The Midvale Arts Council presents

July 9-23

(Fridays, Saturdays, & Mondays)

7:30 p.m.

Midvale Outdoor Stage in the Park

(400 West 7500 South)

Tickets: $5 general admission;

$3 senior or children; $20 family pass

www.midvalearts.com

Oh Snap!!

Raise your hand if you have been introduced yet to MirandaSings08!

Girl. Can. Sing.

A disclaimer before we go on: A person could spend a lot of time he or she might not have to waste on her channel on YouTube.

If you have not been introduced please allow me to do so now, do not be afraid... keep reading after you watch this.

Yes - It is bad.

Yes - This is a joke.

Yes - She really can sing.

Yes - She is making fun of all the bad singers who post videos on YouTube and they think they are amazing singers ... no really ... this is her for real.

Her catch phrase on YoutTube is "Hater ... Back Off!!!" And I think she is brilliant because I might not care about her if she were not MirandaSings08 ... let's face it Audra McDonald she is not!

Crafty

My mom has a crafty daughter (hint, it is not me) and they like to craft together. I envy crafty people. Do not get me wrong, I have made some really cute things in my day, but as a general rule I cannot sit down with a block of wood and paint something brilliant on it... that is without someone coming up with it for me and me copying it. Sister can; Mom can. I think my problem is that I am such a perfectionist that more often than not it does not turn out how I had in mind, I get frustrated, and quit. I can scrapbook, I like scrapbooking. Friend Peggy introduced me to a fun computer scrapbook company that has far too much money from me but I can do the computer stuff easier than not. I think crafty people are super talented and I want to be one when I grow up. So when I find an adorable card in my purse after rehearsal last night my first thought is "Someone was in my purse?" then that thought is quickly replaced with "That is adorable!! Who made that?" And since no one signed it, I might never know. But crafty people rule! You know who you are!!

A Rant to Some People of Another Forum ... Might not be at all interesting to anyone here ...

When I am involved in a show I spend time in a local theater chat room, which shall remain anonymous (that is funny if you know which chat room I am talking about!) The back story to this rambling is that there have been at least three shows recently that have been cast where, after the casting decisions have been announced, someone will anonymously get on the boards and accuse the theater or director of “pre-casting” the show when in reality I think these people are upset because they were not cast in the lead.

So allow me, since it is my blog, to get some things off my chest in regard to these people, which I wish I could say to their face but the anonymous nature of this chat room is preventing me from doing:

Just because a director does not cast you it does not mean the lead was ‘pre-cast’. Ever consider the person they cast might be better than you?

If a director casts a friend or family member in the role you wanted they did not necessarily pre-cast it that way. Favoritism is not pre-casting.

I understand very well what it feels like not being cast as a lead. But when you take these feelings and post your internal anger and bile on public board it is not helpful. Actually you just kind of look like a jerk for it.

Online chat rooms offer a certain anonymity, it is true, but hiding behind this anonymity does not make you clever, it makes you a coward. Good rule of thumb: Do not say anything online that you would not say to the individual in person. Just ask me, I will tell it to your face if I knew who you are.

Pre-casting means that the production team offers a role before the casting process begins. I have yet to be involved with a show that has pre-cast a role and NOT made it clear. Very few local theaters pre-cast shows.

Using the same people over and over again is not pre-casting, either. There is safety in working with people you know and trust.

A good director invites everyone they know to audition. A great director will ensure that there will be people audition that he or she KNOWS can play the parts. If they end up casting someone they specifically invite to audition it is not the same as pre-casting.

You, the auditioner, might have a great voice and can act but you might not have a look that the director relates to. You also might not have the right kind of attitude for the show. You might be kind of a diva and the director does not want to deal with your brand of drama. You might have a harder schedule to work with than an equally talented rival of yours. All of these are factors directors look at when casting.

Publicly attacking a theater or individual director personally is not the answer to your anger or grief. The theater world is smaller than you might think and if I, as a director, hear that a person had badmouthed another theater or director I will not use you. There is no reason in my mind to reward bad behavior like this.

