Wednesday, November 29, 2006

A little snow, and the end of a show.


Well my voice is back! Yay! I haven't been that sick for so long. So I'm thrilled that it's over. But it's too bad that Fiddler is now over. What a great show. I was so proud to be involved with a great cast and crew. It also looks as though the audiences were pretty big too. Thanks to everyone that came out to see it. It really means a lot for you to support community theatre.

So it's snowing. HA! I don't remember the last time it snowed this much let alone in November. I have to admit though that I love snow, it makes it feel like Christmas. Just a little too early this year. I would like it to be a white Christmas just once, and maybe this will be the year. Jenn and I went to dinner tonight at a local place just up the street on Oak called "The Best Neighborhood Restaurant." Not bad food for super cheep, and we walked in the snow. It was so nice, a little cold on the face, but I hope we can do that more while the snow lasts. HEY! and what's the big deal with using an umbrella in the snow? It's still wetness falling from the sky, and the umbrella can keep you dryer. People give me a hard time about it, but I just don't get it.. can someone explain that to me?

I have to now get all my shopping done so I don't stress about presents this year. I wish I was an early shopper, but I just don't do it. I'll get some done soon.

Jenn and I finally watched The Da Vinci Code tonight. I read the book so long ago now I had almost forgot it all. It was quite good actually. I enjoy mystery/history movies and books. I watch Documentaries all the time, and I used to love this show called "Mysteries of the Bible" on A & E. I've never been religious, but I love the mystery of religion, so much I actually thought about being a religious scholar just to work on solving the unknown mysteries in the bible. Maybe one day... HAHA.. right after I write my first symphony. Hope you're all well. Let me know what you all are getting your parents/significant others for Christmas.. I need some ideas.

Piece

Monday, November 20, 2006

Where's my voice?

I hate loosing my voice. Wow it's the worst feeling. It's such a part of life that we take for granted. I hope it returns soon.

So Quintessence Musicals had their fundraiser last night, and it was a lot of fun. Guilty Pleasure played and I was so upset cause I couldn't sing at all, but it was fun anyway. Jenn sang and she was great, I was so proud of her she really was awesome. I hope that they were successful making some money for the company. Also my student Emily came and sang "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" I wanted her to have the experience of singing with a band. That is something she really wants to do, so I'm really happy she got the chance to sing.

Fiddler is going into it's last week now, and my parents and brother are coming to see it on Wednesday night. I hope they like it. And I hope that if you haven't seen it yet you'll come out and support a great cast.

I'm very happy about not doing anything this evening, it's been nice to just not talk and just watch some TV. But I realized that I haven't eaten anything for dinner, so I might just make my way to the Subway and get a sub... I'll let you know how it went.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

A great show, and thanks to some great people!

What a great show tonight. After a show last night where I didn't have any trumpets or a flute, having all the orchestra there tonight makes a huge difference. The show was much tighter too. The cues were picked up faster, and the scene changes were better. Please come see the show you'll love it.

So I'm producing for Footlight Theatre next year, and we are in the midst of applying for the rights for a few shows. I'm really looking forward to helping out such a great company. They gave me my first music directing job, and I'm proud to say that this is my 5th year MDing for them. It's going to be a little overwhelming stepping into some pretty big shoes following Pam's departure as producer, but I'm happy for the challenge. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to Pam, and Jim for all their tireless hard work and focus. They are the heart of Footlight theatre, and it will be difficult to see them go, but they deserve the break. I'm proud to just know these two people, they gave me a chance without knowing me very well, and they have gone far above the call of duty to make Footlight Theatre a group that everyone creative should wish to be a part of. Thanks you so much.

So everyone please come and audition for the show next year.. whatever it may be.. I will post and let you all know when we get the okay for the show.

