2020: Shows 5 & 6

Weekday shows in Ardmore!

This week brought some fun to good old Ardmore. I realized as I was writing last week that all the shows I had seen up to that point had been in Texas. Well Oklahoma made a comeback this week.

Show 5: Intrusion, Presented by Murray State College, Brass Ring Center for Performing Arts, Ardmore, OK

I was extremely excited when I saw MSC was bringing this show in. It was an hour long show written and starring Qurrat Ann Kadwani. The show was set twenty years in the future at a time when sexual violence and rape had been eliminated, however a rape was reported, the first one in two decades. Through the show she played eight different characters who were dealing with this crime in various ways. The show has played in New York Off Broadway and was extremely timely, especially with the protests occurring on Broadway regarding a casting choice in the revival of West Side Story. I'm not sure saying I 'enjoyed' the show is the right wording, however, it was extremely well done and informative. She wove narrative with statistics and facts relevant to society today. I have linked the website for the show above if you would like more information about it. I found it to be a very important piece of theatre.

Show 6: Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, Goddard Center, Ardmore, OK

On the complete flip side came Junie B. Jones. This show was part of the Goddard Center's outreach to students and was cast with Ardmore Little Theatre actors. I was able to take 25 of my intermediate/advanced students. It was a nice little brain break for them from the rigor that their class tends to be. I thought the sets were darling and the staging made everything very easy to follow, even for the youngest theatre patron. It was also nice to see so many young faces having the opportunity to enjoy the theatre. My kids were, by far, the oldest there and they were wonderful role models for the little ones in attendance.

Leap of Faith Update

We kicked off rehearsals for Leap of Faith last Thursday. Our first rehearsal was music with the whole company. I'm not terribly familiar with this show, having only seen it once when a friend was in it. When I got the cast recording to review I was pleased to see that it had an all star cast (including Raul Esparza, Kendra Kassebaum, and Leslie Odom, Jr.). The cast is great and I'm getting to work with some of my favorite people so I'm sure it is going to be another fabulous theatre experience. We had our second rehearsal tonight with the two leads. Mark you calendars because it should be a great evening of theatre the first weekend in March!

AMS Drama Update

We went to our second tournament of 2020 over the weekend. I took 14 students (should have been 15, but one got super sick the night before) and 28 events. Of those 19 were in finals and 12 were in the top three. We won sweepstakes, but more importantly the kids acted as a team. There were six newbies (and three broke to finals!) and the old timers showed them the ropes. They supported each other and got excited when their teammates placed even if that meant they didn't. I could not be more proud of them if I tried. We also had an epic 10 minute adventure to the Dollar General across the street! One more tournament and then we are on a two month hiatus where we will focus on perfecting events and getting duets ready to go.

Theatre News

I was going to mention that the Tulsa Performing Arts Center released their 2020-2021 season (which they did and you can check it out with the link), but Lin-Manuel Miranda dropped a doosey of gossip on us today:

Hamilton, filmed at the Richard Rogers theatre and featuring the principals from the Original Broadway Cast, will be in cinema October 15, 2021. It is reported that Disney paid $75 million to acquire the rights for this. I'm excited because this will give many the opportunity to see the show that wouldn't otherwise and it will give everyone the chance to see the OBC (and me the chance to see Daveed Diggs and Jonathan Groff!).

In Next Week's Post

Tuesday: Come From Away with my advanced students (assuming the weather holds out)
Saturday: Third tournament of 2020

2020: Shows 3 & 4

Shows 3 & 4!

This has been a long week! Somehow it is less than a week until February, I'm not quite sure how that happened! It was a busy week in the arts world and I ended up skipping a show because I was exhausted and driving three hours to Granbury, Texas was not on my agenda for Saturday morning, but sleeping was!

Onto the week!

Show 3: The Secret Garden - Outcry Youth Theatre, Addison. TX

So I TRIED to go see this show the weekend before, but they were sold out (awesome for a youth theatre!). I jumped on and grabbed a $10 ticket and drove to Addison on Thursday after my kids' rehearsal. The Secret Garden is set to be revived in a few years on Broadway and it's a show that I've wanted to see for quite some time. Even if it's a youth production I will try my hardest to pick up a show that I want to see because even if the production is awful (this one was not) I can still see whether it is a good show or not.

I was thoroughly impressed with most everything about this show. The theatre was small (around 80 seats I'd estimate). The set was very simple, generally more furniture than actual 'sets' which I love, especially in a small setting. One of the most impressive parts was the cast and by that I mean the sheer volume of them! They double cast almost the entire show with the ensemble being filled by those not on for the main role. As I was reading the program there were kids who had done up to 55 shows with this company. They do seven or eight shows a year based on what I gathered from their website and they do good shows, not just junior or kids shows and they do shows that adult theatres do (Shakespeare in Love is coming soon).

