Christmas 2019

I had the best Christmas with my family this year!  We had our traditional cinnamon rolls and orange juice and then spent most of the morning opening presents.  We take turns opening presents, one at a time, starting from the youngest (Sean) to the oldest (my Mom).

Santa Claus really came through this year!  I got an Instant Pot (I have vowed that I will use it), some new Dr. Martens boots (Sean mentioned that I get a pair every year), a bunch of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock movies on Blu-ray because I got rid of all my copies on VHS (Sean mentioned that I am the only person in the world who has physical copies of movies any more), and a season subscription to Broadway Las Vegas.

My sister made everyone a blanket with our names embroidered on them (she recently got an embroidery machine for her business).  We opened them at the same time and they were a really big hit!

Tashena got a new iPhone with a case and some new clothes.

Sean was a very happy boy because he got a PlayStation VR and some games.  He has been waiting and waiting for Christmas to come so he could play with it!  We will never see him again!  After opening presents most of us took naps until our big Christmas dinner.  After dinner we played cards and then Marilyn, Kristine, and I went to see the movie Little Women which we all absolutely loved (review coming soon).  It was a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2019

I spent Christmas Eve with with my family and we had so much fun!  We played Shanghai rummy all evening while eating all manner of treats (both of my sisters are excellent cooks).  Then, as is tradition,  Sean and Tashena opened their Christmas pajamas and modeled them for us (we all got Christmas pajamas this year but we didn't model them).

Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses 2019

Last night Marilyn, Sean, Tashena, and I made our traditional gingerbread houses.  We have done this every year since Tashena joined our family and we always have so much fun.  Here are our finished houses.

Making our gingerbread houses.

Sean's House.

Tashena's House.

Marilyn's House.

My House.

Our Gingerbread Village.

It was so nice to be able to relax all day and spend time with Sean and Tashena (I am so glad she is home from college for a little while).  I am really looking forward to a lovely holiday.

The Nutcracker 2019

Last night was such a lovely evening!  My friend Angela and I had a really fancy dinner at Bambara, one of my favorite restaurants downtown, and then we walked across the street to Capitol Theatre for a production of Ballet West's The Nutcracker.  I enjoyed both immensely!  Seeing this ballet is one of my very favorite Christmas traditions and I anticipate every scene!  The party revealing the Christmas tree to Clara and Fritz is enchanting, the Nutcracker coming to life and leading a group of toy soldiers against the mice is magical, and the dance of the Snow Queen and her snowflakes is dazzling!  When Clara and her Nutcracker travel to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, I love all of the divertissements devised for her entertainment!  My favorites are the Arabian dance because it is so exotic and the Russian dance because it is so athletic (it gives me goosebumps)!  I wait through the whole ballet to get to the Grand Pas de Deux between the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier because, in my opinion, both Tchaikovsky's music and William Christensen's choreography are incredibly romantic.  Sayaki Ohtaki danced the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy beautifully and she had great chemistry with Adrian Fry as her Cavalier.  I also really enjoyed Beau Pearson as Mother Buffoon because he was quite the ham (he even got the audience clapping which I don't remember happening before).  The children in the cast were wonderful and I especially enjoyed Jax Steele as Fritz because he seemed more mischievous than usual and Mother Buffoon's children because they were adorable.  Everything about this production is so magical, particularly the special effects as the Christmas tree grows in size, the snow falling in the land of the Snow Queen, and the fireworks in the finale, and it makes me feel like a child again.  I really enjoyed being able to see this ballet with Angela because she thought it was just as magical as I did!  It is the perfect way to celebrate the season and I highly recommend getting a ticket to one of the remaining performances (go here).

