The Secret Garden @ Hale Center Theatre

I went for the first time to the Hale Center Theatre in Gilbert and saw The Secret Garden.  I particularly wanted to see this musical because I wrote a 10-minute play awhile back and one of my characters favorite books as a child was The Secret Garden.   The funny thing is that I had never heard of this book before writing my play.  I just Googled cult classic books, and this one came up on the list. The theme of the book just fit my play best.  My play was about three woman who were all dealing with the loss of their mothers very differently.   The character who loved The Secret Garden as a child was the one who was receiving messages and signs from her departed mother.   So when I saw Hale Theatre was doing The Secret Garden, I knew I had to see it.

I got a DVD of the movie last week at the library and watched it before seeing this musical.  I actually liked the musical version much better.  The musical version was more woo-woo, which suits me better.  

The production at the Hale Theatre was outstanding.  The acting, singing, costumes...everything was top notch.   Another magical day seeing LIVE theater. And yes, I was crying at the end.

The Queen of Versailles

 

 

I looked at my upcoming schedule of events for September, October and November, and said I need to chill a bit and take a weekend off of doing stuff.  So I spent all of last weekend at home painting, and hanging out in my pool. 

 

I love movies and see a lot of them, but not too many at the theaters anymore.  I have a hearing problem where I can't hear high pitched tones.  So women and children are nightmares for me to hear.  I prefer now to watch most movies at home with my Sony headset on and with subtitles so I don't miss any of the dialogue.  But I couldn't resist going to see The Queen of Versailles at the movie theater last week.

 

I almost feel a little guilty saying how much I loved this film.  It's like saying you saw a huge train wreck and really enjoyed watching it.  :-)

 

 

The Soul of Broadway @ Fountain Hills Theater

I spent a soulful afternoon listening to seven wonderful and talented singers celebrating the songs from some of Broadway's best "Soul" musicals.  This musical revue at the Fountain Hills Theater included songs from Porgy & Bess, Big River, Dreamgirls, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Color Purple, Passing Strange, The Lion King, Once on this Island, Aida, Hairspray and The Wiz.

Going today was kind of a last minute decision, but I'm glad I eased on down the road (Shea Blvd.) to Fountain Hills Theater to hear some fabulous songs from The Great White Way.

Rent @ Desert Stages Theatre

I first saw Rent in Chicago shortly after it won the Tony Award, and so the buzz over this rock opera was extremely high.  Sometimes 'buzz' and too much hype are not a good thing.  I went in extremely excited to see this Tony Award winning musical, but came out after seeing it a little underwhelmed.   But that was not the case last Saturday night when hubby and I went to see the last performance of Rent at Desert Stages Theatre. We both came out totally overwhelmed,  and that is a testament to just how great the cast and the production was at Desert Stages.  They took my not so favorite musical and turned it into one the BEST musicals I have seen at Desert Stages Theatre.  The whole cast was outstanding, and the production phenomenal.

Oh and one more thing...they had a LIVE band playing all the music.  That was pretty cool.

Two Day Acrylic Painting Workshop

I spent last weekend in a two day, 12-hour acrylic painting workshop. I had a blast…a creative blast. I know without a doubt that if I didn’t discover The Artist's Way there would have been no way I would have done something like attending a two day painting workshop. The Artist's Way helps you get out of the box of limiting beliefs. One of my very limiting beliefs is that other people are artists…not me. My older sister was the artist of the family…she owns her own graphic design company. My best friend from grade school is an artist…she got a scholarship to the study at the Art Institute of Chicago, and Sax Fifth Avenue was buying her Raku pottery when she was only in her twenties. When I met my best friend from high school when we were just 14 years old, she and her entire family were already artists, and travelled the country from art show to art show. So I grew up with the limiting belief that I am not an artist. Well after discovering The Artist's Way course that limiting belief became pure BULLSHIT.

Last November I picked up a paint brush for the very first time in my entire life and have been painting ever since. After painting for just several months I decided that if I am going to continue taking lessons then I want to take lessons from an artist who I desire to paint like, or even more importantly, whose art I would buy for myself. My house has not one realistic painting; all the art in my home is either abstract or multi-media. So when I found an artist whose work I love, and who also teaches, I just had to enroll in his workshop.  Funny thing is that when I told him that I have The Artist's Way to thank for getting me here to attend his workshop, he said he did The Artist Way course many years ago, and the course got him to make a major career change.  He said what he is doing now is all due to The Artist's Way.  How perfect is that...two people meet in August 2012 doing what they love, all due to The Artist's Way.

