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!