A Christmas Carol at HCT 2019

I like to joke that I have seen Hale Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol so many times that I could stand in for any part! I have seen it so many times that I sometimes think I should probably skip a year. That is what I decided last year but at the beginning of December I started to feel sad that I would be missing it. I tried to buy tickets but there were absolutely none to be had! There was not even one available seat for any of the shows! I was devastated that I wouldn't get to see it but I learned my lesson! Traditions are important and you better believe that I got my ticket to this year's production months in advance! I went last night and I loved it more that I usually do. Hale's version of this classic tale about Ebeneezer Scrooge's redemption after visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future is so heartwarming that you just can't help but leave the theatre with a smile on your face and a giant dose of Christmas cheer! Some of the actors return year after year to the same role so it is like seeing an old friend on the stage. I have seen David Weekes as Scrooge and Adam Dietlein as Fred for many years and I always love their performances. It is also really fun to see someone new give a different interpretation of a character. This year was the first time seeing DRU as the Ghost of Christmas Present (he has played the role several times but, as the show is double cast, I have never gone on a night when he was performing) and I thought he was hilarious! I think my favorite aspect of Hale's production is the use of Christmas carols throughout (have I mentioned how much I love hearing Christmas music?). I especially love it when they sing "Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella" at the Fezziwig Christmas party! I also loved the song "Away in a Manger" this year because the family singing it had a real baby (and that baby already has a great stage presence because it was so well-behaved).  Because this show is now on the Jewel Box Stage (which is more traditional than the old stage) there were some new sets that I really liked because they had a very Victorian feel, especially Scrooge's counting house, Scrooge's bed chamber, and the rag and bottle shop.  I am so glad that I was able to see A Christmas Carol this year (every show is sold out again this year) because it just isn't Christmas without it.

Note:  Even though A Christmas Carol is sold out you can still get tickets to Seussical on the Main Stage (go here).  It was not really my cup of tea but children are sure to love it and it would be a really fun Christmas outing for families.

The Lower Lights 2019

One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is to see the Lower Lights Christmas concert at Kingsbury Hall.  I was able to see the show last night and, as always, it was amazing and did much to restore my spirits.  The Lower Lights is a group of twenty insanely talented musicians, songwriters, and singers, many of whom are popular in their own right, who periodically join forces to record folk and bluegrass renditions of popular hymns and Christmas carols.  I really love their sound and I especially love their renditions of Christmas songs because, as you know, I really enjoy Christmas music performed live.  They began with "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" which was quite upbeat and then they performed beautiful versions of "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Angels We Have Heard On High," and "Away in a Manger" which brought tears to my eyes.  Then they played an acoustic version of "Mary's Boy Child" which was so lovely.  Debra Fotheringham provided vocals on an incredible version of "River" which is one of my favorite songs (I love Sarah McLachlan's version on her Christmas album).  In the middle of their set they performed a number of their hymns, including "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy," "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder," and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."  These songs basically turned Kingsbury Hall into an old fashioned revival with people singing and dancing in the aisles.  It was a lot of fun.  They continued with an acoustic version of "Maybe This Christmas"  and an instrumental version of "Carol of the Bells" featuring guitar, mandolin, and banjo that was incredibly stirring.  Next came one of my favorite Christmas songs, "Still, Still, Still," with vocals provided by Corinne Gentry, Kiki Sieger, and Marie Bradshaw.  The cost of a ticket to this show is worth it for this song alone because the three of them harmonize so beautifully that they give you chills!  Sarah Sample provided the vocals for "White Christmas" and they continued with "I Saw Three Ships" which is another favorite.  There was another gospel interlude with "The River of Jordan" and "I Hear a Call."  Dustin Christensen performed a beautiful version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which was fun after seeing Meet Me In St. Louis recently.  The audience joined in on a rousing rendition of "Go Tell It On the Mountain," and they continued with "A Cradle in Bethlehem" and "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day."  They ended their set with bluesy renditions of "Working on a Building," "This Little Light of Mine," and "Calling You."  For the encore they performed "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)" and then, as they always do, they had the audience join them for a beautiful acoustic version of "Silent Night."  I don't consider myself to be especially religious but there is just something about Christmas music and I am always moved by this concert.  I would highly recommend getting a ticket to one of the three remaining concerts (go here).