Thanks to everyone in the cast of Fiddler for doing such a great job, it's getting better, and I'm proud for this to be my last Footlight MD job.. for a while anyway. Well I'm off to sleep and back to work at Long and McQuade. Come on in to the hastings store and say hi if you can.

later.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

2 Shows complete.. and a lack of scoring.

2 shows done, and a matinee today before we take a break until Wednesday night. The opening and 2nd show of Fiddler went very well, we had 2 great audiences and everything went off well. Well almost everything. Besides the usual theatre hi-jinks that happen, the closing scene of opening night had it's own crazy moment. As Tevye leaves with his cart at the end of the show he is supposed to pause and see the "Fiddler" as he plays the familiar tune. As we were coming to this part, I realized that Tevye was going to get to his mark earlier then usual so I indicated to the orchestra that we are going to end early... just as I did that the cart Tevye pulls crashed, the wheels and axle came right out from under it!! so the orchestra kept vamping, and there was this moment... it felt like it could have been a few years by the time is was over. Finally Motel (Dan Wilhelm) came to help him out trying to put this cart together again. It was a lost cause with just 2 of them though, it's a big cart. So the 2 of them decided it was best to just leave the hulking disaster and exit. Luckily some of the audience thought it was part of the show.. somehow this was another one of God's little tricks he plays on poor Tevye. Maybe it was... Other then that moment the shows have been great. I'm so proud of everyone. This is a hard show to do and everyone has really stepped up on this one.

On another note. Those damn Canucks! I love them but I could just kill them. Just one year I would like to be happy about hockey.. just one. I'm almost happy I have to miss watching the games because of the show nights, just so I can miss the pain. Poor Scott Knight keeps taping the games then watching them later. Sorry Scott it's just delaying the inevitable sadness. Well here's hoping for a change in the wind for them. Maybe they will get their D men back soon, and have some scoring materialize!!

COME SEE THE SHOW!

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

The season

Here I am at Esquire's Coffee (16th & Oak) enjoying my coffee and free internet access thinking about the season. I realize how much I enjoy this time of year. It's cold, bright mostly, and it's closer to Christmas now. I'm glad I live in Vancouver and can enjoy my day off from work. I took Wednesdays off because I'm teaching these days at 2, but at least I can sleep in. So we are in the most entertaining part of theatre production... The last days of Tech. It's painful but necessary. The orchestra is sounding great, but we are just adjusting to fitting into a very small space behind the actors, and in a small house looking set piece. Having 2 trumpets play in your ear is pleasant for about one song, then it's a little hard to deal with. So we open on Friday, and there is another rehearsal tonight, so get your tickets now if you can. And if you can come on a Wednesday it's 5 bucks off, and we will need the audience midweek. Hope you're all doing well and enjoying your own Fall season, maybe with a coffee and computer.... maybe at an Esquire's.. maybe at THIS Esquire's... hey... stop following me.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006


Fiddler on the Roof is starting soon, and we're in crunch week. The Sitsprobe is tomorrow, and I'm a little stressed about it. Every year has it's orchestra challenges and this one isn't any different. I have found most of the musicians way ahead of time, but there is always one instrument that gives me trouble. Last year it was Violin, but this year it was drums! You would think it would be easy to find a drummer that would be happy to play for some money, but nope, I guess not. So now thanks to our "Fiddler" Renee we might have found one, but he has never seen the music, and I don't even know if he reads or not, and tomorrow is the sitprobe. It's starting to look more like a glorified rehearsal not a sing with the cast. But I was really happy with the last orchestra rehearsal despite the lack of percussion. SO after that great sales job I did for the show, I hope everyone comes to see it. I have never been involved in a production of this show, so I was very happy to find through the rehearsal process that it's becoming one of my favorite shows. I can easily see why it is such a classic. It is such a well written piece of theatre, right from the music to the touching yet funny story. Remember the show runs Wednesday's to Sunday's November 10th to the 26th. Such a great cast too. Come see my Crazy Wife play Fruma Sarah, and we all love that Assalone girl who I'm so proud of. SEE YAS THERE. L'chaim!