I scored free tickets to the zoo that expired today, so I decided to take Claire for a couple hours this morning. Of course she had no idea what was going on, so it was really for my benefit. :)
First, we visited the flamingos.
Then we visited the gorillas
Two cute babies
Then we pet the goats
First, Mommy dressed me up all cute and put my hair in pigtails
Then I watched as everyone ate Thanksgiving dinner
Then we took a nap
And played games
During my nap, my pigtails fell out and Mommy said I looked like Cindy Lou Who
We topped off the day with tummy time
And hung out with DaddyThis year is very special because I get to share this holiday about gratitude with my beautiful, healthy, happy baby who has made my world brighter, happier and full of a love so intense I didn't think was possible. I am extremely grateful for this angel sent from heaven to brighten my world.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Here's another article that I'm barely mentioned in, but it's good, nonetheless:
If there's two things San Diego County theatergoers know, it's Shakespeare (courtesy of the Old Globe's 74-year tradition) and "A Christmas Carol," which San Diego Rep produced for 30 years straight (and other troupes have since picked up).
As a result, it's hard to be innovative in San Diego with Charles Dickens' "Carol," but a new musical version of the classic holiday fable at the Welk Resorts Theatre comes mighty close. Welk is producing the San Diego professional premiere of Alan Menken, Lynn Ahrens and Mike Ockrent's "A Christmas Carol: The Musical," and it does indeed take a very fresh look at the redemptive tale of miserly Victorian humbug Ebenezer Scrooge. The show is well-sung, especially well danced and entertaining, but it's not the "Christmas Carol" most San Diegans grew up with.
You might call this adaptation "A Christmas Carol"-lite. Running a zippy, intermissionless 90 minutes, this adaptation dispenses with much of the prologue and subplots (as well as most of the emotional payoff) for a high-stepping, ever-smiling, relentlessly hurtling story with an ear-pleasing score and a running time ideally suited for families with small children (provided they're not frightened by headless zombies ... but more on that later).
Ockrent and Ahrens must've found Dickens' original story too long and too maudlin, because their version is as peppy as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (yes, there is a Rockettes-style dance number). Even the chain-laden ghost of Jacob Marley smiles all the way through his not-at-all spooky haunting, which ends with a big zombie dance number (there's a headless zombie in the mix and a few obviously fake body parts tossed here and there, but it's all done for laughs). The ghosts of Christmases past, present and future are dressed in dazzling white and are more comic than creepy. The usually ominous spirits of Ignorance and Want are everyday kids. And even Scrooge, known for his vile temper and miserly ways, seems only mildly cranky, and only now and then.
In this streamlined "Carol," the only set is a London street scene with rows of doors which are frequently rolled out and spun around frequently for dance numbers (the building walls in designer Mike Buckley's clever set are covered in lines from the book, written in manuscript as Dickens originally delivered them to the publisher). The Cratchit family has just two children. Scrooge's childhood, doomed romance and partnership with Marley is handled in just under 10 minutes. And nephew Fred's Christmas party scene is gone.What's been added is a lot of lively dance numbers, well staged by director/choreographer Sha Newman, and a thoughtful concept ---- where the three ghosts who visit Scrooge on Christmas morning are reinterpretations of people he mistreated on the street that evening (and played by the same actors). Christmas Past is a glamorous, diamond and satin-wearing version of the poor lamplighter he refused to help; Christmas Present is vaudeville-style showman (like the carnival barker whose tickets Scrooge refused to buy); and Christmas Future is a sparkle-fairy version of the blind beggar woman he pushed out of his way. This gives their appearance more the feel of dream fantasy than spooky haunting. The upbeat show will leave audiences smiling, but the lump-in-the-throat poignancy is mostly lost and Scrooge's turnaround loses some redemptive power.
Leading the cast as Scrooge is actor Michael G. Hawkins, whose seriously understated performance may be part of the whole "don't make it too scary" concept. Nathan Holland is a terrific showman as the Ghost of Christmas Present; Cynthia Ferrer is a cheery Ghost of Christmas Past; Jill Townsend is sweet and beautiful as Scrooge's young love Emily, and his niece-in-law Sally.
Making his professional debut as Tiny Tim is precious Jared Gray, the 7-year-old son of Welk's longtime music director Justin Gray, and it's clear from his ease onstage, singing skills and focus that he's a chip off the old block. He splits the role of Tiny Tim with Robby Young, a 10-year-old fourth-grader from Poway.
Stephen Knoll-Gentry is gallant as Young Ebenezer; Luke H. Jacobs does double-duty as Young Marley and nephew Fred; Shawn Goodman Jones and Sue Goodman add comic relief as Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig; Michael Dotson and Julie Kirkpatrick are a very modern Bob and Mrs. Cratchit; Katie DeShaun is a dazzling Ghost of Christmas Future; Justin Wilcox plays both Mr. Smythe and Mr. Hawkins. Completing the very large cast are Chester Lockhart, Lorena Provencio, James Thomas Bowen, Avalon Patricia Penrose, Taryn Murphy; Ellie Barrett; Celia Tedde and Brielle Mussomeli.
At the performance I attended, the actor cast to play Jacob Marley was indisposed, so actor David Kirk Grant stepped in on just a few hours notice. Grant gets the trooper award for learning the melody of Marley's song and the stage blocking (if not the lines, which he read from the script) in the brief time he had to prepare.