Messiah Sing-In 2019

Attending a Utah Symphony performance of Handel's Messiah was once a really lovely tradition for me over the Thanksgiving break but for the past several years I have been out of town and not able to go.  I was really happy to revive the tradition last night!  I found my copy of the score and practiced my hallelujahs so I was ready to sing along with the audience during the choral sections!  The orchestra was joined by soloists Grace Kahl, Quinn Middleman, Addison Marlor, and Brandon Bell (Resident Artists with the Utah Opera) and the Westminster College Choir.  The Messiah is not only the perfect way to ring in the holiday season but it is also so much fun to sing!  It reminded me of when I was a member of the Westminster College Choir!  My favorite sections to sing are "For Unto us a Child is Born," "Glory to God in the Highest," and "Hallelujah!"  I fear that my hallelujahs may have been a bit too boisterous!  The orchestra performed this majestic piece beautifully and I especially loved the timpani in "Hallelujah!" because it was so stirring.  All of the soloists were fantastic but I was particularly impressed with Bell's rendition of "The trumpet shall sound" because it gave me goosebumps (the trumpet solo was also incredible)!  I thoroughly enjoyed this concert because listening to Christmas music performed live is my favorite part of the holiday season and I would definitely recommend getting a ticket to tonight's performance (go here for tickets).

Note:  Now that the holiday season is upon us it is always a good idea to allow plenty of time when driving and parking downtown.

Pumpkin Carving 2019

With Tashena away at college (we miss her) I wondered whether Sean would want to carve pumpkins this year.  I told him that we didn't have to do it if he didn't want to because I sometimes worry that these seasonal activities are more for my benefit than for his.  He responded that we had to do it because it was tradition!  I got some of the biggest pumpkins I've ever seen and we carved them Tuesday night!  It was a lot of fun and my sister roasted the seeds which is my favorite part!

Happy Halloween!

Thriller 2019

It has been a long and stressful week so I was really happy to be able to relax and attend Odyssey Dance Theatre's production of Thriller last night.  This Halloween themed dance extravaganza is one of my favorite traditions and I look forward to it all year.  Sometimes I think that maybe I don't need to see it every year because I've seen it so many times but, as I sit in the audience anticipating each dance, I know that I would feel really sad if I missed it.  It seems like everyone in the audience feels the same way that I do because they cheered out loud at the beginning of all the old favorites, including the undead cavorting in a graveyard to Michael Jackson's iconic song "Thriller," a breakdancing mummy and his maidens in "Curse of the Mummy," misbehaving pandas in "Miss Alli's Nighmare," a Pas de Deux gone horribly wrong in "Frankenstein & Frankenstein," tap dancing skeletons in "Dem Bones," a trio of chainsaw wielding Jasons in "Jason Jam" (an audience favorite), scarecrows that are not what they seem in "Children of the Corn," a coven of witches seeking vengeance from beyond the grave in "Salem's Mass" (my favorite number), demonic dolls in "Chucky-Rama," and acrobatic vampires in "Lost Boys."  It is always really fun to see subtle differences in the choreography or in the staging year after year and I love seeing returning members of the company.  This year there were also some new dances including a dance-off between dinosaurs in "Dino Dance," demonic possession in "Annabelle of the Ball," a tap dancer at odds with himself in "Jekyll & Hyde," and a costume parade in "Trick or Treat."  For the past several years there have also been performances by the artists of Aeris Aerial Arts in between the dance numbers.  They were all spectacular but my favorites were "Full Moon," with seven aerialists performing on a spinning globe, and "Phantom of the Opera," with two aerialists performing as the Phantom and Christine Daae on silks.  I really don't know how they can make their bodies do what they do!  I had so much fun last night and I highly recommend getting a ticket to one of the few remaining shows (go here).  Whether you have never seen the show before or whether you go every year like me, you are sure to be impressed by the talented dancers of ODT!

