I’m exhausted from worrying and over-thinking. Do you ever feel that way?
My life and brain are chaos. A kind of chaos that moving forward, I want to embrace. I love to dabble and try new things. Even at 50 years old, I never want to stop learning, exploring and growing. I’m always hard on myself because I’m not focused on ONE thing. Sometimes I think that’s the only way to be successful? BUT…it doesn’t work for me and in the grand scheme of things, I am successful so why do I worry?
I’m a photographer and social media manager. A perfect example of what I’m saying is that there’s always pressure for my social media platforms to be aesthetically pleasing. I see so many beautiful accounts that every picture is edited exactly the same and there is an overall theme. If mine isn’t or if it’s all over the place, will I lose business? Or would I gain more business if it was?
This year I’m going to test my theory. Instead of fight it, I’m going to go for it. I don’t want to worry if I have the perfect picture or the perfect words. I want to be unapologetically me.
Jungle Theater presents the rolling world premiere of The Wickhams – Christmas at Pemberley now through December 30th!
I love seeing behind the scenes, don’t you? Especially when it’s a story that you wish would never end. The first time I saw Pride & Prejudice, it took my breath away. I wanted to know more, did Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy live happily ever after? Did the rest of the Bennet sisters…Jane, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia? Last year, I was so excited that Jungle Theater continued the story with Miss Bennet. Again, I wanted to know more and thankfully, Jungle Theater delivered!
This year, the story continues withĀ The Wickhams, giving us a peek “downstairs” in the Darcy kitchen, where the servants are preparing for the holidays and the arrival of their guests.
All good things happen in the kitchen, right? š We learn family secrets and more about the complexity of the sister’s relationships and their loyalty to each other. We get to watch young love grow and the beginning of new dreams. We get to see how when someone believes in you and doesn’t hold you back, how your whole world can change and grow.
Roshni Desai – Cassie and Jesse LaVercombe – Brian. Photo credit: Rich Ryan Photography
This show is magical! The theater, the acting, the story. It’s full of love, laughter and the craziness of family dynamics. It’s the perfect way to kick off the holidays!
Itās the middle of the night. She canāt sleep. She lies awake and her demons haunt her. She tells herself over and over to let them go. She prays. She dozes off then jolts awake. The recurring dream. Panic. Sweat. Heart racing fear. She takes in deep breaths trying to slow her heart, she wonders if it might actually beat out of her chest. She tries to swallow, her throat sore from trying to scream. She remembers. She was in the air, flying across the room and thenā¦.the explosion, her body breaking, emotions scattered into tiny pieces. She remembers his hands imprinted on her chest. She wraps her hands around her chest giving herself a hug.
She takes a deep breath and realizes she is still on this journey.Ā
She remembers.
She was.
She is.
She is tenderly picking up each shattered piece, giving it love and putting it back in place. She knows that part of her is stuck in this moment. She is going to heal. She is going to finally release it.
She is finding herself. She is learning to listen to her soul. She is finding HER path.
She is learning to trust herself.
She is in a room with beautiful, inspiring women. She is going to write her story.
Hot Funky Butt JazzĀ cast:Ā Zena Moses ā Ā Marie Laveau star of the show,Ā Messiah MosesAlbert ā young Louis Armstrong, Jeremy Phipps ā Stringbean Russell,Ā Michael Wolfe ā Professor James London, Naa Mensah — Essie.
created by the INTERACT ENSEMBLEĀ
directed by JEANNE CALVIT
music and lyrics by AARON GABRIEL
in collaboration with New Orleansā musicians ZENA MOSES, JEREMY PHIPPS, and EUGENE HARDING
Former Guthrie Artistic Director Liviu Ciulei once said that “a community can be measured by the questions its theater asks.”
That is what I love about the Dowling Studio – Level 9 at Guthrie Theater! Affordable tickets to original shows, many created by our local theater companies. They create art to help us understand and address important questions in our society.
That is exactly what Hot Funky Butt Jazz did. Beautiful, entertaining art while opening our eyes to the challenging beginning of jazz simultaneously reminding us that people with disabilities still face the same struggles today.
Photo Credit: Bob Stacke
Hot Funky Butt Jazz takes place in the early 1900s in Storyville, New Orleans’ infamous red-light vice district where many musicians like Jelly Roll Morton, Buddy Bolden, and Louis Armstrong grew up. The show is fun, full of life and tells the story of howĀ it took strong, tenacious people to stand together against all odds to bring us “hot music” now known as jazz.