The fact of the matter is that there are many reasons for the casting decisions that are made for shows. Some are fair, some are not. But how fair is it for an individual to lessen the accomplishments of the people who run a theater? How fair is it for an individual to lessen the accomplishments of a fellow actor? Rude, that is what it is. Rude.

And let me be clear in the most unbiased words I can use: The woman who earned the lead role (in the most recent show to be attacked on this particular chat room) is more talented than I could ever dream of being. I can count on the fingers of my right hand the people I personally know who are as talented and generous an actor as she is and I am honored to call her Friend. And the team who offered her the part did not do so lightly. These individuals had a vision and they followed their guts and cast pure talent for which I applaud them. I am honored to work with this team and will any time, any show, anywhere.

Do I think a single person who this post is directed to will read this blog? No. But I needed to get this off my chest and this is my forum. I was going to post this on the chat room, but someone else beat me to it; I guess I am not the only person who felt this way. So there you have it.

First Headshot?

The other day I had to take some publicity shots for Birdie. While my camera is alright, it served me well in Europe, Sister's camera is better and she graciously let me use it. I want one ... really want one. To get used to it I took some test shots of Mac and LoMo. Well LoMo is 2 and was not cooperating. But Mac's turned out alright.

Deep Thoughts ... by Starbuck

I hear all the time that pregnant women should not eat sushi... well if it is really so bad for you what do the Japanese women eat when they are pregnant and how come their kids seem to end up so smart?

Phew, exhale

I know that I forget sometimes as a someone who does theater how hard it is to be on the other side of the table. I have been on the director side of the table for so long; the last musical I auditioned for was in 2004. It is hard being on the actor side of the table and stress over how the audition went and how I did at callbacks. It is hard. But after last night's callbacks I was so glad to not be sitting on the director side of the table. I am telling you I would not have wanted to make the choice for Narrator in Joseph.... There was some serious talent!! I am so glad I was auditioning for Chorus Woman 4! Needless to say I was cast in the show and looking forward to playing all summer. What part did I get? Well let's just say I am the Anti-Narrator! You'll just have to come see it the show in August to find out more.

My New Evil Plan for Auditions

Since I was nervous to audition last night I decided I needed to play to my strength ... being funny. Yes I know you can take that conceit to the bank and cash it, but ... well it is true. So I decided to pick a song that I think is funny so that even if I bombed I would smile and have fun. I chose "Always a Bridesmaid" from I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.

Well it worked and now I have a new plan for when I audition: Choose a funny song so they laugh and do not hear every time you screw up!! Any song that rhymes 'velorish' and 'whoreish' will work!!

I had a ball auditioning and spending the whole evening with my Squitch and seeing my girls River, Chatterton, and Mama Mae. Uber surprise to see Jane and Lindsay in the room too. (sorry Lindsay, I do not have a fun nickname for you yet.) Looking forward to callbacks tonight!

Ramblings

Yes, it is pink. An homage, if you will to a few people in my life... This blog will be pink for just a bit. (hold me!) I can deal with it.

Last week(s) was rough where my motto ended up being "The world is a mess and I just need to rule it."

I have been tired and lethargic lately with no energy and I'm not sleeping well. Actually I have not really felt well since coming back from Europe. Last night I worked out with Trainer Katie. Well I'll be darned if last night I did not sleep great and I feel like I have energy for the first time in months.

I am pretty sure the song "I Enjoy Being a Girl" was written my a man.

This weekend I got my car detailed and the upholstery was shampooed which is good because months (and I mean months) ago some food spilled in the back seat so sometimes it smelled like beef in my car. I wonder if that is why I have been craving hamburgers lately. Only now it smells like lemons so I crave lemon mirangue pie.

We all have a little OCD in our lives, or in Sister's case CDO because she likes thinks alphabetical too. I put these little color tabs in my check register at work at the end of the month so it is easier to balance the books each month. I ran out of red ones and mourned when I had to use blue. (well because of course the green ones are used for the payroll check register and who likes yellow?!)

Cancer still sucks.

I was never nervous performing as Aunt Eller or Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn but I'll be darned if I am not super nervous to audition for a chorus part in a musical tonight. It has been far too long since I auditioned for a role in a show.

