View From the Stage

I FINALLY Met Blake B!! You rock Blake!

So this past Friday I saw Spring Awakening from the stage seats. It was good, but it was flat. My apologies for having to say this, cast if you are reading this sorry, but it was really flat but it could have been the fact that I was on stage. Even though I enjoyed the unique view and interaction of the cast with the members of the stage audience, I got more from the show in my third tear Balcony seats on Wednesday then I did when I saw it on stage. I was really excited because I thought some of the high energy numbers would totally rock from the on stage but it just didn't feel that way.

ENOUGH! With the negatives. Onto the unique perspective. The cast did an amazing job watching each other for cues as well as making eye contact with the stage audience. It was allllll personal now. Our seats just happened to be the ones against the wall the scale a few times in the show. That made for an interesting few scenes. Hanschen scaled it and so did Melchior. It was fun though. I think the thing that I am most appreciative of with my stage seats was the music and the voices. The strings in this show are so beautiful and often used as undertones while the heavier guitars and drums are played over. However, we were sitting right in front of the strings and it was the most beautiful sound I have heard in a long time. The haunting sounds of the boys singing background in 'Touch Me' was beautiful and sent chills down my spine as they were singing in my ear. And the story, while many dispute that it is old and everyone goes through these things this is not different, it is amazingly beautiful and awakening. I think it's a timeless tale that needs to be told and needs to be seen by adults today. *I wrote all of this in my 15 page research paper for my final theatre credits for my minor.*

So there are my thoughts. Send your questions and I'll answer them. I will leave you with some pics from the cast that were so kind to sign our playbills, answer our questions, and take pictures with us post show. BTW Spring Awakening Tour cast you win for the most cast members coming out after a show. I don't think in all the Broadway Stage Doors I have stood at, there has been a turn out like yours. You guys rock and were fantastic! I appreciate all the hard work you all have done and great job to Jake as Melchior, I know you have been going through tons of rehearsals but you were great.
Thanks all!

Steffi D was an amazing Ilse!

Jake Epstine was awesome as Melchior!

"And all shall know the wonder..of purple summer."

Upon a recent and amazing trip into Philly to see Spring Awakening the Musical with two fabulous ladies the question arose: Why end the show with Song of Purple Summer?" Now We are talking to people who have seen the show 3-4 times. This was my second time and tonight on stage will be my third. However, I think Wednesday night was the first time I actually understood why Sater and Shiek end the show with Song of Purple Summer. Part of it has to do with Ilse's monologue before the song and part of it has to do with the quote that follows by Steven Sater.

"Then, perhaps there is something in the nature of song itself that opens the door to story—that admits us to the heart of the singer—as if every song tells of a sort of unacknowledged "I want." For what we sing is what is unspoken, what is hidden. The "real story."" ~Steven Sater TCG article found here http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/julyaugust07/spring.cfm

Ilse's Monologue: Listen to what's in the heart of a child. A song so big in one so small. Soon You will hear where beauty lies. You'll hear and you'll recall. The sadness and doubt of the loss, the grief will belong to some play from the past. As the child leads the way to a dream of belief. A time will hope through the land. (not sure on the last line)
You can hear it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyLCfHqWGOY

A summer's day a mother sings
a song of purple summer
through the heart of everything
and heaven waits
so close it seams
to show her child the wonders
of a world beyond her dreams
The earth will wave with corn
the days so white so warm
and mares will neigh
with stallions that they mate
foals they've born
And all shall know the wonder
of purple summer

Why end with this song?
I think this song has the hint of what the Lion King was going for with Circle of Life. Song of Purple Summer is a song about the course of life and hope for a better future. We are always told that children see things very differently than adults. That having a Child's heart and seeing with a Child's eyes is the only way to view the world for what it really is. It is beautiful and mystifying. We have just witness a lot happen to characters that are still considered children in their world. They are barely 14 years old. We have just watched they be engulfed by the world around them and defy the world around them.

This song speaks about how things change and the hope they things will change for the good or for the better. It is the pefect song to give us closure after we hear the haunting song of Melchior, Wendla, and Moritz telling us that remembering those we have lost will help up to go on.

That's all I got for now. I'll post more when I decide to get more philosophical about it!
Until Thoughtful Days,
Me

Lines, Vines, and Trying Times

Tomorrow is a HUGE day for me! Well only huge because I have so much going on!