As for the show itself there were things I liked and some things I didn't like. I thought the kids playing Martha and Dickon the night that I saw the show were AMAZING. I loved everything about their performances (except Dickon's mic kept cutting out). I thought the choreography was a little 'big' for the space they were in. It wasn't bad, but it felt a bit overwhelming. Some of the acting was the same way. If you threw these kids on a full size stage rather than a black box they would 1000% kill it.

Overall, it seems to be an amazing program and I will certainly return.

Coming Soon:

The Little Prince: March 20-29, 2020

Shakespeare in Love: April 17-25, 2020

Show 4: Ada and the Engine - Stage West, Ft. Worth, TX

Can I just say how much I love this theatre? Like SO much. I happened upon them last fall on TodayTix when they were producing First Date in conjunction with Texas Christian University.

The theatre is small (about 150 seats) and the seating is more akin to movie theatre seating (read: super comfortable!). In the front they have the Lobby Café where they serve dinner or brunch before the shows, if you make reservations. I have not opted to do this yet, but want to try it soon! They also have a bar and offer desserts from a local bakery at intermission. They are about to start completely redoing the theatre space and I'm excited for the renovations!

I won't lie, when I went to see The Lifespan of a Fact and saw that they were producing Ada and the Engine the title didn't really spark my interest. At one of the performances I saw before the executive director mentioned season tickets and how sometimes you end up seeing a show that you haven't heard of and you end up loving. This was 100% the case for this show!

The show tells the story of Ada Byron Lovelace who is known as the mother of computing. She and Charles Babbage were creating the math for what would turn into binary code...in the 1800s. I love when a show teaches me something and this one certainly did. Ada was the daughter of poet (and philander) Lord Byron. There was so much about this fascinating woman that I didn't know...like all of it.

The set was simple and enhanced the story beautifully. The acting was INCREDIBLE. At the end of the show they did a talkback with the cast and it was hard for me to get them being their characters out of my mind. It was truly phenomenal. There were moments of laughter and moments of tears.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this show and I highly recommend you ALL go see it, especially if you have a kid who likes theatre, history, a little romance, and math! The show runs Thursday through Sunday until February 9. There is a link above so go check this theatre and this show out. I am so impressed that I am going to become a season ticket holder!

Remaining Shows: Thursday, January 30 through Sunday, February 2 and Thursday, February 6 through Sunday, February 9. (Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm)

It also seems they do a few 'pay what you can' shows, which I will be adding to my 'how to see shows cheap' post. :)

Concert 1: Faith Prince - University of Central Oklahoma Broadway Tonight Series

I LOVE FAITH PRINCE. There, I've said it. She's amazing, that's all you really need to know!

But seriously, I saw and met her for the first time about three years ago at a concert called 4 Girls 4 in Broken Arrow. When I started teaching I began going to the Kristin Chenoweth Broadway Boot Camp educator session and Faith is part of the faculty. She is a truly amazing human. She's played really interesting characters and she's been kind of a quirky lead (like Sutton Foster, another favorite). Her road to Broadway wasn't a straight line and she really lived a life complete with a husband and son.

Her show was funny and showcased not only her singing talent, but also her storytelling. I swear I could sit for twelve hours and just listen to her tell stories of her life. She is amazing.

If you ever get a chance to see her I highly recommend. She will be in 42nd Street in Chicago this summer and I plan on jumping on a plane for a day to see her in an actual show!

Showcase 1: Broadway Bound Academy of Dance and Broadway Kids Showcase - Ardmore, OK

Okay this could almost fall into the dance recital category, but they call it a showcase so I will too. These two wonderful programs come together to give the BBAD dancers a chance to perform their competition numbers before their competition season starts. Sprinkled in are solos and group numbers by the Broadway Kids.

I have a bunch of kids in both of these programs and I love supporting my kids and watching them do the things that they love. It's also fun to watch different dance studios realizing the differences in style.

If you have kids' programs in your town, go watch them! Support organizations that encourage kids to be involved in the arts!

Theatre News

OKC Broadway announced their season tonight (I skipped the announcement party because OKC is still a long drive for a school night!). It's a good one! You can get more information here.

In Next Week's Post

Tuesday: Intrusion
Thursday: First rehearsal of Leap of Faith
Saturday: First tournament of 2020

Show Tickets: How to Not Spend an Arm and a Leg

Borrowed photo! The one I want is at school so I"ll replace it tomorrow!

