A Circle Of Trust...

"Five minutes to for opening act!" Todd screams through the halls and at the door of each dressing room.

We all respond by saying, "Thank you, five." with various levels of enthusiasm. At least, that's what we've done for the past month every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and if the show continued, that's where we'd all be at around 6:30pm tonight, on an empty stage with the show's opening song blaring on the speaker system.

We form a circle--a circle of trust--and link arms with each other, a few cast members arriving after the music starts. Together we'll sing, some with solos, others harmonizing in small groups until we sing together and finish the song.

"Opening choir--on stage now!" Most are already there, waiting. Some come late. And when the music starts, our circle of trust solidifies until we become a family of performers sharing a single stage with a single goal of bringing magic to friends and strangers.

So, to Laryn, Abby, Ella, Truman, Sam, Tyler, Addie, Chantelle, Samantha, Jackie, Marsha, Tyler, Chase, Adam, Robert, and Carson, sing a song of gladness and cheer! Thanks for accepting me into your circle. Happy Christmas to you and yours. Take care.

The Annual Ward Choir Christmas Program...

In my neighborhood I am surrounded by insanely talented people. I'm sure you are, too. Most are talented in one thing or another (even if they don't know it...). But in my neighborhood, for some reason there lives many who are musically gifted.

And at this time of year, a few of us put on a Christmas program at church. Today was that day. But a good program requires good preparation, which in our case, included a delicious breakfast yesterday morning. Everyone brought something yummy and we breakfasted with good friends and good food. We then rehearsed for a couple of hours in preparation of this morning.

At 11am our meeting began and one hour and fifteen minutes later, it ended. In between we sang and heard inspirational words. I think I've participated in this particular program every year going back decades. In the past I've sung solos, in duets, quartets and sextets, and even played handbells. They've all been good, but this was one of my favorite programs.

In our church all over the world such programs were held, all in an effort to honor the birth of Christ. Hopefully those who attended our program left feeling better, and more prepared for the Christmas holiday only a few days away. I know I did.

The Family Christmas Card...In The 21st Century

I never think about Christmas cards until the day I start receiving them in the mail. I know that for many sending cards is a Christmas tradition. For some reason, it's never really caught on with me. Maybe it's taking the time to get the cards, write on the cards, address the envelopes, get stamps, put the stamps on the envelopes, write and include a note explaining how the passing year affected each member of the family, insert that notes into the already-stamped envelopes, seal the envelopes then put them in the mail.

No...for some reason, it always slips my mind.

But, I do find myself with a computer on my lap much of the day and I find it so much easier to create something then mass send it to as many people as possible. I know it's impersonal, but if I don't do it, then it won't get done.

I was asked to make a little video that includes pictures of our family during various events of the past year. I admit--it was fun to put together. I then chose a great song to play with the pictures and videos and we burned several DVD''s...you know, for family. We sent those in the mail for family out-of-state.

Today I tried to post that video on Facebook, but they have a little something called "technology" that they have working for them and this "technology" detected the song I used on my video might not be mine (the "technology" is correct--I am not Bing Crosby or a member of the Andrew Sisters, nor I did not write, sing, nor do I own the rights to Mele Kalikimaka...). "Technology" 1, me 0.

I edited the video, put on some generic music then put it on Facebook. I wanted to include it on the blog, but it's too long, so if you'd like to see it, check out the link: HERE But even if you never see our little video, rest assured, the Taylors have experienced much in the last twelve months. It's been a great year!

Oh, and for the record, the cute red SUV isn't ours...it's my mother-in-laws, in case anyone was wondering.

Karaoke Night...2014 Edition

kar·a·o·ke

ˌkerēˈōkē/

noun

1. a form of entertainment, offered typically by bars and clubs, in which people take turns singing popular songs into a microphone over prerecorded backing tracks.

There's a tradition at the theater where I've done a few shows, the tradition of Karaoke Night. Basically, we stay after a show, put music on the killer sound system the theater has and let the magic happen.

And tonight's that night.



I've gone to a couple of these Karaoke Nights--I even sang at the last one. I don't know if Karaoke is as popular anymore. I'm sure it is some places, but since I don't spend a lot of time in the places where Karaoke is popular, I wouldn't know.

But, I've got to tell you, having a Karaoke Night together with a bunch of people who long musical theater is like none other. Let's just say they get a little creative.

One thing that amazes me is--on those rare events that I actually do sing--is how LONG the songs are. It's one thing to sing a song to the radio while you're driving, but it's another thing when you're on stage and you can't remember the song ever being that long.

In fact, I wonder if kar-a-o-ke is really Japanese for "Extremely Long Song."

Jennifer A. Nielsen's "The False Prince"...A Book Review

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I think I heard Jennifer A. Nielsen speak in person back in 2012 at a League of Utah Writers gathering. I was impressed, so much so that I asked the author if she had any copies of her books that she could sell. I think the question surprised her, but she did have a couple of copies in her car. She got one out and autographed it for me.