Over the course of the weekend we painted five large paintings all using techniques that were new to me. Four of the five were abstract, which of course were my favorites. I still need to do some touch up work on them, but I was truly surprised at how much we did accomplish in just two days.

I have a new passion, and my old limiting beliefs are dead and gone…all thanks to The Artist' Way. :-)

The beginning of Abstract Circles

                                              The middle of Abstract Circles

                             The almost finished painting of Abstract Circles

My finished Abstract Circles.

The beginning of Running River

The middle of Running River

The not yet finished Running River

The beginning of Abstract Design

The middle of Abstract Design

The finished Abstract Design

The Odd Couple @ Desert Stages Theater

 

Jeff Carpenter and Wade Moran
 

Over the weekend I went to see Neil Simon's The Odd Couple at Desert Stages Theater.  I saw the movie which the play is based on many, many years ago which starred Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.  I also  grew up watching the TV show with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, but I never saw the play.  Well now I have thanks to Desert Stages.  The play was funny, entertaining, and the whole cast was perfect, especially the actors playing Oscar and Felix.

Desert Stages also has the female version of The Odd Couple running on alternate weeks.  Now I actually saw the female version in 1984 at the Shubert Theater in Chicago starring Rita Moreno as Olivia, and Sally Struthers as Florence.  Okay, that was actually a very odd pairing, but I remember enjoying the female version of this classic play.

I have always saved my Stagebills and Playbills from every play or musical I have ever gone to see.  So I just pulled out my Stagebill from the Shubert Theater to see who else was in this play.  It's always fun to go back and see if you saw someone who eventually became famous.  Well I discovered that Tony Shalhoub played Jesus Costazeula in the female version I saw.  Interesting!  I am so happy that I have kept all my Stagebills.



Don Bluth's Front Row Theatre

My weekend continued with the upclose and personal theme by attending Don Bluth's Front Row Theatre on Saturday night.  I have been attending community theatre here in the valley for a long time, but I never heard of this theatre until I read about them in the May issue of Phoenix Magazine.  The cover story was called, Secrets of the City, and this gem is definitely one of the BEST kept secrets of them all.

Don Buth is one of Hollywood's most beloved animators, and he is a lover of the stage too.  His theatre company peforms three plays a week in his living room in his Scottsdale home.

There is seating for 45 audience members, and you just cannot get more of a community feel than going to someone's home to see a play performed in their living room.  When we drove up, a man with a baseball hat was standing on the opposite side of the street directing and helping us to park.  Then he preceeded to escort us to the home.  I did not realize it right off, but this man turned out to be Don Bluth himself.  I couldn't believe it...he does it all...even acts as a parking attendant.  lol

The play we saw was Blithe Spirit by noel Coward.   We sat in the front row, and we had to make sure we did not stick out our feet too far, because we would have definitely tripped the cast, since they were pretty much right in front of us most of the play.  The very intimate setting, the outrageously funny play, the stellar cast made for one of the most enjoyable evenings.

My only regret is that I never heard of this theatre sooner.  Don has been performing plays and musicals in his home for seven years, but is moving his theatre out of his home to a new location which I heard will be around Scottsdale Rd. and Shea Blvd.   His next production, Barefoot in the Park, will still be in his home, so I have yet another chance to see it there.  But I know I will go see his productions wherever they go...for when I find something special...I will follow you forever.

Scorpius Dance

On Friday, July 20th, my BIG 50th Birthday, hubby and I attended the Scorpius Dance Theatre Summer Showcase.  The theme of my birthday weekend was very upclose and personal.  This intimate showcase was presented in Scorpius' resident rehearsal space at Metro Arts Institute.  We sat front row and center for an amazing night of featured works by director, Lisa Starry, and the Scorpius dancers. 

I first became familar with this dance company when we attended The Herberger Festival of the Arts last October.  Hubby said he didn't quite remember them, but when they performed once again the dance called Girls Night Out...aka Butt Dance, he quickly said, "Oh yah, I remember this dance company now."  lol

Scorpius resident rehearsal space

When I first received the e-mail about their Summer Showcase I was definitely planning on going to one of the two nights they were performing...it just so happened it was my birthday.  So since I attended an amazing dance performance on July 20, 2012 I had a very special and entertaining day...and hubby had a good time too.