I go see a lot of shows.

I grew up going to see a lot of shows (though not to the extent I do now).

One of the biggest questions I get is how I see shows for cheap. While this is not every way you can see shows for less than face value it is certainly a place to start.

The first thing I would like to say about shows... Don't just plan to see Hamilton. Parents, sure kids want to see Hamilton or Dear Evan Hansen or Hadestown, but start young and expose them to all kinds of theatre. That way they like to go to whatever show it is and maybe are a bit less sad if Hamilton is still too expensive (says the girl who cried walking to her third Broadway show in as many days because she wasn't seeing Hamilton...I get it...I really do).

TodayTix

I learned about TodayTix about three years ago when I was talking to a guy in NYC at a book store pop up in Times Square. We got to talking about shows and he asked if I'd used the app. I said "enlighten me." The rest has been history.

TodayTix works with theatres to sell extra tickets (butts in seats is ALWAYS the goal in NYC). TodayTix is how I buy most of my Broadway show tickets. it is an app and it allows you to purchase tickets in advance (usually max is 30 days, but sometimes more). You have control over how much you want to spend. If I want to splurge a little on a show then I choose a more expensive section. You do not get to choose your actual seats though. After you purchase your ticket(s) you meet a TodayTix agent (in a very identifiable red coat) outside the front of the particular theatre 30 minutes before the show. I have gotten tickets to every show that I have purchased through TodayTix except for one. When I ordered a ticket and they realized they could not fill the order (it was maybe two hours before the show) they called and refunded my money almost immediately. It is a WONDERFUL app

And....they have expanded! They are selling tickets in various larger markets (London, Boston, Chicago, LA) and they have included Dallas/Ft. Worth. This is honestly how I even find out about new shows and new theatres.

The app also allows you to bookmark shows to a list for easy access.

TKTS

If you are in NYC the TKTS is a valid option as well. They usually run 30-50% off and offer a variety of shows. You will not find Hamilton here (or TodayTix...it's still a hot ticket). The drawback to TKTS is that you have to physically go to the booth, stand in line, and you can only purchase for the next show. I'm not a huge fan, but when necessary I will opt for this.

Season Tickets

Purchasing season tickets to a local theatre can be the biggest blessing. My mom and I have been members of our community theatre for 26 years. We have not missed a main stage show in that time. Because of this commitment to the theatre I have been exposed to all kinds of shows I would have never just bought a ticket to. You also save money by buying in bulk. I would say most, if not all, theatres that present a season also offer a season ticket package. Some also do mini packages.

This is also a great way if you are wanting to see the Broadway tours (in small town, southern Oklahoma where I live there are four major tour stops within two hours of my house: OKC Broadway, Bass Performance Hall in Ft. Worth, Winspear Opera House in Dallas, and Dallas Summer Musicals). I have never bought a season package for a Broadway season because it can be expensive and also you generally have to choose a specific date and time and I have commitment issues.

Lottery

Lotteries are generally more prevalent in the big theatre markets (think NYC), but some shows do a lottery when they tour as well...read: Hamilton. If Hamilton is coming near you, there will be a lottery. Download the app and set an alert (I get NYC's alert every day because I like to do the trivia). Lottery prices vary, but if it hasn't changed the Hamilton lottery will allow you to purchase up to two tickets at $10 each...yes...$10 to see Hamilton. When it came to Dallas/OKC/Tulsa I had several friends who won.

Rush Tickets

Rush tickets are my FAVORITE thing ever. Many theatres do rush tickets. Sometimes they are student rush in an attempt to get students into seats, but at the end of the day theatres want butts in seats...selling an $85 ticket for $25 is better than it being empty and getting no money. Call the box offices and ask if they offer rush tickets. OKC Broadway and Winspear in Dallas both do. I have noticed OKC is more widely known than Winspear. I have walked into Winspear several times thirty minutes before curtain and gotten a great seat. Purchasing just one helps with the seats. I have sat dead center 10 rows back (they could have gotten me closer) several times for $25 at Winspear. (PS save your student ID from college....) TodayTix does several of the rush tickets.

Discounts

Many theatres offer student, teacher, military, senior citizen and other discounts. Always ask, the worse they are going to say is no.

Ushering

Many theatres are regularly looking for ushers. I'm not sure if this is still the case, but I know the Civic Center in OKC used to have volunteers for their ushers, you pass out some programs and help people get to their seats and you get to see a show for free. That's another thing to call and ask about.

Pay What You Can

I forgot about this one! I've never taken part in this, but several theatres (Dallas Theatre Center, Stage West) offer performances where you pay what you can. This is an awesome way to get a discount ticket to see amazing theatre!