Music director Justin Gray produces a huge sound from the pit with just four musicians. Carlotta Malone's costumes are rich and varied. Patrick Hoyny designed sound, Gene Hicks created props and Jennifer Edwards-Northover designed the lighting.
"A Christmas Carol: The Musical"
When: 1:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; through Jan. 3
Where: Welk Resorts Theatre, Welk Resorts San Diego, 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido
Tickets: $58-$63, adults (includes buffet lunch or dinner); $44-$47, adults, show only
Info: 760-749-3448
Tonight, a bunch of us went to Claim Jumper to celebrate my birthday. Can I say yum? I was given gift cards to Target, Michael's, JC Penney and Regal Cinemas. Great food, gifts and friends (and a cute baby)... it doesn't get much better than that.
My view from the head of the table (Hi, Laura!)
Goofy husband and friends
Cute baby!
I ordered this amazing dessert
And they brought me a birthday cupcake! (Needless to say, I had to box up most of my dessert and take it home)Today I turned 25. Actually just a few minutes ago. I was born at 6:50pm. For a long time, I was terrified to turn 25. For some reason, it seemed to me like age 25 meant that I would officially be an adult. And I wasn't ready for that. I dreaded this day for a while, but I knew it had to come. It sounds silly, but I don't really feel like an adult, even though I'm married, have a beautiful daughter and 3 jobs. Well, now I'm 25 and I guess it isn't so bad.
November 15, 1984
Tonight we had a little party complete with cake and ice cream
I look ridiculous, but I wanted to show off the necklaces that Douglas got me for my birthday (notice my lovely birthday cake with 25 candles, just about ready to burn the house down)Last night we went to the Welk for opening night of
I dressed up Claire in a pretty dress (she actually watched most of the show without a peep while sitting on my lap)
I can't believe it's that time of year to take pictures next to a Christmas tree
My happy chubby baby
We attempted to get Claire's first picture with Santa in the lobby. The lights were off, so I couldn't see. I used a flash and this was the result. Not too bad, I guess.
I'm playing in the pit on Tuesday nights and weekends. Today is my first performance.So, I found out this morning that I'm in today's paper!
Here is the article:
This year, the Welk's Christmas show is a family affair for the Gray family. Not only will Justin Gray be at his usual spot in the orchestra pit as the theater's musical director, but three more members of his family will be involved.
His wife, Cathy, and his 25-year-old daughter Nicole Turner, will be sharing the position of violinist. And his 7-year-old-son, Jared, will be onstage playing Tiny Tim in a musical version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."
"So I'll have the three of them coming to work with me," said Gray, an Escondido resident. "That's neat for me. Jared is so excited."
The Gray family's involvement grew out of the auditions for the musical, when plenty of young girls showed up, but no young boys. A second audition date garnered the same result.
"We had no Tiny Tim possibilities," said Sha Newman, the show's director. "But I remembered meeting Jared the year before and I asked Justin if Jared might be able to do the part. I figured that his family was probably musical, especially since his daughter would be playing violin in the pit."
One of the criteria for the role involved weight. Tiny Tim is brought in on the shoulders of another actor. Tipping the scales at 50 pounds, Jared fit the role perfectly (he's splitting the role with another boy Newman discovered for the 10-week run).
"Jared is adorable," said Newman. "He's also hysterical and very bright. We really lucked out. He takes his job so seriously."
The part Jared takes the most seriously is the money he'll make during his professional debut. Jared, a home schooled second-grader, is already thinking of buying a new toy train with his paycheck.
"I like that I get to have a crutch and my costume is cool," Jared said. "I like the hat too. I've seen the movie, but it had some scary parts. It won't be as scary onstage."
This version of Dickens' timeless tale is from a musical that premiered at Madison Square Garden 10 years ago. Audience members may know it best from a 2004 TV version with Kelsey Grammer starring as Ebenezer Scrooge. The score features 22 songs by Alan Menken ("The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast") and Lynn Ahrens ("Ragtime," "Seussical the Musical").Starring in this production as Scrooge is Michael Hawkins, who recently starred as Captain Hook in the national tour of "Peter Pan."
Gray admits that being able to teach Jared the songs helps the process go smoothly. But for Jared, the very best part is the commute.
"It's going to be fun going to work with Daddy," said Jared. "My mother and sister will be coming too, except for my brother and other sister. But they'll get to come and watch it. My Grandma and Grandpa too."
"A Christmas Carol"
When: Opens Thursday and runs through Jan. 3; showtimes, 1:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturday and Sundays, 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Where: Welk Resort Theatre, 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido
Tickets: $39-$57 performance only; $45-$73 with buffet
Info: 888-802-7469
Web: www.WelkTheatreSanDiego.com
Today marks Sesame Street's 40th birthday! Wow! I thought it would be fun to post two generations watching Sesame Street.
Me when I was between 12 and 18 months old
Claire, exactly 3 months old
She loves it so much, she's kicking her legs
I can't believe Claire is 3 months old already!
She LOVES to smile! If she's in a good mood (and she usually is), all you have to do is come up to her and tell her to smile and she will. She's such an easy-going baby and such a joy to have around. I am so in love with my sweet Claire and I can't imagine my life without her. Happy 3 months to Claire!