I have used the phrase 'I'll be darned' now twice in this post. I'll be darned.

(This one is just for you Sister) "Your hair looks like a briar patch. I keep expecting racist, animated Disney characters to pop up and start singing about living on the bayou." "It is a barren as me in here, Will."

I am a godmother now. Wouldn't it be awesome if little PBJ had a handsome, single godfather who asked me out on a date and then we got married? Besty, we should look into that plan!

Music really is an integral part of my life.

I get to be a soda jerk again this weekend. There is a 50's party at church and I get to make the beverages. I am so excited!!

You know when you jump on Facebook just to check something quickly and an hour later you are still on there? What the what makes it so addicting?

Okay, enough, get back to work.

Tony Tony Tony

Shall we discuss the Tony Awards from last night? We shall.

Sean Hayes is funny stuff. I have liked him since Will & Grace, how can you not like Just Jack? The thing I liked most about him last night as the host was the fact he did not try to be like all other past hosts. He let other actors shine in the opening number, his jokes were funny and not forced, his impromptu helper Kristin Chenoweth (love her!) had some funny bits together, dressing up in costumes from various shows was hilarious. I think he was great. Do I think he was the best host ever? No I will reserve that title for Hugh Jackman, but Hayes was great.

Chenoweth's "acceptance speech" made me giggle so hard. When she fainted after Hayes told her she was not even nominated was classic. Also a huge shout out for Bebe Neuwirth and Nathan Lane presenting the awards in the categories they had not been nominated in (Or as we call it at my house, Passover.) Funny stuff!

A change they made that I am torn on is the cutting of the awards that are considered "lesser" awards. They basically only awarded in prime time the awards for actors, directors, and best shows. While I see the reasoning for this, I think it really diminishes the efforts of all of the crew. When the costumer gets an award it is validation for the sewers and dressers as well, the sound design award acknowledges the tech crew, etc. Sure the main awards are what most people tune in for, but still it would be nice to honor the efforts of others. That being said I loved that they had more time for song performances, which is one thing I love. It did not feel rushed, there was an award and then a performance. Brilliant!

Lifetime achievement awards were glaringly missing, same as they were for the Oscars this year. I think this is sad. They got 20 seconds in a flash after commercial. Sad.

The news shows varied so much that it made the musical performances interesting. I know which shows I can do without downloading the soundtrack and which I would love to get.

Overall I really enjoyed the broadcast this year. One year I would like to go in person... and win an award too if that is not too much trouble.

Spoiled

You know when you get spoiled because you have really fast internet at home and at the office? Until that one day when the internet at the office is S.L.O.W.? I forgot that it used to be this slow for real but honestly I feel like I cannot do anything right now. It. Is. Slow. Yo. Also do you remember when our cell phones were just used to make calls? Oh the good old days!

Memorial Day

I was able to attend a Memorial Day concert/program yesterday because I am on the Arts Council in my community. Back story? Okay. I do not love visiting the graves of my ancestors who have passed; first I do not think they are hanging out at their graves waiting for us to come visit, and I think I can do more to honor them by how I live, not by visiting their graves one day a year. Same with Mother's Day, why only honor my Mom one day a year? See what I am saying? That being said, what a wonderful program. I learned that Memorial Day started in Civil War times, and turned into more than just honoring our fallen soldiers. Today we honor all of our beloved dead in addition to the fallen military and those currently serving. The Mayor invited a young woman who was waiting to report to boot camp as a Marine to stand with her as she gave her remarks. She was quiet, stood stiff and somber, was what I picture a nice young recruit as. This individual was not drafted, she volunteered in times of war to join the military and serve her country so I can enjoy the freedoms I have today. It is that kind of service we honor on Memorial Day... but I submit we should not limit it to Memorial Day only, but rather we should honor their service year round. We should not honor only the fallen, we should honor and support those who faithfully serve currently on active or reserve duty and their families. Of course each of us will honor them differently: a prayer, a meal, a smile, taking our democratic right to vote or not, or even enlist in the military as well. But honor them I think we must.