Renee Elise Goldsberry at Deer Valley

Another favorite summer tradition is to see a Utah Symphony concert at Deer Valley as part of the Deer Valley Music Festival.  I love coming to these concerts because it is so beautiful and relaxing up in the mountains and I really enjoy bringing a picnic and listening to music under the stars.  I usually try to see at least one concert every summer (this year I picked two of them) and last night's concert featured the amazing Renee Elise Goldsberry, who originated the role of Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton (Have I mentioned that I saw the original Broadway cast of Hamilton?  Oh, I have?  Several times?  Just checking.).  I have been looking forward to this concert for months because I loved her as Angelica and it was wonderful!  She began with a medley of "On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)" and "I Can See Clearly Now" which got the audience cheering!  Then she mentioned how impressed she was the the Utah Symphony could play the blues and sang very sultry versions of "People Get Ready" and "I've Got to Use My Imagination."  Next, she performed an arrangement of "We Can Work It Out" by the Beatles that I really enjoyed.  She thought it would be appropriate to sing "Up to the Mountain" in such a beautiful setting and then turned Deer Valley into an old time revival by singing "Tell the Lord I'm Coming Home Someday."  She had her backup singers (who were fabulous) join her for an a capella version of "We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest" that was incredibly powerful!  She spoke about wanting to have children for a long time and dedicated Bob Dylan's "Lord Protect My Child" to all of the children who are here and who are on their way.  She ended her first set by singing an incredibly beautiful version of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters."  After the intermission she sang "Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum" from Carmen Jones, "How Glad I Am," "Misty," and "Peter Gunn."  My favorite part of the concert came next when she sang the Broadway hits.  Her first starring role was in The Lion King and she sang the most beautiful version of "Shadowlands," which is my favorite song from the show, that I have ever heard!  In fact, it reduced me to a sobbing mess!  Of course, she sang a few songs from Hamilton, including "Satisfied" and "The Schuyler Sisters," and I noticed that just about everyone in the audience was singing along.  It was incredible!  She also starred in the musical RENT and she ended her second set with moving renditions of "Without You" and "No Day But Today."  For the encore she performed "It's Quiet Uptown" from Hamilton which I have never been able to sit through without crying and this was no exception.  Her final song was "You'll Never Walk Alone" because she wanted to go out on a happy note!  I loved every minute of this concert and I can't wait to come back to Deer Valley in two weeks to see Kristin Chenoweth!  Go here to see the rest of the lineup at the Deer Valley Music Festival.

Note:  I was also able to see Leslie Odom, Jr., who originated the role of Aaron Burr in Hamilton, with the Utah Symphony a few years ago.  I think everyone in the whole original cast should come perform a concert at Deer Valley!

Mamma Mia at Sundance

One of my very favorite summer traditions is to see a musical at the Sundance Mountain Resort performed in conjunction with the UVU Theatre Department.  I have been coming for years and I absolutely love it!  The setting could not be more beautiful with the smell of the pine trees and the fresh mountain air.  It is so nice to feel a cool breeze when the temperature is so hot in the valley.  They always do a really great job with whatever show they are performing and this year is especially fun because the show is Mamma Mia!  How can you resist listening to the music of Abba up in the mountains?  Sophie Sheridan (Rylin Gardner) is getting married and wants to have her Dad walk her down the aisle.  The only problem is she doesn't know who he is!  After reading her mother's diary, she finds three possibilities:  Sam Carmichael (Shawn Stevens), Bill Austin (Matt Dobson), and Harry Bright (Sanford Porter).  Without telling her mother Donna (Dianna Graham), she invites all three of them to her wedding and, when they all show up, chaos ensues!  I really enjoyed Graham as Donna and Stevens as Sam and they are especially strong in their songs together, including "One of Us," "SOS," and "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do."  Jocelyn Hansen, as Rosie, and Kerilyn Johnson, as Tanya, are also a lot of fun and I enjoyed their renditions of "Chiquitita" and "Dancing Queen."  Hansen steals the show with her performance in "Take a Chance on Me" with Dobson and hoots of laughter greeted their antics!  I thought that Gardner faltered a little bit as Sophie in the beginning of the show but she finished strong, particularly with "I Have a Dream" at the end.  The choreography in this show is fantastic and I particularly liked it when the male ensemble danced with fins in "Lay All Your Love on Me" and I thought the dream sequence in "Under Attack" was quite innovative (it's one of my favorite numbers in the show).  The costumes are a hoot and feature lots of spandex and sequins!  I had so much fun watching this show and I may or may not have sung along with some of the songs!  I highly recommend it.  Mamma Mia runs at the Eccles Outdoor Theatre on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through August 10 (go here for tickets).