That was very nice of her. I had not attended a lot of these meetings so I didn't know if asking her if she had a book to sell when she was a guest speaker was a faux pas or not. I bought it for my daughter. I gave her the book (Jennifer signed it for her...) and she loved it. I finally got around to reading it and I liked it very much as well.

In The False Prince Nielsen creates a world where a fictional kingdom is in jeopardy. The royal family has been killed and plans are made by evil men to gain control of the kingdom. Their plot involves a daring plan that hinges on deceit. Basically, a boy would be found that could pass as the heir to the crown, a prince who had died in a shipwreck. Several boys were chosen and trained as princes in order to fool the powers that be. It's a great premise.

I must admit that I found the first half or so of the book a little uncertain. I'm not saying I hated it, but I kept thinking about the logistics of the story--the likelihood that certain events would actually take place as Nielsen presented them. They weren't major plot problems, just little ones that would (momentarily...) take me out of the story, but Nielsen's style and prose brought me back into the story. It is very well written.

But for all the issues I had with the book's first half, the second half more than made up for it. I won't reveal any spoilers, but I saw the wisdom of some of the earlier choices made by the author and the ending totally worked for me. I'm glad there's more to read about this world. The False Prince is the first in The Ascendance Trilogy and I look forward to reading the other two. I'm glad I got to meet the author and hear her speak. It's always great to see a local author do well.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12432220-the-false-prince?ac=1

Should I Stay...Or Should I Go?

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Should I Stay…Or Should I Go?

That’s really the question, not this to be, or not to be? stuff that gets tossed around. Then again, to be, or not to be? could easily be converted to: to be (here), or not to be (here)?

Last night some friends of mine held an event, an event for something that was very cool. They are part of a podcast team and they recorded an episode before watching the latest and last The Hobbit movie at a theater that's very close to where I live.

I like podcasts. I like friends. I like movies. I like The Hobbit movies.

So, why didn’t I go?

That’s the question.

That’s the question I pondered as I sat at home, finishing up my blog post and journal and thought about leaving the house at 9pm and participating in the event.

You know how it is…you weigh the pros and cons; you consider the ramifications. Pros: fun, friends, film. Cons: cost (we hardly ever go to new releases—most films I see I get from Redbox…), and perhaps the biggest con—the time of the show. It began around 11pm which means I’d get home sometime around 2am. Then I’d need to be up at 5:30am to catch my bus and clock in at 6:30am. On top of that, I’m doing a show the next night so I’d need to leave work at 4pm to make the curtain call at 6pm, and the last thing I wanted is to be so tired I’d forget lines for the show.

If I had planned, I could have asked for time off on Wednesday—I didn’t (either plan or ask for time off…). So, as I think about the decision I made, I wonder would it have been worth it, and if I’m being honest, it probably would have. But when I make these kinds of decisions and seem to choose “not to do something,” more than do it. I kind of get in a pattern, a pattern of not deciding to stay late with everyone else at restaurants, of not jointng choirs and going to New York City to perform and not going to podcast recordings and watching the last The Hobbit films before anyone else.

Then again, I get more sleep and I save some dough. That’s about how it shakes out.

* Photo used without permission from from Legendarium's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thelegendarium

What Exactly Is A "Quad Threat?" Adam West..That's What!

If you're involved in the theater in any way, you've most likely heard the term "a triple threat." If not, the term describes someone who can sing, dance and act. It's hard to get a part when you're competition is a triple threat because when it comes to performing, they can do it all.

So, what's a "quad threat?" Good question. During the past decade or so I've done a few shows and in more than a few, I've been lucky enough to perform with Adam West. No, not "Batman" Adam West, Utah resident Adam West. Chances are if you've seen shows in my neck of the woods, there's a good chance you've gotten to see Adam on stage. And if so, you've not been disappointed. 

The first show I did with Adam was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  He and I were in different casts but shared the same part. We played Rueben, the oldest (and wisest...) of all the brothers. I had done a show with Adam's wife a few years earlier, but I didn't know Adam did shows.

And at that time, he didn't. He only started doing shows after his wife was in the show with me and a few of my children. The first time I met Adam was at a Training Table Restaurant, a local joint that specializes in hamburgers. We chatted for a while and I was impressed with how friendly he was.

That was many years ago. Since then we've both done several shows with a few of them together. Doing a show with Adam is an experience. Just knowing he's in the cast means it will never be boring--either for the audience or the rest of the cast and crew.

So what exactly is a quad threat? Basically, it's someone who can sing, dance, act and is "eye candy." Whether or not you concur with the fourth qualification...well, that's up to you, but I can say with definite sureness is that the man is talented. He really can do it all and is a blast to work with. But, as good an singer, dancer, actor and/or eye candy-er, he's even a better friend. This show's almost over and I hope it will be sooner rather than later that we get to do it again.

Most photos used without permission from the incredibly talented (and nice...) Ron Russell and can be seen on the Centerpoint Legacy Theatre's Photo Albums (you can access them: HERE)