I'm 50...and HAPPY!

On Friday, July 20th I celebrated my 50th Birthday by being happy, and I mean completely HAPPY.  I was always happy to turn the BIG ones...30 and 40, but I have never been more excited or amped up to turn a certain age. When I told a friend of mine this who has studied numerology and astrology, she said it makes sense.  In numerology 2012 is a 5 year globally, I am in a 5 year personally, and I am turning the BIG 50.  This is all about change and transformation. And my astrology progress chart for the year is also about upcoming changes.  I am not one of those people who are scared of change.  I have never been afraid of change of any kind, good or bad.  Even what some people would consider bad, I wouldn't...to me it's always just the new normal.  So bring on the NEW NORMAL...I'm amped and excited.

I have been asked constantly what am I going to do special for my birthday.  People try to make you believe that if you don't make this one day extra special then the whole day will be ruined. Really????  I do feel way too many people put too much importance on just one day a year, be it a birthday, holiday, anniversary or Mother's Day. I know of three women who are still pissed off about this past Mother's Day.  Anyway, that is another topic.  I think instead of trying so hard to make just one day feel special, why not try to make your whole year feel special...with whatever that means to you.  My special will obviously be different than someone else's special.

Since I now blog, and I keep my yearly schedule on my computer, it was easy to go back and see what I did this past year that was special to me. So here is what made my year so special...

I saw 22 Plays, Musicals, or LIVE performances.
Hairspray,  And Then There Were None, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Death of a Salesman, The Drowsy Chaperone, Life X 3, Oliver, Sleuth, Mornings at Seven, White Christmas, Love, Loss and What I Wore, Annie Get Your Gun, Chorus Line, Crazy for You, Lend Me A Tenor, Altar Boyz, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Seven Fingers: PSY – Mind Blowing Circus, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Run For Your Wife, and Blithe Spirit.

I attended 22 Art Festivals or Art Exhibits.
David Rogers’ Big Bug Sculptures @ Desert Botanical Gardens, Monet’s Giverny Photographs by Richard Nilsen @ Desert Botanical Gardens, Randall Hedden’s Tribute Art Live Show…The Rat Pack @ Royal Palms Resort, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Old Town Scottsdale Western Artwalk, Artfest of 5th Ave., Cosanti to see their latest collection of wind bells, Cynthia Crawford ET Sculptor exhibit, Fountain Hills Art and Craft Fest, Artfest of Scottsdale, Hidden in the Hills Studio Art Tour, First Saturday Artwalk in Fountain Hills, Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival, Celebration of Fine Art, Arizona Fine Art Expo, Made in Arizona Artfest, Fountain Hills Great Fair, Scottsdale Art Festival, Mesa Contemporary Arts exhibition, Fine Art in the Garden @ Shermer Fine Art Center, Scottsdale’s 100+ Journal Project @ The Gallery @ The Library, Van Gogh Alive – The Experience @ AZ Science Center

I attended 62 LIVE Musical performances.
Trio con Brio - Fountain Hills Chamber Players, Jersey Rocks @ Talking Stick Resort , Scott Hall - guitar & vocals, Vicki McDermitt - jazz vocalist, Mother’s Favorite Child, Dennis Rowland, Doc Rolland Duo, Mariachi Pasion Oct. 2011, Jazz in the Hills with Armand Boatman and Fred Forney, Silhouette, Delphine Cortez - Jazz singer, Avira Flute Duo, Orquesta Filarmonica de Sonara Concert @ Scottsdale Performing Arts Center, Marmalade Skies, November 2011, Margo Reed - Jazz singer, Four Seasons String Quartet, Mel Bridges and his band, Ronald Jean, Mayo Clinic Choir, Sylvan Street Band @ Musical Instrument Museum, Pete Pancrazi, Phoenix Boys Choir “Spirit of the Holidays” Concert, Trio Three-Eighty Holiday concert, Dolce Vas, Deater O’Neil - Jazz vocalist, Tetra String Quartet, Hans Olson, Walt Richardson & Tim Sadow, Phoenix Opera @ Musical Instrument Museum, Parada del Sol Trails End Country Music Street Party, The Persuaders, Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns, Lyra – Southwest guitar and violin, Arizona Opera performs selections from Aida @ Kerr Cultural Center, Silhouette, Paula Provo - harpist, Trio Three Eighty, Bill & Kate Isles, Mother’s Favorite Child, Sonaran Jazz, Sugahbeat, ASU String Ensemble, Khani Cole, Affinity, Mariachi Pasion May 2012, Desert Fiesta and Freddie Duran for Cinco de Mayo fest, Scott Hallock, Shining Star, Delphine Cortez,  Urban Strings, Marmalade Skies, Rock Lobster, Apple - Beatle Tribute band, Chuck E. Baby, Paul Provo - harpist, Dwight Killian & Russell Schmidt -Instrumental Jazz, Paul McDermand - Steel Drums, Whistle Stop Bluegrass Band, Musica Dolce - Early Music Ensemble, Laurie Fagen - vocal Jazz, Otis & The Beat, Beth Lederman - Instrumental Jazz