A Drive-In Double Feature

Sean and I have a fun summer tradition of seeing a movie at the drive-in.  We have been doing this for a few years and it is so much fun!  I have very fond memories of going to the drive-in with my parents when I was a kid and I'm glad that I can take Sean to one of the few remaining drive-ins in the country!  Last night we picked Spider-Man: Far From Home and Men in Black: International then got drinks, treats, and a ginormous bag of popcorn (we didn't even eat one fourth of it).  Sean really liked Spider-Man: Far From Home and I liked it even better the second time!  I still laughed when Peter thinks "Back in Black" is by Led Zeppelin!  Sean fell asleep during Men in Black: International and, while I liked it the first time I saw it, I was pretty meh about it the second time around.  It was a really fun night (we didn't have any weirdos around us this time) and I recommend seeing a movie at the drive-in if you have the opportunity!

Note:  Whenever I would go to the drive-in with my parents, I would try so hard to stay awake for the second feature but I would almost always fall asleep (like Sean did).  To this day, I have no idea how the movie Murder By Death ends!

Sightseeing in Chicago

I have a tradition of taking Sean on a road trip every summer (we've been to the Four Corners Monument, Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, and Mount Rushmore).  When we were trying to decide where to go this year every place that Sean suggested was farther than I wanted to drive (I don't mind long road trips but a long road trip with a fourteen year old boy seemed a bit daunting).  I asked him where he would go if he could fly anywhere in the U.S. and he answered Chicago.  I liked this idea because it meant we could go to Hamilton while we were there (I didn't have to twist his arm because he likes this show, too).  We had two days of sightseeing in the Windy City and we were able to cross off everything on Sean's list!

Our first stop was the Skydeck at the top of the Willis Tower, which was once the tallest building in the world.  I went out on the ledge with Sean for about two seconds but he actually sat down on it (it is a lot scarier than you might think because you can see through the floor straight down to the street).

The views of Chicago from the Skydeck were pretty spectacular!

Our next stop was the Cloud Gate (otherwise known as the Bean) in Millennium Park.  Have you really been to Chicago if you haven't posed for the obligatory picture in front of the Bean?  We went to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner (Sean got his first HRC pin to start his collection) and then called it a day.

We started bright and early the next morning at the Field Museum (more on this coming soon).  Sean loves museums and this is the one he chose to visit.

Next we went to the Navy Pier so we could ride the Centennial Wheel, a large ferris wheel with incredible views of the city and Lake Michigan.

After lunch (deep dish pizza at Giordano's) we finally got on the hop-on hop-off bus for a tour of the city (it's a long story).  This is one of my favorite ways to see a city.  It was raining when we started but it stopped after a few minutes.

Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan.

The old water tower and pumping station.  These buildings are some of the few that survived the Great Fire of 1871.

Some of the buildings downtown feature some really cool architecture.

In the evening we had main floor seats for Hamilton at the CIBC Theatre and we both enjoyed this cast very much (more on this coming soon).  This was such a great trip!  I really like Chicago and it was fun to spend time with my nephew (who now wants to move there).  Where will we go next year?