Garden

2007-2008

Anything Goes

The Arabian Nights

Disney Review

2008-2009

The Taming of the Shrew (ST)

No No Nanette (MD)

Rumors

Back to the 80's

2009-2010

Les Miserables

The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza

Lucky Stiff

Funny Video

I know these (there are 3 of them from 2nd City Comedy Group) have been making the rounds online, but I think this one is the funniest- even if you're not into theatre- try it.

What's Up

So, since I've last posted, I've shaved my beard (goodbye Fiddler! goodbye Dream Sequence Bobble-heads! good-bye trying to get in bed before midnight! goodbye great friends and a great show!), took students to Legally Blonde, Our Town and State Drama Festival (the play I directed got Straight Superiors), helped Millie turn 5 years old, participated in a Princess Themed Party, went to Disneyland over Spring Break, got previously mentioned beard vomited on by a sick Ellis at Disneyland, will go to Carl's Jr. for Ellis's 3rd birthday tomorrow (she requested the Twinkle Twinkle Star restaurant) and am finally getting caught up on Netflix movies and DVR items.

In the midst of all of this, I've been directing (and accompanying) my MDT class in the musical Lucky Stiff. It performs this weekend (Fri. April 30, Sat. May 1st and Mon. May 3rd) at 7:00pm on the RHS Stage (seating is limited to 200). Shows are at 7:00pm except for a special 2:00pm matinee on Saturday. For extra fun, I double cast everyone in the show- everyone performs in each show, but they play different parts (what was a thinking). There is the Friday night/Saturday night cast and the Saturday matinee/Monday night cast. Come see both! This musical comedy involves a dead uncle in a wheelchair, stolen diamonds, a dog home in New Jersey and a kickline done in blacklight. Millie proclaims this to be a much better musical than Fiddler on the Roof. So, come watch me get carpel tunnel by playing for the entire show this weekend! It'll be fun. (And it's only $6.00).

Where to Start

So much going on (upcoming Disneyland trip, sick daughter story involving vomiting and peanut butter, Fiddler on the Roof antics, tv and theatre updates)- but I want to go read the new Fablehaven book so this will just have to suffice:


This says more than I ever could.

Riverton High Contest

In honor of the Broadway tour of Legally Blonde coming to Salt Lake City at the end of March, the Broadway tour and KUTV news are holding a high school competition where students perform a number and people get to vote for them (they're also judged by professionals). My MDT students have a number uploaded, so between now and March 14th, go to this website, register (name, email and phone number) and go to video #4 and vote for my students. You can vote once a day- a lot of the videos are really fun- but vote for us!

Prop Shopping

So I went to DI yesterday to buy props for my region play. I'm doing a play based on Greek mythology so I needed a bunch of dolls for the girls in the show to portray the Sirens and Furies.

Did you know that DI removes the clothing off Barbie dolls? Well they do. There I am, standing in the middle of the toy aisle with children running all around me picking up various nude Barbie dolls and trying to examine them while trying to emanate non-threatening vibes ("I am not a pervert. I am not a pervert.") After I found the perfect 12 dolls (and a big pink plush snake which will be used to kill Eurydice), I walked up to checkout. There I am, a 34 year old man with a big scary beard holding a 6 foot pink plush snake and 12 completely naked Barbie dolls. A little girl looked at me and whispered to her dad asking why I was holding 12 Barbies. He didn't answer, but he subtly shifted himself and his daughter away from me.

To top off the embarrassment, my debit card magnetic strip would not be read- so I was at the register for what felt like 8 hours with the pile of naked dolls (not yet bagged) in a plastic heap in front of me as the clerk gave me accusatory eyes. I quickly escaped to my vehicle and drove away quickly- still feeling somehow ashamed for what I had done.

Why I Haven't Posted Recently...

#1- I've been fiddling my brains out at Hale Center Theatre. I'm in the Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday cast and it's a great show (but long. very very long). I'm also doing a lot of Monday shows for my double. On Saturday when I do the 4:00pm show, before the end of the show we have to start setting up for the next show at 7:30pm. There's a very quick turnover.

Fun story- I did the show Monday night and I left stage the same time I always do at the end of Act 1 (with 4 other people). I was talking to them in the green room when one of the Russians ran on and told me my microphone had been left on after I left. Right after someone gets knocked out with a bottle, there was silence on stage- except for everyone hearing me talk about what happened Saturday night at the show. Luckily I wasn't in the bathroom and I'm not a swearing sort of person. Come see the show- if you can get tickets. They just added 7 4:00pm matinees because it's been selling out.

#2- Connected to Fiddler, I've been sore because during the dream scene I wear a huge 75 pound fake head of Teyve's daughter on top of my own head. It needs to be seen to be believed. The 4 of us that have to wear them affectionally call them the damn bobble heads.