I attended 5 Dance performances.
Ballet Under the Stars with Arizona Ballet Company, Native Trails @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, MOMIX Botanica @ Orpheum Theater, Marrugeku: Buru, dance group from Western Australia @ Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scorpius Dance Theatre Summer Spectacular Showcase @ Metro Arts Institute.

I participated in 28 Classes, Workshops, and Conferences
Intro to Wiring Wrapping class @ Bead World, Twelve acrylic painting sessions @ Me the Artist, Five acrylic painting sessions @ Brio Fine Art, One acrylic painting session @ Michael’s, One acrylic painting session @ Arizona Fine Art Expo, Fry’s Fresh Attractions Cooking Class, Phoenix Rising Conference, Five Meet-up Group Sessions, UFO Film Festival Meet-up session

I attended 7 other various Festivals
Fountain Hills Oktoberfest, Herberger Theatre Festival of the Arts – Dance, Theatre, Live Music, Greater Phoenix Greek Festival, Cupcake Love-In @ Hotel Valley Ho, Parade del Sol Parade in Old Town Scottsdale, Mesa Festival of Creativity, OrigiNation – a festival which celebrates cultures from Australia and New Zealand

I saw 7 other miscelleous places or events
Downtown Scottsdale Art & Culture Tour, Mariposa Butterfly Pavilion @ Desert Botanical Gardens, The Phoenix Lights 15th Anniversary Celebration, Phoenix Zoo -Giraffe Encounter - Stingray Bay, Desert Botanical Garden Spring Butterfly Exhibit, Deer Valley Rock Center – archaeological site w/largest concentration of Native American rock art, AZ Science Center

I saw 117 Feature Films and 24 Shorts (13 in a movie theatre, the rest at home)

Since I had a very special year that I truly enjoyed I did not feel any great need to make July 20th any more special than any other day.  Oh, I did do something on Friday and Saturday (blogs about that to come), but I would have done these things regardless of it being my 50th Birthday.

Otis & the Beat @ Kierland Commons

On Saturday we saw Otis & the Beat and felt a little heat.  Oh, I am not one of those who choose to live in the Sonoran Desert then rags and moans about the summer heat.  It's the F'n Sonoran Desert for god's sake...it's suppose to be HOT, and especially in the summer.  Now if you lived in Chicago and it was 106 degrees in July...you should be bothered.  Oh, wait...it was that hot in Chicago this week.

Anyway, I do admit that during the summer months I do stay home a lot, and you can usually find me every evening in my swimming pool starting around 6pm, and I stay there for a couple of hours.  The BEST part of living in the desert is the summer evenings in my pool.  But Otis & the Beat got me out of the pool, and over to Kierland for another fun concert. 

Housewarming Party Gifts

I had an exceptionally nice day on Sunday spending time with two extra-special young women in my life.  These lovely ladies are only in their early 20's, but they purchased this past Spring a townhouse, and my husband handled the real estate transaction for them.  They hosted a housewarming party and we were of course invited.  I had tons of creative fun coming up with housewarming gifts for them.  Since they moved from their parent's home into their first residence they didn't have a lot of  stuff.  I knew they both have been to Paris a fews times and love anything French, and they had already purchased an Eiffel Tower wine rack for their new home.  So I decided to go with all French themed housewarming gifts. 