Don't Be a Snob

This is one of the biggest take aways: don't be a snob. Just because a community theatre is the company producing a show doesn't mean it won't be good. Sure it probably won't have the big name actors or the million dollar sets and costumes, but they will be telling the story and that's the important part. Sometimes you get a dud, but some of the best shows I've seen have been youth theatre productions.

Tours are a wonderful asset if you want to see a professional production that is pretty close to Broadway without going to New York.

Regional professional theatres generally put on a nearly Broadway quality show.

Go support your local middle school or high school even if you don't have a kid at the school. Kids LOVE packed audiences and I PROMISE the theatre department appreciates the ticket sales!

College theatre is also a wonderful way to see a variety of shows with the people we'll all be watching on Broadway in the next few decades...hopefully!

Also, go see a show that you haven't heard of. Read the synopsis and check out a new theatre. So many times I have had a title catch my eye only to find out that the theatre that I'd never heard of is actually doing three other shows that sound really good.

Plan Early and Save

"How do I get tickets to Hamilton?" is always the question I am most asked. Besides the lottery (which is mentioned below) there isn't a 'cheap' way to see Hamilton without some wheeling and dealing. For the most part Hamilton Broadway tickets run $199 per seat. People are still WAY overpricing them and as long as people will pay it they will continue to. I just looked and I could purchase two tickets to Hamilton on Broadway for $199 each, which is a standard ticket price. Granted, they are on the very back row of the balcony, but you're in the room where it happens! That is just for tomorrow though, if you go a little further in the future you can get better seats. Standard tickets are still available. You can buy them face value, they're just more expensive because, honestly, they can. If you want to see Hamilton cut out something from your budget and start a Hamilton jar. It is attainable. I will say the tour has been RIDICULOUSLY high. Looking at those tickets made me ill. It is probably cheaper to fly into NYC, go see the show, and stay the night than to buy some of the tour tickets. If you watch the websites of the theatres where it is playing and you find out when they'll go on sale you can get a decent price. I spent $85ish per ticket to see it at Dallas Summer Musicals last year. My best deal was my tickets in London, though getting there was a bit more than driving to Dallas!

If you want to see a 'mega' show like Hamilton then do it. It's probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. Watch for where it is coming (that sucker will be touring for a long time) and start saving your money. I promise you will not regret it. Hamilton might not be your thing, but if there is something that is then stop buying Starbucks every day or start packing your lunch and GO. In my opinion experiences outweigh 'stuff' every time.

If All Else Fails...

If none of these work for you for whatever reason there are also a ton more professionally filmed shows. Shrek is on Netflix. Newsies is on Disney+. And there is a whole streaming service dedicated to filmed theatre: BroadwayHD (it costs $8.99 a month). The Stage Network is another streaming service that offers theatre content ($4.99 a month).

Do I think that watching a 'live' show on television is ideal? Nope.

Do I think it is a WONDERFUL way to expose my students to theatre when they might never get the opportunity otherwise? Yup.

It's also a way to see bigger name actors or shows that I might have missed or things that haven't been available to me (and to catch up on Shakespeare).

DISCLAIMER: I am advocating for PROFESSIONALLY filmed shows. I do NOT advocate for bootlegs. Those are shows that are filmed by a patron in a theatre. They are usually poor quality and the actors or creatives get no pay for this. Bootlegs are bad! Don't go there!


I hope this helps you be able to attend more shows. Ultimately take these two things away: be open minded and ask questions. Those two things will expose you to some of the most brilliant performances you will ever see.

2020: Shows 1 & 2

Shows 1 & 2!

In an attempt to blog more I'm going to start doing a weekly review. (I mean we'll see how long this lasts...I'm awful at committing to my writing). In this I'll wrap up what's been going on in life as well as a short blurb on anything I've seen since the last post. Wish me luck...

As we sit it is Monday, January 20. I made it 18 days into this new year before I saw a show! I would say that's a record, but it's about normal based on my memories from years past.

Part of the delay this year was because I was LAZY over winter break, I mean I was a lump on a log...and it was awesome!

The second reason is that I returned to school (with students) Tuesday, January 7 and found out that Saturday, January 10 was the Oklahoma Novice State Championship (last year it was in May) so I scrambled to figure out how we could go. Thankfully I have really flexible students, parents, and an amazing administration that let us go. We ended up as State runners up and had nineteen state finalists including two runners up and seven event state champions. For a VERY stressful week it ended up being a very good day!

That brings me to shows 1 and 2.