#3- I've taken students to The BYU Young Ambassadors Show (with Millie. That was interesting) and 12 Angry Men while also supervising the set for our high school play of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940- which turned out great. We also went with our friends the Coxes to see the Broadway tour of Avenue Q- which was great as well.

#4- My school district is in uproar and dissarray. Hopefully I still have a job next year- (and if I do have a job, I will be teaching one more class with out being compensated).

***Beard Update 2010***

We are at the phase I like to call Adam Pontipee after Millie has kicked him out of the house.

(33) Years of Jackie

33 Reasons why Everyone (esp. me) loves Jackie:

1. She first caught my eye dressed in full makeup as a porcupine.

2. Her face cannot tell a lie.

3. She doesn't realize how funny she actually is- which makes her even funnier.

4. She can win my students hearts by singing on a bus the complete lyrics to Ice Ice Baby.

5. She is now queen of couponing. Bordering on obsessive. She'll get me deodorant for $.30- and her big birthday gift was a Sunday subscription to 2 papers for more coupons.

6. She'll Wii sword fight with Millie.

7. She tells our daughters that their beautiful AND smart.

8. For the most part, we like the same shows on tv.

9. I introduced her to the joys of shrimp cocktail on our honeymoon- and she's liked it ever since.

10. She was not scared off when she first met my family in Nov. of 1999- she even sat by Nate in the car as he sang Shake your Bon Bon by Ricky Martin a hundred times in a row.

11. She liked to read.

12. She's not just an eternal companion- she's an eternal chaperone.

13. She's a great performer- she doesn't do it often- like Hailey's Comet, you have to catch it quick.

14. She introduced me to the world of NPR.

15. She plays the piano.

16. She used to hate to cook. Now she still hates it, but she can make gourmet recipes.

17. She doesn't like to drink milk- which leaves more for me.

18. She addicted to Diet Coke/Pepsi/whatever she has a coupon for.

19. She'll come and coach my MDT students- and they'll listen to her over me.

20. She's obsessed with lawn maintenance.

21. She's obsessed with recycling.

22. She's obsessed with not owning animals. I tried to get her to read All Creatures Great and Small. Didn't work.

23. She gets car/bus/air sick really easily. (There was vomiting on our honeymoon. and on a school bus trip to Cedar City).

24. While not crazy about cake, she does enjoy other desserts.

25. Periodically her jaw will dislocate in her sleep.

26. She looks good with blond, brown, long or short hair.

27. Some days she wants to be a large African American woman with a voice to match.

28. She still owns clothes from high school.

29. She can get along/talk to ANYONE. Unless their kind of famous. Then she won't speak.

30. She loves me and Millie and Ellis- even after one of us wets their pants on the carpet (not saying who...)

31. She'll be the first to admit that some days just need Cafe Rio.

32. She's multi-talented, beautiful and smart.

33. Here's to many more birthdays- because, as she has cross-stitched on a pillow- I have to die first.

Happy Birthday!

Beard Watch 2010

When I was a lad (well, a teenage lad) I used to sneak peaks of the book The Joy of Sex at our local library. The pictures were somewhat scary because it was from the late 70's and the couple were scary (and hairy). Looking at myself in the mirror this morning, I realized that my Fiddler beard makes me look like the guy from The Joy of Sex book (and since no haircuts are allowed, the hair is gonna look like him pretty soon too):

So that's what my beard looks like.

A scary hippie from a how-to sex manual from the 70's.

I Wish Our Ward Choir Was Like...

Words cannot describe this- but I promise you if you watch all the way through, you will get a sneak peak of what the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has up their sleeve for a future performance. PLEASE WATCH ALL THE WAY THROUGH- it's worth it.

Bladders

So today at the end of my Film Studies class, I came as close as I ever had in my adult life to wetting my pants. In a normal classroom situation, I would excuse myself and run to the restroom. However, today the entire class was being graded on a presentation- and there was literally no time for me to leave. I tried several positions to relieve the agony in my bladder- sitting down at my desk, sitting down on my table, sitting down in my chair, standing with one foot casually resting on a chair (almost lost it there) and pacing back and forth in the back of the class like an mental patient trying not to see the visions in their head. The problem was not helped when one group kept talking on and on about how their film needed a large water tank to be the ocean at the end of their film.

Mercifully, the presentations ended with 2 minutes left of class- I yelled, congrats! It's the end of the semester- I probably won't see you again unless you take Film 2- I'm letting you go 2 minutes early! As I was trotting to the door (I was not capable of running at this point), a student comes up to ask me about his final presentation (which he did very well on) and about how the idea for his zombie movie came to him at 1:00am. Through clenched teeth, clenched urethra and summing all the powers of the great beyond, I replied that I had to run to a faculty meeting so I wouldn't be late. With that, I briskly walked to the men's bathroom and found sweet relief.

Happy end of 1st semester. Half way done with the school year.