Tomorrow, I will be waking up early to head out and purchase a copy of the NEW JONAS BROTHERS CD LINES VINES AND TRYING TIMES!!! The guys are growing up and their music is becoming more versatile and awesome! One of my favorite songs on the new album is the song that appeared in the credits of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian called Fly With Me. It has one of my favorite set of lyrics that go like this:

We'll chase the stars to lose our shadow
Peter Pan and Wendy turned out fine
So won't you fly with me

You can check out that music video right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un-KTpvCPXo&feature=channel_page

Post Jonas cd buying craziness, I am going to pick up a few summer reading books for PLEASURE! FINALLY I CAN READ FOR PLEASURE!!! First on the list, The Jane Austen Book Club *the movie was AWESOME* and second on the list is whatever the cutest guy at the book store recommends to me. haha

Then I have to have a HUGE conversation with my dad. A HUGE scary conversation about growing *gulp* up. But this is a good growing up. A relocating growing up. I put together a budget and I have been sending out resumes like crazy and getting no response. So I have decided that if I do not have a job by the end of August I want to move to Orlando to work for The Walt Disney World Resort full time and work my way into a position that I can love. I had the time of my life down at Disney and I feel like I can grow so much there because I am passionate about making people's dreams come true. Be aware that I will have to start at the bottom making a mere $7-9 an hour but I will be getting benefits and will probs pick up another job. But not only am I talking to him about relocating, I'm talking to him about relocating and investing in a house. Because he slightly mentioned that he might want to relocate to Florida if he can't find a job here as well. He saw some nice jobs in Florida he would like. So I'm nervous, but I am confident and I have my list of topics. Wish me luck!

Hopefully I will be able to meet up with friend for coffee and enjoy the rest of the day. Then wednesday it's relaxing time before an awesome night at the Phillies! Life is Beautiful.

Oh! I have three blogs*crazy I know* but on my main Wordpress blog I have added a widget that if you click on it and watch the 1 minute video, you can support the charity To Write Love On Her Arms. This is something very near and dear to my heart for a number of reasons so I hope that you guys can go over and check it out. Make sure to click next and to leave a comment for me letting me know you stopped by! http://thekeenanator.wordpress.com

Until Jonas Day!!!
~Me

Random Ramblings

I'm going to post something real quick because I have a lot on my mind:

1. He's Just Not That Into You

When the book came out and my cousin was reading it, I read a bit of it. I really, really hate that book. I think it's horrible. The only way you learn about relationships and whether or not a guy is into you is by actually doing. Some people are lucky with relationships, others not so much. But you can't learn about relationships by a self help book. I hesitate to say all books because I think some novels can show us the way gals and guys should act towards each other. But again, the only way you find out what works for you is by learning....each person is different. We all find love in different ways.
The movie was like the story of my life. I could relate to a lot of the characters. Whether it was being a friend or a certain relationship or knowing someone who is obsessive over whether or not a guy calls her or not I have witnessed. I think it was a decent movie. My fave relationship was the Affleck/ Aniston relationship because it was cute and that's the kind of guy who is right for me...so I think. But yeah probs give it a B.

2. My Best Friend's Girl
~The movie with Dane Cook, Kate Hudson and that guy from American Pie

I thought this movie was pretty good. However, the ending SUCKED. Seriously? I was laughing because I could not for the life of me believe that they were serious about the ending. I dunno, like movies where people find themselves in going through a series of events. That is real life. Not fairytales. Yes, some people don't change, in fact, most people probably don't change. But the thing is People are affected by situations, relationships, events and life in general. Change or "growth" as my friend calls it, happens.

3. On The Way Down by Ryan Cabrera

I know that I am a little late on this boat, but I realized that this song was about Ryan's being "saved". He had said in an interview that in one of his darkest times he found God and then he wrote a song about it. Pretty sweet. I'm always down for musicians that write songs about God. Here I thought it was about something else. Alas, I am a huge fan of Ryan and I am happy to have made this discovery. It really makes me put more perspective into his music. I have all but his latest CD and I love just about all of his songs! so..that was my discovery of the night! yay!


That's all! Please feel free to discuss any of your opinions about these things with me! Thanks!
~Me~

Slow Summer Days

So far this summer has been slow and I have been feeling lazy. I'm not sure how I feel about this or what to do about it. I LOVE reading, but I feel like if I sit down to read a book for a few hours I get fat and lazy. I want to finish writing my story, but again the whole sitting around for a few hours makes me feel fat and lazy. I am trying to find a job but I mean, it's hard right now, everywhere.

So a Plan:

I may start taking day trips to different places. Coffee shops, Philly, random fairs and festivals, Delaware, Maryland, Anywhere really. It's either that or find a temporary summer job, but those are really hard to find too. I was thinking about taking bartending lessons, but I'm not sure how I feel about that either. I just want to get out.

I am uneasy about doing things alone. I am a firm believer in having people around you all the time. However, I really don't have any friends at home. At least this summer. It's stinky. I guess this is growing up. I don't really like it. I'm actually jealous of my little sister who is graduating high school who still gets to see her friends everyday and make plans and everything.

Oh well, this is just growing up.

Off to read. I'll post a review of the book when I'm done