Show 1: Sarah, Plain and Tall - Butterfield Stage Players, Gainesville, TX

I love this theatre! This is the fourth year my mom and I have had season tickets. I directed a show there last season and I've sent several friends there to audition. It's a darling theatre. Plus it's in an old Carnegie Library complete with a ghost!

Sarah, Plain and Tall is their second show of this season (excluding children's shows). I won't lie I wasn't terribly excited for this show. Contrary to where I grew up and my life as a child all things 'prairie' and 'country' have always been 'meh' to me and Sarah, Plain and Tall was one of those. The production was excellent even though I wasn't a fan of the story. The sets were minimal (which I love) and the acting was fantastic, particularly by Sarah, her brother, and young Anna. There were some plot points left out of this version of the story that I thought shouldn't have been left out. Overall it was a good evening of theatre. They have one more weekend if you would like to see it! Tickets are $15 and I would scoop them up quick as most of the shows last weekend sold out. There is a link above to their website.

Remaining Shows: Friday, January 24 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, January 25 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, January 26 at 2:30 pm

Show 2: The Humans - Denton Community Theatre - Denton, TX

Crystal and I went to the closing of this show on Broadway almost exactly three years before I saw it again. Since I see so many shows on Broadway now it's fun that I'm getting to revisit them either through the tours or through regional productions. The Humans did tour, but I skipped it.

When I saw a community theatre was going to produce it, I won't lie I was most interested in how they accomplished the set. The show takes place in a two story apartment in Chinatown, NYC. You also cannot change that because the set plays a vital role in much of the story. The show takes place on Thanksgiving and is really just the real time account of a family (who we realize is extremely dysfunctional) celebrating the holiday. The set did not disappoint at all (though I was extremely nervous when they were on that second story!). The acting was superb, especially that of Aimee (the sister) and Erik (the father).

This is an odd little show to be quite honest. It won the Tony for Best Play in 2016 (the year of Hamilton) and the performances of the actors was out of this world on Broadway. The thing is you go rocking along and then the ending happens and it leaves you (and me and the majority of the internet) going 'wait...what?' I'm sure there is some metaphor for life or something, but it seems rather disjointed.

Overall, however DCT did a phenomenal job with this piece. The show closed on Sunday, but check out the things they have coming up.

Coming Soon:

Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead: March 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 2020 at the Black Box Theatre in Denton

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (I heart Sondheim!): March 27, 28, 29 & April 2, 3, 4, 5, 2020

Dance Recital/Show 1: The Debbie Show

In the middle of these two I also went to the Debbie Show, which is a fundraiser showcase that benefits the Debbie Collins Dance Fund, Inc which provides scholarships for students to further their dance education. The Debbie Show is a showcase of the SCD dancers' competition pieces which they will begin competing with next weekend. I believe I have nine SCD dancers as students and two little dancers who I would take in if their families ever kicked them out! It was a joy getting to watch my kiddos do what they love.

If you are interested in learning more about the Debbie Collins Dance Fund or the convention they host each year you can find out more here: Debbie Collins Dance Fund

Movie 1: Little Women

Oh yeah, I saw a movie this year! I love Little Women with all of my being. The Winona Ryder version is one of my all time favorite movies. I love the book. When we did the play it was one of my single most favorite theatre experiences. I wasn't exactly in love with the non chronological order of this film, but I thought the characterization and interpretation was wonderful. This film highlighted some of the parts that the previous film did not. I was pleased it was nominated for an Oscar. And I have actually seen more than one of the films on the Best Picture list! I really need to watch Marriage Story...

Coming Soon...

We held auditions for Leap of Faith at Murray State College tonight! It will be my first stage managing gig of the year and is already looking to be a great time with great people!

Theatre News

Dallas Summer Musicals and AT&T Performing Arts Center both announced their Broadway Series this week and they're AMAZING! For more info:

Dallas Summer Musicals

AT&T Performing Arts Center

OKC Broadway announces their season next week and I'm sure Tulsa and Bass Hall in Ft. Worth will be soon after (if I haven't missed them!)

In Next Week's Post...

Thursday: The Secret Garden
Friday: Faith Prince in Concert
Saturday: Father of the Bride and Ada and the Engine
Sunday: Broadway Bound Academy of Dance and Broadway Kids Showcase

2010s: A Decade in Review

I am having too much fun with collages this week...

Peace out 2010s the roaring 2020s are here!

I have been excited about this for years. The 1920s are a decade I would jump to if I could time travel. But before we get too far in to what I am sure will be the BEST decade I want to look back on the 2010s.

