Happy Birthday, Aunt Carol

Today would have been Carol’s 54th birthday. So many wonderful memories. I know the last show she saw me in was Idol Night at the Karaoke Place and the character I played which is the same as my blog title. In the show, my best friend sang my favorite inspirational song made famous by my favorite artist. The music and lyrics are just perfection. So for Carol:

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains.

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas.

I am strong when I am on your shoulders.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

And yes, Mr. Groban is very high on my ipod shuffle. I would consider it a Christian tune as I would many of my favorite songs by Josh.

Happy birthday to One More Angel in Heaven.

All The World’s A Stage

and all its men and women merely players.

As You Like It (II,vii, 139-40)

I have often been asked what type of stage I enjoy performing on most. In response, I usually state that it depends upon what is being performed. Sometimes, a show is grand in scale and is meant to be presented on a HUGE stage with a HUMONGOUS audience. Other times, a play is more intimate and is meant for a more intimate setting. I have been watching a Josh Groban concert on PBS tonight (after the Yankees were defeated by the Red Stockings). Being pledge drive time, there are frequent breaks and during one Josh was interviewed. He had recently performed at Madison Square Garden: one of the world’s grandest venues. This evening’s taped performance was much more intimate: smaller stage, closer audience (in which he could see the “whites of their eyes”), almost a jam session in front of maybe 100 fans. Once again, I was in total awe. Such talent! Singing in Spanish, Italian, as well as English. Taking lyrics that I have no idea what the translation is yet conveying their message brilliantly. Looking forward to the concert version of Chess coming next week. Although it is a concert version, it will be my first time seeing any version of the cult musical.

WAIT! I think I have gone off an another tangent. Coming up in a few short months is the WCCT’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. This is going to be done at the smaller of the two venues. I think it will be quite interesting to discover how we are going to have the huge flesh-eating Audrey II on a small stage as well as the scenery for Skid Row. Seems like a lot, but if it comes off it will be awesome and I think the intimacy of the smaller, in your face venue will have an even more dramatic effect.

So, although I have kind of given a roundabout answer to my own question, it really does have more to do with the type of production being staged. I like being part of big, theatrical extravaganzas that call for a huge setting. I also am comfortable in a small, intimate space in which you can see the audience and know that there are actually butts in the seats.

Holiday Cheer that Hits With A Bang So Hang… With Fa-La Cool And The Gang

Tonight a group of friends and I went to support a theatre family member who is part of her high school swing/show choir (and her beaming papa as well). I won’t delve too deeply on the performance, but will say that one of the songs deeply touched me. I know I have mentioned the beautiful piece entitled “Believe” from the magical movie The Polar Express sung so majestically by Josh Groban. It has become one of those songs that I HAVE to listen to at least 50 times each holiday season. It speaks of the magic of dreams and how as people grow older they often lose sight of those dreams. But just look in the eyes of a child and often you can see, remember, and believe what it was like to be that young and have that wonder inside. Of course, for some of us that wonder can so easily be reignited or may never have left. I get goosebumps all over just hearing the song everytime. Just a chill runs through my entire body. Maybe those words are trying to tell me something?

The evening also took me back huumanah years to my final holiday concert and the festive medley that the choir sang, entitled Cool Yule. I don’t remember the entire plot but I do remember that Santa (played by your’s truly) and Mrs. Claus had to rap… and I’m not talking about present wrapping here. This was the second time that I had put on the red suit and black boots. In fifth grade, I was the jolly old elf in our elementary Christmas musical Santa and the Snowmobile in which a slick salesman almost convinces Santa to abandon his team of eight tiny reindeer for a gas-propelled vehicle. I do remember doing some improvising as the sound of the snowmobile was not properly cued. I think I gave the cardboard cutout a good swift quick and said to heck with it. This was long before you-know-who or I would have uttered a quick you-know-what.

Children sleeping, snow is softly falling
Dreams are calling like bells in the distance
We were dreamers not so long ago
But one by one we all had to grow up
When it seems the magic’s slipped away
We find it all again on Christmas day

Believe in what your heart is saying
Hear the melody that’s playing
There’s no time to waste
There’s so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside
And give your dreams the wings to fly
You have everything you need
If you just believe

Trains move quickly to their journey’s end
Destinations are where we begin again
Ships go sailing far across the sea
Trusting starlight to get where they need to be
When it seems that we have lost our way
We find ourselves again on Christmas day

Ok… look at those words. Definitely. Not just on Christmas Day.

Believe In What Your Heart Is Saying… What You Feel Inside

It took nearly a day to come up with something intriguing to post for number 200 and it came to me while I was a church going over music that I will be singing at mass Sunday morning. The organist and I were trying to decide on a communion song. While going through our list of possibilities, my focus was drawn to the beautiful “Panis Angelicus.” I have always found it quite challenging yet fun to sing in a language other than English. Our church choir attempts to fumble through Latin pieces a few times a year with varied results. I would love to find a great arrangement of “Pie Jesu” (perhaps from the Andrew Lloyd-Webber “Requiem” that I have found to be my favorite version of the several I have heard). Call me a romantic in the classical sense.

One of my favorite performers is no stranger to singing in different languages. In fact, Josh Groban’s professional debut happened at the spur of the moment and was part of an English-Italian duet.. While employed as a rehearsal singer for the 1999 Grammy Awards, Josh (age 18) was asked to fill in for an ailing Andrea Bocelli on the live broadcast. He performed “The Prayer” with Celine Dion in front of a large audience while millions watched on television. A little luck never hurt anyone.

Almost overnight, the baritone/tenor (critics are still not sure what to classify him; Josh considers himself a “tenor in training”) appeared all over media. He made appearances on the television series Ally McBeal and on several talk shows. Oprah Winfrey named his holiday album, Noel, one of her Favorite Things. He has released a total of 4 solo albums all of which have been certified multi-platinum (selling at least 2 million units) and been featured on other recordings (the soundtracks to A.I. – Artificial Intelligence and The Polar Express). Mr. Groban has also recorded duets with the likes of Charlotte Church and Barbra Streisand. In March 2008, Josh performed the role of Anatoly Sergievsky in a concert version of the brilliant yet little known musical Chess. People may remember the cult 80s song “One Night in Bangkok” that originated in the show.

An excellent performer who is not afraid to challenge himself by going against the norm.

Closer By Josh Groban. Songbook for voice, piano and guitar (chords only). Text language English and Italian. 96 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.306860)
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