Dear Driver

Hi, remember me? I am the person in the little red car that was in front of you on the freeway during the snowy commute. Nice to meet you, I am so glad you liked me well enough to stay so close to me that you almost rear-ended me four times. You are a real pal, but I usually make someone buy me dinner a few times before they get that close to me. May I just suggest, in a super friendly way, backing off my butt a little a lot especially in snow like we are having? I am sure that your super fancy Mercedes has million dollar breaks, but my little Vibe does not. There is a reason I have left so much room between me and the car in front of me, it is just good snow manners! Now I am sure this is your first drive ever in the snow, which is the only reason I can think of for not knowing how to drive in it, so I am happy to give this advice! Driving close to the person in front of you will not get you to your destination any faster; it only causes accidents and snarky blog posts! So here is what happens tonight now that we have snow on the ground: It will be really cold and the moisture on the roads will freeze. This is important to know because it will be even harder to stop quickly in your car. Which means you should stay back from the car you are following more than you think you need to … I suggest 4 car lengths, but then I am kind of a prude! I know you like your ½ car length so this will be a stretch for you, grow as a person!

So again, super nice to meet you! Back off!

Yours, Steph

Last Meal... or Comfort Food

We have established that I am odd sometimes most of the time. I accept embrace this fact. For some reason yesterday I was thinking about comfort food and took it one step further and posed the following question to myself, “If I were on Death Row, what would my last meal be?” When we get past the morbid thought of being on Death Row (I wonder why I am on this hypothetical Death Row anyway) it is an interesting thought … at least in my mind.

The conclusion for me is sushi (a lot of it!), a chocolate milk shake, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies (with milk), and a huge bottle of chilled Dasani water. Sounds really gross in that combination, but individually all of the foods I really love.

Foods that became runner up (like in a beauty pageant which would fulfill the duties should the winner suddenly not be able to do it) were Chicago deep dish pizza, a Chicago hot dog, a nice medium Filet Oscar with asparagus, a slab of pork ribs (because I am about to die anyway why not try them once before I go? Who cares that I would have an allergic reaction?), a New York Cheesecake (not a slice, I mean the whole cheesecake really from New York) and Joe Morley’s baked beans.

That is all I have to say about that.

TLC Workshop

I have been asked to help with a free workshop at The Learning Circle dance studio next Tuesday December 21. This workshop is designed to show how the musical theater department works at TLC. The workshop age and time lists are below. The teachers are amazing! Stephanie Chatterton Maag will be doing the choreography, I am teaching acting, Casey Matern is teaching musical dance theatre, and Patricia Rogers is handling the voice lessons. We are all working on the same song/scene so students can get a feel for how musical theater should come together.

Our goal is to make it a fun afternoon for all of the students. The other teachers are some of the most amazing women I know in their field and, if I do say so myself, I am not so shabby!!

TLC contact info is:

The Learning Circle

8586 South 2000 East

Sandy, Utah 84093

801-973-1757

Group One (ages 3-7)
4:00-4:45 choreography
4:45-5:30 acting
5:30-6:15 musical dance theatre

Group Two (ages 8-11)
5:30-6:15 choreography
6:15-7:00 acting
7:00-7:45 musical dance theatre
7:45-8:30 voice

Group Three (ages 12 +)
5:30-6:15 acting
6:15-7:00 choreography
7:00-7:45 voice
7:45-8:30 musical dance theatre

Stress

So I think I am a little too stressed lately. My life is not as stressful as some, I do not have a family of my own to worry about. But I do work full-time, go to school full-time, have a busy calling (job) at church, my bedroom is a disaster zone (which stresses me more than it should), I am directing another show (why did I think that was a good idea again?!), I had to pay a large portion of tuition this semester out of my pocket which makes money seem tight, I was assigned a group in my class that is a little stressful, etc. I realized I need to do more things for me, just for me that are stress relievers. Even if it is just taking a minute to breathe deeply, I need to take some time for me.

I wrote a blog about stress a while ago, but I think it is time to revisit the topic. Any other great suggestions to relax when one is stressed?

Curious Savage Audition Notice

I am directing another play for Midvale City, The Curious Savage! I am pretty excited about it. Auditions are a week from today and the audition notice is below. Rehearsals are going to be on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdays starting January 4. We are going to have a fast 5 week rehearsal time, with 6 shows in February. I am pretty excited about this fun script and my assistant director and producer are as excited as I am. We especially need men to audition who play the piano (or the violin poorly.) We are a pretty fun group, but will work hard to put on the best production we can. So if you are an actor, or ever wanted to be one, I hope you will come audition for this show!

Audition Notice:
Auditions for the Midvale Arts Council's production of "The Curious Savage" will be held Tuesday, December 14, 7 - 9 pm and Saturday, December 18, 9 - 10 am with callbacks Saturday by invitation only at the Midvale Performing Arts Center, 695 West Center Street (7720 South). Auditioners should come prepared with a 90 second comedic monologue, a headshot and resume, and will also be asked to read from the script. The show will run February 4 - 12 and is being directed by Stephanie Johnson. Roles are available for men and women ages 18 and up. All roles are open. An audition appointment is not necessary. One male role requires the ability to play the piano. For more information and character descriptions please visit our website www.midvalearts.com. Audition questions should be directed to stephanie@midvalearts.com.

Plot Synopsis: Mrs. Savage has been left ten million dollars by her husband and wants to make the best use of it, in spite of the efforts of her grown-up stepchildren to get their hands on it. These latter, knowing that the widow's wealth is now in negotiable securities, and seeing they cannot get hold of it, commit her to a "sanatorium" hoping to "bring her to her senses." But Mrs. Savage is determined to establish a fund to help others realize their hopes and dreams. In the sanatorium she meets various social misfits, men and women who just cannot adjust themselves to life, people who need the help Mrs. Savage can provide.

Character Descriptions
The Residents

Florence: Female; The elegant "mother" of The Cloisters, she believes she has a five year-old son.

Fairy May: Female; Fairy is a compulsive liar who is obsessed with having others love her.

Jeffrey: Male; Once a fighter pilot, Jeff was shot down in the war. He plays the piano.

Hannibal: Male; Hannibal, once a statistician, was fired and replaced by an electronic calculator. He plays the violin.

Mrs. Paddy: Female; Mrs. Paddy is a “painter” and hates everything.

The Savages

Titus: Male; Titus is the least popular senator in congress. He is serious, humorless, and direct.

Lily Belle: Female; Lily Belle was once married to a Slovak prince, and has remarried five times since then.

Samuel: Male; Samuel has the distinction of being the judge with the most overturned decisions in the U.S.

Mrs. Ethel P. Savage: Female; Ethel is a crafty but kindhearted woman with a shifted viewpoint of humanity.

The Staff

Dr. Emmett: Male; The staff doctor for this wing of The Cloisters, Dr. Emmett is kind, warmhearted, and he works hard to help his patients.

Miss "Willie" Wilhelmina: Female; Miss Willie is an administrative assistant and nurse. She is married to Jeff, who does not remember her.

Deep Thoughts ... by Starbuck

If radiation causes cancer why is radiation a cure for cancer?