A brief summary of each year:

2010: Started off pretty terrible, but quickly rebounded with my acceptance into grad school. I also joined the Junior League of Norman and got more involved at CrossTimbers. I also had an EPIC birthday party and I learned about how to work a swimming pool. I went to NYC for Christmas and got snowed in and went on my first Broadway stage. A bunch of my favorite faces were born.

2011: I turned 30 and lost my mind deciding I was going to move to New York. I didn't, but I thought about it. CrossTimbers kept me in Oklahoma. There were some devastating losses that year that I'd rather not go into because the wounds are still fresh. I was asked to be a chair for JLN and was chosen as Community VP for the next year. I went to DC and NYC and marked some things off my bucket list. And I saw New Kids of on the Block again.

2012: I finished my Masters. I finished a half marathon (I walked, I don't run...if you see me running you should probably run too actually). I got REALLY involved at CrossTimbers and it completely became my second home...or my first home depending upon who you asked. I had to make the agonizing decision to resign as Community VP for JLN, but was then asked to be on the Board for Bridges. CTCare started. Oh and my job moved from DHS to OMES.

2013: The beginning of what I call the worst twenty-four months of my life. It started out with my car getting totaled, which in the grand scheme of things wasn't that bad. I made a new friend because of it. I got a promotion. Then May 20 my life, along with so many people I loved, was turned upside down by a devastating tornado ripping through Moore, OK. Several families from CT lost their homes and nearly everyone else had damage. I got to run the church for a few days while Chris and Jenn were tending to their devastated home and neighborhood. There was point over the summer where a friend told me she thought the light would never come back to my eyes. And then it did. Through the devastation I finally learned what true contentment was. Also, the deaths started: two of my sweet youth group girls lost their grandmothers. I also went to NYC to end the year.

2014: I was optimistic for 2014 because I didn't think it could possibly get worse. Never, ever say that. Very quick recap: Chris was reassigned, a youth group member died, CT chartered, the Dodsons moved, CT changed, and we had our first CT funeral, which devastated everyone. Through this I learned that I grieve through caring (it was so appropriate that I ran a ministry called Care). My job through all of this was to care for the people and I did it like my life depended upon it and at times, I think it did. I even thought about going to seminary for a brief while. Things kept not fitting in my life. Things that seemed a no brainer just didn't happen. I was passed over for a few jobs and positions in organizations and I didn't understand why, but by the end of the year it became clear that all of this was a set up because life was about to change, drastically.

2015: Once again, it couldn't be worse than 2014, right? Let's see...I did half marathon #2. And then my house flooded...three times. I moved in with the Parkers for a month and then moved home for a month while my house was being finished. The part I didn't anticipate was staying. There was a time in my life where someone from my past said that I wouldn't do something and I did in anyway out of spite and ended up a shell of myself. This time I let life happen as it wanted and I moved back to Ardmore. I auditioned for a play and got a good part and my love for theatre was reignited.

2016: The year of Hamilton. I say that somewhat in jest, but also with complete sincerity. In 2015 my friend Whitney went to see it the day after it opened and that was long before any of the buzz started in Oklahoma, but something told me it would be special. I decided I was going to see it, even though tickets were next to impossible to get. It was meant to be so I would go to New York and I would win the lottery. But I didn't. And I cried. A lot. I did, however, see what would become one of my all time favorite musicals: Finding Neverland. I got home and decided to pull the plug and spend the money and go see the original cast before they were gone. I won't lie, it was a lot of money, but it was worth every penny because it taught me that New York isn't that far away and I can hop on a plane whenever I want and I'm there. I also knew from the first note and light cue that theatre was my life. At that moment I thought I was going to move to New York and be a stage manager (I was SMing Mary Poppins at the time), but then the director at Bridges resigned. I emailed and asked what had happened because she LOVED her job and she taught me more about non profits than any class could. She said that she had been there about ten years and she loved the organization so much that it was time for her to step aside so someone with fresh eyes could help it grow to what it had the potential to be. Whoa. This made me rethink everything, especially living in Ardmore. What if I went back to Norman as the director of the non profit I love? It was a fleeting thought, but one that reminded me how much I love teenagers and that they HAD to be part of my life. (In the literary world they call this foreshadowing). Mary Poppins brought the best people into my life who are still there today. In the fall I got the opportunity to start tap dancing again with an instructor who saw my ability and encouraged it: giving me the confidence to walk into a studio in New York and take a class and by putting me in a duet with him at our recital, the day we opened, which is one of my favorite memories. In 2016 I went to New York four times, DC once, and left on a cruise. I also started counting shows (52).

