Our Summer Part 2

The Music Man went really, really well. With the exception of the non-airconditioned auditorium I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. My cast really got it all together and really showed Burns/Hines how great it is to have the arts in our community. My cast & crew put in so many hours and I am so grateful for the hard work that they did! I wish I had better pictures, but ...I was already taking illegal pictures so - I didn't do too bad. I just wish I could have gotten a shot of the boys band. My costumer was able to get the vintage (1970's) marching band costumes from the high school. Our community LOVES the high school and when they saw those uniforms again they couldn't help from clapping.
I'm glad that I did this - I miss the theater so much I get choked up when I think of it - so many good memories.
I'm also grateful to Ryan - he was a trooper - he filled in last minute for the barbershop quartet and ROCKED the part! So many people kept commenting on what a good singer and actor he is - I already knew this - but I'm glad that others in the community were able to see his amazing talents. I love you Baby and Thank you for helping me, listening, loving & supporting!!

Our Summer Part 1

It was a really fun, busy, crazy, hilarious, jam packed, etc. month of July for us at the Steiny house! After our trip to Utah my sister, Jeanette, and our nieces Tiffany (2 years) and Katrina (1 year on August 8th) came up to stay with us for three whole weeks! We had alot of fun (and Aunt Michelle learned how unbaby proof her house is). We swam at the pool, hung out with friends, went to yard sales, made some yummy food and ice cream (can you say blueberry cheesecake?), worked in the yard, BBQed, story time at the library, read tons of books, took short naps & giggled, cried, smiled, kissed & sqeezed! It was alot of fun and I hope we make it a tradition!! We just won't do it the same week that Aunt Michelle has a show!!!

The Count Down Begins

Music Man is going to be performing next week!!! (July 24th & 25th for those of you who would love to see some community theater.....that's really far away!). I feel like I've been working on this show (I'm directing it - CRAZY WOMAN THAT I AM!!!) for years and on the other hand I feel like I've been working on it for three days (the reality is about two months). We are in the final stretch of rehearsing where we are starting to run through the entire show. It's hot, I'm stressed and feeling the pressure! There hasn't been a musical community theater production here since the 80's (they cut drama from the high school and that ended that - glad to keep our losing football team though!) and I think everyone has really high expectations...can I meet those? The Dr. Lewis quote has been boring into my brain over and over "If a show goes well the audience congratulates the actors. If the show goes badly the audience blames the director." - AAAAAAH!!! I feel like my brain has been fried and is fizzling out of my ears & my cast - they need encouragement, excitement, pep, wise words from their director who is wondering how the captain of the Titanic felt before they hit the iceberg.
Now, to make things clear I understand that not everything can be perfect and my cast is trying their hardest (community theater isn't suppost to be perfect-that's what makes it fun to go to) and I think they have made really good strides and have improved greatly. I know that the show will be fine and people will like it and others will hate it and life will go on, but two questions:
1. The director encourages the cast - who is going to encourage the director?
2. Has anyone else poured their heart, soul, time, effort, money, sanity into a project and wondered right before they finished "what the hell did I get myself into" and wondered if they are going to get out alive?
Anyone?
Now, don't get too worried about me. I'm mainly venting for my own stress relief. There is nothing like a challenge with something that you are not fully proficient on to point out all of your weaknesses (I only took two directing classes in college and directing a musical vs. play are two greatly, large, different, furry monsters).
Oh boy do I have weaknesses!!!

Our Summer Trip!

I'm very late at posting this, but better late than never right?
We were able to have a fabulous whirl-wind vacation in Utah and brought back a few souviners!
We celebrated my Mom's birthday with a delcious dinner at Johnny Carino's and some yummy French vanilla birthday cake! We played at the new playground at Majestic Elementary and watched Katrina walking and Tiffany talking (and singing - the reptoir includes: "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" & "Old McDonald's Farm E-I-E-I-E").
Tiffany & I (Ryan was there too, but I don't think I would admit it) went to East High and got some "High School Musical" pics. You can buy a map for a buck and it will show you every locker, room & hall that they used in the movie. I touched Zac Efron's locker!!!!
We then headed to Bear Lake with Ryan's family & had a blast. Minature golf, dinners, pools, hot tubs, tubing in freezing cold water, suckers, games, singing & learning that carcinogens produce cancer and you DO NOT want to get "Dumping Disease" (My sis-in-law Jana is studying for her registered dietician test and I helped her with flash cards).
We came back for the fireworks & popcicles! It was Caiden, Katrina & Tiffany's (first time she wasn't too scared to watch) first firework show. For those of you who are wondering why you are looking at a brightly lit ladder. We found that lighting the fireworks atop a ladder provides a more entertaining effect as everything sprays down instead of just popping off the ground.
We also got to meet, for the first time, Ben & Ruth's little one - Cooper James Shelton - so sweet!! He really enjoyed the motorcycle noises that Ryan made...very soothing sound for a Shelton boy.
We had so much fun in Utah we brought some of the party back with us. Jeanette, Tiffany & Katrina came back up with us and will spend a few weeks up here.
More pictures to follow!!!