The last show of “Miracle on 34th Street” ended the 2009 season for the Williams County Community Theater. Next year’s season starts in February with tryouts this week.

I’m facing a small problem. The only show I’m interested in for 2010 is the very first show. This would mean that I start practices shortly after finishing my last show. I really would like some time off, but I don’t want to spend a complete season away from acting.

So some time before tomorrow or Thursday, I will be making this decision. I’m willing to hear arguments on both sides of this to help with this time consuming activity.

I have always loved this holiday special although it has not been aired for years.  I just found the entire special listed on youtube.  Here is my favorite piece.  Happy Holidays!

Came across this funny rendition of the Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody the other day.  I don’t know about you, but the Muppets always make me smile!

I don’t know the original source for this picture, as it is just an ImageShack posting:

I am a fan of many of the wordpress blogs, especially those written by my wonderful friends here on tangents.org.  But recently, I came across a previously undiscovered (to me)  blog that is right up my alley, and I was surprised to find out that it’s a wordpress blog: designingzoos.com – does that sound like my cup of tea or what?!?

This woman blogs blogged (she hasn’t written since July – disappointing!) about her job, which is far from boring – she designs zoos, aquariums, theme parks, etc. for a living!  My dream job calling?  Well, not really, I’m working my dream job taking care of my 4 wonderful kids.  And besides, zoo designers sometimes have to compromise their grand zoo visions, and they go to a lot of meetings.  But it’s certainly fun for me to read about zoo design!  I found this site while researching the history of  Brookfield  Zoo near Chicago, a place I was quite familiar with as a kid.  I ended up finding this, which is a re-design master plan map of the zoo.  If you are at all familiar with Brookfield Zoo, you might find it interesting, along with this designingzoos.com blog post about the proposed map.  Many other zoos have re-design master plans, but unfortunately, these plans are forced to be nothing but pipe dreams while this economy has forced zoo visits to be much lower on the priority list for many families.

WOW!  This show is definitely number two on my list!  The audience reaction each show gets better and better!  We had 124 in the audience for a Sunday matinee which is tremendous!  The boos get better and better each time!  “We love to hate your Potter!”

After the curtain, we had our cast photo taken then we had to make room for another school concert tomorrow night by moving the sets and props backstage.  We also had to take the steps leading from the stage into the house.  Poor “Clearance” missed the low ceiling sign and whacked himself on the lip of the stage. OUCH!

I also learned of next season’s attraction.  It starts in March with Curious Savage. I told Dawn (who is directing and has been involved with each of the three shows I have been in this year) that I would love to try out but it conflicts with my nephew’s Confirmation… sorry, Dawn.

Just in time for Halloween, the Village Players are presenting the immortal Hound of the Baskervilles.  Perhaps we can encourage another Holmes fan to audition for that… hint, hint.  I know I am anxiously awaiting that one!

Finally, the TENTATIVE Holiday production will be Babes in Toyland.  That would be a LOT of fun.

So… lots coming up.  But first… the second week of It’s A Wonderful Life.  Still not too late to check out the final three shows.  Thanks again to the fantastic cast, crew, and director and the fabulous audiences!

The show has ended. We had a wonderful audience for the last show. I think that all of our audiences were able to watch a good show.

With the number of people in this show, the number of character changes and the amount of heat backstage made this show very tiring. I know I lost weight during this show. I don’t recall being so tired after any show, but it really is a good tired. We worked hard to put on the best show we could. From the very youngest actor, to our most experienced we put out an effort for this show. It was wonderful working with this group.

Miracle on 34th Street will go down in my book as one of the best shows I’ve been associated with.

When I was growing up, my parents pretty much operated as a pair, and my dad worked outside the home.  Therefore, I only remember two times when he was left in charge – the time I went missing and the time I watched the movie Poltergiest.

Both incidents occurred when I was 4 or 5.  My dad was having a meeting with someone I didn’t know (think it was an insurance guy), so I didn’t want to come in the house from playing and walk past the scary insurance guy because I was a really shy kid.  So I waited for him to leave, and I waited, and I got sleepy, and next thing I know I’m waking up in our little red wagon in the dark garage and my sister is there saying, “I found her!”  My parents had the neighbors all out canvassing the neighborhood calling my name, and so my babysitter came over afterward and I remember showing her how I had just learned to tie my shoes.  My parents probably don’t remember the incident in quite the same light…

As for the other time, somehow my sister and I were allowed to watch the classic 80’s horror movie Poltergeist even though we were both under the age of 10.  If you haven’t seen the movie, then you wouldn’t know about the terrifying clown scene that takes place in a kid’s bedroom.  My favorite stuffed toy at that time just happened to be a Ronald McDonald doll, which was no longer the case after I saw that movie.  The Ronald McDonald doll went into the basement, and a few years later, I decided I was over it and went to look for my old friend.  But he was gone, and when I asked my mom about it, she said that she had put him out for Amvets since I had decided I was done with him.  But I had trouble explaining that I wasn’t done with him; he was just on probation!  So I felt badly, but it was probably nothing compared to how my dad felt when mom found out we watched Poltergeist…

So anyway, I was thinking about my Ronald McDonald doll after seeing Mr. McDonald in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, so I decided to look it up on the internet.  If you ask me, you can’t really  blame a kid for being scared and banishing this thing to the basement:

Before the curtain went up on night two of the play, I got to watch the hilarious escapades of Paul Blart: Mall Cop.  The film finds officer wannabe and quite agile mall security man Paul Blart (Kevin James of “The King of Queens”) up against a group of high-tech robbers on Black Friday.  I must congratulate the writers of the piece for setting the action at the end of the busiest shopping day of the year… what a coup that would be!  The bad guys take a number of hostages including the object of Paul’s affection.  The security officer takes it upon himself to not only defend and protect his mall but also rescue the hostages.  Several laugh out loud moments abound.  I also loved the use of 80s tunes throughout, including “I Can’t Hold Back” by Survivor.  I also found Paul’s “Detroit Rock City” on Guitar Hero very entertaining.  A hilarious movie that was a much more family oriented take on Die Hard.

Night two It’s a Wonderful Life was great!  Dan and Carla were up from Sandusky.  After the show, Dan told me that I rivaled Lionel Barrymore (who originated the role  in the classic movie).  Quite a compliment from someone who watches the film annually.  Over 100 people were in the audience so while only filling about a third of the seats, a great turnout.  For some reason, I got more boos at curtain call that night one.  And several audience members told me how evil my performance was.

After intermission, there was a drawing for a free ticket to a show next year (something that was forgotten Friday night… sorry).  I could have sworn that the name ShelBY Shaffer was announced.  However, two things are wrong with that.  One, I don’t think she could win since she is part of the show.  Two, she did not sign up for the draw.  The winner was ShelLY Shaffer (no relation).

So for a good time… check out Paul Blart: Mall Cop and come to one of the final four productions of It’s a Wonderful Life.  Incidentally, I did watch the last half hour of the movie after returning from the performance.

In a “been there, done that” moment for my fellow bloggers I have finally added some events to countdown to this site.  Enjoy.