2017: Started on a boat in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. I really hate cruises by the way. I went to New York three times and Chicago once. I saw Hamilton twice and bought tickets for 2018 in London. I saw Wayne Brady as Aaron Burr. I had a canceled flight that turned into an adventure with strangers and a Telecharge angel. I saw all the shows nominated for a Tony for Best Musical before the Tonys and almost went to the Tonys. I came back from New York in June to a job that I hated and the epiphany that I wanted to be a teacher. I came up with a five year plan which turned into about a five week plan that was really a a five day plan when you got right down to it. I took a huge leap of faith and totally changed careers from an IT supervisor with a big paycheck to a humble middle school drama teacher who budgets well. The pay cut was completely worth it and was the embodiment of everything I realized the summer before. I made some new friends and staged managed a perfect show: Little Women. I went on a school trip to Denver which was amazing and had a perfect weekend a few weeks later. There was about a month in there that was as close to perfect as I could imagine at the time. The end of the year was a bit bumpy though and I ended up seeing 78 shows.

2018: Not my favorite. The year started bumpy and only got worse. Dear friends almost lost their five month old. Some 'friends' showed their true colors. I tried to get over sadness in New York and for the first time ever it didn't work. I became close to some amazing teenagers. I reconnected with some old friends. But I was still sad so I lumped all my personal days together and went to London. I was at the opening of one of my favorite plays: Children of a Lesser God starring one of my favorite actors, Joshua Jackson. I flew to London and saw a little bit of a lot of things. My flight got canceled in the middle of the night and I had to rebook and ended up with a layover in Shannon, Ireland, aka, that two hours when no one in the world knew where in the world I was. It was liberating. Over the summer I went to New York with Crystal and saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I went to Florida. I went to Denver. I started stage managed Crazy For You which started a six show streak of working shows. I met lots of new people and I saw 65 shows.

2019: I just wrote about this one a few hours ago, but the short version. People showed their true colors, some were beautiful and some were ugly. I have distanced myself from things and people that are toxic for me. I learned to act in love first and foremost. I directed a show. My kids won a state championship. I reconnected with old friends. I made new friends. I struggled with mental health and lived to tell the tale. I challenged my students and they rose to the occasion. I learned who my real friends were. I had an unforgettable and amazing summer. I had a perfect day. I went to New York three times. I saw 78 shows.

The 2010s were a lot. I have told people that I'm like a cat and have had multiple lives and it's true. Just looking at what happened in these ten years shows at least three completely different groups of people and jobs. Some other big stats:

• I started a blog (four actually...)
• I got pink highlights
• Then got almost all pink hair
• And got purple once
• I learned about lipstick
• I got glasses
• I completed a marathon (in two halves...three years apart...and I walked...but it counts!)
• I learned to travel alone...and found out I love it
• I met a lot of people
• I cried a lot
• I didn't cry a lot
• I lost people
• I gained people
• I heard hundreds of stories
• I learned a lot
• I was impacted by people
• I inspired people (all your counts make my heart happy!)
• I made the best friends
• I traveled

And most importantly, I FINALLY started living MY life, not the one that everyone else lives. My life is not a beautiful, perfectly decorated sugar cookie, it is a no bake throw everything in the bowl and enjoy what come out avalanche cookie...which is a good thing, because those are my favorites! My life is not where I thought it would be as we start 2020, but there's not a moment that I would go back and change if it meant that I didn't end up right where I am. I look forward to the future and wonder what I will be typing ten years from now when we embark on the 2030s.

PS

During the 2010s I bought a whole bunch of hair tools and finally, last night, on the last day of the decade, I figured out a styling method I love...with a curling iron. :D

LOVE: 2019 Year in Review

my top nine...not the photos the website chose, but the ones I chose...

I swore I wasn't going to do this. In fact, I had copied some of the words from my theatre statistics year in review and was just going to use that, but then I started adding things and this seemed a more logical choice. Last year I wrote about every month in a separate post, this year I won't. For a few reasons: first, it is late on New Year's day and I don't want to write that much; second, there are some parts of 2019 I would rather not revisit, not because they were bad, but because they were really good and that makes me more sad than if they were bad, and finally, to say some things and keep them as vague as possible to protect the innocent, or guilty.

Since 2015 I have had a word of the year. In order they were: home, free, dance & inspire (that year was a two-fer), trust, and for 2019: love. When this word was put on my heart I was scared out of my mind. I always THINK I know what will happen with the word, but I'm NEVER right and I could have never imagined what would come from the year of love...