It started in Europe giving certain gifts with a special meaning behind it in order to wish the new homeowners well.  For example: you give bread so the home never knows hunger. I updated my well wishes for the current times.  With each gift I attached a card saying what the gift is, and the wish or meaning behind it.  This was so much fun for me, because I enjoy the pleasure of giving, plus it was more fun trying to be somwhat creative rather than just giving them a gift certificate. 

The Gift of Bread - So you always lead a full life.

I put in this Parisian styled bowl cheese, spinach and almond croissants from A.J's., plus a Fleur-de-Lis butter spreader.

The Gift of Sugar - So your life will always have sweetness.

On this Parisian styled platter I put French pastries, éclairs, crème brulee, and Petite Fours from A.J's.




 
 
 

The Gift of Coffee - So your life is always stimulating.
 
French roast coffee, Parisian styled coffee mugs.
 
 
 
 
 

The Gift of Spice - So your life is always flavorful.
 
Eiffel Tower salt and pepper shakers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Gift of Spirits - So you will always be of good cheer.
 
French beer, wine, Eiffel Tower bottle opener, French themed wine stopper, and coasters.

The Gift of Wood - So your life will always have stability.

A Parisian themed wood box.

A Gift of Candles - So you dwell in light and happiness.

Eiffel Tower tea light holder.

A Gift of Soap - So any troubles will be washed away.

French soaps with French Bistro kitchen towels.

A Gift of Paper - So you always take note of good times.

Boxes of note cards, and note paper.

A Gift of Coins - So you always have prosperity and good fortune.

Change purses with chocolate coins.

A Gift of Comedy - So your life will be filled with great big belly laughs.

Midnight in Paris DVD.

A Gift of Reusable Grocery Bags - So your cupboards are always full, and the landfills empty.

This one is my personal favorite.  :-)

Run For Your Wife @ Fountain Hills Theater

Another fun and completely delightful afternoon spent watching the latest production at Fountain Hills Theater.  This British comedy, Run for Your Wife was a hoot.  One London taxi driver, two wifes, two London detectives, and two wild and crazy neighbors makes for some great big belly laughs.

Chuck E. Baby @ Kierland Commons

After seeing Joseph at Desert Stages we went for a bite to eat at hubby's favorite place, AZ88.  As much as he liked Joseph, he likes a good burger and a martini even more.  While sitting out on their patio we saw Steve Nash and Channing Frye walking around.  We found out they were attending a wedding next to AZ88.  Even though hubby's heart is with the Chicago Bulls, he still loves and watches the Phoenix Suns.

After dinner we headed up Scottsdale Road to Kierland Commons to hear for the first time Chuck E. Baby and the Allstars perform.  What a FUN, FUN evening.  Chuck E. Baby played so many of hubby's favorite songs...he was pretty much singing the whole night. We can see why they were voted one of the BEST Local Bands in AZ Central.com Reader's Choice poll.  They were GREAT!

Joseph @ Desert Stages Theatre

Hey, I actually remember seeing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Chicago Theatre around 1993. I saw this musical with Donny Osmond, not once, but twice. This production was one of the longest running musicals in Chicago, and we went to see it a second time since we loved it so much. Plus, Donny Osmond was the perfect Joseph.

On Saturday afternoon I went to see Desert Stages Children's Theatre production of Joseph, and hubby came with me for this one.  These kids are so dang talented...I'm always totally blown away with their Children's Theatre productions.  I was crying from the very first song...you would think that I had a kid in the show, and was beaming with pride.  Even hubby was extremely impressed with the amount of talent these kids possess.  When I told him it was a children's production, I know he didn't think it would be so professional.  I always save my programs from all performances, so if and when any of these kids makes it big some day, I can say I saw them when they were just starting out.

Apple @ Kierland Commons

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE, LOVE...LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

Saturday night hubby and I went to Kierland Commons to hear the Beatles tribute band, Apple perform. It was the first concert in their Summer series, and the second Beatles tribute band we have heard in the last two weeks. Hearing the songs of the Beatles is once again another wonderful pre-show for what is coming up this week. On June 4th we have a Lunar Eclipse, and then on June 5th and 6th we have the really BIG BIG SHOW...the 2012 Venus Transit. Come on Venus...help us awakend the Divine Feminine in ALL of us.