Hi!

So today is Friday and rehearsals begin Monday! As Sondheim put so perfectly in a scenario like this I’m “excited AND scared.” It’s been a while since I did a show. It’s been a never since I did a show with this collection of people. I hope they like me! I hope they’re talented! I hope the housing is not roach infested!

I’ve made perhaps a not-good move. I’ve started 2 books simultaneously. This choice does not lend itself to finishing either. (Ask Leslie.) And I was just given a 3rd that I’m interested in too. I have a feeling that after the show opens I’ll have all the time in the world. (Wytheville is no booming metropolis. Although they do have a Starbucks. And a Sheetz.) So on my to read list is:



and



I’ve started both and they are GREAT. More to come later.

Meanwhile I have to tell you that I (finally!!) saw the Princess and the Frog—the new animated movie by Walt Disney Studios. I love love loved it. And by that I mean, it was no lionkinglittlemermaidbeauty&thebeastaladdincinderella. BUT! It was every bit as witty as anything Pixar has released in the past 10 years. And the animation was beautiful and the music was fun. But more than any of that it was heartwarming major! (As Posh would say.) I involuntarily let out an “Aww!!” multiple times throughout the flick. I do wish the romantic leads had a duet. (They needed one.) But Anika Noni Rose (who we know from Caroline or Change and Dreamgirls) sings beautifully in this hopeful little ditty. Ps, who doesn’t love an animated picture that has Oprah in it?! That’s what I thought.



PS, can I get a head count of who is ridiculously OVER this winter weather? I think one winter in Florida ruined me for winter forever. COME ON SPRING!!!

Getting excited about the new gig...Telling you about a book I read and a talk I heard.

Things are in transition around here and I’m loving the smell of new. This is my last full week in Lynchburg before I start the Sound of Music adventure and I’m thoroughly excited. I love meeting new actor friends and singing beautiful music and getting paid for the whole shebang. The pay off of the misery of auditions is absolutely when you land a gig you love. Saturday night I watched the Sound of Music for the first time in probably 15 years. The vast majority of the music came right back to me and I got more thrilled about my role in the show by every scene. It’s funny to pay attention to Julie Andrews’ acting choices and to watch the way the actress playing Liesl decides what to do to communicate her innocence (She was actually 21 when she played the part). Truthfully it’s just funny to watch Liesl and to be 8 years older than her as opposed to 8 years younger like I was the last time I watched it. I do think as a kid Liesl did play some part in what I thought being a teenager was all about: running out in the rain to be kissed by a 17-year-old boy..dancing in gazebos during thunderstorms…things like that.
It really will be such a joy exploring who Liesl is every night for 7 weeks. I already feel like I know where she’s coming from to a degree (I was once 16) and it doesn’t seem that long ago to me. In my mind I can jump back to that place quite easily. I need to get started on my Austrian research and the Von Traps. Did you know they were a real family? You can youtube them and see that their great-grandchildren are still singing…maybe they’re still just trying to milk the gimic but I’m ok with that. I think it’s pretty cool…

One great thing about doing a contract here in VA is that I’ll only be 2 hours drive from Lynchburg so I’ll be able to eventually (after rehearsals end) make weekly trips back. I’ll be able to stay connected with my family and friends here which is hugely important to me. And go to my most beloved Zumba class on Tuesday nights. And work a little bit at my new favorite side job: Barista Extraordinaire! I love actually knowing how to make a most delicious Caramel Apple Spice as well as knowing how to enjoy it.

What else…

I just finished a recommendable book by Lauren Winner (I believe I’ve raved about ‘Girl Meets God’ in the past). This time I read “Mudhouse Sabbath” where she discusses intertwining Jewish practices and Christian spiritual disciplines. I especially loved her thoughts on being a thoughtful eater—which to her is a primary reason the Jewish kosher laws are in place anyway. It kind of goes along with my thoughts lately on eating less sugar and drinking more water and basically trying to just eat more natural stuff altogether. Lauren’s idea is that we should slow down and think about how detailed and perfect God made things like onions while we’re chopping them up. And be grateful to Him for that. I also saw a clip from Food Inc. on Oprah the other day that made me worry about all the chicken I’ve been eating for the last 24 years. I can’t really control that but I can be more mindful and educated about what I put in my body in the future.


I also heard a great sermon yesterday about love. I went to church at Grace Evangelical Free Church here in Lynchburg. The service was very refreshing in that it wasn’t overtly westernized and youth-group-ized in its presentation. And the pastor didn’t seem to be too worried about whether the parishioners were entertained or laughing or were going to give lots of money. Instead he just said some really neat profound things. One great thing he said was a definition of love: that subtle inclination to seek another’s good. He also highlighted this verse that I understood with a fresh perspective yesterday. 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” I think God loves all of us that way. And I’m grateful for that. That kind of love inspires me to love others today without expectation of what they might give me back. I can just walk around doing life feeling inspired by God’s great love for me and in turn love other people. I think a lot of us are walking around not really feeling like God is on our side. I wonder what our lives would look like if we thought He was?

My Valentine's Message to You

And in case you don't know who the hilaaaarious Dave Barnes is--the last part of the above video is actually his own song. The real version is below:




Happy Balumtine'th Day!

Yay!

I got cast in a shoooooowwwwww!!







Perhaps you've heard of it?

I'll be playing Liesl at the Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre in Wytheville, VA from March 11-May 2.

I expect it will be a pretty amazingly full circle experience since I LIVED for this film as a child. (So much so I had a bout of insomnia in 4th grade because I couldn't stop singing the songs in my head when I was supposed to be falling asleep. The memory is vi.vid.) This should indeed be a fun spring. More info on the show here: Wolfharthaus.com

What I've been looking at.

Lady Gaga Cookies. I wanna eat one!

Advanced Style. I LOVE this. I'm a firm believer that the more life experience an actor accrues the better his/her performances become. Why not apply that principle to fashion?

The Anti 9-to-5 Guide. Michelle provides great insight about successful freelance careers. Her articles don't drone on and on and they're full of useful content.

This Readability Tool makes blogs that are a bit on the decorative side very easy to read. I love it!