So many parts of 2019 were amazing. I took another trip with Alfred to Serenbe and this time we landed at the Human Rights Museum (which is amazing, you should go if you're in Atlanta). I went to New York three times and saw fourteen shows on Broadway and one Off Broadway. I saw a total of 78 different productions and a grand total of 140 shows, movies, concerts, and showcases (with repeats). I made new friends and met people who will be parts of my life forever. One of the best parts of the year was reconnecting with old friends. My class reunion was this year and while the event itself wasn't necessarily the place of reconnection it was a catalyst for some friendships. I stage managed two musicals and directed my first mainstage play. I took my kids to four tournaments (up from one the year before) and we won the first ever Oklahoma Novice Speech and Debate State Championship. This school year we're already up to three tournaments and we've placed as a team at both that did sweepstakes. I rearranged my classes and curriculum for a much more streamlined and rigorous approach and the kids rose to the challenge. And I had an amazing summer.

There were some low points though. Two organizations that I love with all of my heart made decisions which made me question their integrity and made me chose to walk away, at least for now. I am still associated to a point, but not actively at this time. When making these decisions I knew they had to be made out of love. That was my word of the year and it became very clear how it would be used throughout the year. A main purpose was choosing my love for people and my integrity over what the status quo deemed acceptable. I stood up for friends and strangers in the name of love, sometimes very loudly with a lot of words and sometimes very quietly or with no words at all, but simply by action. Unfortunately, as I write this, nothing as changed within either organization and I go into 2020 distancing myself further.

I also experienced some loss this year. Thankfully it was not due to death or anything of that nature, but that did not change how much the loss impacted me. I realized that some people who I thought were tried and true friends, in fact, were not. Some people that I thought would always be around suddenly were not. I have experienced this before, but for some reason the loss this year was emotionally devastating. Some of these people I would welcome back into my life without hesitation and some I feel it is for the best that we are no longer what we were. I cherish the memories, so much so that sometimes it aches, but I know that how life has shaken out was for the best.

Probably the hardest part of this year was 31 days in July and August. Early in July some things started to trigger my anxiety, but it quickly sorted itself out and I recovered. I had another trigger day and was thrown into a month long anxiety attack. I have anxiety every day, the constant sense of worry about this or that, but that month was something more. I worry that when I tell people who have anxiety about it that my anxiety won't be good enough and maybe it isn't actually anxiety at all (FYI: this is a CLEAR sign of anxiety). That month was the worse I have been mentally in years. I talked to a friend who was with me before I began managing my anxiety and he said I sounded like I did back then, but with one difference: I recognized what was going on so at least I wasn't floating in thin air not knowing what would happen next.

If you have never dealt with anxiety to this magnitude I'm going to try to explain it. This is more than worrying if you turned your curling iron off or if you forgot something at a hotel. Things like that happen all day every day and I've learned to live with them. Heck, the general sense that the sky is falling is a normal emotion I deal with all day, but that month I felt like I was going to explode from the inside out. I physically felt as if every ounce of dread was going to cause me to blow up. And there were times I did. My emotions were so out of control that all I could do was scream or erupt at the people around me. I tried my best to make my apologies when I was in a more reasonable frame of mind, but if you don't understand what is going on then the apology probably feels insincere. For this month I cried all the time because that was the only way that emotion could get out. I spent hours talking to close friends and reasoning out the tiniest of details of things that had been going on. Cognitively I knew I was fine. My brain was well aware that this would pass, but emotionally I didn't think I would ever be 'normal' again. I felt like this was going to be my new normal and I was descending back to a very dark place that I had been in before and that I had fought like hell to get out of. I was so afraid I would never claw my way back out and that nothing would ever be okay again.

And then, just as suddenly as it started, it was over. One day I am having terrifying emotions and the next day I am back to my happy, though anxious, self. There wasn't anything that changed from day to day, it was just time for it to be over. The chemicals in my body sorted themselves back out and I was normal again. The part that scares me is how quickly it started and how terrible it was. I am dreading next summer worried that those trigger days will cause this to happen again. The triggers are things that I have to deal with for the rest of my life and I worry that I won't be able to handle them. Now, the odds are in my favor that this summer was a fluke, but I will be hyper vigilant in the event I creep into that place again and I have some precautions in place to deal with it.

Once school started and my anxiety hangover dissipated I was back into the swing of school. I still don't quite know what I did in a past life, or this one, that allowed me to be so lucky to have the job that I have. I honestly, truly love it. There are some days and some precious angels that make me question my sanity, but overall I wouldn't trade it for anything. I look back on the person I was a few years ago and man this was the best leap of faith I've ever taken.

2019 was full of ups and downs and I'm not sad to see it go. I thank it for the good times and the lessons and I release it to history with all the others. On to the roaring 2020s. I see some big things on the horizon and I can't wait to see what all happens.

PS
My 2020 word of the year is believe.