The full cast is made up of 50 actors with and without disabilities. As the show ended, I looked at the stage and thought…this is what “normal” really looks like not what society has taught me to believe. How it is up to me, us, the people to work to change the perceptions. I struggle with my own disability and have felt less. I was reminded that I’m not. That it is through our own hard times that we can create change. That diversity is everything. When we watch, listen, and hear the same things over and over, we become robots not people.
The Ordway kicks off their 2018-19 Broadway Series perfectly with the Tony Award-winning musical, Mamma Mia!.Ā Incredible show, cast, and music!
I know most of the world knows the story but here’s a quick overview. š
A cherished story of friendship, love, and family set on a beautiful Greek island where a mother, her daughter, and three probable dads find their way back to each other and just in time for a wedding. The story is told through many of ABBA’s greatest hits like “Dancing Queen”, “Take a Chance on Me”, “Thank You for the Music” and “SOS”.
The all-new Ordway Original production is directed by Martha Banta, the associate director forĀ Mamma Mia!Ā on Broadway; and features choreography by award-winning London-based artist Mitch Sebastian, and a cast composed of a variety of Minnesota talent and national artists.
The mix of the cast was impeccable and it’s always so fun to see local favorites. Ann Michels was meant for the role of Tanya, she inspires me every time I see her on stage. Erin K. Schwab (Rosie) always has such a strong presence bringing life and laughter. Christine Sherrill (Donna) is making her Ordway debut and was part of the national touring production.
I love these ladies! I saw the show last Thursday and I’m still smiling and singing!Ā š¶
Erin K. Schwab, Producing Artistic Director Rod Kaats, Christine Sherrill, and Ann Michels for Mamma Mia!. Photo by Rich Ryan.
Quote from the new Producing Artistic Director, Rod Kaats:
They literally dance their way through life with an irresistible mix of self-deprecating humor and fortitude that makes them nothing less than heroic.
That quotes nails it. That is LIFE.
We are all going to go through hard times, we are going to be afraid, we will have our hearts broken but with friends and family, we can dance, sing and keep our sense of humor.
Now more than ever, it touched my soul seeing three strong women on stage telling this story. A story where woman are fierce and don’t need to “depend” on men. I never thought that would be so relevant in 2018.
Like the Ordway says:
You ABBA-solutely canāt miss this ultimate feel-good summer musical at the Ordway!
You can get your tickets HERE and make sure to check out the Ordway Extras – unique events on different nights!
Dieter Bierbrauer, Christine Sherrill, and the cast of Mamma Mia!. Photo by Rich Ryan.
Patrick Connaghan and Caroline Innerbichler in Mamma Mia!. Photo by Rich Ryan.
Audrey Babcock as Carmen, Stage direction by Fenlon Lamb, Set design by Narelle Sissons, Costume design by Sarah Bahr, Lighting design by Nate Wheatley, Wig and Makeup design by Jason Allen, PHOTO CREDIT: Dan Norman
Experience Carmen under the stars at Mill City Museum! The Mill City Summer Opera is a show that I look forward to every year. It’s such a unique experience. There’s something about being out in the fresh air, in the historic ruins of Mill City watching an opera from the 1830s!
From Mill City Summer Opera:Ā
Among the most famous and performed of all operas,Ā CarmenĀ is a riveting story of love, lust, betrayal, jealousy and murder.Ā Set in 1830s Seville, the gypsy girl Carmen seduces soldier Don JoseĢ away from his post and his beloved MicaeĢla. After luring him to join her and a clan of smugglers, Carmen turns her attention toward the swaggering bullfighter Escamillo. Carmen’s fate is met in the final act when she meets the madly jealous Don JoseĢ outside of the arena.Ā
I love the intensity of this opera. I was completely mesmerized by their voices and the acoustics at the ruins are perfect. Hearing their operatic voices swirl around you and float into the night sky is bewitching.
At first, I found myself reading the words but the passion of the actors quickly pulled me in and I didn’t need them. It’s beautiful when actions, facial expressions, mannerisms can tell you everything.
The show was called due to rain but that made for a memorable evening!
There are only 7 opportunities to see this show! July 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22 and 24. Last night was opening night and tickets sell out fast. There is a rush line beginning each night at 6pm and rush tickets are $35.
Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Time:Ā Performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
Price:Ā Tickets range from $50 to $125 for all nights
Even with the rain, it was so fun to see the final dress rehearsal of Carmen with some of the other Twin Cities Theater Bloggers! You can check out our Facebook page and read other reviews HERE.
error: Content is protected !!
Some posts are sponsored, which means if you purchase, Tracy Blowers may get something in return.
